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 15 of 17

Sep 8, 2016SteeringElectrical systemEngine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED. AS A RESULT, THE POWER STEERING SEIZED. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. IN ADDITION, THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILED TO RELEASE THE KEY AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AND THE SENSOR CIRCUIT WAS REPLACED IN THE CAMSHAFT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,000.

NHTSA ODI 10904748

Sep 2, 2016SteeringElectrical system

I GOT MY CAR 6 MONTHS AGO, AND NOW MY CAR STEERING WHEEL LOCKED , AND LOST BATTERY VOLTAGE , I'M GETTING MESSAGE TO SERVICE WHEEL STEERING SYSTEM ANN BATTERY CHARGE SYSTEM

NHTSA ODI 10903401

Aug 13, 2016Electrical systemBrakesEngine

BOUGHT USED IN 2014 WITH 22K MILES FROM CERTIFIED CHEVY DEALER. IN JULY, 2016 (NOW 45K MILES), THE VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY SHUT OFF AT LOW SPEEDS OR STOPS (HIGHWAY DURING CONSTRUCTION AND AT STOP LIGHTS, ALSO WHEN GOING AT A HIGH SPEED AND SLAMMING ON THE BRAKES WHEN SOMEONE PULLED IN FRONT OF US). BROUGHT TO DEALERSHIP TWICE. FIRST TIME THEY REPLACED A SENSOR, SECOND TIME THEY COULD ADVISED THEY DIDN'T KNOW AND TO BRING IT BACK IF IT HAPPENED AGAIN. THIRD TIME BROUGHT TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO ADVISED IT WAS RELATED TO THE ECO AND WE SHOULD BRING TO A DEALER. EXTREMELY CONCERNED FOR SAFETY AND WE HAVE 3 CHILDREN AND FREQUENTLY DRIVE THROUGH MINNEAPOLIS/ST PAUL AREAS WHERE THERE IS HEAVY TRAFFIC AND CONSTRUCTION.

NHTSA ODI 10895505

Aug 12, 2016SteeringElectrical system

WHILE DRIVING, ALL OF THE SUDDEN THE RAIO/ SCREEN GOES OUT, STEERING LOCKS UP! HAS HAPPENED RIGHT AFTER STARTED, DAY & NIGHT, MAY BE FINE FOR AN HOUR TO 4 OR 5 HOURS, NEVER KNOW! HAS HAPPENED WHEN TURNING, VERY DANGEROUS! I'VE ALMOST HAD 4-5 ACCIDENTS DUE TO THIS PROBLEM! CHEVYS SAYS THEY HAVEN'T HAD ANY KNOWLEDGE! DOUGHT THIS, COMPLAINTS ALL OVER THE INTERNET. THIS STARTED AROUND 45,000 RUTH JUST THE RADIO /SCREEN GOING OFF FOR A FEW SECONDS, BY 60,000 STARTED EFFECTING THE STEERING! I NOW HAVE 80,000 MILES ON CAR. THIS NEEDS QUICK ATTENTION FROM NTSB , WONDER IF ANY DEATHS FROM THIS? HELP!

NHTSA ODI 10895218

Aug 8, 2016Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

MY CHEVROLET MALIBU SHUT OFF ON ME IN THE MID OF THE WAY AND I ALMOST GO INTO A ACCIDENT WITH MY CHILDREN. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY CAN'T FIND OUT WHY MY CAR IS DOING THIS.

NHTSA ODI 10894150

Aug 3, 2016SteeringElectrical system

OUR 2103 CHEVY MALIBU "LOSES ELECTRICAL POWER AND POWER STEERING" WHUILE BEING DRIVEN. THIS IS NOW HAPPENING EVEN MORE FREQUENTLY. THE DASH AND STEERING, ETC GOES BLANK AND RESETS AFTER A FEW SECONDS. THIS IS HAPPENING MORE OFTEN AND IS DANGEROUS. I SEE ON THE INTERNET THAT DOZENS OR HUNDREDS OF OTHER 2013 MALIBU OWNERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. SOME HAVE HAD ACCIDENTS AS A RESULT. MY MECHANIC IS NOT ABLE TO FIND AN ERROR CODE, NOR TO FIX, AND IT SEEMS LIKE NEITHER GM NOR THE OTHER MECHANICS ARE ABLE TO FIX EITHER. THIS HAPPENS IN A VARIETY OF MOVEMENT SETTINGS, SLOW SPEED, HIGH SPEED, TURNING AND NOT, ETC. THIS LAST HAPPENED 5+ TIMES THE EVENING OF JULY 31.

