What 905 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu Eco

The problem started with the steering wheel jerking by itself then the power steering went out. The only way to get power steering back is to turn the car off then turn it back on while turning the steering wheel manually then it’s hard to say how long you have power steering for. To get it fixed is around 1,500 for a 3 hour job.

NHTSA ODI 11656559

For 4 years the car intermittently would turn on all warning lights, shake, become hard to steer and steer in unintended directions. We paid $1500 for the dealer to fix it and we still had the problem. Today, the car will drive less then a mile and die. When we start the car all warning lights come on, the vehicle vibrates and struggles to keep speed of 5 mph or so then will die.

NHTSA ODI 11601760

Driving down the freeway and suddenly I get reduce engine power. I had to wait on the freeway until the car started up again

NHTSA ODI 11593420

The electronic stability control activates under normal driving conditions. Power to engine is reduced, car does not brake or accelerate appropriately with this happens. It appears to be a problem that is reported frequently and one that has been a recall on some vehicles but this VIN does not show that recall. It puts me and others at risk because the car suddenly stops going at speed and lurches when trying to stop. Scans were done at a local auto shop which indicate issues with ESC. Warning lights include ESC activated, Engine power reduced

NHTSA ODI 11534505

My engine

NHTSA ODI 11507360

The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the vehicle started losing motive power and was shuddering while shifting gear. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact was able to pull over to the side of the roadway, turn off, and restart the vehicle, and drove to the residence safely. The vehicle was then taken to the local dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that as fuse box needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 107,089.

NHTSA ODI 11467948

Check Engine light on Dash: variable valve timing problem detailed. Engine could wreck.

NHTSA ODI 11456531

My electric steering motor and torque sensor is going out. I first noticed it starting to go out about 2 months ago in November. I was turning to pull into a parking spot at the grocery store and all of a sudden my wheel locked up and check ESC flashed across my dashboard. I almost side grazed the car on side of me on my way turning in. I had to turn the wheel really hard to straighten it up..so when I got into the parking spot and turned the car off and turned it back on it was working again and didn’t do it for a while. So fast forward 2 months later in January it started back doing it again. I was backing out of my driveway and all of a sudden the steering got really hard and again service ESC flashed on the dashboard and I almost backed up into a car that’s parked on the street behind my driveway. I had to turn really had and in the middle of the street I had to turn the car off and back on to reset itself . The next day was driving and and when I stopped at a stop sign my steering wheel started shaking left to right uncontrollably and ever since the the steering wheel just shakes even while sitting still so I made an appointment with the dealership that I got the car for checked it out and did a diagnostic test and the mechanic told me I needed a torque sensor and steering motor. I have the papers saying that’s what’s wrong with it and after doing research I found that that car model had a recall with the exact same thing my car is doing but when I put in my vin number it’s not listed as a recall and my car isn’t drivable and I think it should be recalled .As of now it has only been looked at by the dealership. And it’s available for inspection upon request.

NHTSA ODI 11451342

My vehicle fail to restart vehicle, but vehicle was running good before. Once I turn off the vehicle for couple of minutes when I returned back to my vehicle and tried to turn vehicle on it would not allow me to turn on lights on vehicle would stay on when taking key out of ignition. I kept trying couple of time until I open the hood to check battery move battery cables tried again until vehicle turn on. Once vehicle had turn on and put vehicle in reverse dashboard lights started turning on check engine a service warning message display and speed meter would go up and down. When going forward the steering wheel became hard to control while vehicle would go toward slowly then stop go fast and slowly again until I got home turn vehicle off. Didn't drive it anymore until two days later. The second time I was on the freeway when my vehicles speed started to significantly reduce speed very quickly. I became concern with my safety until I was able to pull over on the side of freeway car turned off. When trying to restart vehicle would fail to turn back on had to tow vehicle back home. I tried turning vehicle back on failed at first on the last try vehicle turned on but when putting on reverse or drive vehicle became undriveable thier was no movement on vehicle and speed meter would not move . I just purchased this vehicle only had 8 months with it I payed $5000 plus $600 on plates. I do make my vehicle available for inspection it is very dangerous going through this specially on highway. I checked my onstart vehicle report but it does not show that anything is wrong on the report. My insurance provider Geico car details only show it needs and oil change. I also notice that in the vehicle history shows it has an oil leak. I can not afford to pay for a mechanic at this moment my vehicle is just park at home now.

NHTSA ODI 11419565

I WAS DRIVING ON FREEWAY AND CAR WENT INTO ENGINE POWER REDUCE MODE, RAPIDLY SLOWED DOWN TO 35 MILES AN HOUR.

