There are 30 owner-reported engine complaints for the 2012 Chevrolet Malibuin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving at 55 MPH, the temperature gauge began to indicate the vehicle was overheating after which the vehicle lost motive power. The contact was able to pull to the shoulder of the roadway, where the vehicle failed to restart. The check engine and air bag warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a failure with the oil pan gasket; resulting in damage to the engine, and ABS control module resulting in the air bag warning light. The contact was informed that the engine would need to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was taken back to the independent mechanic, who again diagnosed a failure with the oil pan gasket. The vehicle was repaired, but again the failure occurred for the third time. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 113,000.
The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving approximately 65 MPH, the ESC traction warning light, service traction warning light, and the reduced engine power warning light were illuminated. The vehicle lost motive power and stalled. The contact was able to coast to the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to the dealer however, the vehicle was not diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 140,000.
The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated while driving approximately 60 MPH, the vehicle started to lose motive power. The contact was able to stop and turn the vehicle off. When the contact attempted to restart the vehicle the starter motor made noises however, the vehicle would not restart. The contact stated that the check engine and several unknown lights were illuminated. The contact stated that he was able to restart the vehicle after waiting for an hour before driving to his residence. The contact stated that the failure recurred and the vehicle was towed to a dealer. The dealer diagnosed the vehicle with an electrical engine sensor failure. The contact was informed that the sensor need to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 137,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START-UP WITH AN ABNORMAL CLUNKING AND BANGING SOUND COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN WAS SLIGHTLY DETACHED AND BECAME LOOSENED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HEISER CHEVROLET WEST ALLIS (10200 W ARTHUR AVE, WEST ALLIS, WI 53227; (414) 327-2300) AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN FAILURE HAD CAUSED ADDITIONAL ENGINE DAMAGE. THE FULL DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS STILL PENDING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE 85,000.
ENGINE STALLS WHEN SLOWING DOWN OR WAITING FOR TRAFFIC LIGHT. CALLED MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC CHECK. HE SAID ECS NOT FUNCTIONING CORRECTLY. I WAS 10 MILES FROM MY HOME WHEN THE CAR STARTED TO STALL AND IT STOPPED 6 TIMES BEFORE GETTING HOME. ENGINE HESITATED, HAD TO PUMP ACCELERATOR TO GET IT GOING AND STEERING WAS DIFFICULT. IS THERE A RECALL FOR THAT PROBLEM?
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND LOSS MOTIVE POWER WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT VEERED TO SHOULDER OF THE ROADWAY. THE CONTACT TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND BACK ON WHICH FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT WENT TO CHEVROLET OF MONTEBELLO (310 W WHITTIER BLVD, MONTEBELLO, CA 90640) HOWEVER, WAS INFORMED THAT NO RECALLS WERE ON THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 200,031.
