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)

226 of 921 complaints match · Engine · clear filters · page 9 of 10

Nov 1, 2015Electronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

MY FAN KEEPS STAYING ON AFTER MY CAR HAS BEEN TURNED OFF. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES NOW. THIS WEEK MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, MY CAR SIGNALED THAT IT WAS OVERHEATING, AND I NEEDED TO IDLE MY ENGINE. THE TEMPERATURE GUAGE WENT BACK AND FORTH FROM COLD TO HOT. I WAS TOLD AT THE LAST TRIP TO THE DEALER THEY HAD FIXED EVERYTHING AND I HAD A LIFETIME WARRANTY. NOW THERE IS THIS PROBLEM WHERE I CANNOT TURN ON THE DEFROST OR THE CAR WILL THINK IT IS OVER HEATING, BUT THERE IS NO SMOKE AND IT CAN BE IN AS LITTLE AS 30 SECONDS AFTER I START MY CAR. THE PANEL WHERE THE REAR CAMERA GETS WARM BUT NO HEAT COMES OUT OF THE VENTS. MY CONCERN IS THE VEHICLE WILL IGNITE WHILE I AM DRIVING.

NHTSA ODI 10787499

Oct 13, 2015Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemEngine

WHILE DRIVING INTO CHICAGO ON A BUSY INTERSTATE HWY A WARNING DISPLAYED ON THE DASH "SERVICE GENERATOR CONTROL MODULE," BEFORE I COULD REACH A SERVICE CENTER THE VOLTAGE BEGAN TO DROP AND ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS FAILED (LIGHTS, STEERING & BRAKE ASSIST, ETC. THE ENGINE SUBSEQUENTLY STOPPED. FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER TO THE SHOULDER. THE BATTERY WAS COMPLETELY DEAD, NO ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS WORKED, E.G. EMERGENCY FLASHERS, COULDN'T REMOVE IGNITION KEY. AFTER WAITING 4 HOURS FOR TOW TRUCK, TOWED TO ROGERS CHEVROLET IN CHICAGO. VEHICLE SAT ON THE LOT TWO DAYS, THEN SERVICE TECH SAID VEHICLE STARTED AND RAN NORMALLY WITH NO FAULT INDICATIONS. VEHICLE CONTINUES TO OPERATE NORMALLY. DEALER ADVISES TO BRING VEHICLE BACK WHEN IT FAILS. CHEVROLET CUSTOMER SERVICE SAYS PERHAPS THE COMPUTER INITIATED A FALSE ERROR REPORT AND THEN SHUTS DOWN THE GCM CAUSING THE ENGINE TO STOP AND THAT'S WHY MY VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL FOR THE GCM PROBLEM. IT WOULD APPEAR FURTHER INVESTIGATION IS WARRANTED. FORTUNATELY NO PERSONAL INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED, BUT MY DOG LEAPED FROM THE STRANDED VEHICLE INTO TRAFFIC RESULTING ON OVER $6,600 IN MEDICAL EXPENSE SO FAR. I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE DEATH/INJURY THRESHOLD IS UNTIL GM WILL REPAIR THEIR OWN FAULTY VEHICLES.

NHTSA ODI 10781632

Sep 28, 2015Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 26,000.

NHTSA ODI 10778199

Sep 9, 2015SteeringBody & structureEngine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND POWERED DOWN AS THE ENGINE OVER SPEED AND SERVICE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED APPROXIMATELY THIRTY TIMES. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED ONLY AT 70 MPH OR HIGHER. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED, THE DOORS FAILED TO UNLOCK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16,000.

NHTSA ODI 10762486

Aug 13, 2015Electrical systemEngine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND RESTARTED INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE INPUT ACTUATOR AND CRANK SHAFT POSITION SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.

NHTSA ODI 10748516

Aug 5, 2015Electrical systemEngine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER BLADES OPERATED INDEPENDENTLY, AND THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD RESTART AFTER 10-15 MINUTES. THE FAILURE ONLY OCCURRED SPORADICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,000.