NHTSA ODI 11374072

CAR WAS RUNNING ON FREEWAY AND LIGHTS STARTED FLASHING AND THEN CAR SO STALLED AND CAR DOESNT START ANYMORE

NHTSA ODI 11310396

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUDDERED, BUT DID NOT COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. ALSO, WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF, IT WOULD NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC THREE TIMES, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,686.

NHTSA ODI 11268858

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED ACCELERATION FAILURE AND STALLED. IN ADDITION, THE GEAR HAD A DIFFICULT TIME SHIFTING FROM PARK INTO REVERSE OR DRIVE WHEN ATTEMPTING TO MOVE OUT OF A PARKED POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BERGSTROM CHEVROLET OF MADISON (1345 APPLEGATE RD, MADISON, WI 53713, (608) 271-2212) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BODY CONTROL MODULE AND AN ELECTRIC BRAKE CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE INSTALLED. IN ADDITION, A REAR PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL SPEED SENSOR ALTERNATOR CIRCUIT NEEDED TO BE INSTALLED. THE VEHICLE REMAINED AT THE DEALER SINCE JULY 16, 2019 AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE REPAIR WOULD COST $2,700. THE MANUFACTURER PROVIDED A CASE NUMBER AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO A MANAGER. THE CONTACT HAD NOT YET SPOKEN WITH THE MANAGER. THE CONTACT WAS TRYING TO FIND OUT WHAT REPAIRS WERE COMPLETED BY THE PREVIOUS OWNER AND WAS CONCERNED THAT THE REPAIRS WERE NOT DONE PROPERLY. THE DEALER COULD NOT PROVIDE A SERVICE REPAIR HISTORY FOR THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI 11241350

TAKATA RECALL WHEN MY VEHICLE STARTED HAVING ISSUES IT STARTED WITH LAGGING TO START I WOULD TURN THE KEY AND LITERALLY LET GO AND THEN IT WOULD START. NOW IT'S TO THE POINT WHERE IT DOESN'T ALWAYS WANT TO START . WHEN IT DOES MY SENSORS ARE ALL MESSED UP . FIRST TIME MY AIRBAG WARNING WAS COMING UP . NEXT MY SENSORS ON MY TIRES WERE NOT WORKING THEN I STARTED TO NOTICE WHEN I WAS DRIVING AND I WOULD STOP PUSHING THE GAS THE GAUGE WILL GO UP AND DOWN. THE LAST THING THAT HAPPENED WAS THE CHECK ENGINE CAME ON BUT TURNED OFF. I TRIED TO GET A DIAGNOSTICS DONE BUT OF COURSE NOTHING CAME OF IT . SO NOW MY CAR IS JUST SITTING IN MY GARAGE UNTIL I FIGURE IT OUT. BUT THERE ARE NO TYPE OF CHECK ENGINE LIGHT OR ANYTHING THAT COMES ON BEFORE THE CAR STARTS NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY

NHTSA ODI 11229136

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING LOW SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO DEAN ARBOUR FORD LINCOLN (1001 US-23, ALPENA, MI 49707, (989) 356-6366) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED TWICE, BUT THE DETAILS WERE UNKNOWN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000.

NHTSA ODI 11205239

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE OVERHEATED, STALLED, AND VARIOUS WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND WAS LATER TAKEN TO MASTER CHEVROLET (3625 RICHLAND AVE W, AIKEN, SC 29801, (806) 353-6343) FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND REPAIRS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE A SPECIFIC CAUSE OF THE FAILURES, BUT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS A FLOOD VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD ELECTRICAL WIRING ISSUES, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TO SWITCH GEARS CORRECTLY, AND THE BRAKES HAD BEEN REPLACED AT LEAST TWICE SINCE OWNING THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,500.

NHTSA ODI 11111177

TRANSMISSION ONLY GO WHEN IT'S COOL

NHTSA ODI 11104966

TAKATA RECALL I PURCHASED A 2012 CHEVY MALIBU 2 YEARS AGO FOR MY GRADUATING SENIOR AND THIS CAR HAS PRACTICALLY BEEN A NIGHTMARE SINCE THE DAY WE PURCHASED IT. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 43,000 AND THERE HAS BEEN SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR. THE CAR PREVIOUSLY SHUT DOWN WHILE RIDING ON THE HIGHWAY, OUR MECHANIC STATED THE CAR HAS ELECTRICAL ISSUES. OKAY, SO HE TAMPERED WITH A FEW WIRES, AND THE CAR STARTED RIGHT UP. TWO DAYS AGO, THE CAR WOULDN'T START, IT'S CURRENTLY DISPLAYING "CHECK AIRBAG" EMERGENCY LIGHTS ARE FLASHING, WIPERS BEGAN GOING BACK AND FORWARD. MY HUSBAND BEGAN TO SHAKE A FEW WIRES (PER OUR MECHANIC) , AND LONG BEHOLD THE CAR HAS STARTED!!! TALK ABOUT BUYER'S REMORSE!!!! THIS CAR IS NOW PARKED IN OUR GARAGE UNTIL WE FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO WITH IT!!! I'M NOW CONCERNED FOR MY SON'S SAFETY AND WILL NOT ALLOW HIM TOO DRIVE THE 2012 CHEVY MALIBU.

