2013 Chevrolet Malibu Reliability
The 2013 Chevrolet Malibu has 924 owner complaints and 9 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about electrical system and engine. Compared with nearby Malibu model years (2011–2015), it rates as a caution year: complaints run above the Malibu's typical year, while the 2015 has a cleaner record.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
924
NHTSA owner complaints
9
Recall campaigns
38
Complaints citing a crash
11
Complaints citing a fire
2013 Chevrolet Malibu complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2013 model year, filed between 2012 and 2026. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 425 | 46% |
| Engine | 226 | 24% |
| Steering | 197 | 21% |
| Unknown or other | 97 | 10% |
| Stability control | 84 | 9% |
| Air bags | 69 | 7% |
| Suspension | 65 | 7% |
| Powertrain / transmission | 62 | 7% |
2013 Chevrolet Malibu recalls
9 recall campaigns on NHTSA record for the 2013 model year, by the date NHTSA received the manufacturer's report. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12V224000 | May 18, 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. |
| 12V484000 | Oct 4, 2012 | 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… |
| 13V024000 | Jan 23, 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… |
| 13V566000 | Nov 13, 2013 | Electrical system — wiring | 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… |
| 15V164000 | Mar 23, 2015 | Visibility / wipers — 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… |
| 15V245000 | Apr 24, 2015 | Powertrain / transmission — automatic transmission / gear position indication (prndl) | General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured April 10, 2012, to August 2, 2012. In the affected vehicles, the console transmission gear selection indicator may not illuminate the shift position selected.… |
| 16V502000 | Jul 5, 2016 | Electrical system — ignition | General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Buick Verano and 2016 Chevrolet Malibu as the electronic park lock lever may allow the ignition key to be removed without the transmission being in PARK. Also, certain 2013 Buick Encore, 2011… |
| 20V764000 | Dec 22, 2020 | Suspension — rear | General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2012-2013 Buick Regal, 2013 Chevrolet Malibu, and 2010-2013 Buick Lacrosse vehicles sold or ever registered in Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland,… |
| 21V633000 | Aug 12, 2021 | Suspension — rear | General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2013 Buick Regal, Chevrolet Malibu, and Buick Lacrosse vehicles sold or ever registered in Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts,… |
How the 2013 compares with nearby Malibu years
Verdicts compare these Malibu model years with each other.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 978 | 4 | Electrical system | Caution |
| 2012 | 907 | 3 | Electrical system | Solid |
| 2013 (this page) | 924 | 9 | Electrical system | Caution |
| 2014 | 363 | 6 | Engine | Solid |
| 2015 | 270 | 3 | Engine | Solid |
Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA and are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, so they compare years of the same model rather than different models.
The 2013 Chevrolet Malibu on the used market
- 44 of 666 2013 Chevrolet Malibu listings in CarWhere's lifespan study showed 200,000 miles or more.
What to check on a used 2013 Chevrolet Malibu
- Electrical: test every light, window, lock, the infotainment screen and the charging system; scan for stored fault codes.
- Engine: cold-start it yourself, listen for ticking or knocking, check for oil leaks and oil consumption, and ask for oil-change records.
- Steering: check for a steering warning light, heavy or notchy steering and clunks over bumps; power-steering faults show up at low speed.
- Air bags: make sure the air bag warning light goes out after start-up and that any air bag recall was completed on this VIN.
- Recalls: confirm each of the 9 campaigns above was completed on this VIN; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records, and have an independent mechanic inspect the car before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any 2013 Chevrolet Malibu can be better or worse than its model year. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
2013 Chevrolet Malibu reliability FAQ
Is the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu reliable?
The 2013 Chevrolet Malibu has 924 owner complaints and 9 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about electrical system and engine. Compared with nearby Malibu model years (2011–2015), it rates as a caution year: complaints run above the Malibu's typical year, while the 2015 has a cleaner record.
What are the most common 2013 Chevrolet Malibu problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu are electrical system (425), engine (226), steering (197), unknown or other (97). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu have recalls?
NHTSA lists 9 recall campaigns for the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu, including 12V224000 (electrical system — software) and 12V484000 (exterior lighting — turn signal). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu compare with the 2012 and 2014 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2012 has 907 complaints and 3 recalls (solid); the 2014 has 363 complaints and 6 recalls (solid). The 2013 has 924 complaints and 9 recalls.
How do I check a specific used 2013 Chevrolet Malibu?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
More Chevrolet Malibu research
Other Chevrolet Malibu model years:
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints (all body-style listings for the 2013 Malibu, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.