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#BS-2013-CHEMAL-5B502013 Chevrolet Malibu
Based on reports from 1,000 owners and 10 recalls for this exact model.
Preliminary Verdict
Red Flag
Based on 1,000 complaints, 39 crashes, 7 fires, and 10 recalls. Complaint rate is 2.6x the class average.
Top reported problems
loss of power while driving
31 complaints • Severity 8.3/10
water pump went out
13 complaints • Severity 7.5/10
steering difficult
7 complaints • Severity 8.9/10
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Mechanic Inspection Checklist
271 owners reported electrical issues — failures commonly reported around 65K miles.
Failure Timeline by Mileage
Peak failure range: 60–90K miles (246 reports) • Median: 65K miles
30,000-Mile Cost Projection
Best Case
Most Likely
Worst Case
Top cost driver: Electrical (271 reports).
Also in your report
Owner Intelligence
AI-synthesized themes from real complaints
Buyer Lot Checklist
Questions, test drive checks, walk-away triggers
Negotiation Talking Points
Data-backed dollar deductions
Buy / Skip Verdict
Final recommendation with conditions
Where the complaints fall
2013 Chevrolet Malibu: Known Issues & Problem Areas
Electrical Issues
Electrical complaints account for 27% of all reports filed for the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu, with 271 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. The median mileage at time of complaint is 65,000 miles, suggesting issues tend to surface around the 65K-mile mark.
Steering Issues
Steering complaints account for 16% of all reports filed for the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu, with 160 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to steering-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.
Engine Issues
Engine complaints account for 14% of all reports filed for the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu, with 145 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to engine-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.
Stability Control Issues
Stability Control complaints account for 6% of all reports filed for the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu, with 62 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to stability control-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.
Data sourced from NHTSA owner complaints and community reports. The full report analyzes severity, repair costs, and failure patterns for each category.
Complaint trend by year
Complaints filed with NHTSA by year for the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu. Recent trend: decreasing.
Don't negotiate blind — know what this car costs to own
Repair costs • Negotiation scripts • Mechanic checklist • Buy/skip verdict
Recall History (10 recalls)
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE
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.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011-2013 Buick Regal and model year 2013 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles. 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. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
SUSPENSION:REAR
General Motors is recalling certain model year 2013 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles, manufactured December 6, 2011, through January 15, 2013. One or more rear suspension bolts may not have been tightened to the specified torque. This may lead to sudden changes in vehicle handling.
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:POWER ADJUST
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.
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles October 24, 2011, to March 5, 2015. 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. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 118, "Power-Operated Window, Partition, and Roof Panel Systems."
+ 5 more recalls in the full report
Recall severity analysis & seller scripts
The full report rates each recall's severity and gives you scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.
The worst model year for the Chevrolet Malibu is the 2010 — worth knowing if you're cross-shopping years. The biggest problem area is engine.
2013 Chevrolet Malibu vs. Class Average (Midsize Cars)
This vehicle
1,000
Class avg
378
2.6x the class average — significantly more complaints than typical midsize cars vehicles.
Complaint counts correlate with sales volume — popular vehicles naturally generate more reports. The full report normalizes for this.
About this data
NHTSA Complaints
Federal database of owner-filed safety complaints. 1,000 records for this vehicle.
NHTSA Recalls
Manufacturer-issued safety recalls. 10 recalls found for this vehicle.
Repair Cost Data
Real-world repair costs from owner reports and independent databases.
Other Chevrolet Malibu Model Years
2013 Chevrolet Malibu: Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most common problem with the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu?
Is the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu reliable?
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Does the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu have any recalls?
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What’s in the full report?
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Get the Full 2013 Chevrolet Malibu Report
10 sections of AI analysis based on 1,000 owner reports. Know before you buy.