2012 Buick Lacrosse vs 2012 Chevrolet Malibu
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 8, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2012 Buick Lacrosse | 2012 Chevrolet Malibu |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 205 | 905 |
| Recall campaigns | 5 | 2 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 1,827 | 1,336 |
| Investigations | 2 | 0 |
| Crash reports | 10 | 50 |
| Fire reports | 4 | 13 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | 4/5 |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 20–21 | 20–26 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 56,000 mi | 89,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Buick Lacrosse | Chevrolet Malibu |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 61 | 290 |
| Steering | 24 | 191 |
| Exterior Lighting | 3 | 202 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 25 | 129 |
| Engine | 46 | 99 |
| Air Bags | 4 | 101 |
| Service Brakes | 16 | 65 |
| Power Train | 24 | 49 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 39 | 72 |
| Check engine light | 17 | 42 |
| Loss of power | 15 | 37 |
| Hesitation / surging | 8 | 0 |
| Steering problems | 5 | 36 |
| Electrical failures | 5 | 32 |
| Vibration / shaking | 0 | 35 |
| Airbag warning light | 0 | 30 |
2012 Buick Lacrosse
2012 Chevrolet Malibu
Compare all Buick Lacrosse vs Chevrolet Malibu 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.