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 (lt) has been experiencing serve electrical issues. This highly dangerous defect I have been experiencing as well yet there is no recall! first the my link/navigation/radio module would shut off and come back on. While this occurs, the battery voltage would jump down then jump back up. I called Chevy/GMC and they recommended to shut the car off, remove the key, open the driver side door so the computer can reset itself. It continued to happy through the course of couple hours then finally stopped and was working from over the course of 4 days. As of yesterday the vehicle completely shut off, entire touchscreen module shut off, and turned back on in a split second. Once the car turned on, the steering wheel was completely tight, almost locked, and we would barely turn into our driveway while in motion on a 25pm street. Thank god I was not coming off a highway or driving fast like reports of this issue like other consumers but this is dangerous. I am terrified of this vehicle and will be taking it to Chevy. There are over a hundred complaints and videos I saw after I looked up if this issue was common, which it appears to be, online. This issue needs to be on the recall list because this can cause accidents and someone can get seriously injured.
While driving the radio and interior lights go out and power steering stops working. Seems to happen when left blinker is used. Headlights will flicker when this happens also. There is no warning prior to shutdown. One occurrence car completely shut off on its own after power surge. Very unsafe to drive this vehicle, I almost hit a parked car because of this failure. It happens on highway or neighborhood. Car is parked at dealership til problem can be resolved. Odometer has 53,000 miles on it.
2013 Chevy Malibu continues to power down while driving. Radio will shut off then electrical panel and often times it would lose complete power and cause the power steering to shut off. Very dangerous. Took to dealership 3 times they continue to finagle the negative wiring. But the problem persists. No check engine light; no fix. Something is defective and pose rlly Chevy can't figure it out.
Vehicle moving on city street, lost power to radio, navigation system, etc., then lost steering. Lost steering while making U-turn. Lost steering in forward and reverse while parking vehicle. Power to control panels shut down during both incidents. Occurred briefly on highway while traveling at high rate of speed. The loss of power and steering has become more frequent and lasting for a longer period of time. Vehicle is now at dealership for same issue. I purchased vehicle 3 months ago. My 17 Y/O son uses this vehicle and I am concerned about his safety. I looked into this problem on the web and discovered that this has been an ongoing problem with this make and model. I received a phone call from the dealership where my car is being serviced. They cannot find a problem. This was expected based on what I have read. I find it hard to believe that they have never heard of this happening before especially since GM has recalled earlier models with the same problem but refuse to do anything about the 2013. You cannot understand the nervousness you feel before getting into the driver's seat unless you have experienced this yourself. For GM and dealership to knowingly allow a person to purchase this vehicle and drive off their lot with a serious issue such as this is mind blowing.
My car initially started with the radio and touch screen powering off for a few seconds. Then, I was driving and went to make a left turn, the radio power went off as well as the steering wheel locked up, again only for a few seconds. Now, when it happens (it's happening more frequently), the headlights and dash lights flicker as well as the radio power shuts off and the steering locks up. It all only lasts around 4-5 seconds, but can be very dangerous at the wrong time. I took it to the dealer who could not reproduce the problem, in which I explained it's sporadic and unpredictable. This is becoming a safety issue and more frightening that dealerships are unaware of the issue or how to fix it. GM really needs to do something about this before it causes a serious accident.
- Streetsboro, OH, USA
Search CarComplaints.com for these popular complaint phrases...
The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving at any speed, the electronic screen blanked out, the engine shut down and the steering wheel seized. The vehicle was driven to the dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure recurred multiple times. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 49,968. Updated 12/01/16*****updated 12/22/16 updated 7/9/18
On numerous occasions my 2013 Malibu has lost power causing a steering issue. It could be while driving, turning, stopping or accelerating. The car will lose power to the touch screen radio causing the screen to go black, then I lose the steering momentarily and then everything will come back on. This can happen once or sometimes it continues to happen which causes the service stabilitrack warning light to come on or the service power steering light to come on. This has also led to the car stalling and losing all electricity and then starting back up right away. The more electronics you use such as the blinker causes the problem to get worse and usually ends up in the car stalling. I have taken it to the dealer four separate times for this issue and nothing has been fixed. I have not had my car more than a week since August 22,2016 because I refuse to drive the car until it is fixed. The dealer is focusing on my after market remote starter which is wrong seeing there are many of the same occurrences listed on tis website.
