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)

197 of 921 complaints match · Steering · clear filters · page 2 of 8

May 18, 2020SteeringElectrical systemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

VEHICLE OCCASIONALLY LOSES POWER WHEN IN TRAFFIC OR REDUCED SPEED, STABILITRAK MALFUNCTIONS CONSISTENTLY, INITIATING "LIMP MODE", POWER STEERING WENT OUT THIS MORNING AS MY SPEED REDUCED. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11324995

May 17, 2020SteeringElectronic Stability Control (esc)

I WOKE UP AND WENT TO THE STORE AND WHEN I CAME OUT TO START THE CAR IT DIDN'T START. THE LIGHTS AND RADIO CAME ON AND EVERYTHING WORK EXCEPT WINDOWS WILL NOT GO UP OR DOWN. THE MESSAGE CENTER THEN SHOWED MESSAGE "SERVICE POWER STEERING" CAR WONT START NOW AND BATTERY AND EVERYTHING ELSE IS GOOD AND NEW.

NHTSA ODI 11324882

Apr 12, 2020SteeringElectrical system

WHEN I WAS PARKED I WAS ROLLING THE WINDOWS WITH THE CAR RUNNING AND ALL THE LIGHTS AND CAR WAS CUTTING OFF. WHILE I'M DRIVING I LOSE POWER ALL MY DASH LIGHTS GO OUT AND WHILE MAKING A TURN THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP TO WHERE I CAN NOT CORRECT MYSELF FROM TURNING SO I HAVE TO STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET UNTIL THE POWER COMES BACK ON.

NHTSA ODI 11320887

Mar 11, 2020Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, AND ATTEMPTING TO TURN LEFT, THE VEHICLE STALLED FOR APPROXIMATELY 3 TO 5 SECONDS. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND OPERATED AS DESIGNED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT APPROXIMATELY THIRTY MINUTES LATER THE VEHICLE RODE OVER A BUMP IN THE ROADWAY AND THE SERVICE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 146,000.

NHTSA ODI 11317510

Mar 2, 2020SteeringElectrical systemSpeed control

WHILE ON THE ROAD OR HIGHWAY THE CAR POWER OFF AND ON WHILE DRIVING .IT HAS HAPPENED ON MANY OCCASIONS. IT IS DANGEROUS

NHTSA ODI 11315597

Feb 11, 2020SteeringElectrical systemEngine

I BOUGHT THIS 2013 MALIBU IN FEBRUARY 2014. IN 2016 IT STARTED WITH THE MANY ISSUES. THE HYBRID SYSTEM WHEN STOPPED AT STOP SIGN OR LIGHT WOULD DIE. THE CAR WOULD COMPLETELY DIE WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. THAT LEAD TO THE POWER STEERING GOING OUT. EVERY CODE ON THE DASH BOARD WOULD COME ON. THEN THE BATTERY WOULD JUST COMPLETELY DIE AND NEED TO BE JUMPED. IT WOULD RUN OK FOR A FEW DAYS THEN BE DEAD THE NEXT. MORE AND MORE THE BATTERY WOULD COMPLETELY BE DEAD EVERY FEW DAYS. HAD TWO NEW BATTERIES INSTALLED AND IT WOULD TEST FINE USUALLY. SEEMED THAT SOMETHING WAS DRAINING IT SOMEHOW. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER MANY TIME AND COULD NEVER GET A DEFINITIVE ANSWER. FINALLY IN NOVEMBER 2019 I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND IT COMPLETELY DIED AND WOULD NOT TAKE A CHARGE (JUMP). STRANDED ON THE HIGH I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO COYLE CHEVROLET ONLY TO BE TOLD THEY DIDN'T HAVE A HYBRID MECHANIC TO LOOK AT IT. THEN HAD IT TOWED TO BACHMAN CHEVROLET ONLY FOR THEM TO TELL ME AFTER HAVING IT FOR TWO WEEKS THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE ENGINE. EITHER THEY NEEDED TO DISASSEMBLE IT TO FIND THE PROBLEM OR I WOULD NEED TO GET A NEW ENGINE FOR $7,000. I HAD A CLAIM WITH GM BUT THEY ALSO JUST GAVE ME THE RUN AROUND. THE CAR ITSELF IS ONLY WORTH $3,500-$4,500. I STILL WAS PAYING ON THE LOAN FOR IT ALSO. NOT ONLY HAVE I NOT HAD A CAR SINCE NOVEMBER I HAVE A CAR THAT WON'T START AND CAN NOT TRADE IN ON ANOTHER CAR. ALTHOUGH THERE WAS MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME ISSUES NO RECALLS ARE ON THE CAR FOR THEM. VERY FRUSTRATING SITUATION I DEALT WITH FOR A FEW YEARS WITH THE CAR AND NO SOLUTION FOR A FIX. I LOVED THAT CAR AND CHEVY BUT VERY DISAPPOINTED IN THEM. NEED TO INVEST IN ANOTHER MODEL I GUESS.

