NHTSA lists 11 safety recalls and 922 owner complaints for the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu.
Recalled components: electrical system, suspension, exterior lighting, powertrain, and 1 more. Most-described problem: stalling or shutting off (175 complaints, 19%). Most-reported area: electrical system (424 complaints, 46%; median mileage when it happened: 76,000).
One of the Malibu years to avoid
The 2013 drew 171 owner complaints in its first three years, against 65 for a typical Malibu year: 2.6 times as many.
Years to avoid: 2013 and 2016 to 2018; best years: 2021, 2022, and 2023. Based on owner complaints, not adjusted for sales.
Data: NHTSA recall, complaint and investigation filesUpdated Oct 2, 2026
Year to avoidBest year
Includes the Malibu Eco mild hybrid.
11 safety recalls for the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu
Grouped by the part recalled, largest group first, newest first within each part. Summaries are NHTSA's own wording. Open a recall for what is wrong, the fix and the full notice.
Risk: If the key is removed without the transmission in PARK, the vehicle may rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.
What's wrong, the fix and the full notice
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Buick Verano and 2016 Chevrolet Malibu as the electronic park lock lever may allow the ignition key to be removed without the transmission being in PARK. Also, certain 2013 Buick Encore, 2011 Buick Regal, 2013-2014 Buick Verano, 2011-2016 Chevrolet Cruze, 2010-2013 Chevrolet Equinox 2013-2015 Chevrolet Malibu, and 2011-2013 GMC Terrain vehicles may have been serviced with similar defective replacement electronic park lock levers. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention."
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and if necessary replace the key cylinder lock housing, free of charge. The recall began on October 14, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Buick 1-800-521-7300, and GMC 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 50490 and 50491.
Fails federal standard 114 (theft and rollaway protection) · 8,367 vehicles.
NHTSA listing: MALIBU. Components: Electrical system: ignition; Powertrain: automatic transmission, control module (tcm/pcm/tecm). Chevrolet campaign 50490, 50491.
Risk: If the harness is chaffed enough to expose the wires, a short circuit could occur, resulting unintended movement of the seat, the seat to become inoperative, sparking under the seat, flickering lights, smoke, or possibly a fire.
What's wrong, the fix and the full notice
The wiring harness for the power seat may contact the seat frame which may chafe the harness.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the wire harness and repair and secure it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began during December 2013. Owners may contact GM at 1-800-521-7300. GM's recall campaign number is 13342.
14,909 vehicles.
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured October 25, 2011, through June 29, 2012 and equipped with the 8-way power adjustable front seat feature.
NHTSA listing: MALIBU. Components: Electrical system: wiring; Seats: front assembly, power adjust. Chevrolet campaign 13342.
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.
What's wrong, the fix and the full notice
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.
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.
42,904 vehicles.
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.
NHTSA listing: MALIBU ECO. Chevrolet campaign 13136.
Risk: If this occurs during an aggressive turning maneuver, and then afterwards a potential vehicle rollover event is sensed, the roof rail airbag may unintentionally deploy. Additionally, the air bags and/or seatbelt pretensioners may not deploy during a severe crash, increasing the risk of personal injury.
What's wrong, the fix and the full notice
After an event of hard braking, the sensing and diagnostic module (sdm) may reset itself.
Fix: Gm will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the sdm. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety recall began on june 13, 2012.
4,304 vehicles.
Gm's safety recall campaign number is 12102. Customers may contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty: 1-800-424-9153); or go to http://www.safercar.gov.
General motors (gm) is recalling certain model year 2013 chevrolet malibu vehicles manufactured from october 24, 2011, through march 31, 2012.
Risk: A rear toe link fracture may reduce the driver's ability to control the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
What's wrong, the fix and the full notice
These vehicles may have rear toe links that received an improper amount of electrocoating (e-coat) corrosion protection, which could cause the e-coat to become brittle and break away when contacted by road debris. Over time, the e-coat may chip away, exposing the metal toe link and making it more susceptible to corrosion. Corrosion may eventually cause the toe link to thin and ultimately fracture.
Fix: Dealers will replace the rear suspension toe links and adjuster fasteners, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 27, 2022. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N212346640. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recalls 20V-764 and 21V-633.
4,271 vehicles.
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2010-2013 Buick Lacrosse, 2012-2013 Buick Regal, and 2013 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles sold or ever registered in Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, or Wisconsin.
NHTSA listing: MALIBU. Chevrolet campaign N212346640.
Risk: A rear toe link fracture may reduce the driver's ability to control the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
What's wrong, the fix and the full notice
These vehicles may have rear toe links that received excessive electrocoating (e-coat) corrosion protection, which could cause the e-coat to become brittle and break away when contacted by road debris. Over time, the e-coat may chip away, exposing the metal toe link and making it more susceptible to corrosion. Corrosion may eventually cause the toe link to thin and ultimately fracture.
