Used 2012 Chevrolet Malibu Consumer Reviews
Used Malibu for sale
See Edmunds pricing data
Has Your Car's Value Changed?
Used car values are constantly changing. Edmunds lets you track your vehicle's value over time so you can decide when to sell or trade in.
In Love w/ my Malibu
fireguy841, 01/26/2014
2012 Chevrolet Malibu LT 4dr Sedan w/1LT (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
49 of 51 people found this review helpful
Bought my Malibu used but it rides like a brand new car. On a scale of 1-10 I'm at a 9.75. I love the smooth ride it provides along with the great look it has. I bought the top of the line one with chrome 16 inch wheels, chrome door handles, low profile tires, leather/suede interior power everything. Love that it sits low to the ground giving you almost a sports car feel with the feels of a luxury car. Great gas mileage, not to mention it rides great in the snow. Definitely love this car. It is my 4th chevy I've owned and is my all time favorite.
Three months into ownership...
brownco4, 06/05/2012
2012 Chevrolet Malibu LT 4dr Sedan w/1LT (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
41 of 43 people found this review helpful
We're off to a good start. The car looks nice standing still and has a moon roof that adds to the look. It's a unique off white color outside and has a leather with suede look seat. Soon after buying this we drove 1400 miles over a weekend with four adults. Both front and back seats were comfortable. The headrests in front and the seat belts are some of the most comfortable we've ever had. Front seats also recline for naps on those trips. Acceleration is good, and this car will roll along for hours at high, interstate speeds with indifference to winds. The car is very quiet also. The large trunk is very nice as well.
2012 Chevrolet Malibu for sale near you
Showing 3 of 23 listings
- LT Sedan w/1LTMSRP: $5,700139 mi away
- LS Fleet SedanMSRP: $7,29746 mi away
- LT Sedan w/2LTMSRP: $5,450102 mi away
See all 23 listings
Work Car
rlhinmi, 07/16/2012
2012 Chevrolet Malibu LS 4dr Sedan (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
39 of 41 people found this review helpful
Recently my workplace replaced the 2009 Impala I had been driving with a 2012 Malibu. The exterior design looks more modern than the Impala, but the ride is much more stiff. The steering is very light, reminding me a little of the Buick my grandparents had in the 80s. The build quality seems good--solid Ka-thunk when doors close. Interior graphics for the trip computer and clock seem dated. The power adjustment for lumbar support is a nice touch. In 1500 miles of mostly highway driving the car has been getting 22.5 MPG with E85, which is required by my workplace.
Tired of fixing it....
C. Winter, 06/10/2018
2012 Chevrolet Malibu LT 4dr Sedan w/1LT (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
47 of 50 people found this review helpful
This car has 83,000 miles.... The final straw is a $1900 converter replacement.... The car has completely shut off on me while at highway speeds with no check engine lights. Therefore nobody knows why? No codes .... I’ll tell you why this car is a toilet. GM FAIL!!
Great Car for family people
Vaibhav Kumar, 08/11/2016
2012 Chevrolet Malibu LTZ 4dr Sedan w/1LZ (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
24 of 27 people found this review helpful
Hi, This is a VERY comfortable car and reliable car- Very good control on Road, Comfortable Bucket seat, Spacious rear seats, collapsible rear seat, lots of trunk space (so you can carry enough things when going for Picnic or family outings), Great Bose Speakers.
- Performance
- Comfort
Good car, but some shortcomings
brownco4, 10/25/2012
2012 Chevrolet Malibu LT 4dr Sedan w/1LT (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
18 of 21 people found this review helpful
PROS - Fun to drive (acceleration, handling, seat comfort); I like the power moon roof. Quiet ride and nice, roomy trunk. CONS - Tilt steering wheel is too low (even when it and the seats are adjusted). Mileage on my Buick LeSabre is better than this Malibu. Finally, the trunk release works, but the lifters do not lift, opening it unlike any other car I've ever had.
Six years plus years and still very satisfiedff.
