Home · 2013 Chevrolet Malibu Eco · Complaints

What 921 owners told NHTSA about the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu Eco

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (921)Crash / fire / injury (52)Electrical system (423)Engine (226)Steering (197)Electronic Stability Control (esc) (84)Airbags (69)Suspension (65)Transmission & drivetrain (61)Brakes (55)Visibility & wipers (44)Fuel system (40)

423 of 921 complaints match · Electrical system · clear filters · page 14 of 17

Dec 19, 2016SteeringElectrical system

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING SEIZED AND THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF ELECTRICAL FUNCTIONS AND POWER. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 75,000.

NHTSA ODI 10936276

Dec 13, 2016Electrical systemEngine

FIRST MY DASH CLUSTER WENT OUT NOTHING WORK HAD A NEW ONE PUT IN AFTER ABOUT TWO WEEK IT WENT OUT AGAIN HAD IT AT THE DEALER THEY DON'T KNOW WHY. SO I DID NOT REPLACE IT THIS TIME BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW IF IT WELL HAPPEN AGAIN THE COST TO REPLACE IS ON ME. NOW I'M HAVING MOTOR IS HAVING A OIL LEAK BAD FOUND OUT WHY THE VALEVTRAIN OIL CONTROL PASSAGES INTEGRATED HAS COME APART AND THEY WILL NOT COVER IT ON WARRANTY SAID THAT I DID NOT CHANGE THE OIL WHEN IT CAME TIME TO DO I HAVE IT CHANGE ALL THE TIME AT THE DEALER WHEN IT COME TIME WHEN LIGHT COME ON TO TELL ME. THIS IS HIGH DOLLAR TO PAID FOR IT AS THEY SAID TOP OF THE MOTOR HAS TO BE TAKEN APART. AND THEY WOULD NOT LET GM KNOW OF THIS. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10935116

Dec 13, 2016Electrical system

MY CHEVY MALIBU HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING INTERMITTENT ELECTRICAL ISSUES. IT STARTED AFTER MY CAR DIED AT THE END OF AN HOUR'S DRIVE. I THOUGHT I WAS EXPERIENCING BATTERY ISSUES BUT PERSISTED MONTHS WITH NO OTHER ISSUES. IT HAPPENED AGAIN 4 MONTHS LATER (DECEMBER 3RD), AND THE FOLLOWING DAY THE CAR COMPLETELY DIED ON ME WHILE TRAVELING HIGHWAY SPEEDS DURING A SNOW STORM. MY POWER STEERING WAS BARELY OPERABLE, WHILE MY LIGHTS HEAT AND RADIO COMPLETELY STOPPED FUNCTIONING. THE DEALERSHIPS SEEM TO BE CLULESS ABOUT THE ISSUE. THE ONE I VISITED SEEMED ADAMANT THAT THE ISSUE COULD BE STEMMING FROM MY KEY! CHEVY HAS BEEN HELPFUL ONLY IN THE SENSE THAT THEY GAVE ME A $100 CREDIT TO GET THE CAR DIAGNOSED (WHICH HASN'T GIVEN ANY RESULTS). I'VE SEEN SOME OF THE HORROR STORIES FROM THIS ISSUE AND AM TERRIFIED TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE AGAIN UNTIL SOMETHING IS FIXED.

NHTSA ODI 10935163

Dec 9, 2016Transmission & drivetrainElectrical system

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT CRANK, BUT THE BATTERY WAS FULLY CHARGED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE KEY DID NOT COME OUT OF THE IGNITION AND THE GEAR SHIFTER WOULD NOT SHIFT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,000.

NHTSA ODI 10934081

Dec 5, 2016SteeringElectrical system

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING POWER LOSS AND LOSS OF POWER STEERING. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,700.

