Print this page

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
4 / 4
Injuries / Deaths:
3 / 0
Average Mileage:
70,468 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 engine problems

engine 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 4 of 10)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #125

Jun 132020

Malibu 4-cyl

  • 98,000 miles

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

My daughters Malibu literally ignited and caught fire while she was in it over the weekend. She was parked in a parking lot, noticed a funny smell, turned the ignition off and smoke was billowing out of the engine. She got out of the vehicle and realized the engine was on fire. It went from a small fire to everything but the trunk engulfed in less than 3 minutes. These things don't just happen randomly. I feel there was a mechanical issue or something not built correctly.

- Marion, IL, USA

problem #124

May 182020

Malibu

  • 85,500 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...

- North Little Rock, AR, USA

problem #123

Mar 052020

Malibu 4-cyl

  • 76 miles
Extreme excessive oil consumption, 5 quarts over just 2,000 mile period without any noticeable leaks. Mechanic said everything appears well and there was a recall on the same engine, 2.4 ecotec, on the earlier model equinox models with pistons and crank seals. GM has a service bulletin number 14882 and they said they could not assist me with this problem in any way because my VIN number is not included in their database when the bulletin specifically states my make, year, and model of vehicle and what is wrong, so now I'm stuck with paying an enormous bill because my vehicle was not built correctly by GM who knows about the problem and even has a service bulletin about it.

- Fort Wayne, IN, USA

problem #122

May 262020

Malibu 4-cyl

  • 10 miles

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

I took it to the dealership and they can't figure out why it does that just shut down while you sit there in drive

- North Little Rock, AR, USA

problem #121

Jun 022020

Malibu 4-cyl

  • 38,385 miles
My service engine light came on and my car has been jerking and has issues with accelerating. It acts like it wants to cut off but doesn't it just jerks repeatedly. I'm nervous to drive my car because I'm worried that it will cut off in traffic and cause an accident.

- Kalamazoo, MI, USA

problem #120

May 302020

Malibu 4-cyl

  • 60,917 miles
While in the middle of traffic at a stop light the car shut completely off where my steering went out, the key was locked in the ignition and I had to get someone to help push the car into a parking lot for safety. The car has been jerking, will not pick up speed and if sitting at a stoplight too long, the car will shut off. When I put the car in reverse, the car either jerks or shuts off but then starts back up.

- Louisville, KY, USA

problem #119

Jan 022017

Malibu

  • 115,000 miles

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

While driving my vehicle and I come to a stop the engine dies out. There is no check engine light or warning before this happens and it has almost caused an accident 3 times now. Even in stop and go rush hour traffic, as soon as I need to slow down the car stutters and then stalls. All the lights and radio stay on but the engine just shuts off. I have to quickly throw it into, park turn the key to off and restart the car everytime. This has been going on for a couple of years and I just dont know what to do anymore. I am not able to trade it in yet and I am afraid to sell it and this happen to someone else.

- Oakland, CA, USA

problem #118

Apr 012020

Malibu

  • 104,300 miles
I see GM has recalled the engines on the Chevy Malibu 2.0 I have 104xxx miles and and the engine has been sluggish sense last oil change now there was metal shavings on injectors and I feel they have recalled others why not mine too? I had the cruise set at 72 going down the freeway and it just died.

- Finlayson, MN, USA

problem #117

Sep 012019

Malibu 4-cyl

  • 87,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Malibu. While driving at various speed, the vehicle would suddenly reduce speed. The engine had suddenly shut off. The failure was caused by a pin hole in the engine and faulty oil pump. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds the message 'reduced engine power' would display and the vehicles speed would decrease. Also, while idling the engine would suddenly shut off. The vehicle was taken the local dealer smith Chevrolet (1601 auto mall dr. Turlock, ca) who diagnosed that the failure was caused by a faulty oil pump and low oil pressure caused by a pin hole in the engine. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 85,000.

- Modesto, CA, USA

problem #116

Feb 012020

Malibu

  • 5 miles
Mientras el vehiculo esta en movimiento el motor SE apaga. Esto comenzo a ocurrir hace un mes.. ES una situacion muy peligrosa

- Guanica, PR, USA

problem #115

Sep 092019

Malibu

  • 36,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated upon entering the vehicle she noticed an abnormal smell coming from the interior of the vehicle with warning. The contact opened the hood and noticed oil leaked all underneath the hood. The vehicle was taken to marshfield motor co located at (14963 mo-38, marshfield, mo 65706) to be repaired. The vehicle was repaired using a sealant however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 36,000.

