MPG › Chevrolet › Malibu › 2012
2012 Chevrolet Malibu MPG
20–26 mpg combined across 3 EPA-rated versions. Best: Malibu (FWD, 2.4L 4-cyl) at 22 city / 32 hwy / 26 combined; lowest: Malibu (3.6L 6-cyl, A6) at 20.
Every version
| Version | Engine | Trans. | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb | Fuel cost / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Malibu | 2.4L 4-cyl | A6 | FWD | 22 | 32 | 26 | $2,600 |
| Malibu (FFV) | 2.4L 4-cyl | A6 | FWD | 22 | 33 | 26 | $2,600 |
| Malibu | 3.6L 6-cyl | A6 | FWD | 17 | 25 | 20 | $3,350 |
How it compares
- 2012 Midsize Cars: class average 23.7 mpg over 143 versions; best Malibu +2.3 (#34).
- 2011: 26 mpg best (no change).
- 2013: 29 mpg best.
- Fuel cost spread: $2,600–$3,350 a year ($750 difference).
- 2025 model: 31 mpg best (+5).
Safety
| Crash test | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chevrolet Malibu 4 DR FWD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ · 10.9% risk |
907 owner complaints: Electrical System 291, Exterior Lighting 202, Steering 191, Electronic Stability Control (esc) 129. Crashes 50, fires 13, injuries 35.
| Complaint area | Reports | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 291 | 32% |
| Exterior Lighting | 202 | 22% |
| Steering | 191 | 21% |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 129 | 14% |
| Air Bags | 101 | 11% |
| Engine | 99 | 11% |
| Service Brakes | 74 | 8% |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 52 | 6% |
Recent owner reports: Electrical System
“Electrical system problems that create unsafe driving conditions!! Vehicle has electrical glitches. Internal warning lights flicker on and off. Battery drains. Car randomly will not start. Multiple incidents. Car stalled on roadway without warning and would not crank. Luckily I was in a residential neighborhood with little to no traffic when this happened.”
“Rear defrost stopped working. Hasn't worked in years. I took it to GM, they had a print out of a kit that I had to purchase to repair. This stopped working back around 2016.”
“Was driving home on the parkway and the headlights shut off on their own had to call for roadside assistance to get my vehicle home they will work on dim but brights will not work and if I drive for more than an hour and a half they will not work at all the speed sensor keeps going bad after having it replaced multiple times”
Owner reports are unverified and filed directly with NHTSA.
Recalls
3 NHTSA campaigns (check a VIN).
| Date | Component | Campaign |
|---|---|---|
| May 8, 2015 | Seat Belts | 15V269000 |
| Jul 21, 2014 | Steering | 14E044000 |
| May 14, 2014 | Electrical System › wiring | 14V252000 |