NHTSA ODI 10929898

Dec 4, 2016Electrical system

RADIO, INTERIOR LIGHTS, AND POWER STEERING STOPS WORKING WHEN I TURN ON MY SIGNAL LIGHTS OR SOMETIMES WHEN I'M JUST RIDING. IT SEEMS TO ALWAYS HAPPEN WHEN I'M GOING AT SPEEDS 40MPH AND ABOVE. IT'S VERY SCARY AND MY GIRLFRIEND WHOM IS PREGNANT WITH OUR CHILD HAS HAD THIS HAPPEN TO HER ON THE HIGHWAY.

NHTSA ODI 10929821

Nov 26, 2016Electrical systemSeats

MY DRIVER SEAT IS STUCK ALL THE WAY IN THE FULL RECLINE POSITION AND WONT GO BACK UP. I CONTACTED CHEVY DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME 1,400 TO BUY A WHOLE NEW SEAT. I DONT HAVE 1400 LAYING AROUND TO BUY A NEW WHOLE SEAT AND THAT IT TROUBLES ME THAT A WHOLE SEAT WOULD GO OUT WITH MY CAR WHEN IT HAS LESS THAN 45,000 MILES. NOW MY WIFE AND I ARE FORCED TO DRIVE A UNSAFE CAR BECAUSE NOT ONLY WE DON'T HAVE THAT KIND OF MONEY LAYING AROUND FOR A SEAT THAT SHOULDN'T EVEN BE BROKE AT 42000 MILES. IVE CONTACTED GM BUT THEY HAVE NOT CONTACTED ME BACK YET. I ALSO PAID 130 DOLLARS FOR THE DEALERSHIP TO TELL ME THAT I NEED A WHOLE NEW SEAT? I COULD HAVE TOLD THEM THAT. I HOPE I DON'T GET IN A ACCIDENT PROBABLY WONT HAVE A CHANCE WITH THE WAY THE SEAT IS SITTING SEAT BELT WONT WORK PROPERLY.

NHTSA ODI 10928086

Nov 16, 2016SteeringElectrical systemEngine

2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU (LT) HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING SERVE ELECTRICAL ISSUES. THIS HIGHLY DANGEROUS DEFECT I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING AS WELL YET THERE IS NO RECALL! FIRST THE MY LINK/NAVIGATION/RADIO MODULE WOULD SHUT OFF AND COME BACK ON. WHILE THIS OCCURS, THE BATTERY VOLTAGE WOULD JUMP DOWN THEN JUMP BACK UP. I CALLED CHEVY/GMC AND THEY RECOMMENDED TO SHUT THE CAR OFF, REMOVE THE KEY, OPEN THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR SO THE COMPUTER CAN RESET ITSELF. IT CONTINUED TO HAPPY THROUGH THE COURSE OF COUPLE HOURS THEN FINALLY STOPPED AND WAS WORKING FROM OVER THE COURSE OF 4 DAYS. AS OF YESTERDAY THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUT OFF, ENTIRE TOUCHSCREEN MODULE SHUT OFF, AND TURNED BACK ON IN A SPLIT SECOND. ONCE THE CAR TURNED ON, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS COMPLETELY TIGHT, ALMOST LOCKED, AND WE WOULD BARELY TURN INTO OUR DRIVEWAY WHILE IN MOTION ON A 25PM STREET. THANK GOD I WAS NOT COMING OFF A HIGHWAY OR DRIVING FAST LIKE REPORTS OF THIS ISSUE LIKE OTHER CONSUMERS BUT THIS IS DANGEROUS. I AM TERRIFIED OF THIS VEHICLE AND WILL BE TAKING IT TO CHEVY. THERE ARE OVER A HUNDRED COMPLAINTS AND VIDEOS I SAW AFTER I LOOKED UP IF THIS ISSUE WAS COMMON, WHICH IT APPEARS TO BE, ONLINE. THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE ON THE RECALL LIST BECAUSE THIS CAN CAUSE ACCIDENTS AND SOMEONE CAN GET SERIOUSLY INJURED.

NHTSA ODI 10926353

Oct 31, 2016Electrical system

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, IT FAILED TO START AND AN ABNORMAL NOISE EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE DOORS WERE LOCKED. THE CONTACT HAD TO MANUALLY UNLOCK THE DOOR IN ORDER TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.