NHTSA ODI 10892806

Jul 24, 2016Electrical systemAirbagsSpeed control

WHILE DRIVING, SERVICE AIR BAGS ,SERVICE ANTI TEFT SYSTEM,WARNINGS COME ON, A/C,RADIO SHUT OFF ASWELL AS GAS ,SPEED ODOMETER,ALL GAUGES SHUT DOWN.

NHTSA ODI 10888054

Jul 17, 2016Electrical system

WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE ON A HIGHWAY GOING 65MPH, IT SUDDENLY STOPPED,LOCKED UP, AND WOULD NOT TURN ON. THE ELECTRICAL PANEL GOES OFF AND ON WHEN IT WANTS TO. SOMETIMES THE CAR WILL NOT STEER AND IT GETS REALLY STIFF. HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP NUMEROUS TIMES AND THEY HAVE TOLD ME THAT THEY FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. I KNOW SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH IT AND IT IS DANGEROUS TO OPERATE A CAR THAT ALL OF A SUDDEN SHUTS DOWN AND LOCKS UP. THIS CAN KILL SOMEONE. THERE NEEDS TO BE ENOUGH COMPLAINTS FOR GM TO FIX THESE CARS. NO ONE CAN FIX THEM BUT WE ARE STUCK PAYING FOR THEM STILL AND RISKING OUR LIVES.

NHTSA ODI 10885405

Jul 16, 2016Electrical systemEngine

THE CAR WILL STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING IT! THE CODES ON MY CAR IS P00014 AND P00010. THIS ISSUE WILL CAUSE ACCIDENTS. PLEASE NOTIFY THE DRIVES OF THIS RECALL I HAVE WENT TO THE SAFERCAR LINK AND CHECKED ME CAR VIN AND THE RECALL HAS NOT BEEN SENT OUT FOR THIS CAR BUT IT WILL CAUSE INJURIES IF NOT DEATH. MY CAR STOPPED ON THE IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC..

NHTSA ODI 10885209

Jul 5, 2016SteeringElectrical system

I HAVE A MALIBU ECO BOOST. ON JUNE 23, 2015 I WAS DRIVING ON 96 AND THE CHARGING SYSTEM FAILURE LIGHT CAME ON THE CAR BEGAN TO SHUT DOWN. THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER ON THE SHOULDER BUT THE KEYS COULD NOT BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION. I HAD IT TOWED TO GRAFF CHEVROLET ANDTHEY SAID THE ONLY THING THEY COULD FIND WRONG WAS A SPEEDSENSOR. THE GUY TOM SAID I COULD COME GET MY VEHICLE AT 8PM SINCE THEPART WAS ENROUTE. I DROVE OVER 80 MILES TO GET THERE AT8 AND MY CAR WASN'T READY BUT THE GUY SAID I COLD TAKE IT WITH ME. I DID NOT.THEY FIXED THAT THEN SAID IT WAS A RIGHT WHEEL HUB.I KNOW THESE TWO THINGS HAVENOTHING TO DO WITH THE CHARGING SYSTEM. TOOKMY CAR HOME AND THE SAME THINGHAPPENED ON THE HOLIDAY JULY 4TH.WHY DIDN'T THECOMPUTER OR THE MECHANIC DETECT A PROBLEM WITH THE CHARGING SYSTEM.

