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)

226 of 921 complaints match · Engine · clear filters · page 4 of 10

Jul 8, 2020Electrical systemEngine

VEHICLE NEEDING GENERATOR CONTROL MODULE AND BATTERY COOLING FAN AND VARIABLE VALVE TIMING REPLACED

NHTSA ODI 11338311

Jul 6, 2020Engine

BOUGHT THE VEHICLE FROM MERCHANTS AUTO IN OCT 2019 AND WITHIN A WEEK THE CAR STALLED TO START. I CALLED AROUND NOV 2019 TO SET UP AN APPT TO HAVE IT FIXED. THEY COULDN'T DUPLICATE IT SO IT COULDN'T BE FIXED. I WENT BACK ON 2/15/20 AND 5/29/20 AND RECENTLY ON 6/29/20. THEY STILL COULD NOT DUPLICATE OUR CALL STALLING AND THEN SHUTTING OFF WHEN COMING TO A STOP. WE WOULD HAVE TO GIVE IT GAS MOSTLY TO START IT UP.LAST TIME I TOOK IT THERE THEY WERE ABLE TO COME UP WITH $700 WORTH OF CHARGES THAT WERE OUT OF WARRANTY SO I HAD TO PASS BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE $700 AND PLUS THIS WAS STARTING WHEN WE BOUGHT THE VEHICLE.I WONDERED WHY THEY COULDNT HAVE COME UP WITH THE SAME CONLUSION THE FIRST TIME THAT I BROUGHT IT IN OR THE 2ND TIME AND THE LADY SAID SHE DIDNT KNOW. I CALLED QUIRK CHEVROLET TO ASK ABOUT RECALL 13142 AND THE PERSON I SPOKE TO , INFORMED ME THAT SINCE MY VIN # DOESN'T FALL UNDER THAT RECALL THAT IT CANT BE REPLACED. THE RECALL DESCRIBES WHAT IS HAPPENING TO OUR VEHICLE AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY I CANT HAVE IT REPLACED WITH THE RECALL THAT IS LISTED FOR MY CAR. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUES FOR 2013 CHEVY MALIBU AND MY CAR IS NOT ECO SO IT SHOULDN'T BE DOING THAT AT ALL. OUR VEHICLE STALLS AT STOP SIGNS AND STOP LIGHTS..WE HAVE TO PUT IT IN PARK..RESTART THE CAR AND THEN DRIVE. OR WE HAVE TO PUT IT IN NEUTRAL TO NOT LET THE ENGINE FAIL. IT HAPPENS ONLY WHEN WE COME TO A STOP OR WHEN IT IDLES. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND I AM GETTING THE RUN AROUND. NO ONE IS WILLING TO HELP OR CAN FIGURE OUT WHAT IS GOING ON. DRIVING BACK FROM MAINE YESTERDAY AND AFTER A 5 HOUR DRIVE WE COME TO AN EXIT AND HAVE TO SLOW DOWN IF NO STOP AND THE CAR SHUTS OFF. THIS LAST HAPPENED ON 7/5 AROUND 5PM ET

NHTSA ODI 11337601

Jun 28, 2020SteeringElectrical systemEngine

AT VARIOUS TIMES WHILE DRIVING-WHETHER PARKED, ACTIVELY DRIVING, AT A STOP SIGN, TURNING, BACKING UP- MY CARS POWER WILL FLICKER AND THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF CAUSING THE STEERING TO LOCK. THIS HAS DONE THIS TO ME QUITE A FEW TIMES, ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT ON MORE THEN ONE OCCASION. SOMETIMES IT WILL DO IT AS OFTEN AS 14 TIMES IN A 25 MINUTE RIDE. NO LIGHTS SUCH AS THE CEL OR ANYTHING COME ON BEFOREHAND TO INDICATE THAT THERES A PROBLEM WHEN IT HAPPENS. I'VE TAKEN IT TO A MECHANIC TWICE TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT AND HE SEES NO OBVIOUS REASONS WHY IT WOULD DO THIS, AND THERE ARE NO CODES TO PULL TO EXPLAIN IT. ENOUGH PEOPLE ARE HAVING THIS SAME ISSUE IT SHOULD BE MADE A RECALL AND LOOKED INTO! IT'S NOT SAFE TO DRIVE A VEHICLE LIKE THIS THAT CAN SHUT OFF AND THE STEERING LOCKS AT ANY GIVEN MOMENT. THE 1ST TIME THIS HAPPENED WAS JUNE 5, 2020 AND ALMOST EVERY DAY SINCE.

