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#BS-2013-CHEMAL-5B50

2013 Chevrolet MalibuProblems, Recalls & Reliability

Based on reports from 1,386 owners and 10 recalls for this exact model.

Data updated ·checked October 21, 2026 · NHTSA complaints through October 19, 2026

Complaints
1,386
Crashes
50
Fires
14
Recalls
10
TSBs
1,930
🛑

Preliminary Verdict

Red Flag

Based on 1,386 complaints, 50 crashes, 14 fires, and 10 recalls. Complaint rate is 3.9x the class average.

See full verdict with buy/skip conditions

Top reported problems

1

loss of power while driving

31 complaints • Severity 8.3/10

$X,XXX
2

wheel bearing failure

14 complaints • Severity 7.7/10

$X,XXX
3

water pump went out

13 complaints • Severity 7.5/10

$X,XXX
4

heater randomly comes on full blast

11 complaints • Severity 6.5/10

$X,XXX
5

various electrical issues

10 complaints • Severity 9/10

$X,XXX

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Mechanic Inspection Checklist

!Check the ElectricalHIGH

366 owners reported electrical issues — failures commonly reported around 70K miles.

!Inspect the EngineMED
Look for symptoms of wear and premature failure
+ 6 more items in full checklistUnlock

Failure Timeline by Mileage

179
0–30K
207
30–60K
286
60–90K
195
90–120K
95
120–150K
42
150K+

Peak failure range: 60–90K miles (286 reports) • Median: 70K miles

Full report: which components fail at each mileageUnlock

30,000-Mile Cost Projection

Best Case

$X,XXX

Most Likely

$X,XXX

Worst Case

$X,XXX

Top cost driver: Electrical (366 reports).

Includes fuel costs, common repairs, and recall riskUnlock

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

10 sections total in the full reportUnlock all

Where the complaints fall

Electrical366 (26%)
Engine213 (15%)
Steering180 (13%)
Other89 (6%)
Stability Control72 (5%)
Suspension63 (5%)
Airbags59 (4%)
Drivetrain54 (4%)

2013 Chevrolet Malibu: Known Issues & Problem Areas

Electrical Issues

Electrical complaints account for 26% of all reports filed for the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu, with 366 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. The median mileage at time of complaint is 70,000 miles, suggesting issues tend to surface around the 70K-mile mark.

Engine Issues

Engine complaints account for 15% of all reports filed for the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu, with 213 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to engine-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Steering Issues

Steering complaints account for 13% of all reports filed for the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu, with 180 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to steering-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Stability Control Issues

Stability Control complaints account for 5% of all reports filed for the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu, with 72 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

3
12
39
13
92
14
76
15
168
16
124
17
167
18
199
19
178
20
135
21
49
22
38
23
38
24
44
25
36
26

Complaints filed with NHTSA by year for the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu. Recent trend: stable.

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Repair costs • Negotiation scripts • Mechanic checklist • Buy/skip verdict

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Recall History (10 recalls)

12V224000Jun 2012

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.

12V484000Sep 2014

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."

13V024000Jan 2013

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.

13V566000Dec 2013

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.

15V164000Apr 2015

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.

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2013 Chevrolet Malibu NHTSA Safety Ratings

Overall

★★★★★

5 of 5 stars

Frontal crash

★★★★★

5 of 5 stars

Side crash

★★★★★

5 of 5 stars

Rollover

★★★★★

4 of 5 stars

From NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings). Where NHTSA tested more than one version of this vehicle, the lowest rating is shown.

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

1,386

Class avg

358

3.9x 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. 1,386 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.

Last updated (checked October 21, 2026). NHTSA complaints received through October 19, 2026; safety ratings from NHTSA's 5-Star program.

Other Chevrolet Malibu Model Years

2025202420232022202120202019201820172016201520142013201220112010200920082007200620052004200320022001200019991998199719891983198219811980197919781977197519741973
View all Chevrolet Malibu years →

2013 Chevrolet Malibu: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most common problem with the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu?
The most commonly reported issue with the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu is related to the electrical, with 366 complaints filed with NHTSA.
Is the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu reliable?
The 2013 Chevrolet Malibu has 1,386 complaints, 50 crash reports, and 14 fire reports filed with NHTSA. This is 3.9x the class average — higher than typical for its segment.
How safe is the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu?
NHTSA rates the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu 5 out of 5 stars overall, with 5 stars in frontal crash tests, 5 stars in side crash tests, 4 stars for rollover resistance. Where NHTSA tested more than one version, the lowest rating is shown.
How much does it cost to fix 2013 Chevrolet Malibu problems?
Repair costs vary by issue. The full BumperScan report includes detailed repair cost estimates (low/median/high) for every major issue, plus a 30,000-mile total cost of ownership projection.
Does the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu have any recalls?
Yes, the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu has 10 recalls on record. The full report includes recall severity analysis and scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.
What mileage do Chevrolet Malibu problems start?
Based on 1004 complaints with mileage data, the median mileage at time of complaint is 70,000 miles. The highest concentration of reported issues occurs in the 60–90K mile range. The full report breaks down exactly which components fail at each mileage bracket.
When was the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu data last updated?
BumperScan last checked this vehicle against NHTSA on October 21, 2026, covering owner complaints received through October 19, 2026 plus the latest recalls, investigations and technical service bulletins. Its numbers last changed on October 13, 2026.
What’s in the full report?
10 sections of AI analysis: severity-ranked issues, component scores (0-100), 30K-mile cost projection, failure timeline by mileage, recall details with seller scripts, owner sentiment analysis, mechanic checklist, buyer lot checklist, negotiation ammo with dollar figures, and a buy/skip verdict.
How is this different from free NHTSA data?
NHTSA gives you raw complaint text. BumperScan cross-references 2.1M+ complaints with community repair cost data, EPA fuel data, and recall records — then uses AI to synthesize it into actionable advice with dollar figures.
How is this different from Carfax?
Carfax is VIN-specific history ($45/report). BumperScan is model-level reliability intelligence — what problems this car is known for, what they cost, and whether you should buy it. Complementary, not competing.
What if the report isn’t useful?
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10 sections of AI analysis based on 1,386 owner reports. Know before you buy.

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