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 23 of 37

Jan 29, 2018Visibility & wipers

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH ON A ROADWAY, THE TEMPERED GLASS FRACTURED FROM OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VISOR WAS CLOSED AND PREVENTED THE GLASS FROM COMPLETELY ENTERING THE VEHICLE AND IMPACTING THE CONTACT'S VISIBILITY. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED (VERMILION CHEVROLET BUICK GMC, 1615 GEORGETOWN RD, TILTON, IL 61833, (217) 442-8400), BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE INSURANCE COMPANY WAS NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ODI 11065609

Jan 29, 2018Transmission & drivetrain

WATER PUMP FAILURE

NHTSA ODI 11065680

Jan 18, 2018Electrical system

INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WILL STOP WORKING WHILE DRIVING, OR NOT WORK AT ALL. IT GOES COMPLETELY DARK, WITH NO READOUT. SPEEDOMETER, FUEL GAUGE, TEMPERATURE, TACHOMETER. NOTHING WORKS. VEHICLE HAS 54,000 MILES ON IT.

NHTSA ODI 11063644

Jan 12, 2018SteeringElectrical system

FUSE CAUSED LOW VOLTAGE POWER STEERING GOING ON AND OFF WIYHOUT THE STEERING SERVICE LIGHT COMING ON. THE STEERING BECAME LOOSE. HARD TO CONTROL WHEN DRIVING. I COULD NOT GET PART FOR OVER A WEEK.

NHTSA ODI 11062514

Jan 11, 2018

TRUNK RELEASE : THE TRUNK RANDOMLY RELEASES AND POPS OPEN EVEN WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES AND LAST HAPPENED ON 01/10/2018 WHILE IT WAS PARKED.

NHTSA ODI 11062136

Jan 11, 2018Electrical systemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

MY 2013 CHEVY MALIBU HAS BEEN HAVING POWER AND/OR ELECTRICAL ISSUES. I HAVE TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP NUMEROUS OF TIMES, BUT THE ISSUE IS STILL ONGOING. WHEN I STEER LEFT OR RIGHT, MY CAR POWERS DOWN AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS. SOME TIMES THE CAR RADIO SCREEN AND DASHBOARD LIGHTS FLASHES ON & OFF. THE ONLY WAY TO MAKE IT STOP IS TO TURN THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON. I CAN BE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND THE CAR WILL SHUT DOWN AND POWER OFF ON ITS OWN. IT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS, BUT THAT IS THE ONLY TRANSPORTATION I HAVE RIGHT NOW. I AM NOT SURE WHAT IS GOING ON AND I HAVE SEEN NUMEROUS OF COMPLAINTS FROM PEOPLE WITH THE SAME ISSUES. PLEASE INVESTIGATE.

NHTSA ODI 11062308

Jan 10, 2018Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONED AND CAUSED THE STEERING WHEEL TO BECOME VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN IN EITHER DIRECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALER (PHIL SMITH CHEVROLET, 1640 NORTH STATE RD 7, LAUDERDALE, FL 33313). THE DEALER RESET THE POWER STEERING MODULE, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000.

NHTSA ODI 11062015

Jan 5, 2018Steering

STARTED CAR AND HAD NO POWER STEERING AND A WARNING TO SERVICE. BROUGHT TO DEALER AND WAS TOLD AFTER THE VEHICLE HAD WARMED UP THAT THE ELECTRIC ASSIST MOTOR HAD QUIT AND THERE HAS BEEN ISSUES WITH THIS DURING COLD WEATHER. IT HAD BEEN BELOW ZERO FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED OVERNIGHT AND LUCKY I HAD NOT BEEN MOVING WHEN IT HAPPENED. NOTHING WAS DONE AT DEALERSHIP AS IT STARTED WORKING AFTER SITTING OVER NIGHT IN THERE GARAGE. THIS IS A $2000 REPAIR IF THE ELECTRIC MOTOR GOES OUT AND A SAFETY ISSUE. I BOUGHT THIS CAR NEW IN MINNESOTA AND COLD IS A FACTOR HERE AND THE ELECTRIC STEERING SHOULD NOT BE FAILING AT 48,000 MILES.