NHTSA ODI 11308522

Jan 31, 2020SteeringEngine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 A CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED A MESSAGE DISPLAYED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WHICH STATED ENGINE POWER WAS REDUCED. THE STEERING WHEEL CEASED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSES OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 136,833.

NHTSA ODI 11306389

Jan 6, 2020SteeringCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WHILE TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD LOCK AND THERE WOULD BE AN ABNORMAL NOISE WITHOUT WARNING INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO HOLIDAY AUTOMOTIVE SALES LOCATED AT 321 N ROLLING MEADOWS DR, FOND DU LAC, WI 54937, WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE WOULD CONTINUE TO OCCUR ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING A 50 MPH AND TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT INTO A CURVE, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A DITCH. NO INJURIES OR DAMAGES OCCURRED DUE TO THE FAILURE AND THE POLICE WERE NOT CALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AT A STEADY 20 MPH TO HEISER CHEVROLET LOCATED AT 2620 W WASHINGTON ST, WEST BEND, WI 53095 WHERE THE VEHICLE REMAINED IN THEIR POSSESSION AND PROVIDED A LOANER VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED ABOUT THE FAILURE AND FILED A CASE WITH THE MANUFACTURER, THE CONTACT HAD YET TO HEAR BACK FROM THE MANUFACTURER. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 50,000.

NHTSA ODI 11297377

Dec 12, 2019SteeringElectrical systemEngine

I HAVE A 2013 MALIBU LT WITH 52,000 MILES ON IT. LAST MONTH ON THE 20TH OF NOVEMBER SERVICE POWER STEERING WARNING STARTED TO FLASH ON THE INFORMATION SYSTEM. WHEN THAT HAPPENS MY DOORS WOULD LOCK AND MY CAR WOULD STALL. HOWEVER; UNLIKE MOST OTHER CONSUMERS WHO ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM MY STEERING WHEEL DIDN'T GET TIGHT AND I DID NOT LOSE CONTROL OF MY CAR. I COULD NOT DO MORE THAN 40MPH AND SOMETIMES IF I HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD SERVICE POWER STEERING WOULD COME ON AND THE DOORS WOULD LOCK AND THE CAR WOULD STALL AND THEN GO BACK TO NORMAL. I TOOK MY CAR IN TO GENESIS CHEVROLET TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. THEY HAD MY CAR FOR ABOUT A GOOD 4 TO 5 HOURS. THEY THEN CAME AND INFORMED ME THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH MY CARE BECAUSE, NO CODES WHERE POPPING UP AND THE MECHANIC TRIED 4 TIMES BUT COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE SITUATION I WAS HAVING. IT IS NOW DECEMBER 11TH AND I AM STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. I JUST DROVE TO WORK TODAY AND WENT TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN DOWN THE STREET LEADING TO MY JOB THE SERVICE POWER STEERING FLASHED AGAIN ,THE CAR STALLED ,AND THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THIS TIME THE CAR SLOWED ALL THE WAY DOWN UNTIL IT CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. EVEN THOUGH MY CAR HAD COME TO A COMPLETE STOP IT WAS STILL ON AND RUNNING. MY RADIO STILL WORKED MY HEAT WAS STILL ON AND I STILL COULD SHIFT MY GEAR SHIFT. I PUT THE CAR IN PARK TURNED IT OFF FOR ABOUT A MINUTE AND THEN STARTED IT BACK UP. WHEN I STARTED IT BACK UP THE ENGINE LIGHT HAD GONE OFF AND I WAS ABLE TO ACCELERATE MY CAR AND PULL INTO THE PARKING LOT OF MY JOB. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11288570