- Hartville, MO, USA

problem #114

Nov 252019

Malibu

  • 108,000 miles
I bought this 2013 Malibu in February 2014. In 2016 it started with the many issues. The hybrid system when stopped at stop sign or light would die. The car would completely die while driving down the road. That lead to the power steering going out. Every code on the dash board would come on. Then the battery would just completely die and need to be jumped. It would run ok for a few days then be dead the next. More and more the battery would completely be dead every few days. Had two new batteries installed and it would test fine usually. Seemed that something was draining it somehow. Took it to the dealer many time and could never get a definitive answer. Finally in November 2019 I was driving down the highway and it completely died and would not take a charge (jump). Stranded on the high I had to have it towed to coyle Chevrolet only to be told they didn't have a hybrid mechanic to look at it. Then had it towed to bachman Chevrolet only for them to tell me after having it for two weeks that there was something wrong with the engine. Either they needed to disassemble it to find the problem or I would need to get a new engine for $7,000. I had a claim with GM but they also just gave me the run around. The car itself is only worth $3,500-$4,500. I still was paying on the loan for it also. Not only have I not had a car since November I have a car that won't start and can not trade in on another car. Although there was many complaints about the same issues no recalls are on the car for them. Very frustrating situation I dealt with for a few years with the car and no solution for a fix. I loved that car and Chevy but very disappointed in them. Need to invest in another model I guess.

- Jeffersonville, IN, USA

problem #113

Jan 222020

Malibu

  • 136,833 miles
The contact owns a 2013 a Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated while driving at an unknown speed a message displayed on the instrument panel which stated engine power was reduced. The steering wheel ceased. The contact was unable to remove the key from the ignition. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or independent mechanic for diagnoses or repairs. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 136,833.

- Laurel, MS, USA

problem #112

Jan 102020

Malibu

  • 13,970 miles
Loss of power of car it kill my factory battery had buy a new one and power steering is not working

- Mobile, AL, USA

problem #111

Dec 032019

Malibu

  • 35,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Malibu. While driving approximately 15 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact restarted the vehicle normally. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer for diagnostic testing. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 35,000.

- Blaine, MN, USA

problem #110

Nov 202019

Malibu 4-cyl

  • 52,000 miles
I have a 2013 Malibu lt with 52,000 miles on it. Last month on the 20th of November service power steering warning started to flash on the information system. When that happens my doors would lock and my car would stall. However; unlike most other consumers who are having this problem my steering wheel didn't get tight and I did not lose control of my car. I could not do more than 40mph and sometimes if I hit a bump in the road service power steering would come on and the doors would lock and the car would stall and then go back to normal. I took my car in to genesis Chevrolet to see what the problem was. They had my car for about a good 4 to 5 hours. They then came and informed me that they could not find anything wrong with my care because, no codes where popping up and the mechanic tried 4 times but could not duplicate the situation I was having. It is now December 11th and I am still having the same problem. I just drove to work today and went to make a right turn down the street leading to my job the service power steering flashed again, the car stalled, and the engine light came on. This time the car slowed all the way down until it came to a complete stop. Even though my car had come to a complete stop it was still on and running. My radio still worked my heat was still on and I still could shift my gear shift. I put the car in park turned it off for about a minute and then started it back up. When I started it back up the engine light had gone off and I was able to accelerate my car and pull into the parking lot of my job.

- Detroit, MI, USA

problem #109

Dec 022019

Malibu

  • 79,000 miles
Driving on the highway and battery charging system and stability track error msg showed up. Car completely shut off and had to be towed.

- Severn, MD, USA

problem #108

Nov 232018

Malibu

  • 68,800 miles
Water pump problems causing car to overheat and leak constantly.

- Frisco, TX, USA

problem #107

Oct 272019

Malibu

  • 70,000 miles
While at a stop light on a very busy city street the engine stopped running and the car shut off. My foot was still on the break and the car was in drive. I put the car in park then restarted the car and it started running like it should, there was no warning lights displayed before, during, or after this happened. In another incident while I reversed the car the engine shut off without any warning lights, I had to put the car in park again and restart it to get the engine running again.

- Concord, NC, USA

problem #106

Jul 172019

Malibu

  • 55,000 miles
The timing chain in the engine is bad and there is a loud noise. The car shuts down at a stop and will not always restart. Also the gps/radio screen started going off and on and then completely went dark.

- Pittsburgh, PA, USA

Read the next 20 complaints »

Not what you are looking for?