NHTSA ODI 11331353

Jun 24, 2020Electrical systemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

DROVE TO APPOINTMENT WITH NO ISSUES OR INDICATIONS OF ANYTHING WRONG. FINISHED APPOINTMENT AND STARTED VEHICLE, THE CHECK STABILITRAK WARNING CAME ON. PULLED INTO LANE & VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY REDUCED POWER, UNABLE TO ACCELERATE RAPIDLY AND ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. WARNING LIGHT FOR ENGINE OVERSPEED CAME ON. ENGAGED CRUISE CONTROL, WOULD NOT DISENGAGE WHEN BRAKING, OR BY STEERING WHEEL CONTROL WITHOUT SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. WAS ABLE TO SLOWLY INCREASE SPEED TO 50 MPH, MADE IT HOME VIA HILLY SECONDARY ROADS (MAX 50 MPH) AND STOPPED VEHICLE (BRAKE; STILL IN DRIVE), ENGINE TRIED TO GO TO THE ENGINE REST MODE PRIOR TO SHIFTING TO PARK. SHIFTED TO PARK, ENGINE TRIED TO RE-START AND WOULDN'T AUTOMATICALLY DISENGAGE ATTEMPTING TO TURN OVER. SHUT OFF THE ENGINE AND PULLED KEY. WOULD NOT RE-START, BUT WOULD CRANK. WHEN LETTING GO OF KEY IN THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN, THE ENGINE WOULD STILL TRY TO TURN OVER ON ITS OWN WITH A LOUD HIGH PITCHED WHINE. HAD TO QUICKLY REMOVE KEY ENTIRELY. I HAVE VIDEO CLIPS TOGETHER OF THIS INCIDENT, AVAILABLE BY EMAIL. HAD NEW BATTERY DELIVERED OVERNIGHT, DID NOT FIX ISSUE. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO GARAGE AND WILL COST $12,100 TO FIX BY REPLACING LONG BLOCK. PLEASE HELP - THIS IS INCREDIBLY DISTRESSING. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11330607

Jun 15, 2020EngineFire

MY DAUGHTERS MALIBU LITERALLY IGNITED AND CAUGHT FIRE WHILE SHE WAS IN IT OVER THE WEEKEND. SHE WAS PARKED IN A PARKING LOT, NOTICED A FUNNY SMELL, TURNED THE IGNITION OFF AND SMOKE WAS BILLOWING OUT OF THE ENGINE. SHE GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND REALIZED THE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE. IT WENT FROM A SMALL FIRE TO EVERYTHING BUT THE TRUNK ENGULFED IN LESS THAN 3 MINUTES. THESE THINGS DON'T JUST HAPPEN RANDOMLY. I FEEL THERE WAS A MECHANICAL ISSUE OR SOMETHING NOT BUILT CORRECTLY. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11328930

Jun 14, 2020Engine

AT 85000 MILES MY TIMING CHAIN JUST WENT BAD..BUT IT ALSO KNOWN THAT THIS HAPPENS WITH THIS CAR...WHY IS THIS NOT CORRECTED BY COMPANY...THAT'S 2000 DOLLARS THAT PPL DON'T HAVE....AND THERE'S NOTHING YOU CAN DO TO PREVENT IT..... DON'T HAVE PAPERS TOO PROVE IT BUT...

NHTSA ODI 11328812

Jun 8, 2020Engine

EXTREME EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION, 5 QUARTS OVER JUST 2,000 MILE PERIOD WITHOUT ANY NOTICEABLE LEAKS. MECHANIC SAID EVERYTHING APPEARS WELL AND THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE SAME ENGINE, 2.4 ECOTEC, ON THE EARLIER MODEL EQUINOX MODELS WITH PISTONS AND CRANK SEALS. GM HAS A SERVICE BULLETIN NUMBER 14882 AND THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT ASSIST ME WITH THIS PROBLEM IN ANY WAY BECAUSE MY VIN NUMBER IS NOT INCLUDED IN THEIR DATABASE WHEN THE BULLETIN SPECIFICALLY STATES MY MAKE, YEAR, AND MODEL OF VEHICLE AND WHAT IS WRONG, SO NOW I'M STUCK WITH PAYING AN ENORMOUS BILL BECAUSE MY VEHICLE WAS NOT BUILT CORRECTLY BY GM WHO KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND EVEN HAS A SERVICE BULLETIN ABOUT IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11327764

Jun 6, 2020Engine

I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHY IT DOES THAT JUST SHUT DOWN WHILE YOU SIT THERE IN DRIVE *TR

NHTSA ODI 11327556

Jun 3, 2020Engine

MY SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND MY CAR HAS BEEN JERKING AND HAS ISSUES WITH ACCELERATING. IT ACTS LIKE IT WANTS TO CUT OFF BUT DOESN'T IT JUST JERKS REPEATEDLY. I'M NERVOUS TO DRIVE MY CAR BECAUSE I'M WORRIED THAT IT WILL CUT OFF IN TRAFFIC AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11327095

Jun 1, 2020SteeringEngine

WHILE IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC AT A STOP LIGHT THE CAR SHUT COMPLETELY OFF WHERE MY STEERING WENT OUT, THE KEY WAS LOCKED IN THE IGNITION AND I HAD TO GET SOMEONE TO HELP PUSH THE CAR INTO A PARKING LOT FOR SAFETY. THE CAR HAS BEEN JERKING, WILL NOT PICK UP SPEED AND IF SITTING AT A STOPLIGHT TOO LONG, THE CAR WILL SHUT OFF. WHEN I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE, THE CAR EITHER JERKS OR SHUTS OFF BUT THEN STARTS BACK UP. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11326803