Chris Welch, 01/25/2017
updated 02/22/2022
2012 Chevrolet Malibu LS Fleet 4dr Sedan (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
13 of 15 people found this review helpful
Six years plus into owning this 2012 Malibu, we are very satisfied. Other than brakes, tires, and oil changes, we have had the right front wheel bearing assembly replaced. We really enjoy the smooth ride and reliability.Just over 83000 miles on it to date. It will need a little brake/strut work soon, but that's normal stuff. A few minor things since last review. A oiece of the front plastic undercarriage fell. Was able to put back on myself. Just replaced front tires. Trunk release button was not working for a few months but has started working again. Left side speakers have stopped working. Not sure of the problem, but not worth the money to get them fixed. Right side speakers provide good sound. Steering column is beginning to make some squeaking sounds whrn turing sharply. Not sure if it's something to be concerned about...yet.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Maintenance nightmare
Anthony, 05/20/2018
2012 Chevrolet Malibu LS 4dr Sedan (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
16 of 19 people found this review helpful
With under 100k on this vehicle we have already replaced a transmission and then a timing chain. Not to mention smaller repairs such as wheel bearings, strut mounts, and sensors. If one side breaks, replace the other as well because it is not far behind. This car is treated very light with frequent service and oil undercoated every year. Seems to be broken more often then not. I would not recommend this year of Malibu to ANYONE.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Gas mileage not as advertised
vthow, 09/19/2012
2012 Chevrolet Malibu LT 4dr Sedan w/1LT (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
30 of 38 people found this review helpful
The 2012 Malibu I purchased was stickered at 34 MPG. The best I have been able to get is 25 MPG all highway. The Malibu is a good car but one of the selling points in buying this was the MPG so I am very disappointed in the misleading advertising.
Not A Family Car
Matt, 12/09/2015
2012 Chevrolet Malibu LS 4dr Sedan (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
27 of 35 people found this review helpful
I bought my 2012 Chevy Malibu LS new in 2012 due to us losing a company car, and we went cheap on the trim. I have 2 children (under 5), and I can't say that I'm all that impressed with my Malibu, especially when comparing it to my wife's 2009 Ford Fusion SEL. The Malibu's 2.4L engine is very underpowered for a sedan. The transmission has never downshifted smoothly when approaching a light/stop sign (I'm assuming GM programmed the transmission this way to improve fuel economy). The fuel economy isn't as advertised (especially around town). We've had 3 recalls on the car, and for only having 39,500 miles, there are more squeaks and rattles than my wife's Fusion. The brakes and tires have worn very quickly. My friend has complained about the same issue with the same car. The throttle hesitates, and it seems the torque converter has a difficult time applying power to the wheels at lower RPMs. The paint scratches very easy, and the trunk opening is so small. We cannot the same types of items in my Malibu as we can in the Fusion (stroller, infant's swing, etc). On the positive side, we haven't had any major issues with it so far, and it is a very comfortable car to drive. The cabin is very quiet, and the car is easy on the eyes. The car is good in the snow, and the Bluetooth technology works great. The car warms up quickly in the winter. It is probably a nice vehicle for a single driver, but for a family it doesn't quite get the job done. I wouldn't recommend buying this vehicle.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Chevrolet should be ashamed of these cars
shadizar, 08/23/2015
updated 02/24/2017
2012 Chevrolet Malibu LTZ 4dr Sedan w/1LZ (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
17 of 23 people found this review helpful
The 2012 Malibu with the 2.4 engine is severely underpowered. It goes fairly well on a flat highway, until you need to pass or accelerate, and then the engine roars and the car doesn't go much faster. With four people inside and a trunk of suitcases, it is absolutely pathetic trying to climb a hill. The engine just will not pull the car up the hill! You will have better luck using the manual downshift because the transmission is never in the right gear and it has to be floored to downshift. Chevrolet should be ashamed of this cars "performance," or lack thereof. It's embarrassing when trying to climb a hill. I know these aren't performance cars but my 97 cavalier would zip right by this thing on any kind of incline. Dealership service team checked it over and reported engine was working properly and there were no repairs they could do to make it any better. Bad points: No power. Fuel economy is about 28 mpg at best. Brakes needed replacement at 30k. Wheel bearing failed at 30k. Tires worn down to nothing at 38k. Many recalls. Paint scratches very easily. Stereo sounds good but doesn't go very loud. Trunk opening small. Good points: Fairly quiet ride. Comfortable front seats. Warms up quick in winter. Goes well in snow. This car would be ok for a single driver with no passengers (as the more weight in the car the slower it goes... seriously its that underpowered.) And only then if most driving was on a flat road with few hills and small ones at that. I would not purchase it again. Very pricey and poor performance. My 2012 Cruze is twice the car this Malibu is! Update: 2/24/17 The fuel economy on the Malibu has dropped to 24 MPG. The car has 56,000 well cared for miles, all service performed by dealer. It's nearly paid off and as soon as it is im getting rid of it. Very disappointed in this car. 24 MPG!?! Mostly highway driving as well.