NHTSA ODI 10746359

May 22, 2015Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THERE VEHICLE EXHIBITED EXTREME HESITATION AND JERKED. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO LOCATE A FAILURE. THE DEALER RECOMMENDED USING A HIGHER LEVEL OF FUEL OCTANE. AFTER THE FUEL WAS DISPENSED, THE ENGINE MODULE FAILED AND WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER. THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50. UPDATED 09/25/15*LJ UPDATED 10/17/2017*CN

NHTSA ODI 10720948

May 5, 2015Electrical systemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE CAR KEPT SHUTTING OFF AND THROWING IT INTO THEFT MODE...THIS HAPPENS ON DAILY BASIS NOW AND I'M SCARED IT WILL CAUSE AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THE CONTINUOUS SHUTTING OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING IN CERTAIN SPEEDS...I SEE THERE IS RECALLS ON THIS WHICH I DO KEEP GETTING THE ANTI THEFT DETERRENT SYSTEM ERROR MESSAGE IN MY MAIN SCREEN WHEN THIS HAPPENS. WHEN WILL THERE BE A RECALL FOR THIS ON THIS YEAR & MODEL BECAUSE I SEE SO MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ONLINE? *TR

NHTSA ODI 10714781

Apr 14, 2015Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE SPEED DECREASED TO 25 MPH AFTER THE REDUCED ENGINE POWER WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND POWERED THE VEHICLE OFF AND BACK ON; HOWEVER, THE WARNING INDICATOR WAS STILL ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE SENSOR IN THE THROTTLE BODY FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,500.

NHTSA ODI 10705582

Mar 23, 2015Electrical systemSpeed controlEngine

FOR NO APPARENT REASON THE VEHICLE WILL STOP AND THE ELECTRIC CONTROLS WILL GO OFF (LIGHTS, DISPLAY INDICATORS AND SIGNALS)....CAR WILL STALL AS IF I HAVE TURNED IT OFF WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH FOR NO REASON WHILE I AM DRIVING. NO WARNING WHATSOEVER AND HAVE PLENTY OF GAS. I HAVE TO SOMETIMES STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC UNTIL I CAN REGAIN SOME CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. AND AT THAT POINT IT WILL SEEM AS THOUGH IT IS NOT FULLY FUNCTIONING BECAUSE ALL THE INDICATORS ARE DISPLAYED. (IT SEEMS THAT THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE COMPUTER SYSTEM)..... *TR

NHTSA ODI 10701112

Mar 1, 2015Transmission & drivetrainEngineFuel system

DRIVING 55MPH ON CRUISE CONTROL, I HEARD A WARNING CHIME. LOOKED AT DASH AND THE WORDS ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED WERE ON THE SCREEN. I LOOKED FOR A SYMBOL ON THE DASH TO TELL ME MORE AND SAW THE ENGINE SYMBOL WAS ON. THE CAR DIDN'T PERFORM OUT OF CHARACTER FROM ALREADY GOING 55 ON CRUISE. NOTHING CHANGED IN THE ENGINE PERFORMANCE. I CONTINUED TOWARD HOME AS THAT WAS MY DESTINATION AND WAS LESS THAN 15 MILES FROM HOME. I PARKED THE CAR IN MY GARAGE, TURNED OFF THE ENGINE, WAITED A FEW SECONDS, THEN STARTED THE ENGINE AGAIN. THE WARNING CAME ON RIGHT AWAY. I CALLED THE DEALER WHO I'M LEASING THE CAR FROM BUT IT WAS A SATURDAY AFTERNOON AND THEY WERE CLOSED. I DID LEAVE THEM A MESSAGE TO CALL ME ON MONDAY AND WHY. I HAVE NOT AND WILL NOT DRIVE THE CAR UNTIL I HEAR FROM THE DEALER AND HAVE A DATE AND TIME TO BRING IT IN BECAUSE OF THE CONCERN THE ENGINE COULD POWER DOWN AS I'M DRIVING ACCORDING TO INTERNET FORUMS I SINCE READ THAT OTHERS WITH THE SAME WARNING SAID THEIR CAR DID SLOW DOWN ON A FAST BUSY HIGHWAY. THIS WARNING IS IN THE MANUAL THAT CAME WITH THE CAR AND SAYS IT IS THE THROTTLE BODY SENSOR GONE BAD. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10691339

