2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU — Owner-Reported Problems

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-08-22 903 complaints · 3 recalls
Most-reported system: EXTERIOR LIGHTING (188 complaints · 20.8%)
Safety signals:
  • Crashes 49
  • Fires 13
  • Injuries 35
  • Deaths 0
Compare with 2011 →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Component Problem Distribution

Share of owner complaints filed for each vehicle system (unaffected by sales volume)

Component Problem Distribution EXTERIOR LIGHTING appears in 188 of 903 owner complaints (20.8%) in this vehicle snapshot. EXTERIOR LIGHTING: 188 complaints, 20.8% of reports EXTERIOR LIGHTING 188 · 20.8% · 3 crash reports 4 fire reports STEERING: 157 complaints, 17.4% of reports STEERING 157 · 17.4% · 6 crash reports ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: 103 complaints, 11.4% of reports ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 103 · 11.4% · 1 crash reports 5 fire reports AIR BAGS: 60 complaints, 6.6% of reports AIR BAGS 60 · 6.6% · 17 crash reports ENGINE: 51 complaints, 5.7% of reports ENGINE 51 · 5.7% · 1 crash reports FUEL SYSTEM: 42 complaints, 4.7% of reports FUEL SYSTEM 42 · 4.7% · 2 fire reports SEAT BELTS: 37 complaints, 4.1% of reports SEAT BELTS 37 · 4.1% · 4 crash reports POWER TRAIN: 36 complaints, 4.0% of reports POWER TRAIN 36 · 4.0% VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL: 33 complaints, 3.7% of reports VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 33 · 3.7% · 3 crash reports UNKNOWN OR OTHER: 149 complaints, 16.5% of reports UNKNOWN OR OTHER 149 · 16.5% · 6 crash reports 2 fire reports 0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

UNKNOWN OR OTHER is an NHTSA classification artifact and is always listed last.

View component data as a table
System / Component Complaints Share of Reports Safety Reports (Crashes / Fires)
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 188 20.8% 3 crashes · 4 fires
STEERING 157 17.4% 6 crashes · 0 fires
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 103 11.4% 1 crashes · 5 fires
AIR BAGS 60 6.6% 17 crashes · 0 fires
ENGINE 51 5.7% 1 crashes · 0 fires
FUEL SYSTEM 42 4.7% 0 crashes · 2 fires
SEAT BELTS 37 4.1% 4 crashes · 0 fires
POWER TRAIN 36 4.0% 0 crashes · 0 fires
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 33 3.7% 3 crashes · 0 fires
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 149 16.5% 6 crashes · 2 fires
NHTSA Consumer Complaints, NHTSA Safety Recalls, and NHTSA Defect Investigations Snapshot 2026-08-22 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Problem & Recall Timeline

