How many 2012 Chevrolet Malibu owners complained about visibility and wipers problems?

NHTSA lists 30 complaints in the Visibility & Wipers area for the 2012 Malibu, which is 3% of the 906 total complaints filed for that model year.

Is there a recall for the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu wiper or defroster issues?

No. NHTSA shows no related recalls tied to this area for the 2012 Malibu.

At what mileage do these wiper and window problems typically show up?

The median mileage at failure for Visibility & Wipers complaints on the 2012 Malibu is 96,000 miles.

What kinds of visibility failures do 2012 Malibu owners report?

Owners describe rear windshields shattering while the defroster runs and wiper linkages or drive assemblies failing suddenly, sometimes during rain at highway speed.

Did any 2012 Malibu visibility complaints involve crashes or injuries?

Yes. NHTSA data for this area shows 2 crashes, 2 fires, and 1 injury among the 30 complaints filed.

2012 Chevrolet Malibu Visibility & Wipers Problems

NHTSA lists 30 Visibility & Wipers complaints for the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu, 3% of its 906 total complaints for the year. No related recall covers this area. Median mileage at failure was 96,000 miles, with two crashes, two fires, and one injury reported.

Visibility & Wipers complaints: 30; 3% of 906
Crashes reported: 2
Fires reported: 2
Injuries reported: 1
Median mileage: 96,000 mi
Related recalls: 0

Typical visibility and wiper symptoms owners report

Rear window defroster reportedly causes the rear windshield to spontaneously crack or shatter into a spiderweb pattern after several minutes of use, even without any impact.
Windshield wiper linkage detaches or fractures during rain, causing sudden loss of wiper function while driving.
Wiper internal drive assembly failed without warning at highway speed during a rainstorm, cutting off wiper operation and forcing an emergency stop.
Owners report repeated wiper linkage failures on the same vehicle, with the part failing again months after a prior repair.
Low beam headlights reportedly go out repeatedly due to a connector that burns out the socket, described by one owner as affecting many Malibu vehicles.

When 2012 Chevrolet Malibu visibility and wiper complaints were filed

First complaint Jan 22, 2013, latest Mar 8, 2025.

30 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jan 2013 to Mar 2025; peak Jan 2018 (3).

Visibility & Wipers recalls for the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Visibility & Wipers complaints by Malibu model year

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

20057 (1%)
20064 (0%)
20072 (0%)
20087 (1%)
200923 (2%)
201023 (2%)
201110 (1%)
201230 (3%)
201330 (4%)
201416 (5%)
201512 (4%)
201614 (2%)
20177 (1%)
20186 (1%)
20192 (1%)
20200 (0%)
20211 (1%)
20220 (0%)
20235 (7%)
20242 (5%)
20250 (0%)

Frequently asked questions

How many 2012 Chevrolet Malibu owners complained about visibility and wipers problems?: NHTSA lists 30 complaints in the Visibility & Wipers area for the 2012 Malibu, which is 3% of the 906 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu wiper or defroster issues?: No. NHTSA shows no related recalls tied to this area for the 2012 Malibu.
At what mileage do these wiper and window problems typically show up?: The median mileage at failure for Visibility & Wipers complaints on the 2012 Malibu is 96,000 miles.
What kinds of visibility failures do 2012 Malibu owners report?: Owners describe rear windshields shattering while the defroster runs and wiper linkages or drive assemblies failing suddenly, sometimes during rain at highway speed.
Did any 2012 Malibu visibility complaints involve crashes or injuries?: Yes. NHTSA data for this area shows 2 crashes, 2 fires, and 1 injury among the 30 complaints filed.