Jan 5, 2015Electrical systemEngine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU ECO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND NOTICED A BURNING ODOR COMING FROM THE REAR TRUNK AREA NEAR THE ECO BATTERY. THE VEHICLE STALLED SEVERAL TIMES, BUT THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO CLEARED THE CODE, BUT DID NOT PROVIDE A SPECIFIC DIAGNOSIS FOR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE ODOR COULD STILL BE DETECTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V173000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER FOR FURTHER INSPECTION AND DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,000.

NHTSA ODI 10670062

Oct 10, 2014Speed controlBrakesEngine

I PURCHASED MY 2013 MALIBU ECO IN NOVEMBER OF 2013. ON OR ABOUT MARCH 1, 2014 WE WERE TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MILES PER HOUR WHEN WERE CUT OFF BY A TRUCK. I HAD TO SLAM ON THE BRAKES WITH SOME FORCE TO AVOID A COLLISION AND UPON DOING SO THE MOTOR LOST ALL POWER AND BEGAN TO SHAKE WITH MY SPEED GOING FROM 70 DOWN TO 20 MPH. I COULD NOT REGAIN THE SPEED LIMIT AND HAD TO PULL OVER THINKING IT WAS BECAUSE I WAS DRIVING USING THE MANUAL OPTION. I WAS IN 6TH GEAR WITH CRUISE CONTROL ON. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE HOME AFTER A 90 MILE DRIVE AT ABOUT 45 MPH. I DID NOT REPORT THIS TO THE DEALER AS THE NEXT MORNING I STARTED THE VEHICLE AND IT SEEMED FINE. A MONTH LATER WE TOOK THE SAME TRIP AND THIS TIME THE SAME ISSUE OCCURRED ALTHOUGH IT WAS NOT PRECIPITATED BY A NEAR COLLISION. THE CAR SIMPLY LOST ALL POWER IN WHILE DRIVING CITY STREETS. THE CLUTCHES IN THE TRANSMISSION WERE GRINDING AS I TRIED TO GET THE CAR TO GAIN ENGINE POWER. AGAIN I FOOLISHLY DID NOT REPORT TO THE DEALER AS I WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE BACK TO SPEED AFTER ABOUT A HOUR OF DRIVING. IN JUNE THE SAME ISSUE APPEARED AND I FINALLY DID TAKE IT INTO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE BRAKE PEDAL POSITION SENSOR SHORTED CAUSING TRANSMISSION NOT TO DOWNSHIFT PROPERLY. THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE PROBLEM. IN LATE JULY THE SAME ISSUE REOCCURED AND THIS TIME THE DEALER PERFORMED A RECALL ON THE TURN SIGNAL LAMP OUTAGE. THEN IN EARLY SEPTEMBER THE ISSUE REOCCURED WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING LOCALLY. THE CARS BRAKES WERE SO HOT THE WHEEL WEIGHTS AFFIXED TO THE FRONT TIRES WERE LAYING IN OUR DRIVEWAY HAVING MELTED OFF. THIS TIME THE DEALER REPLACED THE MASTER CYLINDER, FRONT ROTORS, BRAKE PADS AND WHEEL WEIGHTS. IN EARLY OCTOBER I WENT TO HAVE AN OIL CHANGE AND TIRE ROTATION AND WHEN THEY TOOK THE FRONT DRIVER WHEEL OFF THE FRONT BRAKE ROTOR RETAINING BOLT FELL OUT. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10643786

