51 of the
173 complaints filed about the Chevrolet Malibu ECO
are about the electrical system —
29% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2013.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR:INTEGRATED STARTER(OTHER THAN PROPULSION)
The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Malibu ECO. The contact stated while at a stop light, the power steering was difficult to turn, and the vehicle stalled. The Service battery charging system displayed and the check engine and battery warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The vehicle was repaired by the contact. The contact stated that the alternator and the starter had failed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 174,000.
NHTSA complaint #11571980 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU ECO. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO ELECTRICAL ISSUES WITH VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WOULD SHUT OFF, LOSING ALL POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONSUMER STATED THE BATTERY LIGHT ILLUMINATED, DISPLAYS BATTERY SAVER ACTIVATED, AND THEN THE VEHICLE LOSES POWER.
NHTSA complaint #11465899 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TAKATA RECALL . MY CAR JUST DIED OUT OFF NOWHERE WHILE I WAS JUST PARKED AND WHEN IT FINALLY GOT JUMPED THE 'SERVICE AIRBAG' LIGHT CAME. I'VE DONE SOME RESEARCH AND THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING TO EVERYBODY AND THE REPAIRS IS UP TO $1000
NHTSA complaint #11234691 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEREO/NAVIGATION INTERMITTENT ALWAYS DEFAULT TO ONE RADIO STATION AND SETTINGS, PASSENGER SEAT HAD A CRACKLING SOUND A FEW TIMES NO ODD SMELLS OR SMOKE, TURNS SIGNALS WON'T WORK WHEN STEREO IS INOPERATIVE.
NHTSA complaint #11234848 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WAS SITTING AT A RED LIGHT, WITH MY FOOT FIRMLY ON THE BRAKE. SUDDENLY IT STARTED TO MOVE AND SUDDENLY TOOK OFF AND HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME (THE CAR HAD MOVED UP SIGNIFICANTLY, BUT I HADN'T, SO IT HAD A LOT OF MOMENTUM WHEN IT HIT)! AFTER THE ACCIDENT REPORT WAS FILED, I TRIED TO START THE CAR TO LEAVE, BUT THE CAR WOULDN'T START. ADDITIONALLY, A TON OF ERROR MESSAGES WERE FLASHING, AS WELL AS ALL INDOOR AND OUTDOOR LIGHTS FLASHING, EVEN THE DECORATIVE PANEL BLUE STRIP LIGHTS. I WAS TERRIFIED. I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED FROM THE SCENE. AT FIRST, THE OFFICER DIDN'T BELIEVE ME, THAT IT WAS THE CAR'S FAULT, NOT MINE, BUT ONCE SHE SAW WHAT WAS HAPPENING, SHE BELIEVED ME. THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER SAID THE CAR WAS POSSESSED, HE HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS BEFORE. THE CAR HAD ALMOST 53,000 MILES ON IT, ONE YEAR TO GO WITH PAYMENTS, AND I HAD BEEN PLANNING TO KEEP IT ONCE IT WAS PAID OFF, UNTIL THIS HAPPENED. IT COULD HAVE BEEN SO MUCH WORSE. WHAT IF IT HIT PEDESTRIANS CROSSING THE STREET? I WAS AT A COMPLETE STANDSTILL. WHEN MY MECHANIC EVALUATED IT, A BUNCH OF ERROR CODES PRINTED OUT, ONE OF WHICH WAS U0121 MULTI-AXIS ACCELERATION SENSOR LOST COMMUNICATION WITH ELECTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL MODULE. I'M PRETTY SURE THIS WAS WHAT CAUSED THE ACCIDENT, BUT BOTH GENERAL MOTORS AND MY CHEVROLET DEALER SAY THIS MEANS NOTHING. I SOLD THE CAR AND BOUGHT A MITSUBISHI MIRAGE. I WILL NEVER BUY A CHEVY AGAIN. ALL OVER THE UNITED STATES, ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS ARE HAPPENING TO OTHER CHEVY'S (MY MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR ALONE) - SO FAR ABOUT 167 THAT I'VE READ ABOUT, BUT NO ONE'S DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT.