Observed complaint volume and manufacturer recall actions over time

Problem & Recall Timeline Owner reports in this snapshot begin in Oct 2011; the first recall shown was reported in May 2014. 2011-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2012-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2012-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2012-Q3: 4 owner reports 4 2012-Q4: 4 owner reports 4 2013-Q1: 6 owner reports 6 2013-Q2: 8 owner reports 8 2013-Q3: 5 owner reports 5 2013-Q4: 5 owner reports 5 2014-Q1: 4 owner reports 4 2014-Q2: 21 owner reports 21 2014-Q3: 28 owner reports 28 2014-Q4: 21 owner reports 21 2015-Q1: 14 owner reports 14 2015-Q2: 20 owner reports 20 2015-Q3: 29 owner reports 29 2015-Q4: 31 owner reports 31 2016-Q1: 23 owner reports 23 2016-Q2: 19 owner reports 19 2016-Q3: 14 owner reports 14 2016-Q4: 23 owner reports 23 2017-Q1: 25 owner reports 25 2017-Q2: 17 owner reports 17 2017-Q3: 18 owner reports 18 2017-Q4: 19 owner reports 19 2018-Q1: 36 owner reports 36 2018-Q2: 29 owner reports 29 2018-Q3: 33 owner reports 33 2018-Q4: 48 owner reports 48 2019-Q1: 60 owner reports 60 2019-Q2: 36 owner reports 36 2019-Q3: 42 owner reports 42 2019-Q4: 28 owner reports 28 2020-Q1: 31 owner reports 31 2020-Q2: 21 owner reports 21 2020-Q3: 18 owner reports 18 2020-Q4: 16 owner reports 16 2021-Q1: 18 owner reports 18 2021-Q2: 11 owner reports 11 2021-Q3: 8 owner reports 8 2021-Q4: 4 owner reports 4 2022-Q1: 21 owner reports 21 2022-Q2: 4 owner reports 4 2022-Q3: 6 owner reports 6 2022-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2023-Q1: 10 owner reports 10 2023-Q2: 5 owner reports 5 2023-Q3: 6 owner reports 6 2023-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2024-Q1: 10 owner reports 10 2024-Q2: 4 owner reports 4 2024-Q3: 5 owner reports 5 2024-Q4: 6 owner reports 6 2025-Q1: 7 owner reports 7 2025-Q2: 4 owner reports 4 2025-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 2025-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2026-Q1: 8 owner reports 8 2026-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 Owner reports Oct 2011 Jul 2026 Recall campaign 14V252000 ◆ Recall campaign 14V252000 Recall campaign 14E044000 ◆ Recall campaign 14E044000 Recall campaign 15V269000 ◆ Recall campaign 15V269000
  • Campaign 14V252000 was reported 808 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
View timeline records as a table
Date Record type Count Record identifier
2011-Q4 Owner reports 1
2012-Q1 Owner reports 1
2012-Q2 Owner reports 1
2012-Q3 Owner reports 4
2012-Q4 Owner reports 4
2013-Q1 Owner reports 6
2013-Q2 Owner reports 8
2013-Q3 Owner reports 5
2013-Q4 Owner reports 5
2014-Q1 Owner reports 4
2014-Q2 Owner reports 21
2014-Q3 Owner reports 28
2014-Q4 Owner reports 21
2015-Q1 Owner reports 14
2015-Q2 Owner reports 20
2015-Q3 Owner reports 29
2015-Q4 Owner reports 31
2016-Q1 Owner reports 23
2016-Q2 Owner reports 19
2016-Q3 Owner reports 14
2016-Q4 Owner reports 23
2017-Q1 Owner reports 25
2017-Q2 Owner reports 17
2017-Q3 Owner reports 18
2017-Q4 Owner reports 19
2018-Q1 Owner reports 36
2018-Q2 Owner reports 29
2018-Q3 Owner reports 33
2018-Q4 Owner reports 48
2019-Q1 Owner reports 60
2019-Q2 Owner reports 36
2019-Q3 Owner reports 42
2019-Q4 Owner reports 28
2020-Q1 Owner reports 31
2020-Q2 Owner reports 21
2020-Q3 Owner reports 18
2020-Q4 Owner reports 16
2021-Q1 Owner reports 18
2021-Q2 Owner reports 11
2021-Q3 Owner reports 8
2021-Q4 Owner reports 4
2022-Q1 Owner reports 21
2022-Q2 Owner reports 4
2022-Q3 Owner reports 6
2022-Q4 Owner reports 1
2023-Q1 Owner reports 10
2023-Q2 Owner reports 5
2023-Q3 Owner reports 6
2023-Q4 Owner reports 2
2024-Q1 Owner reports 10
2024-Q2 Owner reports 4
2024-Q3 Owner reports 5
2024-Q4 Owner reports 6
2025-Q1 Owner reports 7
2025-Q2 Owner reports 4
2025-Q3 Owner reports 2
2025-Q4 Owner reports 1
2026-Q1 Owner reports 8
2026-Q3 Owner reports 1
Recall campaign 1 14V252000
Recall campaign 1 14E044000
Recall campaign 1 15V269000
NHTSA Safety Recalls Snapshot 2026-08-22 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Safety Recalls (3)

Official safety recall campaigns filed with NHTSA

  1. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 14E044000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    A joint bearing that fails prematurely may cause separation of the u-joint resulting in a complete loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
    Remedy:
    Dorman will notify owners, and dealers will refund the purchase price or replace the steering shafts, free of charge. The recall began in September 2014. Owners may contact Dorman customer service at 1-800-523-2492.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  2. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 14V252000

    Report date
    Component:
    ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
    Consequence:
    Any of the above failure conditions increases the risk of a crash.
    Remedy:
    GM will notify owners, and dealers will attach the wiring harness to the BCM with a spacer, apply dielectric lubricant to both the BCM and harness connector and the BAS and harness connector, and will relearn the brake pedal home position, free of charge. The manufacturer distributed an Interim letter to customers on July 14, 2014. The recall began on August 18, 2014. Owners may contact General Motors customer service at 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), 1-800-762-2737 (Pontiac), 1-800-553-6000 (Saturn). GM's number for this recall is 13036.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  3. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 15V269000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    If the cable breaks, the seat occupant may not be properly restrained in the event of a crash, increasing their risk of injury.
    Remedy:
    GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the outboard lap anchor mounting bracket and inspect the flexible steel cable, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on November 16, 2015. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 15031.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Complaint Narrative Explorer

Verbatim owner-reported defect narratives from NHTSA public records

Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · snapshot 2026-08-21
Safety incident filters
Showing 0 of 903 complaints · page 1 of 37

No complaints match the current filters.
EPA Fuel Economy Database Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Estimated Ownership Cost

EPA fuel economy ratings and annual operating cost estimates

Data: US EPA Fuel Economy Guide · snapshot 2026-08-21
Supported range: 1,000–60,000 miles per year
Supported range: $1.50–$10.00 per gallon
55% city45% highway
Estimate unavailable

EPA fuel-economy data is unavailable for this vehicle.

No estimate is shown when required EPA values are unavailable.

 Open Ownership Cost Calculator →

Adjacent Model Years

Immediate preceding and succeeding model year records

NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Methodology & Data Integrity

Data sourced from NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Snapshot date: 2026-08-21.

Read our complete data methodology → Sources