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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
96,631 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 accessories - exterior problems

accessories - exterior problem

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2012 Chevrolet Malibu Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #25

May 012020

Malibu 4-cyl

  • 140,000 miles

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

The windshield wiper transmission / linkage seems to have a weak point in the plastic / nylon snaps. The linkage arm disconnects at the snap frequently during use of the wipers causing them to be completely unusable, which creates an extremely dangerous situation when driving in the rain or snow as you cannot see since the windshield is not able to be cleared.

- Centerburg, OH, USA

problem #24

Dec 102019

Malibu

  • miles
Passenger side low beam headlight keep going out I have replaced bulb and socket several times..it work only for 2 weeks and problem keep coming..this is fifth time I'm having to fix the issues

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #23

Jul 292019

Malibu

  • 100,600 miles
2012 Chevy Malibu, windshield wiper transmission I was driving on the highway today, during a rainstorm, when the wipers failed to operate while driving 70 mph on mi 696. I was on a 4 lane highway and could not see at all do to the failed wiper transmission bushing. This not only put myself in danger but other drivers as well. I could not see at all and caused many other drivers to swerve out of their lanes at 70 mph. Plastic bushings are used on the wiper transmission (linkage) which has been a commonly reported event. This is a design flaw which is causing the wipers to fail, making visibility during inclement weather impossible. This is a safety hazard. GM only offers a replacement wiper transmission with the same plastic bushings that keep failing. This is a design flaw that would have a minimal cost if they used metal bushings. This plastic bushing may eventually kill someone from failed wiper usage.

- Northville, MI, USA

problem #22

Jul 152019

Malibu

  • miles

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

I have a 2012 Chevy Malibu. Thus is my everyday vehicle and when I have headlight problems it is very frustrating. We have had the bumper off this car multiple times which is a real pain. We have changed headlights, wiring harness and even undoing the battery. The passenger light comes on for a bit them will go off and not come back on. I have a loan on this car and can't even get rid of it cause I can't keep the lights on. Worse Chevy car I have ever owned. I have been pulled over for it being out and how am I supposed to explain it. Reading the reviews of this car online I am not the only person that has headlight problems.

- Williamsport, IN, USA

problem #21

Jun 072019

Malibu

  • 153,000 miles
Driver side low beam keeps shorting out even after replacing bulbs and harness. Windshield wipers bushing broke in middle of rainstorm on 6/7/19 in suffolk va on interstate 664 South bound

- Gates, NC, USA

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problem #20

May 102019

Malibu

  • 103,000 miles
In 2016 the wiper motor went up and I had it replaced at a Chevy dealership and again in 2019 the wiper motor went up again. I can load up the documents if needed.

- Gwynn Oak, MD, USA

problem #19

Aug 162018

Malibu

  • 90,000 miles

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

Driver side headlight malfunctioning multiple times in past year. Head light will go out, at first could tap on head light and it would come back on. Have changed pigtail and bulbs only to have it work for a short period of time.

- Colon, MI, USA

problem #18

Nov 212018

Malibu

  • 75,641 miles
Back windshield shattered while sitting still.

- Hodgenville, KY, USA

problem #17

Oct 242017

Malibu

  • 99,000 miles
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.

- Carlsbad, NM, USA

problem #16

Dec 232017

Malibu

  • 98,000 miles
I was driving on the Ohio turnpike in a wet snow, and my wipers quit working. So I pulled to the shoulder to try to get them to start up again and they would not. So I had to call a tow company because it was unsafe to drive, and was towed to a truck stop. I waited till the snow stopped, and I checked the weather radar on my phone to make certain that it was safe to drive to my final destination. I took it to get repaired. The wiper motor/transmission quit working. Chevy has refused to reimburse me for the tow cost and the repair cost. This is a safety issue, because I couldn't see to drive in the snow. The same would've happened had it been raining. I reported this in January, but I believe it is worth reporting again. I have never had wipers quit on me. And I've been told it has happened to other Malibu owners.

- North East, MD, USA

problem #15

Mar 122018

Malibu

  • 141,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Malibu. While driving, the headlights and windshield wipers failed to work. There were no warning indicators illuminated before or during the failure. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who could not diagnosis the failure. The dealer (superior Chevrolet, 4770 covington hwy, Decatur, ga 30035) was contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 141,000. The VIN was not available.