NHTSA ODI 10920148

Oct 25, 2016SteeringElectrical systemLights

WHILE DRIVING THE RADIO AND INTERIOR LIGHTS GO OUT AND POWER STEERING STOPS WORKING. SEEMS TO HAPPEN WHEN LEFT BLINKER IS USED. HEADLIGHTS WILL FLICKER WHEN THIS HAPPENS ALSO. THERE IS NO WARNING PRIOR TO SHUTDOWN. ONE OCCURRENCE CAR COMPLETELY SHUT OFF ON ITS OWN AFTER POWER SURGE. VERY UNSAFE TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE, I ALMOST HIT A PARKED CAR BECAUSE OF THIS FAILURE. IT HAPPENS ON HIGHWAY OR NEIGHBORHOOD. CAR IS PARKED AT DEALERSHIP TIL PROBLEM CAN BE RESOLVED. ODOMETER HAS 53,000 MILES ON IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10918914

Oct 24, 2016Electrical systemLatches & locks

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE DOORS LOCKED ON THEIR OWN AND THE CONTACT COULD NOT EXIT THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE IGNITION KEY BECAME STUCK ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 52,000.

NHTSA ODI 10918456

Oct 24, 2016SteeringElectrical systemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

VEHICLE MOVING ON CITY STREET, LOST POWER TO RADIO, NAVIGATION SYSTEM, ETC., THEN LOST STEERING. LOST STEERING WHILE MAKING U-TURN. LOST STEERING IN FORWARD AND REVERSE WHILE PARKING VEHICLE. POWER TO CONTROL PANELS SHUT DOWN DURING BOTH INCIDENTS. OCCURRED BRIEFLY ON HIGHWAY WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGH RATE OF SPEED. THE LOSS OF POWER AND STEERING HAS BECOME MORE FREQUENT AND LASTING FOR A LONGER PERIOD OF TIME. VEHICLE IS NOW AT DEALERSHIP FOR SAME ISSUE. I PURCHASED VEHICLE 3 MONTHS AGO. MY 17 Y/O SON USES THIS VEHICLE AND I AM CONCERNED ABOUT HIS SAFETY. I LOOKED INTO THIS PROBLEM ON THE WEB AND DISCOVERED THAT THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL. I RECEIVED A PHONE CALL FROM THE DEALERSHIP WHERE MY CAR IS BEING SERVICED. THEY CANNOT FIND A PROBLEM. THIS WAS EXPECTED BASED ON WHAT I HAVE READ. I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS HAPPENING BEFORE ESPECIALLY SINCE GM HAS RECALLED EARLIER MODELS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM BUT REFUSE TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE 2013. YOU CANNOT UNDERSTAND THE NERVOUSNESS YOU FEEL BEFORE GETTING INTO THE DRIVER'S SEAT UNLESS YOU HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS YOURSELF. FOR GM AND DEALERSHIP TO KNOWINGLY ALLOW A PERSON TO PURCHASE THIS VEHICLE AND DRIVE OFF THEIR LOT WITH A SERIOUS ISSUE SUCH AS THIS IS MIND BLOWING. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10918591

Oct 24, 2016SteeringElectrical systemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

2013 CHEVY MALIBU CONTINUES TO POWER DOWN WHILE DRIVING. RADIO WILL SHUT OFF THEN ELECTRICAL PANEL AND OFTEN TIMES IT WOULD LOSE COMPLETE POWER AND CAUSE THE POWER STEERING TO SHUT OFF. VERY DANGEROUS. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES THEY CONTINUE TO FINAGLE THE NEGATIVE WIRING. BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT; NO FIX. SOMETHING IS DEFECTIVE AND POSE RLLY CHEVY CAN'T FIGURE IT OUT. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10918679

