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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
6 / 5
Injuries / Deaths:
5 / 0
Average Mileage:
67,725 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2013 Chevrolet Malibu electrical problems

electrical problem

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2013 Chevrolet Malibu Owner Comments (Page 3 of 17)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #294

Mar 292021

Malibu

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I been had this vehicle since 2018 nothing but issues few months having this vehicle I start experiencing issues with radio coming on and going off for no reason so took it to get looked at the said it was from wiring in the passenger side seat that was causing it so I paid $400 to get that fixed. But still was and is having same issues with electrical and now my heat comes on by itself even when the knob is in the off position. My passenger side seat belt warning goes off even when no ones in the seat. And to top it off my car been running bad engine overheating but nothing on my dashboard is telling me that but I can smell burning from my engine coming through my vents and it's exhausting. I have been to many shops to get it looked at but they keep saying nothing wrong no codes where coming up nor was my engine light on. But as of 3/29/2021 I had multiple icons pop up on my dashboard and now my engine light on. So I finally got a code P228D come up and I been explaining to auto shops that's something wrong because it's not wanting to pick up speed. So what can I do I'm tired spending money to get it looked at and all I'm getting from people nothing is wrong with your vehicle. But there is truly something wrong with this vehicle and it does this no matter where I'm at on highway, street, when I'm idle it's a loud noise and I can feel the heat from the engine coming through the floor of my vehicle

- Atlanta, GA, USA

problem #293

Jan 012019

Malibu

  • 89,000 miles
Car will power down while driving and it will stall at traffic lights. Have taken it in several times for this and diagnosed it but no codes display. Have paid 1000's of dollars for the things they say it is and still not fixed

- Bedford, VA, USA

problem #292

Dec 302020

Malibu

  • 87,000 miles
The vehicle was purchased from a dealership in June of 2020. Since owning the vehicle, the vehicle has had nothing but issues. Major issues including a stalling/puttering vibration when stopped at a light as well as just starting the car, it has an extremely loud start and rough. Have had this vehicle in and out of the dealership multiple times including one visit taking 3 weeks with a rental I was given. The issues are still all here, including an overheating with my warning systems not giving any sort of signs or lights, onstar thankfully told me to get the vehicle in immediately as I was in the red for overheating and the fan still continues to work after the car has been off for a few minutes. A smell of burning comes from the car everyday and overall doesn't feel safe. The other issue I believe is starting to occur is with the recall of the corroded rear toe links causing major clunking noises when hitting bumps and turning.

- Port Huron, MI, USA

problem #291

Feb 102021

Malibu

  • 103,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

When driving, the car will suddenly stop and lose power. It will restart again but will not have power steering. This happens on city streets, because of the problem we have kept it off highways. Unknown the cause, there was a recall about this happening but per the VIN it was completed. We have owned the car 7 months.

- Blue Springs, MO, USA

problem #290

Feb 012021

Malibu

  • 100,000 miles
Engine power reduced continues to show up after several fixes including an engine replacement many times I will be driving and the vehicle will turn off or slow down to dangerously slow speeds as low as 10 miles and hour. This is a constant issue and other Malibu drivers are experiencing.

- Falfurrias, TX, USA

problem #289

Jan 202021

Malibu

  • 120,000 miles
Car completely loses engine power and electrical power while driving ! this has happened many times in last 6 months. Dealer found nothing wrong, no codes or evidence of any problems. This seems to be systemic problem with Malibu and other similar vehicles in GM family according to several online websites. This is very dangerous and will kill people !!!

- Valencia, PA, USA

problem #288

Feb 032021

Malibu

  • 140,963 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

While driving my vehicle turned off and back on. The vehicle was stalling all the way home turning on and off. Highest speed I was driving was no more than 35 mph.

- Kingman, AZ, USA

problem #287

Jan 142021

Malibu

  • 160,000 miles
I was driving the vehicle when I heard strange noises. I then heard a loud noise and the car barely would move. When I got out of the vehicle, I saw the wheel was slanted. It was towed to a aaa repair facility where they discovered it was a broken toe link that had rotted. When it broke, it also bent a bar in the rear. The inspector said the same was happening on the opposite side and needed to be repaired.

- Rochester, NY, USA

problem #286

Jan 112021

Malibu

  • 117,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving 30 mph, the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to joe firment Chevrolet, Inc. (37995 chester rd, avon, oh 44011) where she was informed that she had a defective generator control module. Upon investigation, the contact linked the failure to NHTSA campaign number: 13V173000 (electrical system) and notified the manufacturer. The manufacturer informed her that the VIN was not included in the recall and referred her to NHTSA for assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 117,000.