Fix: Dealers will replace the rear suspension toe links and adjuster fasteners, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters were mailed on September 30, 2021. Owner notification letters were mailed on January 3, 2022. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N212330130.
32,894 vehicles.
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2013 Buick Regal, Chevrolet Malibu, and Buick Lacrosse vehicles sold or ever registered in Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, or Wisconsin.
NHTSA listing: MALIBU. Chevrolet campaign N212330130.
Risk: A rear toe link fracture may reduce the driver's ability to control the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
What's wrong, the fix and the full notice
These vehicles may have rear toe links that received excessive electrocoating (e-coat) corrosion protection, which could cause the e-coat to become brittle and break away when contacted by road debris. Over time, the e-coat may chip away, exposing the metal toe link and making it more susceptible to corrosion. Corrosion may eventually cause the toe link to thin and ultimately to fracture.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear suspension toe links and adjuster fasteners free of charge. Parts are not currently available. Owners were mailed an interim notification on January 27, 2021, and April 15, 2021. A third notification was mailed on August 19, 201. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N202308930.
220,006 vehicles.
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2012-2013 Buick Regal, 2013 Chevrolet Malibu, and 2010-2013 Buick Lacrosse vehicles sold or ever registered in Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, or Wisconsin.
NHTSA listing: MALIBU. Chevrolet campaign N202308930.
Risk: Sudden changes in vehicle handling may increase the risk of a crash.
What's wrong, the fix and the full notice
One or more rear suspension bolts may not have been tightened to the specified torque. This may lead to sudden changes in vehicle handling.
Fix: General Motors will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and retighten the bolts as necessary, free of charge. Owner notifications have already begun and will be completed shortly. Owners may contact General Motors at 1-800-521-7300.
8,519 vehicles.
This is General Motors recall number 13008.
General Motors is recalling certain model year 2013 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles, manufactured December 6, 2011, through January 15, 2013.
Risk: If the driver is not aware that a turn signal is not functioning properly, the driver may continue to drive the vehicle. If half of a front turn signal is not illuminating, other driver's may not be aware that the affected vehicle is turning, thereby increasing the risk of a crash.
What's wrong, the fix and the full notice
These vehicles are equipped with two turn signal bulbs in each front turn signal. If one of the two front turn signal bulbs burn out in either front turn signal lamp, there is no indication to the driver. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Fix: GM will notify owners, dealers will update the body control module software, free of charge. The recall began in September 2014. Owners may contact Buick at 1-800-521-7300 or Chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 12212.
Fails federal standard 108 (lighting) · 120,426 vehicles.
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011-2013 Buick Regal and model year 2013 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles.
NHTSA listing: MALIBU. Chevrolet campaign 12212.
Powertrain 1 recall
automatic transmission · gear position indication (prndl)
Risk: If the console shift indicator does not illuminate the transmission gear selection, a driver could inadvertently select a transmission position other than the position the driver intended, increasing the risk of a crash.
What's wrong, the fix and the full notice
In the affected vehicles, the console transmission gear selection indicator may not illuminate the shift position selected. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 102, "Transmission Shift Position Sequence, Starter Interlock, and Transmission Braking Effect."
Fix: GM has notified owners, and dealers will replace the transmission gear selection control module, free of charge. The recall began on April 20, 2015. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 12162.
Fails federal standard 102 (transmission shift) · 3,690 vehicles.
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured April 10, 2012, to August 2, 2012.
Risk: The Slide or Tilt roof panel switch may inadvertently be pressed and the roof panel may auto-close unexpectedly, increasing the risk of a pinch injury.
What's wrong, the fix and the full notice
In the affected vehicles, the Slide or Tilt switch for the roof panel may not be adequately recessed to prevent the switch from inadvertently being pressed. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 118, "Power-Operated Window, Partition, and Roof Panel Systems."
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will update the Body Control Module (BCM) software to remove auto-close feature for certain switch positions, free of charge. The recall began April 21, 2015. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 15176.
Fails federal standard 118 (power windows) · 87,063 vehicles.
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles October 24, 2011, to March 5, 2015.
NHTSA listing: MALIBU. Chevrolet campaign 15176.
Questions about any of these recalls: call NHTSA's Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236 (TTY 888-275-9171) or check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA investigations
NHTSA has opened 1 investigation that names the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu, not counting audit queries; it is closed. An investigation means NHTSA is reviewing reports of a problem. It is not a finding that the vehicle has a defect.
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… NHTSA's full summary
A recall query is a review of whether a recall covered the right vehicles or whether its fix works. NHTSA lists investigations by make, model and model year only, so one can apply to only some versions of a model, such as one engine; its summary says which.
What owners report
Owners have filed 922 complaints with NHTSA about the 2013 Malibu. Below, they are sorted by the problems owners describe and by the areas NHTSA files them under. NHTSA does not verify complaints.
