What 921 owners told NHTSA about the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu Hev

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM ALSO FAILED SIMULTANEOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND REPAIR. THE CONTACT WAS NOT AWARE OF THE EXACT REPAIRS MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE INCIDENT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,000. ...UPDATED 11-18-13 *BF

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, HE APPROACHED A TURN AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE CONTACT APPLIED EXCESSIVE FORCE TO THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER TWICE WHERE THE STEERING MODULE WAS REPLACED EACH TIME. THE FAILURE RECURRED AFTER EACH REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,000. UPDATED 9/23/13 *CN

NHTSA ODI 10535150

NEW CHEVY MALIBU 2013, CONTINUALLY FAILS TO RUN NORMAL. ELECTRIC SYSTEM AS WELL, AS ANY ELECTRONIC POWERED SYSTEMS TURN OFF WHILE "MID-DRIVING" RENDERING THE VEHICLE UNSAFE WITHOUT ANY GAUGE READOUTS AND OR LIGHTS AS WELL AS EXTERIOR LIGHTING. POTENTIALLY RENDERING DRIVERS( MY FAMILY) UNSAFE. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN BACK TO DEALER SHIP 4 TIMES TO HAVE "PART IN BATTERY" FIXED, AFTER EACH TIME VEHICLE RUNS FOR 1 WEEK AND FAILS AGAIN AS IT DID ON THE LATEST DATE 8 AUGUST 2013. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10534433

WENT TO TEST DRIVE 2013 CHEVY MALIBU. AS ALWAYS, I ADJUST MIRRORS BEFORE DRIVING. I IMMEDIATELY NOTICED THAT BECAUSE THE ROOFLINE IS SO LOW-SLUNG FOR AERODYNAMIC REASONS, THAT THE REAR VIEW MIRROR IS ALSO VERY LOW. AS A RESULT, THE MIRROR WAS BLOCKING ALMOST 25% OF MY VIEW! I'VE HEARD OF BLINDSPOTS ON VEHICLES BUT THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD? I'M ONLY 5'10' TALL, BUT I HAD TO DUCK MY HEAD TO SEE UNDER THE MIRROR. DIDN'T BUY THE VEHICLE FOR THAT REASON ALONE. AS A MATTER OF FACT, I NEVER EVEN WENT FOR THE TEST DRIVE AS IT WAS OBVIOUSLY DANGEROUS. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10533184

WHILE DRIVING THE CAR, ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, THEN THE BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK THE CAR TO DEALER FOR REPAIR ON JULY 11 AND WAS TOLD IT WAS THE MOTOR FOR THE FAN THAT COOLS THE BATTERY. DEALER REPAIRED AND RETURNED TO ME ON JULY 13. NOTED COVER ON AIRBAG ON STEERING WHEEL IS MALALIGNED, WHICH IS A NEW PROBLEM. TRAVELED OUT OF STATE WITH CAR AND FOUND CRUISE CONTROL AND TRIP ODOMETER NO LONGER WORK (WERE FINE PRIOR TO "REPAIR"). AFTER ARRIVING OUT OF STATE, THE MYLINK COMPUTER FAILED TO WORK THEN BEGAN TO WORK ABOUT TWO HOURS LATER. TOOK CAR TO DEALER WHO REFUSED TO TAKE IT AND TOLD ME TO COME BACK NEXT WEEK. WENT TO SECOND DEALER WHO HAS HAD CAR SINCE JULY 16. MEANWHILE, WE DISCOVERED THE CAR WAS UNDER RECALL AND DEALER SHOULD NOT HAVE SOLD PRIOR TO REPAIR. THIS CRITICAL REPAIR WAS NOT MADE AT THE FIRST OR SECOND DEALER. THIS IS AN INFERIOR PRODUCT, A VEHICLE WITH 668 ACTUAL MILES SHOULD NOT HAVE A FAN MOTOR PROBLEM. THE GAS CAP DOES NOT CLICK TO CLOSE EITHER. MY CAR HAS BEEN IN A DEALERSHIP GARAGE MORE THAN I HAVE ACTUALLY GOTTEN TO DRIVE IT; MY FIRST PAYMENT IS NOT EVEN DUE YET! THIS CAR IS A LEMON, I FEEL CHEATED AND MISLED BY CHEVY SINCE THEY HAD THE CHANCE TO FIX IT BEFORE THEY SOLD IT TO ME. MY FAMILY WAS IN THE CAR AT THE TIME OF THE FAN MOTOR ISSUE, THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A SIGNIFICANT ACCIDENT. I AM EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED IN THIS VEHICLE AND AM AFRAID OF FURTHER PROBLEMS WITH IT IN THE FUTURE.

