2013 Chevrolet Malibu other reported problems

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

While driving my 2013 Chevrolet Malibu (2.5L), I experienced a sudden and severe failure of the braking system. [Insert exactly what happened here—for example: 'The brake pedal suddenly went completely to the floor,' 'The brakes unexpectedly locked up,' 'The vehicle experienced a sudden loss of braking power,' or 'The brake warning lights illuminated right as the brakes failed']. This occurred while traveling at approximately 25 mph on a one-lane road. This total/partial loss of braking power created an immediate safety hazard and a high risk of a crash. The vehicle had to be shifted into manual, then safely coasted to a stop. No prior warning signs or brake issues occurred immediately leading up to this event.

NHTSA complaint #11738680 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

My backup camera is not working properly. I show a large cloudy spot in the view.

NHTSA complaint #11734799 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

The vehicle was purchased on 04/07 and represented with a mileage of 167,334 at the time of sale. No issues with the odometer or mileage accuracy were disclosed prior to purchase. On 04/08, the vehicle was taken to Walmart Auto Care Center for routine service, where it was identified and documented that the odometer/instrument cluster is not functioning and does not display or track mileage. Because the odometer is inoperative, the stated mileage cannot be verified, and the condition existed at the time of sale but was not disclosed. The vehicle was sold in a condition where accurate mileage could not be determined, despite a specific mileage being provided. The failure of the odometer creates a safety concern, as it prevents proper tracking of maintenance intervals, including oil changes, brake servicing, and other critical upkeep. This increases the risk of operating the vehicle with worn or unsafe components, which could lead to mechanical failure while driving. The issue has been confirmed by an independent service center, and documentation is available. The vehicle remains available for inspection upon request. No prior warnings, indicator lights, or disclosures were provided before purchase, and the defect was identified within one day of ownership.

NHTSA complaint #11734090 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

The engine light came on, later while driving the car shuts down engine reduced speed, engine power reduced. I have to restart the car and sometimes that dont help. Also the (ABS) light came on service stabilitrak, my anti brakes went out

NHTSA complaint #11713299 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

GM reclassified a known safety defect affecting over 300,000 vehicles as a “special coverage campaign” instead of a recall. This has allowed them to deny timely repairs and loaner vehicles, leaving owners without safe transportation.I have been without my vehicle since August 2021. I began actively trying to repair it again in June 2025, and the dealer has had it for the past week with no resolution. Both Benton Chevrolet and Gwatney Chevrolet in Arkansas have refused to coordinate a loaner despite GM’s ability to authorize one. My family is displaced, and this is a safety hazard.GM Case #[XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA complaint #11685459 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

The knob that slides and opens the hidden compartment behind the radio has melted and gets black goo all over everything. It's definitely a widespread problem that many people have experienced and should be recalled. I can't find just a replacement knob without replacing the entire thing.

NHTSA complaint #11680746 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

There is a recall on the brake booster on the 2014 Malibu manufactured in 2013 my car is a 2013 and I have the same issue.i have had multiple things wrong.I was driving and had no brakes at all I had to push hard and it finally stopped. Hazardous to drive now until fixed.i feel it should be covered as it is the same issue on the 2014

NHTSA complaint #11664767 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

The instrument cluster temporarily shorts out or goes blank and them comes back on and resets in a different display mode. There are various display modes having different information such as mph, fuel efficiency, etc. Several repair shops tell me that in order to diagnose the problem, the cluster has to be exhibiting the problem when they look at it. In other words, it has to be a continuous short out. It's not continuous, it's temporary and sporadic or random. This is a direct safety issue in that the driver has no reading on the vehicle speed and when the short out becomes long term or permanent the car will have to be driven with no reading of speed or engine monitoring parameters such as temperature and oil pressure. New clusters are no longer available and rebuilt requires shipping the existing cluster for exchange. This is a common problem, as documented through Google search. Concerning the vehicle speed question below, anywhere from 0 to 70 mph.

NHTSA complaint #11659825 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

My instrument cluster isn't working correctly. Some days I go out to start my car and the instrument cluster works. As I'm driving down the road my instrument cluster just stops working. My speedometer doesn't work, my rpms, the lights, temperature gauge and gas gauge just stops working. It's very scary and my transmission doesn't want to shift and my engine power is bogging down. This is really dangerous and I feel like my life is in danger. I pull off the road and shut my 2013 Chevy Malibu off and restart it and sometimes it comes back on and instrument cluster works but start driving and the instrument cluster stops working again. I have had my mechanic try to figure it out but so far I haven't been able to find out where the issue is so I haven't been able to fix it. My brakes have also been not engaging properly. I have had to replace my brakes 3 times so far after I got the brakes fixed for the 3rd time I haven't had very many problems. I also had to replace all my hubs as well as the brakes. Also something electrical isn't functioning correctly and when I shut my car off it makes a clicking noise right after I turn my car off. I'm a member of a Chevy Malibu group and there are thousands of people from all over the world with the same issues that I'm having with my vehicle. No warning lights have came on for any of the problems I'm having with my car. Please look into this and help me,us that are having these issues Thank you for your time. The next question of what date I can't really answer because it's been multiple dates. The question below about what mph I was going I can't answer because my mph wasn't working.