NHTSA ODI 11058616

THIS IS MY SECOND INCIDENT REPORT FOR THE SAME VEHICLE. WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST ALL MOBILITY. NO WARNING AT ALL JUST STOPPED RUNNING. FORTUNATLY I WAS NOT AT A VERY HIGH RATE OF SPEED BUT WAS GETTING READY TO MAKE A TURN OFF THE HIGHWAY. NO INDICATION THAT ANYTHING WAS WRONG AT ALL. MY CONCERN IS WHY DOES SOMEONE NEED TO GET HURT OR KILLED BEFORE THIS PROLEM IS ADDRESSED? HAVING TAKEN THIS TO BE SERVICED I ENCOUNTERED OTHERS WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME EXPERIENCE WITH THEIR VEHICLES, ALL CHEVROLETS OF ONE MODEL OR SIMILAR TO IT. BASICALLY THE SAME MOTOR. THIS HAPPENED TO ME BEFORE AND I HAVE NOT BEEN GIVEN A REASON FOR THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI 11058388

STOP AT LIGHT, KNOCKING NOISE STARTS & HESITATION AT NEXT LIGHT. A MILE LATER, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TURNS ON.CODES P00011,P00014 P00366- FROM DEALERSHIP #1. HAD PREVIOUS ENGINE WORK DONE UNDER WARRANTY (WHICH DEARLERSHIP #1 TRIED TO CHARGE ME $400. UNTIL I PRESSED THE WARRANTY).I BOUGHT IT THERE.SERVICE PERSON REPORTED:FOREIGN DEBRIS ON THE SCREEN OF THE CAM POSITION ACTUATORS SHE ALSO REPORTED: FILTER BROKE, OR SOMEONE WHERE I HAD THE OIL CHANGED (VALVOLINE) PUT A RAG OR BOTTLE CAP IN MY ENGINE,NEEDED A NEW ONE. SHE ADVISE ME TO TAKE THE CAR TO VALVOLINE.AFTER PERSISTENT QUESTIONING, SHE SUGGESTS, ENGINE FLUSH BUT NO GUARANTEE. REFUSED FLUSH. PAID $133. FOR "DIAGNOSTIC". TOOK TO VALVOLINE - THEY SPOKE TO TECH AT DEALERSHIP #1 WHO SAID FILTER INTACT BUT TILTED.THEY VIEWED THE FILTER, SAID IT WAS FINE BUT SHOWED ME THE METALLIC SPARKLES IN IT. THEY MENTIONED IT WAS TILTED.THEY TOOK PICTURES AND HAVE A VIDEO WHERE THEY SAID A RAG OR BOTTLE CAP WAS NOT NEAR ENGINE. I HAVE NOT VIEW THIS TAPE.CALLED GM - MADE A COMPLIANT AGAINST DEALER - THEY ESCALATE GM CALLS BACK. ADVISED TAKE TO DEALERSHIP. ANYONE, TOOK TO ANOTHER - DO NOT TRUST THE ORIGINAL.GM DEALERSHIP #2 - SAID FILTER HAD METAL PARTS IN IT - THEY SAID IT WAS CRUSHED,ASKED TO DROP PAIN,QUOTED $350.DEALER #2 - DROPS PAN AND SAYS THE FOLLOWING IN AN EMAIL AND SENT PICTURES:THE FOLLOWING PICTURES SHOW THE VEHICLES OIL PAN REMOVED AND FOREIGN DEBRIS IN THE BOTTOM. TECHNICIAN BELIEVES THE PLASTIC FROM THE TIMING CHAIN GUIDES AND VISIBLE METAL IN THE OIL ITSELF. ADVISED NEED ENGINE. REBUILT IS APPROX: $6000, OR $7500 NEW. CAR HAS 33K MILES.TIMING CHAIN BELT FAILURE.GM WILL NOT STAND BY THEIR PRODUCTS THAT DESTROYED ENGINE.TWO ENGINE ISSUES PRIOR TO CURRENT: STALLED APPROACHING A HIGHWAY. TOWED TO DEALERSHIP#1. DRIVING ON HIGHWAY/SLOWED FROM 50 TO 20MPH, TRYING TO PULL OVER THEN IT ACCELERATED.

