Tuesday, September 22, 2026
RecallGazette

Vehicle problems, recalls & safety intelligence

2012 Chevrolet Malibu vs 2012 Ford Fusion

Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Sep 22, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.

Metric2012 Chevrolet Malibu2012 Ford Fusion
NHTSA complaints9062,514
Recall campaigns25
Service bulletins (TSBs)1,33951
Investigations04
Crash reports50107
Fire reports139
NCAP overall rating4/54/5
EPA MPG (combined)20–2619–38
Median reported incident mileage89,000 mi75,000 mi

Reported problems side by side

ComponentChevrolet MalibuFord Fusion
Steering1911,471
Air Bags101404
Electrical System290164
Exterior Lighting20221
Engine99111
Electronic Stability Control (esc)12980
Power Train49158
Service Brakes65104

Symptoms owners describe

Stalling7287
Check engine light4234
Loss of power37201
Steering problems36298
Vibration / shaking3530
Electrical failures320
Airbag warning light3021
Won’t start290

Compare all Chevrolet Malibu vs Ford Fusion years →

Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.