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2013 Chevrolet Malibu Eco Brakes Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Brakes reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
9
Latest May 22, 2019
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
10%
of 87 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu Eco submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 9 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming brake

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

BrakesElectrical
Filed May 22, 2019
Crash reported

I WAS SITTING AT A RED LIGHT, WITH MY FOOT FIRMLY ON THE BRAKE. SUDDENLY IT STARTED TO MOVE AND SUDDENLY TOOK OFF AND HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME (THE CAR HAD MOVED UP SIGNIFICANTLY, BUT I HADN'T, SO IT HAD A LOT OF MOMENTUM WHEN IT HIT)! AFTER THE ACCIDENT REPORT WAS FILED, I TRIED TO START THE CAR TO LEAVE, BUT THE CAR WOULDN'T START. ADDITIONALLY, A TON OF ERROR MESSAGES WERE FLASHING, AS WELL AS ALL INDOOR AND OUTDOOR LIGHTS FLASHING, EVEN THE DECORATIVE PANEL BLUE STRIP LIGHTS. I WAS TERRIFIED. I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED FROM THE SCENE. AT FIRST, THE OFFICER DIDN'T BELIEVE ME, THAT IT WAS THE CAR'S FAULT, NOT MINE, BUT ONCE SHE SAW WHAT WAS HAPPENING, SHE BELIEVED ME. THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER SAID THE CAR WAS POSSESSED, HE HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS BEFORE. THE CAR HAD ALMOST 53,000 MILES ON IT, ONE YEAR TO GO WITH PAYMENTS, AND I HAD BEEN PLANNING TO KEEP IT ONCE IT WAS PAID OFF, UNTIL THIS HAPPENED. IT COULD HAVE BEEN SO MUCH WORSE. WHAT IF IT HIT PEDESTRIANS CROSSING THE STREET? I WAS AT A COMPLETE STANDSTILL. WHEN MY MECHANIC EVALUATED IT, A BUNCH OF ERROR CODES PRINTED OUT, ONE OF WHICH WAS U0121 MULTI-AXIS ACCELERATION SENSOR LOST COMMUNICATION WITH ELECTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL MODULE. I'M PRETTY SURE THIS WAS WHAT CAUSED THE ACCIDENT, BUT BOTH GENERAL MOTORS AND MY CHEVROLET DEALER SAY THIS MEANS NOTHING. I SOLD THE CAR AND BOUGHT A MITSUBISHI MIRAGE. I WILL NEVER BUY A CHEVY AGAIN. ALL OVER THE UNITED STATES, ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS ARE HAPPENING TO OTHER CHEVY'S (MY MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR ALONE) - SO FAR ABOUT 167 THAT I'VE READ ABOUT, BUT NO ONE'S DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT.

NHTSA ID
11209320
Incident
Oct 27, 2018
Mileage
52,500 mi
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Feb 21, 2019

THE ABS AND SERVICE STABILITRAK LIGHTS ARE ON. CANNOT BRAKE USING ABS NOR USE STABILITRAK.

NHTSA ID
11181541
Incident
Feb 1, 2019
Mileage
59,000 mi
Brakes
Filed May 7, 2018

DURING WARM WEATHER, BRAKES WILL REMAIN ENGAGED WHEN BRAKE PEDAL IS RELEASED. PUMPING BRAKES CAN HELP TO RELEASE BRAKES. IF FOOT IS NOT ON THE ACCELERATOR, THE CAR WILL RAPIDLY COME TO A STOP. I TOOK THE CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP WITH THESE ISSUES AND IT WAS DETERMINED TO BE THE BRAKE PEDAL PIVOT BUSHING STICKING OR EXPANDING. THE BRAKE PEDAL ARM AND BOTH SIDE RETAINERS WERE REPLACED UNDER EXTEMDED WARRANTY WITH RELIEF FROM SYMPTOMS FOR ONE YEAR. FOLLOWING SUMMER AND THE SYMPTOMS ARE PERSISTING. I BRING THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN AND THIS TIME THEY FIND THE BRAKE PEDAL POSITION SENSOR ARM LOOSE CAUSING ERRATIC PEDAL POSITION. THEY REPLACED THE BPP SENSOR AND RETAINER AND THE PROBLEMS SUBSIDE. NOW I AM ON THE THIRD SUMMER OF OWNING THIS VEHICLE AND IN THE SAME EXACT MONTH EVERY YEAR I BEGIN TO HAVE ISSUES WITH THE BRAKES NOT OPERATING PROPERLY. THIS SAME ISSUE IS BEING REPORTED BY OTHER OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE AND I AM IMPLORING THE NHTSA TO INVESTIGATE THIS MATTER BEFORE A PARTY IS SERIOUSLY INJURED.

