What 921 owners told NHTSA about the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu Eco

THE HEAT AND AIR STOPPED WORKING ENTIRELY, CAUSING THE DEFROST TO ALSO FAIL, CREATING A VISIBILITY HAZARD. AFTER RESEARCHING THE ISSUE I DISCOVERED THAT MANY 2013 AND 2014 MALIBUS WERE RECALLED DUE TO THIS EXACT ISSUE BUT MY CAR WAS MANUFACTURED BETWEEN THE RECALL DATES. THE PROBLEM IS THE SAME BUT MY CAR ISN'T COVERED IN THE RECALL.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOWS FOGGED UP WITHOUT WARNING AND COULD NOT BE DEFROSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

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USED SWITCH TO ROLL DOWN PASSENGER WINDOW, TOUCH SCREEN WENT BLACK, CAME BACK ON MAYBE AFTER 30 SEC OR SO. WHILE DRIVING TOUCH SCREEN OCC BLACK OUT, ALL ELECTRONIC GO OUT , NO TURN SIGNAL, NO DIGITAL SPEED, POWER STEERING. AFTER FUELING WENT TO START CAR, IT WOULDN'T START, NO LIGHTS NO POWER AT ALL, DID THIS THREE TIMES IN ONE DAY. I HADN'T HAD CAR THIRTY DAYS. *TR

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REAR WINDOW GLASS IS DEFECTIVE. FROM THE MIDDLE OF THE GLASS DOWN AND ALL THE WAY ACROSS THE GLASS (LINE OF VIEW). DISTORTS THE VIEW WHEN LOOKING OUT OF THE GLASS, POSING A SAFETY CONCERN. THIS IS THE 3RD GLASS PUT IN MY CAR AND IT IS STILL VERY BAD. VIEW LOOKING OUT THE BACK WINDOW GIVES THE APPEARANCE THAT THE DRIVER IS INTOXICATED. ORIGINAL GLASS WAS FINE BUT THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE METAL PART WHICH WAS GOING TO CAUSE THE REAR DEFROST TO STOP WORKING. THE GLASS THAT WAS REPLACED ON 11/4/16 HAD THE SAME DISTORTING AS THE GLASS THAT WAS REPLACED ON 11/18/16. MAKES LOOKING OUT THE BACK WINDOW TO BACK UP UNSAFE. THE DEALER CURRENTLY STILL HAS 2 OF THE 3 BACK WINDOWS ON HAND FROM THE VEHICLE.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU ECO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TUBING AROUND THE SUN ROOF WAS RETAINING WATER. AS A RESULT, MOLD DEVELOPED AND CAUSED AN ABNORMAL ODOR. THE DEALER DRAINED THE WATER OUT OF THE TUBING, BUT WAS NOT ABLE TO PREVENT THE FAILURE FROM RECURRING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH WITH THE FRONT AND REAR DEFOGGERS ACTIVATED, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD POP SOUND. THE ENTIRE REAR WINDSHIELD SHATTERED. THE CONTACT HAD TO PULL INTO A DRIVEWAY AND CALLED THE INSURANCE COMPANY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 29,000.

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I USE MY REMOTE START FAIRLY OFTEN LIVING IN MICHIGAN. OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS IT HAS STARTED NOT TO DEFROST MY WINDSHIELD. EVEN ON HIGHEST TEMPERATURE AND FULL BLAST. FINALLY FOUND OUT THAT IT NO LONGER BLOWS ON THE WINDSHIELD. THE DOORS THAT SWITCH IT TO THE WINDSHIELD AND CABIN HAVE STOPPED GOING ALL THE WAY TO THE WINDSHIELD AND BLOW DIRECTLY INTO THE DASH. SO IT SOUND LIKE IT'S WORKING. BUT NOT MUCH AIR ACTUALLY HITS THE WINDSHIELD. I HAVE FOUND MANY FORUMS WITH THIS AS AN ISSUE AND IT IS A CAR 3 YEARS OLD. AND IT IS A VERY EXPENSIVE FIX FOR SOMEONE STILL PAYING OFF THE CAR.