NHTSA complaint #11209320 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TAKARA RECALL I HAD MY CAR IN MULTIPLE TIMES IN A DEALERSHIP BERGSTROM LIKE FIVE TIMES AND EVERY TIME THEY WORK ON IT THERE'S SOMETHING ELSE WRONG . THE CAR HAS ELECTRICAL ISSUES THE RADIO TURNS ON AND OFF BY ITSELF . THE TEMPERATURE THING BECAME ON FOR HIGH TEMPS WHEN THE AC IS OFF.I HAD REPLACED MULTIPLE SENSORS REPLACED LIKE THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR. MY CAR SHUT OFF ON ME THROUGH THE DRIVE-THROUGH . IT HAS A ROUGH TIME IS STARTING SOMETIMES AND STALLS . NOW IT'S SAYING SOMETHING ABOUT AN OIL PRESSURE SENSOR O2 SENSOR. COUPLE TIMES I HEARD THE CAR BACKFIRE SO I GOT A NEW CADILLAC CONVERTER. I'VE EVEN HAVE SMELLED SOME SMELLS LIKE BURNING. I HEAR A CLUNKING NOISE IN THE FRONT WHEN I GO OVER A LITTLE BUMPS OR WHEN I TURN REALLY SHARP NOT GOING FAST. BEEN HAVING MULTIPLE ISSUES WITH THIS CAR AND WOULD LIKE SOME HELP FIGURING OUT WHAT'S GOING ON WITH T AND WOULD LIKE SOME HELP FIGURING OUT WHAT'S GOING ON WITH IT! I DON'T FEEL SAFE SOMETIMES AND I'M AFRAID MY CAR SIRI MIGHT GO OUT OR SOMETHING AND IT WON'T RUN OR START FOR ME WHEN I'M DRIVING. PLEASE HELP.
NHTSA complaint #11205384 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
HAVE BEEN HAVING ISSUES WITH THE BATTERY SINCE I GOT THE CAR BACK IN 2017. REPLACED THE BATTERY 3 TIMES WITH A YEAR THINKING IT WAS JUST A DEAD BATTERY. AFTER THE THIRD TIME IT HAPPENED TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT THE BATTERY CABLES NEEDED TO BE CLEANED AND BATTERY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED PAID 400 DOLLARS FOR THAT . 6 MONTHS LATER SAME PROBLEM HAPPENS. I'M IN MY CAR BATTERY LIGHT COMES ON , BATTERY VOLTAGE STARTS TO GET LOW, CAR LOSSES ALL POWER AND I AM STRANDED. HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEAL SHIP BECAUSE I JUST HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM 6 MONTHS AGO . AFTER A WEEK IN THE SHOP I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE BELT AND THE REPAIRS WOULD BE 400 DOLLARS AGAIN. I WENT AHEAD AND AGREED TO HAVE THEM WORK ON THE CAR FOR A CALL A DAY LATER SAYING SOMETHING ELSE'S WAS WRONG AND REPAIRS WERE NOW 1550 DOLLAR. WENT AHEAD AND AGREED TO GET IT FIXED ASKED IS THIS GOING TO FIX MY PROBLEM I'M HAVING WITH THE BATTERY WAS TOLD YES. GOT MY CAR OUT THE SHOP AND HAD THE SAME ISSUE WITH THE BATTERY LIGHT AND CAR STALLING IN LESS THAN 24 HOURS OF HAVING THE CAR OUT OF THE SHOP. I SEARCHED RECALLS AND DID SEE ONE FOR THIS CAR ABOUT THE GCM CAUSES THE BATTERY LIGHT TO COME ON. WHERE I SEARCHED MY VIN NUMBER RECALL DID NOT SHOW UP FOR MY CAR. WHAT AM I TO DO NOW THE DESCRIPTION OF WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH MY CAR FITS THE DESCRIPTION OF A RECALL WITH THIS MAKE MODEL AND YEAR OF MY CAR.
NHTSA complaint #11204191 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEN STOPPED AT LIGHT, CAR SHUT DOWN, WOULD NOT RESTART. (HAD STALL ONE OTHER TIME IN PARKING GARAGE BUT VEHICLE RESTARTED). NO ELECTRICAL, NO FLASHERS. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP. REPLACED BATTERY AND GENERATOR CONTROL MODULE DUE TO MALFUNCTION. ASKED ABOUT 2013 RECALL. WAS TOLD IT DIDN'T APPLY.
NHTSA complaint #11193373 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I HAVE A 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU ECO AND WHEN I STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT THE CAR JUST SHUT DOWN. THOUGHT IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN BAD GAS AT FIRST BECAUSE THE CAR STARTED RIGHT UP. WELL NOT EVEN 15 MINUTES LATER IT DID IT AGAIN. THE CAR STARTED RIGHT BACK UP LIKE IT DID BEFORE AND DIDNT HAVE NO MORE ISSUES OUT OF IT. THE NEXT DAY HAD TO DO SOME RUNNING AROUND THE CAR DID FINE UNTIL THE WAY HOME. THE CAR CUT OFF ON ME THREE DIFFERENT TIMES.ONLY DOES IT WHEN I COME TO A STOP NO MATTER WHERE I'M AT. SOMEDAYS THE CAR DOES BETTER THEN OTHERS JUST HOPE IT DON'T CUT OFF ON ME WHEN I'M DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD.