Nov 20, 2019Steering

THE KEY GETS STUCK IN THE IGNITION SWITCH. I HAD TO GET A NEW IGNITION BACK IN NOV 2017. NOW NOV 2019 THE SAME THING IS HAPPENING. IM AFRAID THIS MY BE A EVERY TWO YEAR PROBLEM. I'VE FOUND OUT HOW TO GET THE KEY UNSTUCK BUT THAN THREE HOURS HAD PAST WAITING FOR HELP AND MY BATTERY HAD DIE.

NHTSA ODI 11281345

Nov 6, 2019SteeringElectrical systemBrakes

THE ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WILL RANDOMLY SHUT DOWN CAUSING LOSS OF POWER STEERING, POWER BRAKES, ENTIRE DASHBOARD, ALL LIGHTS, HAZARD LIGHTS ETC. THIS CAN HAPPEN AT ANY TIME, ON THE FREEWAY, STOPPED AT A LIGHT, PARKED ETC. SOMETIMES IT GOES DARK AND RESTARTS ITSELF WHILE DRIVING....SOMETIMES IT GOES DARK AND WON'T RESTART FOR MINUTES OR LONGER WHILE IN TRAFFIC WITHOUT WORKING HAZARD LIGHTS. IF PARKED, IT CAN'T BE TAKEN OUT OF 'PARK" TO PUSH IT OUT OF TRAFFIC OR TRY TO START IT IN "NEUTRAL" AND THE KEY CAN'T BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION.THERE ARE NO ERROR CODES TO DIAGNOSE THE ISSUE AND IT WON'T EVER HAPPEN WHILE IT IS IN THE SHOP (OF COURSE) THIS IS THE ULTIMATE SAFETY HAZARD TO ME AND MY FAMILY.

NHTSA ODI 11278434

Oct 15, 2019SteeringElectrical system

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH ON THE FREEWAY, THE STEERING SEIZED AND THE VEHICLE LOST POWER WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MANAGED TO VEER THE VEHICLE TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART AND THE KEY WOULD NOT RELEASE FROM THE IGNITION. APPROXIMATELY TWO HOURS LATER, THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESUME NORMAL OPERATION. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V173000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 66,000.*PM THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DO THE DEALER AND CONSUMER WAS TOLD IT WAS NOT ELECTRICAL PROBLEM BUT BLOCK CABLE WAS REPLACED.*JB