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CLIMATE CONTROL ISSUES. FAN IS STUCK AT ONE SPEED ON PASSENGER SIDE AND WILL NOT HEAT. WHEN A/C COMPRESSOR IS ON IT BLOWS ICE COLD AIR. WHEN HEAT IS ON IT ALSO BLOWS ICE COLD AIR, NO MATTER THE SETTING WHETHER IN "SYNC" MODE OR NOT. THE CLIMATE ZONE DOES NOT CHANGE FROM HIGH TO LOW OF VICE VERSA. THIS CAUSING HEATING ISSUES IN COLDER WEATHER AND DEFROSTER ISSUES ON PASSENGER SIDE OF VEHICLE.

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THE WINDOW ON THE PASSENGER SIDE IN THE REAR WAS FOUND TO BE SHATTERED. THE CAR WAS IN A PRIVATE HOME GARAGE, THERE WAS NO GLASS OUTSIDE THE GARAGE AND THE WINDOW GLASS WAS BOWED TOWARD THE OUTSIDE. THE CAR WAS UNLOCKED AND THERE WAS NOTHING MISSING. THUS THERE WAS NO VANDALISM, NO OBJECT FROM THE OUTSIDE HIT THE WINDOW, AND NOTHING FROM THE INSIDE HIT THE WINDOW. IT IS MY SUPPOSITION THAT THE GLASS WAS NOT TEMPERED CORRECTLY.I LIVE IN TAMPA AND IT WAS ~90 DEGREES THE DAY BEFORE I NOTED THE SHATTERED GLASS. I HAD BEEN USING THE AIR CONDITIONER.IF THE GLASS WAS NOT TEMPERED CORRECTLY THE CHANGE IN TEMPERATURE WOULD CAUSE THE GLASS TO SHATTER. THIS COULD BE A PROBLEM FOR OTHER WINDOWS IN MY CAR AND IN OTHER GM AUTOS. GENERAL MOTORS HAS REFUSED TO PAY THE $346 IT COST TO REPAIR THE WINDOW. THEY WANT TO "TEST" THE GLASS. THIS WOULD BE FINE, HOWEVER, THE GLASS HAS BEEN DISPOSED OF AND THE CHEVROLET DEALER TO WHOM I BROUGHT THE CAR INITIALLY STATED THAT GM WILL NOT COVER GLASS DAMAGE. THEREFORE THERE WAS NO REASON AT THE TIME TO KEEP THE GLASS. THIS IS A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS PROBLEM. HAS ANYONE ELSE REPORTED THIS OCCURRENCE?

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEATING BECAME INOPERABLE WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, THE DEFROSTER FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE THERMOSTAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V567000 (VISIBILITY). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.

