NHTSA lists 907 complaints for the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu, 50 of them mention a crash and 13 mention a fire. 27 complaints mention an injury, with 35 injuries and 0 deaths reported.
Data build 2026-10-09.
NHTSA lists this vehicle as CHEVROLET MALIBU.
At a glance
Complaints
907
With crash
50
With fire
13
With injury (complaints)
27
Injuries
35
Deaths
0
Recalls
2
Do not drive recalls
0
Park outside recalls
0
Recall potential units (maximum)
2,440,524
Investigations
0
Open investigations
0
Manufacturer communications
1,339
Complaints per 100k sold unavailable. The available sales group does not match this vehicle variant.
Where the complaints are
Top systems
System
Complaints
Share of this vehicle's complaints
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
291
32.1%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
202
22.3%
STEERING
191
21.1%
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
129
14.2%
AIR BAGS
101
11.1%
ENGINE
99
10.9%
SERVICE BRAKES
66
7.3%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
52
5.7%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
51
5.6%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
51
5.6%
Top subsystems
System
Subsystem
Complaints
STRUCTURE
BODY
15
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
HEADLIGHTS
7
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WIRING
4
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
IGNITION
3
AIR BAGS
SRS MALFUNCTION WARNING LAMP/LIGHT
2
CHILD SEAT
LATCH ADJUSTER
1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
INSTRUMENT PANEL
1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
EXHAUST SYSTEM
1
EQUIPMENT
ELECTRICAL
1
One complaint can name several systems, so shares can add to more than 100 percent.
Confidence is the model's own probability for the label it chose (0 to 1), not accuracy.
Model-generated labels on tagged complaints only. Model years 2013 and newer are tagged in full; 2012 in part (see tagged_share); earlier model years have no tags. NHTSA's own flags remain separate in the complaints block.
Defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured April 8, 2010, to October 11, 2012. In the affected vehicles, the flexible steel cables that connect the seat belts to the vehicle at the outside of the driver seat and the front passenger seat may be bent from being sat on while entering the vehicle. This repeated bending may result in the c (excerpt)
Consequence: If the cable breaks, the seat occupant may not be properly restrained in the event of a crash, increasing their risk of injury. (excerpt)
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. (excerpt)
Defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2004-2012 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured May 16, 2003, through October 11, 2012, 2004-2007 Malibu Maxx vehicles manufactured June 25, 2003, through April 5, 2007, 2005-2010 Pontiac G6 vehicles manufactured May 26, 2004, through January 4, 2010, and 2007-2010 Saturn Aura vehicles manufactured April 24, 2006, through May 26, 2009. In t (excerpt)
Consequence: Any of the above failure conditions increases the risk of a crash. (excerpt)
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 M (excerpt)
Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.
Investigations
0 investigations; 0 open.
Manufacturer communications
1,339 manufacturer communications.
Communications by system
System
Count
EQUIPMENT
610
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
251
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
144
ENGINE
118
POWER TRAIN
111
EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY
85
TIRES
60
WHEELS
59
11037253
Date: 2026-09-04. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: UNKNOWN OR OTHER.
This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into Technical Assistance.
11032947
Date: 2026-05-19. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: UNKNOWN OR OTHER.
This document provides the technician with a diagnostic tip if the vehicle stalls and set diagnostic trouble code P0191 and may also set P0172. The diagnostic tip has the technician inspect the high pressure fuel pump body markings to confirm it is an original manufacture part. If it is not an origi
11030974
Date: 2026-04-01. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: UNKNOWN OR OTHER.
This preliminary information communicates information about how to determine if a wheel and tires size change is available.
11030091
Date: 2026-03-09. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: UNKNOWN OR OTHER.
This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into Technical Assistance.
11030092
Date: 2026-03-09. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: UNKNOWN OR OTHER.
This Preliminary information communicates the steps on how to save a GDS2 Session Log and upload to a Technical Assistance Case in CX Connect.
11027601
Date: 2026-01-08. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: UNKNOWN OR OTHER.
This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into Technical Assistance.
11025755
Date: 2025-11-20. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: UNKNOWN OR OTHER.
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have had multiple repair attempts that are being performed on customera s vehicles that exhibit vibration conditions without utilizing the support of General Motors Technical Assistance Center. If
11023091
Date: 2025-09-09. Type: Other. Systems: UNKNOWN OR OTHER.
New Vehicle Monitoring Programs Section in IVH
11022084
Date: 2025-08-14. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: UNKNOWN OR OTHER.
This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into Technical Assistance.
11021792
Date: 2025-08-07. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: UNKNOWN OR OTHER.
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have an intermittent no crank, no start, or start stall concern with the security light coming on. Technician may find Diagnostic Trouble Codes B3055, B3060, B3935, C0750, C0755, C0760, C0765, and/o
Notes on this record
Complaints from the API and bulk file are merged and deduplicated by ODI number; the API alone misses records.
System and subsystem counts are numbers of distinct complaints, recalls or communications that name them. One record can name several systems, so shares across systems can add to more than 100 percent; a single share never exceeds 100 percent.
Recalls are counted once per campaign, investigations once per action and manufacturer communications once per NHTSA id, even when NHTSA lists several model names for the same record.
A sales denominator is a calendar-year proxy, not the population of vehicles still in use. Rates are copied from verified pipeline output.