May 25, 2020Electrical systemEngine

WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE AND I COME TO A STOP THE ENGINE DIES OUT. THERE IS NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT OR WARNING BEFORE THIS HAPPENS AND IT HAS ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT 3 TIMES NOW. EVEN IN STOP AND GO RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC, AS SOON AS I NEED TO SLOW DOWN THE CAR STUTTERS AND THEN STALLS. ALL THE LIGHTS AND RADIO STAY ON BUT THE ENGINE JUST SHUTS OFF. I HAVE TO QUICKLY THROW IT INTO, PARK TURN THE KEY TO OFF AND RESTART THE CAR EVERYTIME. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS AND I JUST DONT KNOW WHAT TO DO ANYMORE. I AM NOT ABLE TO TRADE IT IN YET AND I AM AFRAID TO SELL IT AND THIS HAPPEN TO SOMEONE ELSE.

NHTSA ODI 11325897

Apr 29, 2020Engine

I SEE GM HAS RECALLED THE ENGINES ON THE CHEVY MALIBU 2.0 I HAVE 104XXX MILES AND AND THE ENGINE HAS BEEN SLUGGISH SENSE LAST OIL CHANGE NOW THERE WAS METAL SHAVINGS ON INJECTORS AND I FEEL THEY HAVE RECALLED OTHERS WHY NOT MINE TOO? I HAD THE CRUISE SET AT 72 GOING DOWN THE FREEWAY AND IT JUST DIED.

NHTSA ODI 11322611

Apr 16, 2020Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEED, THE VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY REDUCE SPEED. THE ENGINE HAD SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY A PIN HOLE IN THE ENGINE AND FAULTY OIL PUMP. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS THE MESSAGE 'REDUCED ENGINE POWER' WOULD DISPLAY AND THE VEHICLES SPEED WOULD DECREASE. ALSO, WHILE IDLING THE ENGINE WOULD SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN THE LOCAL DEALER SMITH CHEVROLET (1601 AUTO MALL DR. TURLOCK, CA) WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY A FAULTY OIL PUMP AND LOW OIL PRESSURE CAUSED BY A PIN HOLE IN THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.*BF*JB

NHTSA ODI 11321313

Mar 23, 2020Electrical systemEngine

MIENTRAS EL VEHICULO ESTA EN MOVIMIENTO EL MOTOR SE APAGA. ESTO COMENZO A OCURRIR HACE UN MES .. ES UNA SITUACION MUY PELIGROSA

NHTSA ODI 11319056

Mar 11, 2020Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED UPON ENTERING THE VEHICLE SHE NOTICED AN ABNORMAL SMELL COMING FROM THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE WITH WARNING. THE CONTACT OPENED THE HOOD AND NOTICED OIL LEAKED ALL UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MARSHFIELD MOTOR CO LOCATED AT (14963 MO-38, MARSHFIELD, MO 65706) TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED USING A SEALANT HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000.

NHTSA ODI 11317475

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 10, 2020Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemEngine

LOSS OF POWER OF CAR IT KILL MY FACTORY BATTERY HAD BUY A NEW ONE AND POWER STEERING IS NOT WORKING

NHTSA ODI 11298363

Dec 17, 2019Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE VEHICLE NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000.

NHTSA ODI 11289681

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

Dec 7, 2019Electrical systemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND BATTERY CHARGING SYSTEM AND STABILITY TRACK ERROR MSG SHOWED UP. CAR COMPLETELY SHUT OFF AND HAD TO BE TOWED.

NHTSA ODI 11287672

Nov 26, 2019Engine

WATER PUMP PROBLEMS CAUSING CAR TO OVERHEAT AND LEAK CONSTANTLY.

NHTSA ODI 11282442

Oct 27, 2019Engine

WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT ON A VERY BUSY CITY STREET THE ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING AND THE CAR SHUT OFF. MY FOOT WAS STILL ON THE BREAK AND THE CAR WAS IN DRIVE. I PUT THE CAR IN PARK THEN RESTARTED THE CAR AND IT STARTED RUNNING LIKE IT SHOULD, THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHTS DISPLAYED BEFORE, DURING, OR AFTER THIS HAPPENED. IN ANOTHER INCIDENT WHILE I REVERSED THE CAR THE ENGINE SHUT OFF WITHOUT ANY WARNING LIGHTS, I HAD TO PUT THE CAR IN PARK AGAIN AND RESTART IT TO GET THE ENGINE RUNNING AGAIN.

NHTSA ODI 11271403

Oct 15, 2019Electrical systemEngine

THE TIMING CHAIN IN THE ENGINE IS BAD AND THERE IS A LOUD NOISE. THE CAR SHUTS DOWN AT A STOP AND WILL NOT ALWAYS RESTART. ALSO THE GPS/RADIO SCREEN STARTED GOING OFF AND ON AND THEN COMPLETELY WENT DARK.

NHTSA ODI 11268660

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

← 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 →