- Lithonia, GA, USA

problem #14

Feb 112018

Malibu

  • miles
Both headlamps have gone out within a nine month period. The driver side has been changed twice, the passenger side once. It seems every three months a headlight burns out on my car. As for the wipers, when they are turned on, they swipe halfway and stop until I turn them off and back on or to a higher swiping speed. This has happened as the vehicle was in park and drive. Also, the key fob battery has been replaced twice and works seldomly. The locks have recently starting locking on their own after the vehicle is shut off and the driver door is shut.

- Clover, SC, USA

problem #13

Jan 062018

Malibu

  • miles
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

- Chesterfield, MI, USA

problem #12

Dec 232017

Malibu

  • 94,000 miles
While driving in snow on 12/23/17, my wipers quit working. The snow was large flakes that turned to water when they hit the windshield, so it was like rain. I was on the Ohio turnpike, so rate of speed was fast. I was able to pull over to the shoulder. I couldn't get the wipers to work, so I had to call a tow truck. It was unsafe to drive. After the snow stopped, I was able to complete my journey. I then had the wipers repaired. The wiper transmission failed. I believe this is a safety issue because the wipers can quit at anytime. Additionally I looked online and other Malibu owners have had the same problem. (in fact the tow truck driver said he had towed a Malibu owner 2 weeks earlier with the same problem.) I have never had my wipers fail with any other car I ever owned, and I asked others (non-Malibu owners) if their wipers ever failed, and everyone I talked to said no. I contacted GM, but never received a response.

- North East, MD, USA

problem #11

Jan 032018

Malibu

  • 96,000 miles
I have had issues with my windshield wipers for over a year. The linkage between the arm that moves the wipers and the motor will not stay connected. My first arm failure was due to a rubber bushing deteriorating. During a heavy rainstorm in Nov. 2016, the wipers just stopped working completely and I had to be towed home. The second arm I purchased will not stay connected on the driver's side wiper, rendering my system useless. I am able to use my wipers about a dozen times before the arm has to be reconnected. After having it fixed 5+ times prior, they stopped working again this morning. I was in my driveway trying to simply wash my windshield before leaving for work. The system is poorly put together and will not stay connected. It seems to be held together by only tension with gravity working against it. This is extremely dangerous and I don't know how they can get away with it! living in new england with lots of extreme weather, this is just unacceptable.

- Manchester, NH, USA

problem #10

Oct 232017

Malibu

  • 75,700 miles
I was driving down the road the other day while it was raining and my wipers stopped working had it looked at and my small arm on my linkage disconnected due to rust on the ball joint I looked contacted GM they knew nothing about it but I googled it and im not the only one who has had this issue definitely should be a recall just like 2013 terrain. Parts are very similar if not the same.

- Girard, OH, USA

problem #9

Sep 242017

Malibu

  • 175,000 miles
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

- Anthony, FL, USA

problem #8

Jan 032017

Malibu 4-cyl

  • 100,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Malibu. While driving approximately 60 mph during inclement weather, the windshield wipers failed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the ball joints in the windshield wiper modules needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 100,000....updated 03/13/17

- Glen Gardner, NJ, USA

problem #7

Oct 302016

Malibu

  • 132,000 miles
Pulling out of a parking space, all of a sudden my steering wheel does a quick jerk, my traction light luminates and then service ESC comes up on the display and then power steering shows on the display and at that point iost power steering assist and at this point I could not turn the wheel at all, I had no control over the car at this point. I put the car in park, turned it off for several minutes and then turned it back on and power steering was back. This is unexceptable...what if I had been on the free way going 70 miles per hour and lost power steering. This very issue was a recall on the recalling certain model year 2004-2006 and 2008-2009 Chevrolet Malibu(s) and obviously it is still an issue with the 2012 model. I have had no issues with steering prior to ths day it happened 10/30/16 and no warring power steering assist was going to fail. Fix it once and for all GM. Do your customers have to be seriously injured or worse in order for you to get this right!!!! now we have to find the power steering unit and get it fixed because my car is literally a death trap. Also, the interior lights (dome) and headlights start flickering after 10 mins to 60 mins into my drive like there is an electrical issue. Also, the rear defrost stopped working and I can't see out the rear window, I have to drive with the windows down to try and hurry the process along and that is not fun when it is freezing out side!

- Buford, GA, USA

problem #6

Mar 102016

Malibu

  • 548,250 miles
On 11/18/2015 my wiper blades stopped working in heavy down pour of rain, had to turn around and go to the closest repair garage to have them look at. They replace the wiper linkage. So $225.69 dollars later I was on my way. Than on 3/10/2016 upon driving home from work in rain I heard a couple of bang and the wipers stopped working again the same problem and wiper linkage was replace part was under warranty this time it only cost $72 dollars for the labor.

- Lapeer, MI, USA

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