2012 Chevrolet Malibu Engine Problems
NHTSA lists 144 engine complaints for the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu, 16% of its 906 total complaints for the year. These reports include 6 crashes, 2 fires, and 5 injuries, with a median failure mileage of 80,050 miles. No related recalls are listed for this engine issue.
- Engine complaints
- 144
- 16% of 906
- Crashes reported
- 6
- Fires reported
- 2
- Injuries reported
- 5
- Median mileage
- 80,050 mi
- Related recalls
- 0
Typical engine symptoms owners report
- Unintended acceleration where the vehicle moves without the accelerator pedal being pressed, in some cases leading to a crash.
- Sudden loss of power or stalling while driving, including a fuel-pump related stall that left the car unable to restart.
- Delayed or inconsistent throttle response paired with hard transmission shifts, making acceleration unpredictable.
- Accelerator pedal sticking or becoming physically wedged, preventing the driver from decelerating.
- A fire reported underneath the vehicle while driving, forcing the driver to exit through a window.
- Complete loss of power following a prior collision, later traced to radiator-area damage.
When 2012 Chevrolet Malibu engine complaints were filed
First complaint Dec 5, 2011, latest Feb 22, 2026.
Engine recalls for the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu
No safety recalls on record for this model year.
Engine 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 engine complaints does the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu have?
- NHTSA lists 144 engine complaints for the 2012 Malibu, which is 16% of the 906 total complaints filed for that model year.
- Is there a recall for the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu engine problems?
- No related recalls are listed in NHTSA data for this engine complaint area.
- At what mileage do 2012 Malibu engine problems usually appear?
- The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for this engine issue is 80,050 miles.
- Did the 2012 Malibu engine issues cause any crashes or injuries?
- NHTSA data tied to this engine complaint area includes 6 crashes, 2 fires, and 5 injuries.
- Are engine complaints worse in 2012 than other Malibu years?
- The 2012 Malibu's engine complaints make up 16% of its total complaints, which is lower than several other years such as 2016, 2017, and 2018, where the share reached 45% or higher.