Home · 2012 Chevrolet Malibu Hev · Complaints

What 904 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu Hev

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 (904)Crash / fire / injury (65)Electrical system (289)Lights (202)Steering (191)Electronic Stability Control (esc) (129)Airbags (101)Engine (99)Brakes (73)Fuel system (56)Speed control (52)Transmission & drivetrain (49)

Newest first · 904 complaints · page 13 of 37

Jul 3, 2019Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

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

Jun 26, 2019Electrical systemLightsElectronic Stability Control (esc)

HEAD LIGHTS KEEP GOING OUT

NHTSA ODI 11222643

Jun 25, 2019Steering

MY VEHICLE IS STARTING TO SHOW A POWER STEERING WARNING.THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS NUMBER 15356, 08/28/2015, CAMPAIGN - ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING FAILURE WARRANTY INFO. I CALLED GM AND THEY SAID MY VIN NUMBER IS NOT INCLUDED. I FEEL IT IS GOING TO LOSE POWER STEERING ASSIST AT ANY TIME. THIS COULD RESULT IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE MALIBUS COVERED BY THE RECALL. THEY REFUSE TO ADMIT THIS PROBLEM IS MORE WIDESPREAD TO 2012 MALIBUS THAT ARE NOT INCLUDED AT THIS TIME.

NHTSA ODI 11222564

Jun 24, 2019Electrical systemLights

HEADLAMP HARNESS KEEPS BURNING CAUSING HEADLAMP TO FAIL TO ILLUMINATE. HAVE REPLACED MULTIPLE BULBS AS WELL AS BOTH HARNESSES WITHIN THE LAST 6 MONTHS AND AGAIN, HARNESS HAS BURNT AND MY LOW BEAM HEADLAMPS DO NOT WORK. READING SIMILAR COMPLAINTS, I BELIEVE IT HAS TO DO WITH THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT FEATURE. I'VE NOTICED THE ISSUE BOTH WHEN THE VEHICLE IS MOVING AND WHEN IT'S STATIONARY. WHILE THERE HASN'T BEEN A FIRE AS A RESULT OF THIS ISSUE YET, I'M SURE IT'S JUST A MATTER OF TIME.

NHTSA ODI 11222130

Jun 24, 2019Electrical systemLights

I HAVE REPLACED MY LOW BEAMS 3 TIMES THIS YEAR. THE FIRST TIME I REAPLACED ALL THE BULBS. THE SECOND TIME I REAPLACED BOTH WIRING HARNESS AND BULBS. A MONTH AGO I REPLACED THE PASSENGER BULB AND NOW THE DRIVERS SIDE LOW BEAM IS OUT AGAIN. IT HAS COST ME ANYWHERE FROM $100-$200 EACH TIME TO DO THIS! I ALSO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH MY DASH TELLING ME SERVICE ESC, ESC OFF, AND SERVICE TRACTION. A RECALL IN 2014 ADDRESSES THIS ISSUE AND MY VIN SAYS THE RECALL HAS BEEN SERVICED BUT I AM STILL HAVING THIS ISSUE. IT HAPPENS WITH THE CAR IN PARK AND WHILE DRIVING. SOMETIMES IT STAYS ON FOR HOURS SOMETIMES MINUTES.

NHTSA ODI 11222249

Jun 21, 2019Electrical system

MY RIGHT SIDE LOW BEAM KEEPS GOING OUT. I HAVE REPLACED THE BULB 5 TIMES THIS YEAR. I'VE REPLACED THE WIRING HARNESSES FOR THE LIGHT BULB. I REALLY DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THIS KEEPS FALLING

NHTSA ODI 11221618

Jun 17, 2019Lights

I HAVE CHANGED MY PASSENGER HEADLIGHT BULB SEVERAL TIMES AND IT STILL DOES NOT WORK EVERY TIME I HAVE TO FIX IT I AM CHARGED $100.00 OR MORE. ALSO I HAVE HAD TO CHANGE THE MOTOR TO MY DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW TWICE. THIS ALSO ALSO HAPPENED TO MY 2000 CHEVY MALIBU. IT SEAMS LIKE THIS MODEL HAS MANY ISSUES.

NHTSA ODI 11220789

Jun 12, 2019Electrical system

MY DRIVER SIDE LIGHT CONTINUES TO KEEP GOING OUT AFTER A COUPLE WEEKS AND THE BULB IS NOT BLOWING THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE CHEVY MALIBU DEFINITELY NEEDS TO BE RECALLED AND FIXED BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T HAVE HEADLIGHTS CAN CAUSE A BAD ACCIDENT. IF YOU HIT A BUMP IT GOES OUT. I WAS ON A BACK ROAD AT NIGHT AND BOTH LIGHTS WENT OUT ALMOST CAUSING ME TO CRASH

NHTSA ODI 11219408

Jun 10, 2019Electronic Stability Control (esc)

I STARTED DRIVING THE CAR WITHIN FIVE MINUTES AFTER I PRESS ON THE BRAKES THE CAR STARTED JOLTING AND AFTER THAT IT START STALLING TRY TO USE THE CRUISE CONTROL ON A HIGHWAY MAXIMUM MILEAGE PER HOUR WAS 55 WILL NOT ENGAGE TURN AROUND PARK THE CAR KEPT THEM STALLING IN BETWEEN ONCE THE CAR PARKED LIGHTS ON THE DASH POPPED UP CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND ESC LIGHT POPPED UP THE CAR WAS NOT MOVING AND MOTOR STARTED SHAKING TRY TO PUT THE FOOT ON THE GAS GENTLY AND IT STARTED STALLING AGAIN. CAR BEEN PARKED EVER SINCE.