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GOT IN CAR & PUSHED THE PASSENGER WINDOW BUTTON DRIVER SIDE, WINDOW DID NOT GO DOWN, REACHED OVER TO THE PASSENGER SIDE & DID NOT GO DOWN. WENT TO DEALER & TRIED TO GET A REP TO COME TO THE CAR BEFORE I SHUT IT OFF BUT COULDN'T SO I TURNED OFF CAR & GOT A REP, WHEN WE GOT TO THE CAR AND TURNED IT ON THE WINDOW WORKED. THEY SAID BRING IT BACK WHEN IT'S NOT WORKING. I LEFT, GOT TO WHERE I WAS GOING, IT WOULD NOT ROLL UP. IT HAPPENED PERIODICALLY OVER TIME. FINALLY I WAS ABLE TO GET IT TO SERVICE & A REP WITNESSED THE WINDOW NOT WORKING. THEY FOUND A SHORT IN THE WINDOW SWITCH & REPLACED THE SWITCH W/2025110 .2 DIAG. WHATEVER THAT IS. IT IS STILL NOT WORKING RIGHT, TO THIS DAY. ON 2/14/15 I CALLED WALDORF SERVICE ABOUT THE PROBLEM WITH THE WINDOW, VOLTAGE FLUCTUATING FROM 11.43 TO 14.45, THE BATTERY CHARGE INDICATOR IS LOW MOST OF THE TIME & MY CAR WAS MAKING SICK AIRPLANE NOISES. I WAS TOLD THAT THEY WERE BUSY & THAT I WOULD GET A CALL BACK. HOWEVER THEY DID NOT, SO I TOOK THE CAR TO CHEVY ON 2/23/15 AND REPEATED THE ABOVE ISSUES AND HAD AN ADDED ISSUE CAR RADIO STAYED ON WHILE THE KEY WAS OUT OF THE IGNITION, BOTH CAR DOORS WERE OPEN. I HAVE A VIDEO OF THE INCIDENT. THEY ASKED ME TO LEAVE THE CAR SO I DID. I WAS TOLD THAT THE FLUCTUATING WAS NORMAL & THAT HYBRID/ECO VEHICLES MAKE THAT NOISE. I HAD TO TAKE IT BACK ON 3/20/15, THE NOISE WAS UNBEARABLE. I WAS TOLD I HAD TO WAIT ABOUT 15 MINUTES, I SAID I WILL WAIT. I WENT BACK TO MY CAR AND TURNED IT ON, NOT 3 MINS LATER A REP CAME OUT & SAID I HEAR IT, IT IS LOUD, SOMETHING IS WRONG. I FOUND OUT ON 3/22 THAT IT IS THE HYBRID MOTOR. WAS PROMISED IT BACK 3/24, THEY STILL HAVE IT. THEY WAITED UNTIL MY WARRANTY EXPIRED. ITS COVERED BUT NOT THE RENTAL CAR. I HAVE TO PAY FOR ALL BUT POSSIBLY 3 DAYS. I STILL HAVE TO FIGHT FOR REPAIRS TO MY PASSENGER WINDOW. I THINK I HAVE AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE. *TR

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE REAR WINDSHIELD SHATTERED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

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THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIR VENTS IN THE DASH DO NOT STAY OPEN WHEN THE BLOWER IS RUNNING ON HIGH WITH THE SYSTEM SET TO RECIRCULATE. DRIVING UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS WILL CAUSE THE CENTER VENTS TO CLOSE FROM ROAD VIBRATION, IN TURN CAUSING A DOMINO EFFECT AND THE AIR PRESSURE COMING OUT CAUSES THE OTHER VENTS TO CLOSE ONE BY ONE. THE LEFT TO RIGHT ADJUSTMENT ON THE VENTS IS WORN OUT BEFORE 10K MILES ON MY VEHICLE. CHEAP... *TR

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I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE FOR 9 MONTHS AND THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE. WHEN VEHICLE IS STARTED, THE AIR CONDITIONER STARTED ON HIGH AND I COULD NOT TURN IT OFF. I TURNED OFF THE IGNITION AND RESTARTED VEHICLE AND IT WAS OK. THIS HAPPENED TWICE SINCE I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE. *TR

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WHILE HIGHWAY DRIVING DURING A SUNNY DAY, WAS BLINDED BY REFLECTION OF THE SUN OFF OF THE CHROME THAT IS ON THE CONSOLE WHERE THE GEAR SHIFT IS LOCATED. I HAD TO COVER THE AREA WITH A CLOTH IN ORDER TO CONTINUE DRIVING. SEEMS TO ME THAT THE CHROME IN THAT AREA NEEDS TO BE "DULLED" JUST A BIT AS IT IS IN THE AREA SURROUNDING THE RADIO. *TR

