2013 Chevrolet Malibu Body & structure Problems

The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that the vehicle was rusted underneath at the midway point to the rear of the vehicle. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact referenced DTC: TPOA90, indicating a failure with the drive motor "A" performance. The contact called an independent mechanic. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.

NHTSA ID

11650076

Incident

Mar 14, 2025

Mileage

120,000 mi

The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that he had taken his vehicle to the dealer for a repair on the failure he was experiencing that was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V764000 (Suspension) however, the dealer informed him that the repair could not be performed due to the extensive corrosion underneath the vehicle. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but provided no assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage 120,000. The consumer declined the offer letter and instead requesting a replacement vehicle.

NHTSA ID

11511241

Incident

Aug 15, 2021

Mileage

120,000 mi

The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that she had taken her vehicle to the dealer for repair on the failure she was experiencing that was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V764000 (Suspension) however, the dealer informed her that the repair could not be performed due to the extensive corrosion underneath the vehicle. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but provided no assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 100,433.

NHTSA ID

11453493

Incident

Oct 22, 2021

Mileage

100,433 mi

The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V764000 (Suspension) however, the dealer informed the contact that the part for the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact also stated she was informed at the State Inspection that the rocker panel of the vehicle was corroded, and the corrosion was originating from the inside of the vehicle. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and advised the contact to contact the dealer to schedule an appointment for the recall repair. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 130,000. Parts distribution disconnect.

NHTSA ID

11434859

Incident

Sep 29, 2021

Mileage

130,000 mi

WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE IN OUR 2013 CHEVY MALIBU WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, WHEN ABOUT 1/2 WAY INTO THE SPACE I EXPERIENCED AN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION BY THE VEHICLE. THIS CAUSED ME TO CRASH INTO A BOLLARD IN FRONT OF THE CONVENIENCE STORE CAUSING SEVERE DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END OF THE CAR. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSING ME TO HIT MY HEAD ON THE STEERING WHEEL. *DT ADD CPSC *JS

NHTSA ID

11197250

Incident

Apr 14, 2019

Mileage

78,000 mi

NOTICED MUSTY SMELL IN CAR. OPENED TRUNK TO FIND INTERIOR WET. LIFTED FLOOR OF TRUNK OUT AND FOUND SPARE WHEEL WELL OVERFLOWING WITH WATER. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE. DISCOVERY MADE WHILE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY. PHOTOS TAKEN AFTER SHOPVACUUMING OUT AS MUCH WATER AS POSSIBLE AND LETTING TRUNK AIR DRY. WATER DAMAGE VISIBLE ON POROUS SURFACES. UNSURE IF WATER DUE TO FAULTY TRUNK DOOR SEAL (WATER DRIPS FROM SEAL WHEN TRUNK DOOR IS OPENED) OR IF WATER IS COMING IN ELSEWHERE.

NHTSA ID

11194340

Incident

Apr 6, 2019

Mileage

74,590 mi

FRONT RIGHT PASSENGER DOOR HITS THE BACK RIGHT PASSENGER DOOR CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE BACK PASSENGER DOOR EXTERIOR MOLDINGS. FRONT DEFROSTER DOES NOT WORK WHEN PUT ON, BLOWS ALOT OUT OF FRONT VENTS INSTEAD.

NHTSA ID

11174513

Incident

Jan 22, 2019

Mileage

69,000 mi

WINDOW TRIM THAT RUNS AROUND TOP POPS OFF AROUND ALL WINDOWS, STAYED WITH THE REAR DRIVER WINDOW, THEN PASSENGER FRONT

NHTSA ID

11033032

Incident

Jan 15, 2017

Mileage

48,688 mi

THE EXHAUST AND POWER HAVE ISSUES...CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ALWAYS ON AND POWER TO SYSTEM IS REDUCED. FUEL ECONOMY HAS DECREASED SEVERELY. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL NOT GO OFF. EXHAUST COMING FROM TAILPIPE EVEN AFTER CAR HAS BEEN RUNNING AWHILE. THIS ISSUE HAPPENS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS RUNNING AND OPERATING. SECOND ISSUE IS THE TRUNK LATCH! THE VEHICLE HAS AN OUTSIDE TRUNK RELEASE BUTTON. WHEN VEHICLE IS COMPLETELY LOCKED, THE TRUNK WILL OPEN ON IT'S OWN! WE WILL COME OUT TO THE CAR WITH THE TRUNK WIDE OPEN WHEN WE KNOW WE HAVE LOCKED IT COMPLETELY. CHECKED, DOUBLE CHECKED, EVEN TRIPLE CHECKED BUT WE WILL STILL COME OUT TO A VEHICLE WITH THE TRUNK WIDE OPEN! THIS TRUNK OPENING ISSUE HAPPENS WHEN THE CAR IS PARKED AND OFF BUT, LOCKED!

