Electrical System. Review the 49 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine. Review the 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Steering. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

5 crash reports1 fire reports2 injury reports

Engine complaints

22 reports

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94,530 miles · May 7, 2019

Engine

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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 AM CONCERNED THAT THE ENGINE IS PLAGUED BY THE SAME PROBLEM AS FOUND IN THE 2.4L (LEA) FOUND IN THE EQUINOX AND GMC TERRAIN. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THERE WAS A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT WITH THE PISTON RINGS COMBINED WITH THE OIL SPRAY COOLING THAT LEAD TO GM ISSUING A SPECIAL WARRANTY COVERAGE TO THE LEA VARIANT HOWEVER NO COVERAGE WAS EXTENDED TO THE LUK VARIANT. IT IS ALSO TO MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE IS NO DISCERNIBLE DIFFERENCE INTERNALLY BETWEEN BOTH VARIANTS WITH THE LUK ENGINE SLIGHTLY MODIFIED TO SUPPORT THE (BAS) BELT ALTERNATOR STARTER MILD HYBRID DRIVETRAIN. BOTH STILL CONTAIN THE SAME PISTONS, PISTON RINGS, AND OIL JET SPRAY TECHNOLOGIES. AT THIS POINT I HAVE RAISED MY CONCERNS WITH GM AND HAVE SCHEDULED A OIL CONSUMPTION TEST TO BE DONE (RULED TO BE UNRELIABLE IN THE LAWSUIT REGARDING LEA TYPE ENGINES). I AM ALSO RAISING MY CONCERNS HERE AS WELL AS I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE AS A RESULT OF MANUFACTURE DEFECT AND I BELIEVE GM INTENDS TO SKIRT THE ISSUE BY ONLY ADDRESSING THE TYPE OF ENGINE INVOLVED IN THE ORIGINAL LAWSUIT AND ONLY THOSE VEHICLES FOR WHICH THEY WERE EQUIPPED. I APPRECIATE TAKING YOUR TIME TO REVIEW THIS CASE AND HOPE TO SEE A RESOLUTION.

NHTSA ODI #11206061

80,000 miles · May 2, 2019

Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

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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 LITTLE BUMPS OR WHEN I TURN REALLY SHARP NOT GOING FAST. BEEN HAVING MULTIPLE ISSUES WITH THIS CAR AND WOULD LIKE SOME HELP FIGURING OUT WHAT'S GOING ON WITH T AND WOULD LIKE SOME HELP FIGURING OUT WHAT'S GOING ON WITH IT! I DON'T FEEL SAFE SOMETIMES AND I'M AFRAID MY CAR SIRI MIGHT GO OUT OR SOMETHING AND IT WON'T RUN OR START FOR ME WHEN I'M DRIVING. PLEASE HELP.

NHTSA ODI #11205384

170,000 miles · Mar 11, 2019

Engine

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU ECO. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS MORE EVIDENT IN COOLER TEMPERATURES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BOB PRICE CHEVROLET BUICK GMC (LOCATED AT 1225 S STATE HWY 16, FREDERICKSBURG, TX 78624, (877)720-6955) TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE OR RETRIEVE A FAULT CODE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.

NHTSA ODI #11185830

Mileage unknown · Dec 30, 2018

Electronic Stability Control (esc)EngineFuel/propulsion System

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BATTERY VOLTAGE INDICATOR CAME ON FIRST AND ENGINE LIGHT INDICATOR ON. REPLACED BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR. CAR STALLS WHEN GAS PEDAL NOT APPLIED. CAR TURNS COMPLETELY OFF WHEN BRAKING TO STOP SIGNS, RED LIGHTS, SLOWING DOWN TO TURN. IT'S COMPLETELY UNSAFE. IT HAS TURNED OFF ON ME CROSSING MAJOR HIGHWAYS. MECHANIC REPLACED FUEL PUMP DUE TO P0300 CODE ETC. CAR STILL STALLS AND TURNS OFF WHILE DRIVING, SLOWING DOWN TO STOP, TURNS OFF AT RED LIGHTS, STOP SIGNS AND WHEN BRAKING TO TURN. AT TIMES, I DO SMELL AS IF SOMETHING IS BURNING. THIS SMELL DOES NOT HAPPEN ALL THE TIME. I HAVE REPLACED THE BATTERY, THE ALTERNATOR, AND THE FUEL PUMP. THE CAR STILL STALLS AND CUTS OFF. I BOUGHT THE CAR IN AUGUST 2018, I HAVE HAD THESE PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR SINCE OCTOBER 2018.

