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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
6 / 5
Injuries / Deaths:
5 / 0
Average Mileage:
67,093 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2013 Chevrolet Malibu electrical problems

electrical problem

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2013 Chevrolet Malibu Owner Comments (Page 10 of 18)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #163

Oct 182018

Malibu

  • 69,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

When driving my car mulitiple electrical issues occur, I will turn on the blinkers and the radio and dash lights will go out and back on. At times the car will completely lose power and I will have to turn it off and then back on. The most dangerous time I was turning left on van dyke ave in Warren Michigan, a large 6 lane road, when I lost all power including power steering I was able to quickly turn the key ignition off and back on again and get off the road before oncoming traffic arrived. I took my car to hamilton Chevrolet dealership and they were unable to find any problems with it. I picked up my car from the dealership, after 2 weeks there, and drove to work the next morning at 5am and pulled into the parking lot at work as I parked the car, the car lost all power except this time I was unable to restart the car and had it towed back to hamilton Chevrolet.

- Warren, MI, USA

problem #162

Oct 042018

Malibu

  • 110,000 miles
While vehicle is in drive, the car radio will turn off, power steering is affected (very difficult to turn wheel), lights on dashboard all come on and if backing up the rear camera will not work. Repair shop cant figure out, tested electrical, battery and alternator. Scary lots of others posting very similar problem needs to be addressed!!

- Norton, MA, USA

problem #161

Jun 012015

Malibu

  • 65,000 miles
I purchased a 2013 certified pre-owned Chevrolet Malibu from a Chevrolet dealership in November of 2014. I was satisfied with my purchase for a few months with no issues until I started having problems with the electrical. My first frightening experience was traveling on the interstate exiting onto a highway via a cloverleaf. While merging onto the highway, I lost all power, including power steering. Luckily no one was in the other lane, as my car veered across the line, into the other lane. The power came back on a few seconds later. I brought my car into the dealership where I purchased it, however they were unable to pinpoint the issue. They scanned the vehicles system for error codes, cleared the codes and sent me on my way. Since this initial issue, my car loses power randomly while driving, parked, using my turn signal, turning left, turning right, etc. The power steering goes out, the dashboard and vehicle display monitor go black. Some instances it will flicker, other times it will shut down completely. I have had it towed from my driveway as I have been unable to turn it on and towed from a retail parking lot. I have had the car inspected by the dealership 4 times and a separate privately owned garage twice, with no resolution. I contacted GM/Chevrolet regarding the issue and a case number was given to me. They had me bring my car to a Chevrolet dealership. After their inspection, the dealership stated it was the positive battery cable that is malfunctioning. I reached out to Chevrolet again about a resolution and they indicated the vehicle is outside of warranty so no repair support will be provided. If this issue would have been resolved within the initial inspection, the certified pre-owned status of my vehicle may have covered repairs. My concern is the larger impact of others experiencing the same issues and getting the same response by GM.

- West Saint Paul, MN, USA

problem #160

Oct 022018

Malibu

  • 110,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Check engine light constantly on, cant clear. Screen on radio is completely blacked out and wont turn on. Trunk randomly pops open by itself. Hard down shift. Battery seems weakening when cranking car

- Lake City, SC, USA

problem #159

Aug 102018

Malibu

  • 79,000 miles
The dashboard completely went out no gauges work, no fuses are blown and dealership doesn't know why

- Country Club Hills, IL, USA

problem #158

Oct 022018

Malibu

  • 1,000,300 miles
2013 Malibu ls same problem as eco has been doing this for awhile now voltage drops enging stalls power stering brakes everything shuts off also does this when you turn turn signals on radio every thing shuts off this is a factory problem that need to be fixed this could cause someone to get hurt or killed no control when everything shuts off does this at different speeds

- Shelbyville, TN, USA

problem #157

Mar 242018

Malibu

  • 77,494 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Malibu. While driving, the instrument cluster lighting flickered and the vehicle lost power. Additionally, the steering wheel was difficult to turn. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was taken to ed rinke Chevrolet Buick GMC (26125 van dyke, center line, mi 48015, (866) 461-1170) where it was diagnosed that the battery cable needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was contacted and provided case number: 8-4683000874. The contact was advised to call the dealer. The failure mileage was 77,494.

- Fraser, MI, USA

problem #156

Aug 252018

Malibu

  • 66,600 miles
I would be driving the car and all the lights on the dashboard would come on and then go off. The steering would pull to the left. A couple of times all the lights on the dashboard would come on and the car would cut off while I'm driving on the road.

- Fork Union, VA, USA

problem #155

Sep 202018

Malibu

  • 1,000,213 miles
Driving down road engine stalls for 30 to 40 seconds everythying shuts down low voltage when lights are

- Shelbyville, TN, USA

problem #154

Sep 212018

Malibu

  • 143,000 miles
Vehicle was traveling at highway speeds when all power cut out on Sept 5, 2018. Power restored within 10 seconds. Took to dealer on Sept. 6. no problem found. On Sept. 21 the vehicle lost power 3 separate times all at highway speeds again.

