Home · 2013 Chevrolet Malibu Hev · Complaints

What 921 owners told NHTSA about the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu Hev

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)

Newest first · 921 complaints · page 19 of 37

Dec 18, 2018Airbags

MY HUB ASSEMBLY BROKE CAUSING AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE AND CAUSED THE AIR BAG MODULE TO GO BAD. AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINS ON

NHTSA ODI 11162282

Dec 2, 2018Visibility & wipers

FRONT DEFROSTER STOPPED WORKING NO MATTER WHAT BUTTON IS SWITCHED IT WILL NOT SWITCH TO DEFROST. SEEMS IT IS THE SAME REACURRING PROBLEM ON 2013 MODELS AS THE 2014 MODELS SO WHY ARE THE 2013 MODELS NOT INCLUDED???

NHTSA ODI 11155480

Dec 1, 2018SteeringElectrical system

THE CAR INFOTAINMENT SCREEN AND POWER STEERING SUDDENLY AND MOMENTARILY SHUT DOWN.I BOUGHT THE CAR 3 WEEKS A GO. IN THE PAST THREE WEEKS THE ISSUE HAPPENED ABOUT A DOZEN TIMES. WHEN IT HAPPENS THE STEERING WHEEL BECOMES VERY HARD TO TURN. ALSO THE STEERING WHEEL CUTS THE POWER OFF TO THE INFOTAINMENT SCREEN AND THE BLOWER FAN, IF IT IS JERKED LEFT AND RIGHT QUICKLY WHEN THE CAR IS PARKED. AFTER TURTTHE CAR OFF AND BACK ON THE PROBLEM GOES AWAY.

NHTSA ODI 11155306

Nov 21, 2018Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. EACH TIME THE FAILURE OCCURRED, THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED TO RESET THE COMPUTER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND SUGGESTED TAKING THE VEHICLE TO DAN CUMMINS CHEVROLET BUICK (1020 M.L.K. JR BLVD, PARIS, KY 40361, 1-(859) 987-4345) FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND REPAIR. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: RQ13003 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000.

NHTSA ODI 11153058

Nov 20, 2018Engine

AROUND THE END OF OCT, HAD LUNCH AT A RESTAURANT AND AS I WAS LEAVING THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND MY CAR STALLED AND JERKED A LITTLE. I MANAGED TO GET IT GOING BUT SINCE THEN IT'S BEEN DOING IT WHILE DRIVING ~ WE RAN IT THROUGH A DIAGNOSTIC AND WAS GIVEN A CODE "INTAKE (A) CAMSHAFT POSITION ACTUATOR CIRCUIT/OPEN OVER-ADVANCED....."

NHTSA ODI 11152882

Nov 12, 2018SteeringElectrical systemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

WHEN DRIVING MY CARS ELECTRIC SYSTEM WILL SHUT DOWN. RADIO GOES OFF THEN LIGHTS ON THE DASH GO CRAZY AND STEERING WHEEL JERKS REAL HARD AND LOSS OF STEERING FOR A FEW SECONDS THEN IT ALL COMES BACK ON.

NHTSA ODI 11151102

Nov 9, 2018SteeringElectrical systemLights

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLES ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, LIGHTS, RADIO DASH START TO INTERMITTENTLY GO OFF THEN COME BACK ON. WHILE THIS IS HAPPENING THE STEERING SUDDENLY FROZE UP WHILE MAKING A TURN INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THIS NEARLY CAUSED A HEAD ON COLLISION WITH ONCOMING CARS. THAT SAME NIGHT WHEN I PULLED UP IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE THE HEADLIGHTS AND INSTRUMENT CLUSTER KEPT FLASHING ON AND OFF.

NHTSA ODI 11150353

Nov 6, 2018Electrical system

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU ECO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE APPROACHED A RED LIGHT AND STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED NORMALLY, BUT STALLED AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE AND RECOMMENDED TAKING IT TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,587.