NHTSA ODI 11060775

Jan 4, 2018Electrical systemVisibility & wipers

BLEND DOOR FUNCTIONS DO NOT WORK PROPERLY. DUAL CLIMATE CONTROL ONLY ALLOWS HEAT TO DRIVERS SIDE OF VEHICLE. PASSENGER SIDE BLOWS A/C COLD AIR NO MATTER IF A/C IS ON OR OFF. PERIODICALLY DRIVERS SIDE ONLY WORKS ON DEFROST OR FEET ONLY SETTINGS. HAVE TO HAVE HEAT TO FOOT SETTING AND STUFF BLANKET UNDER PASSENGER SIDE DASH TO HEAT CAR IN WINTER. I CANNOT DEFROST ENTIRE WINDOW.

NHTSA ODI 11058424

Jan 3, 2018Electrical system

RADIO SCREEN BLACKS OUT

NHTSA ODI 11058168

Dec 29, 2017Visibility & wipers

WHEN SWITCHING ON WINDOW DEFROST I NOTICED THE HEAT WAS NOT BEING DIVERTED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. I THEN PRESSED THE CONTROL SWITCH TO FEET/WINDOW TO SEE IF THIS FUNCTION WORKED. IT DID NOT.

NHTSA ODI 11057345

Dec 26, 2017SteeringElectrical system

WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION THE RADIO SCREEN WOULD FLASH OFF AND ON FOLLOWED BY LOSE OF POWER STEERING THE CAR WAS PARKED AND TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALERSHIP TO BE INSPECTED

NHTSA ODI 11056709

Dec 11, 2017Electrical system

MY MALIBU'S DASHBOARD WILL GO OUT WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. NO SPEED, ODOMETER READINGS, FUEL, TEMPERATURE OR DIGITAL SPEED DISPLAY WORKS. IT WILL COME ON AND WORK FINE BUT WILL RANDOMLY GO OUT WHILE DRIVING. SOMETIMES DURING START UP THE DASH WILL NOT EVEN START UP WITH THE CAR. THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT CUSTOMERS SHOULD NOT BE LIABLE TO FIX. I HAVE NO AFTERMARKET PARTS ON THIS CAR AND IT HAS NEVER BEEN INVOLVED IN A CRASH.

NHTSA ODI 11053898

Nov 29, 2017SteeringElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

CAR SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. TOUCH SCREEN GOES BLACK AND POWER STEERING GOES OUT. IT HAPPENS MORE FREQUENT WHEN TURNING. IT IS UNSAFE BECAUSE IF YOU ARE DRIVING ON A CURVE IT COULD CAUSE A CRASH BECAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL WILL NOT TURN. YOU LOOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR.

NHTSA ODI 11051364

Nov 24, 2017Engine

VEHILE IS AT 61K NO ACCIDENTS, WHILE INCREASING SPEED AS COMING ON TO THE INTERSTATE (HAD NOT EVEN REACHED 70 MPH) THE ENGINE OVERHEATING WARNING CAME ON, I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE AND BEFORE I HAD A CHANCE TO TURN OFF THE CAR, IT ALL THE SUDDEN COOLED DOWN AND NO WARNING WAS GIVEN. CALLED THE HUSBAND HE SAID IT HAD HAPPEN ONE OTHER TIME 2 DAYS AGO. HE SAID THAT IT INSTANTLY COOLS ITSELF DOWN.

NHTSA ODI 11048206

Nov 6, 2017SteeringElectrical systemLights

"CHARGING SYSTEM" ENGINE LIGHT KEEP COMING ON. ALL LIGHTS COME ON DASH BOARD COME ON THEN GO DIM. CAR SHUTS DOWN ON YOU WHILE DRIVING AND STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP. I ALMOST CRASH INTO A LIGHT.

