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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
6 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
71,066 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2012 Chevrolet Malibu brakes problems

brakes problem

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2012 Chevrolet Malibu Owner Comments (Page 2 of 7)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #105

Aug 112019

Malibu

  • 102,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

This has happened multiple times while driving down the interstate. The cruise control is being used and when you go to apply the brakes the car does not slow down but revs the motor up and will not let you slow down. It is frightening to have this happen. If you tap the brakes but doesn't always work or hit the cruise off button it will finally stop. This could be putting us in a really bad situation if you cant get it stopped. Also the ESC light comes on for no reason while driving on dry roads. I called my Chevy dealer and was told the recall 13036 was already done in Aug 2014 if this is the same issue as recall. If so it did not take care of the problem and needs to be taken care of before it costs someone their life.

- Holyoke, CO, USA

problem #104

Aug 142019

Malibu

  • 160,000 miles
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- Rock Hill, SC, USA

problem #103

Feb 152019

Malibu

  • 119,000 miles
One day, driving on a freeway my car all of a sudden accelerated out of nowhere, then on the dash showed 'service ESC' then immediately after 'reduced engine power' and shut off. It would not turn back on and I was on the middle of the freeway. I had to have it towed to a nearby shop while I waited for hours to get the throttle body replaced- total of $560 and my car worked for the next two days then did the same thing, this time I was on a side street so it was mostly just annoying. This has happened more times than I can count since I've had this car (for 6 months) and Chevy dealerships won't do anything without charging me a ton of money and I've read hundreds of other complaints about the same exact issue I'm having online, in their testimonies, they've gotten multiple things 'fixed' because of the code that shows up, but then days later it's the same for every single one, it reverts back to the original problem. This is unacceptable of Chevrolet, and I'm very upset that I personally have put so much money, not to mention everyone else that has, into a seemingly unsolvable problem, caused by a mistake on Chevrolet's part. Please do something, thank you.

- East Lansing, MI, USA

problem #102

Jul 122019

Malibu

  • 78,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

My car will randomly not start. I have bought a brand new battery. That wasn't the problem. A week later, my gear shift wouldn't move. I had to stay in my vehicle and miss an appointment because of this. I couldn't get it to move from drive to park. After several tries and 30 minutes, it finally moved. It's gotten stuck a few times trying to move it from park to drive as well. And when I'm driving, the emergency lights will randomly illuminate and wipers won't work. I was driving when it was pouring rain and the wipers wouldn't turn on with all emergency lights illuminated as well. This can happen anytime I'm on a city street going from 25 to 45 mph. I have had to have it towed several times to different shops and they can't tell me what's wrong.

- Las Vegas, NV, USA

problem #101

Feb 282019

Malibu

  • 94,000 miles
At 1st my car wouldn't crank every so often then started going drag while driving I googled it and had to beat on fusebox in trunk or wiggle wires so had to run wire straight to battery to fuel pump. My headlights on dim keep shooting and my speakers will go out sometimes

- Russelville, AL, USA

problem #100

Mar 122019

Malibu

  • 140 miles
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.

- Wolcottville, IN, USA

problem #99

Jun 302019

Malibu

  • 125,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Takata recall when my vehicle started having issues it started with lagging to start I would turn the key and literally let go and then it would start. Now it's to the point where it doesn't always want to start. When it does my sensors are all messed up. First time my airbag warning was coming up. Next my sensors on my tires were not working then I started to notice when I was driving and I would stop pushing the gas the gauge will go up and down. The last thing that happened was the check engine came on but turned off. I tried to get a diagnostics done but of course nothing came of it. So now my car is just sitting in my garage until I figure it out. But there are no type of check engine light or anything that comes on before the car starts not functioning properly

- Long Beach, CA, USA

problem #98

Jun 132019

Malibu

  • miles
Head lights keep going out

- Hephzibah, GA, USA

problem #97

Jun 092019

Malibu

  • 3 miles
I started driving the car within five minutes after I press on the brakes the car started jolting and after that it start stalling try to use the cruise control on a highway maximum mileage per hour was 55 will not engage turn around park the car kept them stalling in between once the car parked lights on the dash popped up check engine light and ESC light popped up the car was not moving and motor started shaking try to put the foot on the gas gently and it started stalling again. Car been parked ever since.

