2013 Chevrolet Malibu Electrical System Problems
Owners have filed 376 complaints with NHTSA about electrical system problems on the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu, 45% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 76,904 miles. The words owners use most often: “instrument cluster” (5% of reports).
- 376electrical system complaints
- 76,904median miles at failure
- 6mention a crash
- 3mention an injury
- 3related recalls
- 37%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Instrument cluster: mentioned in 20 of 376 complaints (5%)
At what mileage do electrical system problems happen?
Based on 276 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 376 complaints, 6 mention a crash, 5 a fire, 3 an injury.
Chevrolet Malibu electrical system complaints by model year
| Model year | Electrical System complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Malibu | 4 | 36% | — |
| 2024 Malibu | 18 | 42% | — |
| 2023 Malibu | 12 | 17% | 31,000 |
| 2022 Malibu | 33 | 34% | 15,901 |
| 2021 Malibu | 30 | 33% | 53,100 |
| 2020 Malibu | 57 | 29% | 22,324 |
| 2019 Malibu | 62 | 32% | 43,500 |
| 2018 Malibu | 192 | 27% | 46,560 |
| 2017 Malibu | 161 | 23% | 50,000 |
| 2016 Malibu | 222 | 26% | 51,650 |
| 2015 Malibu | 68 | 25% | 54,000 |
| 2014 Malibu | 86 | 25% | 64,550 |
| 2013 Malibu | 376 | 45% | 76,904 |
| 2012 Malibu | 291 | 32% | 87,830 |
| 2011 Malibu | 235 | 24% | 80,000 |
| 2010 Malibu | 295 | 22% | 85,000 |
| 2009 Malibu | 368 | 24% | 90,000 |
| 2008 Malibu | 233 | 24% | 82,000 |
| 2007 Malibu | 113 | 12% | 118,850 |
| 2006 Malibu | 142 | 13% | 97,980 |
| 2005 Malibu | 180 | 18% | 102,500 |
| 2004 Malibu | 151 | 13% | 90,000 |
| 2003 Malibu | 289 | 51% | 80,000 |
| 2002 Malibu | 259 | 46% | 78,000 |
| 2001 Malibu | 285 | 40% | 88,000 |
| 2000 Malibu | 199 | 22% | 80,000 |
| 1999 Malibu | 144 | 18% | 86,000 |
| 1998 Malibu | 130 | 13% | 91,500 |
| 1997 Malibu | 87 | 20% | 88,500 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (3)
Electrical system:ignition; power train:automatic transmission:control module (tcm/pcm/tecm)
Problem: 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."
Risk: If the key is removed without the transmission in PARK, the vehicle may rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.
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.
Seats:front assembly:power adjust; electrical system:wiring
Problem: 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.
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.
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.
Electrical system:software
Problem: 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.
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.
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.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
My high Voltage cable has melted into the generator of my 2013 Chevy Malibu Eco hybrid. This causes my front battery to drain really fast. I seen online that there was a recall on the generator control module my battery control module was changed but I keep like five batteries with me at all times…
The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving 55 MPH, the electrical system failed inside the vehicle, causing the air conditioning system to fail to operate, and the window control buttons failed to roll the window down. The battery saver active warning light was…
My battery warning light on the dash is illuminated with the notification saying "service battery charging system." I've researched online and found out that more vehicles of the same year make and model of my vehicle have been recalled for the same issue, but when putting in my vin number my…

Frequently asked questions
Do all 2013 Chevrolet Malibus have electrical system problems?
No. NHTSA has 376 owner complaints about electrical system for the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu (45% of the 836 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu electrical system?
Yes: 3 safety recalls list electrical system. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do electrical system problems start?
The median reported mileage is 76,904 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
What do owners say about electrical system problems on the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu?
The most frequent phrase is “instrument cluster”, in 20 of 376 complaints.
Other 2013 Chevrolet Malibu problems
See all 2013 Chevrolet Malibu problems or electrical system problems across all Malibu years.