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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 4 of 17)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #274

Jan 012020

Malibu

  • 135,000 miles

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

When you are driving the electrical system cuts off, making it hard to steer and affecting other electrical controls such as: Touch screen, lights, and control panel. The system usually shuts off for a brief moment when utilizing power locks, turn signals, and power windows. Recently, the engine won't start but after waiting for a few moments, it starts up again. This has been going on for the past 8 months

- El Paso, TX, USA

problem #273

May 012019

Malibu

  • miles
The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that at start-up, the instrument panel features failed to function correctly. Recently, the contact stated that the instrument panel failed to illuminate at start-up. The contact initially took the vehicle to an independent mechanic where an attempt was made to repair the instrument panel however, the failure persisted. The contact then took the vehicle to ourisman Chevrolet of marlow heights (4400 branch ave, marlow heights, md 20748) and was informed by the dealer that the failure was common failure her type of vehicle however, there were no recalls on the vehicle. The manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was unknown.

- District Heights, MD, USA

problem #272

Sep 012020

Malibu

  • 254,000 miles
Car will stall out and won't go at time without pumping the gas. We have replaced vacuum pump and both O2 sensors. Power steering locks up when hitting a small bump, won't start unless I moved the drivers seat up and back, if I use the blinkers my radio goes off if I use my high beams the radio freezes. It will do weeks with no issues then one day it will start acting up and does it for days or weeks. Chevy says there is no recap for that model but I've read multiple complaints about the same things so why is it not being addressed by

- Spencer, WV, USA

problem #271

Sep 102020

Malibu

  • miles

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

While driving the whole car turned off. Steering wheel locked up, engine cut off, and light went out. This has been happening for a couple of months now. While I'm driving the car will shut off. It has done this while I have been on the highway and also in the city. This is very dangerous. Can not figure out the issue.

- Bakersfield, CA, USA

problem #270

Aug 012016

Malibu

  • 40,000 miles
The passenger airbag sensor has gone bad making it extremely dangerous to drive with a passenger in my vehicle because anything electronic on the dash will turn off, as well as the A/C and radio etc. This is an extreme safety hazard. I've seem numerous complaints about this airbag sensor issues yet everytime I've checked, there is no recall for this problem. The sensor randomly went out when the car was hardly 3 years old, that is not normal. I don't understand why GM has not done a recall for this. This could result in dangerous accidents or death of a passenger.

- Tucson, AZ, USA

problem #269

Aug 052020

Malibu

  • miles
I'm having issues in regards to the transmission control module. I only have 55 K miles in my car and transmission shouldn't be giving out

- Laredo, TX, USA

problem #268

Aug 192020

Malibu

  • 66,500 miles

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

Car stalls when stopping at stop signs.. when turning lose power lights, radio, and steering. Has happened 4 times this year..

- Gulf Shores, AL, USA

problem #267

Aug 062020

Malibu

  • 94,000 miles
My Chevy Malibu stalled out on 3 occasions now. This occurs after being at a stop and applying pressure on the gas to place the car back in motion. I was nearly struck by an oncoming vehicle on 2 occasions when the car stalled out. Would have had ample time at a green light had the vehicle not stalled. Power steering is lost when this occurs. I have to power off and repower the vehicle to get started again, resulting in smoke coming out from under the hood and a smell of burnt rubber.

- Olean, NY, USA

problem #266

Jun 012020

Malibu

  • 118,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while her son was driving at 65 mph on the highway and the gcm module failed causing the vehicle to shut off. In addition, there was smoke coming from the trunk. The contact mentioned that the failure occurred on several occasions. The vehicle was towed to an unknown dealer and remained in the dealer since June of 2020. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed that there were no open recalls. The failure mileage was 118,000.

- Johns Island, SC, USA

problem #265

Dec 132019

Malibu

  • 85,000 miles
I was driving my car and stopped at a red light. When the light turned green the car stalled when I attempted to accelerate. Smoke then started rising from the hood. About 5 minutes later flames starting shooting out and the entire front end of the car was engulfed

- Buffalo, NY, USA

problem #264

Jul 152020

Malibu

  • 115,000 miles

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

The console transmission gear selection indicator does not illuminate the shift position selected. I have been driving on the highway when the gear selection illumination goes off and I no longer have gear selection access nor acceleration control. I have had to dangerously roll off the highway into a safer place to attempt to restart the vehicle. After a few attempts the illumination returns and I have control again. This has happened randomly and I've tried to get help from dealership and GM but everyone that I've spoken to does not acknowledge this recall. I will attach a copy of the recall for a better understanding.