NHTSA ODI 11268488

Oct 1, 2019SteeringElectrical systemEngine

AS I AM DRIVING EITHER ON THE HIGHWAY AT OVER 70 MPH OR IN THE CITY I HAVE LOST ALL POWER TO THE VEHICLE. LOSS OF POWER STEERING, POWER BREAKS EVERYTHING. THE CAR SHUTS COMPLETELY DOWN AND JUST BEFORE ALL THE CHECK ENGINE AND SERVICE LIGHTS FLASH THROUGH. THIS HAS HAPPENED 4 TIMES AND THE LAST TIME I WAS PULLING INTO APPLE VALLEY MOTORS IN MARTINSBURG WV PARKING LOT, LOST POWER AND HIT THE CURB AND BLEW OUT A TIRE BECAUSE I LOST POWER STEERING. THE DEALER WILL DO NOTHING ABOUT IT THERE ARE MANY OF THE SAME COMPLAINTS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM ON CHEVY MALIBU FORUM. COM FINALLY SOMEONE SUGGESTED THAT WE SHOULD REPORT THE PROBLEM HERE. I HAVE HAD TO PUT 3 BATTERIES IN THE YEAR THAT I OWNED IT. NOT ONLY THIS BUT THE TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE BOTH WENT BAD AT THE SAME TIME. I ONLY HAVE 86K ON IT. I CONTACTED BOTH GM AND CHEVY AND EXPLAINED THE SITUATION AND NEITHER ONE WILL ASSIST ME. THEY GAVE ME A CASE NUMBER BUT IN THE END THEY SAID THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO BECAUSE ALL WARRANTIES HAVE EXPIRED. ( THEY EXPIRED BECAUSE OF THE DATE, I AM STILL UNDER THE MILEAGE PORTION OF THE WARRANTY) AS OF RIGHT NOW MY CAR IS AT THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE I CAN'T AFFORD TO HAVE IT FIXED AND THE DEALERSHIP, GM/CHEVY OR THE THIRD PARTY WARRANTY THAT EXPIRED 8 DAYS AFTER THEY REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT HELP EITHER. LUCKILY I ONLY HIT A CURB AT A VERY SLOW SPEED. I COULD HAVE KILLED SOMEONE. THIS HAS HAPPENED BOTH ON THE HIGHWAY AND IN THE CITY WHILE I AM IN MOTION. THE DEALERSHIP THAT I PURCHASED IT AT HAD TO CHANGE THE BATTERY IN THE TRUNK DURING THE FIRST 30 DAYS THAT I OWNED IT. THAT FIXED THE PROBLEM FOR A WHILE. BUT I DON'T KNOW IF THAT IS THE CAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM OR NOT. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED WAS APP 4 MONTHS AGO AND HAS HAPPENED A TOTAL OF 4 TIMES SINCE THEN. AND STILL THE NO ONE WILL HELP OR LOOK INTO THE ISSUE. THE MOST RECENT WAS LAST WEEK.

NHTSA ODI 11265436

Sep 28, 2019SteeringElectrical systemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

THIS HAPPENED TWO DAYS IN A ROW I WAS DRIVING ME SO ME TURNING A CORNER AND MY CAR JUST STOPPED STEER WHEEL LOCKED UP COULD MOVE THE CAR OR NOTHING NEAR HAD AN ACCIDENT I'M A PETRIFIED BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHEN THIS GOD HAPPENS AGAIN I VAULE MY LIFE THIS RECALL SERIOUSLY NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO I WORKED HARD MANY LONG DAYS TO SAVE TO GET THIS CAR JUST FOR IT TO TURN OUT BAD I SERIOUSLY NEED HELP WITH THIS LIFE THREATENING ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI 11258764