- Horseheads, NY, USA

problem #96

May 022019

Malibu

  • 150,000 miles
Will be driving and after applying the brake the service ESC will come on and then my car does not want to stop.

- Corbin, KY, USA

problem #95

Jul 282018

Malibu

  • 93,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The ecs light came on and shut my car off. The chrome dealer said there was nothing we could do about it but purchase anouther car

- Hanceville, AL, USA

problem #94

Aug 202017

Malibu

  • miles
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

- Kaufman, TX, USA

problem #93

Mar 312017

Malibu

  • miles
On two occassions the power steering suddenly went completely out while on the highway. Since I got the car 2 years ago I have had many issues with the lighting amd electrical. The brake light works when it chooses to even if K done push the brake and with new bulbs it may not work. The headlights do the same. They come on and go off when they choose to. I have replaced bulbs over 20 times in the past 2 years when I didn't actually have to. My sensors also don't work which I was told was an electrical issue. I have a front light that won't go off so each time I cut the car off I have to unplug my battery so it doesn't die. The date posted isnt the only date its happened it was the day it all started.

- Rock Hill, SC, USA

problem #92

Sep 142018

Malibu

  • 120,000 miles
Service ESC traction alerts and engine sounds as thought it will stall - had map sensor replaced, a few months later issue has returned. Occurs while driving and when parked.

- Hebron, OH, USA

problem #91

Jan 202018

Malibu

  • 93,875 miles
Was actually driving down the street around the corner from the place I reside and all of a sudden the wheel started to jerk violently which caused us to drive into a curb, causing the vehicle to drive up onto a curb flattening both sides of the right side of the car as well almost clipping a car at the light to our left...the kids on back seat were completely terrified because they had no idea what was going on and are still scared to get into a vehicle...as well have a pplice report could probably obtain if need be.. we just want car foxed right way not trying to sue anybody or get aome outrageous settlement....

- Weymouth, MA, USA

problem #90

Jan 082019

Malibu

  • 146,000 miles
"takata recall" if I hit a bump small or any size actually my engine reduces and I have to pull over...and turn the car off for up to 10 mins sometimes... I cant drive on the freeway at all because I dont want the engine to reduce while doing 60 mph lately it will go into engine power reduce while im parked in a driveway so I dont get

- Inkster, MI, USA

problem #89

Feb 012019

Malibu

  • miles
Warning on dashboard service traction control when applying the brakes. Brake lights does not come on when the service traction control come on. There has been a recall on this issue previously and issue still occurring.

- Zebulon, NC, USA

problem #88

Feb 012019

Malibu

  • 140,000 miles
Takata recall: I'm having the same issue that's attached to GM recall 13036. I just took it to the Chevy dealer and this recall wasn't attached to my VIN, even though my car was manufactured in the same year listed in the 13036 recall. My vehicle is dangerous to drive ! the ESC light flashed 'off' then it says service ESC. The check engines illuminates and flashes as well as the service traction. I've replaced spark plugs, injectors and wiring attached to the cylinders, to fix the codes being shot out (P0302 / P0352) and the problem continues. The steering is rough and makes noise while turning, especially when vehicle is cold. The sound is really loud. My vehicle has stalled a few times has I came to a stop at stop signs and intersections. This needs to be fixed asap !!

- San Bernardino, CA, USA

problem #87

Jan 012018

Malibu

  • miles
'takata recall' at start up, a loud noise comes from the left side of the engine compartment. As you drive it, there's a loud noise coming from engine compartment as you turn. Definitely a steering issue. Meanwhile, the ESC off, service traction and the service ESC warning sign illuminates. The check engine light flashes as the car misfires from cylinder 2. I have changed all spark plugs and the injector to cylinder 2 and the same issue happens. The vehicles has shut off on me as I came to a stop at a red light at an intersection. All these issues occur as your drive the car and go away sometimes, but never for good. This has been an ongoing problem for over a year now

- San Bernardino, CA, USA

problem #86

Feb 132019

Malibu

  • 83,997 miles
The lights randomly come on then the antilock brake system will start to act up when I go to stop as if I was to slide on ice but I'm not I'm on dry pavement. On city street.

- Northville, MI, USA

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