RoadVitals

2013 Chevrolet Malibu Interior & seats Problems

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

Data refreshed

Interior & seats 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.
25
Latest Mar 23, 2024
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.
3%
of 835 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.
3
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 seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 25 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 interior

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

ElectricalEngineInterior & seats
Filed Mar 23, 2024

Not starting due to loss of power I believe it's electrical.

NHTSA ID
11579084
Incident
Mar 23, 2024
AirbagsInterior & seats
Filed Jan 27, 2024

Air bag warning light stays on and will not reset. Driver power seat controls buttons out of plastic control cover and jammed in metal part of seat. Can not get seat control unjammed and no way to adjust driver seat.

NHTSA ID
11568244
Incident
Jan 15, 2024
Interior & seats
Filed Jul 10, 2022

I seem to have a short in the drivers side seat adjuster. At times when adjusting the seat a warning comes up to replace air bag and sometimes shuts off the radio. I have read that there was a recall at one point for this problem.

NHTSA ID
11473178
Incident
Jul 1, 2022
ElectricalInterior & seats
Filed Jan 21, 2022

My driver seat is powered and it is inoperative. It remains stuck in a reclined position. At first the seat would not return to an upright position but all the other power functions (reclining the seat, moving it forward and back, tilting the seat, moving it up/down) still worked. I took the car to a shop and they said that the cause was some of the wiring had disconnected. They took the seat out and made sure everything was plugged in correctly. The seat worked again but only for a short while. Now, the issue is present again and the driver seat will not move forward/back or return to an upright position. This is hazardous because the seat is not able to offer the driver the correct seating position to drive.

NHTSA ID
11448320
Incident
Jun 7, 2019
Interior & seats
Filed Jun 10, 2021

The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that the driver’s side seat became defective and would not remain sturdy while driving. The contact has had to duct tape parts of the seat to prevent the seat from moving while driving. The contact called and notified the dealer about the failure. An appointment was scheduled to diagnose the failure. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ID
11420407
Incident
Jul 1, 2016
ElectricalEngineInterior & seats
Filed Mar 29, 2021

I BEEN HAD THIS VEHICLE SINCE 2018 NOTHING BUT ISSUES FEW MONTHS HAVING THIS VEHICLE I START EXPERIENCING ISSUES WITH RADIO COMING ON AND GOING OFF FOR NO REASON SO TOOK IT TO GET LOOKED AT THE SAID IT WAS FROM WIRING IN THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT THAT WAS CAUSING IT SO I PAID $400 TO GET THAT FIXED. BUT STILL WAS AND IS HAVING SAME ISSUES WITH ELECTRICAL AND NOW MY HEAT COMES ON BY ITSELF EVEN WHEN THE KNOB IS IN THE OFF POSITION. MY PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT WARNING GOES OFF EVEN WHEN NO ONES IN THE SEAT. AND TO TOP IT OFF MY CAR BEEN RUNNING BAD ENGINE OVERHEATING BUT NOTHING ON MY DASHBOARD IS TELLING ME THAT BUT I CAN SMELL BURNING FROM MY ENGINE COMING THROUGH MY VENTS AND IT'S EXHAUSTING. I HAVE BEEN TO MANY SHOPS TO GET IT LOOKED AT BUT THEY KEEP SAYING NOTHING WRONG NO CODES WHERE COMING UP NOR WAS MY ENGINE LIGHT ON. BUT AS OF 3/29/2021 I HAD MULTIPLE ICONS POP UP ON MY DASHBOARD AND NOW MY ENGINE LIGHT ON. SO I FINALLY GOT A CODE P228D COME UP AND I BEEN EXPLAINING TO AUTO SHOPS THAT'S SOMETHING WRONG BECAUSE IT'S NOT WANTING TO PICK UP SPEED. SO WHAT CAN I DO I'M TIRED SPENDING MONEY TO GET IT LOOKED AT AND ALL I'M GETTING FROM PEOPLE NOTHING IS WRONG WITH YOUR VEHICLE. BUT THERE IS TRULY SOMETHING WRONG WITH THIS VEHICLE AND IT DOES THIS NO MATTER WHERE I'M AT ON HIGHWAY, STREET, WHEN I'M IDLE IT'S A LOUD NOISE AND I CAN FEEL THE HEAT FROM THE ENGINE COMING THROUGH THE FLOOR OF MY VEHICLE

