Model year record

2013 Chevrolet Malibu Eco recalls & problems

The 2013 Chevrolet Malibu Eco has 1 safety recall and 87 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is electrical system (49 complaints).

Recalls1safety recalls

Complaints87filed by owners

Crashes · fires5 · 1reported in complaints

NHTSA overall5 ★crash-test stars

2013 Chevrolet Malibu Eco in an NHTSA crash test — NHTSA crash test

Safety recalls

Electrical systemMay 6, 2013

Electrical system

Recall 13V17300042,904 vehicles

Problem: General Motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2012 and 2013 Buick LaCrosse and Regal, and model year 2013 Chevrolet Malibu Eco vehicles equipped with eAssist. These vehicles may have a condition in which the Generator Control Module (GCM) may not function properly. This could cause a gradual loss of battery charge and the illumination of the malfunction indicator light.
Risk: If the vehicle is continued to be driven, the engine may stall and/or the vehicle may not start. In addition, there may be a burning or melting odor, smoke, and possibly a fire in the trunk.
Fix: GM will notify owners and dealers will test the GCM and replace it, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on June 11, 2013. Owners may contact GM at 1-800-521-7300. GM's recall campaign number is 13136.

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

Crash test ratings

2013 Chevrolet Malibu Eco eAssist 4 DR FWD w/rear SAB's

Overall★★★★★

Frontal crash	★★★★★
Side crash	★★★★★
Rollover	★★★★★
Rollover risk	11.1%

2013 Chevrolet Malibu Eco eAssist 4 DR FWD

Overall★★★★★

Frontal crash	★★★★★
Side crash	★★★★★
Rollover	★★★★★
Rollover risk	11.1%

2013 Chevrolet Malibu Eco NHTSA side crash test — NHTSA side barrier crash test

2013 Chevrolet Malibu Eco NHTSA side pole crash test — NHTSA side pole crash test

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Crashes	Fires	Injuries	Typical mileage*
Electrical systemPropulsion system › Traction battery; Alternator/generator/regulator › Integrated starter(other than propulsion)	49	1	1	0	73,000 mi
Engine	22	0	0	0	64,000 mi
Steering	16	2	0	2	50,719 mi
Electronic stability control (esc)	12	0	0	0	80,000 mi
Air bags	10	3	0	2	27,500 mi
Service brakes	9	1	0	0	44,407 mi
Power train	8	0	0	0	28,874 mi
Unknown or other	8	0	0	0	97,349 mi
Fuel/propulsion system	6	0	0	0	57,000 mi
Vehicle speed control	4	1	0	0	7,300 mi
VisibilityDefroster/defogger/hvac system; Power window devices and controls	3	0	0	0	14,878 mi
Exterior lighting	2	0	0	0	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Electrical system › Alternator/generator/regulator › Integrated starter(other than propulsion)
The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Malibu ECO. The contact stated while at a stop light, the power steering was difficult to turn, and the vehicle stalled. The Service battery charging system displayed and the check engine and battery warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The vehicle was repaired by the contact. The contact stated that the alternator and the starter had failed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 174,000.
Jan 4, 2024 · 174,000 miles
Electrical system
2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU ECO. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO ELECTRICAL ISSUES WITH VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WOULD SHUT OFF, LOSING ALL POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONSUMER STATED THE BATTERY LIGHT ILLUMINATED, DISPLAYS BATTERY SAVER ACTIVATED, AND THEN THE VEHICLE LOSES POWER.
May 24, 2022
Electrical system
STEREO/NAVIGATION INTERMITTENT ALWAYS DEFAULT TO ONE RADIO STATION AND SETTINGS, PASSENGER SEAT HAD A CRACKLING SOUND A FEW TIMES NO ODD SMELLS OR SMOKE, TURNS SIGNALS WON'T WORK WHEN STEREO IS INOPERATIVE.
May 4, 2019 · 37,000 miles
Air bags
TAKATA RECALL . MY CAR JUST DIED OUT OFF NOWHERE WHILE I WAS JUST PARKED AND WHEN IT FINALLY GOT JUMPED THE 'SERVICE AIRBAG' LIGHT CAME. I'VE DONE SOME RESEARCH AND THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING TO EVERYBODY AND THE REPAIRS IS UP TO $1000
Jul 25, 2019 · 118 miles
Service brakesCrash