Sep 8, 2014SteeringElectrical systemEngine

THE CAR ENGINE STALLS, LOCKS GO UP AND DOWN, PANEL LIGHTS GO OUT, POWER STEERING IS DISABLED, RPM GAUGE REVS UP TO 7000+, THEN ENGINE COMES BACK ON. THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES NEARLY CAUSING CRASHES AND CAUSING EXTREME ANXIETY. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAYS NO ERROR IS STORED ON THE CAR COMPUTER AND THEY CANNOT DUPLICATE THE INCIDENT. AFTER 2 DAYS IN THE SHOP, I GOT MY CAR BACK, DROVE 378 MILES AND THE INCIDENT HAPPENED AGAIN. IT HAS OCCURRED WITH EVERY MEMBER OF MY FAMILY. I WANT TO BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY OR I WILL CONTACT AN ATTORNY BEFORE SOMEONE GETS INJURED NOT AFTERWARDS. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10631687

Aug 31, 2014Electrical systemEngine

I WAS ON THE ON RAMP, BEHIND ANOTHER CAR DRIVING TO GET ONTO THE HIGHWAY WHEN WE BOTH DROVE THROUGH A BIG PUDDLE OF WATER. THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME STOPPED AND THE WATER CAME OVER THE HOOD OF MY CAR. MY CAR THEN STALLED AND I COASTED TO THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ON RAMP. MY CAR WOULD NOT START. THE OTHER CAR CONTINUED DRIVING. NO WATER ENTERED MY VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10629689

Jul 27, 2014SteeringTransmission & drivetrainElectrical systemEngine

AROUND THE TIME I BOUGHT THE CAR, ON 11/30/12 AT 5812 MILES, UNKNOWN TO ME THE CAR HAD A CONCERN OF LOSS OF BATTERY CHARGE WHICH CALLED FOR AN INSPECTION OF THE GENERATOR CONTROL MODULE. SO A GEN CONTROL MODULE PERFORMANCE TEST PER RECALL WAS PERFORMED. IN MAY OF 2013, I STOPPED AT RED TRAFFIC LIGHT AND THE ENGINE WAS IDLING, WHEN I PROCEEDED TO ACCELERATE BY PLACING MY FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL AT THE GREEN LIGHT, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF ON ME. THIS HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE AUTOMATIC SHUT-OFF THAT CONSERVES ENERGY. ON 6/24/13 AT 14006 MILES, I TRIED TO GET THEM TO DO A DIAGNOSTICS AND I DON'T THINK THEY DID A DIAGNOSTICS EVEN THOUGH I WAS STILL UNDER BUMPER-TO-BUMPER AND POWERTRAIN WARRANTY. THEY SUGGESTED A TEST DRIVE WITH A MECHANIC FOREMAN TO SEE IF THE ISSUE WOULD PRESENT ITSELF AGAIN. THE ISSUE DID NOT OCCUR AGAIN. IN JULY OF 2013, I THEN COMPLAINED THAT THE CAR HAD POOR ENGINE ACCELERATION ENTERING ONTO A HIGHWAY AND TOOK IT IN FOR SERVICE AT 14810 MILES. THEY DID A R&R ECM RECALIBRATE CONTROLLER PROGRAM. ON JULY 26, 2014, I DROVE EARLIER IN THE DAY FOR QUITE A FEW HOURS THROUGH THE CITY AND A LITTLE ON THE HIGHWAY. I ACCELERATED ONCE ON THE HIGHWAY AT WHICH THE ISSUE OF ACCELERATION PRESENTED ITSELF AGAIN. AT 38,548 MILES, THE FOLLOWING MESSAGES WAS SHOWN ON MY DASHBOARD: 1. BATTERY SERVICE NEEDED 2. POWER STEERING SERVICE NEEDED I THEN CALLED ONSTAR AND I ASKED THEM TO DO A DIAGNOSTICS AND THEY GAVE ME THE FOLLOWING MESSAGES: 3. ENGINE CONTROL MODULE CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM NOT PERFORMING AS EXPECTED. (P155A) 4. POWERTRAIN SYSTEM HAS DETECTED MALFUNCTION RELATED TO CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM. CRUISE CONTROL DISABLED. (C0800) 5. POWERTRAIN SYSTEM HAS DETECTED MALFUNCTION RELATED TO TRANSMISSION. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL NOT ILLUMINATE. VEHICLE PERFORMANCE AND SHIFT BEHAVIOR MAY BE AFFECTED. TOP SHIFT FEATURE WILL BE DISABLED IF EQUIPPED. (P0826) *JS