Oct 21, 2016SteeringElectrical system

MY CAR INITIALLY STARTED WITH THE RADIO AND TOUCH SCREEN POWERING OFF FOR A FEW SECONDS. THEN, I WAS DRIVING AND WENT TO MAKE A LEFT TURN, THE RADIO POWER WENT OFF AS WELL AS THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP, AGAIN ONLY FOR A FEW SECONDS. NOW, WHEN IT HAPPENS (IT'S HAPPENING MORE FREQUENTLY), THE HEADLIGHTS AND DASH LIGHTS FLICKER AS WELL AS THE RADIO POWER SHUTS OFF AND THE STEERING LOCKS UP. IT ALL ONLY LASTS AROUND 4-5 SECONDS, BUT CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS AT THE WRONG TIME. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WHO COULD NOT REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM, IN WHICH I EXPLAINED IT'S SPORADIC AND UNPREDICTABLE. THIS IS BECOMING A SAFETY ISSUE AND MORE FRIGHTENING THAT DEALERSHIPS ARE UNAWARE OF THE ISSUE OR HOW TO FIX IT. GM REALLY NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS BEFORE IT CAUSES A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10917822

Oct 18, 2016SteeringElectrical systemEngine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE ELECTRONIC SCREEN BLANKED OUT, THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,968. UPDATED 12/01/16*LJ*****UPDATED 12/22/16*LJ UPDATED 7/9/18 *JB

NHTSA ODI 10916725

Oct 12, 2016Electrical system

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE'S POWER SEIZED. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AFTER ONE ATTEMPT, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 10915456

Oct 11, 2016Electrical systemSpeed controlElectronic Stability Control (esc)

I HAVE HAD PROBLEM WITH THE 2013 MALIBU SINCE I PURCHASE IT ON OCTOBER 22, 2015. ON OCTOBER 07,2016 ME AND MY CHILD ALMOST GOT HIT BY A 18 WHEELER GETTING OFF THE INTERSTATE. I RAN IN THE DITCH TO AVOID HAVING A ACCIDENT. I LOOK IN THE DASH OF THE CAR AND IT STATED THAT ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED AND WHEN I PUSH THE GAS DOWN IT TOLD ME ENGINE OVERSPEED. THE CAR IS PARK NOW BECAUSE I DO NOT FEEL SAFE.

NHTSA ODI 10915315

Oct 10, 2016Electrical system

WHEN DRIVING, SPECIFICALLY AT NIGHT, ALL LIGHTS FLICKER OFF, WHILE DRIVING OR SITTING IDLE. ALSO WHEN I PUT ON THE TURN SIGNAL, OR JUST MAKE A TURN, STOP, ACCELERATE. THERE IS NO REASON, JUST HAPPENS, THE LIGHTS FLICKER OFF. ALL OF THE LIGHTS, INCLUDING THE SCREEN. ALL THE LIGHTS GO COMPLETELY OUT FOR A FEW SECONDS THEN COME RIGHT BACK ON. TWICE THE CAR HAS TURNED OFF, ALL THE LIGHTS GO OUT, THEN THEY COME BACK ON, BUT OF COURSE THE CAR IS STILL OFF. LUCKILY THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED IN MY DRIVEWAY. THE SECOND TIME, HOWEVER, I WAS ON THE ROAD, WITH MY KID IN THE CAR. WE WERE AT A RED LIGHT AND THE WHOLE CAR TURNED OFF. THE LIGHTS CAME BACK ON BUT I HAD TO TURN THE CAR BACK ON. I HAVE BEEN READING ABOUT THIS ISSUE ON SEVERAL DIFFERENT FORUMS AND GM SHOULD MAKE THIS A RECALL BEFORE SOMEONE IS HURT OR WORSE.