NHTSA ODI 10882607

Jul 5, 2016SteeringElectrical system

MY VEHICLE HAS 49000 MILES ON IT WHILE DRIVING I LOOSE POWER STEERING...THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP.. RADIO TURNS OFF...AND THE DASH LIGHTS GO OFF... AFTER A SECOND I GET POWER BACK AND CONTROL.. I HAVE ALMOST HAD HEAD ON COLLISIONS A 2 OCCASIONS.. I ALSO HAD MY STEERING COMPLETELY LOCK WHILE PARKED.. AND AS WITH BEFORE MY RADIO WENT OFF AND WOULD NOT TURN BACK ON UNTIL I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON.... THIS IS A HAZARD AND SOMEONE WILL BE INJURED OR KILLED IF THIS PROBLEM IS NOT ADDRESSED... I HAVE HAD IT IN THE DEALER FOR THIS AND THEY INFORMED ME I HAD 13 PLUS WARNINGS POP UP ON DIEGNOSTICS, HOWEVER, THEY FOUND NO PROBLEM AND RESET THE COMPUTER... 3 DAYS LATER THE PROBLEM CAME BACK...

NHTSA ODI 10882791

Jun 30, 2016Electrical systemEngine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED, BUT THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 116,000.

NHTSA ODI 10881738

Jun 17, 2016SteeringElectrical systemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

WHEN DRIVING, THE CAR WILL SHUT OFF FOR ABOUT 5 SECONDS AND THEN COME BACK ON FINE BUT THE WHEEL AND THE BRAKES LOCK UP. IT WILL RANDOMLY DO THIS. IT HAPPENS ON NORMAL SIDE STREETS AS WELL AS ON THE INTERSTATE. I HAVE ALSO HAD IT HAPPEN WHILE SITTING STILL IN PARK. THE CAR WAS TURNED ON BUT THE RADIO WOULD BLINK AND THE AIR STOP AND THEN AFTER ABOUT 6 SECONDS IT WILL START AGAIN LIKE NORMAL. HOWEVER ABOUT 4 TIMES IT HAS HAD MAJOR EPISODES WHERE ALL OF THE LIGHTS WILL BLINK (LIKE I WAS RESTARTING THE CAR), THE WHEEL LOCKS UP, THE BRAKES LOCK UP, THE CAR ACTS AS IF IT IS IN NEUTRAL AND THEN ABOUT 6 SECONDS IT WILL JERK LIKE IT'S GOING INTO GEAR AND ONCE I PULL OVER AND RESTART IT, IT MAY HAPPEN AGAIN OR IT MAY BE FINE FOR A WHILE. IT HAS SHOWN ON THE SCREEN ON THESE 4 TIMES WORDS OF "CHECK POWER STEERING OR STABILITRAK WARNING" IT'S VERY SCARY. I'VE ALMOST WRECKED 3 DIFFERENT TIMES BECAUSE THE WHEEL LOCKS UP AND I WAS IN A TURN WHEN IT DID IT. THE LAST TIME IT HAPPENED I WAS TRAVELING WITH MY YOUNG CHILDREN AND WE WERE ALMOST REAR ENDED BY AN 18 WHEELER ON THE INTERSTATE AT RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. I FEEL LIKE I'M DRIVING A DEATH TRAP. I TOOK IT TO THE SHOP THAT THE DEALER ADVISED ME TO TAKE IT TO. THEY SAY IT IS THE ECM. THE DEALERSHIP IS NOT WILLING TO PAY FOR IT SINCE IT'S NOT COVERED UNDER THE MANUFACTURERS WARRANTY. I'VE HAD THIS CAR SINCE OCTOBER AND ITS BEEN IN THE SHOP 5 TIMES FOR THIS AND OVERHEATING. I'M IN THE PROCESS OF CONTACTING GM ABOUT THIS ISSUE BECAUSE I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE HAVING THIS TROUBLE. IT'S EXTREMELY SCARY AND IT NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED BEFORE SOMEONE IS SERIOUSLY HURT. IT'S A HAZARD NOT ONLY TO ME AS THE DRIVER AND THE CHILDREN THAT I CARRY IN MY CAR DAILY, BUT THE OTHER DRIVERS ON THE ROAD BECAUSE WHEN IT HAPPENS ITS WITHOUT WARNING AND THE CAR COMPLETELY LOCKS UP.