Sep 23, 2019SteeringBrakesEngine

AS I WAS DRIVING 35 MPH ON A BUSY DOWNTOWN LOCATION IN MY AREA OF NEW ORLEANS, MY 2013 CHEVY MALIBU DECIDED TO SHUT DOWN ON ME. AT FIRST WHEN I STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT, THE CAR STALL AS THOUGH IT WANTED TO CUT OFF BUT IT DIDN'T AT THAT MOMENT. WHEN I MADE IT TO THE SECOND RED LIGHT THE CAR SHUT COMPLETELY OFF THEN CAME RIGHT BACK ON. I WAS TERRIFIED AS MY 12 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER SAT IN THE BACK SEAT OF THE CAR SO I DECIDED TO HEAD HOME WHICH WAS 15 MINS FROM THE LOCATION WHERE I WAS PLUS I ALSO HAD TO TRAVEL OVER A BUSY MISSISSIPPI RIVER BRIDGE TO GET TO MY HOUSE FROM THAT LOCATION. AS I WAS MAKING MY WAY BACK TOWARDS THE BRIDGE TO GET HOME, I NOTICE DIFFERENT SIGNALS FLASHING ACROSS MY DASHBOARD, THEN THE CAR SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY GIVING ME LITTLE TO NO TIME TO MAKE A DECISION TO PULL OVER. THE STEELING WHEEL LOCKED UP GIVING ME NO CONTROL AS TO WHICH WAY TO STEER THE VEHICLE, CAR COMPLETELY DEAD. I WAS SO BLESSED THAT NO CARS WAS IN THE WAY OF WHERE THE CAR WAS GOING. THE CAR REFUSED TO START AGAIN AND KEY GOT STUCK . I HAD TO GET IT TOWED HOME. I'M BEGGING CHEVY, PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS ISSUE. I HAVE SEEN LOTS OF REVIEWS REGARDING THESE MAKE AND MODELS AND IT LOOKS LIKE NOTHING IS BEING DONE. I HAD A 2006 CHEVY MALIBU WHICH I LOVED SO MUCH THAT I DECIDED TO TRUST CHEVY WITH MY NEXT CAR. AS I CLOSED MY EYES THAT NIGHT I COULD ONLY IMAGINE WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPEN IF I WAS ON THAT BRIDGE HEADING HOME WITH CARS TRAVELING 60-70MPH? WHAT IF I WAS INFRONT OF A RIVER, ON A TRAIN TRACK, IN FRONT OF A BIG BODY VEHICLE SUCH AS A BUS OR 18-WHEELER OR SOMEONE WALKING IN THE DIRECTION THE CAR WAS GOING? SOMEONE, IF HAVEN'T ALREADY COULD TRULY CAUSE DAMAGE TO THEIR LIFE OR SOMEONE ELSE'S LIFE. PLEASE CHEVY THINK ABOUT THE FAMILY LIVES WHICH ARE BEING PUT IN DANGER, EVEN THE DEALERSHIP'S DONT TRULY KNOW THE ISSUES.

NHTSA ODI 11257287

Sep 9, 2019Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE JERKED WHILE THE FAILURE OCCURRED. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO BE DIAGNOSED UNLESS THE FAILURE OCCURRED IN THEIR PRESENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 147,000.

NHTSA ODI 11254106

Sep 6, 2019SteeringElectrical systemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WILL RANDOMLY SHUTS DOWN. USUALLY STARTS WITH THE ENTERTAINMENT CONSOLE, AND PROGRESSES TO THE POWER STEERING, AND EVENTUALLY A FULL POWER SHUT DOWN. STATIONARY OR WHILE DRIVING, DOESN'T MATTER, COMPLETE SHUT DOWN. VEHICLE DOES RESTART AS IF NOTHING HAPPENED. DEALERSHIP AND GM NO HELP. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN ONGOING SINCE 2018 WITH MULTIPLE DEALERSHIP SERVICES, AND 2 SEPERATE COMPLAINTS TO GM. 2 NEAR MISS COLLISIONS DUE TO POWER STEERING LOSS.

