Electrical System. Review the 375 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine. Review the 204 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Steering. Review the 181 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

33 crash reports10 fire reports22 injury reports

What owners actually said

835 reports

42,000 miles · Jan 19, 2016

Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE PARKED, THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO START AND THE KEY COULD NOT BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000.

NHTSA ODI #10820936

Mileage unknown · Jan 5, 2016

Electrical SystemEnginePower Train

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IN SUMMER 2015 WHILE USING AC, HEAT RANDOMLY WOULD BLAST OUT. (WHILE IDLE OR DRIVING). WOULD HAVE TO RESTART CAR TO GET AC TO WORK AGAIN. IN THE PAST 2 WEEKS DEC15/JAN16, ENGINE OVERHEATED-IDLE INDICATOR CAME ON WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, ONCE AT 65 MPH, ONCE AT 30 MPH. THEN A FEW MINUTES LATER IT WOULD TURN OFF. I LOOKED AT TEMP GAUGE, AND IT WAS NOT AT AN OVERHEATING LEVEL (HALF WAY ONLY). ALSO, NOW HEAT ONLY INTERMITTENTLY WORKS. I WILL HAVE TO TURN CAR ON AND OFF REPEATEDLY, AND TURN AC ON/OFF, HEAT ON/OFF, DEFROST ON/OFF, AND SOMETIMES THE HEAT WILL FINALLY GET WARM. NEVER SEEMS TO GET HOT LIKE IT'S SUPPOSED TO. TOOK TO REPAIR SHOP FOR THE ENGINE OVERHEATED/IDLE WARNING AND STATED NOTHING WAS WRONG. SAFETY ISSUE NOT HAVING HEAT FOR FRONT WINDSHIELD DEFROST WHEN IT'S UNDER 30 DEGREES OUT. MECHANIC SAID IT'S PROBABLY A COMPUTER ISSUE WITH THE CAR. BUT NOW I'M SEEING THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH MANY CAR OWNERS. GM NEEDS TO RECALL, AS THIS CAN BE A SAFETY CONCERN!

NHTSA ODI #10818057

51,000 miles · Dec 30, 2015

Engine And Engine Cooling

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WHILE DRIVING HOME, I RECEIVED A WARNING TO SERVICE MY BATTERY CHARGING SYSTEM. EVENTUALLY, THE BATTERY SAVER WAS ACTIVATED. I LOST MY POWER STEERING EVENTUALLY AND MY CAR STOPPED RUNNING. I COULD JUMP THE CAR TO START BUT MY CAR WOULD DIE WHEN PUT IN GEAR. MY VEHICLE HAS 51,000 MILES AND YET THE DRIVE BELT BROKE. WHILE REPAIRING IT, THE TECHNICIAN DISCOVERED THAT THE DRIVE BELT TENSIONER PULLEY WAS BAD AND NEEDED REPLACED. MY VEHICLE IS NOT OLD ENOUGH NOR WITH ENOUGH MILES TO WARRANT THIS PART GOING BAD. I HAD TO PAY A $700 REPAIR BILL BECAUSE IT IS OUTSIDE OF THE WARRANTY. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10817069

34,000 miles · Dec 8, 2015

Electronic Stability Control (esc)

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SO I HAVE A 2013 MALIBU LT WHICH I HAD TOOK TO THE DEALER FOR A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND ENDED UP BEING THAT THE CAM SHAFT HAD TO BE REPLACED. NOW THAT I GOT MY CAR BACK 2 WEEKS LATER WITH 33,000 MILES IT KEEPS COMING UP WITH SERVICE STABILITRAK. IT STALLS OUT ON ME SO I TAKE IT BACK IN AND THEY CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR BECAUSE THE CHECK ENGINE LIKE IS NOT ON. SO I HAVE MY CAR BACK AND IT'S THE SAME PROBLEM...AT A STOP THE CAR WILL SHOW SERVICE STABILITRAK AND THEN SHORTLY AFTER IT WILL JUST SHUT OFF!! TONIGHT DRIVING HOME FROM WORK I GOT SCARED BECAUSE IT DID IT TO ME ABOUT 6 TIMES AND MIND YOU ITS A 20 MINUTE DRIVE. AS I TURNS ON MY LIGHTS WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 35 MILES PER HOUR THE CAR DID IT AGAIN AND SEEMED LIKE IT WAS ABOUT TO JUST SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF ME DRIVING IT. THE CAR SLOWED ITSELF AND THE STEREO SHUT OFF AND THEN EVERYTHING FLASHED AS IF I HAD JUST TURNED THE CAR ON AND ALL THE DOORS RELOCKED ITSELF. AFRAID OF WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN NEXT I'M TAKING IT IN AGAIN AND DEMANDING THAT THEY RESEARCH THE PROBLEM AND FIX IT...AND I DON'T CARE IF THERE IS NO ENGINE LIGHT ON, THEY NEED TO DO SOMETHING BECAUSE I'M TO THE POINT THAT I'M SCARED TO DRIVE MY CAR IN FEAR THAT I MIGHT CAUSE A WRECK DUE TO MY CAR SHUTTING OFF BY ITSELF!! IF ANYONE KNOWS HOW TO GET THIS RESOLVED SO I CAN EXPLAIN TO THE MECHANIC AT THE CHEVY DEALER WHO SAYS THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH MY CAR..PLEASE HELP!!

