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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
11 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
18 / 0
Average Mileage:
46,966 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 seat belts / air bags problems

seat belts / air bags problem

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2013 Chevrolet Malibu Owner Comments (Page 1 of 3)

problem #51

Jan 152024

Malibu

  • miles

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

Air bag warning light stays on and will not reset. Driver power seat controls buttons out of plastic control cover and jammed in metal part of seat. Can not get seat control unjammed and no way to adjust driver seat.

- Arab, AL, USA

problem #50

Aug 012023

Malibu

  • miles
The airbag maintenace light comes on every time I start it. Alot of my friends who own GMC say that it is a normal problem with a GMC vehicle and there should be a recall on it. But there is none.

- Cecil, WI, USA

problem #49

Oct 102023

Malibu

  • miles
After my car battery was professionally replaced my airbag light came on. GM dealer service got a code of B101D requiring the airbag control module to be replaced. There are no new compatible modules available in the US. Two GM dealers advised getting a used module that had not been in an airbag deployment. Upon obtaining a compatible module the dealer is now getting a code of B3902, this code indicates that the environment identifier of the module does not match the vehicle and prohibits further programming permitting the airbags to function properly. So GM has intentionally prohibited compatible modules from salvage cars and they are no longer making new modules for my car. How is this ethical, legal, safe or environmentally sound" Are consumers expected to junk a perfectly good automobile absent a $100 part? Is this practice required by some regulation prohibiting airbag modules from being salvaged and reprogrammed"

- Cincinnati, OH, USA

problem #48

Jan 232021

Malibu

  • miles

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

My car failed inspection because of "service airbag" light displayed on the dashboard.

- Stoneham, MA, USA

problem #47

Feb 152021

Malibu

  • 108,200 miles
My car was running in the drive when it died and would not restart. Everything went dead. I had to jump start it and after that the airbag light came on. The airbags will not deploy in the event of an accident with this light on. I took my car to a Chevy dealer where I was charged $80 to be told that the SDM airbag module needs replaced and estimated cost for this is $1100. My car only has 108232 miles on it and to know that it could cost me either my families life or $1100 everytime the battery dies is not a choice anyone should have to make. Airbags are supposed to be the most dependable part of a vehicle as it saves so many lives. How do I know if they are even working with the light off if it is this sensitive" I am afraid to drive the vehicle even if I get it fixed and since I just purchased the car recently I owe to much to try to buy anything else. How can part of the safety equipment fail so easily and not be on recall? what would have happened if it had died while I was driving down the road instead of in the driveway putting the car into gear" after leaving the dealership it now has a new code but I am afraid to drive it to find out what else is wrong.

- Carrollton, MO, USA

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problem #46

Apr 012020

Malibu

  • 102,000 miles
On most of the 2013 Chevy Malibu the air bag has been recalled my car has had the airbag warning light on since I purchased my 2013. I don't feel safe and when I called Chevy directly they told me to just keep checking my VIN # should be on the recall for the air bag soon. It's still not showing up. I keep getting a warning low engine power, some one said don't drive a car that says this.

- Jacksonville, NC, USA

problem #45

Nov 022020

Malibu 4-cyl

  • 53,845 miles

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

[xxx] the service air bag light came on after my passenger seat was readjusted while it was parked. Vehicle only has 54000 miles on it. I read where this has been an on going problem with this year and model. Dealer wants to replace the sensor which I was quote over $1000. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Louisville, KY, USA

problem #44

Jul 012020

Malibu

  • 96,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that the service air bag warning light intermittently flashed on the instrument panel while driving at various speeds. The contact took the vehicle to phillips Chevrolet of lansing (17730 torrence ave, lansing, il 60438) where the vehicle was diagnosed with a defective air bag module. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 96,000.

