2013 Chevrolet Malibu Eco Electrical system Problems
- Complaints
- 49about this part
- Share
- 56%of 87 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 73,000miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 49 complaints about the electrical system of the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu Eco, 56% of the 87 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 73,000 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved and 1 a fire, according to the filers. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“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“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, filed 2018-07, 142,000 miles“The car will stop in the middle of driving it! The codes on my car is p00014 and p00010. This issue will cause accidents. Please notify the drives of this recall I have went to the safercar link and checked me car VIN and the recall has not been sent out for this car but it will cause injuries if not death. My car stopped on the in the middle of traffic..”
NHTSA complaint #10885209, filed 2016-07, 64,000 miles“Car starts ever now and than. It won't start all the time and breaks down all the electrical in the car has problems if the car starts it will shut off and the steering locks up which could kill me or someone else the breaks won't work when this happens. The lights shut off radio shuts off nothing electrical works I'm scared to drive this car. Not sure what it is and the dealer isn't sure what it is”
NHTSA complaint #11020574, filed 2017-08, 67,000 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 milesRelated recalls
- 13V173000May 6, 2013General Motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2012 and 2013 Buick LaCrosse and Regal, and model year 2013 Chevrolet Malibu Eco vehicles equipped with…Covers: Chevrolet Malibu Eco 2013, Buick Lacrosse 2012–2013, Regal 2012–2013
Related service bulletins
- 11024324Sep 4, 2025This Warranty Administration service bulletin provides Lithium-Ion battery Exchange Process and Transaction Submission information.
- 11023365May 14, 2025This Warranty Administration service bulletin provides Lithium-Ion battery Exchange Process and Transaction Submission information.
- 11017595Apr 3, 2025This service bulletin provides information on the proper Reflective High Temperature Heat and/or Insulating Tape to use for certain repairs, such as Wiring Harness Repairs.
- 11017244Mar 31, 2025The intent of this service bulletin is to identify aftermarket ALDL or DLC interface devices as potential sources for causing multiple customer concerns that do not have other…
- 11017031Mar 12, 2025This service bulletin provides information to diagnose batteries that have set for a long period of time and/or cold weather climates and testing those batteries.
- 11014230Jan 31, 2025This bulletin advises the dealers to maintain the vehicle stock on hand by doing a full inspection on the vehicles before being sold (prepping) to the customer.
- 11013239Jan 14, 2025This Warranty Administration service bulletin provides Lithium-Ion battery Exchange Process and Transaction Submission information.
- 11013069Jan 9, 2025This bulletin provides information on identifying Non-GM Engine Calibrations for Gasoline Engines using the Tech 2 or GDS 2.
- 11012678Dec 12, 2024This Warranty Administration service bulletin provides Lithium-Ion battery Exchange Process and Transaction Submission information.
- 11011805Dec 6, 2024This Preliminary information communicates a GM part number for reflective high temperature heat or insulating tape when repairing wiring harnesses.
Electrical system: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 2 | 17% |
| 2013 | 49 | 56% |
Other parts of the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu Eco
22 complaintsSteering
16 complaintsElectronic stability control
12 complaintsAir bags
10 complaintsBrakes
9 complaintsOther or unknown
8 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
8 complaintsFuel system
6 complaintsVehicle speed control
4 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
4 complaintsExterior lighting
2 complaintsEngine cooling
1 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu Eco
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology