2012 Chevrolet Malibu Air Bags Problems

NHTSA component category: AIR BAGS · data through 07/14/2026

99Air Bags complaints

11%Of all 904 complaints

#5Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How air bags ranks on this vehicle

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM281 · 31.1%

EXTERIOR LIGHTING195 · 21.6%

STEERING188 · 20.8%

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)129 · 14.3%

AIR BAGS99 · 11%

Share of the 904 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu overview page.

What owners report

“THE SERVICE AIR BAG LIGHT CONSTANTLY COMES ON AND OFF, AND TO BE HONEST IT MAKES ME A LITTLE WORRIED. ESPECIALLY WITH ALL THE RECALLS…”NHTSA complaint 10650501 — filed 10/27/2014

“REPAIR AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON WHEN TURNING CAR ON. THE LIGHT BEEPS MAJORITY OF THE TIME THE CAR IS RUNNING.”NHTSA complaint 10644748 — filed 10/15/2014

“WAS DRIVING IN THE RAIN, VEHICLE DOES NOT HANDLE WELL IN INCLEMENT WEATHER. HAS ISSUE WITH BRAKING, TIRES SKID. WHEN I HIT THE GAS PEDAL…”NHTSA complaint 10644500 — filed 10/14/2014

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Air Bags complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu have air bags problems?

Air Bags is the #5 most-reported problem area on the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu: 99 of 904 complaints on file (11%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu have in total?

904 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Across all categories, 50 involved a crash, 13 involved a fire, 35 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's air bags category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the AIR BAGS category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/14/2026.