Print this page

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

Find something helpful? Spread the word.
Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

2013 Chevrolet Malibu Owner Comments (Page 8 of 17)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #194

Mar 122019

Malibu

  • miles

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

Door locks engaging and disengaging randomly while driving, headlights turning off and on randomly while driving, car starting while parked in garage (no remote start). Dealership replaced BCM, could not guarantee this fixed the problem. Indicated they had never seen the issue before. Within 2 weeks, all issues repeated themselves. Returned to dealership. The dealership kept the car for 2 weeks and then called me and left a message to pick it up as they could not find the issue. When I called back, the dealership said "it was a good thing you haven't picked up the vehicle yet, it started on its own 3 times this morning". if I had picked this vehicle up, the issue would have happened again while I was at home. Case has been filed with Chevrolet customer car, and sufs (GM global safety). No action has been taken. No engineers have been sent down to look at the car from GM headquarters. After the car started on its own at the dealership, they changed out the ignition switch, but again, cannot guarantee the issues won't reoccur. Car was returned to the dealership for a third time on May 2nd after the headlights turned on and off 3 times on the way to work on May 1st. After having the vehicle until May 10th, I was informed that the dealership could not find an issue, and I should pick the car up as they could not diagnose the problem if they do not see it. The response from GM has been a joke. The car is not safe to drive. I cannot drive it at night, and cannot part it in my garage, as it could start and cause my entire family to die from carbon monoxide poisoning, or could overheat from running in park while we are sleeping and start a fire. I cannot in good conscience sell the car either. So, I am stuck with an unsafe vehicle that General Motors will not take responsibility for. My concern is that there may be other vehicles on the road with the same issue.

- Paulding, OH, USA

problem #193

Mar 032019

Malibu

  • 63,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that the electrical system under the front passenger seat made the instrument panel lighting turn off intermittently. On another occasion, the instrument panel lighting remained off. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or independent mechanic for diagnostic testing or repairs. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 63,000. The VIN was not available.

- Louisville, KY, USA

problem #192

Apr 272019

Malibu

  • miles
When my 2013 Chevy Malibu is in motion and someone is in the passenger seat (many but not all times) all of the electronics, including the electronic speedometer, and all dashboard gauges, in the car stop working and notifications about the airbag system and braking system appear. The mechanical aspects of the car still seem to work fine, but the notifications about the airbags and braking make me concerned that it is not safe. This has been happening for a year. I have tried taking my vehicle to the dealership multiple times and have been told they either cannot replicate it or they will "fix" something that doesn't end up solving the problem. Given that this problem started randomly and not with any intervention on my part of the part of any mechanic, I am contacting NHTSA because I am concerned that this problem is related to the airbag sensor in the passenger seat and that this might be happening with other people and could represent real danger if this really is affecting the airbag and braking systems (even when the passenger seat is not in use).

- Phoenix, AZ, USA

problem #191

Apr 172019

Malibu

  • miles

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

When driving my Malibu it seems to have a short circuit when I turn the wheel even the slightest. I have changed the batteries checked all the wires and everything seems fine. I have figured out even when I'm driving 70mph on the highway with my family in the car the power steering will go out and make it hard for me to even turn. I have read online that this is happening to Malibu's everywhere and that GM is not willing to make it a national recall because it must be happening while they see the car. So I guess I have to wait for me to crash? to see that the power steering gave out on me along with the rest of the electrical work on the inside of the car.