Problems owners describe
Stalling or shutting off175 · 19%
Median 80,000 miles at failure, from 142 reports with mileage
Power steering problems or locked steering131 · 14%
Median 66,700 miles at failure, from 116 reports with mileage
Loss of power or limp mode103 · 11%
Median 71,400 miles at failure, from 83 reports with mileage
Check engine light97 · 11%
Median 62,000 miles at failure, from 75 reports with mileage
Infotainment or touchscreen failures50 · 5%
Median 71,000 miles at failure, from 38 reports with mileage
Gauge cluster or speedometer failure45 · 5%
Median 68,500 miles at failure, from 26 reports with mileage
Won't start44 · 5%
Median 85,000 miles at failure, from 37 reports with mileage
Airbag warning light or airbag fault32 · 3%
Median 80,000 miles at failure, from 22 reports with mileage
Most named: instrument cluster/panel (4); alternator/generator/regulator (3) · Median 76,000 miles at failure, from 321 reports with mileage
Engine226 · 25%
Median 77,000 miles at failure, from 165 reports with mileage
Steering197 · 21%
Median 59,100 miles at failure, from 169 reports with mileage
Stability control84 · 9%
Median 79,500 miles at failure, from 72 reports with mileage
Air bags69 · 7%
Median 57,000 miles at failure, from 47 reports with mileage
Suspension65 · 7%
Median 97,000 miles at failure, from 26 reports with mileage
Powertrain61 · 7%
Median 65,000 miles at failure, from 46 reports with mileage
Unknown or other96 · 10%
Median 70,000 miles at failure, from 61 reports with mileage
A complaint can name more than one area, so shares add up to more than 100%. Mileage is shown where at least 15 owners reported it.
Chevrolet Malibu recalls and complaints by model year
The highlighted bars are the 2013 model year. Newer model years have had less time on the road, so their counts are lower. Counting complaints filed in each model year's first three years, the 2018 Malibu drew the most (220) and the 2013 drew 171.
Owner complaints
2013: 922 complaintsTap or drag across the chart for other years.
Show as a table
Owner complaints by model year, Chevrolet Malibu
Model year
Complaints
2010
1,363
2011
978
2012
907
2013
922
2014
363
2015
270
2016
861
2017
724
2018
709
2019
193
2020
198
2021
89
2022
98
2023
70
2024
42
2025
11
Safety recalls
2013: 11 recallsTap or drag across the chart for other years.
Show as a table
Safety recalls by model year, Chevrolet Malibu
Model year
Recalls
2010
3
2011
3
2012
2
2013
11
2014
6
2015
3
2016
10
2017
4
2018
6
2019
1
2020
1
2021
2
2022
1
2023
2
2024
2
2025
1
Crash test ratings
NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for each version it tested. Rollover risk is NHTSA's estimate of the chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
Tested version
Overall
Frontal
Side
Rollover
Chevrolet Malibu 4 DR FWD
Rollover risk 11.1%
Chevrolet Malibu 4 DR FWD w/rear SAB's
Rollover risk 11.1%
Chevrolet Malibu Eco eAssist 4 DR FWD
Rollover risk 11.1%
Chevrolet Malibu Eco eAssist 4 DR FWD w/rear SAB's
In the 922 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu, the problems described most are stalling or shutting off (175), power steering problems or locked steering (131), and loss of power or limp mode (103). NHTSA does not verify complaints, and one complaint can describe several problems.
Is the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu safe?
In NHTSA crash tests every tested version of the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu earns 5 stars overall. The table above lists each tested version.
Is NHTSA investigating the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu?
No. NHTSA's investigations file, dated Oct 2, 2026, lists no open investigations for the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu, not counting audit queries. It lists one closed investigation, which closed on Jul 22, 2014.
How do I check if my Malibu has an open recall?
Enter the 17-character VIN from your dashboard, door jamb or registration at nhtsa.gov/recalls. The lookup lists unrepaired recalls for that exact vehicle. Safety recall repairs are free at Chevrolet dealers.
Sources and method
NHTSA recalls file (NHTSA datasets), dated Oct 2, 2026; every campaign checked against NHTSA's recalls API.
NHTSA owner complaints file, dated Oct 2, 2026. Counted by complaint number, so a complaint naming three components counts once in the total.
NHTSA investigations file, dated Oct 2, 2026. Defect petitions, which ask NHTSA to open an investigation, are listed apart and only while open. Audit queries, which check whether a company met its recall and reporting duties rather than whether a vehicle has a problem, are not listed.
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP).
NHTSA model names covered: MALIBU, MALIBU ECO.
Complaint counts are unverified owner reports. They rise with sales volume and time on the road, so compare model years with care. How we build these pages. Spotted an error? Tell us.