2013 Chevrolet Malibu Eco Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often report electrical and charging problems, particularly stalls and loss of power in the eAssist system, sometimes while driving and sometimes at a stop. Steering effort that feels heavy or briefly locked and illuminated air bag warnings are also common themes, while engine oil consumption appears in complaints at higher mileages.

1. 1
   Electrical system

   Stalling and loss of electrical power (eAssist

   • 47 complaints (54%)
   • median 70,000 mi at 5.5 yrs old (43 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2013–2024

   Complaints describe the vehicle shutting off or losing all electrical power, sometimes while driving at speed and sometimes while stopped at a light; some say it restarts normally at first and then recurs. Warning messages such as service battery charging system, battery saver mode, or reduced engine power often appear, and several owners say a jump start was needed. Multiple complaints mention a burning or crackling smell from the trunk area near the eAssist battery, and owners describe dealers clearing codes, replacing batteries or cables, or being unable to reproduce the fault. Several reports say the vehicle was not covered by the generator control module campaign. Reported across a wide mileage range, from a few thousand miles to well past 150,000, in both cold and warm weather.

   Recall 13V1730008 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the generator control module recall work was completed and whether the 12V and eAssist batteries have been tested or replaced. Watch for battery or charging warnings at startup and any smell from the trunk.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “When I am driving my car, the whole car shut off. The battery goes basically dead and my steering locks on me. I then have to put it in park in the middle of the road just so I can restart the car. I was on the freeway yesterday with my 6 six year old godson and the car shut off in the middle of driving in traffic on the freeway. It is starting to get scary and I need it fixed.”

   NHTSA complaint #11097113, filed 2018-05, 80,000 miles

   “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, filed 2018-08, 80,000 miles
2. 2
   Steering

   Steering feels heavy or briefly locks

   Mentioned in 10 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners describe the steering becoming stiff or feeling as though it locks, especially at highway speed or in a straight-ahead position, and say it needs a tug to free up, which can cause a slight swerve. Some tie the loss of assist to cold weather, and one complaint says the electric assist motor had quit after a cold snap. Dealers in several complaints said they could not duplicate the condition or found no stored codes; one repair involved inspecting the steering gear for grease. Mostly reported between roughly 9,000 and 65,000 miles, several in cold weather or at higher speeds.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Drive the car at highway speed and note whether steering effort feels uneven or sticky, and ask whether electric power steering assist faults have been diagnosed. Check for a service steering message on startup.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Purchased 2013 chevy Malibu Eco in august 2013, and recently started noticing that steering wheel becomes very stiff and feels like it locks when driving over 60 MPH and in a 12 o'clock steering position. I have to jerk it when making slight turns or changing lanes, and has almost caused me to have an accident. I took it to freeway Chevrolet in chandler, az. The car was left there for four days, and dealer said they could not find any issues. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10567990, filed 2014-03, 9,000 miles

   “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. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11098645, filed 2018-05, 52,938 miles
3. 3
   Air bags

   Air bag warning light on

   • 9 complaints (10%)
   • median 45,000 mi at 4.5 yrs old (9 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2014–2019

   Owners report the air bag or service air bag warning appearing, sometimes after a battery drain or jump start and sometimes intermittently along with other dash lights. A few complaints mention the passenger seat not being detected, and one says the air bag did not deploy in a collision. Dealers are described as replacing wiring or clearing lights, with one owner reporting the same warning returning after repeated visits. Spread from very low mileage up to around 95,000 miles, with several reports under 40,000 miles.

   What to check: Confirm the air bag light turns on and goes out with the ignition and stays off, and check that the passenger seat is recognized with someone seated. Ask whether any air bag-related service or recalls were completed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I purchased this vehicle on february 7, 2013. Before driving off of the dealer lot, we asked why an airbag light was flashing. The dealership assured us it was fine and did not look into it. They let us drive the car home. After about a week of the light continuing to flash and the car not recognizing that my husband was in the passenger seat and turning the passenger airbag on, we decided to take it into the local dealership to get it checked out. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10598326, filed 2014-06, 352 miles

   “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, filed 2019-07, 118 miles
4. 4
   Brakes

   Brake pedal stays engaged or brakes drag

   • 9 complaints (10%)
   • median 44,407 mi at 3.6 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2014–2019

   Complaints describe the brakes staying applied after the pedal is released, especially in warm weather, so the car slows on its own or feels as if the parking brake is on. One owner says lifting the pedal with a foot released it, and a dealer traced the problem to a sticking brake pedal pivot bushing and replaced the pedal arm and retainers. Another complaint describes the vehicle lurching forward into the car ahead while the brake was firmly held. Reported from a few thousand miles to around 50,000 miles, with several noting warm-weather conditions.

   What to check: After a test drive in warm weather, check that the brake pedal returns fully and that the wheels are not dragging or hot. Ask whether the pedal pivot or bushings have been serviced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I purchased this vehicle january 2014 at 5,000 miles. I began to notice trouble with brakes and acceleration a couple of months after. Braking was not smooth or consistent at times. At times I wasn't able to accelerate and it felt like I was driving with parking brake on. Later I noticed that I could control this by lifting the brake pedal with my foot. The brake pedal wasn't releasing on its own. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10604619, filed 2014-06, 7,000 miles

   “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. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11209320, filed 2019-05, 52,500 miles
5. 5
   Engine

   Excessive engine oil consumption

   Mentioned in 4 of 60 sampled complaints

   Complaints describe the check engine light coming on before the next scheduled oil change, with the engine found several quarts low. Owners report monitoring oil level between services after a dealer diagnosis on the 2.4L engine. A separate service bulletin addresses diagnosing oil consumption, and other bulletins cover oil contamination in the cooling system. Reported mostly at higher mileages, typically above 90,000 miles.

   4 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check the oil level and condition before and after a test drive, ask for oil change records, and note whether the check engine light is on. Ask whether any oil consumption diagnosis or repair has been done.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Excessive oil consumption regarding the ecotec 2.4l engine (luk). I had purchased my vehicle in september of 2018 with 87,932 miles. The vehicle was inspected and serviced. Prior to reaching the recommended 7500 mile oil change interval and before the 'change oil soon' notification, my check engine light illuminated. I had the vehicle towed to a certified GM dealership to be diagnosed on december 14th 2018. It was noted the vehicle was 3 quarts low on oil at 94,530 miles. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11206061, filed 2019-05, 94,530 miles

   “I purchased my 2013 Malibu Eco in november of 2013. On or about march 1, 2014 we were traveling at approximately 70 miles per hour when were cut off by a truck. I had to slam on the brakes with some force to avoid a collision and upon doing so the motor lost all power and began to shake with my speed going from 70 down to 20 MPH. I could not regain the speed limit and had to pull over thinking it was because I was driving using the manual option. I was in 6th gear with cruise control on. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10643786, filed 2014-10, 5,000 miles

Buying note. Check the electrical and charging history closely, including whether the generator control module recall was performed, and test the steering and brakes on a long drive. A pre-purchase inspection with a scan tool and an oil level check is worth doing on this model year.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.