Problems · by component

2013 Chevrolet Malibu exterior lighting problems

30 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu cite exterior lighting, 3% of all 924 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

Complaints
30
3% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
2
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the exterior lighting

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“My instrument cluster isn't working correctly. Some days I go out to start my car and the instrument cluster works. As I'm driving down the road my instrument cluster just stops working. My speedometer doesn't work, my rpms, the lights, temperature gauge and gas gauge just stops working. It's very scary and my transmission doesn't want to shift and my engine power is bogging down. This is really dangerous and I feel like my life is in danger. I pull off the road and shut my 2013 Chevy Malibu off and restart it and sometimes it comes back on and instrument cluster works but start driving and the instrument cluster stops working again. I have had my mechanic try to figure it out but so far I haven't been able to find out where the issue is so I haven't been able to fix it. My brakes have also been not engaging properly. I have had to replace my brakes 3 times so far after I got the brakes fixed for the 3rd time I haven't had very many problems. I also had to replace all my hubs as well as the brakes. Also something electrical isn't functioning correctly and when I shut my car off it makes a clicking noise right after I turn my car off. I'm a member of a Chevy…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 6, 2025Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Unknown or otherODI 11653061
“2013 Chevy Malibu LS Headlight found shorted and was causing other electrical issues. I found out the 8pin plug one of its pins showing burnt and its male mate same You can see this issue is not just one owner incident and it’s a public complaint in this public forum link [XXX]”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 12, 2024Electrical system, Exterior lightingODI 11582531
“Dashboard light don't work majority of the time is started like month ago and before that started there was something on the dash I believe is said brake/stability trak And now the battery keeps dying”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 26, 2023Suspension, Electrical system, Exterior lightingODI 11509150
“Dash lights flickering in and out and I can’t see my speed but the car still runs n has blinkers. Eventually it will flicker and go all the way black. Also the radio still worked fine n reverse camera did too it don’t stall or anything tho I’m just scared to drive At night cause i goes totally black”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 31, 2021Electrical system, Exterior lightingODI 11438786
“Both low beam headlights stopped working. Two days later the passenger side low beam headlight turned on again, but not the driver side. 2 months later both low beams again no longer working. I've replaced all 4 fuses (interior and exterior), headlight relay, and bulbs. None of that fixed the problem.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 15, 2021Electrical system, Exterior lightingODI 11436889
“When driving my dash lights quit for days and then sometimes come back on. I am not aware of what speed I am going when driving. I am not able to accurately drive the speed limit that I am suppose to. I don’t know how much gas I have or if I am about to run out of gas. If my check engine light is on or not, and can’t see my turn signals. How can you obey the laws of driving when you can’t tell if you are going over the speed limit or not or using your turn signal.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 4, 2021Electrical system, Exterior lightingODI 11431746

Showing 6 of 30 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 4, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

1 recall on this component

Exterior lighting: turn signal

Free remedy

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."

Exterior lightingReported Oct 4, 2012NHTSA 12V484000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 4, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.