Recalls (2)
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗Steel Cable that Anchors Seat Belt may Fail
- Summary
- 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.
- 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.
Brake Lights may or may not Randomly Illuminate
- Summary
- 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.
- 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.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (907)
907 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The electrical system is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 907 |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 291 | 32.1% |
| Exterior lighting | 202 | 22.3% |
| Steering | 191 | 21.1% |
| Electronic stability control | 129 | 14.2% |
| Air bags | 101 | 11.1% |
| Engine | 99 | 10.9% |
| Service brakes | 74 | 8.2% |
| Vehicle speed control | 52 | 5.7% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 51 | 5.6% |
| Unknown or other | 51 | 5.6% |
How 2012 compares with other Malibu years
Best and worst Malibu years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 994 | 4 |
| 2009 | 1,534 | 5 |
| 2010 | 1,363 | 3 |
| 2011 | 978 | 3 |
| 2012 | 907 | 2 |
| 2013 | 923 | 11 |
| 2014 | 363 | 6 |
| 2015 | 270 | 3 |
| 2016 | 861 | 10 |
| 2017 | 724 | 4 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Crash tests: 4 stars overall
Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), 2012 Chevrolet Malibu 4 dr fwd, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 26 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $2,600
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 342 g/mi
- EPA class
- Midsize Cars
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 26 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.
EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.
Specs by configuration
| Engine · transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | EPA $/yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4 L 4-cyl · 6-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 22 / 32 / 26 | $2,600 | 342 |
| 2.4 L 4-cyl · 6-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 22 / 33 / 26 | $2,600 | 342 |
| 3.6 L 6-cyl · 6-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 17 / 25 / 20 | $3,350 | 444 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 2012 Malibu for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
2012 Chevrolet Malibu FAQ
How many recalls does the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu have?
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns: 15V269000 (seat belt), 14V252000 (brake). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 2012 Chevrolet Malibu problems?
Owners filed 907 complaints with NHTSA. Electrical system (291), Exterior lighting (202), Steering (191) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu get?
EPA rates the 2.4 L 4-cyl · 6-speed automatic version at 22 city, 32 highway and 26 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
What safety rating did the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu get?
NHTSA rated the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu 4 dr fwd 4 stars overall, with 4 stars frontal, 5 stars side and 4 stars rollover (10.9% rollover risk).
How does the 2012 Malibu compare with other years?
Among the 2008–2017 Chevrolet Malibu model years at least five years old, the 2015 drew the fewest complaints (270) and the 2009 the most (1,534). The 2012 drew 907. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Summary reviewed on Oct 6, 2026.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.