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)

289 of 904 complaints match · Electrical system · clear filters · page 7 of 12

Dec 4, 2018Electrical systemLights

THE PASSENGER LOW BEAM KEEPS GOING OUT ITS NOT THE BULB I'VE CHANGED IT ATLEAST 4 UNLESS THIS YEAR YET IT STILLS GOES OUT AND EVERYBODY ELSE HAS THE SAME PROBLEM ON SAME SIDE OF THE SAME CAR. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL FOR THIS.

NHTSA ODI 11156031

Nov 26, 2018Electrical system

REAR FUSE BLOCK MELTED AT FUSE LOCATION 23 FOR REAR WINDOW DEFOGGER 2ND OCCURRENCE ON VEHICLE. REAR DEFOGGER ILLUMINATED ON DASH INDICATING THAT DEFOGGER WAS ON. WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. OPENED REAR FUSE BLOCK IN TRUCK TO EXAMINE FUSE AND FOUND FUSE HAD MELTED AND FUSE BLOCK IS ALSO MELTED SHOWING POTENTIAL FOR FIRE HAZARD. FUSE WAS CHARRED AND BLACKED AND HARD TO DISTINGUISH 30 AMP RATING ON FUSE. FUSE BLOCK PLASTIC AT WIRES IS ALSO MELTED. PULLED FUSE AND DEFOGGER RELAY TO PREVENT FURTHER DAMAGE TO FUSE BLOCK. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED TO MY VEHICLE AS FIRST WAS STILL UNDER FACTORY WARRANTY (2015). KNOWN TIMELINE FOR FUSE FINALLY BLOWING AND PREVENTING SYSTEM TO WORK IS 11/24/18. SYSTEM WORKED PRIOR TO THAT. SEARCH OF INTERNET HAS REVILED MORE VEHICLES HAVING SIMILAR PROBLEM. POSSIBLE SAFETY ISSUE. CAN PROVIDE PICTURES OF FUSE AND BLOCK UPON REQUEST.

NHTSA ODI 11153998

Nov 20, 2018Electrical systemLights

LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES BUT NOW FAIL TO OPERATE.

NHTSA ODI 11152768

Nov 2, 2018Electrical systemLightsAirbagsEngine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND THE AIR BAG AND CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURES OCCURRED ON DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO COX CHEVROLET (2900 CORTEZ RD W, BRADENTON, FL 34207, (941) 348-6417), BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEALER MADE UNKNOWN REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE, BUT THE WARNING INDICATORS REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL TIRE SHOP FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE EXTERIOR LIGHTING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT EVERY THREE MONTHS A DIFFERENT EXTERIOR LIGHT WOULD GO OUT AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI 11144976

Oct 30, 2018Electrical systemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

MY CAR HAD HAD THE HEADS REPLACED IN THE FIRST MOTOR IT CAME WITH THEN THE WHOLE MOTOR REPLACED BEFORE 100K MILES NOW THE NEW MOTOR DOESNT BARELY HAVE 100K MILES ON IT AND THEY ARE TELLING ME MY CYLINDER 6 ISNT HOLDING COMPRESSION SO I'LL NEED ANOTHER MOTOR EVENTUALLY! MY TRANSMISSION IS LEAKING , ITS HAD A WHOLE NEW AIR CONDITIONING UNIT INSTALLED WHEN MY MOTOR WAS REPLACED BECAUSE IT WENT OUT. THE SPEAKERS ON MY PASSENGER SIDE DONT WORK AND MY HEATING SYSTEM ON MY SEAT ON THE DRIVER SIDE HAS WENT OUT!

NHTSA ODI 11144108

Oct 24, 2018Electrical systemLights

IN LESS THEN ONE YEAR THE PASSENGER SIDE LOW BEAM LIGHT IS OUT. I LOOK ON LINE AND A LOT OF 2012 MALIBU ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. IT COST OVER $100 TO CHANGE IT BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO REMOVE THE BUMPER TO DO IT.

