YearToAvoid

2012 Chevrolet Malibu Fuel System Problems

NHTSA lists 56 fuel system complaints for the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu, 6% of its 906 total complaints, with a median failure mileage of 89,500 miles. Two fires were reported and no crashes or injuries; no related recalls are on file for this component.

Fuel System complaints
56
6% of 906
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
2
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
89,500 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical fuel system symptoms owners report

  • Owners report erratic throttle response with delayed or sudden acceleration after pressing the gas pedal.
  • Some drivers say the car stalls or loses power while driving, including at highway speed, and then will not restart.
  • Multiple complaints describe repeated fuel pump replacements that did not resolve stalling or no-start conditions.
  • One owner reported fuel gushing out of the filler neck during fill-ups due to an apparent internal blockage, calling it a fire hazard.
  • Several drivers noted the vehicle would not start after sitting for a period, sometimes tied to a security or theft-system warning light.

When 2012 Chevrolet Malibu fuel system complaints were filed

First complaint Sep 5, 2012, latest Feb 19, 2024.

2012 Chevrolet Malibu fuel system complaints: complaints filed per month3Sep 2012Sep 2015Feb 2017Apr 2018Mar 2019Dec 2019May 2021Sep 2022
56 complaints filed with NHTSA from Sep 2012 to Feb 2024; peak Dec 2016 (3).

Fuel System recalls for the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Fuel System complaints by Malibu model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 201039 (3%)
  2. 201137 (4%)
  3. 201256 (6%)
  4. 201334 (4%)
  5. 201426 (7%)
  6. 201519 (7%)
  7. 201653 (6%)
  8. 201760 (9%)
  9. 2018101 (14%)
  10. 201918 (9%)
  11. 202018 (9%)
  12. 202110 (11%)
  13. 20229 (9%)
  14. 20238 (12%)
  15. 20242 (5%)
  16. 20250 (0%)

Frequently asked questions

How many fuel system complaints does NHTSA have for the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu?
NHTSA lists 56 fuel system complaints for the 2012 Malibu, which is 6% of the 906 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu fuel system?
No related recalls are listed for the fuel system on the 2012 Malibu in the data reviewed.
At what mileage do fuel system problems usually appear?
The median mileage at failure for fuel system complaints on the 2012 Malibu is 89,500 miles, though some owners reported issues much earlier.
Did the fuel system problems cause any crashes or fires?
NHTSA data shows 2 fires and 0 crashes and 0 injuries tied to fuel system complaints for the 2012 Malibu.
How does the 2012 Malibu compare to other years for fuel system complaints?
The 2012 Malibu's fuel system complaints made up 6% of its total complaints, lower than the 2018 model year's 14% share but higher than the 2013 model year's 4%.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.