NHTSA ODI #11164121

136,589 miles · Dec 23, 2018

Electrical SystemEngineFuel/propulsion System

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I HAVE A 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU ECO AND WHEN I STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT THE CAR JUST SHUT DOWN. THOUGHT IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN BAD GAS AT FIRST BECAUSE THE CAR STARTED RIGHT UP. WELL NOT EVEN 15 MINUTES LATER IT DID IT AGAIN. THE CAR STARTED RIGHT BACK UP LIKE IT DID BEFORE AND DIDNT HAVE NO MORE ISSUES OUT OF IT. THE NEXT DAY HAD TO DO SOME RUNNING AROUND THE CAR DID FINE UNTIL THE WAY HOME. THE CAR CUT OFF ON ME THREE DIFFERENT TIMES.ONLY DOES IT WHEN I COME TO A STOP NO MATTER WHERE I'M AT. SOMEDAYS THE CAR DOES BETTER THEN OTHERS JUST HOPE IT DON'T CUT OFF ON ME WHEN I'M DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD.

NHTSA ODI #11163233

104,000 miles · Oct 10, 2018

Electrical SystemEngineUnknown Or Other

OVER THE LAST 3 WEEKS, WHEN THE VEHICLE HAS GONE INTO THE AUTO SHUT-OFF MODE, IT DOESN'T ALWAYS START BACK UP WHEN YOU PUSH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL.

NHTSA ODI #11139406

142,000 miles · Jul 24, 2018

Electrical SystemEngineFuel/propulsion System

THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED MULTIPLE TIMES FOR THE ISSUE OF ATALLING OUT WHILE DRIVING. SEVERAL TIMES I HAVE BEEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WITH TOTAL ELECTRICAL FAILURE. THE ELECTRICAL POWER WILL CUT OUT AFFECTING MY BREAKS, POWER STEERING, GAUGES, AND ENGINE. THIS PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED OVER MULTIPLE OCCASIONS.

NHTSA ODI #11113457

50,000 miles · Jul 18, 2018

Engine

ENGINE LIGHT CONSTANTLY ON, CAR SHUTS DOWN WHILE DRIVING. DEALERSHIP REPAIRED ONE TIME AND IN LESS THAN 6 MONTHS IT'S HAPPENING AGAIN

NHTSA ODI #11112237

52,938 miles · May 29, 2018

Electrical SystemEngineSteering

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I HAVE HAD REPEATED ISSUES INVOLVING MY 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU ECO DATING BACK TO 2014. I HAD THE VEHICLE REPAIRED FOR THE SAME ISSUES MULTIPLE TIMES AND THE ISSUE IS STILL NOT RESOLVED. MY VEHICLES HESITATES CONSTANTLY AND STALLS (CUTS COMPLETELY OFF) IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE STEERING WHEEL ALSO LOCKS UP OCCASIONALLY AND WATER LEAKS IN THE TRUNK. I HAVE OWNED A FEW 'BRAND NEW' VEHICLES AND I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED ANYTHING LIKE THIS IN MY LIFE. I AM VERY SCARED FOR MY SAFETY AND THE SAFETY OF MY CHILD. I HAVE VOICED MY CONCERNS ABOUT MY SAFETY MANY TIMES ESPECIALLY AFTER ALMOST BEING HIT FROM BEHIND BY A TRACTOR TRAILER ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY. BY THE GRACE OF GOD OUR LIVES WERE SPARED, BUT IT WAS VERY TRAUMATIZING EXPERIENCE. SINCE THAT INCIDENT MY VEHICLE HAS CONTINUED TO STALL AND I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE IN FOR THE ISSUES. MY CAR HAS CUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF MAJOR INTERSECTIONS, PARKING LOTS, MAIN HIGHWAYS, ETC. AT VARIOUS SPEEDS DRIVING FORWARD AND BACKING UP. NOW MY CHILD IS SCARED TO RIDE IN OUR OWN VEHICLE. EVERY DAY WHEN I GET BEHIND THE WHEEL OF MY CAR ITS LIKE GOING ON SUICIDE MISSION. GM CANNOT FIX THE PROBLEM, WON'T HONOR THEIR WARRANTIES AND BRUSH MY CONCERNS OFF. THIS IS A SERIOUS MATTER AND IT CAN EVENTUALLY RESULT IN THE LOSS OF A LIFE OR MULTIPLE LIVES. I PRAY THAT IT WILL NOT BE ME OR MY DAUGHTER'S LIFE OR WE CAUSE SOMEONE ELSE TO LOSE THEIR LIFE BECAUSE OF OUR STALLED VEHICLE. I HAVE CONTACTED TWO DEALERSHIPS AND GM CORPORATE OFFICE AND I HAVE NOT RECEIVED A RESOLUTION REGARDING MY VEHICLE. BASICALLY, THE DEALERSHIP AND GM CORPORATE CONFIRMED THAT MY SAFETY AND THE SAFETY OF MY CHILD IS NOT A CONCERN OR A PRIORITY. HELP!!

