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 30 of 37

Apr 19, 2016Electrical systemFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEAT WOULD INDEPENDENTLY ACTIVATE WHILE DRIVING AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SENSOR IN THE COMPUTER MALFUNCTIONED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, IT SPORADICALLY HAD AN ABNORMAL BURNING ODOR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 72,000.

NHTSA ODI 10860337

Apr 19, 2016SteeringElectrical system

I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 70MPH ON THE INTERSTATE WITH THE RADIO AND CRUISE CONTROL SET AND I HIT THE BLINKERED TO CHANGE LANES AND THE RADIO AND CRUISE CONTROL SHUT OFF AND I LOST POWER STEERING FOR A MOMENT. THIS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND SUPPOSEDLY IT WAS FIXED. TWO DAYS LATER IT DID THE SAME THING. SOMETIMES IF YOU ROLL THE WINDOW UP OR DOWN IT SHUTS THE RADIO OFF. SOMETIMES WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING AND CLICK THE BRIGHTS ON THE RADIO AHUTS OFF AND THW ENTIRE DASH GOES BLACK AND I LOSE ALL POWER INCLUDING THE STEERING AND THE ENGINE REVS. SOMETIMES I WILL BE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS IN TOWN AND IF I SLIGHTLY ACCELERATE THE RADIO SHUTS OFF. ONCE I WAS AT A STOP LIGHT AND I HAD MY TURN SIGNAL ON TO MAKE A LEFT TURN AND WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN I BEGAN TO ACCELERATE AND THE CAR LOST ALL POWER AND DIED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION. TOO MANY INCIDENTS TO GO INTO DETAIL HERE. HAS BEEN AT THE DEALERSHIP TWICE AND THEY SAY THERE IA NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. I EVEN CALLED GM DIRECTLY TO REPORT THE ISSUE AND ALL THEY DID WAS WAIVE MY DIAGNOSTIC FEE AND SAY NOTHING IS WRONG AND NEXT TIME IT DOES IT TO BRING IT BACK. I WAS ON MY WAY HOME FROM THE DEALERSHIP AND IT HAPPENED AGAIN SO I GUESS I'LL TAKE IT BACK AGAIN IN THE MORNING. SEEMS LIKE GM ISN'T GOING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS UNTIL SOMEONE IS SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED. I HAVE HAD THIS CAR LESS THAN 2 MONTHS. I KEEP READING COMPLAINT AFTER COMPLAINT ABOUT THE SAME ISSUES I AM HAVING YET NO RECALL AND GM ACTS LIKE THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THEY ARE HEARING ABOUT THIS KIND OF PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI 10860448

Apr 15, 2016Wheels

A LOW HUMMING NOISE EMITTING FROM REAR END OF THE VEHICLE. THE NOISE GETS LOUDER AS THE SPEED INCREASES. THE NOISE APPEARED AT AROUND 470000. I HAVE 52000 MILES CURRENTLY. RIGHT SIDE WHEEL BEARING REPLACED AND NOW APPEARS THE LEFT SIDE NEEDS REPLACEMENT. TOOK VEHICLE TO CERTIFIED MECHANIC.

NHTSA ODI 10855668

Apr 14, 2016SteeringCrash

MY WIFE WHO WAS 7 MONTHS PREGNANT WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND THE STEERING LOCKED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 55MPH.THANK GOD NO ONE WAS HURT, ALSO LOCKED AT LOW SPEED WHILE TURNING.WHENT TO 2 DIFFERENT CHEVY DEALERS WHO SAID THEY COULDNT FIND A PROBLEM. CONTACTED CHEVY USA WHO ADVISED ME THERE WAS THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM AND ISSUED A GM CASE# 8-1929724465. DEALER GRAND PRIZE CHEVROLET 11701 SW 152 STREET MIAMI FLORIDA IS NOW TRYING TO CHARGE ME FOR THE SOFTWARE REPAIR THAT GM SAID WOULD RESOLVE THIS HAZARDOUS DEFECT IN THEIR VEHICLE. STILL TRYING TO RESOLVE......

NHTSA ODI 10855607

Apr 7, 2016AirbagsSeat beltsCrash1 injury

AIR BAG DEPLOYED IN ACCIDENT CAUSING DAMAGE TO FACE CHEST LEG ALSO SEATBELT CAUSED SEVERE BRUISING TO LOWER ABDOMEN.

NHTSA ODI 10854038

Apr 6, 2016SteeringElectrical system

POWER STEERING GOES OUT AND STEERING WHEEL JERKS WHEN THIS HAPPENS. FIRST RADIO LIGHT ALL GO OFF, THEN STEERING JERKS AND LOSE POWER STEERING AND DASH LIGHTS GO OFF, THEN FLASH. THIS ALL LASTS 5-10 SECONDS, THEN EVERYTHING IS NORMAL. HAD CAR TO DEALER TO FIX SAME PROBLEM 4 DAYS PRIOR TO IT HAPPENING AGAIN. THIS OCCURS USUALLY WHILE HIGHWAY DRIVING AND WHEN STEERING JERKS AND YOU LOSE POWER STEERING IT IS SURPRISING AND HAVE ALMOST HIT SEVERAL VEHICLES WHILE GOING 55-65MPH. SOMETIMES OCCURS WHILE DRIVING IN TOWN AND TURNING, ESPECIALLY TURNING RIGHT. I HAVE ALSO CONTACTED CHEVY AND THEY TELL ME THEY ARE NOT AWARE OF ANY OF THESE PROBLEMS WITH THESE CARS. ALSO SAID THEY WOULD CONTACT MY CAR DEALER AND CALL ME BACK IN 2 DAYS. I HAVE HEARD NOTHING BACK FROM THEM.

NHTSA ODI 10853900

Apr 5, 2016

THE CHROME FINISH IS PEELING ON THE INTERIOR DRIVERS SIDE DOOR HANDLE. THE CHROME PLASTIC IS VERY SHARP AND CAUSES CUTS WHEN OPENING THE DOOR.

NHTSA ODI 10853444

Apr 5, 2016Visibility & wipers

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.

NHTSA ODI 10853475

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

Apr 4, 2016Seats

BROKEN DRIVERS SEAT FRAME. THE SEAT BACK RECLINING FUNCTION ONLY WORKS ON THE LEFT SIDE, WHILE THE RIGHT SIDE IS STUCK. MULTIPLE ONLINE COMPLAINS FROM MALIBU OWNERS,

NHTSA ODI 10853347

Apr 2, 2016Fuel system

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON AND APPARENTLY THE VAPOR CANISTER NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE CAR ONLY HAS 49K MILES. CRAPPY CHEVY CARS. NOT HAPPY.

NHTSA ODI 10853079

Mar 31, 2016Electrical system

SHORTLY AFTER I PURCHASE MY VEHICLE IT BEGAN TO STALL OR SHUT DOWN. FIRST INCIDENT, I PULLED UP AT SCHOOL AND INTO A PARKING SPOT AND THE CAR SHUT DOWN, NOT ALLOWING ME TO TURN THE KEY INTO THE OFF POSITION IN THE IGNITION. I WAS ABLE TO PUT THE GEAR IN PARK, CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY HAD IT TOWED BECAUSE IT WOULD NOT COME ON. THEY SENT IT TO THE CHEVY DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM. I RECEIVED MY CAR BACK 2 WEEKS LATER AND I DROVE OVER 200 MILES OUT OF TOWN. ONCE I MADE IT TO WHERE I WAS GOING A SLOWED DOWN TO TURN A CORNER AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP LIKE IT LOST POWER. I WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT TO MY DESTINATION AND ONCE THERE THE CAR SHUT DOWN AGAIN. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND HE TOLD TO ME PUSH THE BUTTON TO PUSH THE SEAT BACK AND ONCE ALL THE WAY BACK, TO THEN PUSH THE BUTTON THE MOVE THE SEAT FORWARD. ONCE I BEGAN TO PUSH THE SEAT FORWARD THE WHOLE CAR POWERED BACK ON. IT HAS BEEN DOING THIS ON AND OFF SINCE THE PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE IN 2015. IT HAS BEEN SENT TO THE CHEVY DEALERSHIP AND THEY ARE UNABLE TO FIND WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. THE VEHICLE TO START TO CUT OFF ONTHE REGULAR NOW, WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY AND REGULAR STREETS. I DRIVE AT LEAST 25 MILES TO WORK EVERYDAY. THIS COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE HARM TO MYSELF OR SOMEONE ELSE IF THIS PROBLEM IS NOT FIXED SOON.

NHTSA ODI 10852740

Mar 28, 2016Transmission & drivetrain

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH IN INCLEMENT WEATHER OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AS THE FRONT END VEERED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE OR REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000.

NHTSA ODI 10851947

Mar 18, 2016Visibility & wipers

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.

NHTSA ODI 10850443

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 9, 2016Electrical system

CONSOLE FREEZES CAN'T CONTROL DEFROSTER OR BACKUP CAMERA

NHTSA ODI 10845745

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

Feb 19, 2016Seats

1.THE SEAT STITCHING HAS COME APART. 2. THE PART OF THE SEAT WHERE YOU ADJUST IT, HAS CRACKED. ALSO IT HAS TORN MY SEAT A BIT BECAUSE IT HAS CRACKED. -BOTH OF THESE HAVE BEEN FALLING APART SINCE SHORTLY AFTER OWNING THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI 10837252

Feb 14, 2016Electronic Stability Control (esc)

STABILITRAC LIGHT AND ABS LIGHT CAME ON. DIAGNOSED BOTH THE LEFT REAR AND RIGHT REAR ENCODER RING FOR WHEEL SPEED SENSOR BROKEN. BOTH REAR WHEEL HUBS HAD TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA ODI 10826035

Jan 26, 2016Electronic Stability Control (esc)Brakes

ABS WARNING LIGHT CAME ON ALONG WITH MESSAGE TO SERVICE STABILITRAK.

NHTSA ODI 10822344

Jan 21, 2016SteeringElectrical system

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO TURN THE VEHICLE ON, ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO START, ALL THE ELECTRICAL FUNCTIONS MALFUNCTIONED. THE SERVICE STABILITRAK WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE WHEN BEING DRIVEN. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR WHEN MAKING A SHARP TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHO WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000.

NHTSA ODI 10821423

Jan 21, 2016Electrical systemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

CAR DIES WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING. RESTARTS ITSELF AFTER A COUNT OF 3. WILL DIE COMPLETELY WHEN STANDING STILL AND ALL THE LIGHTS AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS GO OFF. THE COMPUTER DOES NOT REGISTER THE DYING. I LOSE POWER STEERING IF IN A TURN WHEN IT DIES. IT STARTS WITH THE RADIO. DEALERSHIP CAN'T FIND PROBLEM AND CAN'T SEEM TO RECREATE IT. NO DIAGNOSTIC TRAIL TO FOLLOW.

NHTSA ODI 10821488

Jan 19, 2016Electrical system

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE PARKED, THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO START AND THE KEY COULD NOT BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000.

NHTSA ODI 10820936

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

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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 Hev verdict →