While driving car instrument panel turns off, after which steering locks up and brakes become inoperable. Instrument panel turns off for seconds, then as the instrument panel turns back on, all messages on instrument panel flash (ie engine light, low battery, etc). Most common message is about stabilink. Even after instrument panel turns back on, the steering wheel will remain stiff and hard to move until you leave the car off for an extended period of time. There seems to be no rhyme or reason to the problem, other than driving it. I've had it happen in stop and go traffic where I'm going from not moving to at max 5 mph, I've had it happen on an empty highway going 65 mph, I've had it happen two minutes into my drive, and I've had it happen 40 minutes into my drive. Steering wheel does not always lock up in the middle of a turn, but most frequently it happens when making a sharp turn. I have video of the occurrence of the steering wheel and what happens to the instrument panel but am unable to upload it. I've tried to get the whole thing on video but it really just depends on if someone is in the car with me or if my phone was at the ready and I'm in a safe environment to record. It's scary enough to have the steering and brakes be useless to me, so my Focus is usually more on controlling the car.
The check engine light comes on and stays on - when checked at the dealer they told me no code found for two years, then as time went on it started adding service power steering and ac/DC shut down. After numerous visits to the dealer and two major repairs, the check engine light still comes on, and the power steering locks up. On August 24, 2016, I was driving 50+ mph on a curvy road when the check engine light came on, followed immediately by the service power steering, followed by something stabilizer, followed by ac/DC shut down, to engine overheated idle engine. The power steering locked up and I was unable to steer the car and ran off the road. The car was towed to the dealer who had just worked on the car for the second time in a month, and they found no codes - no surprise! I complained to Chevy for the third time at corporate level and they had denied my claim as being safety related. I find it hard to believe that a car you suddenly can't steer isn't considered a safety issues. I also find it hard to believe that Chevy can't recognize that there is a problem with the 2013 Malibu. How many people have to die before they address this issue? also, why are they waiting on codes when the problem is most likely an electrical/computer problem. If the computer isn't working its no surprise that the warnings are not throwing a code! common sense! also, a car doesn't throw warning lights and check engine lights without something setting it off! hence you have a problem!
While driving down the highway first the windshield wipers quit during a down pour, the anti traction was malfunctioning on the screen then said anti theft system needed service then the steering went out and locked the car down. All of this happened while the car remained running. Was very scary. Have done some research and it appears GM is aware of a problem. The car is currently at the dealership. No known reason why yet although the dealership stated it did this to them when they were trying to pull it in the garage. GM needs to figure this out and issue a recall before there is serious injury including possible death the car was in motion on a highway when this occurred
The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Malibu. While driving various speeds, the electrical system failed. As a result, the power steering seized. The failure recurred numerous times. In addition, the ignition switch failed to release the key and the check engine warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed and the sensor circuit was replaced in the camshaft. The manufacturer was notified of the failures. The VIN was unknown. The approximate failure mileage was 52,000.
I got my car 6 months ago, and now my car steering wheel locked, and lost battery voltage, I'm getting message to service wheel steering system ann battery charge system
While driving, all of the sudden the raio/ screen goes out, steering locks up! has happened right after started, day & night, may be fine for an hour to 4 or 5 hours, never know! has happened when turning, very dangerous! I've almost had 4-5 accidents due to this problem! Chevy says they haven't had any knowledge! dought this, complaints all over the internet. This started around 45,000 ruth just the radio /screen going off for a few seconds, by 60,000 started effecting the steering! I now have 80,000 miles on car. This needs quick attention from ntsb, wonder if any deaths from this? help!
Our 2103 Chevy Malibu "loses electrical power and power steering" whuile being driven. This is now happening even more frequently. The dash and steering, etc goes blank and resets after a few seconds. This is happening more often and is dangerous. I see on the internet that dozens or hundreds of other 2013 Malibu owners are having the same problem. Some have had accidents as a result. My mechanic is not able to find an error code, nor to fix, and it seems like neither GM nor the other mechanics are able to fix either. This happens in a variety of movement settings, slow speed, high speed, turning and not, etc. This last happened 5+ times the evening of July 31.
My vehicle has 49000 miles on it while driving I loose power steering...the steering wheel locks up.. radio turns off...and the dash lights go off... after a second I get power back and control.. I have almost had head on collisions a 2 occasions.. I also had my steering completely lock while parked.. and as with before my radio went off and would not turn back on until I turned the car off and back on.... this is a hazard and someone will be injured or killed if this problem is not addressed... I have had it in the dealer for this and they informed me I had 13 plus warnings pop up on diegnostics, however, they found no problem and reset the computer... 3 days later the problem came back...