NHTSA ID
11092348
Incident
May 7, 2016
Mileage
42,815 mi
BrakesElectricalEngine
Filed Aug 13, 2016

BOUGHT USED IN 2014 WITH 22K MILES FROM CERTIFIED CHEVY DEALER. IN JULY, 2016 (NOW 45K MILES), THE VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY SHUT OFF AT LOW SPEEDS OR STOPS (HIGHWAY DURING CONSTRUCTION AND AT STOP LIGHTS, ALSO WHEN GOING AT A HIGH SPEED AND SLAMMING ON THE BRAKES WHEN SOMEONE PULLED IN FRONT OF US). BROUGHT TO DEALERSHIP TWICE. FIRST TIME THEY REPLACED A SENSOR, SECOND TIME THEY COULD ADVISED THEY DIDN'T KNOW AND TO BRING IT BACK IF IT HAPPENED AGAIN. THIRD TIME BROUGHT TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO ADVISED IT WAS RELATED TO THE ECO AND WE SHOULD BRING TO A DEALER. EXTREMELY CONCERNED FOR SAFETY AND WE HAVE 3 CHILDREN AND FREQUENTLY DRIVE THROUGH MINNEAPOLIS/ST PAUL AREAS WHERE THERE IS HEAVY TRAFFIC AND CONSTRUCTION.

NHTSA ID
10895505
Incident
Aug 11, 2016
Mileage
46,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Apr 19, 2016

RIGHT REAR HUB SENSOR BROKEN. TRACTION CONTROL AND ANTI-LOCK BRAKE LIGHTS ON DASH ILLUMINATED ON 4/15/16. TOOK TO DEALER ON 4/19/16. $390 TO REPAIR. MILEAGE IS 49,500.

NHTSA ID
10860270
Incident
Apr 15, 2016
Mileage
49,500 mi
Brakes
Filed May 6, 2015

FOR ALMOST 2 MONTHS, THE BRAKES ON THE CAR DO NOT RELEASE. THIS ISSUE STARTED DURING A SNOW STORM IN THE WINTER BUT HAS CONTINUED. IT IS NOT ALL THE TIME, BUT SEEMINGLY EVERY EVENING AFTER WORK THAT THE BRAKES ARE LOCKED UP. MORNINGS ARE USUALLY FINE. THE PEDAL STAYS DEPRESSED, WHICH I DIDN'T REALIZE FOR A FEW WEEKS, LEADING TO CRUISE CONTROL NOT WORKING, SLUGGISH MPG RATES, EXTRA WEAR ON THE BRAKE PADS, ENGINE STRAIN, LOWER SPEEDS THAN EXPECTED, NO COASTING, DIFFICULT ACCELERATIONS, AND TAIL LIGHTS STAYING ON AFTER EXITING THE VEHICLE. THE PEDAL CAN BE RELEASED MANUALLY BY KICKING IT UP WITH YOUR FOOT, BUT THIS IS REALLY TIRESOME IN TRAFFIC AND LONG COMMUTES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10714928
Incident
Feb 22, 2015
BrakesDriver assistanceEngine
Filed Oct 10, 2014

I PURCHASED MY 2013 MALIBU ECO IN NOVEMBER OF 2013. ON OR ABOUT MARCH 1, 2014 WE WERE TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MILES PER HOUR WHEN WERE CUT OFF BY A TRUCK. I HAD TO SLAM ON THE BRAKES WITH SOME FORCE TO AVOID A COLLISION AND UPON DOING SO THE MOTOR LOST ALL POWER AND BEGAN TO SHAKE WITH MY SPEED GOING FROM 70 DOWN TO 20 MPH. I COULD NOT REGAIN THE SPEED LIMIT AND HAD TO PULL OVER THINKING IT WAS BECAUSE I WAS DRIVING USING THE MANUAL OPTION. I WAS IN 6TH GEAR WITH CRUISE CONTROL ON. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE HOME AFTER A 90 MILE DRIVE AT ABOUT 45 MPH. I DID NOT REPORT THIS TO THE DEALER AS THE NEXT MORNING I STARTED THE VEHICLE AND IT SEEMED FINE. A MONTH LATER WE TOOK THE SAME TRIP AND THIS TIME THE SAME ISSUE OCCURRED ALTHOUGH IT WAS NOT PRECIPITATED BY A NEAR COLLISION. THE CAR SIMPLY LOST ALL POWER IN WHILE DRIVING CITY STREETS. THE CLUTCHES IN THE TRANSMISSION WERE GRINDING AS I TRIED TO GET THE CAR TO GAIN ENGINE POWER. AGAIN I FOOLISHLY DID NOT REPORT TO THE DEALER AS I WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE BACK TO SPEED AFTER ABOUT A HOUR OF DRIVING. IN JUNE THE SAME ISSUE APPEARED AND I FINALLY DID TAKE IT INTO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE BRAKE PEDAL POSITION SENSOR SHORTED CAUSING TRANSMISSION NOT TO DOWNSHIFT PROPERLY. THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE PROBLEM. IN LATE JULY THE SAME ISSUE REOCCURED AND THIS TIME THE DEALER PERFORMED A RECALL ON THE TURN SIGNAL LAMP OUTAGE. THEN IN EARLY SEPTEMBER THE ISSUE REOCCURED WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING LOCALLY. THE CARS BRAKES WERE SO HOT THE WHEEL WEIGHTS AFFIXED TO THE FRONT TIRES WERE LAYING IN OUR DRIVEWAY HAVING MELTED OFF. THIS TIME THE DEALER REPLACED THE MASTER CYLINDER, FRONT ROTORS, BRAKE PADS AND WHEEL WEIGHTS. IN EARLY OCTOBER I WENT TO HAVE AN OIL CHANGE AND TIRE ROTATION AND WHEN THEY TOOK THE FRONT DRIVER WHEEL OFF THE FRONT BRAKE ROTOR RETAINING BOLT FELL OUT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10643786
Incident
Mar 1, 2014
Mileage
5,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jun 19, 2014