- Sidney, OH, USA

problem #153

Sep 052018

Malibu

  • 72,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Car is currently parked at a mechanic because I'm afraid to drive it. It began with the rpms going to 3000-4000 when barely pressing gas pedal. The car stalled after putting it in reverse nearly causing me to get hit, the engine light came on so we took it directly to our mechanic. The code for a bad cam solenoid was listed, and that was replaced. Drove it for about a week, still noticing issues with rpms, and when braking, the rpms would increase. Just had to drop it back off at mechanic because while going 30mph, the car when to 4000 rpms and the 'engine overspeed' light came on the dash, and the car was losing power. After I turned the car off, and restarted, the rpms would not go beyond 2000, and the fuel hand went to a full tank? this is completely ridiculous for a car with 70,000 miles, and GM should be held accountable. Thankfully I've not been involved in a car accident yet, but I'm fearful if I continue to drive this car, I'll not be able to say that!

- Gainesville, GA, USA

problem #152

Feb 072018

Malibu

  • 60,000 miles
Dashboard instrument cluster flicks on & off while driving highway, side street or stationary no difference. Car acts as if it is being started over & over while driving. Check engine, stability control & other warnings flash. Bell dings over & over. Now 6 months later, instrument cluster doesn't work at all. No speed/oil/gas indicators. Dealership & mechanic shop can't find anything wrong during diagnostics. No codes.

- Commerce Twp, MI, USA

problem #151

Sep 112018

Malibu

  • 141,000 miles
Saturday I was parking my car and the car all of a sudden stopped. The wheel locked and then the car just shut off. I had no problem restarting it. Today I was on the highway and my vehicle did the same thing.

- Smyrna, DE, USA

problem #150

Sep 072018

Malibu

  • 83,800 miles
The seat will not function properly and gets stuck in position, currently the back is tilted nearly all the way back and will not tilt back

- Tilden, NE, USA

problem #149

Sep 062018

Malibu

  • 90,000 miles
The mechanic states it may be a condition in which the generator control module (gcm) may not function properly. The battery wouldn't hold a charge and then suddenly it was charged and driving as normal, the battery indicator light was on the entire time. They cannot find anything wrong with it now, but stated there was a recall and thinks that is what is wont with my vehicle. Also the stop/start feature is not working at all on the vehicle. It acts like it will cut off intermittently.

- Garfield Heights, OH, USA

problem #148

Aug 152018

Malibu

  • 118,000 miles
My vehicle had repairs last year 2 times, the engine was rebuilt almost completely. The suspension went out, the ESC as well, electrical issues. Draining battery constantly. The dash showed engine running hot pulled over let it cool and it would not restart..

- Wayne, MI, USA

problem #147

Sep 062018

Malibu

  • 55,977 miles
Vehicle looses power causing the traction light to come on, power steering to go out, vehicle becomes hard to steer and eventually goes dead. Happens randomly.

- Flint, MI, USA

problem #146

Jun 202018

Malibu

  • 58,000 miles
While driving and moving or using steering drive car completely shuts down. I almost had 2 accidents because of this. It happens randomly suddenly the car while driving shuts down, stereo goes off and driving steering wheel goes hard I cant use it. When I turn off the car trying to park it it shuts down and keys get locked or stuck, unable to remove keys. While driving sometimes if you turn on highlights it shuts down the car. This is very unsafe, really disappointed with General Motors and Chevrolet. I almost crash with other car because of this. It really is a fabric issue, there are hundreds of cases and complaints demonstrating that this is a error that GM or Chevrolet needs to fix for the safety of their customers.

- Hermosillo, AZ, USA

problem #145

Nov 012017

Malibu

  • 70,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Malibu. While driving various speeds, the vehicle would shut off and the instrument panel gauges and electronics would turn off and on. In addition, the "service power steering" message illuminated. The vehicle was taken to mike haggerty GMC (9100 S. kenton St., oakline, il) where it was diagnosed that the transmission module was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failures and did not assist. The failure mileage was 70,000.

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #144

Aug 032018

Malibu

  • 140,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Malibu. While driving at an unknown speed, the vehicle suddenly stopped moving and was unable to change gears to move off the roadway. The failure occurred without warning. An independent mechanic was able to go to the location and serviced the vehicle by replacing the alternator assembly; however, the failures continued. The contact stated that the stability control warning indicator flashed, various other warning indicators and gauges flickered, and the steering wheel became inoperable. Once the warning indicators had gone off, the contact was able to maneuver the steering wheel in either direction; however, the failure was getting progressively worse. The contact also stated that the key was unable to be removed from the ignition. The dealer (vaden of beaufort, 103 robert smalls pkwy, beaufort, SC 29906, (843) 525-4100) was contacted to schedule an diagnostic appointment. The manufacturer was notified of the failures. The approximate failure mileage was 140,000.

- Saint Helena Island, SC, USA

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