NHTSA ODI 11253616

Aug 19, 2019SteeringElectrical systemEngine

19 AUGUST 2019 ON THIS DAY TWICE I EXPERIENCE LOSS OF POWER ON THE VEHICLE AND POWER STEERING. LUCKILY I DID NOT HIT ANY CARS. WAS DRIVING BELOW 35 MPH THE FIRST INCIDENT IS WHEN I CAME TO A RED LIGHT THE RADIO TURN OFF FIRST THEN THE CAR FELT SLUGGISH AND THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN LOST CONTROL OF EVERYTHING AND WAS COASTING. VEHICLE GAIN POWER BY IT SELF AND RESUME OPERATIONS. DURING EVERY LIGHT I STOP IT FELT LIKE IT WANTED TO LOSE POWER. CAME TO A PARKING LOT DRIVING AROUND 5 MPH COMPLETELY THE CAR SHUT OFF FIRST RADIO AND THEN WHOLE VEHICLE THIS TIME IT DID NOT GAIN POWER BY IT SELF. HAD TO PLACE THE VEHICLE IN PARK TURN THE KEY OFF AND RESTART IT WAS ABLE TO PARK IT. AFTER READING HERE SEEMS A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING THIS ISSUE AN IMMEDIATE INVESTIGATION SHOULD BE OPEN BECAUSE THIS CAN POSSIBLY HAPPEN IN THE HIGHWAY IF I LOSE CONTROL POWER IN THE POWER STEERING I COULD POTENTIALLY CRASH OF GET HIT BY A CAR . CALL GM AND THEY SAID THEY DO NOT HAVE A BULLETIN ASK THEM FOR AN ADDRESS TO SUBMIT A FORMAL COMPLAINT AND WAS GIVEN ONE. I DON'T THINK GM CARES HOPEFULLY YOU GUYS CAN LOOK INTO THE ISSUE AND GET AND ANSWER AS TO WHY IS HAPPENING CONSUMERS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY A DIAGNOSTIC FEE AND NOT GET ANSWERS

NHTSA ODI 11245113

Aug 7, 2019SteeringElectrical system

COMING HOME FROM WORK ON 8/6/2019 TRAVELING DOWN MD-210 HIGHWAY, WITH CAR MOTION, THE RADIO CUT OFF AND THEN ENTIRE CAR SHUT OFF. WE STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT, SO MY HUSBAND TOOK THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION RESTARTED THE CAR AND WE TRAVELED HOME. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME, WE HAD OUR CAR CHECKED AT OUR MECHANIC'S SHOP BUT AT THE TIME HE COULD NOT DETERMINE WHAT THE ISSUE COULD BE AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE ISSUE. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME, THE RADIO CUTS OFF, INSTRUMENT DASH LIGHTS, CUTS OFF AND THE THE POWER STEERING SHUTS DOWN JUST FOR A COUPLE OF SECONDS, IT HAPPENED WHEN WE TRAVELED TO WORK, MY HUSBAND TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL RIGHT TO GET ON THE HIGHWAY, THE RADIO WENT OFF FOR A FEW SECONDS THEN IT CAME BACK HOME. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND GOD FORBID IF THIS HAPPENS WHILE CAR IN MOTION ON A GREEN LIGHT IT COULD KILL SOMEONE. PLEASE RECALL THIS VEHICLE ASAP.

NHTSA ODI 11242186

Aug 2, 2019SteeringElectrical system

WHILE DRIVING MY CAR SHOT OFF TEMPORAILY CAUSING MY STEERING TO LOCK NEARLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. IT HAS HAPPENED A FEW TIMES IN THE LAST WEEK. THE ONLY WARNING IS THE RADIO SHUTS OFF. VERY DANGEROUS AND REPORTED IN MANY FORUMS.

NHTSA ODI 11241374

Jul 30, 2019SteeringElectrical systemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

A FEW TIMES THAT I HAVE BEEN DRIVING MY CAR, I HAVE EXPERIENCED ISSUES WITH THE CAR TURNING OFF AND LOSING POWER STEERING AND CONTROL WHILE IN MOTION. THE WHOLE CAR TURN OFF AND WHEEL LOCKS UP, PREVENTING ME FROM BEING ABLE TO CONTROL THE CAR. COUNTLESS SEARCHING THROUGH FORUMS LED ME TO FIND MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME ISSUE. AND FROM THE FORUMS, MANY CLAIM THE REASON FOR THESE PROBLEMS HAPPENING IS FAULTY BATTERY CABLES THAT GM THAT DOESN'T WANT TO ADMIT. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE I HAVE HAD MY CAR TURN OFF WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND IN THE CITY. AND I'M NOT THE ONLY EXPERIENCING THIS ISSUE. IT'S WIDESPREAD AMONG 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU'S. HERE IS A LINK TO ONE OF MANY FORUMS TAKING ABOUT THIS ISSUE: HTTPS://WWW.CARGURUS.COM/CARS/DISCUSSION-T33502_DS916791