- Dalton, IL, USA

problem #43

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 #42

Apr 012020

Malibu

  • 109,000 miles
I bought the car in April.2020, the air bag warning light will not turn off. I took the car to the Chevy dealer and the put it on a machine to check and see if it needed to be reset. They told me at that time the 2013 Malibu had a recall on over half of the Malibu airbags from the same year. They can fix it. And for me to keep checking for my VIN to show up on the recall list. And that it is unsafe to drive until it gets replaced. Please ad my VIN# to the recall list asap. Thank you for your time.

- Jacksonville, NC, USA

problem #41

Apr 012020

Malibu 4-cyl

  • 122,000 miles

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

My airbag warning light won't go away, I need this VIN # [xxx] on the recall list for air bags information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Jacksonville, NC, USA

problem #40

Jan 042020

Malibu 4-cyl

  • miles
The air bag light and the engine light came on right after I left the dealership. At that moment I really didn't know a lot about cars and the sales person told me they fixed my issue and that I should be fine with the vehicle. I can get my engine light taken care of since it was my fault, but I see so many recalls out on the same type of vehicle for the airbag and there is none for mine. I really need assistance with the airbag and I believe it is a recall.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #39

May 212020

Malibu 4-cyl

  • 25,700 miles
Air bag warning light came on after replacing battery. Car has 25000 miles on it. Air bags will not deploy when warning light is on. Dealer charging $940. To replace air bag module. This seems to be a common problem with Chevrolet Malibu. Numerous complaints on internet. Needs to be a recall or special program repair issued by GM.

- Hockessin, DE, USA

problem #38

May 132020

Malibu

  • 53,100 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that the airbag light illuminated while driving at approximately 40 mph. The vehicle was not taken to be diagnosed nor repaired. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer were notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 53,100.

- South Daytona, FL, USA

problem #37

Jul 052019

Malibu

  • miles
The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 45 mph, the air bag warning light illuminated continuously. The vehicle was taken to lumberton Chevrolet Buick GMC Cadillac located at (500 linkhaw rd, lumberton, nc 28358) where it was diagnosed that the passenger presence system module needed to be repaired. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was unknown.

- Fayetteville, NC, USA

problem #36

Dec 012019

Malibu

  • 87,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the front passenger side air bag system sensor light had remained illuminated indicating that the passenger air bag system was faulty. The cause of the failure was not determined. The local dealer dave white Chevrolet (5880 monroe St., sylvania oh) was notified of the failure. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 87,000.

- Holland, OH, USA

problem #35

Jun 282019

Malibu

  • 52,000 miles
My battery completely died and I needed a jump. The jump ended up not working so I purchased a new battery. Now the airbag light is on and will not go off. After researching this problem I see that this is a known issue and still no recall on this problem. I have a 2013 Chevrolet Malibu eco. The forums are saying it's a problem with the SDM component. Codes B101D-00(electronic control unit hardware) and U0184-00(lost communication with radio).

- Powder Springs, GA, USA

problem #34

Oct 022019

Malibu

  • 120,294 miles
Service airbags light came on while pulling out of my driveway. Never been involved in an accident. Alarm for airbags goes off every 30 seconds and it will not go off. The airbag alert light is on and the passenger airbag light flashes on and off with or without someone in the passenger seat.

- Spring Hill, TN, USA

problem #33

Sep 152019

Malibu

  • miles
Service air bag light is on. Keeps shutting off and coming back

- Middleport, NY, USA

problem #32

Jul 272019

Malibu

  • 88,835 miles
Takata recall I have a 2013 Chevy Malibu eco with roughly 89K miles. My 'service airbag' light came on randomly as I was pulling into my driveway on July 27, 2019. I have not had an accident in my car, and I this is the first time I've ever seen this light. I remember a few years back, I received a notice in the mail from the dealership about a recall on airbags (something related to the deployment) and I went and got it serviced. Well it's 2-3 yrs later and my airbag light is on. I'm concerned if this is related to the takata recall as well. I can't understand why my 'service airbag' light would pop on so randomly.

- Baton Rouge, LA, USA

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