NHTSA ID
11405410
Incident
Mar 29, 2021
Interior & seats
Filed Mar 28, 2021

DRIVER SEAT ELECTRIC CONTROL PANEL SEPARATED FROM SEAT WITHIN 2 YEARS OF PURCHASE OF THE NEW VEHICLE. THE PANEL HANGS OFF OF THE SEAT AND OVER TIME HAS CAUSED THE SEAT TO BECOME DAMAGED, WHICH THEN CAUSED PINCHING AND SCRATCHING OF DRIVER'S LEG. ADDITIONALLY, THE DRIVER'S ELECTRIC SEAT POSITION PANEL ONLY SELECTIVELY OPERATES, WHICH MEANS THERE ARE LIKELY SHORTS IN THE WIRING DUE TO THE HANGING AWAY FROM THE SEAT AND WEARING OVER TIME WITH NO PROTECTION BY THE PLASTIC WHICH WAS BUILT TO ENCASE IT. THE BUTTONS NO LONGER WORK TO MOVE THE SEAT 80% OF THE TIME, WHICH IS A SAFETY HAZARD WHEN THE DRIVER CHANGES AND MAY BE TALLER OR SHORTER AND NEEDS ADJUSTMENTS, THOUGH THE SEAT WILL NOT MOVE. SADLY, I HAVE CHECKED MY VIN WITH THE RECALLS AND I AM ONLY ELIGIBLE FOR ONE RECALL CURRENTLY AND IT STATES THAT GM DOES NOT HAVE THE PARTS NECESSARY TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. I READ THAT GM IS WAITING FOR PARTS FROM CHINA AND I BELIEVE THAT THEY ARE WASTING TIME WAITING FOR CHINA AND COULD USE COMPANY FROM UNITED STATES TO BUILD THE NEEDED PARTS. THE PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG SENSOR INDICATOR RINGS, EVEN WITH THE SLIGHTEST WEIGHT OF SOMETHING LIGHT ON THE PASSENGER SEAT. THIS SHOULD NOT OCCUR, AS IT SHOULD ONLY RING IF THERE IS A WEIGHT BEARING INDICATIVE OF A HUMAN, NOT JUST A NOTEBOOK. IF IT RINGS DAILY FOR A NOTEBOOK, THEN THE CONCERN IS WHETHER THE AIRBAG WILL DEPLOY PROPERLY WHEN A CRASH ACTUALLY OCCURS.

NHTSA ID
11405260
Incident
Feb 12, 2015
Interior & seats
Filed Jul 7, 2020
Fire reported

CAR SEAT CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER ME RIGHT AFTER I TURNED ON THE IGNITION

NHTSA ID
11337916
Incident
Jun 21, 2020
Mileage
105,000 mi
ElectricalInterior & seatsVisibility
Filed May 24, 2020

CHAFED WIRING UNDER PASSENGER SEAT TO SHORT OUT AND GROUND..CAUSING HEADLIGHTS TO GO OUT AND ALL ELECTRICAL PARTS TO SHORT OUT...NO HEADLIGHTS OR TAIL LIGHTS. *TR

NHTSA ID
11325717
Incident
May 17, 2019
Mileage
118,000 mi
Interior & seatsSuspension
Filed Jun 5, 2019

DRIVER SEAT CONTROL PANEL MISSING SEAT WILL NOT MOVE

NHTSA ID
11218179
Incident
May 14, 2019
ElectricalInterior & seats
Filed Sep 7, 2018

THE SEAT WILL NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY AND GETS STUCK IN POSITION, CURRENTLY THE BACK IS TILTED NEARLY ALL THE WAY BACK AND WILL NOT TILT BACK UP

NHTSA ID
11128136
Incident
Sep 7, 2018
Mileage
83,800 mi
Interior & seats
Filed Mar 8, 2018
Fire reported

FIRE RESULTING FROM DEFECTIVE POWER SEAT CONTROL MOTOR.