NHTSA ODI 11142312

Oct 24, 2018Electrical systemLights

MY CAR CAN RUN FOR A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME AND THE BATTERY WILL DIE RANDOMLY. MY HEADLIGHT CONSTANTLY CUT OFF AND INTERIOR MY HOT AN COLD LEVEL STAY DOWN ON A REGLAR DAY. THE AC BLOWS OUT COLD AIR WHEN ON HEAT OR IT WILL JUST BLOW AIR. MY CAR WILL JUST STIFEN UP AND NOT DRIVE AFTER RESTARTING THE BATTERY.

NHTSA ODI 11142387

Oct 24, 2018Electrical systemLights

CAR WILL SHUT DOWN. HEAD LIGHTS STOP WORKING LESS THEN EVERY TWO MONTHS. FUSE INSIDE THE CAR WHERE TO CHARGE THE PHONE ISN'T WORKING BOTH FRONT AND MIDDLE. CAR DIES RANDOMLY AFTER BEING LEFT ON FOR A LITTLE WHILE. HOT AND COLD RATE STAYS ON COLD ALL DAY AND HAS THE AC UNIT BLOW OUT COLD AIR WHEN ON HEAT AND IF ON COLD IT JUST BLOWS AIR. CAR WONT DRIVE FASTER THEN 5 MPH AFTER HAVING THE BATERY REBOOTED DEPENDING ON IF TE CAR WAS ALLOWED TO SIT IDOL OR A WHILE. CAR WILL PLACE IT'S SELF IN SHUT DOWN DE TO ELECRICAL PROBLEMS. ONCE ONE STARTS ACTING UP THEY ALL START ACTING UP.

NHTSA ODI 11142398

Oct 18, 2018Electrical systemLights

LOW BEAMS BOTH HEADLIGHTS REPEATEDLY GO OUT. HEATER/AIR CONDITIONER TURNS OFF AND ON BY ITSELF. MOTOR HAS BEEN CHANGED AND TESTED. IS THERE A WIRING PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE ACROSS THE BOARD. I READ A LOT OF PEOPLE WITH THIS VEHICLE HAVE THE EXACT SAME ISSUES. HEATER/AIR TURNS OFF WHILE IN PARK OR DRIVE RANDOMLY.

NHTSA ODI 11141205

Oct 12, 2018Electrical system

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE BATTERY WAS JUMPSTARTED BY THE CONTACT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO JAMES CORLEW CHEVROLET (722 COLLEGE ST, CLARKSVILLE, TN 37040, (931) 552-2020) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE RESET. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.

NHTSA ODI 11140051

Oct 4, 2018Electrical systemLights

THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT KEEPS GOING OUT I'M CHANGING THESE OUT EVERY COUPLE MONTHS I'VE RESEARCHED AND FOUND SEVERAL OTHER DRIVERS ARE HAVING THIS SAME ISSUE

NHTSA ODI 11133423

Sep 21, 2018Electrical systemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

INTERMITTENT STARTING ISSUES ON THIS VEHICLE. WILL RANDOMLY TURN OVER BUT NOT START. IF WE LET IT SIT FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS IT WILL THEN START, BUT LEAVES US STRANDED. THIS HAPPENS EVERY 2-3 MONTHS. LIGHTS START BLINKING RANDOMLY AS DRIVING, TRACTION CONTROL WILL TURN ON AS WE ARE DRIVING CAUSING REDUCTION IN POWER. THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ONLINE ABOUT THIS ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI 11130544

Sep 20, 2018Electrical systemLightsFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S LOW BEAM HEADLAMPS FAILED TO OPERATE. JEFF WYLER SPRINGFIELD CHEVROLET (2237 W FIRST STREET, SPRINGFIELD, OH) DIAGNOSED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS HAD MELTED AND RECOMMENDED IT BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,000.

