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2012 Chevrolet Malibu Body & Structure Problems

12 owner-reported body & structure complaints from NHTSA data

12
Complaints
3
Crashes
Jan 2015Dec 2013
Date Range

Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.

Owner Complaints (12)

criticalSTRUCTURE,WHEELS,SERVICE BRAKES
CrashFiled: Dec 2025

While driving, a brake caliper screw came loose and fell out, which damaged your brake line and caused you to lose braking ability. When you tried to use the emergency brake, it didn't work, and the vehicle crashed. This resulted in a loss of vehicle control due to complete brake failure.

NHTSA #: 11703616
mediumSTRUCTURE
Filed: Jun 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SEAT METAL FRAME FRACTURED, CAUSING THE SEAT TO COLLAPSE WHILE DRIVING. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. THE DEALER WAS NOT CALLED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 73,000. *LN THE CONSUMER PROVIDED PHOTOS. *TR

NHTSA #: 11329221
mediumSTRUCTURE,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC),ENGINE
Filed: Jul 2019

TAKATA RECALL IT CONSTANTLY SHAKES AND MY CAR IS CONSTANTLY PULLING AND RANDOM CODES POP UP ALL THE TIME . NOT TO MENTION IT'S A 2012 AND IT'S RUSTING MAJORLY. I AM DRIVING WHEN MY CAR SEEMS TO BE MISSING A BEAT IT WANTS TO JERK ON ME LIKE IT WANTS TO STOP RUNNING. I WAS ON A CITY STREET IT HAPPENS A LOT .

NHTSA #: 11235218
mediumSTRUCTURE,UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Filed: Feb 2019

NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. I'M TRYING TO FIND OUT WHERE TO FILE COMPLAINTS ABOUT MANUFACTURING ISSUES TO START A RECALL. MY MALIBU DIDN'T START ONE AFTER WORK TOWED IT TO MECHANIC. HE SAID IT DIDN'T HAVE OIL PRESSURE. HE OPENED UP THE ENGINE AND FOUND PIECES OF O RINGS/RTV SEALANT BLOCKING FLOW AND BUSTED RODS, LIFTERS, AND LOOSE BEARINGS OBVIOUSLY. I HAVE NEVER HAD ANY ONE OPEN THAT ENGINE. I FEEL THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. CAR ONLY HAS 90,000 MILES. A/C COMPRESSOR WENT OUT AT 40,000 MILES, REAR DEFROST OUT REAR FUSE BOX CORRODED AND BURNED WIRES HAD TO BE REPLACED, WHEEL BEARINGS OUT IN THE FRONT AT 50,000 MILES. THIS SHOULDN'T HAPPEN WITH A NEWER CAR. DEALER NO HELP OUT OF WARRANTY.

NHTSA #: 11174798
mediumSTRUCTURE
Filed: Nov 2018

DRIVERS DOOR WILL NOT OPEN FROM EITHER INSIDE OR OUTSIDE OF VEHICLE

NHTSA #: 11149970
mediumSTRUCTURE
Filed: Jun 2018

THE PASSENGER DOOR OF MY VEHICLE WILL NOT OPEN. THE AUTOMATIC LOCK APPEARS TO BE WORKING BUT I CANNOT OPEN THE DOOR. THIS ALSO HAPPENED TO THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR A FEW TIMES BUT THANKFULLY I WAS ABLE TO USE THE ACTUAL KEY FROM THE OUTSIDE TO OPEN IT. I HAVE READ REVIEWS WHERE THIS IS COMMON IN THIS VEHICLE. THIS IS AN EXTREME SAFETY HAZARD AND I CANNOT EVEN GET THE DOOR FIXED BECAUSE IT WON'T OPEN. PLEASE CONSIDER MAKING THIS A MANUFACFURER RECALL.

NHTSA #: 11099291
mediumSTRUCTURE,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,VISIBILITY/WIPER
CrashFiled: Sep 2017

PARKED IN AN INTERSECTION OLD HWY US 301 OCALA FLORIDA WHEELS TURNED LEFT WHICH WAS DARK AND POORLY LIT BY THE CITY. NO ORANGE LIGHTS ONTO A MAJOR THIN 2 LANE INTERSECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS BRAKED DURING THE LEFT TURN SOUTH POSITION. THE FRONT HOOD IN THE MIDDLE OF NORTH BOUND LANE FRONT BUMPER AND PLATE WERE IN THE HIGHWAY DIVIDING LINE. UP TO THE REAR DRIVERSIDE PASSENGER DOOR AT THE JOINT OF THE SIDE STREET AND HIGHWAY OUTSIDE LINE. A BICYCLIST STRUCK THE VEHICLE HIS LIGHT WAS THROWN INTO THE INTERSECTION. HE IS BLEEDING HES ON THE GROUND. ANOTHER FEMALE IS HELPING HIM. THE MIRROR OF THE VEHICLE DRIVERSIDE TORN OFF AND THE FRONT WINSHIELD SHATTERED ABOVE DRIVERSIDE TOP. THROWN BY IMPACT FROM HIS BICYCLE TO THE MALIBU HIS BACKPACK ON THE GROUND. HES AMBULATORY TRANSPORTED SHERIFFS RESPONDED FHP CAME OUT

NHTSA #: 11030670
mediumSTRUCTURE
Filed: Feb 2017

PASSENGER DOOR WON'T OPEN. DOOR LOCK GOES UP UND DOWN MANUALLY AND WITH POWER LOCK BUTTON OR FOB, DOOR WON'T OPEN. MANY REPORTS ONLINE OF THIS ISSUE. DEFINITE SAFETY ISSUE IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA #: 10956948
mediumSTRUCTURE
Filed: May 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR LOCKING MECHANISM UNLOCKED, BUT THE DOOR ITSELF WOULD NOT OPEN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000.

NHTSA #: 10864015
mediumSTRUCTURE,WHEELS,VISIBILITY/WIPER
CrashFiled: Jun 2015

THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN AT THE SPEED LIMIT WHEN THE TIRE POPPED. THE IMPACT WAS AS MUCH AS A FRONT END COLLISION; THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED ALONG WITH THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE BUMPER AND THE WHEEL WAS BENT. A MECHANIC SAID THAT BECAUSE THE SEAT BELTS LOCKED THE IMPACT WAS GREAT ENOUGH WHERE THE AIRBAGS SHOULD HAVE GONE OFF, BUT THEY DID NOT.

NHTSA #: 10725743
mediumSTRUCTURE
Filed: Jan 2015

IT SEEMS TO HAPPEN WHEN IT IS COLD OUTSIDE, THE UNDERCARRIAGE SOMEWHERE SOUNDS LIKE IT IS LOOSE WHENEVER YOU HIT A SMALL HOLE IN THE ROAD, GO OVER RAILROAD TRACKS, REALLY ANYTHING. *TR

NHTSA #: 10669551
mediumSTRUCTURE
Filed: Dec 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDOWS AND THE DASHBOARD BECAME FROZEN ON THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THE CONTACT ALLOWED EXCESSIVE WATER MOISTURE TO GET INTO THE VEHICLE WHICH CAUSED THE WINDOWS AND DASHBOARD TO FREEZE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,176. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 25,000.

NHTSA #: 10557142

Other 2012 Chevrolet Malibu Issues