- Canyon Lake, TX, USA

problem #190

Apr 102019

Malibu

  • 102,000 miles
I drove four hours to buy this car get there its pour rain do test drive around block buy car get ready and leave and stop at gas station cause its out of gas well passenger rear tire had 5 lbs of air in it fill it up get on highway and car starts shaking like crazy and is all over the road car lot is close and so is rental place so I drive home and have texted owner to tell him to get tow truck at my house in morning to pick it up I didn't want it and he did reason im writing this is I told him how bad this car was and I looked on there site and its back up for less than I bought it for that car is way to dangerous to be on the road

- Eagle Lake, FL, USA

problem #189

Jan 152019

Malibu

  • 110,000 miles
While driving my vehicle all of the dashboard lights go off. Sometimes they flicker before going off but once this happens sometimes I lose power in the vehicle other times I just have to continue driving with no dashboard lights, this means I cant see how fast I am going, my gas gauge etc. This causes a big risk for me as I am driving down the highway. It doesnt matter the weather either, it could be raining, snowing or sunny and the dashboard still acts up. It also causes my battery to drain which is brand new, I also checked alternator and starter and both are perfect. Sometimes the dash is blank even right at the start up of my car, other times it goes out as I am driving, it also doesnt matter the speed.

- Apple Valley, MN, USA

problem #188

Mar 142019

Malibu 4-cyl

  • 80,000 miles

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

Eco hybrid gcm needs to be replaced. It's a recall for it but they said it doesn't cover this one.but it has the same problem.

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #187

Apr 102019

Malibu

  • 75,000 miles
When driving or parked the whole dash board will cut out completely resulting in loss of speedometer, gas gauge, temp gauge and tach. Sometimes it will come back on sometimes it does not for days, have to keep a speedometer app on my phone while driving now. GM seems to be ignoring this issue as they do most electrical issues, I traded in a 2000 Impala with electrical issues just to get another GM car with electrical issues at a higher price. I have called multiple dealerships and non of them seems to have an idea of what it could be which tells me GM is not even trying to find a root cause for the issue, they are more than willing to let me bring it in and have the whole system looked over at my cost though. Have been dealing with this for over a year now

- Grand Blanc, MI, USA

problem #186

Jan 102019

Malibu 4-cyl

  • miles
The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that the vehicle lunged when the accelerator pedal was applied and there was a constant loss of power. The contact had to constantly pull the vehicle over to the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to coyle Chevrolet Buick GMC (1801 broadway St, , in 47129, (812) 218-1100) and serviced under the warranty. After the warranty expired, the dealer diagnosed and replaced the sonly, sonly bolt, sonly generator, air conditioning compressor, flushed the coolant, replaced compressor kit(2), and performed additional repairs. However, the failures still occurred. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failures. The failure mileage was not available.. consumer stated transmission was not the problem. Cam-actuators have dust which causes a car to flutter or die. Consumer told the mechanic that was not the problem there are of complaints with this same problem. As of 5/15/19 car is still in the shop.

- Charlestown, IN, USA

problem #185

Mar 252019

Malibu

  • 92,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Malibu. While operating the vehicle, the radio screen suddenly shut off and the electric power steering failed. As a result, the steering wheel became very difficult to turn in either direction. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who indicated that the battery was faulty and needed to be replaced. The battery was replaced, but the failures continued. The manufacturer and dealer were not notified. The failure mileage was 92,000.

- Middletown, NY, USA

problem #184

Mar 112019

Malibu

  • 76,356 miles

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

2013 Chevy Malibu electrical problem. All dash electrical went out and key could not be removed from ignition. No spedometer, gas guage, temp, etc. Drained battery and new battery.

- Fremont, CA, USA

problem #183

Mar 012019

Malibu

  • 72,000 miles
As I am driving down the road, the entire dashboard goes black, then it just lights back up as if I were just starting the car...all other functions regularly while the dashboard blacks out...the radio still works. This happens sporaducally meaning there is no rhyme or reason to it..I am scared it will catch on fire.

- Concord, NC, USA

problem #182

Feb 252019

Malibu

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

- Phoenix, AZ, USA

problem #181

Jan 032018

Malibu

  • 65,000 miles
The cluster panel will power off while driving and stay off. After fuses and bulbs are replaced, same issue persists. When passenger seat is in rear position, the cluster will flicker momentarily. This result will trigger randomly whether stationary or in motion.

