Home · 2012 Chevrolet Malibu Eco · Complaints

What 905 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu Eco

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (905)Crash / fire / injury (65)Electrical system (290)Lights (202)Steering (191)Electronic Stability Control (esc) (129)Airbags (101)Engine (99)Brakes (73)Fuel system (56)Speed control (52)Transmission & drivetrain (49)

28 of 905 complaints match · Airbags · crash/fire/injury only · clear filters · page 1 of 2

Nov 20, 2024AirbagsCrash2 injuries

The contact called on behalf of her daughter's boyfriend who was driving alongside her daughter in a 2012 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that her daughter's boyfriend was driving on the highway at approximately 75 MPH in the left lane when a tractor-trailer in the right lane veered into their lane and the rear end of the tractor-trailer clipped the front end of their vehicle. The contact vehicle began to spin out of control until it came to a stop on the side of the road. The vehicle was totaled. The air bags were not deployed. The vehicle was towed to a local tow lot. No warning lights were illuminated prior to the crash. A police report was filed. The boyfriend seated in the driver's seat, and the contact's daughter seated in the rear passenger seat were both injured, and the infant in the rear driver's seat in a car seat was not harmed. No other individuals outside of the vehicle were injured. Medical treatment was needed for the daughter's boyfriend and the daughter. The boyfriend injured his nose on the steering wheel, and the daughter's shoulder was injured. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000.

NHTSA ODI 11626387

May 22, 2019AirbagsBody & structureCrash1 injury

I WAS IN A TRAFFIC ACCIDENT AND WAS BIT ON THE DRIVER SIDE. THE IMPACT PUSHED IN THE DOORS AND THE SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I WAS TRAVELING APPROX 30 MPH AND THE CAR RAN A STOP SIGN ON A CITY STREET.

NHTSA ODI 11209217

Nov 19, 2018AirbagsSeat beltsCrash1 injury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A DITCH AND A TRUCK. THE FRONT END OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED, BUT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DURING THE CRASH, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT MALFUNCTIONED AND UNLOCKED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BACK, NECK, AND STERNUM INJURIES AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL FOR MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED AWAY. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER AND AN UNKNOWN DEALER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,000.

NHTSA ODI 11152401

Feb 26, 2018AirbagsCrash1 injury

TAKATA AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY WHILE IN FRONT END COLLISION. I WAS DRIVING STRAIGHT ON A MAIN STREET WHEN I WAS HIT IN THE FRONT BY 2 CARS. THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY.

NHTSA ODI 11075124

May 10, 2017AirbagsBrakesCrash2 injuries

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THAT I PRESSED THE BRAKES AND THE CAR FAILED TO STOP. BOTH TIMES RESULTED IN COLLISIONS. THE FIRST TIME THE CAR WSS REPAIRED AND THEN GIVEN BACK TO ME. THIS TIME I WAS TRAVELING APPROX 45 MPH AND THE PERSON IN FRONT OF ME SLAMMED ON THEIR BRAKES. I WENT TO DO THE SAME AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR WITHOUT STOPPING THE CAR AT ALL. I COLLIDED WITH THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME CAUSING MAJOR DAMAGE TO MY CAR AND INJURIES TO MY SHOULDER, NECK AND BACK.

NHTSA ODI 10984656

Apr 26, 2017AirbagsBrakesCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO STOP FOR TRAFFIC, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT FAILED TO RESPOND IN TIME. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A BODY SHOP, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000.

NHTSA ODI 10980811

Dec 19, 2016AirbagsCrash1 injury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT REAR ENDED THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTO BODY SHOP. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000.

NHTSA ODI 10936166

Jul 22, 2016AirbagsCrash

TAKATA RECALL - I WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT ON JULY, 12 ON HWY 40 IN ST. LOUIS MO. BOTH OFFICERS ON THE SCENE AND THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER SAID THE AIR BAG SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. THE CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS. I WAS GOING ABOUT 40 MPH ON THE HWY, I RAN INTO THE BACK OF A VAN, I WAS THE LAST CAR OF 4 CARS .

NHTSA ODI 10887734

Jul 17, 2016AirbagsCrash

TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 35MPH ON A CITY STREET. 2003 FORD PICKUP PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF OUR CAR. WE HIT DRIVERS FRONT FENDER. OUR CAR VEERED OFF OF TRUCK ROLLING ONTO DRIVERS SIDE UPRIGHTING BACK ONTO WHEELS AND STOPPED WHEN IT HIT A BARRIER FENCE WHILE CROSSING THREE TRAFFIC LANES OF THE FOUR LANE ROAD.

NHTSA ODI 10885380

Dec 7, 2015AirbagsSeat beltsSpeed controlCrash1 injury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD AND CAUSED THE CRUISE CONTROL TO MALFUNCTION. IN ADDITION, THE SEAT BELTS DID NOT LATCH AND THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED HEAD, BACK, AND LEGS INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN A MANUFACTURER RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI 10808790

Aug 7, 2015AirbagsSeat beltsCrash2 injuries

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, A SECOND VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. DURING THE CRASH, THE FRONT END SUSTAINED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE, BUT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELTS FAILED AND SEPARATED FROM THE SEATS DURING THE CRASH. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED BACK AND NECK INJURIES AND THE PASSENGERS INJURIES WERE UNAVAILABLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS RECEIVED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES WERE NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 09/15/15*LJ *CN

NHTSA ODI 10747051

Jun 22, 2015AirbagsSeat beltsBody & structureCrash2 injuries

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE AIR BAGS FAILED AND THE SEAT BELTS DID NOT RESTRAIN THE FRONT DRIVER AND THE FRONT PASSENGER. THE CONTACT AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.

NHTSA ODI 10726673

May 5, 2015AirbagsBrakesCrash

WHILE DRIVING A PERSON SLAMMED ON BRAKES IN FRONT OF ME AND I TOO HIT MINE. I DID NOT FEEL THE ANTILOCK WHILE BRAKING AND AFTER IMPACTING WITH THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME THE AIRBAGS WERE NOT RELEASED. FOR AS HARD AS WE HIT AND FOR AS MUCH DAMAGE HAPPENED THE POLICE WERE SURPRISED THEY DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10714695

Apr 11, 2015Electrical systemAirbagsSeat beltsCrash2 injuries

MY SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT WAS COMING ON EVER SINCE I BOUGHT MY CAR AND I TOOK IT TO KOONS FOR SERVICE AND I WAS TOLD ONE WHEEL WAS MOVING FASTER THEN ANOTHER NOT TO WORRY ABOUT IT THEN ON 06/18/2014 IWAS HIT BY A CHEVY SILVERADO THAT RAN A LIGHT AND I WAS DOING 45 MILES AN HOUR I HAD MY GRANDDAUGHTER IN HER SAFETY SEAT IN THE BACK NONE OF MY AIR BAGS WORKED NOR DID MY SEAT BELTS MY GRAND DAUGHTER HIT THE BACK OF THE SEATS.NOW MY CAR IS FLASHING THE CODES AGAIN NOW THAT ITS FIXED AND SHUTS DOWN WHILE DRIVING .ITS PART OF THE GM RECALL FOR THE UPPER WIRE HARNESS BUT THEY ARE SAYING IT ISN'T AND THEY ARE NOT STANDING BUY THE WARRANTY THIS DEFECT ALMOST KILLED US AND STILL IS ALMOST KILLING US BY SHUTTING DOWN WHILE DRIVING SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS COMING ON PLUS AIR BAG LIGHTS SAYING AIR BAGS ARE SHUTTING DOWN .SO THAT MEANS THE AIR BAGS IF WE NEEDED THEM WOULD NOT HELP US AGAIN IF NEEDED.WE WERE VERY BADLY HURT THE LAST TIME AND I NEED GM TO STEP UP AND REIMBURSE US FOR OUR INJURIES AND FOR MAKING US STILL RIDE IN AN UNSAFE CAR THAT THEY NOW IS ON THE RECALL LIST BUT THEY KEEP SAYING ITS NOT.MY CAR IS STILL IN SERVICE AND SERVICE IS SAYING IT IS PART OF THE RECALL BIT GM WILL NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. .. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10705120

Dec 3, 2014AirbagsCrash1 injury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE PASSENGER'S SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED WHIPLASH WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000.

NHTSA ODI 10662065

Nov 6, 2014SteeringAirbagsCrash1 injury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL AND STEERING COLUMN DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE, WHICH LANDED ON THE CONTACT'S LAP. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT IF THE STEERING AIR BAG DEPLOYED, HE WOULD HAVE SUSTAINED POSSIBLE FATAL INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FRONT PASSENGER SUSTAINED BACK BRUISES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN IMPOUND LOT. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33,000.

NHTSA ODI 10653107

Nov 4, 2014BrakesElectrical systemLightsAirbagsSpeed controlElectronic Stability Control (esc)Crash1 injury

2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO BODY CONTROL MODULE RECALL NOTICE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING, THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED AND CAUSED HIM TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT. THE CONSUMER WAS INJURED. THE CONSUMER SENT IN A RECALL NOTICE ALONG WITH HIS COMPLAINT. *JB

NHTSA ODI 10651200

Oct 24, 2014SteeringAirbagsCrash

I WAS REAR ENDED AND THE STEERING WHEEL AND SHAFT COMPLETELY DISLODGED ONTO MY LAP .THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. I WAS PUSHED APPROXIMATELY 150 FT. AND THERE WAS NO WAY I COULD HAVE STEERED IF THERE WAS ANOTHER VEHICLE COMING UP THE HIGHWAY. IF AIRBAG WOULD HAVE DEPLOYED THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUS INJURY TO MYSELF. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10649804

