2012 Chevrolet Malibu Electrical System Problems
- 190
- Owner complaint records in our dataset
Records are owner complaints, not a measured failure rate.
Owner complaint recordsComplaint records reflect reports in our dataset and do not measure how frequently the problem occurs across all vehicles.
Among these 190 stored complaint records:
- 3 indicate a crash
- 2 indicate injury
- 3 indicate fire
What owners report
- power steering · 13 records
- fuel pump · 11 records
- keep going · 10 records
- steering wheel · 10 records
- passenger side · 8 records
- several times · 8 records
Mileage in stored records
| Band | Records |
|---|---|
| 60–100k mi | 55 |
| 100–150k mi | 38 |
| 30–60k mi | 31 |
| 1–30k mi | 21 |
| 150–400k mi | 4 |
Complaint records
Owner-submitted complaint content, presented as stored.
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
Low beam headlights have been replaced several times but now fail to operate.
ODI 11152768
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
The passenger side headlight keeps going out i'm changing these out every couple months i've researched and found several other drivers are having this same issue
ODI 11133423
Electrical System · Electronic Stability Control
Intermittent starting issues on this vehicle. Will randomly turn over but not start. If we let it sit for a couple of days it will then start, but leaves us stranded. This happens every 2-3 months. Lights start blinking randomly as driving, traction control will turn on as we are driving causing reduction in power. There are numerous complaints online about this issue.
ODI 11130544
Electrical System · Electronic Stability Control · Steering
Constantly having issues with the electical system in this vehicle, and from further studies and investication via internet complaints and youtube customers/owners...this is a continual ongoing problem for a substaintial amount of chevy malibu owners from the year of 2009 to 2013/2014 models. There should be a recall asap on these make and models. The issue is that the headlights constanly short out and blow out.…
ODI 11173816
Electrical System
HEADLIGHT KEEPS GOING OUT
ODI 11128263
Electrical System · Fuel/Propulsion System
I've been dealing with my car cutting on and off... I change my fuel pump i change the sensors and i'm stilll having problems with my car cutting off when it wants or starting when it wants. I'm now about to change my fuse box in my trunk to see if that works. The only way the car will start is if i mess with the fuse box in the trunk. Also i'm having problems with my headlights. I changed them about 3 times already…
ODI 11182476
Electrical System
While in motion car jerks and almost stalls. Rough idle again jerking and almost stalling. Service esc / service traction /engine light come on. If car is not used for a few days, warning light will not come on. Then about [redacted] lights come on and condition described above occur. This is a very dangerous condition.
ODI 11122237
Electrical System · Electronic Stability Control
While driving the car the check engine light came on and warming message read engine power reduce esc and service traction control.. The car shook and dropped down to 30 mph while i was on highway ..i was barely able to get to side of highway .. I waited a few minutes and started car back up again message cleared but right before i got home car did the same thing .. I called triple a and has it towed home
ODI 11124543
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting · Visibility/Wiper
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.
ODI 11186955
Electrical System
While driving i noticed my lights showing engine power reduced from my understanding this is the throttle position sensor.
ODI 11118935
Electrical System · Electronic Stability Control · Exterior Lighting
I have all the same issues as recall number 13036. Recall id 204828, 204826 and 2 more. Sometimes break light wont work when needed and comes on when not being pressed. Also a front blinker light stays illuminated unless i unhook the battery. Just undoing the light doesnt work. Also my roght blinker doesnt work. Some wires in my fuse box look melted. Ive report this before
ODI 11161734
Air Bags · Electrical System · Seat Belts
While driving down the highway the chimes started dinging and the cabin filled up with smoke the airbag light came on after pulling over it was discovered that the front seat belts were locked in the wearing position
ODI 11114996
Electrical System · Electronic Stability Control · Fuel/Propulsion System
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
ODI 11193974
Electrical System · Engine · Power Train
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 chevrolet malibu. The contact stated that the engine overheated, stalled, and various warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence and was later taken to master chevrolet ([redacted] w, aiken, sc 29801, [redacted]) for diagnostic testing and repairs. The contact stated that the dealer was unable to determine a specific cause of the failures, but stated…
ODI 11111177
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting · Unknown Or Other
Low beams both headlights repeatedly go out. Heater/air conditioner turns off and on by itself. Motor has been changed and tested. Is there a wiring problem with this vehicle across the board. I read a lot of people with this vehicle have the exact same issues. Heater/air turns off while in park or drive randomly.
ODI 11141205
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
Low beam on passenger side goes out frequently and randomly. I thought it was just my luck. However according to https://www.cargurus.com/cars/discussion-t32066_ds667897 there are a lot of people with the same issue. Ive been lucky enough to keep getting stop by nice cops, but this is getting bad. I have a 1year old that i cant take out in the car because it isnt safe. For who knows what reason. Please help.
ODI 11105423
Electrical System
My right side low beam keeps going out. I have replaced the bulb 5 times this year. I've replaced the wiring harnesses for the light bulb. I really don't understand why this keeps falling
ODI 11221618
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
The passenger side low beam light bulb socket keeps burning out. Replaced the bulb 3 times in one year. The socket is the problem, keeps shorting out. When i replace the bulb the socket where the bulb plugs in to is burnt and melted.
ODI 11097728
Electrical System · Engine · Fuel/Propulsion System
Cylinder 2 keep miss firing and service traction light keeps coming on. I have taken the care to 3 repair shop and spent over $2500 in repairs over the last year.
ODI 11091335
Electrical System · Steering
While stopped at a red light i noticed that the steering wheel would start shaking and turning on its own. Then a few days later my service esc and power steering lights started coming on and i was unable to turn the car left or right.. I would turn the car off for a few then turn it back on and it would unlock. That lasted for a few more days and then the steering wheel started locking up while i was driving. I…
ODI 11090400
Electrical System · Visibility/Wiper
Tl* 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…
ODI 11078700
Electrical System · Engine
Timing chain causing car to misfire and engine light on
ODI 11109768
Electrical System
Blower motor resistor replaced 3 times in the last year. Heat has no temp adjustment stays hot. Climate control not working. Blower motor was not factory when i bought the car at 17000 mi. I think someone else had this problem before me.
ODI 11074519
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting · Visibility/Wiper
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…
ODI 11073403
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
Headlight lamp constantly goes out despite changing out the bulb and/or the fuse multiple times. It is becoming a hazard when driving on the roads.
ODI 11075539