How many transmission complaints does the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu have?

NHTSA lists 49 transmission & powertrain complaints for the 2012 Malibu, which is 5% of the 906 total complaints filed for that model year.

Is there a transmission recall for the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu?

No. The JSON data shows no related recalls listed for the transmission & powertrain area on the 2012 Malibu.

At what mileage do 2012 Malibu transmission problems usually show up?

The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for this problem area is 74,500 miles.

What kind of transmission problems do 2012 Malibu owners report?

Owners describe hard or delayed gear shifts, transmission slipping, sudden loss of power while driving, and in some cases full transmission replacement.

How does the 2012 Malibu compare to other years for transmission complaints?

The 2012 Malibu had 49 transmission complaints (5% share), lower than 2010's 132 (10%), 2011's 112 (11%), and much lower than later years like 2018 with 170 complaints (24% share).

2012 Chevrolet Malibu Transmission & Powertrain Problems

NHTSA lists 49 transmission & powertrain complaints for the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu, 5% of its 906 total complaints for the year. Owners commonly report hard or delayed shifts and sudden loss of power, with a median failure mileage of 74,500. No related recalls are listed.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints: 49; 5% of 906
Crashes reported: 0
Fires reported: 0
Injuries reported: 0
Median mileage: 74,500 mi
Related recalls: 0

Typical transmission symptoms owners report

Owners describe hard, abrupt shifts between 1st and 2nd gear, and again between 2nd and 3rd, sometimes accompanied by an RPM flare.
Some drivers report the vehicle suddenly losing power or stalling while slowing down, with no warning light and no fault found by the dealer.
Several complaints describe delayed or inconsistent throttle response paired with erratic transmission shifting, making acceleration unpredictable.
A few owners report the transmission slipping or revving high without the car actually accelerating, in some cases leading to a full transmission replacement or rebuild.
One complaint describes the vehicle failing to accelerate from a stop, with the dealer replacing the transmission, only for the problem to recur.

When 2012 Chevrolet Malibu transmission complaints were filed

First complaint Dec 5, 2011, latest Apr 24, 2025.

49 complaints filed with NHTSA from Dec 2011 to Apr 2025; peak Dec 2017 (3).

Transmission & Powertrain recalls for the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints by Malibu model year

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

2010132 (10%)
2011112 (11%)
201249 (5%)
201353 (6%)
201452 (15%)
201531 (11%)
2016166 (20%)
2017139 (20%)
2018170 (24%)
201966 (35%)
202058 (29%)
202128 (31%)
202223 (24%)
20238 (12%)
20245 (13%)
20251 (9%)

Frequently asked questions

How many transmission complaints does the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu have?: NHTSA lists 49 transmission & powertrain complaints for the 2012 Malibu, which is 5% of the 906 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a transmission recall for the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu?: No. The JSON data shows no related recalls listed for the transmission & powertrain area on the 2012 Malibu.
At what mileage do 2012 Malibu transmission problems usually show up?: The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for this problem area is 74,500 miles.
What kind of transmission problems do 2012 Malibu owners report?: Owners describe hard or delayed gear shifts, transmission slipping, sudden loss of power while driving, and in some cases full transmission replacement.
How does the 2012 Malibu compare to other years for transmission complaints?: The 2012 Malibu had 49 transmission complaints (5% share), lower than 2010's 132 (10%), 2011's 112 (11%), and much lower than later years like 2018 with 170 complaints (24% share).