NHTSA ODI 11043657

Nov 1, 2017SteeringElectrical system

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE THE CONTACT'S SON WAS DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE POWER STEERING FAILED TO TURN LEFT OR RIGHT AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTING AUTOMATICALLY TURNED OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT'S SON PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND WAITED 8-10 SECONDS. AFTERWARDS, THE VEHICLE RETURNED TO NORMAL. THE CONTACT'S SON WAS ABLE TO DRIVE TO WORK AND BACK HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (SERPENTINI CHEVROLET OF STRONGSVILLE, 15303 ROYALTON RD, STRONGSVILLE, OH 44136), BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL OTHER TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER DEALER (PAT O'BRIEN CHEVROLET SOUTH, 3880 PEARL RD, MEDINA, OH 44256) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ALTERNATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED AGAIN AFTER THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AT 866-790-3600 AND STATED THAT THEY WERE UNAWARE OF THE ISSUE AND THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. CASE NUMBER: 8-314031920 WAS PROVIDED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

NHTSA ODI 11042013

Oct 24, 2017Electrical system

THIS 2013 CHEVY MALIBU IS LIKE A METAL DEATH TRAP, IN MY OPINION. I'M NOTICING A LOT MORE ISSUES WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE CAR (AS I'M DRIVING) WILL COMPLETELY SHUT OFF; THE RADIO WILL FIRST SHUT OFF, MY DASHBOARD WILL GO BLACK, AND MY STEERING WHEEL WILL LOCK UP. USUALLY I CAN TELL WHEN IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN, BECAUSE WHEN I'M AT A LIGHT, I CAN JUST SEE THE LIGHTS ON MY DASHBOARD FLICKERING, SO IF I HAVE TIME, I WILL TURN IT ON AND OFF REAL QUICK. SOMETIMES WHEN I DO THAT THOUGH, MY CAR WON'T TURN BACK ON. BUT, WHEN IT DOES WORK, IT'S JUST A TEMPORARY FIX AND WILL START AGAIN ONCE I START TO DRIVE. THIS WILL HAPPEN MULTIPLE TIMES A DAY. I WILL TRY TO TURN, AND MY STEERING WHEEL WILL JUST LOCK WHERE I CANNOT CONTROL MY CAR AS I'M DRIVING. SEVERAL TIMES THIS HAS ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. WHEN I'M ON THE HIGHWAY GOING 65-70 MPH, I CAN'T CONTROL MY CAR FOR 5-10 SECONDS, LET'S JUST SAY IT'S ONE OF THE SCARIEST MOMENTS THAT YOU CAN HAVE WHILE OPERATING A VEHICLE. ONE TIME IT HAPPENED, I ALMOST HIT A MAN ON HIS BICYCLE. I'VE CALLED CHEVY, THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT'S WRONG. APPARENTLY THERE'S NO OPEN RECALLS OR BULLETINS FOR THIS ISSUE. WHEN I TAKE IT TO GET IT CHECKED, THEY CAN NEVER FIND AN ISSUE. DOES SOMEONE NEED TO GET SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED FOR CHEVY TO ADDRESS THIS?

NHTSA ODI 11039231

Oct 16, 2017Visibility & wipers

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEAT WORKED IN THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, THE DEFROST DID NOT WORK WITHOUT WARNING. AN UNKNOWN LOCAL DEALER WAS CONTACTED; HOWEVER, DUE TO THE AMOUNT OF THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST, THE APPOINTMENT WAS NOT SCHEDULED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THEY WERE UNAVAILABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE AND THERE WERE NO RELAY CODES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 8-3447350312. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY OPEN RECALLS AND RECOMMENDED TAKING THE VEHICLE TO BE DIAGNOSED FOR THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 95,000.

NHTSA ODI 11033524

Oct 13, 2017

KEY FOB BREAKS IN HALF. MANUFACTURER MAKES A KEY THAT CAN NOT WITHSTAND LIFE OF VEHICLE. HAVE HAD 2 KEY FOBS BREAK SINCE PURCHASING VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI 11033307

Oct 12, 2017Body & structure

WINDOW TRIM THAT RUNS AROUND TOP POPS OFF AROUND ALL WINDOWS, STAYED WITH THE REAR DRIVER WINDOW, THEN PASSENGER FRONT

NHTSA ODI 11033032

Oct 11, 2017SteeringElectrical system

THIS IS MY SECOND COMPLAINT CONSIDERING THIS ISSUE. LOSS OF POWER STEERING, RADIO GOES BLACK, GAUGE CLUSTER GOES BLACK. SINCE MY LAST COMPLAINT THIS HAS OCCURRED NO LESS THAN 15 TIMES WITH TWO VERY CLOSE ACCIDENTS. THIS IS BECOMING A VERY DANGEROUS VEHICLE. AND I PLEAD WITH YOU TO OPEN A RECALL THANK YOU. IT HAS NOW OCCURRED ON BOTH CITY ROADS AND HIGHWAY SPEEDS. IT SEEMS TO GET WORSE WHEN THE TURN SIGNAL IS USED.