NHTSA ODI 11218927

Jun 8, 2019LightsVisibility & wipers

DRIVER SIDE LOW BEAM KEEPS SHORTING OUT EVEN AFTER REPLACING BULBS AND HARNESS. WINDSHIELD WIPERS BUSHING BROKE IN MIDDLE OF RAINSTORM ON 6/7/19 IN SUFFOLK VA ON INTERSTATE 664 SOUTH BOUND

NHTSA ODI 11218642

Jun 5, 2019Seats

THE SEAT COMES OFF THE METAL MOLDING WHILE CAR IS IN MOTION AND WHEN YOU TRY TO ADJUST THE SEAT IT ADJUSTS LOPSIDED AND UNEVEN .

NHTSA ODI 11218030

Jun 4, 2019Lights

THE PLUG TO THE LEFT HEADLIGHT CONTINUES TO MELT AND SHORT THE HEADLIGHT OUT. IT IS NOT THE BULB, BUT THE PLUG IN SYSTEM FOR THE HEADLIGHTS.

NHTSA ODI 11217828

May 29, 2019Lights

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS WERE REPLACED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE HEADLIGHT CONNECTORS WERE FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONNECTORS WERE REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURES CONTINUED. BOB BELL CHEVROLET (1230 BEL AIR RD, BEL AIR, MD) AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.

NHTSA ODI 11210670

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

May 16, 2019Electrical systemLights

REPLACED LOW BEAM LIGHTS MULTIPLE TIMES, HAD THE WIRING HARNESS REPLACED DUE TO A SHORTAGE THAT WAS SUPPOSEDLY LEADING TO THE LOW BEAMS LIGHT BLOWING OUT CONSTANTLY. LOW BEAM LIGHTS STILL KEEP GOING OUT. ONGOING ISSUE

NHTSA ODI 11208156

May 14, 2019SteeringSeats

THERE IS A STEERING RECALL FOR MY CAR BUT NOT FOR MY SPECIFIC VIN #. I'M HAVING THE SAME ISSUE WITH MINE AS WELL. MY RACKING PINION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA ODI 11207496

May 14, 2019Visibility & wipers

IN 2016 THE WIPER MOTOR WENT UP AND I HAD IT REPLACED AT A CHEVY DEALERSHIP AND AGAIN IN 2019 THE WIPER MOTOR WENT UP AGAIN. I CAN LOAD UP THE DOCUMENTS IF NEEDED.

NHTSA ODI 11207497

May 9, 2019Airbags

THE FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT ALWAYS SAY IT IS OFF WHEN A PASSENGER IS RIDING IN THE FRONT

NHTSA ODI 11206456

May 9, 2019Airbags

PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG LIGHT FOR THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER ALWAYS INDICATES THAT THE AIRBAG IS OFF WHEN A PASSENGER IS IN THE FRONT SEAT. THE MESSAGE DOES NOT GO AWAY AND HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR A VERY LONG TIME

NHTSA ODI 11206457

May 8, 2019Seats

THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT IS BROKEN. WAS RIDING DOWN THE STREET AND IT JUST POPPED. NOW IT ROCKS AND BOUNCE EVERYTIME YOU HIT A BUMP OR HUMP IN THE ROAD

NHTSA ODI 11206357

May 7, 2019Electrical system

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER WAS FAULTY AND WOULD NOT DISPLAY THE CORRECT DATA. PAT O'BRIEN CHEVROLET (3880 PEARL RD, MEDINA, OH 44256, (330) 460-0718) DIAGNOSED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,100.

NHTSA ODI 11206095

May 2, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

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

May 2, 2019Electrical system

WITHOUT WARNING THE CLUSTER OF GAUGES START GOING CRAZY AND ALL WARNING LIGHTS ARE ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE LOSES POWER STEERING AND VEHICLE SPEED WILL NOT EXCEED 20MPH. EVENTUALLY THE VEHICLE STALLS OUT.

NHTSA ODI 11205291

May 2, 2019Electronic Stability Control (esc)

WILL BE DRIVING AND AFTER APPLYING THE BRAKE THE SERVICE ESC WILL COME ON AND THEN MY CAR DOES NOT WANT TO STOP.

NHTSA ODI 11205395

May 1, 2019Electrical systemFuel system

CAR WOULD TURN OVER BUT NOT CRANK. GO BACK A LITTLE LATER AND IT CRANK FINE. AFTER THIS HAPPENING SEVERAL TIMES HAD SOMEONE TAKE A LOOK AT IT AND THERE WAS NO CODES AND THE CAR WOULD CRANK FINE SO COULDN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. THEN WHEN I WAS OUT SOMEWHERE IT WOULD CRANK AND RUN SLUGGISH AND GO DEAD AND AFTER A WHILE IT WOULD CRANK AND RUN. GOT TO RESEARCHING IT AND PEOPLE HAVING SAME PROBLEM. SAID THAT YOU COULD WIGGLE FUEL PUMP RELAY AND IT WOULD CRANK. SURE ENOUGH TRIED THIS AND IT WORKED. I'M PRETTY SURE THIS IS SAME PROBLEM. AND ALSO IF YOU HAD BEEN RUNNING THE CAR AND IT WOULDNT CRANK THE FUEL PUMP RELAY WILL BE HOT WHICH SUGGEST THE WIRING AND OR FUSE BOX IS PROBLEM. PEOPLE TALK ABOUT REPLACING FUEL PUMP , FUSE BOX , AND CHEAP LOW GAUGE WIRING FROM FUEL PUMP TO FUSE BOX. NOW I'M TAKING TO MECHANIC TO TRY TO GET THIS FIXED BEFORE IT CATCHES FIRE AND SOMEONE GETS HURT . TRY TO GET FIXED AND BUY A HONDA OR ANYTHING EXCEPT GM.

NHTSA ODI 11205096

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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 Hev verdict →