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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
61,492 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 - interior problems

accessories - interior problem

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2012 Chevrolet Malibu Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #33

Mar 142023

Malibu

  • miles

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

Driver seat frame bar broke. Is weld and the weld broke when I was on the road. Safety concern when I turn left or right driver seat moves a lot. I can-€™t drive my malibu like that, Im putting myself in risk and other drivers. First time happens to me this kind of situation. I had other oldest vehicles and driver seat never broke. Not good for a 2012 malibu with a broken frame bar driver seat. GM should fix this problem that comes from manufacure. I did a research about this and Im not alone there is a lot of people complaining about this safety concern issue that chevy malibus from 2009 and 2012 had and dealers dont want to pay attention to this problem.

- Tucson, AZ, USA

problem #32

Sep 142018

Malibu

  • miles
Driver side seat is broken and the frame is cracked on the right side which makes it lean towards the middle console. Which causes my seat to be crooked and definitely feels unsafe and worries me that the airbags may not deploy if ever in an accident.

- Youngstown , OH, USA

problem #31

Aug 032021

Malibu

  • miles
The driver side seat bottom portion left side caved in it says if the webbing underneath the seat that holds it up it broke and I just wanted to see if it was cause do the recall that was fixed on it or what not because I did read other complaints with the exact same issue I just want to know if there is a investigation or a way to be fixed

- Riverside , CA, USA

problem #30

Dec 032020

Malibu

  • 15 miles

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

I hit a deer on the drive side and seat broke. It moves when I sit it it and the insurance won't but to have it fix because they state it is a problem that the Malibu's have.

- Inwood, WV, USA

problem #29

Nov 012020

Malibu

  • 73,000 miles
The weld on the drivers side seat has broken making the seat unstable. I was getting into the car and heard it snap then fall toward the middle of the car. This is a safety issue and GM needs to take care of the problem and not charge people $1000+ to fix it. The car has never been in a major accident, only a minor rear end collision that did minimal damage to the rear bumper.

- Mckinney, TX, USA

problem #28

Jul 012019

Malibu

  • miles
There was a recall on the seat belt assembly for my car in 2019 and I took it to davidson Chevrolet in watertown NY. They fixed the recall and mentioned it could affect the seat assembly. Shortly after I got a postcard regarding the seat. A few days later my seat no longer moves back or forth. I tried calling and they said it was a fuse and they had to order it. I kept calling every few weeks and they wouldn't give me an answer or call me back. I finally got ahold of someone and went into the shop Thursday July 30, 2020 to get the fuse in. They later came out and said it was because my lever broke, however my lever was not broke when I brought my car in. It looks like it is a clean cut. Then they turned around and said that it was the buckle assembly and proceeded to tell me to go to the junkyard to replace my seat and then I can pay them to install it. I feel as though I should not have to pay for it as it was originally from the recall. I also feel like I shouldn't have to go to the junkyard when they should be fixing it.

- Watertown, NY, USA

problem #27

Oct 292019

Malibu

  • 154,336 miles

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

Driver seat weld broke at the rigjt rear and left front without being in an accident. I was sitting in the seat and went to adjust it and it broke on the way up, then the left side on the way down. I have seem on the internet that there are several complaints to GM and nearly all are denied to be repaired at dealers cost. This is a safety issue that should be looked at asap.

- Menifee, CA, USA

problem #26

Sep 132019

Malibu

  • 80,000 miles
Passenger low beam headlight keeps failing every couple of months this is a big problem with all Chevy Malibu. Driver seat back breaks and causes the seat to be unsafe.

- Sandwich, IL, USA

problem #25

Mar 162016

Malibu

  • miles
The service engine light has been on for 3 years. Chevy has been unable to diagnose the issue despite changing out the sensors and clearing the codes. This effects the rest of the engine settings including fuel as it adjusts them based on a default. The rail support for the driver's seat has also broken loose and fallen down which makes the vehicle unsafe to drive. This seat issue was only notice earlier this year.