NHTSA ID

10949503

Incident

Feb 3, 2017

Mileage

20 mi

BUBBLING/RUST SPOT LOCATED NEAR FRONT GLASS ON HOOD OF THE CAR. (ONLY 3 YRS OLD).

NHTSA ID

10926995

Incident

Nov 4, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH, THERE WAS A LOUD ABNORMAL NOISE FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT OBSERVED THAT THE REAR BUMPER DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE AND WAS LYING IN THE ROAD. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 83,000.

NHTSA ID

10887393

Incident

Mar 22, 2016

Mileage

83,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A FAILURE COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY; HOWEVER, AFTER THE REPAIR, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE MANY MALFUNCTIONS. THE VEHICLE'S BOLTS ON BOTH THE FRONT PASSENGER AND DRIVER SEATS WERE DETACHED. WHEN THE SEATS WERE ADJUSTED, THE UNI BODY FRAME OF THE BODY MOVED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE UNI BODY FRAME WAS ABLE TO BE MOVED MANUALLY. IN ADDITION, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS FAILED WITHOUT WARNING, WHICH SOMETIMES CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY REFUSED TO ASSIST. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,000.

NHTSA ID

10872352

Incident

Jul 1, 2015

Mileage

38,000 mi

THE LEFT DOOR WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE OR INSIDE AND THIS IS A PROBLEM FOR THE DRIVER.

NHTSA ID

10781477

Incident

Oct 1, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND POWERED DOWN AS THE ENGINE OVER SPEED AND SERVICE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED APPROXIMATELY THIRTY TIMES. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED ONLY AT 70 MPH OR HIGHER. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED, THE DOORS FAILED TO UNLOCK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16,000.

NHTSA ID

10762486

Incident

Oct 23, 2013

Mileage

16,000 mi

METAL PLATING ON THE PASSENGER DOOR HANDLE PEELING OFF AND IS EXTREMELY SHARP. HAVE HAD 2 PEOPLE SLICE THEIR HANDS/FINGERS ON THE DOOR, RESULTING IN A PAINFUL "PAPER-CUT" LIKE INJURY. RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET SUGGESTS THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE FOR GM VEHICLES IN THE PAST. CAR IS 2 YEARS OLD AND SHOULDN'T BE FALLING APART.

NHTSA ID

10759776

Incident

Jun 1, 2015

Mileage

43,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, A HUMMING NOISE EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE. AS THE SPEED INCREASED, THE HUMMING WOULD GET LOUDER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL BEARING WAS FAULTY. THE WHEEL BEARING WAS REPLACED AND THE FAILURE WAS REMEDIED. APPROXIMATELY 6 MONTHS LATER, THE HUMMING NOISE RECURRED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR DRIVER SIDE WHEEL BEARING WAS FAULTY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,000.

NHTSA ID

10702187

Incident

Sep 2, 2014

Mileage

52,000 mi

PLEASE SEE BELOW. THIS IS A COPY OF THE EMAIL SENT TO GM AND DEALERSHIP THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED IN 2014. THIS SAME SCENARIO HAS HAPPENED IN 2015 AND GM REFUSES TO REPAIR THIS TIME. ATTACHED YOU WILL SEE PHOTOS OF MY VEHICLE WITH PARTS OF THE CAR LITERALLY FALLING OFF. APPROX. A WEEK AGO I NOTICED THAT IT WAS BECOMING HARD TO OPEN AND CLOSE MY DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR. I FIGURED THAT I WOULD GET IT LOOKED AT WHEN I DROPPED MY VEHICLE OFF FOR ITS OIL CHANGE. FAST FORWARD TO SUNDAY 2/2. I ATTEMPTED TO ENTER MY VEHICLE WHEN COMING OUT OF THE STORE AND AND UPON OPENING THE DOOR, THE CHROME PIECE FROM THE TOP OF MY PASSENGER REAR WINDOW POPPED RIGHT OFF. NOW, SEEING THAT THE NEXT DAY WAS MONDAY, I TRIED NOT TO GET TOO UPSET BY THIS, BUT AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, WHEN A PERSON IS IN THE PROCESS OF PAYING OVER $20K FOR A VEHICLE THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING FOUR MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE. MONDAY MORNING, I WENT TO GET INTO THE VEHICLE, AND THE PLASTIC PART BETWEEN THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOOR STARTED TO CRUMBLE AT THE TOP, SO MORE FRUSTRATION SET IN. I EMAILED MY SALESPERSON AND WAS ADVISED TO BRING THE CAR IN. NOW I AM STARTING TO BELIEVE THAT THE ISSUE COMES WITH THE STRUCTURE OF THE VEHICLE FROM THE FACTORY AND THE FACT THAT THE DEALERSHIP PROBABLY DID NOT INSPECT THIS CAR PROPERLY. YESTERDAY EVENING I RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO THE PLACE OF PURCHASE ELCO CHEVROLET. THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE CAME OUT TO VIEW THE VEHICLE. AFTER CONFIRMING THAT THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN AN ACCIDENT (BY THE WAY I TOOK OFFENSE TO THIS) IT WAS ADVISED TO ME THAT THE DRIVER'S DOOR LOOKS AS THOUGHT IT WAS NOT INSTALLED PROPERLY, AND NOW IT IS MORE AJAR WHICH IS WHY THE ISSUES ARE HAPPENING. NOW OF COURSE THIS IS NOT ONLY UPSETTING, BUT ALSO CONCERNING TO ME BECAUSE THIS IS NOW A SAFETY ISSUE. I COULD HAVE BEEN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND THE DOOR FALLS OFF WITH ME ATTACHED TO IT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10695110