NHTSA ODI 11057052

VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AT ABOUT 60 MPH ON A HIGHWAY AND THE RPMS DROPPED DRASTICALLY, THE ANTI SKID INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER TEMPORARILLY. I PULLED OVER AND SLOWED DOWN AND THE CAR RETURNED TO NORMAL. SAME EVENING VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ABOUT 55 MPH ON A HIGHWAY WHEN THERE WAS A LOSS OF POWER, STEERING GOT SLUGGISH,ALL INDICATORLIGHTS ON DASH BLINKED ON AND OFF ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON, ANTI SKID INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON, WAS KNOCKING IN MOTOR AND CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE OVER 20 MPH. COMPLETED A DIAGNOSIS OF THE VEHICLE AND A CODE P0068 WAS NOTED BY DIAGNOSTICS. P0068 THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION SYSTEM IS NOT PERFORMING AS EXPECTED. AN ISSUE HAS BEEN DETECTED IN THE THROTTLE CONTROL SYSTEM THAT CONNECTS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WITH THE THROTTLE AND INTEGRATES FEATURES SUCH AS CRUISE CONTROL, TRACTION CONTROL, STABILITY CONTROL, AND PRE-CRASH SYSTEMS. IF THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS FLASHING, A MISFIRE CONDITION HAS BEEN DETECTED. A MISFIRE INCREASES VEHICLE EMISSIONS AND COULD DAMAGE THE EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM ON THE VEHICLE. PLEASE REDUCE VEHICLE SPEED, AVOID HARD ACCELERATIONS, AVOID STEEP UPHILL GRADES, AND REDUCE ANY CARGO LOADS SUCH AS A TRAILER. IF THE VEHICLE IS CONTINUALLY DRIVEN WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON, THE EMISSION CONTROLS MIGHT NOT WORK AS WELL, THE VEHICLE FUEL ECONOMY MIGHT NOT BE AS GOOD, AND THE ENGINE MIGHT NOT RUN AS SMOOTHLY. THIS COULD LEAD TO FUTURE REPAIRS

NHTSA ODI 11057219

MY CAR HAS 53000 MILES AND THE TRANSMISSION IS DOWNSHIFTING VERY HARD. MY CONCERN IS ONCE I AM DRIVING IT FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES THIS STARTS HAPPENING AND IM NOT SURE WHAT IT IS. I HAVE READ ONLINE A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE HAVE THIS EXACT PROBLEM SO I AM PRETTY SURE IT IS A DEFECT ON THE TRANSMISSION ITSELF FROM THE DEALER.

NHTSA ODI 11055665

2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO MULTIPLE SAFETY DEFECTS WITH VEHICLE. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAS SEVERAL SAFETY DEFECTS INCLUDING THE ELECTRIC STABILITY CONTROL, BRAKES, SENSOR LIGHTS, STEERING, SUSPENSION, WHEELS, ENGINE LIGHTS, POWER TRAIN. UPDATED 10/23/2017*JS

NHTSA ODI 11035054

AFTER OWNING THE CAR ONLY 3 WEEKS, THE CIRCUIT BOARD BLEW A WIRE CONNECTOR CAUSING MY FUEL PUMP TO GO OUT AFTER THE DEALERSHIP JUST HAD THESE EXACT PARTS REPLACED HIMSELF AT TIME OF PURCHASE. THE CAR HAS LOST POWER, HAS ISSUES WITH BLINKER STICKING OR RELAY. THE CAR DRAINS RAPIDLY WHEN A.C. IS TURNED ON. RADIO SOMETIMES SHUTS OFF SOUND. THE VEHICLE HAS COST ME OVER 3000 WITHIN MY 3 MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP HAS ONLY 140000 MILES ON ENGINE. ELECTRICAL ISSUES EVERYWHERE AM FEARFUL IT MAY CATCH FIRE WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WITH MY 3 CHILDREN! YOUTUBE HAS MANY COMPLAINTS ON SAME MAKE MODEL VEHICLE WITH SAME OCCURRING ISSUE'S! LUCKILY WHEN CIRCUIT BOARD BLEW A COMPACTOR THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY IN THE PARKING LOT AT DOLLAR GENERAL. WE WERE FORCED TO HAVE IT TOWED TO DESTINATION.

NHTSA ODI 11019476

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON AFTER IT FAILED. IN MOTION.

NHTSA ODI 10980840