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Data source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

  1. Home
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  3. >Malibu
  4. >2012

2012 Chevrolet Malibu Safety Report

Recalls, complaints, and safety data from NHTSA

The 2012 Chevrolet Malibu has 3 recalls, 904 complaints, and a 4-star overall safety rating from NHTSA.

3

Recalls

904

Complaints

★★★★★

Safety Rating

Data source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) · Last updated April 9, 2026

Recalls

15V269000

SEAT BELTS

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured April 8, 2010, to October 11, 2012. In the a...

14V252000

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2004-2012 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured May 16, 2003, through October 11, 2012, 2004-...

14E044000

STEERING

Dorman Products, Inc. (Dorman) is recalling certain replacement intermediate steering shafts sold under the Dorman, OE Solutions, and Solutions brand ...

Safety Ratings

Overall

★★★★★

Front Crash

★★★★★

Side Crash

★★★★★

Rollover

★★★★★

Rating for: 2012 Chevrolet Malibu 4 DR FWD

Top Complaint Categories

EXTERIOR LIGHTING
104
STEERING
99
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
65
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING
55
AIR BAGS
53
SEATS
30
SEAT BELTS
28
STEERING,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
24

Problems by Component

Electrical236Steering190Lights115Airbags73Other67Powertrain44Seat Belts32Engine30Seats30Brakes24Speed Control18Visibility15Structure12Wheels8Suspension4Fuel System4

Explore More

All Chevrolet ModelsCompare MalibuVehicles with Zero RecallsView All Makes

All Complaints

Date ↓ComponentSummary
Mar 4, 2026AIR BAGS,SEAT BELTSMy airbag warning light and notification have came on and sometimes seat belt lights come on unexpec...
Mar 4, 2026STEERINGOn March 4, 2026, my wife was driving the vehicle when she suddenly lost power steering. The steerin...
Feb 5, 2026STEERINGi was driving and the steering wheel locked, the whole steering column has to be replaced it brought...
Dec 23, 2025STEERINGThe “service ESC” light came on while I was driving on the freeway causing the steering wheel to loc...
Sep 3, 2025ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROLWas driving home on the parkway and the headlights shut off on their own had to call for roadside as...
Aug 11, 2025ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC),STEERINGThe contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed sp...
Jul 14, 2025SEAT BELTSI have tried since July of 2025 to have a recall fixed I have been in contact with multiple dealersh...
May 23, 2025ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving approximately 60 MPH...
Mar 25, 2025STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,WHEELSThe power steering assist has cause the steering wheel to move to its let by its self when not holdi...
Mar 19, 2025ELECTRICAL SYSTEMRear windowed defroster suddenly start working upon inspection the rear electrical block that's insi...
Mar 15, 2025STEERING,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC),TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEMThe contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbe...
Mar 3, 2025STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEMLoss of power steering assist while driving. Safety issue puts driver and others at risk. Problem co...
Feb 21, 2025STEERINGThe contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while his son was driving at an un...
Jan 8, 2025ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,AIR BAGSThe contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving at 55 MPH, the tempe...
Nov 15, 2024AIR BAGSThe contact called on behalf of her daughter's boyfriend who was driving alongside her daughter in a...
Nov 2, 2024AIR BAGS,UNKNOWN OR OTHEROn [XXX], as I was leaving softball tournament in Poway Ca with my kiddos about 6 minutes into drivi...
Jul 18, 2024ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SEAT BELTS,UNKNOWN OR OTHERFirst, there is a problem with the transmission. The car will stall or stop abruptly while driving. ...
Jul 13, 2024POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINEFor 4 years the car intermittently would turn on all warning lights, shake, become hard to steer and...
Jul 12, 2024ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTINGElectrical problem causing the passenger side low beam to keep burning out. Fourth time in one year....
Jun 30, 2024STEERINGAs I was driving my vehicle last Sunday the "Power Steering and the Service ESC" warnings came on my...