NHTSA ODI 10915161

Oct 5, 2016SteeringElectrical systemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS MY 2013 MALIBU HAS LOST POWER CAUSING A STEERING ISSUE. IT COULD BE WHILE DRIVING, TURNING, STOPPING OR ACCELERATING. THE CAR WILL LOSE POWER TO THE TOUCH SCREEN RADIO CAUSING THE SCREEN TO GO BLACK, THEN I LOSE THE STEERING MOMENTARILY AND THEN EVERYTHING WILL COME BACK ON. THIS CAN HAPPEN ONCE OR SOMETIMES IT CONTINUES TO HAPPEN WHICH CAUSES THE SERVICE STABILITRACK WARNING LIGHT TO COME ON OR THE SERVICE POWER STEERING LIGHT TO COME ON. THIS HAS ALSO LED TO THE CAR STALLING AND LOSING ALL ELECTRICITY AND THEN STARTING BACK UP RIGHT AWAY. THE MORE ELECTRONICS YOU USE SUCH AS THE BLINKER CAUSES THE PROBLEM TO GET WORSE AND USUALLY ENDS UP IN THE CAR STALLING. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER FOUR SEPARATE TIMES FOR THIS ISSUE AND NOTHING HAS BEEN FIXED. I HAVE NOT HAD MY CAR MORE THAN A WEEK SINCE AUGUST 22,2016 BECAUSE I REFUSE TO DRIVE THE CAR UNTIL IT IS FIXED. THE DEALER IS FOCUSING ON MY AFTER MARKET REMOTE STARTER WHICH IS WRONG SEEING THERE ARE MANY OF THE SAME OCCURRENCES LISTED ON TIS WEBSITE.

NHTSA ODI 10913971

Oct 4, 2016Electrical systemEngine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH AND TURNING LEFT, THE VEHICLE STALLED. A "SERVICE THEFT DETERRENT SYSTEMS" MESSAGE ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS COASTED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT DUPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

NHTSA ODI 10913621

Oct 4, 2016SteeringElectrical systemBrakes

WHILE DRIVING CAR INSTRUMENT PANEL TURNS OFF, AFTER WHICH STEERING LOCKS UP AND BRAKES BECOME INOPERABLE. INSTRUMENT PANEL TURNS OFF FOR SECONDS, THEN AS THE INSTRUMENT PANEL TURNS BACK ON, ALL MESSAGES ON INSTRUMENT PANEL FLASH (IE ENGINE LIGHT, LOW BATTERY, ETC). MOST COMMON MESSAGE IS ABOUT STABILINK. EVEN AFTER INSTRUMENT PANEL TURNS BACK ON, THE STEERING WHEEL WILL REMAIN STIFF AND HARD TO MOVE UNTIL YOU LEAVE THE CAR OFF FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME. THERE SEEMS TO BE NO RHYME OR REASON TO THE PROBLEM, OTHER THAN DRIVING IT. I'VE HAD IT HAPPEN IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC WHERE I'M GOING FROM NOT MOVING TO AT MAX 5 MPH, I'VE HAD IT HAPPEN ON AN EMPTY HIGHWAY GOING 65 MPH, I'VE HAD IT HAPPEN TWO MINUTES INTO MY DRIVE, AND I'VE HAD IT HAPPEN 40 MINUTES INTO MY DRIVE. STEERING WHEEL DOES NOT ALWAYS LOCK UP IN THE MIDDLE OF A TURN, BUT MOST FREQUENTLY IT HAPPENS WHEN MAKING A SHARP TURN. I HAVE VIDEO OF THE OCCURRENCE OF THE STEERING WHEEL AND WHAT HAPPENS TO THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BUT AM UNABLE TO UPLOAD IT. I'VE TRIED TO GET THE WHOLE THING ON VIDEO BUT IT REALLY JUST DEPENDS ON IF SOMEONE IS IN THE CAR WITH ME OR IF MY PHONE WAS AT THE READY AND I'M IN A SAFE ENVIRONMENT TO RECORD. IT'S SCARY ENOUGH TO HAVE THE STEERING AND BRAKES BE USELESS TO ME, SO MY FOCUS IS USUALLY MORE ON CONTROLLING THE CAR.

NHTSA ODI 10913759

Oct 4, 2016Electrical system

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE AT VARIOUS SPEEDS THE ELECTRONICS AND POWER STEERING WILL TURN OFF CAUSING AND TURN BACK ON. THIS ALSO OCCURS WHILE MAKING TURNS WITHOUT WARNING.

