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SteeringPart report

2013 Chevrolet Malibu Eco Steering Problems

Complaints
16about this part
Share
18%of 87 total for the year
Median mileage
50,719miles
Trend
StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

NHTSA recorded 16 complaints about the steering of the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu Eco, 18% of the 87 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 50,719 miles. 2 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“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

“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

“Around the time I bought the car, on 11/30/12 at 5812 miles, unknown to me the car had a concern of loss of battery charge which called for an inspection of the generator control module. So a gen control module performance test per recall was performed. In may of 2013, I stopped at red traffic light and the engine was idling, when I proceeded to accelerate by placing my foot on the gas pedal at the green light, the vehicle shut off on me. This had nothing to do with the automatic shut-off that conserves energy. …”

NHTSA complaint #10616605, filed 2014-07, 38,548 miles

“Takata inflators was driving on a city street and check engine light came on. Pulled over and turned car off. Sat for about 10 minutes and started it again, check engine light was still on. Started to drive back to my house and got only 10 feet before the car shut itself off, and wheel locked up. Put the car in park, and tried starting it again, and it turned over but shut itself off again, with notice of engine power reduced, service stabilitrak. Would not start the third time. This is my only means of transportation, and being a mother I need this car to work and take care of my kids. …”

NHTSA complaint #11119369, filed 2018-08, 68,800 miles

“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. I was told that the steering power is electrical and their computer reads that there are no issues with it. …”

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

Related service bulletins

Steering: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
20131618%

Other parts of the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu Eco

Electrical system
49 complaints
Engine
22 complaints
Electronic stability control
12 complaints
Air bags
10 complaints
Brakes
9 complaints
Other or unknown
8 complaints
Transmission and drivetrain
8 complaints
Fuel system
6 complaints
Vehicle speed control
4 complaints
Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
4 complaints
Exterior lighting
2 complaints
Engine 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