NHTSA ODI 10874807

Jun 16, 2016Electrical system

ENGINE SHUTOFF - ELECTRICAL SYSTEM ISSUES: NOTICED PROBLEMS WHEN TURNING LEFT AND ENGAGING TURN SIGNAL: THE RADIO WOULD TURN OFF AND TURN BACK ON. THE INTERACTIVE SYSTEM WOULD ALSO TURN OFF/ON. A/C FAN WOULD SPEED UP OR SLOW DOWN. USING BLUETOOTH SYNCED PHONE WOULD CAUSE INTERACTIVE SYSTEM TO TURN OFF/ON AND WOULD KILL ENGINE. POWER STEERING AND BRAKES NO LONGER WOULD WORK DUE TO ENGINE CUT-OFF. DURING WARM WEATHER (70 DEGREES F), ONE NUANCE THAT SEEMED INDICATIVE OF THE PREVIOUS THINGS ABOUT TO HAPPEN, THE OUTSIDE TEMP ON THE INTERACTIVE SYSTEM WOULD READ IN THE 30'S AND THE DASH WOULD LET YOU KNOW ABOUT POSSIBLE ICY CONDITIONS ON THE ROAD. I WAS LUCKILY DRIVING 10 MPH WHEN ENGINE CUT-OFF AND IN A DEALER PARKING LOT. HOWEVER, I DID EXPERIENCE ALL OF THE OTHER ISSUES UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER A WEEK AGO AND THEY COULDN'T REPLICATE MY ISSUES. TODAY, THEY SAW THEM FIRST HAND.

NHTSA ODI 10874740

Jun 7, 2016Electrical system

OUT OF THE BLUE CAR LOOSES ELECTRICAL POWER, RADIO, POWER STEERING, ETC. THEN COMES BACK ON. CAR SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY WILL IN PARKING LOT. BROUGHT CAR INTO DEALER SAID THEY WOULD UPDATE THE PROGRAMING PER BULLETIN. CAR WAS GOOD FOR TWO DAYS THEN HAPPENED AGAIN. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM, HOPE THEY CAN FIX. GM NEEDS MORE SCRUTINY...

NHTSA ODI 10873026

Jun 3, 2016Electrical systemBody & structureSeats

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A FAILURE COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY; HOWEVER, AFTER THE REPAIR, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE MANY MALFUNCTIONS. THE VEHICLE'S BOLTS ON BOTH THE FRONT PASSENGER AND DRIVER SEATS WERE DETACHED. WHEN THE SEATS WERE ADJUSTED, THE UNI BODY FRAME OF THE BODY MOVED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE UNI BODY FRAME WAS ABLE TO BE MOVED MANUALLY. IN ADDITION, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS FAILED WITHOUT WARNING, WHICH SOMETIMES CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY REFUSED TO ASSIST. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,000.

NHTSA ODI 10872352

May 25, 2016Electrical systemSpeed controlInterior LightingEngine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, ALL THE INTERIOR LIGHTS SUDDENLY FAILED TO FUNCTION. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WAS MAKING AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL FELT ABNORMALLY SOFT. ADDITIONALLY, THE IGNITION KEY FAILED TO RELEASE FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,700.

NHTSA ODI 10870821

May 17, 2016SteeringElectrical systemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