NHTSA complaint #11163233 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU ECO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE APPROACHED A RED LIGHT AND STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED NORMALLY, BUT STALLED AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE AND RECOMMENDED TAKING IT TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,587.
NHTSA complaint #11149613 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU ECO. WHILE THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE BATTERY SERVICE, SERVICE STABILITY, AND POWER STEERING WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS PUSHED TO THE ROAD SHOULDER AND THE BATTERY WAS CHARGED BY A PASSERBY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT PURCHASED A NEW BATTERY, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
NHTSA complaint #11149670 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ON AUD. 24, 2018 WHEN I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK MY CAR FELT LIKE IT WAS ABOUT TO CUT OFF. THEN ALL OF SUDDEN EVERYTHING INSIDE WENT BLANK AND THE CAR STALLED. I PUT IN PARK AND STARTED IT BACK UP. THREE MINUTES LATER IT DID THE SAME THING, I PUT IN PARK AGAIN AND STARTED IT BACK UP. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND ON MY WAY HOME THAT AFTERNOON IT DID IT TWICE AGAIN. I SAW WHERE WAS A RECALL IN 2013 BUT MINE MUST HAVE BEEN INCLUDED. ITS VERY SCARY RIDING IN TRAFFIC AND YOUR CALL STALLS AND EVERYTHING JUST SHUTS DOWN ON YOU AND I FEEL IT'S ALSO DANGEROUS. I HAVE READ OTHER COMPLAINTS LIKE THIS AND NEED TO KNOW WHAT AM I SUPPOSE TO DO ABOUT IT. I NEED MY CAR TO GO TO WORK.
NHTSA complaint #11124012 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I HAVE BEEN HAVING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THIS YEAR IT FIRST STARTED WITH CAMSHAFT AND SOLENOID SWITCH TO HAVING TO REPAIR THE TIMING CHANGE AFTER THAT WAS REPAIRED I STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR SHUTTING COMPLETELY DOWN LOCKING MY KEYS IN THE IGNITION I WAS TOLD BY STEVE RAYMOND CHEVROLET TO HAVE THE BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR CHECK HAD THAT DONE EVERYTHING COME BACK OKAY THEN I WAS TOLD I NEEDED TO CHANGE THE BATTERY IN MY KEY CHAIN DID THAT I WAS STILL HAVING PROBLEMS MY MAIN BATTERY WOULD LOSE VOLTAGE FLUCTUATE UP AND DOWN IF THE BATTERY VOLTAGE GET TO LOW THAT IS WHEN THE WHOLE CAR SHUTS DOWN THEN FINALLY AFTER ALL THAT I WAS TOLD BY ONE OF THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN THAT MY GENERATOR CONTROL MODULE IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY I HAVE CONTACT GM AND REPORTED IT TO THEM THEY ARE TELLING ME MY VIN IS NOT THE ONE WITH THE RECALL MY CAR HAS THE EASSIST INSTALLED IN MY ECO I ASKED THEM TO SEND ME A LISTING OF THE CHEVROLET MALIBU ECO 2013 I WAS TOLD THEY DIDN'T HAVE A LIST I GOT ON NHTSA WEBSITE AND THERE WAS A RECALL ALONG WITH ALOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS GCM IT ALSO STATED THAT THESE CARS WAS NOT TO BE SOLD ULESS THESE VEHICLES WERE REPAIRED WITH NEW GCM INSTALLED IN THEM MY PART NUMBER IS ALSO LISTED WHICH IS 24269448 I ALSO FOUND PAPERWORK FROM GM ABOUT THIS MATTER I NEED FOR THEM TO STEP UP AND REPAIR MY VEHICLE WHEN I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE BACK ON 08/07/2014 I WAS NEVER TOLD THAT I HAD A HYBRID VEHICLE OR IF THERE WAS ANYTHING WRONG WITH THIS CAR.ALSO WHEN IT FIRST STARTED I WAS TOLD IT WAS MY SENSOR IN MY BACK UP CAMERA WAS NOT WORKING BECAUSE I FIRST HAD LOST POWER TO MY RADIO, BACKUP CAMERA, AND AC I WAS BEING TOLD ALL KINDS OF THINGS.