I have a Malibu eco boost. On June 23, 2015 I was driving on 96 and the charging system failure light came on the car began to shut down. The power steering went out. I was able to pull over on the shoulder but the keys could not be removed from the ignition. I had it towed to graff Chevrolet andthey said the only thing they could find wrong was a speedsensor. The guy tom said I could come get my vehicle at 8pm since thepart was enroute. I drove over 80 miles to get there AT8 and my car wasn't ready but the guy said I cold take it with me. I did not.they fixed that then said it was a right wheel hub.I know these two things havenothing to do with the charging system. Tookmy car home and the same thinghappened on the holiday July 4th.why didn't thecomputer or the mechanic detect a problem with the charging system.
These problems occurred on paved or concrete city streets. At least once last month and 3 times this month I experienced transient episodes of what I categorize as power steering failure while driving. Three of these times were at reduced speeds less than 20 mph during a turn and once traveling 65 mph down a straight section of the highway. On two of the turning events I managed to avoid head on collisions with other vehicles at the intersection/parking entrance. These episodes are short durations and may be characterized by sudden stiffness in the wheel, jerking to one side or what seems like a power steering failure. On the last event today a power loss to my console was noted. Needless to say, this is a very dangerous problem and given my near misses in the short time I have owned this car, I have to wonder how many other owners of this problem were out there that are no longer able to complain about it. On a safety note, I highly recommend to anyone with this problem to maintain a firm grip with both hands on the wheel when making a turn on a separate note I mentioned that I also had trouble with the tires. This happened yesterday as I was going down the highway in a moderate downpour. The car seemed to lose traction on every puddle I hit. It made for a very scary ride and forced me too carefully reduce speed to a minimum of 45-50mph. This is still very subjective and I still need to have it checked out, but it did not feel like hydroplaning as I know it.
When driving, the car will shut off for about 5 seconds and then come back on fine but the wheel and the brakes lock up. It will randomly do this. It happens on normal side streets as well as on the interstate. I have also had it happen while sitting still in park. The car was turned on but the radio would blink and the air stop and then after about 6 seconds it will start again like normal. However about 4 times it has had major episodes where all of the lights will blink (like I was restarting the car), the wheel locks up, the brakes lock up, the car acts as if it is in neutral and then about 6 seconds it will jerk like it's going into gear and once I pull over and restart it, it may happen again or it may be fine for a while. It has shown on the screen on these 4 times words of "check power steering or stabilitrak warning" it's very scary. I've almost wrecked 3 different times because the wheel locks up and I was in a turn when it did it. The last time it happened I was traveling with my young children and we were almost rear ended by an 18 wheeler on the interstate at rush hour traffic. I feel like I'm driving a death trap. I took it to the shop that the dealer advised me to take it to. They say it is the ECM. The dealership is not willing to pay for it since it's not covered under the manufacturers warranty. I've had this car since October and its been in the shop 5 times for this and overheating. I'm in the process of contacting GM about this issue because I'm not the only one having this trouble. It's extremely scary and it needs to be corrected before someone is seriously hurt. It's a hazard not only to me as the driver and the children that I carry in my car daily, but the other drivers on the road because when it happens its without warning and the car completely locks up.
Problem 1: driving car at 40mph (on a city street) it begins to overheat, the steering wheel seizes then stalls out repeatedly. Take vehicle to Chevrolet dealership, technician says need to replace parking brake control module (water intrusion) GM pays 50/50 payment assistance, I paid $417.23. Within a week's time several issues arise as indicated below. Problem 2: while car is in motion driving the city streets the dash lights and touch screen radio (entire electrical system shuts off) for about 5 seconds then comes back on. The brief box pops up for a few seconds, indicating check power steering, stabilitrak warning light on and parking brake says it's on. All this happened, eight times in ten minutes. Then I proceed to make a right hand turn and my steering wheel locks up and I nearly hit a vehicle that was stopped at a stop light. It happens randomly but I did notice when I had the A/C on it happened repeatedly. Again vehicle is at Chevrolet dealership and unable to recreate the problem, dealing with GM corporate at this time.
The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving at 35 mph, the steering column seized without warning. The failure occurred on several occasions. The contact restarted the vehicle but the issue recurred. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 48,000.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Carteret, NJ, USA