I WAS DRIVING AND IT SAID ENGINE POWER REDUCED .COULDN'T PICK UP SPEED. *TR
I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2012 MALIBU LT, WHICH IS HAVING THE SAME ISSUES, AS WAS REPORT; MAR 26, 2019 - KAUFMAN, TX - ENGINE WHEN DRIVING OR SITTING AT IDLE NOT MOVING SERVICE ESC AND TRACTION CONTROL FLASHES ON DASH. WHICH IS CAUSING CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO STAY ON CAUSING MISFIRE ON CYLINDER #1 AND THEN RANDOM MISFIRE. THE CAR HASN+T BEEN ABLE TO BE INSPECTED IN 2 YEARS HAVE HAD AT 3 CHEVROLET DEALERSHIPS AND ALL CAN+T FIGURE OUT ISSUE . THE 1ST DEALERSHIP SAID WE HAVE NO IDEA WHAT+S WRONG WITH THE CAR. THE SECOND DEALERSHIP SAID THE CAR NEEDED #1 INJECTOR AND INJECTOR HARNESS AND THROTTLE BODY WHICH WAS REPLACED DIDN+T EVEN MAKE IT OFF THE LOT AND CHECK ENGINE AND TRACTION CONTROL AND ESC LIGHTS WAS FLASHING AGAIN THEY SAID MIGHT HAVE CRACKED HEAD CAR HAS BEEN PRESSURE TESTED DOESN+T USE WATER AND DOESN+T GET HOT. THEY ARE JUST TRYING TO THROW PARTS AT IT AT MY EXPENSE. THE 3RD DEALERSHIP WHICH CAR IS AT NOW IS TELLING ME POSSIBLE BURNT VALVE CAUSING ALL MY ISSUES WITH CAR SAID THEY DID COMPRESSION TEST AND ALL CYLINDERS HAVE 170 POUNDS IN ALL 4 CYLINDERS WHICH IS NOT POSSIBLE. I HAVE REPLACED MAP SENSOR, PCM, SPARK PLUGS, 1 INJECTOR, INJECTOR HARNESS, THROTTLE BODY AND NOTHING HAS HELPED CAR. THE CAR NEVER HAD ANY ISSUES WITH MISFIRE UNTIL THE ESC AND TRACTION CONTROL STARTED FLASHING AND IN 2 YEARS STILL HAS BEEN SOLVED AT ANY DEALERSHIP VERY DISAPPOINTED IN NEED OF HELP TO FIX ISSUE. HOW DO YOU FIX THE PROBLEM? [XXX]. PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).*CC
TIMING CHAIN JUST CAME OFF AT 86000 MILES. DRIVING FINE UNTIL ENGINE RPM SLOWED TO IDLE SPEED THEN SHUT OFF. WAS UNABLE TO START AND STRANDED. NO CODES OR WARNING. LUCKILY THIS HAPPENED IN A PARKING LOT BUT COULD HAVE EASILY HAPPENED ON A HIGHWAY.
TIMING CHAIN CAME OFF @ 75K MILES. CALLED GM. THEY WILL NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT. KEPT TELLING ME TO TAKE IT TO A DEALER. I ALREADY HAD IT TOWED TO A MECHANIC AND CAN'T AFFORD TO TOW IT SOMEWHERE ELSE. JUST DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND THE CHAIN CAME OFF. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER CHEVY.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND IT TOOK MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN UNKNOWN DEALER WHERE THE BATTERY PLUG WAS CLEANED, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.
HEATER CORE WAS REPLACED IN OCTOBER 2017 DUE TO ANTI-FREEZE LEAKING INSIDE OF CAR. THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD WAS REMOVED ($1050). IN OCTOBER 2018, THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT BEGAN TO APPEAR SO I HAD MY MECHANIC USE THE GM TESTING EQUIPMENT. TWO VALVE TIMING SOLENOIDS WERE REPLACED. THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT ISSUE CONTINUES AND WHEN IT DOES, THE BRAKE LIGHTS REMAIN ON. THE LIGHTS ONLY APPEAR WHEN DRIVING OR IF THE RADIO IS ON.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE. THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE "ENGINE HOT" WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART AND IT WAS TOWED TO HER HOME. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC STATED THAT THE ENGINE WAS NOT THE ORIGINAL ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD CRACKED IN HALF AND CAUSED EXHAUST FUMES TO ENTER THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD HIMSELF. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
AS I WAS DRIVING IN IN CHICAGO INTERSTATE 94 DOING ABOUT 60MPH THE MOTOR JUST STOPPED RUNNING THE STEERING WAS HARD I HAD DIFFICULTY GOING TO THE SHOLDER THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHTS LIKE IF I JUST TURNED THE SWITCH TO OFF AFTER I GOT TO THE SHOLDER THE CAR JUST DIDN'T WANT TO START..I CALLED MY MECHANIC HE SAID TRY TO REBOOT THE PC. UNPLUG THE BATTERY. I DID THE CAR STARTED BUT STARTED WITH A TICKING NOISE. IN THE ENGINE I CANCELLED MY PLAN TURNED AROUND STARTED TO GO HEME 20 MINUTES LATER ON THE SAME INTERSTATE 94 THE CAR DID IT AGAIN THIS TIME ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. BUT TJIS TIME IT WAS HARDER TO STEER THE CAR ...CAN YOU IMAGINE DRIVING IN THE FREEWAY WITH YOUR FAMILY ON BOARD NEXT TO SEMI TRUCKS AND YOUR CAR JUST STOPS RESPONDING.....I THING THIS PROBLEM SHOULD BE LOOKED AT BEFORE A DEADLY ACCIDENT HAPPENS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO GRISMER AUTOMOTIVE (60 N MAIN ST, SPRINGBORO, OH 45066, 937-748-2050) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED BY CHEVROLET TO CONTACT GM. THE CONTACT CALLED GM AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY DUE TO THE MILEAGE; THEREFORE, THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,000.