Incident

Feb 17, 2014

Mileage

27,000 mi

CLEANING OUT THE TRUNK DISCOVERED NO SPARE TIRE. ONLY SEALANT AIR COMPRESSOR. HOW STUPID. WAS NOT INFORMED BY THE DEALER, WHO OBVIOUSLY KNEW THEY WOULD LOSE A DEAL IF CUSTOMER INFORMED. THIS IS A BIG TIME SCAM AND COVER UP. I CAN SEE REAL TROUBLE IF I HAVE A BLOW OUT! STUPID!!! *TR

NHTSA ID

10683000

Incident

Feb 10, 2015

Mileage

17,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE SUN BEAMS ON THE SHINY INTERIOR TRIM IT WOULD IMPAIR THE CONTACTS VISION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100...UPDATED 10/01/14 *BF

NHTSA ID

10631037

Incident

Sep 2, 2013

Mileage

100 mi

2013 CHEVY MALIBU 1LS MANUFACTURED 11/20/12, CURRENTLY LESS THAN 7,000 MI. 1) CHROME & RADIO GLASS - WHEN SUN SHINES ON CONSOLE IT BLINDS DRIVER & DRIVER MUST COVER AREA WITH A SCARF OR JACKET; CONSOLE IS BEAUTIFUL TO LOOK AT, BUT NOT PRACTICAL FROM A SAFETY VIEWPOINT SINCE THE DRIVER IS BLINDED & CANNOT SEE UNTIL THE AREA IS COVERED FROM THE SUN. 2) WHEN AIR CONDITIONING WAS TURNED ON, A BLAST OF VERY HOT AIR CAME OUT; IT TOOK A COUPLE OF TIMES OF TURNING THE SETTINGS OFF & ON (AT LEAST 60 SECONDS OR LONGER) BEFORE THE HOT AIR STOPPED & THE AIR CONDITIONING CAME ON. THE HOT AIR COULD NOT BE IMMEDIATELY TURNED OFF. HAPPENED ONLY ONCE. 3) PASSENGER SIDE FRONT FENDER/BUMPER LOOSE - MAKES NOISE, CAN POP IT BACK IN, BUT ON HOT DAYS, IT POPS OUT, VIBRATES AND MAKES LOUD NOISE UNTIL POPPED BACK IN. 4) REAR WINDOWS - WHEN DOWN 1/2, 3/4 OR FULLY, VIBRATES, MAKES VERY LOUD NOISE THAT SOUNDS LIKE TIRES ARE COMING APART, CAUSING DRIVER TO IMMEDIATELY PULL OVER TO CHECK TIRES, THE DISTRACTION & BEING ON SIDE OF ROAD COULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE. 5) NO SPARE TIRE - UNABLE TO LOCATE A TIRE & RIM (OR DONUT TIRE) FOR PURCHASE TO INSERT IN TRUNK TIRE AREA. NO CAN OF GOOP, ALSO GOOP ONLY LASTS FOR 6 MONTHS & MUST BE DISCARDED & NEW CAN PURCHASED. NOT GOOD WHEN STRANDED IN INCLEMENT SNOWY WEATHER OR OUT IN THE HOT DESERT & MUST WAIT FOR TOW TRUCK. I LIKE MY CHEVY MALIBU VERY MUCH, IT HAS BEEN ABLE TO HANDLE ROUGH GRAVEL/DIRT ROADS IN INCLEMENT WEATHER, SNOW, & HIGHWAY TRAVEL. I PLAN TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER SHORTLY FOR AN OIL CHANGE & TO TAKE CARE OF THESE ISSUES. WHAT I DON'T LIKE IS THAT I AM UNABLE TO TURN THE DRIVER AIRBAG OFF (I SIT LESS THAN 12 INCHES FROM THE WHEEL & AM CONCERNED THAT IF IT WERE TO DEPLOY I WOULD BE KILLED) & THAT THE VEHICLE IS FAIRLY LOW TO THE GROUND, MAKING SPEED BUMPS & GETTING OUT OF BUSINESSES WHERE THERE IS A DIP ONTO STREETS DIFFICULT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10596528

