Print this page

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
6 / 5
Injuries / Deaths:
5 / 0
Average Mileage:
67,367 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

Find something helpful? Spread the word.
Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

2013 Chevrolet Malibu Owner Comments (Page 9 of 17)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #178

Feb 142019

Malibu

  • 100,000 miles

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

I started my car this morning it started funny then died but started right back up then the service stibilkl track came on. But after a couple min it went away so I backed out of my garage and started to work went about two miles noticed that the fan for the heater was not working the the power stearing service light came on kept driving the the service battery system light came on after about 12 miles the dash lights went out the I could smell something getting warm then the car engin stoped costed in to the parking lot got out there was nothing put the chargere on the batterty it started but not sure if to drive it home after charging or not. I see there was a problem with the modual on that year of cars but mine never had got fixed or nothing. So not sure what to do it has right at 100000 on it now so no warenty. I called the Chevy garage they have no idea what could be wrong but it just wories me smelling somthing getting hot

- Custer, SD, USA

problem #177

Feb 102019

Malibu

  • 113,000 miles
Expressway.the radio blacked out, stopped playing and then the car started shutting down-everything!steering went out, radio, lights, blinkers, etc.I took it as slow as I could all the way home and got onto back roads.this proved to be even more hazardous-every time I turned the steering wheel it would start to shut down again & again, all the way home.I took the car to the dealer-fixed but now happening again.sometimes it happens quickly and recovers quickly enough that the engine is not involved.my warning sign is that the radio cuts out and the screen goes blank.that's when I know to prepare myself. Sometimes that is all that happens.other times it's major! I look for an escape route-can I get off the road quickly, are there other cars around me, brace both hands on the steering wheel, slow my speed and pray.2/10/19, I was driving 55+ mph on a 2 lane road.it was a fast radio out, fast engine wind down and out of power and door locks went on and off.there was a driveway for me to pull in to and assess the situation.engine then engaged and things seemed back to normal.I continued home, had 2 issues but I was going slower as I was aware this may happen again.I pulled over and continued each time.I had to stop at the store and was pulling into a parking spot and the car was trying to shut down and steering went out more than once until I finally got in the parking spot.drove home, parked.I went into the house an read the manual.I decided to go out and check my fuses.key fob did not work.doors were unlocked, got in car, put key in the ignition and car was totally dead.key would not come out of the ignition.my husband called tow truck in the am to jump.car would not jump so he had it towed to dealer where it is at this moment.I am afraid I'm going to be killed or cause someone else harm if they end up crashing into me because of the quick shut down and loss of steering!!!

- Chelsea, MI, USA

problem #176

Jan 282019

Malibu

  • 13,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Malibu. While driving 60 mph, the check engine warning indicator illuminated. The contact coasted the vehicle to the side of the road and powered off the engine. The vehicle failed to restart and the key failed to release from the ignition. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer and dealer were not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 13,000.

- Yemassee, SC, USA

problem #175

Jan 232019

Malibu

  • 110,000 miles

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

Passenger seat sensor causes electrical components inside vehicle to be disabled. Heat and air conditioning do not function and temporary loss of power occurs. This occurs while vehicle is in motion and while stationary.

- Middleville, MI, USA

problem #174

Jan 212019

Malibu

  • 72,000 miles
13 Malibu every day at least twice the radio will flicker off and on multiple times and then once I hit the brakes and make a turn the brake will go solid and the steering wheel jerks hard all at the same time and then all my dash lights stop working. Then it will all power on and work like new a few seconds after. But once the car is parked and car is turned off it will not allow me to take the key out. And then once you try to turn the key in there is no power at all. No lights. No clicks. No radio. No nothing. Completely dead car. But then if you unplug the battery for 10 mins and plug it back in... then the key will come out and/or will turn on and the car is working fine again for maybe a trip or two and then it does this again. Every single day! no codes show on the dash no lights of anything wrong at all. Has been doing this for almost a month now. I have almost hit multiple people because of this issue!!! help!!! local Chevy dealer and also a local body shop cannot find the issue. I have a 5 year old and I'm terrified to take her anywhere with me and it's our only car and I owe a lot on it. Only had it almost 2 years. I need help

- Metropolis, IL, USA

problem #173

Jan 112019

Malibu

  • 82,500 miles
Originally taken in for water pump replacement. Now stalls and dies randomly and gives codes for various wrongs, most often for water in fuel line. There is no water in there. The water pump went out while I was parked, when I tried to leave, that's when it died.

- Englewood, FL, USA

problem #172

Jan 012018

Malibu

  • miles

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

The sunroof electrical switch malfunctions. After opening, the roof does not close properly and stays partially opened.