- Des Moines, IA, USA

problem #24

Feb 062019

Malibu

  • 143,600 miles
My 2012 Malibu 1lt has some of the same issues the recalls are for but my specific VIN number isn't included in the recalls. My driver seat moves when sitting in it and I need a rack-and-pinion. I'm also having issues with a 'rough' idle and when I put it in park the RPM's die down between 1&0 and the car acts like it's trying to cut off.

- Lumberton, NC, USA

problem #23

Nov 262018

Malibu

  • miles

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

The seat comes off the metal molding while car is in motion and when you try to adjust the seat it adjusts lopsided and uneven.

- Dayton, OH, USA

problem #22

Feb 062019

Malibu

  • miles
There is a steering recall for my car but not for my specific VIN #. I'm having the same issue with mine as well. My racking pinion needs to be replaced.

- Lumberton, NC, USA

problem #21

Apr 152019

Malibu

  • 149,500 miles
The driver side seat is broken. Was riding down the street and it just popped. Now it rocks and bounce everytime you hit a bump or hump in the road

- Jackson, MS, USA

problem #20

Aug 012018

Malibu

  • 33,000 miles
While car was parked I got into the drivers seat, then all of a sudden the seat shifted. When I went to re-adjust the seat height/ position. The seat leaned to one side and was loose. I took it to a repair shop who refused to even look at it after I described the issue. I found 3 different websites listing the same problem. It boils down to cracked welds. A car under 7yrs old should not have a failure like this. I drove a 1981 Buick century (purchased 1995) with over 87,000 miles and the seats where fine up to when I sold it in 2001. All I can recall is that this happened sometime in 2018. Why has GM and NHTSA not issued recalls. This is a highly dangerous, even fatal flaw in their vehicles.

- Port Orange, FL, USA

problem #19

Jun 012018

Malibu

  • 62,000 miles
Driver's seat suddenly became wobbly and leans to right side. Noticed bar in underneath frame of seat has broken at a weld, making the driver's seat very shaky and unstable when driving. This is a common problem with this style of Malibu seats and a very costly repair. This issue should provoke a recall and replacement by GM.

- Dolton, IL, USA

problem #18

Sep 212018

Malibu

  • 94,000 miles
I bought this Malibu new and have maintained it well. Out of no where, the drivers seat became loose and wobbly. I simply sat in the drivers seat while in my driveway and noticed it. Upon inspection, the seat frame has broken welds. Metal that holds the drivers seat in place on a 6 year old car is broken! it turns and moves as the driver does. I believe that in an incident, the seat would come out. This seems like a design or weld quality problem. I am told the entire seat needs to be replaced and this is a big and expensive job. I was preparing to let my college age daughter drive this car but now I don't know what to do.

- Woodridge, IL, USA

problem #17

Jul 092018

Malibu

  • 142,000 miles
The driver seat weld broke. This is a very well known problem with GM cars and what is it GM is going to do to repair my car? I want it fixed asap as it is very unsafe to drive. I need my car.

- Lyme, CT, USA

problem #16

May 012018

Malibu

  • 120,000 miles
Drivers seat collapse in rear frame and is loose from frame. Seat is powered and no longer can be adjusted to desired position. Safety issue that should be on recall based upon the number of complaints to NHTSA and internet. Vehicle was stationary when setting down into seat and then seat lurched down and to the right in the back side of the seat.

- Lino Lakes, MN, USA

problem #15

Feb 122018

Malibu

  • 80,000 miles
I was driving and the right side of the driver seat collapsed. After parking the vehicle I became aware that the seat was loose. I began to inspect it and noticed that a bar broke in the seat frame. Since the seatbelt is attached to the seat this is a huge safety issue.

- Lasalle, IL, USA

problem #14

Aug 152017

Malibu

  • 178,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact noticed that the driver's side seat trac fractured, which caused the seat to move while driving. The failure occurred without warning. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer and manufacturer were not contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 178,000.

- Moline, IL, USA

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