NHTSA ODI 10616605

Jul 24, 2014Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST ACCELERATION POWER THEN STALLED. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THAT THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE SERPENTINE BELT AND WATER PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000.

NHTSA ODI 10616082

Jun 30, 2014Electrical systemSpeed controlEngine

WHILE DRIVING THE ENGINE POWER SUDDENLY REDUCED AND A WARNING CAME ON INDICATING REDUCED ENGINE POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER WHO HAD IT FOR 2 WEEKS AND DROVE AROUND 500 MILES ON CAR AND WERE UNABLE TO REPLICATE ERROR. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10606919

Jun 10, 2014Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemEngine

WE BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE USED WITH ONLY 5600 MILES AND HAS BEEN RUNNING FINE EXCEPT FOR SLIGHT SMELL IN REAR AREA. WE DROVE THE NIGHT BEFORE AND IT WAS OK, BUT THE NEXT MORNING THE BATTERY WAS ABSOLUTELY DEAD. NO LIGHTS, HORN, WIPERS, INTERIOR LIGHTS, GOT THE VEHICLE PUSHED OUT OF THE GARAGE BUT NO POWER BRAKES OR STEERING AND TRANSMISSION WAS LOCKED-UP. CALLED GM FOR ROAD ASSISTANCE AND CAR WAS JUMP STARTED. I LOOKED TO SEE PROBLEMS WITH THIS MODEL AND FOUND COMPLAINTS OF THIS SAME PROBLEM AND ALSO GOING DEAD WHILE DRIVING. BLOGS SAID THEY BROUGHT VEHICLES INTO DEALER AND THEY FOUND NOTHING, WHICH IS THE SAME ANSWER I WAS GIVEN OTHER THEN MY WIFE MUST OF LEFT THE DOOR OPEN. I REFUSED TO PICKED THE CAR UP TO THIS DATE AS WILL NOT HAVE MY WIFE DRIVE THIS VEHICLE IN FEAR THAT IT WILL GO DEAD WHILE DRIVING OR WILL NOT START AND BE STRANDED AT NIGHT. BLOGS STATED THAT THE GENERATOR CONTROL MODULE WAS THE CAUSE AND SEVERAL HAD TO HAVE THE MODULE REPLACED AGAIN. MY VEHICLE WAS ON A RECALL LIST AND THE DEALER STATED THE MODULE WAS REPLACED ONCE A YEAR AGO ( BEFORE 5600 MILES). THE DEALER STATED THE GM EXPERT SPECIALIST CHECKED AND FOUND NO CODES AND WOULD NOT AUTHORIZE A REPLACEMENT MODULE. I BET IF IT WERE ANY SENIOR EXECUTIVE AT GM OR THEIR SPOUSE DRIVING THIS CAR THAT IT WOULD BE REPLACED! I DO BELIEVE THERE IS A HISTORY HERE AND GM DOES NOT WANT TO LIVE UP TO ANOTHER ENGINEERING ERROR. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10597416