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Will Be Going Back To Hondas
KW, 02/15/2017
updated 08/22/2017
2012 Chevrolet Malibu LTZ 4dr Sedan w/1LZ (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
12 of 16 people found this review helpful
I bought this car used with 13k mileage on it in 2013 when it was less than a year old. Up until this car I have purchased predominantly Honda's. I have not bought an American car since a Saturn in 1993 which died at 80,000 miles. After owning this car for almost 5 years now, I can say that I will not be buying Chevy again. At least not a Malibu. This car came with a dual Standard/Automatic transmission. I did not want or look for this feature, it just came with it. I rarely used the standard option, but I noticed that a result of having it was that the transmission, no matter what mode it was in, would hesitate for a second or 2 when you first give it gas from a dead stop. This is NOT good. When you are in a situation where you need to get out of someone's way immediately, you cannot be waiting a full second or more for the the gas to kick in. The second biggest problem I had with this car is that due (I think) to the low profile tires, it didn't matter what tires I had for this car, the tires do not track well at all. They follow every line or detail in the road whether you want it to or not, making it almost impossible for the vehicle to drive straight on its own, unless you are driving on a brand new road that was just fully repaved recently. The vehicle came with Goodyear Eagle tires which were complete garbage. They slid in wet, snowy and even dry conditions. I replaced them immediately with good Continentals and while that helped the traction problem slightly (now it only slides in rain and snow; dry pavement is usually OK), the tires still track poorly and the car still does not drive in a straight line on its own. As far as the styling and look of the car, it is very nice. Very impressive for a Chevy in my opinion. But that's about all I can say for it: it looks nice. One last thing I just thought of: I am 5' 9" and I repeatedly bumped my head on the top of the door frame getting into the car. The car is very low to the ground. Visibility is not the best either, even when looking over your shoulder. I was disappointed with the mileage too. It was advertised as 36 highway, 26 city. I drive primarily on the interstate to work and it only gets 24.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Great Ride!
Matt, 04/30/2019
updated 10/26/2021
2012 Chevrolet Malibu LS 4dr Sedan (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
This is known to be a reliable ride that doesn't have severe maintenance issues. I've had mine for just over 4 months and so far so good. I have few issues with it. However, as someone who is over 6' I have issue with the overhead room. I find my head brushes the roof at times and I have to duck it down to avoid hitting the side of the car. The steering wheel also rides a little close to my knees. These are minor comfort issues in the grand scheme of the car. The turn signal makes an annoying sound, but otherwise it's a quiet ride. The acceleration is natural and it brakes quickly and smoothly. I'm very satisfied with my driving experience whether short or long distance. One issue I had was replacing the headlight. It's not easy and can be costly to have a mechanic do the job. I was not happy about this and I'm thankful this has been my lone, major complaint with this car.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
SaigonPaulie75
saigonpaul75, 07/09/2013
2012 Chevrolet Malibu LT 4dr Sedan w/2LT (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
10 of 14 people found this review helpful
I introduced to my wife 2011 Malibu(Summit white) LT1 model when it was new and she bought it and loves it..So this may 2013 I went and bought my 2012(former lease) with 14000 miles for a great price(same color) but it's LT2 model and loaded with heated seats. We laugh about it. It's like driving an expensive car that we only paid $17000 each. Oh yeah! There are cars that cost $50k+ and it's all about name brand and status symbol. We can't afford those and so in our own way, this is our Mercedes or Audi lol..But less fortunate people than us only wish they could own this Malibu. So we are very happy and proud to own 2 cars with the same color and park in our driveway at our cozy home lol..