NHTSA complaint #11123605 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
BATTERY RECHARGE SYSTEM DRAINING BATTERY WHEN CAR IS IN IDOL AND OR CONNECTED TO A CELLULAR DEVICE OR WHEN PASSENGER IS SITTING IN PASSENGER SEAT BATTERY DEPLETES.
NHTSA complaint #11122118 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY BATTERY HAS RANDOMLY BEGAN TO DISCHARGE BY ITSELF AND SOMETIMES THE VEHICLE WONT START. THE CAR TOTALLY SHUT DOWN ON ME WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC AND ALMOST CAUSED A MAJOR ACCIDENT. CALLED GM AND MY LOCAL CHEVY DEALER AND THE SERVICE MANAGER REFUSED TO HELP ME UNLESS I PAID FOR A DIAGNOSTIC ALTHOUGH I ALMOST LOST MY LIFE TO A KNOWN OPEN RECALL ALL BECAUSE MY VIN NUMBER WASNT ON THE LIST. THIS IS HORRIBLE. IF I DIE DUE TO THIS GM NEEDS TO PAY..
NHTSA complaint #11120009 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AUTO STOP START MALFUNCTIONS WHEN STOPPING AT STOP LIGHT, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO COMPLETELY SHUT OFF AND RESTART. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON WITH CODE P305F COMING UP.
NHTSA complaint #11114307 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED MULTIPLE TIMES FOR THE ISSUE OF ATALLING OUT WHILE DRIVING. SEVERAL TIMES I HAVE BEEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WITH TOTAL ELECTRICAL FAILURE. THE ELECTRICAL POWER WILL CUT OUT AFFECTING MY BREAKS, POWER STEERING, GAUGES, AND ENGINE. THIS PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED OVER MULTIPLE OCCASIONS.
NHTSA complaint #11113457 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I HAVE HAD REPEATED ISSUES INVOLVING MY 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU ECO DATING BACK TO 2014. I HAD THE VEHICLE REPAIRED FOR THE SAME ISSUES MULTIPLE TIMES AND THE ISSUE IS STILL NOT RESOLVED. MY VEHICLES HESITATES CONSTANTLY AND STALLS (CUTS COMPLETELY OFF) IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE STEERING WHEEL ALSO LOCKS UP OCCASIONALLY AND WATER LEAKS IN THE TRUNK. I HAVE OWNED A FEW 'BRAND NEW' VEHICLES AND I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED ANYTHING LIKE THIS IN MY LIFE. I AM VERY SCARED FOR MY SAFETY AND THE SAFETY OF MY CHILD. I HAVE VOICED MY CONCERNS ABOUT MY SAFETY MANY TIMES ESPECIALLY AFTER ALMOST BEING HIT FROM BEHIND BY A TRACTOR TRAILER ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY. BY THE GRACE OF GOD OUR LIVES WERE SPARED, BUT IT WAS VERY TRAUMATIZING EXPERIENCE. SINCE THAT INCIDENT MY VEHICLE HAS CONTINUED TO STALL AND I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE IN FOR THE ISSUES. MY CAR HAS CUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF MAJOR INTERSECTIONS, PARKING LOTS, MAIN HIGHWAYS, ETC. AT VARIOUS SPEEDS DRIVING FORWARD AND BACKING UP. NOW MY CHILD IS SCARED TO RIDE IN OUR OWN VEHICLE. EVERY DAY WHEN I GET BEHIND THE WHEEL OF MY CAR ITS LIKE GOING ON SUICIDE MISSION. GM CANNOT FIX THE PROBLEM, WON'T HONOR THEIR WARRANTIES AND BRUSH MY CONCERNS OFF. THIS IS A SERIOUS MATTER AND IT CAN EVENTUALLY RESULT IN THE LOSS OF A LIFE OR MULTIPLE LIVES. I PRAY THAT IT WILL NOT BE ME OR MY DAUGHTER'S LIFE OR WE CAUSE SOMEONE ELSE TO LOSE THEIR LIFE BECAUSE OF OUR STALLED VEHICLE. I HAVE CONTACTED TWO DEALERSHIPS AND GM CORPORATE OFFICE AND I HAVE NOT RECEIVED A RESOLUTION REGARDING MY VEHICLE. BASICALLY, THE DEALERSHIP AND GM CORPORATE CONFIRMED THAT MY SAFETY AND THE SAFETY OF MY CHILD IS NOT A CONCERN OR A PRIORITY. HELP!!
NHTSA complaint #11098645 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.