NHTSA ODI 11240674

Jul 3, 2019SteeringElectrical systemEngine

CAR SHUTS OFF COMPLETELY WHILE DRIVING. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS SPORADIC THEN SHUTS DOWN.

NHTSA ODI 11229291

Jun 18, 2019SteeringElectrical systemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Crash

TAKATA RECALL THE LIGHTS ON MY DASH KEPT GOING IN AND OUT WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND WHILE STATIONARY. WHILE MY CAR WAS OFF, WITH NO KEY IN THE IGNITION, THE GAUGES WOULD MAKE CLICKING SOUNDS AND BOUNCE UP AND DOWN ABOUT AN 8TH OF AN INCH. THE LIGHTS ON THE DASH WOULD STAY OFF FOR DAYS AT A TIME, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR ME TO SEE HOW FAST I WAS GOING OR HOW MUCH GAS WAS IN THE CAR. SOMETIMES THE LIGHTS WOULD CLICK ON FOR ABOUT 30 SECONDS AND THEN THE SPEEDOMETER WOULD BE STUCK AT THE LAST SPEED I WAS GOING AT, FOR DAYS, WITHOUT SHOWING ANYTHING ON THE DIGITAL SPEEDOMETER. WHEN I TOOK IT TO GET LOOKED AT, NO CODES WERE FOUND. MY CAR KEPT DYING WHILE I WAS DRIVING, WENT AND HAD MY BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR TESTED AND THEY WERE 100% FINE. CAR DASH LIGHTS STARTED FLASHING ON AND OFF WHILE I WAS GOING AROUND A CURVE. CHECK ENGINE, OIL, WIPER FLUID, GAS LIGHT, EVERYTHING FLASHED ON AND OFF, THEN MY STEERING LOCKED UP, CAUSING ME TO GO OFF OF THE ROAD AND HIT A TREE. MY CAR WAS TOTALED.

NHTSA ODI 11221009

Jun 10, 2019SteeringElectrical systemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

SOMETIMES IT HAPPENS WHEN I TURN ON MY BLINKER OTHERS ITS RANDOM BUT THE CAR STALLS AND THE RADIO TURNS OFF ALONG WITH THE POWER STEERING.

NHTSA ODI 11218962

Apr 18, 2019SteeringElectrical systemEngine

WHEN DRIVING MY MALIBU IT SEEMS TO HAVE A SHORT CIRCUIT WHEN I TURN THE WHEEL EVEN THE SLIGHTEST. I HAVE CHANGED THE BATTERIES CHECKED ALL THE WIRES AND EVERYTHING SEEMS FINE. I HAVE FIGURED OUT EVEN WHEN I'M DRIVING 70MPH ON THE HIGHWAY WITH MY FAMILY IN THE CAR THE POWER STEERING WILL GO OUT AND MAKE IT HARD FOR ME TO EVEN TURN. I HAVE READ ONLINE THAT THIS IS HAPPENING TO MALIBU'S EVERYWHERE AND THAT GM IS NOT WILLING TO MAKE IT A NATIONAL RECALL BECAUSE IT MUST BE HAPPENING WHILE THEY SEE THE CAR. SO I GUESS I HAVE TO WAIT FOR ME TO CRASH? TO SEE THAT THE POWER STEERING GAVE OUT ON ME ALONG WITH THE REST OF THE ELECTRICAL WORK ON THE INSIDE OF THE CAR.

NHTSA ODI 11197269

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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 →