May 23, 2014Engine

GM REPLACED MY GENERATOR CONTROL MODULE ON JUNE 13 BECAUSE OF A RECALL. THE PROPER TESTS WERE NOT PERFORMED DUE TO THEM HAVING IT IN SHOP FOR 45 MINUTES (SEE RECALL DOCUMENTS). GCM WAS REPLACED AND I WAS SENT HOME WITH IT ON JUNE 13. ON JUNE 14, I STARTED THE CAR AND AN ERROR CODE APPEARED ON DIC FOR BATTERY. CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY ADVISED ME TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP (OVER 1 HOURS AWAY FROM MY HOUSE). EVERY SO OFTEN MY DIC WOULD SHOW A NEW ERROR CODE, I CONTACTED DEALERSHIP EACH TIME, I WAS ADVISED TO CONTINUE TO TRAVEL. I MADE IT 40 MINUTES INTO MY TRAVEL AND I HEARD A LOUD CLUNK. A FEW SECONDS LATER ALL THE ERROR CODES STARTED APPEARING ON DIC. THE POWER STEERING SHUT OFF ALL WHILE I WAS GOING 75 MILES ON THE INTERSTATE. I MANAGED TO GET THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. MY CAR STARTED GOING CRAZY (WINDOWS ROLLED UP AND DOWN, WINDSHIELD WIPERS STARTED WORKING, AND RADIO SHUT ON AND OFF) ALL ON ITS OWN. MY ENTIRE CABIN FILLED UP WITH BLACK SMOKE AND THERE WAS A STRONG ODOR OF BURNING PLASTIC. THE CAR DIED WITHIN A FEW SECONDS OF GETTING THE CAR TO SHOULDER. I CONTACTED DEALERSHIP AGAIN AND ADVISED THEM WHAT WAS HAPPENING. THEY STATED THEY WERE CALLING A TOW TRUNK AND HUNG UP ON ME. TOW TRUCK COMPANY CONTACTED ME TO INQUIRE LOCATION THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER HAD AN EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TIME GETTING THE CAR ONTO THE TOW TRUCK. MY CAR WOULD NOT BUDGE AND HE WAS WORRIED ABOUT THE STRONG ODOR/SMOKE. HE LITERALLY HAD TO DRAG MY CAR ONTO THE TRUCK. I WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND PROVIDED A RENTAL CAR. I PICKED MY CAR UP ON JUNE 17, ALL THAT WAS REPLACED WAS GENERATOR CONTROL MODULE AGAIN. THIS CAR HAS BEEN IN AND OUT OF THE DEALERSHIP FOR RECALL WORK AT LEAST 9 MORE TIMES IN THE LAST YEAR. DEALERSHIP KEEPS CARS FOR DAYS - RETURNS TO ME AND SAYS "NO CODES ARE BEING THROWN ON MACHINE. CAR IS WORKING PROPERLY". *TR

NHTSA ODI 10593693

May 16, 2014SteeringBrakesEngine

I WAS DRIVING MY SON TO WORK AND I LOST ALL POWER TO MY VEHICLE. I HAD NO BRAKES, POWER STEERING AND MY ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON AS WELL. I MANAGED NOT GET IN A ACCIDENT AND GET INTO A PARKING LOT. THANK GOD. MY BACKLIGHTS HAVE HAD ISSUES AS WELL THEY HAVE STAYED ON AND HAVE CUASED ME TO GET PULLED OVER BY THE POLICE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10588872

Jan 10, 2014Engine

WHEN MY VEHICLE IS IDLE IT WOULD OCCASIONALLY IDLE ROUGH. HAPPENS MOST TIMES IM IDLING. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10559295

Oct 30, 2013Electrical systemEngine

TRUNK OPENS AUTOMATICALLY WHEN KEY FOB IS CARRIED IN PANTS POCKETS..I'VE TRIED SHIELDING THE FOB, BUT IT IS JUST TO SENSITIVE FOR NORMAL USE!!! I GOT DIFFERENT FOB, BUT IT STILL OPENING MY TRUNK, & I DON'T REALIZE IT, TILL I RETURN TO CAR... MY CAR IS NOT IN A GARAGE, & IN MORNINGS, THE TRUNK IS WET FROM SNOW OR RAIN.. PLUS:ANYONE COULD STEAL FROM MYTRUNK ALL NITE LONG !!!! *TR

NHTSA ODI 10550175

Jun 23, 2013Engine

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

Feb 13, 2013Engine

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

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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 →