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 8 of 10

Mar 9, 2017Engine

MY 2013 CHEVY MALIBU CAM POSITIONING ACTUATOR CAUSED MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO COME ON. WHEN I HAD THE CODE READ, THEY SAID THAT THE SENSOR WAS THROWING THE CODE. MY CAR JUST WENT OUT OF DEALERSHIP WARRANTY WITH 52,XXX MILES ON IT. IS THIS COVERED BY GM RECALL?

NHTSA ODI 10959891

Feb 3, 2017Body & structureEngineFuel system

THE EXHAUST AND POWER HAVE ISSUES...CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ALWAYS ON AND POWER TO SYSTEM IS REDUCED. FUEL ECONOMY HAS DECREASED SEVERELY. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL NOT GO OFF. EXHAUST COMING FROM TAILPIPE EVEN AFTER CAR HAS BEEN RUNNING AWHILE. THIS ISSUE HAPPENS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS RUNNING AND OPERATING. SECOND ISSUE IS THE TRUNK LATCH! THE VEHICLE HAS AN OUTSIDE TRUNK RELEASE BUTTON. WHEN VEHICLE IS COMPLETELY LOCKED, THE TRUNK WILL OPEN ON IT'S OWN! WE WILL COME OUT TO THE CAR WITH THE TRUNK WIDE OPEN WHEN WE KNOW WE HAVE LOCKED IT COMPLETELY. CHECKED, DOUBLE CHECKED, EVEN TRIPLE CHECKED BUT WE WILL STILL COME OUT TO A VEHICLE WITH THE TRUNK WIDE OPEN! THIS TRUNK OPENING ISSUE HAPPENS WHEN THE CAR IS PARKED AND OFF BUT, LOCKED!

NHTSA ODI 10949503

Dec 25, 2016Speed controlElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

I WAS DRIVING MY 2013 CHEVY, MALIBU WITH 46,901 MILES AT 80MPH ON THE INTERSTATE WHEN MY CAR STARTED LOOSING POWER AND BECAME UNEASY TO DRIVE. THE ENGINE SERVICE LIGHT, STABILITY TRACK LIGHT, AND ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED WAS ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENCE, MY ENGINE AND STABILITY TRACK LIGHTING WOULD COME ON AT RANDOM MAKING THE CAR DIFFICULTY TO DRIVE. I WOULD TAKE THE CAR BACK TO THE CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP ONLY TO BE TOLD THAT THE TECH COULD NOT REPLICATE/DUPLICATE THE ENGINE LIGHT/STABILITY TRACK COMING. THE DEALERSHIP HAD ME TO PURCHASE A NEW BATTERY AND CHANGE SPARK PLUGS, BUT ENGINE LIGHT/STABILITY TRACK CONTINUED TO COME ON AT RANDOM. DEALERSHIP ADVISED THAT THEY COULD NOT FIX ANYTHING THAT COULD NOT BE REPLICATED/DUPLICATED. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10937384

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 12, 2016SteeringTransmission & drivetrainEngine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE RPMS DECREASED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WOULD ONLY RESTART AFTER RECEIVING A JUMP START. IN ADDITION, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND BATTERY CHARGE, STABILITY TRACK, AND SERVICE POWER STEERING WARNING MESSAGES APPEARED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL DISPLAY. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURES OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,212.

NHTSA ODI 10934733

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

Nov 14, 2016Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WATER PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 51,400.

NHTSA ODI 10925900

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 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

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, 2016Engine

WAS DRIVING ON LEFT LANE OF BUSY INTERSTATE WHEN CAR SUDDENLY BEGAN JERKING AND DISPLAYED "REDUCED ENGINE POWER" AND "ENGINE OVERSPEED", CEL & ESC LIGHTS ALSO ILLUMINATED. CAR SLOWED DRASTICALLY AND ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT, DRIVER IN NEXT LANE SLAMMED ON HIS BRAKES AND ALLOWED ME TO SLINGSHOT OVER TO THE SHOULDER.

NHTSA ODI 10905921

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

Aug 19, 2016Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING; HOWEVER, THE DETAILS OF THE DIAGNOSIS COULD NOT BE PROVIDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED, BUT THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR WAS DISABLED AT THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,083. UPDATED 11/08/16*LJ *TR

NHTSA ODI 10897074

Aug 14, 2016Transmission & drivetrainEngineFuel system

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD ON 7/10/16 MY 2013 CHEVY MALIBU LOST POWER, ENGINE LIGHT AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON AND WENT FROM 55-60 MPH TO 20 MPH. WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE MORE THE CAR COULD SHAKE VIOLENTLY. AFTER STOPPING AND TURNING THE CAR OFF IT WOULD NOT RESTART. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO KERRY CHEVROLET IN ALEXANDRIA, KY. AFTER DIAGNOSTIC TESTING THEY DETERMINED THAT THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED REPLACED. ON 8/10/16 WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WHILE IN VACATION IN FLORIDA THE CAR AGAIN STARTED TO LOSE POWER, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO SLIP OR MISS AND JERK. AGAIN ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. CAR DIED THREE TIMES WHILE ON THE ROAD TRYING TO GET IT TO A SAFE PLACE FOR A TOW TRUCK TO TOW IT. IT WAS TAKEN TO A DEALERSHIP AND THE CAM SHAFT SENSOR WAS REPLACED. CAR CONTINUES TO HESITATE AND MISS.