I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE JANUARY 2014 AT 5,000 MILES. I BEGAN TO NOTICE TROUBLE WITH BRAKES AND ACCELERATION A COUPLE OF MONTHS AFTER. BRAKING WAS NOT SMOOTH OR CONSISTENT AT TIMES. AT TIMES I WASN'T ABLE TO ACCELERATE AND IT FELT LIKE I WAS DRIVING WITH PARKING BRAKE ON. LATER I NOTICED THAT I COULD CONTROL THIS BY LIFTING THE BRAKE PEDAL WITH MY FOOT. THE BRAKE PEDAL WASN'T RELEASING ON ITS OWN. I TOOK THE CAR TO A CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP (SAME DEALER THAT FIXED ANOTHER RECALL ON THIS CAR FOR ELECTRICAL WIRING RECALL) TO HAVE THE BRAKES CHECKED OUT. THEY SAID THE BRAKE ASSEMBLY WAS FAULTY AND KEPT THE CAR FOR A FEW DAYS. SINCE THE PART HADN'T BEEN DELIVERED AND I NEEDED A VEHICLE ASAP, I PICKED UP MY CAR TO USE UNTIL THE PARTS CAME IN TO THE DEALER. WHEN I WAS LEAVING THE SERVICE CENTER, I WASN'T ABLE TO GO IN REVERSE. I MADE SURE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WASN'T ON AND EVEN TRIED TO TURN IT ON AND OFF TO MAKE SURE IT WAS DEFINITELY OFF. THE TIRES WERE ALIGNED STRAIGHT AND TRY AS I MAY, THE CAR WOULD NOT GO IN REVERSE. I WENT IN TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND SPOKE WITH THE TECHNICIAN WHO CAME OUT AND TRIED REVERSING THE CAR WITHOUT SUCCESS AT FIRST. HE EVENTUALLY GOT THE CAR TO GO IN REVERSE AND DIDN'T SEEM CONCERNED OR THOUGHT THIS TO BE SIGNIFICANT. THE NEXT DAY, I WAS DRIVING ON THE SPEEDWAY AND SUDDENLY I COULD NOT ACCELERATE PAST 50 MPH REGARDLESS OF HOW MUCH I PRESSED ON THE ACCELERATOR. THE CAR STARTED TO SLOW DOWN ON ITS OWN AND I WAS TERRIFIED THAT OTHER VEHICLES WOULD HIT THE BACK OF MY CAR. I GOT OFF THE HIGHWAY ON THE NEXT EXIT AND MY VEHICLE STARTED TO SMOKE AND SCRAPING/GROANING SOUNDS WERE HEARD. I BARELY MADE IT TO A SHOPPING CENTER WHERE I HAD TO CALL A TOW TRUCK TO TAKE THE CAR BACK THE DEALER FOR SERVICE. TOMORROW IT WILL BE ONE WEEK SINCE I TOOK MY CAR IN AND I STILL DON'T KNOW WHEN THE PARTS WILL BE DELIVERED OR WHEN MY VEHICLE WILL BE FIXED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10604619
Incident
Mar 1, 2014
Mileage
7,000 mi
BrakesDriver assistanceElectrical
Filed Jul 11, 2013

AUTO STOP WILL NOT ENGAGE UNLESS RPM'S ARE UNDER 500..SELDOM WILL "AUTO STOP" ENGAGE !!!! VEHICLE MOTOR WILL NOT GO SLOW ENOUGH TO ENGAGE THIS FEATURE..I HAVE TALKED TO SERVICE AT CHEVROLET DEALER, & THEY SAID THE PROBLEM CAN HAPPEN AT ANYTIME & THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT????? I DO, KEEP COMPLAINING!!!! *TR

NHTSA ID
10524476
Incident
Oct 1, 2012
Mileage
100 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .