Is the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu a bad year?
837 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 214, 3.8× a quiet Malibu year.
Keep it, but watch the engine
Half of the engine complaints for this year were filed at 51k–103k miles, where you are now.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2013 Malibu owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 78,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical systemSTANDS OUT | 376 (45%) | 54k–105k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| EngineSTANDS OUT | 214 (26%) | 51k–103k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| SteeringSTANDS OUT | 181 (22%) | 20k–88k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Stability controlSTANDS OUT | 72 (9%) | 57k–100k miles · around this mileage | — |
| SuspensionSTANDS OUT | 65 (8%) | 70k–120k miles · around this mileage | Ball joint replacement (one joint) $200–$500 · Control arm replacement (one arm) $200–$900 |
| Visibility and wipersSTANDS OUT | 40 (5%) | 30k–103k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Air bags | 59 (7%) | 46k–100k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 54 (6%) | 34k–92k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Brakes | 46 (5%) | 36k–89k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Fuel system | 34 (4%) | 49k–100k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Exterior lighting | 28 (3%) | 66k–130k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Speed control | 28 (3%) | 34k–110k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Body structure | 25 (3%) | 16k–83k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Seats | 23 (3%) | 47k–103k miles · around this mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 78,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 837 complaints: 33 mention a crash · 10 mention a fire · 22 report an injury · 38 say the car was towed.
20 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Oct 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
I am having a problem with my speedometer jumping, and there is also an indicater light that keeps popping on saying that my car is losing power.
When driving, the car will suddenly stop and lose power. It will restart again but will not have power steering.
While driving home, I received a warning to service my battery charging system. Eventually, the battery saver was activated.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 78,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu: 10
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. A rear toe link fracture may reduce the driver's ability to control the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
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. A rear toe link fracture may reduce the driver's ability to control the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
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. A rear toe link fracture may reduce the driver's ability to control the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
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. If the key is removed without the transmission in PARK, the vehicle may rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.
In the affected vehicles, the console transmission gear selection indicator may not illuminate the shift position selected. 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.
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. 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.
The wiring harness for the power seat may contact the seat frame which may chafe the harness. 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.
One or more rear suspension bolts may not have been tightened to the specified torque. This may lead to sudden changes in vehicle handling. Sudden changes in vehicle handling may increase the risk of a crash.
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. If the driver is not aware that a turn signal is not functioning properly, the driver may continue to drive the vehicle.
After an event of hard braking, the sensing and diagnostic module (SDM) may reset itself. 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.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Chevrolet: 604
Repair instructions Chevrolet sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
If the vehicle stalls and set diagnostic trouble code P0191 and may also set P0172
Normal transmission shift condition and the delay in throttle response when the throttle plate is opened rapidly and advises the customer that it is normal…
Guidelines to replace Oil Cooler, Oil Cooler Lines and Oil Tank if the engine was replaced where large amounts of debris has flowed throughout the oiling system
Internal Engine Noise or Damage After Oil Filter Replacement
Neighbouring years
2012 Malibu: 906 complaints, keep it · 2014 Malibu: 351 complaints, keep it, but watch the engine.
Every Chevrolet Malibu year
2000 · 2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · All Malibu years side by side
Other Chevrolet models: Chevrolet Astro · Chevrolet Avalanche · Chevrolet Avalanche 1500 · Chevrolet Aveo · Chevrolet Blazer · Chevrolet Bolt EV · Chevrolet Camaro · Chevrolet Captiva · Chevrolet Cavalier · Chevrolet Cobalt · Chevrolet Cobalt SS · Chevrolet Colorado · Chevrolet Corvette · Chevrolet Cruze · Chevrolet Equinox · Chevrolet Equinox EV · Chevrolet Express · Chevrolet HHR · Chevrolet Impala · Chevrolet Malibu Classic · Chevrolet Malibu Maxx · Chevrolet Monte Carlo · Chevrolet S10 · Chevrolet Silverado · Chevrolet Silverado 1500 · Chevrolet Silverado 1500 HD · Chevrolet Silverado 2500 · Chevrolet Silverado 3500 · Chevrolet Sonic · Chevrolet Spark · Chevrolet Suburban · Chevrolet Suburban 1500 · Chevrolet Tahoe · Chevrolet Tracker · Chevrolet Trailblazer · Chevrolet Trailblazer EXT · Chevrolet Trailblazer EXT 370 · Chevrolet Traverse · Chevrolet Trax · Chevrolet Uplander · Chevrolet Venture · Chevrolet Volt. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu a bad year?
837 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 214, 3.8× a quiet Malibu year. At 78,000 miles the tool says: Keep it, but watch the engine. Half of the engine complaints for this year were filed at 51k–103k miles, where you are now.
What are the most common problems with the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: electrical system (376), engine (214), steering (181), stability control (72), suspension (65). Half of the engine complaints were filed between 51k–103k miles.
How many recalls does the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu have?
10 recall campaigns list this model year: Suspension (NHTSA 21V00F000), Suspension (NHTSA 21V-633), Suspension (NHTSA 20V-764), Transmission and drivetrain (NHTSA 16V-502) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.