Aug 15, 2014AirbagsBody & structureBrakesEngineCrash

MY CAR WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE MY FRIEND APPLIED THE BRAKES AND WAS FORCED INTO HYDROPLANING INTO A BARRIER, ANOTHER VEHICLE AND A PERSON. MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AS THE SENSOR WAS NOT HIT NOR DID THE ONSTAR BECOME ALERTED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. AFTER FIGHTING WITH INSURANCE COMPANIES, MY CAR WAS TOTALED THEN DECLARED NOT TOTALED, AND REPAIRED. I RECEIVED THE NOTICE OF A RECALL MUCH LATER AFTER THE CAR WAS IN THE ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10622589

Aug 6, 2014AirbagsElectronic Stability Control (esc)BrakesCrash

MY SON WAS DRIVING MY CAR DOWN A TWO LANE HIGHWAY. IT HAD BEEN MISTING RAIN AND THE ROAD WAS SLIGHTLY DAMP... APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION HE REDUCED HIS SPEED TO APPROX 40 MPH. TWO CARS AHEAD OF HIM SLAMMED ON BREAKS WHEN THE LIGHT CHANGED TO YELLOW. THIS CAUSED A CHAIN REACTION... CARS SLIDING TO PREVENT HITTING THE FIRST CAR. MY SON SAID THAT HE WAS BREAKING VERY HARD WHEN THE ANTI-LOCK BREAKS ENGAGED... THEY PULSED 3-4 TIMES AND THEN RELEASED WHICH SHOT HIM STRAIGHT INTO THE BACK OF THE TRUCK. HE SAID THAT HE WAS PUSHING THE BREAK AS HARD AS HE COULD WHEN THIS OCCURRED. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY NOR DID THE AUTOMATIC CRASH RESPONSE SYSTEM WORK. I CALLED ON STAR TO SEE IF THE SYSTEM EVEN SHOWS A CRASH AND IT DOESN'T. I THINK THAT CONSIDERING THE CRASH BENT THE FRAME IN THE FRONT END AND IS IN EXCESS OF $6,000 YOU WOULD THINK THE SENSORS WOULD HAVE PICKED UP ON SOMETHING. AFTER THE CRASH I CONTACTED MY DEALER TO ASK IF THERE WERE ANY RECALLS ON THIS ISSUE AND WAS TOLD THERE WERE NOT. I AM VERY THANKFUL THAT THIS CRASH DID NOT RESULT IN A MORE SERIOUS INJURY / DEATH. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10619178

Apr 19, 2014AirbagsCrash

HAD A BROADSIDE COLLISION WITH IMPACT TO SIDE OF MALIBU THAT DROVE DRIVERS DOOR INTO DRIVERS SEAT, PUSHING SEAT INTO CENTER CONSOLE. SIDE IMPACT AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY FROM THIS ACCIDENT! B POST WAS BENT INTO PASSENGER AREA ALSO. AGAIN NO AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT! *TR

NHTSA ODI 10583617

Apr 7, 2014AirbagsCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, SHE SUFFERED A SEIZURE AND CRASHED INTO A TELEPHONE POLE BEFORE LANDING IN A CREEK. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED OF THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING DIAGNOSIS OF THE AIR BAG FAILURE AND REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

NHTSA ODI 10578047

May 6, 2013AirbagsSeat beltsCrash3 injuries

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE SITTING AT A COMPLETE STOP, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WHILE TRAVELING 47 MPH. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND THE SEAT BELTS DID NOT TIGHTEN AROUND THE PASSENGERS. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED NECK AND BACK INJURIES. THE FRONT PASSENGER SUSTAINED NECK, BACK AND HIP INJURIES. THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE PASSENGER SUSTAINED NECK, BACK AND ANKLE INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY THE MANUFACTURER HOWEVER, THE SEATBELT AND AIR BAG FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 15,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 10510807

Apr 16, 2013AirbagsCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE'S FRONT END WAS CRASHED INTO BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE PASSENGER IN THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE SUSTAINED MINOR BRUISING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,000.

NHTSA ODI 10508463

Mar 20, 2013AirbagsCrash1 injury

MY AUTO GOING THRU GREEN LIGHT INTERSECTION-STRUCK ON PASSENGER SIDE BY AUTO WHO RAN RED LIGHT-DAMAGED BOTH PASSENGER SIDE DOORS (BOTH REPLACED)-OTHER AUTO DOING APPROX 45MPH -DID $8000 DAMAGE TO MY CAR-RIGHT SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT INFLATE.

NHTSA ODI 10504037

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Working with the data? Download all 905 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 24, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2012 Chevrolet Malibu Eco verdict →