NHTSA complaint #11653061 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

Without any warning and while driving the MALIBU 2LT goes into engine reduced power mode and will not excel over 50mph. NEXT, the Service stable track warning light would come on intermittently and disable traction control. This is very dangerous. Also the MALIBU 2LT will jerk at the wheel without warning when the power steering warning comes on. Additionally, power steering fluid does not have a measuring device to see when it falls below the required amount needed. It’s basically a guessing game that costs over $120.00 to have checked with no real resolve .

NHTSA complaint #11628168 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

One day the car didn’t want to speed up and we almost had a car wreck

NHTSA complaint #11618017 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

While driving down the road the check engine light comes on and a warning message comes across the screen saying "engine power reduced service stability trac now" the car then goes into limp mode. This has happened 3 times since I bought it in March of 2023. If I shut the car off and it sits for 45 minutes to an hour and start it back up the check engine light is still on but the stability trac light is off and she drives fine. I have taken it into the shop 5 times. Everytime it's been in the shop a part has been replaced but it is still happening. It drives great with no problem until that light comes on.

NHTSA complaint #11615746 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

This car stop on the middle of the highway with my kids in the car we we’re almost crashed it’s un safe and they need too recall the Chevy Malibu it’s very dangerous to stop out of nowhere and cut off I can kill somebody one day everything has been replaced and it’s still cutting off I shouldn’t be responsible for paying for this lemon

NHTSA complaint #11581869 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

The dash board goes out and you can not see speed or anything goes completely black and sometimes won't come back on for days. Unable to see information center.

NHTSA complaint #11573235 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

In July 2023, my husband was driving ON THE HIGHWAY when the car suddenly decelerated itself. A system error message came up saying service stabilitrak and reduced engine power - he couldn't go more than 40 mph. We took it to the repair shop and they determined the high pressure fuel failed and the engine was running off the lift pump. They replaced the high pressure fuel pump with gasket and pressure line. Then, in late September 2023, the car turned off while my husband was driving (while he was stopped). He was able to turn it back on and drive it home. There were no warning lights/messages. We took it to the repair shop, but there were no error codes and they were unable to determine the issue. Next, at the end of October 2023, when coming to a stop the vehicle shut off again - almost every time my husband would come to a stop. When this happened, it still had power (because the radio was still on), but he had to shut vehicle off completely and restart it each time. There were no warning lights/messages. We took it back to the repair shop. Again, no codes were stored in ecm/tcm. This time, they test drove it while monitoring the data. They determined that the torque converter clutch was hanging up. They also experienced some long shifts and occasional slippage and determined that the transmission would need to be replaced. The issues above are just the most recent issues. Aside from regular brakes, tires, and oil changes, other work I’ve had done on the car includes the repair/replacement of: rear suspension toe link recall (three times), water pump, brake booster vacuum, a/c compressor, timing chain, guides, tensioner, cam actuators, intake and cam actuators, exhaust cam solenoid, exhaust manifold bolts with associated hardware and gaskets, thermostat (twice), battery (twice), spark plugs, and back left hub assembly. I have still have the documentation for all of the above.

NHTSA complaint #11553194 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

The instrument cluster goes out. Can't see anything on the dash speed gas or anything while driving or goes out completely. Can not drive car. Not safe to drive don't know if I have gas or how fast I'm going or if I have any warnings on the car.

NHTSA complaint #11543481 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

LOSS OF BATTERY CHARGE - INSPECT GENERATOR CONTROL MODULE Previous recall issued, Chevy says car issue was resolved but is not

NHTSA complaint #11542196 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

Driving the vehicle it just shuts off, the will cause an accident driving down the road. It’s a major issue with shutting off an the ignition switch at that. I can’t drive it it’s parked. Along with the engine. My mechanic told me these are the troubles there should be a recall on these cars.

NHTSA complaint #11510160 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

My daughters 2013 Chevy Malibu sporadically for no reason shuts off when she stop at a stop light or when she is idling. Then it requires her to turn the vehicle off and then back on. Some times it stars right up and she can go and other times it starts up and shuts right back off and other times she will have to do it twice. I find it to be pretty dangerous to for her to be stalled in the middle of a busy road. I also pray that it doesn’t just shut off while she is driving where a car may rear end my daughter. No it has not been verified by any one do to the sporadic times it happens. However as I do my research trying to find a solution to the problem it sound like it is a common occurrence with the 2013 Chevy Malibu. So far there have been no warning lamps triggered. Like I said it is sporadic and there is no rhyme or reason it happens. This is definitely something that Chevy should be forced to recall and fix because it definitely if a major safety issue. If you look up why is my 2013 Chevy Malibu shutting off on the internet you will see that there definitely is a issue with this happening to others since it pops up right away telling you that it is a regularly searched topic. Please help. Thanks for your time

NHTSA complaint #11504329 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

Under a slow acceleration doing highway speed say going up a incline the car will get a burning smell in the cabin its smell like burning electrical wireing so far now visible smoke.