NHTSA ODI 10895822

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

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

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

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

Apr 5, 2016Engine

MY VEHICLE IS AT APPROXIMATELY 42,000 MILES AND JUST RECENTLY AT A STOP LIGHT (MY FOOT ON THE BRAKES) UPON MY SLOW ACCELERATION, LIGHTLY STEPPING ON THE GAS (APPROXIMATELY 3 MPH) MY CAR IDLED EXTREMELY ROUGH AND THEN IT DIED. THE RADIO REMAINED ON AND THE LIGHTS WERE ON, SO THE ONLY INDICATOR THAT POINTED ME TOWARDS MY CAR DYING OUT WAS THE FACT THAT THE AC CUT OFF, STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND THE RPM WENT TO 0. IMMEDIATELY I PUT THE CAR IN PARK, SWITCHED THE KEY TO OFF AND THEN HAD NO TROUBLE RE-STARTING MY VEHICLE. SHORTLY AFTER, THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. SINCE THEN I HAD THE CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR REPLACED (THERE ARE TWO CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSORS AND BOTH WERE REPLACED $117.00 USD) AND I HAD MY BATTERY LOAD TESTED AS WELL AS MY ALTERNATOR. EVERYTHING CHECKED OUT GOOD, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. WHAT IS GOING ON???

NHTSA ODI 10853635

Mar 10, 2016Engine

@40,639 MILES PERFORM DIAG. CODE P0014 REPLACE EXHAUST SOLENOID VALVE. HOW COULD THIS HAPPEN ORIGNAL CAR OWNER. IS THIS A RECALL, NOT ANNOUNCE YET. HELP!!!!!

NHTSA ODI 10845929

Mar 7, 2016Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE VIBRATED SEVERELY AND THE REDUCED ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 15,000.

NHTSA ODI 10840190

Jan 19, 2016EquipmentEngine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE JERKED AND THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OVERHEATING. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS OFF, BUT A MESSAGE IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INDICATED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS ON AND SHOULD BE TURNED OFF. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,050.

NHTSA ODI 10821135

Jan 5, 2016Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemEngine

IN SUMMER 2015 WHILE USING AC, HEAT RANDOMLY WOULD BLAST OUT. (WHILE IDLE OR DRIVING). WOULD HAVE TO RESTART CAR TO GET AC TO WORK AGAIN. IN THE PAST 2 WEEKS DEC15/JAN16, ENGINE OVERHEATED-IDLE INDICATOR CAME ON WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, ONCE AT 65 MPH, ONCE AT 30 MPH. THEN A FEW MINUTES LATER IT WOULD TURN OFF. I LOOKED AT TEMP GAUGE, AND IT WAS NOT AT AN OVERHEATING LEVEL (HALF WAY ONLY). ALSO, NOW HEAT ONLY INTERMITTENTLY WORKS. I WILL HAVE TO TURN CAR ON AND OFF REPEATEDLY, AND TURN AC ON/OFF, HEAT ON/OFF, DEFROST ON/OFF, AND SOMETIMES THE HEAT WILL FINALLY GET WARM. NEVER SEEMS TO GET HOT LIKE IT'S SUPPOSED TO. TOOK TO REPAIR SHOP FOR THE ENGINE OVERHEATED/IDLE WARNING AND STATED NOTHING WAS WRONG. SAFETY ISSUE NOT HAVING HEAT FOR FRONT WINDSHIELD DEFROST WHEN IT'S UNDER 30 DEGREES OUT. MECHANIC SAID IT'S PROBABLY A COMPUTER ISSUE WITH THE CAR. BUT NOW I'M SEEING THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH MANY CAR OWNERS. GM NEEDS TO RECALL, AS THIS CAN BE A SAFETY CONCERN!

NHTSA ODI 10818057

Nov 12, 2015SteeringEngine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO OVERHEAT AND THEN STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES, BUT THE CONTACT WAS UNSURE OF THE PARTS THAT WERE REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

NHTSA ODI 10790029

Nov 3, 2015Electrical systemEngineCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH, THE REDUCED ENGINE POWER WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED AND CRASHED INTO A CURB. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE DEALER CLEANED THE BATTERY TERMINALS, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED WITH THE REDUCED ENGINE POWER AND ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000.

NHTSA ODI 10788102

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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 →