I WAS SITTING AT A RED LIGHT, WITH MY FOOT FIRMLY ON THE BRAKE. SUDDENLY IT STARTED TO MOVE AND SUDDENLY TOOK OFF AND HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME (THE CAR HAD MOVED UP SIGNIFICANTLY, BUT I HADN'T, SO IT HAD A LOT OF MOMENTUM WHEN IT HIT)! AFTER THE ACCIDENT REPORT WAS FILED, I TRIED TO START THE CAR TO LEAVE, BUT THE CAR WOULDN'T START. ADDITIONALLY, A TON OF ERROR MESSAGES WERE FLASHING, AS WELL AS ALL INDOOR AND OUTDOOR LIGHTS FLASHING, EVEN THE DECORATIVE PANEL BLUE STRIP LIGHTS. I WAS TERRIFIED. I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED FROM THE SCENE. AT FIRST, THE OFFICER DIDN'T BELIEVE ME, THAT IT WAS THE CAR'S FAULT, NOT MINE, BUT ONCE SHE SAW WHAT WAS HAPPENING, SHE BELIEVED ME. THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER…
Oct 27, 2018 · 52,500 miles
Engine
EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION REGARDING THE ECOTEC 2.4L ENGINE (LUK). I HAD PURCHASED MY VEHICLE IN SEPTEMBER OF 2018 WITH 87,932 MILES. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED AND SERVICED. PRIOR TO REACHING THE RECOMMENDED 7500 MILE OIL CHANGE INTERVAL AND BEFORE THE 'CHANGE OIL SOON' NOTIFICATION, MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A CERTIFIED GM DEALERSHIP TO BE DIAGNOSED ON DECEMBER 14TH 2018. IT WAS NOTED THE VEHICLE WAS 3 QUARTS LOW ON OIL AT 94,530 MILES. I CONTINUED TO MONITOR THE OIL LEVELS THERE AFTER UNTIL MY NEXT SERVICING AT 97,063 MILES, AGAIN THE OIL WAS LOW BUT WITHIN MARGIN AS I HAD TOPPED OFF AS NEEDED. NOW WITH MY VEHICLE AT 100,134 MILES AND STILL LOSING OIL I…
May 7, 2019 · 94,530 miles
Electronic stability control (esc)
TAKARA RECALL I HAD MY CAR IN MULTIPLE TIMES IN A DEALERSHIP BERGSTROM LIKE FIVE TIMES AND EVERY TIME THEY WORK ON IT THERE'S SOMETHING ELSE WRONG . THE CAR HAS ELECTRICAL ISSUES THE RADIO TURNS ON AND OFF BY ITSELF . THE TEMPERATURE THING BECAME ON FOR HIGH TEMPS WHEN THE AC IS OFF.I HAD REPLACED MULTIPLE SENSORS REPLACED LIKE THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR. MY CAR SHUT OFF ON ME THROUGH THE DRIVE-THROUGH . IT HAS A ROUGH TIME IS STARTING SOMETIMES AND STALLS . NOW IT'S SAYING SOMETHING ABOUT AN OIL PRESSURE SENSOR O2 SENSOR. COUPLE TIMES I HEARD THE CAR BACKFIRE SO I GOT A NEW CADILLAC CONVERTER. I'VE EVEN HAVE SMELLED SOME SMELLS LIKE BURNING. I HEAR A CLUNKING NOISE IN THE FRONT WHEN I GO OVER A…
Dec 31, 2018 · 80,000 miles
Power train
I WAS DRIVING AND STARTED HEARING A LOUD ALTER HE AND THEN THE CAR SEEMED TO HAVE SHUT OFF AND STARTED BACK UP THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON I PULLED OVER TURNED THE CAR OFF TO SEE IF THE ENGINE LIGHT WOULD GO BACK OFF IT DIDN'T NOW IT KEEPS MAKING THE SKREECHING SOUND AND STILL SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING AND ON A STOP
Apr 29, 2019 · 114,000 miles

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.

NHTSA defect investigations

Sands Chevrolet/Hybrid System Fire/StallClosed
NHTSA opened AQ14-001 to determine whether Sands Chevrolet of Surprise, Arizona complied with the requirements of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act, 49 U.S.C. Chapter 301 (Safety Act) and its implementing regulations. The Safety Act requires, among other things, that a manufacturer notify its dealers of defects related to motor vehicle safety and non-compliances with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards and, in turn, that a dealer not sell and deliver a new vehicle subject to a recall unless the recall remedy has been performed (49 U.S.C. ?? 30112(a), 30120(i)).NHTSA issued an information request (IR) letter to Sands Chevrolet on May 5, 2014.Sands Chevrolet responded to this request on May 22, 2014.To ensure NHTSA?s information request encompassed all possible reference codes for General Motors recall 13V-173, NHTSA issued another IR letter to Sands Chevrolet on June…
AQ14001 · opened May 2, 2014 · closed May 22, 2016
Generator Control Module FiresClosed
On July 5, 2013 the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Recall Query RQ13-003 to investigate whether the service procedures utilized in recall bulletins 13136 and 13142 for safety recall 13V-173 were sufficient to identify the safety defect in the subject vehicles.These safety recalls were issue on May 3, 2013 to address the improper function of the Generator Control Module (GCM) in certain model year (MY) 2012-13 Buick LaCrosse and Regal and MY 2013 Chevrolet Malibu Eco equipped with eAssist.This condition may result in a loss of battery charge, engine stall and/or inability for the vehicle to start.In severe cases it may also lead to odor, smoke and possibly a fire in the trunk.During discussions with General Motors (GM), ODI was informed that the subject vehicles could be separated into 4 distinct build populations, or groups. Group A contained vehicles built from the start…
RQ13003 · opened Jul 5, 2013 · closed Jul 22, 2014