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2013 Chevrolet Malibu problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
35% of relevant owner complaints on the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is elevated. Worth an independent inspection before you commit to one.
Better than 62% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 96 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 32%).
Does the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu have engine problems?
More than most. The pattern is elevated rather than severe. 291 of 826 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (35%), and the largest group is filed under engine (226). For comparison, the 2012 scores 30% and the 2014 scores 51%. On a test drive, check for stalling, loss of power, rough idle, oil consumption or a check-engine light. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
How the 2013 compares with other Chevrolet Malibu years
Of the 14 Chevrolet Malibu years with enough complaints to score, the 2013 is the 4th-best on engine and transmission share (35%). The worst is the 2019 (66%), the best the 2010 (25%). By volume, the 2013 drew 922 complaints (291 drivetrain), against 907 for the 2012 and 363 for the 2014.
Chevrolet Malibu years to avoid and best years →
2010 Malibu problems · 2011 Malibu problems · 2012 Malibu problems · 2013 · 2014 Malibu problems · 2015 Malibu problems · 2016 Malibu problems · 2017 Malibu problems · 2018 Malibu problems · 2019 Malibu problems · 2020 Malibu problems · 2021 Malibu problems · 2022 Malibu problems · 2023 Malibu problems
The rest of the picture on the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu
- The mileage where it happens. When owners of the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu said the problem showed up, and the range most of them fell in.
- What the repair costs. Typical engine repair ranges, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives. Similar cars and nearby years with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
- Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.
What one owner reported
One of 291 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
2013 Chevrolet Malibu transmission recalls
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 10 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.
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…
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.
Fix: 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.…
9 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model; one of NHTSA's listings did not answer when this page was built, so the list may be incomplete. Checked October 3, 2026.
Checking one particular 2013 Chevrolet Malibu? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.
Get a history report from EpicVIN Before you pay: EpicVIN’s $1 offer is a 3-day trial (up to 5 reports) that renews at $49.99 a month unless you cancel. Other plans are listed under “View all our packages” at checkout. We may earn a commission if you buy through this link. It does not change what this page reports.Questions people ask about the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu
Does the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu have engine problems?
More than most; the pattern is elevated rather than severe. 291 of 826 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (35%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the engine and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.
What is the most common problem with the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu is electrical system: 424 of 922 complaints (46%) name it, followed by engine (226) and steering (197). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap. Engine, transmission and fuel-system complaints together make up 35% of the relevant total.
Is the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu reliable?
On the engine and transmission, owner complaints point to a weak spot: 35% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain (elevated signal). That is better than 62% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 14 Chevrolet Malibu years we score, it ranks 4th-best. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu?
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 10 in total: 15V245000 (power train: automatic transmission: gear position indication (prndl)). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Which Chevrolet Malibu years are better?
Among the Chevrolet Malibu years we track, the 2010 (25%), the 2012 (30%) and the 2023 (34%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2013 (35%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/chevrolet-malibu
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Combined across 2 body styles NHTSA files separately.