STOP AT LIGHT, KNOCKING NOISE STARTS & HESITATION AT NEXT LIGHT. A MILE LATER, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TURNS ON.CODES P00011,P00014 P00366- FROM DEALERSHIP #1. HAD PREVIOUS ENGINE WORK DONE UNDER WARRANTY (WHICH DEARLERSHIP #1 TRIED TO CHARGE ME $400. UNTIL I PRESSED THE WARRANTY).I BOUGHT IT THERE.SERVICE PERSON REPORTED:FOREIGN DEBRIS ON THE SCREEN OF THE CAM POSITION ACTUATORS SHE ALSO REPORTED: FIL…
2012 chevrolet Malibu powertrain problems
moderate 44 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500
Complaints
44
Recalls
0
Crashes
0
Avg fix
$2,500
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AT ABOUT 60 MPH ON A HIGHWAY AND THE RPMS DROPPED DRASTICALLY, THE ANTI SKID INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER TEMPORARILLY. I PULLED OVER AND SLOWED DOWN AND THE CAR RETURNED TO NORMAL. SAME EVENING VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ABOUT 55 MPH ON A HIGHWAY WHEN THERE WAS A LOSS OF POWER, STEERING GOT SLUGGISH,ALL INDICATORLIGHTS ON DASH BLINKED ON AND OFF ENGINE LIGHT CA…
MY CAR HAS 53000 MILES AND THE TRANSMISSION IS DOWNSHIFTING VERY HARD. MY CONCERN IS ONCE I AM DRIVING IT FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES THIS STARTS HAPPENING AND IM NOT SURE WHAT IT IS. I HAVE READ ONLINE A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE HAVE THIS EXACT PROBLEM SO I AM PRETTY SURE IT IS A DEFECT ON THE TRANSMISSION ITSELF FROM THE DEALER.
Common questions
How serious is the powertrain problem on the 2012 chevrolet Malibu?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 44 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $2,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $2,500 for powertrain repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Other problem areas on this vehicle
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities.
Repair cost estimates are independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area.
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