- Stewartsville, NJ, USA

problem #171

Dec 162018

Malibu

  • 123,000 miles
Multiple times while since I've had it it has reduced engine power ( stabiltrak) on me while driving. Just recently check engine light came on with codes reading for camshaft actuators failing and PCM failing. The car chugs will driving and has even died while operating.

- Grand Haven, MI, USA

problem #170

Dec 202018

Malibu

  • 133,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Malibu. While driving 45 mph, the vehicle stalled and the electrical and power steering functionality was lost. On some occasions, the vehicle would restart on the first attempt. On other occasions, it took several attempts to restart the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to palm Chevrolet (located at 2300 sw college rd, ocala, fl 34471, (352) 484-0733) to be diagnosed, but the mechanic was unable to retrieve a fault code or duplicate the failures. The manufacturer was notified of the failures and provided case number: 9-4928351338. The approximate failure mileage was 133,000.

- Ocala, FL, USA

problem #169

Dec 012018

Malibu

  • 19,000 miles
The car infotainment screen and power steering suddenly and momentarily shut down.I bought the car 3 weeks a go. In the past three weeks the issue happened about a dozen times. When it happens the steering wheel becomes very hard to turn. Also the steering wheel cuts the power off to the infotainment screen and the blower fan, if it is jerked left and right quickly when the car is parked. After turtthe car off and back on the problem goes away.

- Fair Lawn, NJ, USA

problem #168

Nov 102018

Malibu

  • 101,400 miles

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

When driving my cars electric system will shut down. Radio goes off then lights on the dash go crazy and steering wheel jerks real hard and loss of steering for a few seconds then it all comes back on.

- Sour Lake, TX, USA

problem #167

Nov 072018

Malibu

  • 60,000 miles
While driving the vehicles electrical system, lights, radio dash start to intermittently go off then come back on. While this is happening the steering suddenly froze up while making a turn into oncoming traffic. This nearly caused a head on collision with oncoming cars. That same night when I pulled up in front of my house the headlights and instrument cluster kept flashing on and off.

- Luzerne, PA, USA

problem #166

Dec 062016

Malibu

  • miles
I have had problems with this car since I bought it, loss of battery life, had it to multiple dealerships, nobody can figure out the problem, noticed a burning smell at one time, the trunk has a terrible really weird smell, I still owe a lot on this car and don't have the money to fix it or get another one, only had approx. 50,000 miles when it first started having problems, called GM, dealship replaced battery, same thing keeps happening, when I'm driving at night and the battery charge is low my headlights go extremely dim very quickly, this car is very dangerous and has left me stranded on several occasions. The car will just die right in the middle of traffic with no warning, completely dead,

- Joplin, MO, USA

problem #165

Sep 042017

Malibu

  • 80,000 miles
For about a year now S 'service airbag' light has been on, no one who tests it can see what the issue is. When anyone sits in the passenger seat, the dash turns off, all lights on it, stereo, all gauges cease to function as well as the A/C. has been taken to numerous dealerships & shops with no conclusion besides that 'it's an electrical issue' that should be recalled. I notice many people have electrical system issues with this make & model when I searched for a recall, astonishing that nothing is being done & vins experiencing the problem aren't on the recall lists. The airbags in the car are fine according to mechanics, no reason the airbag warning light should appear & incredibly frustrating that I cant have a passenger in my vehicle, especially during Arizona summer weather, not to mention the danger posed by no gauges being visible

- Tucson, AZ, USA

problem #164

Mar 012018

Malibu

  • 120,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that the vehicle was stalling with no warning. The battery warning light flashed several times as the failure progressed. The vehicle was taken to a dealer athens Chevrolet (4110 atlanta hwy, athens, ga 30606, 706-549-3512) who diagnosed that the vehicle battery needed to be replaced which was replaced however after a week the vehicle had continued to stall. The vehicle was then taken back to the dealer due to the contact having to constantly recharge the battery. The dealer then indicated that the eco battery needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 13V173000 (electrical system) or NHTSA action number: AQ14001 (electrical system). The dealer who sold the vehicle, world Toyota, 5800 peachtree industrial blvd, atlanta, ga 30341, 1-(678) 547-9000 was contacted several times to determine if the warranty may be used to diagnose and repair the vehicle and had not responsed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure to determine if the warranty may cover the repair and if not to provide a permanent remedy to the dealer. The approximate failure mileage was 120,000.

- Athens, GA, USA

problem #163

Oct 182018

Malibu

  • 69,000 miles
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
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

Read the next 20 complaints »

Not what you are looking for?