- San Tan Valley, AZ, USA

problem #180

Feb 232019

Malibu

  • 30 miles
Less than 99,000 miles... radio light flickers off and on. Vehicle goes dead at red light, stop sign or whenever vehicle is not in motion. Took vehicle to dealership and replaced the engine computer module as requested. However, problem still exist but more worse. 'service power steering' light came on while driving on a city street but before I could make a safe turn, it became too tough to steer almost causing an accident. Battery good, alternator good..no one really knows what's wrong with the vehicle.

- Mesquite, TX, USA

problem #179

Aug 012018

Malibu

  • 100,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Malibu. While operating the vehicle, the check engine sensor illuminated. In addition, the vehicle would sometimes shut off while making a left turn. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that there was an electrical failure. The vehicle was then towed to cap city Chevrolet (5250 E. main St, white hall, oh), but no failure could be found. After the contact retrieved the vehicle, the failure continued. The manufacturer was not notified of the failures. The failure mileage was 100,000.

- Canal Winchester, OH, USA

problem #178

Feb 142019

Malibu

  • 100,000 miles
I started my car this morning it started funny then died but started right back up then the service stibilkl track came on. But after a couple min it went away so I backed out of my garage and started to work went about two miles noticed that the fan for the heater was not working the the power stearing service light came on kept driving the the service battery system light came on after about 12 miles the dash lights went out the I could smell something getting warm then the car engin stoped costed in to the parking lot got out there was nothing put the chargere on the batterty it started but not sure if to drive it home after charging or not. I see there was a problem with the modual on that year of cars but mine never had got fixed or nothing. So not sure what to do it has right at 100000 on it now so no warenty. I called the Chevy garage they have no idea what could be wrong but it just wories me smelling somthing getting hot

- Custer, SD, USA

problem #177

Feb 102019

Malibu

  • 113,000 miles
Expressway.the radio blacked out, stopped playing and then the car started shutting down-everything!steering went out, radio, lights, blinkers, etc.I took it as slow as I could all the way home and got onto back roads.this proved to be even more hazardous-every time I turned the steering wheel it would start to shut down again & again, all the way home.I took the car to the dealer-fixed but now happening again.sometimes it happens quickly and recovers quickly enough that the engine is not involved.my warning sign is that the radio cuts out and the screen goes blank.that's when I know to prepare myself. Sometimes that is all that happens.other times it's major! I look for an escape route-can I get off the road quickly, are there other cars around me, brace both hands on the steering wheel, slow my speed and pray.2/10/19, I was driving 55+ mph on a 2 lane road.it was a fast radio out, fast engine wind down and out of power and door locks went on and off.there was a driveway for me to pull in to and assess the situation.engine then engaged and things seemed back to normal.I continued home, had 2 issues but I was going slower as I was aware this may happen again.I pulled over and continued each time.I had to stop at the store and was pulling into a parking spot and the car was trying to shut down and steering went out more than once until I finally got in the parking spot.drove home, parked.I went into the house an read the manual.I decided to go out and check my fuses.key fob did not work.doors were unlocked, got in car, put key in the ignition and car was totally dead.key would not come out of the ignition.my husband called tow truck in the am to jump.car would not jump so he had it towed to dealer where it is at this moment.I am afraid I'm going to be killed or cause someone else harm if they end up crashing into me because of the quick shut down and loss of steering!!!

- Chelsea, MI, USA

problem #176

Jan 282019

Malibu

  • 13,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Malibu. While driving 60 mph, the check engine warning indicator illuminated. The contact coasted the vehicle to the side of the road and powered off the engine. The vehicle failed to restart and the key failed to release from the ignition. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer and dealer were not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 13,000.

- Yemassee, SC, USA

problem #175

Jan 232019

Malibu

  • 110,000 miles
Passenger seat sensor causes electrical components inside vehicle to be disabled. Heat and air conditioning do not function and temporary loss of power occurs. This occurs while vehicle is in motion and while stationary.

- Middleville, MI, USA

Read the next 20 complaints »

Not what you are looking for?