PROBLEM 1: DRIVING CAR AT 40MPH (ON A CITY STREET) IT BEGINS TO OVERHEAT, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZES THEN STALLS OUT REPEATEDLY. TAKE VEHICLE TO CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP, TECHNICIAN SAYS NEED TO REPLACE PARKING BRAKE CONTROL MODULE (WATER INTRUSION) GM PAYS 50/50 PAYMENT ASSISTANCE, I PAID $417.23. WITHIN A WEEK'S TIME SEVERAL ISSUES ARISE AS INDICATED BELOW. PROBLEM 2: WHILE CAR IS IN MOTION DRIVING THE CITY STREETS THE DASH LIGHTS AND TOUCH SCREEN RADIO (ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHUTS OFF) FOR ABOUT 5 SECONDS THEN COMES BACK ON. THE BRIEF BOX POPS UP FOR A FEW SECONDS, INDICATING CHECK POWER STEERING, STABILITRAK WARNING LIGHT ON AND PARKING BRAKE SAYS IT'S ON. ALL THIS HAPPENED, EIGHT TIMES IN TEN MINUTES. THEN I PROCEED TO MAKE A RIGHT HAND TURN AND MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP AND I NEARLY HIT A VEHICLE THAT WAS STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT. IT HAPPENS RANDOMLY BUT I DID NOTICE WHEN I HAD THE A/C ON IT HAPPENED REPEATEDLY. AGAIN VEHICLE IS AT CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP AND UNABLE TO RECREATE THE PROBLEM, DEALING WITH GM CORPORATE AT THIS TIME.

NHTSA ODI 10865499

Apr 19, 2016Electrical systemFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEAT WOULD INDEPENDENTLY ACTIVATE WHILE DRIVING AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SENSOR IN THE COMPUTER MALFUNCTIONED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, IT SPORADICALLY HAD AN ABNORMAL BURNING ODOR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 72,000.

NHTSA ODI 10860337

Apr 19, 2016SteeringElectrical system

I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 70MPH ON THE INTERSTATE WITH THE RADIO AND CRUISE CONTROL SET AND I HIT THE BLINKERED TO CHANGE LANES AND THE RADIO AND CRUISE CONTROL SHUT OFF AND I LOST POWER STEERING FOR A MOMENT. THIS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND SUPPOSEDLY IT WAS FIXED. TWO DAYS LATER IT DID THE SAME THING. SOMETIMES IF YOU ROLL THE WINDOW UP OR DOWN IT SHUTS THE RADIO OFF. SOMETIMES WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING AND CLICK THE BRIGHTS ON THE RADIO AHUTS OFF AND THW ENTIRE DASH GOES BLACK AND I LOSE ALL POWER INCLUDING THE STEERING AND THE ENGINE REVS. SOMETIMES I WILL BE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS IN TOWN AND IF I SLIGHTLY ACCELERATE THE RADIO SHUTS OFF. ONCE I WAS AT A STOP LIGHT AND I HAD MY TURN SIGNAL ON TO MAKE A LEFT TURN AND WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN I BEGAN TO ACCELERATE AND THE CAR LOST ALL POWER AND DIED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION. TOO MANY INCIDENTS TO GO INTO DETAIL HERE. HAS BEEN AT THE DEALERSHIP TWICE AND THEY SAY THERE IA NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. I EVEN CALLED GM DIRECTLY TO REPORT THE ISSUE AND ALL THEY DID WAS WAIVE MY DIAGNOSTIC FEE AND SAY NOTHING IS WRONG AND NEXT TIME IT DOES IT TO BRING IT BACK. I WAS ON MY WAY HOME FROM THE DEALERSHIP AND IT HAPPENED AGAIN SO I GUESS I'LL TAKE IT BACK AGAIN IN THE MORNING. SEEMS LIKE GM ISN'T GOING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS UNTIL SOMEONE IS SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED. I HAVE HAD THIS CAR LESS THAN 2 MONTHS. I KEEP READING COMPLAINT AFTER COMPLAINT ABOUT THE SAME ISSUES I AM HAVING YET NO RECALL AND GM ACTS LIKE THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THEY ARE HEARING ABOUT THIS KIND OF PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI 10860448

