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Check by VIN to confirm the
exact model and see every recall for it.
Recalls are issued for a make, model and model year. Whether the repair has already been done on one specific car is known only to its manufacturer and dealers. Check your vehicle's official status at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with a dealer.
US recalls (2)
Seat belts
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured April 8, 2010, to October 11, 2012. In the affected vehicles, the flexible steel cables that connect the seat belts to the vehicle at the outside of the driver seat and the front passenger seat may be bent from being sat on while entering the vehicle. This repeated bending may result in the cable breaking.
Risk and remedy
Risk: If the cable breaks, the seat occupant may not be properly restrained in the event of a crash, increasing their risk of injury.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the outboard lap anchor mounting bracket and inspect the flexible steel cable, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on November 16, 2015. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 15031.
Electronic stability control (esc)
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2004-2012 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured May 16, 2003, through October 11, 2012, 2004-2007 Malibu Maxx vehicles manufactured June 25, 2003, through April 5, 2007, 2005-2010 Pontiac G6 vehicles manufactured May 26, 2004, through January 4, 2010, and 2007-2010 Saturn Aura vehicles manufactured April 24, 2006, through May 26, 2009. In the affected vehicles, increased resistance in the Body Control Module (BCM) connection may result in voltage fluctuations in the Brake Apply Sensor (BAS) circuit. These fluctuations can cause one or more of these conditions: the brake lights to illuminate without the brake pedal being pushed; the brake lights to not illuminate when the pedal is pushed; difficulty disengaging the cruise control; moving the gear shifter out of the 'PARK' position without pushing the brake; and disablement of crash avoidance features such as traction control, electronic stability control, and panic braking assist features.
Risk and remedy
Risk: Any of the above failure conditions increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will attach the wiring harness to the BCM with a spacer, apply dielectric lubricant to both the BCM and harness connector and the BAS and harness connector, and will relearn the brake pedal home position, free of charge. The manufacturer distributed an Interim letter to customers on July 14, 2014. The recall began on August 18, 2014. Owners may contact General Motors customer service at 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), 1-800-762-2737 (Pontiac), 1-800-553-6000 (Saturn). GM's number for this recall is 13036.
Canadian recalls (2)
Show 2 Canadian recalls
Seats and restraints
2015-05-07 · campaign 2015-187
On certain vehicles, the flexible steel cable that connects the seat belt to the vehicle structure at the front outboard seating positions can fatigue over time and could separate, increasing the risk of injury in a crash. Correction: Dealers will replace the outboard lap anchor mounting bracket to relocate the tensioner 30mm rearward and inspect and repair or replace the lap pretensioner, as necessary.
Electrical
2014-05-16 · campaign 2014-173
On certain vehicles, intermittent electrical connection faults may cause the brake lamps to illuminate without the brake pedal being depressed, or not illuminate when the brake pedal is depressed. This could also interfere with cruise control, ABS and/or vehicle stability control function. Failure of the brake lights to illuminate when the brake pedal is depressed or erratic brake lamp function could increase the risk of a crash causing property damage and/or personal injury. Correction: Dealers will affect repairs.
Owner complaints (907)
Owners filed 907 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu (50 crashes, 13 fires, 35 injuries reported). Among 40 model years of this model, it ranks #11 for the most complaints (median 443).
| Most-reported problem | Complaints | |
|---|
| Electrical system | 291 | |
| Exterior lighting | 202 | |
| Steering | 191 | |
| Electronic stability control (esc) | 129 | |
| Air bags | 101 | |
| Engine | 99 | |
| Service brakes | 66 | |
| Vehicle speed control | 52 | |
Crash test ratings
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu.
| Version | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover |
|---|
| 2012 Chevrolet Malibu 4 DR FWD | 4★ | 4★ | 5★ | 4★ |
Fuel economy
EPA ratings for each 2012 Chevrolet Malibu version.
| Version | City MPG | Highway MPG | Combined | Yearly fuel cost |
|---|
| Malibu 2.4 L Automatic (S6) | 22 | 32 | 26 | $2,600 |
| Malibu 2.4 L Automatic (S6) | 22 | 33 | 26 | $2,600 |
| Malibu 3.6 L Automatic (S6) | 17 | 25 | 20 | $3,350 |
Need this data in your app?
Recalls, complaints, crash ratings and fuel economy as a JSON API. Decode up to 50 VINs per call and get a daily feed of new recalls.
Explore the API →Sources: NHTSA recalls, complaints and 5-Star Safety Ratings, US EPA fuel economy and Transport
Canada's Vehicle Recalls Database (contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada).
Recalls updated 2026-10-29.