Chevrolet Malibu, representative photo
Representative model. Photo: MercurySable99, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Recalls & complaints · NHTSA data

2013 Chevrolet Malibu recalls

Every recall campaign and owner complaint NHTSA has on file for the 2013 model year. Not every vehicle is affected by every campaign: check a specific car by VIN below.

Recall campaigns
11
Park-it warnings
0
Complaints
923
Latest campaign
Dec 22, 2021

Recall summary by component11

NHTSA Recalls API · cached ≤24 h
ComponentCampaignsLatestCampaign IDs
Suspension4Dec 22, 2021
21V00F00021V63300020V76400013V024000
Electrical system4Jul 5, 2016
16V50200013V56600013V17300012V224000
Power train1Apr 24, 2015
15V245000
Visibility1Mar 23, 2015
15V164000
Exterior lighting1Oct 4, 2012
12V484000

Safety recalls11

NHTSA Recalls API · cached ≤24 h
0Park-it warnings
0Fixable over the air
Dec 22, 2021Latest campaign
Dec 22, 202121V00F000

Suspension: rear

A rear toe link fracture may reduce the driver's ability to control the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

DetailsHide details for campaign 21V00F000
What's wrong
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2010-2013 Buick Lacrosse, 2012-2013 Buick Regal, and 2013 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles sold or ever registered in Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, or Wisconsin. These vehicles may have rear toe links that received an improper amount of electrocoating (e-coat) corrosion protection, which could cause the e-coat to become brittle and break away when contacted by road debris. Over time, the e-coat may chip away, exposing the metal toe link and making it more susceptible to corrosion. Corrosion may eventually cause the toe link to thin and ultimately fracture.
Risk
A rear toe link fracture may reduce the driver's ability to control the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the rear suspension toe links and adjuster fasteners, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 27, 2022. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N212346640. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recalls 20V-764 and 21V-633.
Filed under
Malibu
Campaign
NHTSA 21V00F000 · Dec 22, 2021
Aug 12, 202121V633000

Suspension: rear

A rear toe link fracture may reduce the driver's ability to control the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

DetailsHide details for campaign 21V633000
What's wrong
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, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, or Wisconsin. These vehicles may have rear toe links that received excessive electrocoating (e-coat) corrosion protection, which could cause the e-coat to become brittle and break away when contacted by road debris. Over time, the e-coat may chip away, exposing the metal toe link and making it more susceptible to corrosion. Corrosion may eventually cause the toe link to thin and ultimately fracture.
Risk
A rear toe link fracture may reduce the driver's ability to control the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the rear suspension toe links and adjuster fasteners, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters were mailed on September 30, 2021. Owner notification letters were mailed on January 3, 2022. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N212330130.
Filed under
Malibu
Campaign
NHTSA 21V633000 · Aug 12, 2021
Dec 21, 202020V764000

Suspension: rear

A rear toe link fracture may reduce the driver's ability to control the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

DetailsHide details for campaign 20V764000
What's wrong
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, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, or Wisconsin. These vehicles may have rear toe links that received excessive electrocoating (e-coat) corrosion protection, which could cause the e-coat to become brittle and break away when contacted by road debris. Over time, the e-coat may chip away, exposing the metal toe link and making it more susceptible to corrosion. Corrosion may eventually cause the toe link to thin and ultimately to fracture.
Risk
A rear toe link fracture may reduce the driver's ability to control the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear suspension toe links and adjuster fasteners free of charge. Parts are not currently available. Owners were mailed an interim notification on January 27, 2021, and April 15, 2021. A third notification was mailed on August 19, 201. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N202308930.
Filed under
Malibu
Campaign
NHTSA 20V764000 · Dec 21, 2020
Jul 5, 201616V502000

Electrical system: ignition

If the key is removed without the transmission in PARK, the vehicle may rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.

DetailsHide details for campaign 16V502000
What's wrong
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 Buick Regal, 2013-2014 Buick Verano, 2011-2016 Chevrolet Cruze, 2010-2013 Chevrolet Equinox 2013-2015 Chevrolet Malibu, and 2011-2013 GMC Terrain vehicles may have been serviced with similar defective replacement electronic park lock levers. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention."
Risk
If the key is removed without the transmission in PARK, the vehicle may rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and if necessary replace the key cylinder lock housing, free of charge. The recall began on October 14, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Buick 1-800-521-7300, and GMC 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 50490 and 50491.
Filed under
Malibu
Campaign
NHTSA 16V502000 · Jul 5, 2016
Apr 24, 201515V245000

