2013 Chevrolet Malibu ECO Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Malibu ECO years
- Not enough data 1st of 2 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 1 recall: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 87 complaints with NHTSA about the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu ECO. That is the most of any Malibu ECO model year in the database (2 years). The most reported problem area is electrical system (49 complaints, 56%), typically at around 73,000 miles. Complaints mention 5 crashes, 1 fire, 2 injuries. There is 1 safety recall covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 2 defect investigations involving it.
- 87owner complaints
- 1safety recalls
- 2NHTSA investigations
- 5complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2013 Chevrolet Malibu ECO problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 49 | 56% | 73,000 | — | — |
| Engine | 22 | 25% | 64,000 | — | — |
| Steering | 16 | 18% | 50,719 | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 12 | 14% | 80,000 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 10 | 11% | 27,500 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 9 | 10% | 44,408 | — | — |
| Power Train | 8 | 9% | 28,874 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 8 | 9% | 97,350 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 6 | 7% | 57,000 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 4 | 5% | 7,300 | — | — |
| Visibility | 3 | 3% | 14,878 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 2 | 2% | 40,176 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 1 | 1% | 51,316 | — | — |
| Equipment | 1 | 1% | 20,000 | — | — |
| Seats | 1 | 1% | 37,000 | — | — |
| Visibility/wiper | 1 | 1% | 31,000 | — | — |
| Wheels | 1 | 1% | 61,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2013 Chevrolet Malibu ECO recalls (1)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Electrical system
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.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Sands Chevrolet/Hybrid System Fire/Stall (AQ14001) — opened May 2, 2014, closed May 22, 2016.
- Generator Control Module Fires (RQ13003) — opened Jul 5, 2013, closed Jul 22, 2014.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
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…
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…
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
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.
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…
Other Chevrolet Malibu ECO years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 Malibu ECO | 12 | 0 |
| 2013 | 87 | 1 |
See all Chevrolet Malibu ECO problems by year, every Chevrolet model, or the Chevrolet VIN decoder.
Similar Chevrolet models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu ECO?
Owners most often report electrical system, engine, steering problems. The top one, electrical system, accounts for 49 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu ECO?
Yes, 1 safety recall. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu ECO a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Malibu ECO model years, the 2013 has too little data to compare. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.