Apr 6, 2016SteeringElectrical system

POWER STEERING GOES OUT AND STEERING WHEEL JERKS WHEN THIS HAPPENS. FIRST RADIO LIGHT ALL GO OFF, THEN STEERING JERKS AND LOSE POWER STEERING AND DASH LIGHTS GO OFF, THEN FLASH. THIS ALL LASTS 5-10 SECONDS, THEN EVERYTHING IS NORMAL. HAD CAR TO DEALER TO FIX SAME PROBLEM 4 DAYS PRIOR TO IT HAPPENING AGAIN. THIS OCCURS USUALLY WHILE HIGHWAY DRIVING AND WHEN STEERING JERKS AND YOU LOSE POWER STEERING IT IS SURPRISING AND HAVE ALMOST HIT SEVERAL VEHICLES WHILE GOING 55-65MPH. SOMETIMES OCCURS WHILE DRIVING IN TOWN AND TURNING, ESPECIALLY TURNING RIGHT. I HAVE ALSO CONTACTED CHEVY AND THEY TELL ME THEY ARE NOT AWARE OF ANY OF THESE PROBLEMS WITH THESE CARS. ALSO SAID THEY WOULD CONTACT MY CAR DEALER AND CALL ME BACK IN 2 DAYS. I HAVE HEARD NOTHING BACK FROM THEM.

NHTSA ODI 10853900

Mar 31, 2016Electrical system

SHORTLY AFTER I PURCHASE MY VEHICLE IT BEGAN TO STALL OR SHUT DOWN. FIRST INCIDENT, I PULLED UP AT SCHOOL AND INTO A PARKING SPOT AND THE CAR SHUT DOWN, NOT ALLOWING ME TO TURN THE KEY INTO THE OFF POSITION IN THE IGNITION. I WAS ABLE TO PUT THE GEAR IN PARK, CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY HAD IT TOWED BECAUSE IT WOULD NOT COME ON. THEY SENT IT TO THE CHEVY DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM. I RECEIVED MY CAR BACK 2 WEEKS LATER AND I DROVE OVER 200 MILES OUT OF TOWN. ONCE I MADE IT TO WHERE I WAS GOING A SLOWED DOWN TO TURN A CORNER AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP LIKE IT LOST POWER. I WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT TO MY DESTINATION AND ONCE THERE THE CAR SHUT DOWN AGAIN. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND HE TOLD TO ME PUSH THE BUTTON TO PUSH THE SEAT BACK AND ONCE ALL THE WAY BACK, TO THEN PUSH THE BUTTON THE MOVE THE SEAT FORWARD. ONCE I BEGAN TO PUSH THE SEAT FORWARD THE WHOLE CAR POWERED BACK ON. IT HAS BEEN DOING THIS ON AND OFF SINCE THE PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE IN 2015. IT HAS BEEN SENT TO THE CHEVY DEALERSHIP AND THEY ARE UNABLE TO FIND WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. THE VEHICLE TO START TO CUT OFF ONTHE REGULAR NOW, WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY AND REGULAR STREETS. I DRIVE AT LEAST 25 MILES TO WORK EVERYDAY. THIS COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE HARM TO MYSELF OR SOMEONE ELSE IF THIS PROBLEM IS NOT FIXED SOON.

NHTSA ODI 10852740

Mar 9, 2016Electrical system

CONSOLE FREEZES CAN'T CONTROL DEFROSTER OR BACKUP CAMERA

NHTSA ODI 10845745

Jan 21, 2016SteeringElectrical system

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO TURN THE VEHICLE ON, ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO START, ALL THE ELECTRICAL FUNCTIONS MALFUNCTIONED. THE SERVICE STABILITRAK WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE WHEN BEING DRIVEN. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR WHEN MAKING A SHARP TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHO WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000.

NHTSA ODI 10821423

Jan 21, 2016Electrical systemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

CAR DIES WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING. RESTARTS ITSELF AFTER A COUNT OF 3. WILL DIE COMPLETELY WHEN STANDING STILL AND ALL THE LIGHTS AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS GO OFF. THE COMPUTER DOES NOT REGISTER THE DYING. I LOSE POWER STEERING IF IN A TURN WHEN IT DIES. IT STARTS WITH THE RADIO. DEALERSHIP CAN'T FIND PROBLEM AND CAN'T SEEM TO RECREATE IT. NO DIAGNOSTIC TRAIL TO FOLLOW.

NHTSA ODI 10821488

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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 →