CarRecallDB

2012 Chevrolet Malibu recalls and problems

2 recalls and 907 owner complaints on file with NHTSA for the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu.

2
recalls
907
owner complaints
50
complaints mentioning a crash
13
mentioning a fire

Recalls apply to specific production ranges. To see whether a particular car still has an open recall, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Repairs for safety recalls are free at authorised dealers.

2012 Chevrolet Malibu recalls

Seat belts

NHTSA campaign 15V269000 · reported May 8, 2015 · General Motors LLC · 437,045 vehicles potentially affected

The problem
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 cable breaking.
The risk
If the cable breaks, the seat occupant may not be properly restrained in the event of a crash, increasing their risk of injury.
The fix
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.

Electronic stability control (ESC) · Vehicle speed control: cruise control · Exterior lighting: brake lights, switch · Exterior lighting: brake lights · Electrical system: wiring

NHTSA campaign 14V252000 · reported May 14, 2014 · General Motors LLC · 2,440,524 vehicles potentially affected

The problem
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 the affected vehicles, increased resistance in the Body Control Module (BCM) connection may result in voltage fluctuations in the Brake Apply Sensor (BAS) circuit. These fluctuations can cause one or more of these conditions: the brake lights to illuminate without the brake pedal being pushed; the brake lights to not illuminate when the pedal is pushed; difficulty disengaging the cruise control; moving the gear shifter out of the 'PARK' position without pushing the brake; and disablement of crash avoidance features such as traction control, electronic stability control, and panic braking assist features.
The risk
Any of the above failure conditions increases the risk of a crash.
The fix
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.

Most reported problems

Areas named in owner complaints to NHTSA. One complaint can name several areas.

What owners report

Recent complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. These are unverified accounts from owners, not findings.

Sep 30, 2026 · Electrical system

See attached document for complaint.

Aug 31, 2026 · Seats

Car has 161,848 miles and the seat frame broke on the drivers side of my 2012 Chevy Malibu. It had a slight tilt to the right. It was taken to the Chevrolet Dealership and they inspected and verified that the frame welding was broken. I have a video from the service tech showing the broken frame. I took a screen shot…

Jul 22, 2026 · Electrical system

Electrical system problems that create unsafe driving conditions!! Vehicle has electrical glitches. Internal warning lights flicker on and off. Battery drains. Car randomly will not start. Multiple incidents. Car stalled on roadway without warning and would not crank. Luckily I was in a residential neighborhood with…

Mar 26, 2026 · Electrical system

Rear defrost stopped working. Hasn't worked in years. I took it to GM, they had a print out of a kit that I had to purchase to repair. This stopped working back around 2016.

Mar 21, 2026 · Air bags

My airbag warning light and notification have came on and sometimes seat belt lights come on unexpectedly and will not go off I feel like this is a safety issue

Malibu model years compared

YearRecallsComplaintsCrashesFires
2009 51,509419
2010 31,3634114
2011 39784017
2012 29075013
2013 108373310
2014 6351198
2015 3270189

Across all years, the 2009 Malibu has the most complaints (1,509). All Chevrolet Malibu years →

Questions

Does the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu, the most recent reported on May 8, 2015 (Seat belts). Check a specific car by its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu?
Owners have filed 907 complaints with NHTSA. The most frequently reported area is electrical system (291 complaints), followed by exterior lighting (202).
How many 2012 Chevrolet Malibu complaints mention a crash or fire?
50 of 907 complaints report a crash and 13 a fire; 35 injuries were reported in total. Complaints are unverified reports from owners.

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint data, updated October 27, 2026. Latest complaint received September 30, 2026.