NHTSA ODI #10809145

8,000 miles · Nov 30, 2015

Electrical System

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SLOW DOWN ON ITS OWN. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE HEATER ACTIVATED. IN ADDITION, A STRONG BURNING ODOR STARTED TO EMERGE FROM THE VENTS AND ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS FLICKERED ON AND OFF. THE VEHICLE DECELERATED FROM 35 TO 5 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRICAL HARNESS WAS NOT MAKING CONTACT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED FIVE TIMES SINCE THE FIRST WEEK THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,000.

NHTSA ODI #10807476

67,000 miles · Nov 16, 2015

Air BagsCrashInjury

MY 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AT THE TIME OF THE WRECK.

NHTSA ODI #10790580

60,000 miles · Nov 12, 2015

EngineSteering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO OVERHEAT AND THEN STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES, BUT THE CONTACT WAS UNSURE OF THE PART…

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NHTSA ODI #10790029

57,000 miles · Nov 3, 2015

Electrical SystemEngineCrash

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH, THE REDUCED ENGINE POWER WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED AND CRASHED INTO A CURB. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE DEALER CLEANED THE BATTERY TERMINALS, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED WITH THE REDUCED ENGINE POWER AND ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000.

NHTSA ODI #10788102

Mileage unknown · Nov 1, 2015

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

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MY FAN KEEPS STAYING ON AFTER MY CAR HAS BEEN TURNED OFF. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES NOW. THIS WEEK MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, MY CAR SIGNALED THAT IT WAS OVERHEATING, AND I NEEDED TO IDLE MY ENGINE. THE TEMPERATURE GUAGE WENT BACK AND FORTH FROM COLD TO HOT. I WAS TOLD AT THE LAST TRIP TO THE DEALER THEY HAD FIXED EVERYTHING AND I HAD A LIFETIME WARRANTY. NOW THERE IS THIS PROBLEM WHERE I CANNOT TURN ON THE DEFROST OR THE CAR WILL THINK IT IS OVER HEATING, BUT THERE IS NO SMOKE AND IT CAN BE IN AS LITTLE AS 30 SECONDS AFTER I START MY CAR. THE PANEL WHERE THE REAR CAMERA GETS WARM BUT NO HEAT COMES OUT OF THE VENTS. MY CONCERN IS THE VEHICLE WILL IGNITE WHILE I AM DRIVING.

NHTSA ODI #10787499

38,404 miles · Oct 20, 2015

Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING FAILED, WHICH MADE IT DIFFICULT TO TURN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,404.

NHTSA ODI #10783720

Official recalls

21V00F000 · Suspension:rear

Dec 22, 2021

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. 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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A rear toe link fracture may reduce the driver's ability to control the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: 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.

21V633000 · Suspension:rear

Aug 12, 2021

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. 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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A rear toe link fracture may reduce the driver's ability to control the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: 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.

20V764000 · Suspension:rear

Dec 21, 2020

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. 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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A rear toe link fracture may reduce the driver's ability to control the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: 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.

16V502000 · Electrical System:ignition; Power Train:automatic Transmission:control Module (tcm/pcm/tecm)

Jul 5, 2016

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."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the key is removed without the transmission in PARK, the vehicle may rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: 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.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Electrical System:ignition

Consequence: If the key is removed without the transmission in PARK, the vehicle may rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: 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.

Power Train:automatic Transmission:control Module (tcm/pcm/tecm)

Consequence: If the key is removed without the transmission in PARK, the vehicle may rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.

15V245000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:gear Position Indication (prndl)

Apr 24, 2015

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured April 10, 2012, to August 2, 2012. 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."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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.

15V164000 · Visibility:sun/moon Roof Assembly

Mar 23, 2015

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles October 24, 2011, to March 5, 2015. 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."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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.

13V566000 · Electrical System:wiring; Seats:front Assembly:power Adjust

Nov 13, 2013

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. The wiring harness for the power seat may contact the seat frame which may chafe the harness.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Seats:front Assembly:power Adjust

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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.

Electrical System:wiring

13V024000 · Suspension:rear

Jan 23, 2013

General Motors is recalling certain model year 2013 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles, manufactured December 6, 2011, through January 15, 2013. One or more rear suspension bolts may not have been tightened to the specified torque. This may lead to sudden changes in vehicle handling.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Sudden changes in vehicle handling may increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: 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.

12V484000 · Exterior Lighting:turn Signal

Oct 4, 2012

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011-2013 Buick Regal and model year 2013 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles. 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."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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.

12V224000 · Electrical System:software

May 18, 2012

GENERAL MOTORS (GM) IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 24, 2011, THROUGH MARCH 31, 2012. AFTER AN EVENT OF HARD BRAKING, THE SENSING AND DIAGNOSTIC MODULE (SDM) MAY RESET ITSELF.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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.

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

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.