Problems · by component

2013 Chevrolet Malibu fuel/propulsion system problems

38 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu cite fuel/propulsion system, 4% of all 924 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
38
4% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the fuel/propulsion system

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“While driving my 2013 Chevrolet Malibu, the electrical system intermittently fails: the radio shuts off, the instrument cluster goes blank (gauges drop to zero, fuel/temperature show empty), headlights flicker off then on, and turn-signal indicators disappear. Warning messages such as “Service Theft” and “No Key Detected” appear, power steering becomes difficult, and the vehicle shakes, stalls, or even turns off completely at stop signs. Sometimes the engine continues running even after the car is shut off, overheating and producing a burnt smell. These failures began months ago, occur unpredictably, and have been witnessed by an independent shop. The loss of lights, steering, and cluster data creates a serious safety hazard, and the vehicle is available for inspection.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 3, 2025Steering, Electrical system, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11691303
“The Generator control module failed on the vehicle causing the battery to lose charge and then the car to shut down. When looking for the part online I came across a bulletin 13142c which talked about the same exact issue that I faced. according to the bulletin the gcm was to have been replaced, however when searching the service history at the Chevy dealer there was a note that the gcm had been inspected, but never replaced. I am looking into this matter to see if I can be reimbursed for the costs of the labor and parts related to the gcm. On a side note this failure did come directly after the car was in a accident where the driverside front end of the car was damaged. The technicians said that the gcm failure had no relationship to the accident.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 19, 2024Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11566524
“Under a slow acceleration doing highway speed say going up a incline the car will get a burning smell in the cabin its smell like burning electrical wireing so far now visible smoke.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 24, 2022Electrical system, Unknown or other, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11481080
“I brought my 2013 Malibu LT in March of 2021. When I test drove and took it to autozone to get a diagnosis before buying the car nothing was wrong with it. After having the car for about 3 months the problems started. When I went to get it checked again it said that my alternator wasn’t working correctly how it should do I replaced the alternator. After getting the alternator replaced my car still stalls while driving and acts like it doesn’t want to go. When I try to start my car it barely turns over to start. While I’m driving I can’t turn on the radio or lights because it makes my car power go out. The radio lights turn on and off. When I put car in reverse it shuts off. When I’m driving the car shuts off out of nowhere and I have to put it in park and turn it back on. Sometimes it takes awhile to turn back on. When it first happened the engine reduced power popped up as a warning then the engine light came on the dashboard on and off. Everyone says they don’t know what is wrong with it so I feel that the manufacturer should be reliable to fix these problems for us customers. These problems put my child and I at risk by stopping out of nowhere in traffic.…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 17, 2021Electrical system, Engine, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11437052
“I HAVE KEPT UP REGULAR MAINTENANCE ON IT. THE VEHICLE NOW HAS AN ISSUES WITH STALLING WHILE STOPPED AT A LIGHT OR STOP SIGN AFTER DRIVING IT OF AND ON THROUGHOUT THE DAY. THE CHEVY DEALERSHIP CAN'T FIGURE IT OUT AND I'VE SPENT SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS TAKING IT TO OTHER REPAIR SHOPS. IT CAN BE A SAFE ISSUE IF I'M IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSTATE AT A STOP TRYING TO TURN AND I NEED TO ACCELERATE. I HAVEN'T SEEN ANY RECALLS FOR THIS MODEL. I HAVE HAVING THIS PROBLEM STARTING BACK IN 2020...WE REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP THINKING THAT WAS THE PROBLEM BUT NOTHING...IT EVEN DOES IT WHEN I'M TRYING TO PARK”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 5, 2021Engine, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11406394
“CAR WILL POWER DOWN WHILE DRIVING AND IT WILL STALL AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS. HAVE TAKEN IT IN SEVERAL TIMES FOR THIS AND DIAGNOSED IT BUT NO CODES DISPLAY. HAVE PAID 1000'S OF DOLLARS FOR THE THINGS THEY SAY IT IS AND STILL NOT FIXED”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 17, 2021Electrical system, Engine, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11403512

Showing 6 of 38 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

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

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