Nicest car I've ever hated
rom225, 06/21/2014
2012 Chevrolet Malibu LT 4dr Sedan w/1LT (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
19 of 31 people found this review helpful
I bought my 2012 Malibu LT1 4cyl new to replace my 1998 Malibu base 6cyl. I have a 66 mile one-way trip into work which includes 50 miles of open interstate driving with the last bit a drive through town on a divided 4-lane stop-and-stop traffic hwy. I went with the 4cyl because it was 19K and the 6cyl started at 30k. Convincing myself that the 34mpg would make me feel better. 6cyl I avg 26mpg, the 4cyl I avg 28mpg. second year at 60K miles the map sensor failed and needed to be replaced, not a warranted part.
Very disappointed
Jody , 10/26/2019
2012 Chevrolet Malibu LTZ 4dr Sedan w/2LZ (3.6L 6cyl 6A)
6 of 9 people found this review helpful
I bought my 2012 Malibu brand new with only 400 miles on it. I have changed the oil every 3000 miles and put only 80,080 miles on the car and it’s now 2019. Other other day it just stopped running only to find out that a cam sensor went out along with the timing chain. There was no noise or indication that this was happening until it was too late. Now I have metal in my oil and the car is pretty much toast at this point. I hoped to get at least 150,000 mile out of this car without anything major happening especially when I maintained it so well. Very sad
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Not the greatest
Anna, 03/11/2018
2012 Chevrolet Malibu LT 4dr Sedan w/1LT (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
5 of 8 people found this review helpful
I brought the car a year ago used. It was dining Great. I keep the oil changed and everything. Then the heat and air was not working. My husband fixed it or we thought he did. Now it turned out to be the wiring in the car. My heat and air don't work and some of the panel doesn't work now. I have never had so much trouble with a car before. I would not recommend this or any Malibu to any one.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Excellent Deal + Hidden Features
elpglenn, 02/28/2012
2012 Chevrolet Malibu LT 4dr Sedan w/1LT (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
40 of 80 people found this review helpful
After shopping around and comparing the Malibu to the Accord and the Sonata, I found the Malibu to give you the most for your money. The remote start and Bluetooth pretty much came standard on most of the Malibus, plus with OnStar I am able to get turn-by-turn directions that actually SHOW UP on the radio screen. I am very impressed! I thought I would be loosing out on navigation but if not having a map is okay with you then this is a winner! Acceleration could be better but picks up pretty good for a 4-cylinder. Braking action is good and it hugs curves very well. Overall, I like all that the Malibu offers for under $25,000!
Worst mistake of my life.
Chelsea G., 06/09/2021
2012 Chevrolet Malibu LT 4dr Sedan w/2LT (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
3 of 5 people found this review helpful
The longest I have ever been able to drive this vehicle was MAYBE 5 months after purchase. I then had to spend $4,500 and replace the entire engine. In the last month, I have had this vehicle in the shop 3 times. Do not ever purchase a Chevrolet Malibu. I did buy this vehicle in January 2018. I will not have it paid off until January 2023. I am tired of paying for it to be fixed. I do not drive it more than 15 miles per day. This is ridiculous. Please don't waste your money on this car.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Nice to look at
Disenchanted, 09/18/2016
updated 03/24/2020
2012 Chevrolet Malibu LT 4dr Sedan w/2LT (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
4 of 8 people found this review helpful
This car is good looking and comfortable to drive when it starts. Chevy says they do not know about the no start problem, I DOUBT they are telling me the truth. This car has left me stranded 3 times in 2 weeks. It turns over but does not fire. It is not the fuel pump nor the fuse or relay for it. I traded this car in to a different dealer than I bought it from. When I took my new car in for routine maintenance I was told they had sold the Malibu but they had to buy it back because no one could figure out the intermittent no start problem. They figured the 4 yr old car with 70000 miles would have to be sold for parts/junk. The trunk on this car was really a nice big size, however the opening was so small you could not put large items in it.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
May be last Chevy..