NHTSA ODI 11149613

Nov 6, 2018Electrical system

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU ECO. WHILE THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE BATTERY SERVICE, SERVICE STABILITY, AND POWER STEERING WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS PUSHED TO THE ROAD SHOULDER AND THE BATTERY WAS CHARGED BY A PASSERBY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT PURCHASED A NEW BATTERY, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

NHTSA ODI 11149670

Nov 3, 2018Electrical system

I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR SINCE I BOUGHT IT, LOSS OF BATTERY LIFE, HAD IT TO MULTIPLE DEALERSHIPS, NOBODY CAN FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM, NOTICED A BURNING SMELL AT ONE TIME, THE TRUNK HAS A TERRIBLE REALLY WEIRD SMELL, I STILL OWE A LOT ON THIS CAR AND DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO FIX IT OR GET ANOTHER ONE, ONLY HAD APPROX. 50,000 MILES WHEN IT FIRST STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS, CALLED GM, DEALSHIP REPLACED BATTERY, SAME THING KEEPS HAPPENING, WHEN I'M DRIVING AT NIGHT AND THE BATTERY CHARGE IS LOW MY HEADLIGHTS GO EXTREMELY DIM VERY QUICKLY, THIS CAR IS VERY DANGEROUS AND HAS LEFT ME STRANDED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE CAR WILL JUST DIE RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC WITH NO WARNING, COMPLETELY DEAD,

NHTSA ODI 11145164

Oct 30, 2018Engine

CAR REPORTING ERROR CODE "P0304 - CYLINDER 4 MISFIRE". CAR HAS 88000 MILES ON IT, DEALER SAYS THERE'S INTERNAL ENGINE DAMAGE. THIS WAS VERIFIED BY SECOND AUTO REPAIR SHOP. WAS ALSO NOTIFIED THAT GM IS AWARE OF A PROBLEM WITH THIS 2.0L TURBO ENGINE ON SEVERAL OF THEIR AUTOMOBILE MODELS (PI1178B, PI1178D, PI1178E). CAR HAS BEEN PROPERLY MAINTAINED WITH ALL SCHEDULED SERVICE BEING PERFORMED.

NHTSA ODI 11144029

Oct 30, 2018Electrical systemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

FOR ABOUT A YEAR NOW S 'SERVICE AIRBAG' LIGHT HAS BEEN ON, NO ONE WHO TESTS IT CAN SEE WHAT THE ISSUE IS. WHEN ANYONE SITS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, THE DASH TURNS OFF, ALL LIGHTS ON IT, STEREO, ALL GAUGES CEASE TO FUNCTION AS WELL AS THE A/C. HAS BEEN TAKEN TO NUMEROUS DEALERSHIPS & SHOPS WITH NO CONCLUSION BESIDES THAT 'IT'S AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE' THAT SHOULD BE RECALLED. I NOTICE MANY PEOPLE HAVE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM ISSUES WITH THIS MAKE & MODEL WHEN I SEARCHED FOR A RECALL, ASTONISHING THAT NOTHING IS BEING DONE & VINS EXPERIENCING THE PROBLEM AREN'T ON THE RECALL LISTS. THE AIRBAGS IN THE CAR ARE FINE ACCORDING TO MECHANICS, NO REASON THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT SHOULD APPEAR & INCREDIBLY FRUSTRATING THAT I CANT HAVE A PASSENGER IN MY VEHICLE, ESPECIALLY DURING ARIZONA SUMMER WEATHER, NOT TO MENTION THE DANGER POSED BY NO GAUGES BEING VISIBLE

NHTSA ODI 11144158

Oct 29, 2018Electrical system

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS STALLING WITH NO WARNING. THE BATTERY WARNING LIGHT FLASHED SEVERAL TIMES AS THE FAILURE PROGRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER ATHENS CHEVROLET (4110 ATLANTA HWY, ATHENS, GA 30606, 706-549-3512) WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE BATTERY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED WHICH WAS REPLACED HOWEVER AFTER A WEEK THE VEHICLE HAD CONTINUED TO STALL. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER DUE TO THE CONTACT HAVING TO CONSTANTLY RECHARGE THE BATTERY. THE DEALER THEN INDICATED THAT THE ECO BATTERY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V173000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) OR NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: AQ14001 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE DEALER WHO SOLD THE VEHICLE, WORLD TOYOTA, 5800 PEACHTREE INDUSTRIAL BLVD, ATLANTA, GA 30341, 1-(678) 547-9000 WAS CONTACTED SEVERAL TIMES TO DETERMINE IF THE WARRANTY MAY BE USED TO DIAGNOSE AND REPAIR THE VEHICLE AND HAD NOT RESPONSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE TO DETERMINE IF THE WARRANTY MAY COVER THE REPAIR AND IF NOT TO PROVIDE A PERMANENT REMEDY TO THE DEALER. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

NHTSA ODI 11143753

Oct 24, 2018Electronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STABILITY ASSIST WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD CALL THE CONTACT BACK, BUT THEY HAD NOT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 118,899.