Power train: automatic transmission gear position indication (prndl)

If the console shift indicator does not illuminate the transmission gear selection, a driver could inadvertently select a transmission position other than the position…

DetailsHide details for campaign 15V245000
What's wrong
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. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 102, "Transmission Shift Position Sequence, Starter Interlock, and Transmission Braking Effect."
Risk
If the console shift indicator does not illuminate the transmission gear selection, a driver could inadvertently select a transmission position other than the position the driver intended, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
GM has notified owners, and dealers will replace the transmission gear selection control module, free of charge. The recall began on April 20, 2015. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 12162.
Filed under
Malibu
Campaign
NHTSA 15V245000 · Apr 24, 2015
Mar 23, 201515V164000

Visibility: sun/moon roof assembly

The Slide or Tilt roof panel switch may inadvertently be pressed and the roof panel may auto-close unexpectedly, increasing the risk of a pinch injury.

DetailsHide details for campaign 15V164000
What's wrong
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."
Risk
The Slide or Tilt roof panel switch may inadvertently be pressed and the roof panel may auto-close unexpectedly, increasing the risk of a pinch injury.
Remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will update the Body Control Module (BCM) software to remove auto-close feature for certain switch positions, free of charge. The recall began April 21, 2015. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 15176.
Filed under
Malibu
Campaign
NHTSA 15V164000 · Mar 23, 2015

Merged from NHTSA model names: Malibu, Malibu Eco. Not every vehicle of a model year is affected by every campaign.

To see whether a recall is still open on your car, enter the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or the Chevrolet recall lookup. Recall repairs are free at a franchised dealer (federal law; see limits).

Buying a used 2013 Chevrolet Malibu? Recalls cover the model; a history report checks one car's title, odometer and accident records. VinAudit history report → Sponsored · disclosure

Owner complaints by component923

NHTSA Complaints API · cached ≤24 h
923Complaints filed
38Involving a crash
11Involving a fire
34Injuries reported
ComponentShareComplaints%CrashesFiresInjuries
Electrical system42546765
Engine22624443
Steering19721802
Unknown or other9711003
Electronic stability control (ESC)849200
Air bags69716022
Suspension657705
Power train627302
Service brakes556200
Fuel/propulsion system384000
Vehicle speed control323200
Exterior lighting303020
Visibility/wiper273000
Structure253205
Wheels253201

12 more components with fewer complaints not shown. An owner can tag several components, so percentages add up to more than 100. Complaints are unverified owner reports, de-duplicated by NHTSA ODI number, merged from NHTSA model names Malibu, Malibu Eco Eassist.

Latest reports

  • Power train

    “My high Voltage cable has melted into the generator of my 2013 Chevy Malibu Eco hybrid. This causes my front battery to drain really fast.”

    Filed 10/02/2026 · ODI 11768573
  • Electrical system

    “The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving 55 MPH, the electrical system failed inside the vehicle, causing the air conditioning system to fail to operate, and the window control…”

    Filed 07/24/2026 · ODI 11752683
  • Unknown or other

    “While driving my 2013 Chevrolet Malibu (2.5L), I experienced a sudden and severe failure of the braking system.”

    Filed 05/19/2026 · ODI 11738680

Other Chevrolet Malibu model years

All years: 2025 · 2024 · 2023 · 2022 · 2021 · 2020 · 2019 · 2018 · 2017 · 2016 · 2015 · 2014 · 2013 · 2012 · 2011 · 2010 · 2009 · 2008 · 2007 · 2006 · 2005 · 2004 · 2003 · 2002 · 2001 · 2000

Other Chevrolet models

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2013 Chevrolet Malibu recall questions

How many recalls does the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu have?

NHTSA lists 11 safety recall campaigns for the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu. The most recent, 21V00F000 (reported December 22, 2021), concerns suspension. Not every vehicle is covered by every campaign; check a specific car by VIN.

What are the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu recalls for?

The largest group is suspension, with 4 campaigns. Others: electrical system (4), power train (1), visibility (1). Each campaign below lists the defect, the risk and the free remedy.

What is the most common complaint about the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu?

Electrical system is the most-reported component, named in 425 complaints out of 923 filed with NHTSA (46%). Across all complaints, owners reported 38 crashs and 11 fires. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

How do I check if a recall is open on my 2013 Chevrolet Malibu?

Enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or the Chevrolet recall lookup. That shows campaigns still unrepaired on that exact car. Safety recall repairs are free at a franchised Chevrolet dealer.

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