NHTSA ID
11076845
Incident
Mar 5, 2018
Mileage
113,000 mi
ElectricalEngineInterior & seats
Filed Feb 22, 2018

KEEP STUCK IN IGNITION. NO POWER. HAD P0010 CODE. CHANGED THE INTAKE CAMSHAFT POSITION SOLENOID.

NHTSA ID
11074223
Incident
Feb 13, 2018
Mileage
113,000 mi
ElectricalInterior & seats
Filed Jun 6, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE STATIONARY, THE INTERIOR LIGHTING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LIGHTS REMAINED ILLUMINATED AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS LOCKED. IN ADDITION, WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. FURTHERMORE, THE BATTERY LOST POWER ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE NOT TO START. HENDRICKS CHEVROLET OF NORTH CAROLINA DIAGNOSED THAT THE GENERATOR IN THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE REPAIR WAS COMPLETED, BUT THE DEALER DISCOVERED THAT THE GENERATOR CONTROL MODULE WAS ALSO FAULTY. IN ADDITION, THE DEALER STATED THAT A REPAIR WAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE IN 2012. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED PRODUCT SAFETY NUMBER: 12238, WHICH PROVIDED COVERAGE FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE GENERATOR; HOWEVER, THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT IT HAD EXPIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,812.

NHTSA ID
10993455
Incident
May 30, 2017
Mileage
58,812 mi
AirbagsInterior & seats
Filed Apr 12, 2017

THERE WAS A SAFETY RECALL FOR THIS MODEL BUT IT DID NOT INCLUDE MY CAR'S VIN FOR SOME REASON. I HAVE HAD DEALERSHIP REPAIR THE PROBLEM TWICE, ONCE WHILE STILL UNDER FACTORY WARRANTY AND THEN RECENTLY DUE TO AIRBAG HARNESS WIRING SHEARING OFF. THE DEALERSHIP REPAIRED THE WIRING AND CHARGED ME THE DEDUCTIBLE UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY BUT ADVISED THE ISSUE COULD HAPPEN AGAIN DUE TO FAULTY DESIGN ENGINEERING. THE ISSUE HAPPENS APPARENTLY WHILE RAISING AND LOWERING THE DRIVER SEAT. THE WIRING HARNESS CAN EASILY GET CAUGHT IN THE GEAR MECHANISM.

NHTSA ID
10972013
Incident
Apr 10, 2017
Mileage
46,000 mi
ElectricalInterior & seats
Filed Nov 26, 2016

MY DRIVER SEAT IS STUCK ALL THE WAY IN THE FULL RECLINE POSITION AND WONT GO BACK UP. I CONTACTED CHEVY DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME 1,400 TO BUY A WHOLE NEW SEAT. I DONT HAVE 1400 LAYING AROUND TO BUY A NEW WHOLE SEAT AND THAT IT TROUBLES ME THAT A WHOLE SEAT WOULD GO OUT WITH MY CAR WHEN IT HAS LESS THAN 45,000 MILES. NOW MY WIFE AND I ARE FORCED TO DRIVE A UNSAFE CAR BECAUSE NOT ONLY WE DON'T HAVE THAT KIND OF MONEY LAYING AROUND FOR A SEAT THAT SHOULDN'T EVEN BE BROKE AT 42000 MILES. IVE CONTACTED GM BUT THEY HAVE NOT CONTACTED ME BACK YET. I ALSO PAID 130 DOLLARS FOR THE DEALERSHIP TO TELL ME THAT I NEED A WHOLE NEW SEAT? I COULD HAVE TOLD THEM THAT. I HOPE I DON'T GET IN A ACCIDENT PROBABLY WONT HAVE A CHANCE WITH THE WAY THE SEAT IS SITTING SEAT BELT WONT WORK PROPERLY.

