Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2013 Chevrolet Malibu
NHTSA data on file today
The 2013 Chevrolet Malibu has 10 NHTSA recall campaigns and 837 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
NCAP overall rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars, averaged across 2 NHTSA-tested trims.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #21V00F000 Rear Toe Links May Fracture NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #21V633000 Rear Toe Links May Fracture NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #20V764000 Rear Toe Links May Fracture NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #16V502000 Key May Be Removed When Not In Park/FMVSS 114 NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #15V245000 Shift Position Not Illuminating/FMVSS 102 NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #15V164000 Roof Panel May Inadvertently Auto Close/FMVSS 118 NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #13V566000 Power Seat Wiring Harness may Chafe and Short NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #13V024000 Rear Suspension Bolt Torque NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #12V484000 Front Turn Signal Bulbs/FMVSS 108 NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #12V224000 SENSING AND DIAGNOSTIC MODULE NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Electrical System 376 complaints
- Engine 204 complaints
- Steering 181 complaints
- Unknown or Other 89 complaints
- Electronic Stability Control (ESC) 72 complaints
- Suspension 65 complaints
Of the 837 complaints on file, 33 report a crash and 10 a fire; across all 837 complaints, owners report 32 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $7,000–$12,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2013 Chevrolet Malibu has numerous complaints and significant recall history indicating potential reliability issues. With 837 complaints and 10 recall campaigns, including issues with suspension, electrical systems, and engine, potential owners should be cautious. The data suggests common problems, but specifics are limited by the lack of detailed failure statistics.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| electrical system | 50,000–100,000 miles | $250–$1,000 | very common |
| engine | 60,000–120,000 miles | $500–$3,000 | common |
| steering | 70,000–130,000 miles | $300–$1,500 | common |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter changes
- Brake pad replacements
- Tire rotations
- Coolant system flush
- Air filter replacement
- Transmission fluid change
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Electrical issues or shorts
- Unusual engine noises
- Steering wheel vibration
- Sudden vehicle handling changes
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.