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ON MY WAY TO WORK TODAY I HAD A FLAT TIRE, WHICH RESULTED IN ME HAVING TO CALL ONSTAR BECAUSE THERE WAS NO SPARE OR JACK IN THE TRUCK. ONCE I CALLED ON STAR IT TOOK THEM THREE TIMES CALLING ME BACK TO GET ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE ON THE PHONE. I WAS STUCK FOR TWO AND A HALF HOURS BEFORE THE TOW TRUCK EVEN ARRIVED. ONCE THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER ARRIVED I ASKED HIM WHAT HAPPENED TO ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE HE TOLD ME THAT ON STAR JUST CALLED HIS OFFICE AND TOLD THEM THAT I NEEDED A TOW TRUCK TO TOW MY CAR THAT I ONLY HAD A FLAT TIRE. THAT COULD HAVE BEEN FIXED IF I WOULD HAVE HAD A SPARE TIRE INSTEAD OF A CAN OF GOO AND A TIRE PUMP. ONCE THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER GOT MY CAR LOADED THAT IS WHEN I LEANED THAT I COULD NOT RIDE IN THE TOW TRUCK. SO AFTER BEING STRANDED ON SIDE OF THE ROAD FOR TWO HOURS HAD TO WAIT ON A RIDE HOME AND THE DEALERSHIP CLOSED AT 5 PM SO, I STILL CAN'T GET MY CAR UNTIL THE NEXT DAY BECAUSE OF A FLAT TIRE THAT COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED IF I HAD A SPARE TIRE. SO, I COULDN'T MAKE IT TO WORK AND I HAD TO THUMB A RIDE HOME BECAUSE OF GM WANTING TO SAVE .4 MPG OF GAS BY TAKING AWAY THE SPARE TIRE AND JACK. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10525245

AUTO STOP WILL NOT ENGAGE UNLESS RPM'S ARE UNDER 500..SELDOM WILL "AUTO STOP" ENGAGE !!!! VEHICLE MOTOR WILL NOT GO SLOW ENOUGH TO ENGAGE THIS FEATURE..I HAVE TALKED TO SERVICE AT CHEVROLET DEALER, & THEY SAID THE PROBLEM CAN HAPPEN AT ANYTIME & THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT????? I DO, KEEP COMPLAINING!!!! *TR