NHTSA ODI 10913861

Sep 26, 2016Electrical system

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM INTERMITTENTLY STOPPED FUNCTIONING, WHICH RESULTED IN A LOSS OF POWER STEERING, ABS FUNCTIONALITY, AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS OPERATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY EIGHT TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SOLENOIDS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT NOT REPAIRED DUE TO THE MANUFACTURER'S DENIAL OF THE CLAIM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60,000.

NHTSA ODI 10909625

Sep 19, 2016SteeringElectrical systemEngineCrash

THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS ON - WHEN CHECKED AT THE DEALER THEY TOLD ME NO CODE FOUND FOR TWO YEARS, THEN AS TIME WENT ON IT STARTED ADDING SERVICE POWER STEERING AND AC/DC SHUT DOWN. AFTER NUMEROUS VISITS TO THE DEALER AND TWO MAJOR REPAIRS, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STILL COMES ON, AND THE POWER STEERING LOCKS UP. ON AUGUST 24, 2016, I WAS DRIVING 50+ MPH ON A CURVY ROAD WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, FOLLOWED IMMEDIATELY BY THE SERVICE POWER STEERING, FOLLOWED BY SOMETHING STABILIZER, FOLLOWED BY AC/DC SHUT DOWN, TO ENGINE OVERHEATED IDLE ENGINE. THE POWER STEERING LOCKED UP AND I WAS UNABLE TO STEER THE CAR AND RAN OFF THE ROAD. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO HAD JUST WORKED ON THE CAR FOR THE SECOND TIME IN A MONTH, AND THEY FOUND NO CODES - NO SURPRISE! I COMPLAINED TO CHEVY FOR THE THIRD TIME AT CORPORATE LEVEL AND THEY HAD DENIED MY CLAIM AS BEING SAFETY RELATED. I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT A CAR YOU SUDDENLY CAN'T STEER ISN'T CONSIDERED A SAFETY ISSUES. I ALSO FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT CHEVY CAN'T RECOGNIZE THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE 2013 MALIBU. HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE TO DIE BEFORE THEY ADDRESS THIS ISSUE? ALSO, WHY ARE THEY WAITING ON CODES WHEN THE PROBLEM IS MOST LIKELY AN ELECTRICAL/COMPUTER PROBLEM. IF THE COMPUTER ISN'T WORKING ITS NO SURPRISE THAT THE WARNINGS ARE NOT THROWING A CODE! COMMON SENSE! ALSO, A CAR DOESN'T THROW WARNING LIGHTS AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS WITHOUT SOMETHING SETTING IT OFF! HENCE YOU HAVE A PROBLEM!

NHTSA ODI 10908043

Sep 12, 2016SteeringElectrical system

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY FIRST THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS QUIT DURING A DOWN POUR, THE ANTI TRACTION WAS MALFUNCTIONING ON THE SCREEN THEN SAID ANTI THEFT SYSTEM NEEDED SERVICE THEN THE STEERING WENT OUT AND LOCKED THE CAR DOWN. ALL OF THIS HAPPENED WHILE THE CAR REMAINED RUNNING. WAS VERY SCARY. HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH AND IT APPEARS GM IS AWARE OF A PROBLEM. THE CAR IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALERSHIP. NO KNOWN REASON WHY YET ALTHOUGH THE DEALERSHIP STATED IT DID THIS TO THEM WHEN THEY WERE TRYING TO PULL IT IN THE GARAGE. GM NEEDS TO FIGURE THIS OUT AND ISSUE A RECALL BEFORE THERE IS SERIOUS INJURY INCLUDING POSSIBLE DEATH THE CAR WAS IN MOTION ON A HIGHWAY WHEN THIS OCCURRED

NHTSA ODI 10905954

← NewerOlder →

Working with the data? Download all 921 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 24, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2013 Chevrolet Malibu Eco verdict →