2012 Chevrolet Malibu Engine Problems
From NHTSA owner complaints and recalls. Updated Oct 17, 2026.
How common are engine problems on the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu?
103 owners have reported engine problems on the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu, 11% of all complaints for this year and the 5th most reported problem area. Most reported problems happened at about 57,000–120,000 miles. No recall covers this problem.
103 complaints 11% of all 2012 complaints 85,000 miles typical
Which parts fail
The specific part named in each complaint.
Mileage when it failed
Each dot is a complaint that gave a mileage (75 of 103). The amber line is the middle value.
When problems were reported
Engine complaints by the year the problem happened.
Engine complaints by Malibu year
Related recalls
No recall covers engine problems on the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu. See all 3 recalls for this year.
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Other 2012 Chevrolet Malibu problems
Common questions
What are common 2012 Chevrolet Malibu engine problems?
Complaints most often name the manifold / header / muffler / tail pipe.
At what mileage do 2012 Chevrolet Malibu engine problems happen?
Most complaints that gave a mileage fell between about 57,000–120,000 miles. The middle value is about 85,000 miles.
Is there a recall for 2012 Chevrolet Malibu engine problems?
NHTSA lists no recall for this problem on the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu. If you have the problem, file a complaint at nhtsa.gov so it is counted.
Which Malibu year has the most engine complaints?
The 2016 Malibu, with 304 complaints.
Source: NHTSA complaints and recalls databases. Complaints are unverified owner reports.