2012 Chevrolet Malibu
The Verdict
Worst problem area
Electrical
Electrical leads by volume: 290 of 906 complaints (32%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Airbags & Restraints include more reported injuries (27) than those mentioning any other identified area.
Complaints filed fell from 977 in 2011 to 906 in 2012.
Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | vs. 2012 Midsize Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 2,150–3,100 | 2,400–3,100 | 2,400–3,100 | 2,150–2,600 | 2,150–2,600 | |
| Combined MPG | 20–29 | 20–26 | 20–26 | 24–29 | 24–29 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 17–26 / 26–34 | 17–22 / 25–32 | 17–22 / 25–33 | 21–25 / 29–36 | 21–25 / 29–36 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 306–444 | 342–444 | 342–444 | 310–373 | 310–373 | |
| Complaints filed | 1,362 | 977 | 906 | 922 | 363 | |
| Recalls issued | 4 | 4 | 3 | 11 | 6 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 41 | 40 | 50 | 38 | 19 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 14 | 17 | 13 | 11 | 8 | |
| Injuries reported | 47 | 41 | 35 | 34 | 17 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| Configurations compared | 8 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu have?
3 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Sep 16, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu?
Electrical: 290 of 906 NHTSA complaints (32%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu get?
EPA rates it 20–26 MPG combined across 3 configurations.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2012 Chevrolet Malibu?
EPA estimates $2,400–$3,100 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (3)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic (S6) | 4 | 2.4L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Midsize Cars | 22 mpg (high) | 32 mpg | 26 mpg (high) | $2,400 (low) | 342 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic (S6) | 6 | 3.6L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Midsize Cars | 17 mpg (low) | 25 mpg (low) | 20 mpg (low) | $3,100 (high) | 444 g/mi (high) |
| Configuration 3 | Automatic (S6) | 4 | 2.4L | Front-Wheel Drive | Gasoline or E85 | Midsize Cars | 22 mpg (high) | 33 mpg (high) | 26 mpg (high) | $2,400 (low) | 342 g/mi (low) |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 102 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 49 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 56 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 290 | 5 | 11 | 4 | 0 |
| Brakes | 186 | 15 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| Steering | 191 | 9 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 28 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 139 | 29 | 1 | 27 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 53 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 53 | 9 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 226 | 6 | 7 | 3 | 0 |
| Other | 52 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (3)
SEAT BELTS · Campaign 15V269000 · May 8, 2015
Defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured April 8, 2010, to October 11, 2012. In the affected vehicles, the flexible steel cables that connect the seat belts to the vehicle at the outside of the driver seat and the front passenger seat may be bent from being sat on while entering the vehicle. This repeated bending may result in the cable breaking.
Consequence: If the cable breaks, the seat occupant may not be properly restrained in the event of a crash, increasing their risk of injury.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the outboard lap anchor mounting bracket and inspect the flexible steel cable, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on November 16, 2015. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 15031.
STEERING · Campaign 14E044000 · Jul 22, 2014
Defect: Dorman Products, Inc. (Dorman) is recalling certain replacement intermediate steering shafts sold under the Dorman, OE Solutions, and Solutions brand names, part numbers 425-167, 2425167, and 7-3074, for installation on 2004-2012 Chevrolet Malibu, 2005-2010 Pontiac G6, and 2007-2009 Saturn Aura vehicles. The affected steering shafts may have a yoke that inadequately supports the u-joint bearing resulting in a premature failure.
Consequence: A joint bearing that fails prematurely may cause separation of the u-joint resulting in a complete loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dorman will notify owners, and dealers will refund the purchase price or replace the steering shafts, free of charge. The recall began in September 2014. Owners may contact Dorman customer service at 1-800-523-2492.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING; EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS; EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH; VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL; ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) · Campaign 14V252000 · May 15, 2014
Defect: 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.
Consequence: 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.