2012 Chevrolet Malibu driver assistance & safety tech problems

Related recalls

• Recall 14V252000May 14, 20142,440,524 vehicles
  ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING · ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) · EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS · EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH · VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL

  General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2004-2012 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured May 16, 2003, through October 11, 2012, 2004-2007 Malibu Maxx vehicles manufactured June 25, 2003, through April 5, 2007, 2005-2010 Pontiac G6 vehicles manufactured May 26, 2004, through January 4, 2010, and 2007-2010 Saturn Aura vehicles manufactured April 24, 2006, through May 26, 2009. In the affected vehicles, increased resistance in the Body Control Module (BCM) connection may result in voltage fluctuations in the Brake Apply Sensor (BAS) circuit. These fluctuations can cause one or more of these conditions: the brake lights to illuminate without the brake pedal being pushed; the brake lights to not illuminate when the pedal is pushed; difficulty disengaging the cruise control; moving the gear shifter out of the 'PARK' position without pushing the brake; and disablement of crash avoidance features such as traction control, electronic stability control, and panic braking assist features.

  Risk: Any of the above failure conditions increases the risk of a crash.

  Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will attach the wiring harness to the BCM with a spacer, apply dielectric lubricant to both the BCM and harness connector and the BAS and harness connector, and will relearn the brake pedal home position, free of charge. The manufacturer distributed an Interim letter to customers on July 14, 2014. The recall began on August 18, 2014. Owners may contact General Motors customer service at 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), 1-800-762-2737 (Pontiac), 1-800-553-6000 (Saturn). GM's number for this recall is 13036.

What owners say

1. Filed Jan 13, 2026111,000 miILDriver Assistance & Safety TechSteering

   The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that the power steering warning light was illuminated, and the message "ESC OFF" was displayed. The contact stated that the vehicle experienced an intermittent loss of power steering while driving. The contact stated that upon restarting the vehicle, the vehicle operated as intended; however, the failure initially became a persistent failure upon restarting the vehicle and then became a permanent failure. The…

   NHTSA complaint #11710607 · source
2. Filed Aug 11, 2025140,000 miTNDriver Assistance & Safety TechSteering

   The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle briefly lost motive power and came to a complete stop. The vehicle returned to normal functionality, but the failure became a regular occurrence. The contact stated that the ESC warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a failure with the steering wheel angle sensor. The vehicle was repaired. The…

   NHTSA complaint #11679882 · source
3. Filed Jul 25, 2025166,000 miKSDriver Assistance & Safety TechElectrical SystemAcceleration & Cruise Control

   The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving approximately 60 MPH and following a slight right turn on the highway, the ESC warning illuminated, and the vehicle slowed down without the brake pedal being depressed. The failure was intermittent but became a recurring failure. The contact stated that the vehicle also slowed down unintentionally while making a left or right turn at slow speeds. The contact stated that in the middle of the turn,…

   NHTSA complaint #11676184 · source
4. Filed Apr 4, 2025107,000 miPADriver Assistance & Safety TechSteering

   The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 14V252000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) and 15V269000 ( SEAT BELTS); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The contact stated that while driving at 50 MPH, the steering wheel vibrated and seized. The "ESC" and “Traction Control" warning lights were illuminated. The contact used…

   NHTSA complaint #11652855 · source
5. Filed Jan 27, 2023AZDriver Assistance & Safety TechSteering

   The car strated with like a glitch on the steering wheel. I didnt know what it was maybe I thought it was a tire but it would do it while at a stop or parked. Know when I turn it on it started with the steering wheel being hard not being able to move easy. Know it does the same but it shows on the message center "power steering" I have to turn it off and on for a while. Then it will be "normal". The glitch on the steering wheel is more. I don't know what to do or if there is…

   NHTSA complaint #11503912 · source
6. Filed Nov 30, 202168,000 miPADriver Assistance & Safety Tech

   The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving at 60 MPH in the middle lane, she inadvertently lost control of the steering wheel and the vehicle turned all the way to the left and to the left lane. The contact depressed the brake pedal, but it failed to respond. The contact stated that as she was steering the steering wheel to straighten the vehicle, the vehicle turned all the way to the to the right and to the right lane. The ESC warning…

   NHTSA complaint #11442110 · source
7. Filed Apr 9, 202168,000 miMIDriver Assistance & Safety TechElectrical System

   Tl* the contact owns a 2012 chevrolet malibu. The contact stated while driving 35 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning, the vehicle was unable to be restarted. The contact stated that the service esc warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to suburban chevrolet cadillac collision of ann arbor (3515 jackson rd ste b, ann arbor, mi 48103, [phone removed]) where it was diagnosed with needing battery, and negative battery terminal to be replaced. The vehicle was…

   NHTSA complaint #11407208 · source
8. Filed Oct 1, 2020151,000 miMODriver Assistance & Safety TechElectrical SystemFuel, Hybrid & EV Propulsion

   When i get in my car i notice that my check engine light comes on in an are where certain people don't like me at like cuba mo there is a conspiracy going on out here ever sense they took my kids illegally it's been nothing but problems and i don't want to get hurt or hurt nobody please help my gas leaves quick also i know my car is being hacked because they do that a lot out there and surrounding cities the engine light will come on while i'm driving and when i'm out the…

   NHTSA complaint #11362271 · source
9. Filed Sep 18, 202090,000 miCADriver Assistance & Safety TechAcceleration & Cruise ControlSteering

   I was driving to town and everything stop working. It scard the crap out of me. I took it to smith chevy in turlock ca they said they didnt know what was wrong with it and charaged me 489.00. Lucky it didnt kill me. Gm motors need to do a recall on it before someone gets hurt or lose there life.

   NHTSA complaint #11355698 · source
10. Filed Jul 18, 2020150,000 miPADriver Assistance & Safety TechElectrical SystemSteering

    Esc warning on dash coming on will driving and turning forward or backward. Hvac controller not responding to commands, hvac resistor and blower motor wires getting very hot and not blowing fuses when driving with ac or heater running. Hvac resistor blowing out. High motor oil consumption , every 1000 miles its low a quart.

    NHTSA complaint #11340106 · source
11. Filed Jun 16, 2020120,000 miCAAirbagsBrakesDriver Assistance & Safety Tech

    Since buying this vehicle, i've had trouble with the brakes, airbag sensors, electrical problems, seatbelt issues and also the airbag light, had a mechanic replace the airbag sensors in the rear, but the light still comes on. The brakes are now shuttering worse when i apply the brakes and it feels like the wheels are going to fall apart.

    NHTSA complaint #11329120 · source
12. Filed Jun 15, 2020170,000 miMIDriver Assistance & Safety TechElectrical System

    My fuse box in my trunk came back fail bad one so changed it out with another one well that worked for 1 month my car stalls or don't start unless i hit the fuse box got another fuse box that did the same exact things now some times when i hit the fuse box my car will start then again won't somethings making the fuse box to go bad i believe it's something to do the wiring or fuel pump relay fuse. I've had my car stall on the high way to many times this need to be recalled…

    NHTSA complaint #11328999 · source

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation public data. Complaints are submitted by owners and are not verified by NHTSA or by us; a complaint does not prove a defect exists. View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov Methodology