TIMING CHAIN NEEDS REPAIR ONLY 80,000 MILES ON CAR BOUGHT IT CERTIFIED USED WARRANTY IS UP IM VERY UPSET WAS DRIVING ON EXPRESS WAY ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON HAD IT CHECKED AT DEALERSHIP
I HAVE TO REPLACE MY HEADLIGHTS EVERY TWO WEEKS AND HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE PLUG OUTLET. NOTICED THAT IT IS MELTING THE PLASTIC. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A YEAR NOW. NOW IT WILL NOT WORK IT HAS HAPPENED ON BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE. ALSO HAVE HAD MY CAMSHAFT SENSOR REPLACED AND KEEPS BRINGING UP THE CHECK ENGINE WHEN I GO GET IT READ SAME CODE KEEPS GOING ON. THE CAMSHAFT ISSUE IS CAUSING MY CAR TO STALL IN ROADWAYS MAKING IT DANGEROUS FOR ME AND MY DAUGHTER WHEN IN THE CAR.
2012 MALIBU INTERMITTENT NO START . HARD CRANK BUT WON'T START. PROBLEM STARTED A MONTH AGO, RANDOMLY WOULDN'T START HAD IT TOWED TO MECHANIC BUT THEY COULDN'T DUPLICATE PROBLEM. 2 DAYS LATER SAME THING, HAD IT TOWED AGAIN. STARTED NEXT DAY FOR MECHANIC. AFTER 3RD TOW IT WOULDN'T START AND THEY REPLACED FUEL PUMP. 4 DAYS LATER NO START AGAIN, HAD IT TOWED BUT OF COURSE IT STARTED THE 4 DAYS MECHANIC HAD IT. I PICKED IT UP AND DROVE IT ALL DAY. TRIED TO LEAVE IN THE EVENING AND NO START. IT'S BACK AT THE MECHANICS, GOING TO REPLACE FUSS BOX. HOPEFULLY THIS WORKS. IT HAS NEVER STALLED WHILE OPERATING BUT IT DOES LOSE POWER WHILE DRIVING AND HESITATES. HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED A TOTAL OF 4 TIMES AND 1500$ LATER CAR STILL ISN'T FIXED. MECHANIC IS HAVING HARD TIME PIN POINTING PROBLEM. I TRAVEL OUT OF TOWN ON BUSINESS FREQUENTLY AND CAN'T DEPEND ON THIS VEHICLE. I'VE READ MULTIPLE POSTS ABOUT SAME ISSUE IT SEEMS CHEVY WOULD TRY TO RESOLVE IT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AT TIMES; HOWEVER, WHEN DRIVING, IT RUNS FOR A WHILE AND THEN STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALER (BUFF WHELAN CHEVROLET, 40445 VAN DYKE AVE, STERLING HEIGHTS, MI 48313) WHERE IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED BECAUSE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE DEALER WAS ABLE TO START THE VEHICLE AND RETURNED IT TO THE CONTACT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,500.
Showing 1–20 of 30 complaints
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026