NHTSA ODI #11098645

80,000 miles · May 21, 2018

Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

WHEN I AM DRIVING MY CAR, THE WHOLE CAR SHUT OFF. THE BATTERY GOES BASICALLY DEAD AND MY STEERING LOCKS ON ME. I THEN HAVE TO PUT IT IN PARK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD JUST SO I CAN RESTART THE CAR. I WAS ON THE FREEWAY YESTERDAY WITH MY 6 SIX YEAR OLD GODSON AND THE CAR SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING IN TRAFFIC ON THE FREEWA…

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NHTSA ODI #11097113

Official recalls

13V173000 · Electrical System

May 6, 2013

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

AQ14001 · Sands Chevrolet/hybrid System Fire/stall

Opened May 2, 2014 · Closed May 22, 2016

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System

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 8, 2015.Again, a response letter was received on June 9, 2015.NHTSA?s investigation indicated that Sands Chevrolet did sell and deliver recalled vehicles that did not have the recall remedy completed at the time the vehicles were delivered to the customers.NHTSA therefore concluded that Sands Chevrolet was liable for civil penalties for violations of the Safety Act, pursuant to 49 U.S.C. ? 30165.Under a Settlement Agreement dated March 24, 2016, Sands Chevrolet represented that it improved its processes to verify that it checks every vehicle for recalls prior to delivery to the purchaser and that it has not sold and delivered any unremedied new motor vehicles since June 9, 2015.Sands Chevrolet also represented that it now also checks for open recalls on every customer vehicle brought in for service, and that it checks for open recalls on every used trade-in vehicle, regardless of make or model, and takes steps to have all used trade-in vehicles repaired prior to retail sale. Sands Chevrolet admitted to violating the law and must pay civil penalties in the amount of $40,000.This Audit Query is closed.

RQ13003 · Generator Control Module Fires

Opened Jul 5, 2013 · Closed Jul 22, 2014

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System:propulsion System:traction Battery

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 of production through 3/19/2012.Group B involved vehicles built from 3/20/2012 to 8/20/2012, group C from 8/21/2012 to 12/31/12, and group D from 1/1/2013 onwards.Bulletin 13136 instructed dealers to inspect and, if necessary, replace the GCM for vehicles in groups A or C.Bulletin 13142 instructed dealers to replace the GCM of any vehicle in group B.Group D vehicles were not recalled.All eAssist vehicles have a Powerpack which contains a BAS (belt alternator-starter) Power Inverter Module (BPIM)/Accessory Power Module (APM) and a 115-V Lithium-Ion battery.The Powerpack is known by GM's Part Description System as the GCM and Battery Module. The BPIM/APM contains 3 multi-layered printed circuit boards (PCBs) comprised of conductive layers separated by isolating layers.Vehicles built within the time periods of groups A and B had PCBs using single isolation layers.Vehicles build in group C had dual isolation layers on 1 of the 3 PCBs, and group D had all 3 PCBs built with dual insulation.Adding dual insulation to a PCB makes it more robust to material and manufacturing variations, and ultimately less susceptible to an electrical short circuit and subsequent failure.Through initial analysis of the GCM failures, GM identified that vehicles within group B contained PCBs that were contaminated during production due to increased production volumes that resulted in inadequate quality control.GM also noted that GCM failures occurred early in the life of the vehicle (typically <1000 miles).Therefore a service procedure was developed to replicate early life failures by subjecting the GCM to high current loads which would cause the identified failure mechanism (copper migration) to occur quickly and reveal any underlying PCB defect.Although groups A and C were built with PCBs containing single layer PCBs, they were built using better quality control, and as the data supports, experienced significantly lower failures.GM advised that for these reasons the two different service procedures were used in the Recall 13V-173 population.In response to ODI's Information Request (IR) GM submitted 234 unique reports related to the alleged problem. It was noted that 197 (84%) of the received reports fell into the group B population.The 2 fire incidents noted were events in which flames were evident and/or damage was experienced outside of the GCM. Both of these incidents involved group B vehicles. One hundred four warranty claims were also submitted in response to the IR, with 96 claims (92%) from group B.It was also noted that none of the claims from groups A or C occurred after the service procedure was conducted, and that the majority of the A or C incidents occurred during the service procedure.Given the data, ODI believes the ser