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2012 Chevrolet Malibu Reliability & Recall Report

Based on 3 NHTSA recalls and 904 owner complaints. All data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — free, no signup required.

F
30/100

Avoid This Year — 2012 Chevrolet Malibu

The 2012 Chevrolet Malibu is among the worst-performing model years for this vehicle. NHTSA data shows high complaint and recall activity. Strongly consider a different model year.

3
NHTSA Recalls
3 recalls on record
904
Owner Complaints
Filed with NHTSA
50
Crashes + Injuries
13 fire reports

Own or buying a 2012 Chevrolet Malibu?

Check your specific VIN for open recalls, market value, full specs, and a free AI buyer summary.

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NHTSA Recalls — 2012 Chevrolet Malibu (3)

All recalls listed below must be repaired by an authorized Chevrolet dealer at no charge to the owner.

🔧 Unknown Component
NHTSA #15V269000
🔧 Unknown Component
NHTSA #14V252000
🔧 Unknown Component
NHTSA #14E044000
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Most Common Problems — 2012 Chevrolet Malibu

Based on 904 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Bars show relative complaint frequency.

Electrical System
236
Steering
190
Exterior Lighting
115
Air Bags
73
Power Train
44
Seat Belts
32
Electronic Stability Control (esc)
30
Seats
30
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Chevrolet Malibu — Complaints by Year

Spike in a year = known problem year. The 2012 model year is highlighted.

2010 1,359 complaints 2011 973 complaints 2012 904 complaints 2013 921 complaints 2014 361 complaints 2015 266 complaints 2016 854 complaints

✅ Best model years: 2014, 2015 — Lowest complaint rates for this model.

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Frequently Asked Questions — 2012 Chevrolet Malibu

Is the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu reliable?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu has 3 recalls and 904 owner complaints. This model year shows elevated issues — consider alternatives or a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How many recalls does the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu have?
The 2012 Chevrolet Malibu has 3 NHTSA recalls. Affected systems include: see recall details above. All recalls are repaired free at authorized dealers.
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu?
The most commonly reported problems for the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu are: Electrical System, Steering, Exterior Lighting, Air Bags. See the complaint breakdown above for full details.
Is the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu safe to buy?
The 2012 Chevrolet Malibu has some safety and reliability items to review before buying. Ensure all 3 recalls are completed at a dealer. A pre-purchase inspection by an independent mechanic is strongly recommended.
What year Chevrolet Malibu should I buy?
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the best years for the Chevrolet Malibu are: 2014, 2015. These show the lowest complaint rates.
Data source: All recall and complaint data is sourced directly from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public API. Data is cached and refreshed every 7 days. Recall and complaint counts reflect data available at the time of last cache update. For the most current recall status on a specific vehicle, enter the VIN above or visit NHTSA.gov/recalls.