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2013 CHEVY MALIBU 1LS MANUFACTURED 11/20/12, CURRENTLY LESS THAN 7,000 MI. 1) CHROME & RADIO GLASS - WHEN SUN SHINES ON CONSOLE IT BLINDS DRIVER & DRIVER MUST COVER AREA WITH A SCARF OR JACKET; CONSOLE IS BEAUTIFUL TO LOOK AT, BUT NOT PRACTICAL FROM A SAFETY VIEWPOINT SINCE THE DRIVER IS BLINDED & CANNOT SEE UNTIL THE AREA IS COVERED FROM THE SUN. 2) WHEN AIR CONDITIONING WAS TURNED ON, A BLAST OF VERY HOT AIR CAME OUT; IT TOOK A COUPLE OF TIMES OF TURNING THE SETTINGS OFF & ON (AT LEAST 60 SECONDS OR LONGER) BEFORE THE HOT AIR STOPPED & THE AIR CONDITIONING CAME ON. THE HOT AIR COULD NOT BE IMMEDIATELY TURNED OFF. HAPPENED ONLY ONCE. 3) PASSENGER SIDE FRONT FENDER/BUMPER LOOSE - MAKES NOISE, CAN POP IT BACK IN, BUT ON HOT DAYS, IT POPS OUT, VIBRATES AND MAKES LOUD NOISE UNTIL POPPED BACK IN. 4) REAR WINDOWS - WHEN DOWN 1/2, 3/4 OR FULLY, VIBRATES, MAKES VERY LOUD NOISE THAT SOUNDS LIKE TIRES ARE COMING APART, CAUSING DRIVER TO IMMEDIATELY PULL OVER TO CHECK TIRES, THE DISTRACTION & BEING ON SIDE OF ROAD COULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE. 5) NO SPARE TIRE - UNABLE TO LOCATE A TIRE & RIM (OR DONUT TIRE) FOR PURCHASE TO INSERT IN TRUNK TIRE AREA. NO CAN OF GOOP, ALSO GOOP ONLY LASTS FOR 6 MONTHS & MUST BE DISCARDED & NEW CAN PURCHASED. NOT GOOD WHEN STRANDED IN INCLEMENT SNOWY WEATHER OR OUT IN THE HOT DESERT & MUST WAIT FOR TOW TRUCK. I LIKE MY CHEVY MALIBU VERY MUCH, IT HAS BEEN ABLE TO HANDLE ROUGH GRAVEL/DIRT ROADS IN INCLEMENT WEATHER, SNOW, & HIGHWAY TRAVEL. I PLAN TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER SHORTLY FOR AN OIL CHANGE & TO TAKE CARE OF THESE ISSUES. WHAT I DON'T LIKE IS THAT I AM UNABLE TO TURN THE DRIVER AIRBAG OFF (I SIT LESS THAN 12 INCHES FROM THE WHEEL & AM CONCERNED THAT IF IT WERE TO DEPLOY I WOULD BE KILLED) & THAT THE VEHICLE IS FAIRLY LOW TO THE GROUND, MAKING SPEED BUMPS & GETTING OUT OF BUSINESSES WHERE THERE IS A DIP ONTO STREETS DIFFICULT. *TR

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WHILE DRIVING WHEN I TURNED ON AC IT WENT FULL BLAST TO HEAT EVEN THOUGH SETTING WAS SET LOW. WENT TO DEALER SECOND TIME IT HAPPENED CHANGED OUT SOMETHING HOWEVER IT DID IT AGAIN JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO. HAVE TO TURN OFF FAN LET IT REST THEN TURN IT BACK ON AFTER A COUPLE OF MINUTES. WORKED GREAT THEN. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME 4 TIMES NOW AND DEALER DOESN'T KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. IT'S CALLED A DEFECT! GM NEEDS TO FIX THIS. *TR

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WENT TO TEST DRIVE 2013 CHEVY MALIBU. AS ALWAYS, I ADJUST MIRRORS BEFORE DRIVING. I IMMEDIATELY NOTICED THAT BECAUSE THE ROOFLINE IS SO LOW-SLUNG FOR AERODYNAMIC REASONS, THAT THE REAR VIEW MIRROR IS ALSO VERY LOW. AS A RESULT, THE MIRROR WAS BLOCKING ALMOST 25% OF MY VIEW! I'VE HEARD OF BLINDSPOTS ON VEHICLES BUT THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD? I'M ONLY 5'10' TALL, BUT I HAD TO DUCK MY HEAD TO SEE UNDER THE MIRROR. DIDN'T BUY THE VEHICLE FOR THAT REASON ALONE. AS A MATTER OF FACT, I NEVER EVEN WENT FOR THE TEST DRIVE AS IT WAS OBVIOUSLY DANGEROUS. *TR

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHROME COVER PLATE AROUND THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS BLOCKING HIS VISIBILITY WHENEVER THE SUN REFLECTED ON IT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 13,000.

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