Incident

Jan 16, 2013

WAITING AT A CORNER FOR A CLEAR SPOT TO CROSS FIVE LANE ROAD. WAS WATCHING A TRUCK WITH A SNOW PLOW WANTING TO TURN ONTO SAME ROAD THAT I NEEDED TO CROSS. LOOKED BOTH WAYS AND THEN BACK AT THE TRUCK. THE TRUCK DID NOT MOVE SO I PROCEEDED AND I ONLY MADE IT JUST BEYOND THE TURN LANE AND GOT HIT BY ANOTHER CAR. I TRIED AS FAST AS I COULD TO STAY IN THE TURN LANE BUT STILL GOT HIT. OTHER DRIVER DID NOT TRY TO AVOID US. WE WERE HIT HARD IN THE RIGHT FRONT OF OUR CAR. THE SPEED LIMIT ON THE ROAD I WANTED TO CROSS IS 55 MPH SO WE WERE HIT PRETTY HARD. NOW THIS IS WHERE WE GET MAD. OUR AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. MY WIFE AND I WERE SHAKEN VERY BAD. WE EACH HAVE A DOCTORS APPOINTMENTS AS WE ARE VERY SORE AND STIFF. *TR

NHTSA ID

10563814

Incident

Feb 10, 2014

Mileage

9,600 mi

I HAD AN INCIDENT WHERE THE AFTER THE CAR WAS PROPERLY PARKED, THE CAR SETTLED AND THE FRONT BUMPER CAUGHT THE PARKING STOPPED. I IMMEDIATELY RETURNED THE CAR, AND LEARNED FROM THE HERTZ AGENT THAT IT WAS THE UNDERCARRIAGE. I UNDERSTAND FROM OTHER COMPLAINTS THAT THE CAR DEALER WILL NOT EVEN COVER THE DEFECTIVE FLIMSY FRONT BUMPER LIP. THE OTHER COMPLAINTS ARE REGARDING THE POOR ASSEMBLY QUALITY....UPDATED 11-06-13 *BF

NHTSA ID

10551309

Incident

Aug 3, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ENTERING A DRIVEWAY, THE WIND DEFLECTOR RUBBED AGAINST THE GROUND AND BECAME DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS CONFIRMED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10548463

Incident

Jul 15, 2013

WENT TO TEST DRIVE 2013 CHEVY MALIBU. AS ALWAYS, I ADJUST MIRRORS BEFORE DRIVING. I IMMEDIATELY NOTICED THAT BECAUSE THE ROOFLINE IS SO LOW-SLUNG FOR AERODYNAMIC REASONS, THAT THE REAR VIEW MIRROR IS ALSO VERY LOW. AS A RESULT, THE MIRROR WAS BLOCKING ALMOST 25% OF MY VIEW! I'VE HEARD OF BLINDSPOTS ON VEHICLES BUT THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD? I'M ONLY 5'10' TALL, BUT I HAD TO DUCK MY HEAD TO SEE UNDER THE MIRROR. DIDN'T BUY THE VEHICLE FOR THAT REASON ALONE. AS A MATTER OF FACT, I NEVER EVEN WENT FOR THE TEST DRIVE AS IT WAS OBVIOUSLY DANGEROUS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10533184

Incident

Jul 31, 2013

Mileage

20 mi

PURCHASED MY VEHICLE IN APRIL 2012 AND NOTICED AFTER A WEEK THAT MY AC HAD A BAD SMELL EVERY TIME I TURNED ON THE AIR CONDITIONER. ALSO NOTICED AFTER ABOUT THREE DAYS OF PURCHASING MY VEHICLE THAT THE CARPET WAS COMING UP ON THE PASSENGER SEAT IN THE FRONT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10500557

Incident

Apr 14, 2012