2012 Chevrolet Malibu reliability record
Every consumer complaint and recall the U.S. government (NHTSA) has on file for the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu — the repair risk behind the ownership cost.
- NHTSA complaints
- 1,471
- 208 in the last 5 years
- Top problem area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- 281 complaints
- Recalls on record
- 2
- see below
- Reported harm
- 93 reported crashes · 66 injuries · 24 fires
What owners report fails — 2012 Chevrolet Malibu
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 281
- EXTERIOR LIGHTING 195
- STEERING 188
- ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) 129
- AIR BAGS 99
2 recalls on record for the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu
- NHTSA 15V269000 · 2015 · SEAT BELTS If the cable breaks, the seat occupant may not be properly restrained in the event of a crash, increasing their risk of
- NHTSA 14V252000 · 2014 · ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) Any of the above failure conditions increases the risk of a crash.
Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 2012 Chevrolet Malibu
A vehicle's complaint record hints at the repair and maintenance budget you'll need. Add your state, purchase price, and mileage to the TCO calculator for the full picture.
Open TCO calculatorThese are unverified consumer reports and manufacturer recalls filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — not validated defect rates, and not adjusted for how many 2012 Chevrolet Malibu units were produced or sold. High-volume and older vehicles naturally accumulate more complaints. Use this as one research signal, not a verdict on any individual vehicle. Data as of 2026. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain).
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu reliable?
NHTSA has 1,471 consumer complaints on record for the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu and 2 recalls. The most-reported problem area is electrical system (281 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 2012 Chevrolet Malibu units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu?
Owners most often report problems with: electrical system (281), exterior lighting (195), steering (188), electronic stability control (esc) (129). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
How much does it cost to own a 2012 Chevrolet Malibu?
Ownership cost depends on your state taxes, insurance, fuel, and the maintenance the vehicle's reliability record implies. Use the CarOutlay 5-year TCO calculator to estimate the full cost including the repair risk this complaint record suggests.