NHTSA ODI 11130478

Sep 8, 2018Electrical system

HEADLIGHT KEEPS GOING OUT

NHTSA ODI 11128263

Sep 5, 2018Electrical systemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

WHILE DRIVING THE CAR THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND WARMING MESSAGE READ ENGINE POWER REDUCE ESC AND SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL.. THE CAR SHOOK AND DROPPED DOWN TO 30 MPH WHILE I WAS ON HIGHWAY ..I WAS BARELY ABLE TO GET TO SIDE OF HIGHWAY .. I WAITED A FEW MINUTES AND STARTED CAR BACK UP AGAIN MESSAGE CLEARED BUT RIGHT BEFORE I GOT HOME CAR DID THE SAME THING .. I CALLED TRIPLE A AND HAS IT TOWED HOME

NHTSA ODI 11124543

Aug 24, 2018Electrical system

WHILE IN MOTION CAR JERKS AND ALMOST STALLS. ROUGH IDLE AGAIN JERKING AND ALMOST STALLING. SERVICE ESC / SERVICE TRACTION /ENGINE LIGHT COME ON. IF CAR IS NOT USED FOR A FEW DAYS, WARNING LIGHT WILL NOT COME ON. THEN ABOUT 30 MILES INTO DRIVE LIGHTS COME ON AND CONDITION DESCRIBED ABOVE OCCUR. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION.

NHTSA ODI 11122237

Aug 10, 2018Electrical system

WHILE DRIVING I NOTICED MY LIGHTS SHOWING ENGINE POWER REDUCED FROM MY UNDERSTANDING THIS IS THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR.

NHTSA ODI 11118935

Aug 6, 2018Electrical systemFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SMOKE ENTERED THE VEHICLE NEAR THE FRONT OF THE DASHBOARD. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE AREA AND NOTICED THAT THE FAILURE WAS NOT COMING FROM THE AREA OF THE ENGINE, BUT RATHER THERE WAS A STRONG ODOR OF BURNING WIRES. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT WITH OURISMAN CHEVROLET OF BOWIE (16610 GOVERNOR BRIDGE RD, BOWIE, MD 20716, (301) 262-7600) FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

NHTSA ODI 11118079

Jul 31, 2018Electrical systemAirbagsSeat belts

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY THE CHIMES STARTED DINGING AND THE CABIN FILLED UP WITH SMOKE THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AFTER PULLING OVER IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE FRONT SEAT BELTS WERE LOCKED IN THE WEARING POSITION

NHTSA ODI 11114996

Jul 13, 2018Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemEngine

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

Jul 5, 2018Electrical systemEngine

TIMING CHAIN CAUSING CAR TO MISFIRE AND ENGINE LIGHT ON

NHTSA ODI 11109768

Jul 3, 2018Electrical systemLights

LOW BEAM ON PASSENGER SIDE GOES OUT FREQUENTLY AND RANDOMLY. I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST MY LUCK. HOWEVER ACCORDING TO HTTPS://WWW.CARGURUS.COM/CARS/DISCUSSION-T32066_DS667897 THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME ISSUE. IVE BEEN LUCKY ENOUGH TO KEEP GETTING STOP BY NICE COPS, BUT THIS IS GETTING BAD. I HAVE A 1YEAR OLD THAT I CANT TAKE OUT IN THE CAR BECAUSE IT ISNT SAFE. FOR WHO KNOWS WHAT REASON. PLEASE HELP.

NHTSA ODI 11105423

Jun 7, 2018Electrical system

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (CHAMPION CHEVROLET CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM, 921 SOUTH CLINTON STREET, ATHENS, AL 35611), BUT DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE A FAILURE CODE. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO TEST DRIVEN, BUT THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DUPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000. *TT UPDATED 9/24/18*JB

NHTSA ODI 11100368

May 24, 2018Electrical systemLights

THE PASSENGER SIDE LOW BEAM LIGHT BULB SOCKET KEEPS BURNING OUT. REPLACED THE BULB 3 TIMES IN ONE YEAR. THE SOCKET IS THE PROBLEM, KEEPS SHORTING OUT. WHEN I REPLACE THE BULB THE SOCKET WHERE THE BULB PLUGS IN TO IS BURNT AND MELTED.

NHTSA ODI 11097728

May 2, 2018Electrical systemEngineFuel system

CYLINDER 2 KEEP MISS FIRING AND SERVICE TRACTION LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON. I HAVE TAKEN THE CARE TO 3 REPAIR SHOP AND SPENT OVER $2500 IN REPAIRS OVER THE LAST YEAR.

NHTSA ODI 11091335

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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 →