What Owners Report NHTSA ODI · 2,175,102 complaints · MY1998–2026

2013 Chevrolet Malibu

Typical pattern

4.1% of complaints about the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2013 vehicle — around the middle of the 210 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 6.2 yr in service. The most-reported system is electrical system (376 complaints), typically at 6.3 yr or about 77,452 miles.

Complaints
1,374
Median age at failure
6.2 yr
Median mileage
70,000 n=989
Crash / fire / tow
7.1% of reports
Safety recalls
10

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Electrical system
376 reports · 77,452 mi
6.3 yr
7.2%
Engine
204 reports · 78,000 mi
6.8 yr
6.4%
Steering
178 reports · 60,917 mi
4.8 yr
4.5%
Other
88 reports · 70,000 mi
7.3 yr
2.3%
Electronic stability control (esc)
72 reports · 79,000 mi
5.8 yr
2.8%
Suspension
66 reports · 100,000 mi
8.6 yr
16.7%
Air bags
59 reports · 74,863 mi
6.3 yr
22%
Power train
52 reports · 68,000 mi
6.6 yr
9.6%
Service brakes
43 reports · 58,280 mi
6.5 yr
2.3%
Fuel / propulsion
32 reports · 80,000 mi
7.7 yr
0%
Exterior lighting
28 reports · 70,000 mi
6.5 yr
7.1%
Speed control
28 reports · 72,000 mi
6.0 yr
7.1%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

21V00F000 2021-12-22
Suspension:rear

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2010-2013 Buick Lacrosse, 2012-2013 Buick Regal, and 2013 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles sold or ever registered in Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, or Wisconsin. These vehicles may have rear toe links that received an improper amount of electrocoating (e-coat) corrosion protection, which could cause the e-coat to become brittle and brea

A rear toe link fracture may reduce the driver's ability to control the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

21V633000 2021-08-12
Suspension:rear

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2013 Buick Regal, Chevrolet Malibu, and Buick Lacrosse vehicles sold or ever registered in Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, or Wisconsin. These vehicles may have rear toe links that received excessive electrocoating (e-coat) corrosion protection, which could cause the e-coat to become brittle and break away when contacted by road de

A rear toe link fracture may reduce the driver's ability to control the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

20V764000 2020-12-21
Suspension:rear

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2012-2013 Buick Regal, 2013 Chevrolet Malibu, and 2010-2013 Buick Lacrosse vehicles sold or ever registered in Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, or Wisconsin. These vehicles may have rear toe links that received excessive electrocoating (e-coat) corrosion protection, which could cause the e-coat to become brittle and break away when

A rear toe link fracture may reduce the driver's ability to control the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

16V502000 2016-07-05
Electrical system:ignition

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Buick Verano and 2016 Chevrolet Malibu as the electronic park lock lever may allow the ignition key to be removed without the transmission being in PARK. Also, certain 2013 Buick Encore, 2011 Buick Regal, 2013-2014 Buick Verano, 2011-2016 Chevrolet Cruze, 2010-2013 Chevrolet Equinox 2013-2015 Chevrolet Malibu, and 2011-2013 GMC Terrain vehicles may have been serviced with similar defective replacement electronic park lock levers. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Sta

If the key is removed without the transmission in PARK, the vehicle may rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.

15V245000 2015-04-24
Power train:automatic transmission:gear position indication (prndl)

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured April 10, 2012, to August 2, 2012. In the affected vehicles, the console transmission gear selection indicator may not illuminate the shift position selected. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 102, "Transmission Shift Position Sequence, Starter Interlock, and Transmission Braking Effect."

If the console shift indicator does not illuminate the transmission gear selection, a driver could inadvertently select a transmission position other than the position the driver intended, increasing the risk of a crash.

15V164000 2015-03-23
Visibility:sun/moon roof assembly

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles October 24, 2011, to March 5, 2015. In the affected vehicles, the Slide or Tilt switch for the roof panel may not be adequately recessed to prevent the switch from inadvertently being pressed. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 118, "Power-Operated Window, Partition, and Roof Panel Systems."

The Slide or Tilt roof panel switch may inadvertently be pressed and the roof panel may auto-close unexpectedly, increasing the risk of a pinch injury.

13V566000 2013-11-13
Electrical system:wiring

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured October 25, 2011, through June 29, 2012 and equipped with the 8-way power adjustable front seat feature. The wiring harness for the power seat may contact the seat frame which may chafe the harness.

If the harness is chaffed enough to expose the wires, a short circuit could occur, resulting unintended movement of the seat, the seat to become inoperative, sparking under the seat, flickering lights, smoke, or possibly a fire.

13V024000 2013-01-23
Suspension:rear

General Motors is recalling certain model year 2013 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles, manufactured December 6, 2011, through January 15, 2013. One or more rear suspension bolts may not have been tightened to the specified torque. This may lead to sudden changes in vehicle handling.

Sudden changes in vehicle handling may increase the risk of a crash.

12V484000 2012-10-04
Exterior lighting:turn signal

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011-2013 Buick Regal and model year 2013 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with two turn signal bulbs in each front turn signal. If one of the two front turn signal bulbs burn out in either front turn signal lamp, there is no indication to the driver. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

If the driver is not aware that a turn signal is not functioning properly, the driver may continue to drive the vehicle. If half of a front turn signal is not illuminating, other driver's may not be aware that the affected vehicle is turning, thereby increasing the risk of a crash.

12V224000 2012-05-18
Electrical system:software

GENERAL MOTORS (GM) IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 24, 2011, THROUGH MARCH 31, 2012. AFTER AN EVENT OF HARD BRAKING, THE SENSING AND DIAGNOSTIC MODULE (SDM) MAY RESET ITSELF.

IF THIS OCCURS DURING AN AGGRESSIVE TURNING MANEUVER, AND THEN AFTERWARDS A POTENTIAL VEHICLE ROLLOVER EVENT IS SENSED, THE ROOF RAIL AIRBAG MAY UNINTENTIONALLY DEPLOY. ADDITIONALLY, THE AIR BAGS AND/OR SEATBELT PRETENSIONERS MAY NOT DEPLOY DURING A SEVERE CRASH, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.

In owners’ own words

Engine 465 mi 5 mo in service
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 ##
Engine mileage not reported 0 mo in service
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
Engine 29,250 mi 1.3 yr in service
WHEN MY VEHICLE IS IDLE IT WOULD OCCASIONALLY IDLE ROUGH. HAPPENS MOST TIMES IM IDLING. *TR
Electrical system 465 mi 5 mo in service
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 ##

Other Malibu model years

202420232022202120202019201820172016201520142013201220112010200920082007200620052004200320022001200019991998

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