NHTSA ODI 11032962

Oct 9, 2017Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemFuel system

WHILE DRIVING ACROSS A BRIDGE AT ABOUT 50MPH, THE ENGINE LIGHT, POWER STEERING, ABS AND BATTERY CHARGING SYSTEM WARNING LIGHTS ALL CAME ON AND THEN THE CAR COMPLETELY LOST ALL POWER. I HAD LITTLE CONTROL OF THE CAR BUT WAS ABLE TO SAFELY PULL ONTO THE SHOULDER. I COULD HAVE CRASHED ONTO THE MEDIAN OR ANOTHER FASTER CAR COULD HAVE HIT ME, I COULD HAVE DIED. TRIED TO GET A JUMP BUT IT WOULD NOT STAY ON ONCE CABLES WERE REMOVED. TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE 2 BUSINESS DAYS LATER I'M TOLD THE TIMING CHAINS, CAM SHAFT AND FUEL PUMP NEED REPLACING. CAR IS UNDER 38,000 MILES. I HAVE WITNESSED MY DASHBOARD AND RADIO LIGHT UP WHEN NO ONE IS IN IT AND ALL DOORS ARE LOCKED. CAR TURNED OFF ONCE LAST WEEK WHILE I WAS DRIVING UNDER 20MPH BUT IMMEDIATELY TURNED BACK ON BY ITSELF. JUST THOUGHT MAYBE I USED BAD GASOLINE. HAVE TO WAIT 2-3 MORE DAYS JUST FOR THEM TO START WORKING ON IT AND CANNOT GET AN ESTIMATE ON HOW LONG THE WORK WILL TAKE. CHEVY REFUSES A LOANER/RENTAL CAR UNTIL THE CAR IS BEING WORKED ON EVEN THOUGH THEY ALREADY RENDERED IT INOPERABLE. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS CAR AND HAVEN'T HAD THIS PREOWNED VEHICLE EVEN A YEAR YET. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH THIS CAR AND EVEN MORE DISAPPOINTED WITH THE SERVICE AND LACK OF HELP AND ACCOMMODATIONS FROM CHEVROLET. ALSO DISAPPOINTED THAT THE WARRANTY DOESN'T TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THE INCONVENIENCE THE CUSTOMER FACES WHEN THEIR CAR IS DOWN.

NHTSA ODI 11032607

Oct 6, 2017SteeringElectrical system

THIS IS MY SECOND REPORT. THE VEHICLE LOSES POWER STEERING AND THE ENTIRE GAUGE CLUSTER GOES DARK. ALMOST CAUSED A WRECK TODAY. IT HAPPENED TWICE TODAY AND ONCE YESTERDAY. THIS IS GETTING OUT OF HAND. NEEDS TO BE RECALLED IMMEDIATELY. THANK YOU

NHTSA ODI 11032075

Sep 27, 2017Wheels

IN THE LAST YEAR, I HAD TO REPLACE, AT MY OWN EXPENSE, 3 OUT OF THE 4 WHEEL BEARING HUB ASSEMBLIES ON MY 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THERE IS ALSO A TERRIBLE TOXIC SMELL COMING FROM THE AIR CONDITIONING AND HEATING VENTS ATTRIBUTED TO THE CAR'S EVAPORATOR CORE. CHEVROLET HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THESE PROBLEMS, BUT REFUSES TO MAKE THE REPAIRS AT THEIR OWN EXPENSE. THESE ISSUES HAVE NEVER OCCURRED IN ANY VEHICLE I HAVE EVER OWNED FOR THE LAST 30 YEARS. CHEVROLET MUST BE HELD RESPONSIBLE BEFORE SOMEONE IS INJURED, SICKENED OR KILLED.

NHTSA ODI 11030163

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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 →