2013 Chevrolet MALIBU problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
835 owner complaints analyzed
10 distinct recall campaigns
69,900 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2013 model year. Data snapshot: . 599 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 365 of 835 complaints (43.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 229 | 27.4% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 210 | 25.1% |
| Engine operation | 119 | 14.3% |
| Braking behavior | 77 | 9.2% |
| Transmission and shifting | 28 | 3.4% |
| Fuel system concerns | 5 | 0.6% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 365 |
| Engine | 204 |
| Steering | 180 |
| Unknown Or Other | 88 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 72 |
| Suspension | 63 |
| Air Bags | 59 |
| Power Train | 53 |
Electrical System: 365; Engine: 204; Steering: 180; Unknown Or Other: 88; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 72; Suspension: 63; Air Bags: 59; Power Train: 53
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 110 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 86 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 139 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 118 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 122 |
| 150,000 and above | 24 |
Under 25,000: 110; 25,000 to 49,999: 86; 50,000 to 74,999: 139; 75,000 to 99,999: 118; 100,000 to 149,999: 122; 150,000 and above: 24
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (139). 236 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2013 | 26 |
| 2014 | 66 |
| 2015 | 49 |
| 2016 | 93 |
| 2017 | 78 |
| 2018 | 91 |
| 2019 | 117 |
| 2020 | 102 |
| 2021 | 90 |
| 2022 | 33 |
| 2023 | 21 |
| 2024 | 26 |
| 2025 | 23 |
| 2026 | 18 |
2012: 2; 2013: 26; 2014: 66; 2015: 49; 2016: 93; 2017: 78; 2018: 91; 2019: 117; 2020: 102; 2021: 90; 2022: 33; 2023: 21; 2024: 26; 2025: 23; 2026: 18
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 229 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 210 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 119 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10511612 · 2013-05-13 (May 13, 2013)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10511612 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10531488 · 2013-07-22 (July 22, 2013)
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 T…
Owner-reported narrative. 668 miles reported. Look up ODI 10531488 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10546594 · 2013-10-03 (October 3, 2013)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 8,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10546594 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10616082 · 2014-07-24 (July 24, 2014)
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.
Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10616082 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10618241 · 2014-08-01 (August 1, 2014)
MY VEHICLE WHICH WAS PURCHASED BRAND NEW 02/2014 WAS LEFT RUNNING AND PLACED INTO PARK ON LEVEL ASPHALT STREET. WHEN I WALKED ABOUT SIX OR SEVEN FEET FROM THE VEHICLE MY VEHICLE BEGAN ROLLING FORWARD. I CHASED THE VEHICLE AND ATTEMPTED TO GET INSIDE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. I WAS ABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR BUT WAS DRAGGED SEVERAL FEET. I COULD SEE CLEARLY THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK. THE VEHICLE WENT IN TO A SMALL RAVINE AND FROM THE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE I WAS ABLE TO PUSH THE ENGINE STOP/START BUTTON AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED. I EASILY BACKED THE VEHICLE O…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10618241 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10473070 · 2012-08-30 (August 30, 2012)
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.
Owner-reported narrative. 1,460 miles reported. Look up ODI 10473070 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10559292 · 2014-01-10 (January 10, 2014)
WHEN I WAS DRIVING I NOTICED THAT EVERY SO OFTEN MY BRAKES WOULD FEEL REALLY STIFF WHEN BRAKING. LATER THAT DAY, PARKED VEHICLE IN THE DRIVEWAY AND BRAKE LIGHTS WOULD NOT GO OFF, HAD TO GO INTO VEHICLE AND LIFT BRAKE PEDAL UP TO GET LIGHTS TO GO OFF. NOTICED LATER THAT DAY THAT BRAKE PEDAL WAS GETTING STUCK DOWN AFTER I RELEASED MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE. DOES NOT DO IT EVERYTIME I BREAK BUT DID START TO DO IT THE DAY WE HAD 90% HUMIDITY. STILL HAVE TO SOMETIMES LIFT THE PEDAL UP TO GET THE LIGHTS TO GO OFF. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 29,530 miles reported. Look up ODI 10559292 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10498050 · 2013-02-13 (February 13, 2013)
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 TIGHTENI…
Owner-reported narrative. 7 miles reported. Look up ODI 10498050 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10604380 · 2014-06-18 (June 18, 2014)
FIRE IN THE TAIL LIGHT THAT ALSO GOT SOME OF MY TRUNK. THE FIRE STOPPED 1/4 INCH FORM THE GAS TANK. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10604380 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10895822 · 2016-08-14 (August 14, 2016)
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD ON 7/10/16 MY 2013 CHEVY MALIBU LOST POWER, ENGINE LIGHT AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON AND WENT FROM 55-60 MPH TO 20 MPH. WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE MORE THE CAR COULD SHAKE VIOLENTLY. AFTER STOPPING AND TURNING THE CAR OFF IT WOULD NOT RESTART. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO KERRY CHEVROLET IN ALEXANDRIA, KY. AFTER DIAGNOSTIC TESTING THEY DETERMINED THAT THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED REPLACED. ON 8/10/16 WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WHILE IN VACATION IN FLORIDA THE CAR AGAIN STARTED TO LOSE POWER, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO SLIP OR MIS…
Owner-reported narrative. 44,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10895822 at NHTSA ↗