bigbearrc, 12/01/2012
2012 Chevrolet Malibu LT 4dr Sedan w/1LT (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
6 of 17 people found this review helpful
Downsized form a 2002 Impala to this for gas mileage. Big mistake. Impala averaged 28mpg. I am lucky to hit that using cruse control full time. Car is very underpowered. Almost dangerous to pass anyone. Car has great looks , but appears to be all flash and lost its basics. Stering while stopped acts like it lacks the power to steer car. Had for three months and want to replace. Will after getting some of the deprciation. Looking at 2013, it would appear GM knew this car was very deficient.
buyer beware Chevrolet beautiful POS
Nicole B, 07/08/2019
updated 01/15/2020
2012 Chevrolet Malibu LTZ 4dr Sedan w/1LZ (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
The car is a fairly comfortable ride. This particular car has every bell and whistle that was available. I purchased used with about 26,000 and withing a week of purchasing the check engine light comes on. told oh there's nothing wrong with it. It eats front brakes like they are going out of style and this was happening when the vehicle was under warranty and all issues were brought up with dealer mechanics and told nothing was wrong with the vehicle. I have had to put 2 exhausts on it in a years time. the engine now won't shift from 2nd to 3rd gear. I have had more problems with this low mileage car than my 97 Malibu with over 200k miles. Don't expect the dealership to honor your warranty they just string you along until the car is out of warranty and you have to pay for repairs. This is my last Chevrolet and this is coming from a woman who has owned nothing but Chevrolet. Not worth the money time or headache. The car has also had issues with the traction control system since day 1 which cause the cruise control not to disengage when the alerts come up sitting at a traffic light. Best thing I did was buy a Subaru Forester in September of 2019.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Back on the road
K Crawford , 10/16/2019
2012 Chevrolet Malibu LT 4dr Sedan w/3LT (3.6L 6cyl 6A)
1 of 7 people found this review helpful
Handles smoothly
LOVE this car!
Starsxalive02, 03/18/2021
2012 Chevrolet Malibu LT 4dr Sedan w/1LT (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Best car I've ever known. Decent gas mileage and high safety rating. Perfect car just for me.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Years have done more damage than the miliage
Craig, 01/26/2023
2012 Chevrolet Malibu LS 4dr Sedan (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Just over 80,000 miles in 10 years. The air-conditioning module went out but was not easily diagnosed . cost almost 800 most for electronic diagnostics labor. Driver Door window control needs replacing. The parts don't cost much but the LABOR costs are killing me. Even changing the lamp headlight bulb cost 150 in LABOR . For the most part the can runs well but the other stuff drives me crazy especially with such ow mileage
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
I love me Malibu
Sweets, Venice Fl, 09/06/2023
2012 Chevrolet Malibu LT 4dr Sedan w/1LT (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I bought car new. It was driven by a salesman to Fl only before I purchased from dealer. The major gripe I have is the tires losing air all the time. Even when I get news tires many times over the years. It's a 2012 and now its 2023 and I have 218,000 miles on it. I am very happy with my Malibu.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Chebie
Melvin , 03/05/2024
2012 Chevrolet Malibu LS 4dr Sedan (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
As I've gotten older, it's harder to get in and out of. Other than that, wonderful vehicle
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Electrical Disaster and Fuel Pump Fail
Foster, 09/23/2024
2012 Chevrolet Malibu LT 4dr Sedan w/1LT (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
She did good for a while, but after about 120K miles is when she started to have issues. These cars are not made to last long. I’m currently at 150K miles and Replaced the fuel pump, have had electrical issues. It’s completely died on me several times even on the highway. Just this past month I’ve had it towed twice for crank/no start issues. Sensative to temperature hot or cold.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Love it
Gilbert Ramirez, 06/15/2020
2012 Chevrolet Malibu LT 4dr Sedan w/1LT (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
0 of 2 people found this review helpful
its a great car!!!
Chevy Malibu
Rico, 07/27/2019
2012 Chevrolet Malibu LS 4dr Sedan (2.4L 4cyl 6A)
0 of 1 people found this review helpful
I just got this car used it ride smooth and great gas mileage. The only thing it needs is a fuel pump but I have a warranty to cover that. Besides that I have not had any problems so far
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value