NHTSA vehicle safety data

2013 Chevrolet Malibu ECO Recalls & Complaints

The 2013 Chevrolet Malibu ECO has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 87 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Chevrolet dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu ECO. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

2013 Chevrolet Malibu ECO owner complaints

Owners have filed 87 complaints with NHTSA about the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu ECO, describing incidents dated May 1, 2012 to January 4, 2024.

Most-cited components

  • Electrical System 49 complaints
  • Engine 23 complaints
  • Steering 16 complaints
  • Electronic Stability Control (ESC) 12 complaints
  • Air Bags 10 complaints
  • Service Brakes 9 complaints

Of the 87 complaints on file, 5 report a crash and 1 a fire; across all 87 complaints, owners report 2 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

  • ODI #11571980 · Filed

    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 residence…

  • ODI #11465899 · Filed

    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…

  • ODI #11234848 · Filed

    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.

Read all 87 complaints

Owner-reported

2013 Chevrolet Malibu ECO mileage at failure

80 of the 87 complaints on file for the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu ECO give the vehicle's mileage when the problem happened.

Mileage at failure by component, from owners' complaints to NHTSA
Electrical SystemMedian 75,000 milesMiddle half 40,000–95,000 milesBased on 43 complaints

A component's median is its 50th percentile, and its middle half runs from its 25th to its 75th percentile.

Owners give the mileage themselves, often as a round number, and NHTSA doesn't check it. A complaint that names several components counts under each one, and mileages that can't be right, such as 999,999, or 50 miles on a five-year-old car, are left out.

These figures describe the complaints owners filed. They don't predict when a particular vehicle will have a problem, and vehicles that never had one aren't counted.

Mileage from NHTSA's complaints file of October 31, 2026. How these figures are worked out

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu ECO in 2 investigations. Audit Queries and Equipment Queries are administrative investigations: they look at whether companies complied with federal vehicle safety requirements, such as reporting, recall and certification rules, not at a possible vehicle defect. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.

Open and recently closed NHTSA defect investigations

Hybrid Charging System/Possible Fire or Stall

NHTSA #13V173000 · Electrical System · NHTSA notice

Reported May 6, 2013 · General Motors LLC

Potentially affected: 42,904 vehicles

Repair completion: 93.84% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Manufacturer campaign 13136 · Owners notified June 11, 2013 · Vehicles built June 21, 2011 – November 15, 2012 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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.

Safety 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.

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Check your 2013 Chevrolet Malibu ECO VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Chevrolet Malibu ECO at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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