NHTSA ODI 10524476

THE FOLLOWING IS A SUMMARY OF A FLAT TIRE INCIDENT MY WIFE HAD ON I-75 AT DAVIDSON ON 6-18-2013. I HAVE ALREADY SUBMITTED THIS TO CHEVY.COM/WARRANTY, AND FELT THAT YOU TOO SHOULD BE AWARE OF THIS OCCURRENCE. "HAD A FLAT TIRE, 6/18/13 ON MY 2 MONTH OLD MALIBU. CALLED ON-STAR, NO HELP AFTER 1&1/2 HOURS. CALLED ON-STAR AGAIN, NO HELP AFTER TOTAL OF ALMOST 3 HOURS. MICHIGAN DOT ROAD SERVICE CAME ON SCENE AND TRIED REPAIR WITH EMERGENCY REPAIR KIT. NO GOOD, TIRE DID NOT INFLATE. FINALLY CALLED AAA WHO RESPONDED IN 10 MINUTES. WANTED TOW TO DEALER, BUT DEALER (RINKE) WAS CLOSED AFTER 6:00PM. WAS TOWED HOME AT COST OF $84.00. NEXT DAY, 6/19/13, TOOK TIRE OFF VEHICLE AND BROUGHT TO (RINKE) SERVICE DEPT. FOR REPAIR AT COST OF $25.00. ASKED ABOUT REPAIR/REPLACEMENT OF CANISTER IN EMERGENCY REPAIR KIT. NO ONE AT DEALER SERVICE HAD EVER REPLACED THE CANISTER OR WERE FAMILIAR ON HOW TO REPAIR IT. WENT TO PARTS DEPT. TO PURCHASE A REPLACEMENT CANISTER - NONE AVAILABLE, WOULD HAVE TO BE ORDERED AT PRICE OF OVER $26.00. ASKED ABOUT PURCHASE OF DOUGHNUT EMERGENCY TIRE AND TOOL KIT - AGAIN, NONE AVAILABLE, WOULD HAVE TO BE ORDERED AT A PRICE OF OVER $400.00. WITH COMPLETE ABSENCE OF DEALER ASSISTANCE, I TOOK TIRE HOME AND INSTALLED ON VEHICLE. MY RESOLUTION TO AVOID A RECURRENCE OF THIS EVENT WAS TO GO TO OUR LOCAL BELL TIRE STORE AND PURCHASE A NEW WHEEL AND TIRE SO THAT MY HUSBAND (84 YEARS OLD) AND I (75 YEARS OLD) WOULD HAVE THE SECURITY OF A REPLACEMENT TIRE IF WE ENCOUNTERED A FLAT AGAIN. IN OUR OPINION, THE ELIMINATION OF THE EMERGENCY SPARE TIRE WAS A BAD MOVE, AND THE UNAVAILABILITY OF REPLACEMENT COMPONENTS IS A SAD AND DISCONCERTING CONDITION." *TR

NHTSA ODI 10522278

THE VEHICLE RPM'S DON'T GO LOW ENOUGH, TO INITIATE THE AUTO STOP.. IT ONLY GOES DOWN TO ABOUT 500 RPM'S, WHEN BRAKE, & NOT LOW ENOUGH TO ACTIVATE AUTO- STOP!! EVIDENTLY, THE MOTOR HAS TO GO TO ALMOST ZERO, TO KICK -IN... DEALER SERVICE DEPT DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO, OR TELL ME ??? WHAT SHOULD I DO NEXT ??? *TR

NHTSA ODI 10521319

FIRST NOTICED A CREASE IN REAR SEAT SIDE AIRBAGS CAUSED BY REAR DOOR PANEL RESTING ON IT RATHER THAN HAVING CLEARANCE. AFTER THE DOOR HAD BEEN OPENED/CLOSED THROUGH USE OVER A PERIOD OF ONLY 6 MONTHS, IT IS BEGINNING TO RUB A POSSIBLE HOLE IN THE MATERIAL CONTAINING THE AIRBAG. DEALERSHIP SERVICE MANAGER HAD NEVER SEEN BEFORE AND SUBSEQUENT CHECK OF SOME NEW MALIBUS STILL ON THE LOT REVEALED THAT ALMOST ALL HAD SOME SORT OF INDICATION OF THE SAME PROBLEM. DON'T KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF MATERIAL ON AIRBAG IS BREACHED WITH A HOLE. *TR

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, HE NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE WAS FLAT. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO REPLACE THE TIRE WHEN HE NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH A SPARE TIRE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT DUE TO FUEL ECONOMY, THEY DID NOT EQUIP VEHICLES WITH SPARE TIRES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10515514