NHTSA complaint #11481080 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

No warm/hot air blowing to the front windshield to defrost during winter months. Hazard to drive especially in the winter months when I need to see out the window. Heater motor works. The heat also builds up inside behind the radio screen compartment causing the radio screen to turn off.

NHTSA complaint #11454347 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

The 2013 Malibu continues to die when coming to a stop at a stop sign/light or at low rate of speed. This poses a major safety risk as when driving down the interstate and coming to a low speed the car will die and at times struggle to restart. This increases the chances of getting hit by moving vehicles. The car has been to a mechanic and confirmed that the car continues to die when coming to a stop or low speed but no engine codes show. This has been a known problem of the 2013 Malibu with no known fix.

NHTSA complaint #11442207 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

ALL ELECTRICAL INSIDE CAR GOES OUT OR ON AND OFF WHILE DRIVING. ALL DASH GAUGES, SPEEDOMETER, GAS GAUGE, RADIO, HEAT/AC, TURN SIGNALS, ETC. CAR STILL RUNS BUT NOTHING ON INSIDE WORKS. I do not know if this control outage effects the ABS or Steering. It only last for a few seconds. It has happened several time will drive 50 to 70 MPH. I've let off the gas and try not to panic. Everything comes back on and I continue home. I'm scared to drive my car

NHTSA complaint #11427964 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU. CONSUMER WRITES SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT FOR VEHICLE REPAIR.

NHTSA complaint #11425076 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

Car is stuck in heat. Sometimes the controls come on by themselves and hard to turn off. Heat does not defrost the window it sometime make it worse and hard to see while driving. Was told that it is not the compressor but the wiring and programming of the control system. A recall for other years have been issued for similar issues. This is the third report filed.

NHTSA complaint #11420553 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

2013 Malibu is shutting off on its own while driving, vehicle restarts on its own. This occurs randomly when driving down the road. Some times vehicle is turning, sometimes it is when the vehicle is going straight. This first happened about May 15, 2021. It happened 3 times May 22, 2021. Steering does not work while engine is off. This is a very dangerous. We noticed radio stops working. We took it to Berger Chevrolet May 17,2021. They could not find a problem. They said a while guess would be to change the battery. We did not have battery changed.

NHTSA complaint #11418221 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

GOT A SAFETY RECALL NOTICE N202308930 ON JANUARY 2021 AND STILL NO INFO ABOUT PARTS TO REPAIR. I HAVE A KID ABOUT TO DRIVE FROM INDIANA TO CONNECTICUT AND I'M A LITTLE CONCERNED.

NHTSA complaint #11415702 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

THE STEERING WHEEL STICKS/LOCKS UP ON LEFT AND RIGHT TURNS, USUALLY WHILE DRIVING ON STREET ROADS. THE STEERING WHEEL ALSO LOCKED WHILE SWITCHING LANES ON THE HIGHWAY. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN. THE RADIO ALSO BLANKS IN/OUT OFTEN WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, SOMETIMES IN CONJUNCTION WITH STEERING ISSUES. I'VE ONLY HAD THIS VEHICLE FOR A SHORT TIME AND BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP ON REPEATED OCCASIONS WITHOUT ANY LUCK WITH DUPLICATION OR RESOLUTION. ALSO, THE PENDING PRODUCT SAFETY RECALL REGARDING THE REAR SUSPENSION TOE LINK HASN'T BEEN ADDRESSED BY THE DEALERSHIP DUE TO NO AVAILABILITY OF PARTS FROM MANUFACTURER. I'VE PAID FOR THIS USED VEHICLE BUT INHERITED THESE ISSUES WHICH ARE MAJOR SAFETY CONCERNS AND VERY BAD BUSINESS. (SUPPORTING DOCS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST)

NHTSA complaint #11408438 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

THERE IS A RECALL(FROM GM) REGARDING REAR TOE LINKS THAT RECEIVED EXCESSIVE ELECTROCOATING CORROSION PROTECTION WHICH COULD CAUSE THE E-COAT TO BECOME BRITTLE AND BREAK AWAY WHEN CONTACTED BY ROAD DEBRIS. THIS CAN REDUCE THE ABILITY TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

NHTSA complaint #11406380 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

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 $80.00 TO BE TOLD THAT THE SDM AIRBAG MODULE NEEDS REPLACED AND ESTIMATED COST FOR THIS IS $1100.00. MY CAR ONLY HAS 108232 MILES ON IT AND TO KNOW THAT IT COULD COST ME EITHER MY FAMILIES LIFE OR $1100.00 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.

NHTSA complaint #11397792 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.