NHTSA ODI 11142365

Oct 23, 2018Electrical system

WHEN DRIVING MY CAR MULITIPLE ELECTRICAL ISSUES OCCUR, I WILL TURN ON THE BLINKERS AND THE RADIO AND DASH LIGHTS WILL GO OUT AND BACK ON. AT TIMES THE CAR WILL COMPLETELY LOSE POWER AND I WILL HAVE TO TURN IT OFF AND THEN BACK ON. THE MOST DANGEROUS TIME I WAS TURNING LEFT ON VAN DYKE AVE IN WARREN MICHIGAN, A LARGE 6 LANE ROAD, WHEN I LOST ALL POWER INCLUDING POWER STEERING I WAS ABLE TO QUICKLY TURN THE KEY IGNITION OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN AND GET OFF THE ROAD BEFORE ONCOMING TRAFFIC ARRIVED. I TOOK MY CAR TO HAMILTON CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND ANY PROBLEMS WITH IT. I PICKED UP MY CAR FROM THE DEALERSHIP, AFTER 2 WEEKS THERE, AND DROVE TO WORK THE NEXT MORNING AT 5AM AND PULLED INTO THE PARKING LOT AT WORK AS I PARKED THE CAR, THE CAR LOST ALL POWER EXCEPT THIS TIME I WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE CAR AND HAD IT TOWED BACK TO HAMILTON CHEVROLET.

NHTSA ODI 11142233

Oct 22, 2018Steering

"SERVICE POWER STEERING" WAS DISPLAYED ON MY SPEEDOMETER DISPLAY WHEN I STARTED MY CAR UP THIS MORNING; THE TEMPERATURE WAS COLD. THE WARNING WENT AWAY AFTER SITTING INT HE CAR FOR 2-3 MINUTES. MY STEERING IS A BIT SHAKY AT THIS POINT. I AM TAKING IT TO THE DEALERSHIP ASAP; I HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY.

NHTSA ODI 11141751

Oct 22, 2018Electrical system

WHILE VEHICLE IS IN DRIVE, THE CAR RADIO WILL TURN OFF, POWER STEERING IS AFFECTED (VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN WHEEL), LIGHTS ON DASHBOARD ALL COME ON AND IF BACKING UP THE REAR CAMERA WILL NOT WORK. REPAIR SHOP CANT FIGURE OUT, TESTED ELECTRICAL, BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR. SCARY LOTS OF OTHERS POSTING VERY SIMILAR PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED!!

NHTSA ODI 11141772

Oct 21, 2018SteeringLightsElectronic Stability Control (esc)

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE CAR POWERS DOWN. THE RADIO TURNS OFF, LIGHTS ON DASH GOES OUT AND POWER STEERING LOCKS UP. IF DRIVEN OVER A SPEED BUMP OR POTHOLE ALL ELECTRICAL COMPONETS POWER DOWN. I WAS DRIVING AND PUT MY SIGNAL ON, THE VEHICLE SHUTDOWN AND STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UNTIL IT REBOOTED ITSSELF. THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE ON STREET, HIGHWAY NOR SPEED. WHEN IT LOOSES POWER THERE IS NO WAY TO ALERT THE NEARBY DRIVERS WITH HAZARD LIGHTS AS EVERYTHING HAS BEEN SHUT OFF. ON GOING MATTER, HAS BEEN TO DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES AND DIFFERENT LOCATIONS

NHTSA ODI 11141631

Oct 15, 2018Electrical system

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CONSTANTLY ON, CANT CLEAR. SCREEN ON RADIO IS COMPLETELY BLACKED OUT AND WONT TURN ON. TRUNK RANDOMLY POPS OPEN BY ITSELF. HARD DOWN SHIFT. BATTERY SEEMS WEAKENING WHEN CRANKING CAR UP