- Ceres, CA, USA

problem #263

Jul 082020

Malibu 4-cyl

  • miles
Vehicle needing generator control module and battery cooling fan and variable valve timing replaced

- Radcliff, KY, USA

problem #262

Jun 052020

Malibu

  • 64,000 miles
At various times while driving-whether parked, actively driving, at a stop sign, turning, backing up- my cars power will flicker and the engine shuts off causing the steering to lock. This has done this to me quite a few times, almost causing an accident on more then one occasion. Sometimes it will do it as often as 14 times in a 25 minute ride. No lights such as the cel or anything come on beforehand to indicate that theres a problem when it happens. I've taken it to a mechanic twice to have it checked out and he sees no obvious reasons why it would do this, and there are no codes to pull to explain it. Enough people are having this same issue it should be made a recall and looked into! it's not safe to drive a vehicle like this that can shut off and the steering locks at any given moment. The 1st time this happened was June 5, 2020 and almost every day since.

- Marcus Hook, PA, USA

problem #261

Jun 162020

Malibu 4-cyl

  • 149,871 miles
Drove to appointment with no issues or indications of anything wrong. Finished appointment and started vehicle, the check stabilitrak warning came on. Pulled into lane & vehicle immediately reduced power, unable to accelerate rapidly and almost causing an accident. Warning light for engine overspeed came on. Engaged cruise control, would not disengage when braking, or by steering wheel control without several attempts. Was able to slowly increase speed to 50 mph, made it home via hilly secondary roads (max 50 mph) and stopped vehicle (brake; still in drive), engine tried to go to the engine rest mode prior to shifting to park. Shifted to park, engine tried to re-start and wouldn't automatically disengage attempting to turn over. Shut off the engine and pulled key. Would not re-start, but would crank. When letting go of key in the steering wheel column, the engine would still try to turn over on its own with a loud high pitched whine. Had to quickly remove key entirely. I have video clips together of this incident, available by email. Had new battery delivered overnight, did not fix issue. Had vehicle towed to garage and will cost $12,100 to fix by replacing long block. Please help - this is incredibly distressing.

- Bremerton, WA, USA

problem #260

Jun 112020

Malibu

  • 136,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated she was unable to turn the vehicle off or remove the key from the ignition. The contact stated that after the battery was fully drained and the vehicle turned off, the contact was able to remove the key from the ignition. The vehicle restarted after a battery booster was connected to the battery. The vehicle was taken to courtesy Chevrolet Buick GMC Cadillac located at 1500 S service rd E, ruston, la 71270, (318) 255-4162, where the vehicle was diagnosed and the contact informed that gear shifter needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of failure. The failure mileage was 136,000.

- Ruston, LA, USA

problem #259

Jun 052019

Malibu 4-cyl

  • 95,000 miles
Ac control not send signal to ac compressor. Stuck in heat on last setting I had the control on. I bought new ac compressor because was told the ac compress has power but not working. After replacing the compressor problem still was on going now told ac is not sending message to compress to turn on.

- Indianapolis, IN, USA

problem #258

Jan 022017

Malibu

  • 115,000 miles
While driving my vehicle and I come to a stop the engine dies out. There is no check engine light or warning before this happens and it has almost caused an accident 3 times now. Even in stop and go rush hour traffic, as soon as I need to slow down the car stutters and then stalls. All the lights and radio stay on but the engine just shuts off. I have to quickly throw it into, park turn the key to off and restart the car everytime. This has been going on for a couple of years and I just dont know what to do anymore. I am not able to trade it in yet and I am afraid to sell it and this happen to someone else.

- Oakland, CA, USA

problem #257

May 172019

Malibu 4-cyl

  • 118,000 miles
Chafed wiring under passenger seat to short out and ground..causing headlights to go out and all electrical parts to short out...no headlights or tail lights.

- Vandalia, MO, USA

problem #256

Apr 202019

Malibu 4-cyl

  • 132,000 miles
The car shuts completely off when driving. The steering wheel starts to lock in different places as you turn. All electronics shut off and sometimes cannot be restarted for days. You can be sitting in park and turn the steering wheel and it will still lock up. Not at the stopping point of the steering. Even if you try. A little. I also have a video of it happening it will not let you turn it at all. Unlock losing power steering makes it harder to turn but still possible. With this it stops completely like the car is shut off. When you switch your turn signal on and then turn all electronics and car shuts off until you turn the signal off or let go out the steering wheel. I have almost wrecked 4 times with kids in the car. I have personally read other people. Not just a few but at least 200 other people with this same problem. Currently looking into legal action against this before someone dies in a wreck because nobody wants to issue a recall.

- Granite Falls Nc, NC, USA

problem #255

May 182020

Malibu 4-cyl

  • 1 miles
Vehicle occasionally loses power when in traffic or reduced speed, stabilitrak malfunctions consistently, initiating "limp mode", power steering went out this morning as my speed reduced.

- Hutto, TX, USA

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