2013 Chevrolet Malibu Problems

What owners report

Complaints for this model year center on sudden loss of electrical power while driving — dash lights go dark, power steering assist drops out, and the engine may stall. The same dash-dark-and-stall pattern is described from roughly 50,000 to over 190,000 miles, so it is not limited to low-mileage cars. Rear suspension and toe-link complaints and air bag warning lights make up most of the rest of the sample.

1. 1
   Electrical system

   Electrical power loss, stalling and loss of power steering

   • 526 complaints (63%)
   • median 70,000 mi at 5.6 yrs old (399 state mileage)
   • 20 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $750 (median of 15 quotes)
   • filed 2013–2026

   Owners describe the dash lights and instrument cluster going dark, the radio cutting out, and power steering assist dropping away, sometimes with the engine stalling or shutting off at speed or when pulling away from a stop. Many say the car restarts after being shut off and restarted, or after the battery is disconnected and reconnected, so the failure comes and goes. Complaints describe dealers being unable to duplicate the problem or finding no stored trouble codes; in some cases a generator control module or battery/alternator repair was diagnosed. Reported across a wide mileage range, from about 50,000 to over 190,000 miles, often during steady driving or while accelerating from a stop.

   Recall 12V224000Recall 16V5020001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask for any history of battery, alternator or generator control module replacement, and whether the car has ever stalled or lost power steering. A scan for stored body and chassis codes may help, but owners report codes are often absent.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “At various times while driving-whether parked, actively driving, at a stop sign, turning, backing up- my cars power will flicker and the engine shuts off causing the steering to lock. This has done this to me quite a few times, almost causing an accident on more then one occasion. Sometimes it will do it as often as 14 times in a 25 minute ride. No lights such as the cel or anything come on beforehand to indicate that theres a problem when it happens. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11331353, filed 2020-06, 64,000 miles

   “While driving my vehicle turned off and back on. The vehicle was stalling all the way home turning on and off. Highest speed I was driving was no more than 35 MPH.”

   NHTSA complaint #11394626, filed 2021-02, 140,963 miles
2. 2
   Suspension

   Rear suspension / toe-link noise, play or breakage

   • 60 complaints (7%)
   • median 100,000 mi at 8.9 yrs old (21 state mileage)
   • 5 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2018–2026

   Complaints describe a fractured rear toe link, unusual noise from the rear of the car, and a stability warning light coming on while driving. Several owners say they were told the recall repair could not be done because parts were unavailable or because corrosion underneath was too extensive. Some report the recall letter arriving after a suspension-related failure had already occurred. Mostly reported between about 55,000 and 145,000 miles, with some at higher mileage; several mentions of rust or corrosion underneath.

   Recall 21V00F000Recall 21V633000Recall 20V764000Recall 13V0240001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Confirm with a dealer whether the rear suspension recall was completed, and have the rear toe links and bolts inspected for looseness, corrosion and play before buying.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 20v764000 (suspension) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact had not spoken with a dealer. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11399723, filed 2021-03, 94,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the rear tow link fractured. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer to be repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V633000 (Suspension) and the contact was informed that the lug nuts were swollen. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 250,000.”

   NHTSA complaint #11563486, filed 2024-01, 250,000 miles
3. 3
   Engine

   Engine stalling at low speed or when stopping

   • 114 complaints (14%)
   • median 80,000 mi at 6.1 yrs old (89 state mileage)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $900 (median of 5 quotes)
   • filed 2014–2026

   Owners describe the engine dying when coming to a stop or applying throttle to pull away, sometimes with a rough idle or vibration beforehand and no check engine light. Complaints mention throttle body cleaning, spark plug replacement and other tune-up work without a lasting fix, and dealers saying they cannot find the cause without a stored code. Most commonly reported between about 60,000 and 130,000 miles, typically at stops, low-speed turns or after exiting a highway.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Test drive the car through several stops and slow turns and note any stumble, drop in rpm or stall. Ask for maintenance records on the throttle body, spark plugs and high-pressure fuel pump.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Bought the vehicle from merchants auto in oct 2019 and within a week the car stalled to start. I called around nov 2019 to set up an appt to have it fixed. They couldn't duplicate it so it couldn't be fixed. I went back on 2/15/20 and 5/29/20 and recently on 6/29/20. They still could not duplicate our call stalling and then shutting off when coming to a stop. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11337601, filed 2020-07, 100,500 miles

   “Upon exiting the expressway and coming to a complete stop the vehicle loses all power. I then must put the vehicle in park to restart it, I also have to push on the accelerator to give the vehicle gas as it will not start without performing this step. This issue has happened approximately 20 times. I have had my mechanic inspect my vehicle and he is unable to find any issues as when this happens no codes appear on a reader and no warnings are displayed on the dash.”

   NHTSA complaint #11400196, filed 2021-03, 72,000 miles
4. 4
   Air bags

   Air bag warning light and module faults

   • 65 complaints (8%)
   • median 76,431 mi at 5.7 yrs old (42 state mileage)
   • 15 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2013–2026

   Owners report the air bag warning light illuminating or flashing intermittently, sometimes shortly after start-up and sometimes while driving. Complaints describe diagnosis as an air bag module fault, and in a few cases air bags deploying without an impact while the car was being parked or reversed. Many owners note the vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired at the time of the complaint. Reported from about 50,000 to 145,000 miles, with no consistent weather or use pattern in the sample.

   What to check: Cycle the ignition and watch for an air bag warning that stays lit, and ask whether the air bag module or wiring has been replaced or diagnosed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “On most of the 2013 chevy Malibu the air bag has been recalled my car has had the airbag warning light on since I purchased my 2013. I don't feel safe and when I called chevy directly they told me to just keep checking my VIN # should be on the recall for the air bag soon. It's still not showing up. I keep getting a warning low engine power, some one said don't drive a car that says this.”

   NHTSA complaint #11376790, filed 2020-11, 102,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated while starting the vehicle, the air bag warning illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed and DTC: B101D – (Air bag module failure) was retrieved. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 142,000.”

   NHTSA complaint #11638295, filed 2025-01, 142,000 miles
5. 5
   Engine

   Excessive oil consumption

   Mentioned in 4 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners describe using large amounts of oil between changes with no visible leaks, in one case several quarts over a short distance. Complaints mention timing chain damage and metal debris found in the engine, and owners saying they were told their vehicle identification number was not covered by a related program. Reported from very low mileage up to roughly 105,000 miles in the sample.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check the oil level and condition on a cold engine, look for a fuel or burnt smell on the dipstick, and ask whether oil consumption or timing chain work has been documented.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Ac control not send signal to AC compressor. Stuck in heat on last setting I had the control on. I bought new AC compressor because was told the AC compress has power but not working. After replacing the compressor problem still was on going now told AC is not sending message to compress to turn on.”

   NHTSA complaint #11328124, filed 2020-06, 95,000 miles

   “At 85000 miles my timing chain just went bad..but it also known that this happens with this car...why is this not corrected by company...that's 2000 dollars that ppl don't have....and there's nothing you can do to prevent it..... Don't have papers too prove it but...”

   NHTSA complaint #11328812, filed 2020-06, 85,500 miles

Buying note. Have the car inspected for rear suspension recall completion and corrosion, and road test it through stops and slow turns to check for stalling and power steering loss. Service records on battery, alternator and generator control module work are worth asking for, since owners often report intermittent electrical faults that leave no codes.

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.