I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU ECO AND FOUND OUT THAT THERE WAS NO SPARE TIRE. HOW CAN THE GOVERNMENT ALLOW MANUFACTURERS TO SELL VEHICLES WITH NO SPARE TIRES? A COMPRESSOR AND TIRE SEALANT WILL NOT WORK WITH A SIDEWALL BLOWOUT, OR AN UNREPAIRABLE PUNCTURE. I CHECKED WITH THE DEALER ABOUT PURCHASING A SPARE WITH A JACK, AND THE COST WAS $500 - WHICH IS RIDICULOUS!! I YOU WANT TO MAKE HIGHWAYS SAFE, INSIST THAT MANUFACTURERS OFFER SPARE TIRES AND JACKS AT A REASONABLE PRICE, OR MAKE SPARE TIRES MANDATORY. I WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR FEEDBACK. THANK YOU *TR

NHTSA ODI 10513420

MY SON WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN THE CARS STEERING DRASTICALLY PULLED HIM TOTALLY OFF THE ROAD !!!! LUCKY THERE WAS NO ONE TO THE RIGHT OF HIM THEY WOULD OF BEAN KILLED .THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM! THE DEALER IS TRYING TO BRUSH IT OFF LIKE NOTHING HAPPENED. NILES SALES & SERVICE KEY WEST FLORIDA ! ITS A NEW CAR. PLEASE CALL ME [XXX]5/13 /13 INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI 10511612

WHILE DRIVING STEERING SEEMS TO FEEL AS IF IT IS LOCKING UP. I HAVE TO GIVE IT A LITTLE TUG TO FREE IT AND THAT CAUSES THE CAR TO SWERVE A LITTLE. IT SEEMS LIKE SOMETHING IS HOLDING THE STEERING IN THAT POSITION, WHILE DRIVING THERE IS MOVEMENT IN THE STEERING. *TR

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, SHE NOTICED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE WAS FLAT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH A SPARE TIRE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10509641

YOUR CURRENT REQUIREMENTS FOR POSITIONING OF THE HEAD REST ON CAR SEATS SUCKS. IT IS UNCOMFORTABLE TO THE POINT OF BEING A SAFETY HAZARD. THE FACT THAT IT CANNOT BE REMOVED INCREASES THE PROBLEM. CHANGE IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10504489

PURCHASED MY VEHICLE IN APRIL 2012 AND NOTICED AFTER A WEEK THAT MY AC HAD A BAD SMELL EVERY TIME I TURNED ON THE AIR CONDITIONER. ALSO NOTICED AFTER ABOUT THREE DAYS OF PURCHASING MY VEHICLE THAT THE CARPET WAS COMING UP ON THE PASSENGER SEAT IN THE FRONT. *TR

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND DOWNSHIFTING, THE VEHICLE RODE VERY ROUGH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. AFTER INSPECTION, THEY ADVISED HIM THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO PUT 500 MILES ON THE VEHICLE FOR IT TO LEARN HIS WAY OF DRIVING. AFTER DRIVING A WHILE, THE SHIFTING BECAME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER. AFTER DIAGNOSIS, THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THE TWO REAR ENGINE MOUNTING BOLTS WERE NOT TIGHTENED PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY TIGHTENING OF THE BOLTS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 7. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 1,600. UPDATED 4/1/13 *CN UPDATED 04/23/2013 *JS

NHTSA ODI 10498050

OUR MALIBU WAS JUST PURCHASED WITH 9 MILES NEW ON JANUARY 31ST AND HAS THE EASIEST ECO FEATURE WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO SHUT DOWN THE VEHICLE AT STOPS. OUR VEHICLE IS NOT SHUTTING DOWN. THE DEALERSHIP STATES THERE IS NO KNOWN ISSUE, BULLETIN, OR RECALL FOR THIS. ANY INFORMATION WOULD BE HELPFUL THANK YOU. *TR ## VIN FAILED ##

NHTSA ODI 10496800

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SHIFT ABRUPTLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER DEPRESSING THE BRAKES THERE WAS SLIGHT DELAY BEFORE IT ENGAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER HOWEVER THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,460 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 2,041.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHROME COVER PLATE AROUND THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS BLOCKING HIS VISIBILITY WHENEVER THE SUN REFLECTED ON IT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 13,000.

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