Problems · by component

2013 Chevrolet Malibu vehicle speed control problems

32 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu cite vehicle speed control, 3% of all 924 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
32
3% of all complaints
Crashes
2
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the vehicle speed control

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“While my daughter has been driving our 2013 Chevrolet Malibu 2013, the vehicle continues to experience add loss of electric power. The dashboard display and infortainment system went down black. The problem first began -2019-2020 and continues to recur about once or twice a month. The most recent incident occurred on September 18, 2025, with my daughter behind the wheel. An independentc mechanic confirmed that cause is a manufacturer's defect in the fuse box located near the battery. He stated this is a widespread issue and refused to repair it, advising Chevrolet should address it. Chevrolet Waldorf kept my car for over a month but only replaced the battery, could find the issue, which did not resolve the defect. This recurring failure creates a serious safety risk to the driver, passenger, and others on the road because the car can lose power and steering at anytime. This issue was he subject of prior NHTSA complaint I submitted in 2020 (ID 11315997), and it has continued despite the report. Everytime this defect occurs with Chevrolet Malibu 2013... my family's safety, and the safety of others on the road is placed in jeopardy. GM must be held accountable to…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 18, 2025Steering, Electrical system, Vehicle speed controlODI 11688107
“Car randomly goes into engine reduced power mode and won't go over 50mph. Power steering either won't turn the wheels and will start working again without warning while driving and jerks wheel to the right. Service stabilitrac warning would come on intermittently and disable traction control. Service stabilitrac warning is on now everytime I crank the vehicle and traction control is never working. I have pictures where it has went in limp mode and videos of the gauges doing crazy things after this warning has come up. Very dangerous. Car will jerk the wheel without warning when power steering warning comes on.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 22, 2023Steering, Vehicle speed control, EngineODI 11539967
“Car gives engine power reduced warning and then drastically loses speed. Another warning saying engine over speed comes up and the car is unable to accelerate at safe speeds. This is dangerous because I can easily be rear ended by this malfunction especially when driving on the highway. I have children and having them at risk of being in a motor vehicle accident due to a malfunctioning car does not sit well with me. I have seen this issue reported on several other platforms. When I took the car to the dealership regarding this issue I was told I needed to replace the battery but 2 batteries later and I’m still having the same issue. There is no warnings or signs prior to this malfunction happening, it is unpredictable and at random, making it that more dangerous. I would also like to add that this has happened a repeated number of times, it is not an isolated incident. But as of late it has been occurring more frequently.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 16, 2022Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, EngineODI 11447693
“Instrument cluster goes out and is available for inspection. It first went out in the middle of driving 80 on the freeway with others in my vehicle. I have taken it to a Point S mechanic who has confirmed the issue and can be easily recreated just by turning the car on. Nobody has inspected other than a mechanic because I did not know that was even an option. No, there was absolutely no warning to indicate the issue, only the check engine light would work and that issue has been temporarily resolved. Due to research, I, along with many others, have come to the conclusion that it is a fault in manufacturing where one of the resisters in the cluster was not soldered correctly causing a failure in connection. I believe there should have been a recall on the equipment, especially seeing as how common this issue is and that the product isn't even made/sold anymore. It is upsetting to see the ratio of 2 investigations compared to over 700 complaints.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 1, 2021Electrical system, Vehicle speed controlODI 11427383
“DRIVING SLOW AND WHEN MAKING TURNS THE CAR STARTS TO SHUT OFF IF NOT GIVEN GAS. THE CAR HAS NO SHUTOFF MULTIPLE TIMES WHEN TRYING TO MAKE A SLOW TURN. THIS LAST TIME I HAD TO RESTART THE CAR THEN THE POWER STERRING WAS OUT COMPLETLY MAKING IT NEAR IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 23, 2020Steering, Vehicle speed controlODI 11384644
“I WAS TRAVELING ON 294 SOUTH USING CRUISE CONTROL AT 70 MPH WHEN THE CAR STARTED LOSING POWER BUT ALL INTERNAL APP LIGHTS LIKE THE RADIO REMAINED ON AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS STILL FUNCTIONAL. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS PUT IN PARKED IT SHUT OFF. ONLY ISSUE LIGHTS THAT APPEARED 1 WEEK PRIOR WAS THE ABS SENSOR HAD MALFUNCTIONED ON THE FRONT LEFT TIRE. I ATTEMPTED TO JUMP THE BATTERY BUT IT DID NOT RESPOND. CAR HAD BEEN PARKED AND A FRIEND WHO WORKS ON CARS BELIEVES THE ENGINE IS DEAD EVEN THOUGH THERE SHOWS 23% OF OIL LEFT AND NO OTHER SYMPTOMS OF A BLOWN ENGINE. I HAVE BEEN GOODLAND 2013 CHEVY MALIBU ECO ISSUES AND OTHER THAN POTENTIALLY THE STARTER IT COULD BE THE COMPUTER THAT HAS DIED. I CHANGED OUT THE BATTERY AND IT TURNS EVERYTHING ON, BUT STRUGGLES TO CRANK AND REMAIN ON. I CAME ACROSS SEVERAL LINKS REGARDING A RECALL DUE TO COMPUTER, BUT HONESTLY DON'T KNOW IF ITS EVEN THAT. MECHANIC FRIEND BELIEVES IT COULD ALSO BE THE ECM.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 22, 2020Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, EngineODI 11375802

Showing 6 of 32 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.