NHTSA ODI 11140341

Oct 15, 2018SteeringElectrical systemLights

I PURCHASED A 2013 CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED CHEVROLET MALIBU FROM A CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP IN NOVEMBER OF 2014. I WAS SATISFIED WITH MY PURCHASE FOR A FEW MONTHS WITH NO ISSUES UNTIL I STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE ELECTRICAL. MY FIRST FRIGHTENING EXPERIENCE WAS TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE EXITING ONTO A HIGHWAY VIA A CLOVERLEAF. WHILE MERGING ONTO THE HIGHWAY, I LOST ALL POWER, INCLUDING POWER STEERING. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS IN THE OTHER LANE, AS MY CAR VEERED ACROSS THE LINE, INTO THE OTHER LANE. THE POWER CAME BACK ON A FEW SECONDS LATER. I BROUGHT MY CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED IT, HOWEVER THEY WERE UNABLE TO PINPOINT THE ISSUE. THEY SCANNED THE VEHICLES SYSTEM FOR ERROR CODES, CLEARED THE CODES AND SENT ME ON MY WAY. SINCE THIS INITIAL ISSUE, MY CAR LOSES POWER RANDOMLY WHILE DRIVING, PARKED, USING MY TURN SIGNAL, TURNING LEFT, TURNING RIGHT, ETC. THE POWER STEERING GOES OUT, THE DASHBOARD AND VEHICLE DISPLAY MONITOR GO BLACK. SOME INSTANCES IT WILL FLICKER, OTHER TIMES IT WILL SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY. I HAVE HAD IT TOWED FROM MY DRIVEWAY AS I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO TURN IT ON AND TOWED FROM A RETAIL PARKING LOT. I HAVE HAD THE CAR INSPECTED BY THE DEALERSHIP 4 TIMES AND A SEPARATE PRIVATELY OWNED GARAGE TWICE, WITH NO RESOLUTION. I CONTACTED GM/CHEVROLET REGARDING THE ISSUE AND A CASE NUMBER WAS GIVEN TO ME. THEY HAD ME BRING MY CAR TO A CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP. AFTER THEIR INSPECTION, THE DEALERSHIP STATED IT WAS THE POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE THAT IS MALFUNCTIONING. I REACHED OUT TO CHEVROLET AGAIN ABOUT A RESOLUTION AND THEY INDICATED THE VEHICLE IS OUTSIDE OF WARRANTY SO NO REPAIR SUPPORT WILL BE PROVIDED. IF THIS ISSUE WOULD HAVE BEEN RESOLVED WITHIN THE INITIAL INSPECTION, THE CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED STATUS OF MY VEHICLE MAY HAVE COVERED REPAIRS. MY CONCERN IS THE LARGER IMPACT OF OTHERS EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUES AND GETTING THE SAME RESPONSE BY GM.

NHTSA ODI 11140365

Oct 15, 2018AirbagsSeat beltsCrash1 injury

DRIVER HIT A STATIONARY OBJECT HEAD ON AT APPROXIMATELY 50MPH AND HEAD WENT THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD.

NHTSA ODI 11140421

Oct 10, 2018Electrical systemEngine

OVER THE LAST 3 WEEKS, WHEN THE VEHICLE HAS GONE INTO THE AUTO SHUT-OFF MODE, IT DOESN'T ALWAYS START BACK UP WHEN YOU PUSH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL.

NHTSA ODI 11139406

Oct 9, 2018Electrical systemLightsSpeed control

THE DASHBOARD COMPLETELY WENT OUT NO GAUGES WORK, NO FUSES ARE BLOWN AND DEALERSHIP DOESN'T KNOW WHY

NHTSA ODI 11139179

Oct 6, 2018Electrical system

2013 MALIBU LS SAME PROBLEM AS ECO HAS BEEN DOING THIS FOR AWHILE NOW VOLTAGE DROPS ENGING STALLS POWER STERING BRAKES EVERYTHING SHUTS OFF ALSO DOES THIS WHEN YOU TURN TURN SIGNALS ON RADIO EVERY THING SHUTS OFF THIS IS A FACTORY PROBLEM THAT NEED TO BE FIXED THIS COULD CAUSE SOMEONE TO GET HURT OR KILLED NO CONTROL WHEN EVERYTHING SHUTS OFF DOES THIS AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS

NHTSA ODI 11138800

Oct 2, 2018SteeringElectrical system

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING, THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER LIGHTING FLICKERED AND THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. ADDITIONALLY, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ED RINKE CHEVROLET BUICK GMC (26125 VAN DYKE, CENTER LINE, MI 48015, (866) 461-1170) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BATTERY CABLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 8-4683000874. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO CALL THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,494.

NHTSA ODI 11132897

← NewerOlder →

Working with the data? Download all 921 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 22, 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 Hev verdict →