- Lorain, OH, USA

problem #285

Dec 012018

Malibu

  • 103,000 miles
The contact owns 2013 Chevrolet Malibu. While parked, the contact attempted to start vehicle but the vehicle would not start. The contact attempted to charge the battery however, the vehicle would not fully charge. The contact drove the vehicle to an independent mechanic who diagnosed the failure. The contact was informed that the battery charging system needed to be replaced. The contact then drove the vehicle to tropical Chevrolet (8880 biscayne blvd, miami shores, fl 33138) who stated the failure was an engine failure and not a failure to the battery charging system. The battery was replaced however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was not notified of failure. The failure mileage was 103,000.

- Miami, FL, USA

problem #284

Nov 032020

Malibu

  • 83,559 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The dash keeps going out. Not letting you see your speed nor gas available in tank, etc.

- Beaver Falls, PA, USA

problem #283

Dec 172020

Malibu

  • 120,000 miles
States ac auto off due to high engine temp when starting car first thing in the morning during winter times, check engine light comes on temperature guage broke, car shows fluid in overflow for radiator, oil levels fine, power car off and fan keeps running with key removed from car, can't tell if engine is vet heating blows luke warm air but all fluids remain normal, theft monitor light comes on occasionally is this an electrical issue? no recall open related on going issue, won't drive to avoid blowing a head gasket, water pump is in tact no issues nor no oil or fluid leaks- help!!!!

- North Syracuse, NY, USA

problem #282

Nov 012020

Malibu

  • 93,000 miles
Each time I stop at a light or stop sign my vehicle statr vibrating, my RPM starts moving and my car dies. I restart it, but my service engine light never comes on. The dealership can't find the problem without a code.

- Garland, TX, USA

problem #281

Dec 102020

Malibu

  • 117,000 miles
The dash screen goes black and cuts power, disconnecting calls and blue tooth connection, and power steering. When this happens I am unable to turn the wheel. The wheel jerks back in place. This happens while the car is in motion. This has happened to me while on the freeway. It only cuts power for a few seconds and it comes back on but I am unable to control the car when this happens. I am also unable to move the steering wheel at all when this happens. This happened a few months back a few times and I contacted the dealership and they didnt know what to do with it because it wasnt happening at the time. It most recently happened yesterday on 12/10/2020.

- Roseville, MI, USA

problem #280

Dec 082020

Malibu

  • miles
I came to a complete stop at a stop sign and my car shut off. I turned it back on and it drove. I was at a red light and my car started to stall and shut off. This has happened a few times. I was on a local street. I searched this up on GM website and quite a few people have had the same problems with no resolution

- Auburn, ME, USA

problem #279

Dec 082020

Malibu

  • 115,789 miles
I was driving my car @32 mph when my radio and dashboard lights started to blink off and on my car wanted to stall out I was driving in the city had to turn in to a parking lot to shut car off and restart it so I can get to the store, I have a video of it doing it.I don't have the features when you stop at a light or stop sign it shuts off and when you move it start back up. This should be a recall on this never know when it's going to do it again. I think this is an electronic issue

- Youngstown, NY, USA

problem #278

Nov 112020

Malibu

  • 109,500 miles
I was traveling on 294 South using cruise control at 70 mph when the car started losing power but all internal app lights like the radio remained on and the steering wheel was still functional. Once the vehicle was put in parked it shut off. Only issue lights that appeared 1 week prior was the ABS sensor had malfunctioned on the front left tire. I attempted to jump the battery but it did not respond. Car had been parked and a friend who works on cars believes the engine is dead even though there shows 23% of oil left and no other symptoms of a blown engine. I have been goodland 2013 Chevy Malibu eco issues and other than potentially the starter it could be the computer that has died. I changed out the battery and it turns everything on, but struggles to crank and remain on. I came across several links regarding a recall due to computer, but honestly don't know if its even that. Mechanic friend believes it could also be the ECM.

- Melrose Park, IL, USA

problem #277

Feb 102020

Malibu

  • miles
Speedcluster doesnt mark anything on sdashboard such as speed, gas, etc.

- Avenal, CA, USA

problem #276

Aug 012020

Malibu

  • 95,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated while driving 30 mph, the steering wheel seized with the battery not charging message displayed on the instrument panel. The contact stated she was unable to remove the key from ignition. Additionally, the windows failed to operate as designed. The vehicle was not drivable. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where the gear-box was repaired and an unknown fuse was replaced. Three days later, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken back to the independent mechanic and was repaired for the same electrical failure. Despite the second repair, the failure recurred with the battery warning light illuminated on the instrument panel while her husband was driving at 30 mph. The contact's husband had the vehicle towed back to the same independent mechanic and was informed that there was another electrical short in the fuse box. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 95,000.

- Belcamp, MD, USA

problem #275

Feb 012020

Malibu

  • miles
Instrament panel speedometer, tachometer, gas, etc.. all are out. It started going out and resetting and and coming back on then it all just shut off completely. I cant get an inspection sticker because of it. I was told it could be instrament cluster? help..its my sons car and im trying to help get it fixed

- Haverhill, MA, USA

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