2012 Chevrolet Malibu Airbags Problems
NHTSA lists 101 airbag complaints for the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu, 11% of all complaints for the year, tied to 28 crashes and 25 injuries. No related recall is listed for this component. Median mileage at failure was 67,000.
- Airbags complaints
- 101
- 11% of 906 complaints
- All complaints this year
- 906
- Crashes reported
- 28
- Fires reported
- 0
- Injuries reported
- 25
- Median mileage
- 67,000 mi
- Related recalls
- 0
Typical airbag symptoms owners report
- Airbags fail to deploy in frontal collisions at speeds around 30 to 55 mph, leaving occupants with injuries.
- Side-impact airbags fail to deploy even when the B-pillar is bent inward during a broadside collision.
- Owners report the airbag assembly detaching on deployment, with metal pieces striking occupants' faces and causing burns.
- Airbags fail to activate during single-vehicle crashes caused by a driver medical event, such as a seizure, at moderate speeds.
- One owner reports the steering wheel and shaft dislodging into the driver's lap after a rear-end collision where the airbag did not deploy.
- One complaint links an unexpected airbag deployment while driving to a body control module recall notice.
When 2012 Chevrolet Malibu airbag complaints were filed
First complaint Sep 27, 2012, latest Mar 21, 2026.
Airbags recalls for the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu
No safety recalls on record for this model year.
Airbags complaints by Malibu model year
Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.
Frequently asked questions
- How many airbag complaints does the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu have?
- NHTSA lists 101 airbag complaints for the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu, making up 11% of the 906 total complaints filed for that model year.
- Is there a recall for the 2012 Malibu airbags?
- No related recall is listed in the NHTSA data provided for this airbag issue, though one complaint references a separate body control module recall notice.
- How serious are the reported airbag problems?
- NHTSA data tied to these complaints shows 28 crashes and 25 injuries, with owners commonly reporting that airbags failed to deploy during collisions.
- At what mileage do airbag problems occur on the 2012 Malibu?
- The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for airbag complaints on the 2012 Malibu is 67,000 miles.
- How does the 2012 Malibu compare to other years for airbag complaints?
- The 2012 Malibu's 101 airbag complaints and 11% share are close to the 2010 model (144 complaints, 11% share) and 2011 model (93 complaints, 10% share), all higher than most later years like 2016-2018 at 2% share each.