NHTSA ID
10928086
Incident
May 4, 2016
Mileage
41,000 mi
ElectricalInterior & seats
Filed Oct 24, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE DOORS LOCKED ON THEIR OWN AND THE CONTACT COULD NOT EXIT THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE IGNITION KEY BECAME STUCK ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 52,000.

NHTSA ID
10918456
Incident
Oct 18, 2016
Mileage
52,000 mi
Body & structureElectricalInterior & seats
Filed Jun 3, 2016

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
Driver assistanceElectricalEngine+1 more
Filed May 25, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, ALL THE INTERIOR LIGHTS SUDDENLY FAILED TO FUNCTION. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WAS MAKING AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL FELT ABNORMALLY SOFT. ADDITIONALLY, THE IGNITION KEY FAILED TO RELEASE FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,700.

NHTSA ID
10870821
Incident
Jan 1, 2016
Mileage
12,700 mi
Interior & seats
Filed Apr 4, 2016

BROKEN DRIVERS SEAT FRAME. THE SEAT BACK RECLINING FUNCTION ONLY WORKS ON THE LEFT SIDE, WHILE THE RIGHT SIDE IS STUCK. MULTIPLE ONLINE COMPLAINS FROM MALIBU OWNERS,

NHTSA ID
10853347
Incident
Apr 1, 2015
Mileage
60,000 mi
Interior & seats
Filed Feb 19, 2016

1.THE SEAT STITCHING HAS COME APART. 2. THE PART OF THE SEAT WHERE YOU ADJUST IT, HAS CRACKED. ALSO IT HAS TORN MY SEAT A BIT BECAUSE IT HAS CRACKED. -BOTH OF THESE HAVE BEEN FALLING APART SINCE SHORTLY AFTER OWNING THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID
10837252
Incident
Feb 1, 2014
Mileage
5,000 mi
ElectricalInterior & seatsSteering
Filed Sep 27, 2015

ACTUATOR DID NOT MEET SPECS IT WAS NECESSARY TO REPLACE ACTUATOR. THIS SERVICE WAS DONE BY JIM KERAS CHEVROLET IN MEMPHIS TENNESSEE. THE COVERING ON THE DRIVER SEAT THAT PROTECTS THE SEAT CONTROLS HAS FALLEN OFF, THE CAR HAS NO PICK UP WHEN DEPRESSING THE EXCELLERATOR AND MAKES NOISE AS IF THE TRANSMISSION IS NOT CHANGING. I WENT TO VINCHECK PRO AND THERE WERE 7 RECALLS SPECIFICALLY ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SOFTWARE. I BOUGHT THIS CAR OFF THE SHOWROOM FLOOR OF ACURA OF MEMPHIS AT RIDGEWAY AND 385. NO ONE TOLD ME OF ANY FACTORY RECALLS. THE MONEY I AM SPENDING FOR THIS CAR IS ALREADY TOO MUCH AND NOW HAVING SO MANY PROBLEMS OUT OF A CAR THATS ONLY 2 YEARS OLD IS RIDICULOUS. THANKS FOR LISTENING.

NHTSA ID
10777926
Incident
Aug 4, 2015
Mileage
53,909 mi
ElectricalInterior & seats
Filed Apr 30, 2015
Fire reported

WAS SITTING IN MY SEAT ADJUSTING THE SEAT BY PUSHING THE BUTTON THAT HAD A SHORT WHEN I PUSHED THE BUTTON I HERD A CLICKING NOISE THEN I SMELT A FUME TYPE OF SMELL I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE WHEN THE SEAT WOULDN'T MOVE AS I LOOKED DOWN AT THE GEAR I NOTICE THAT THE DRIVER SEAT WHERE I WAS SITTING WAS ON FIRE EVERY WHERE THE CAR WAS WIRED IS WHERE THE FIRE BURNED UP I CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT IN WHICH THEY INFORMED ME THAT IT WAS A ELECTRICAL FIRE AND CAR INSURANCE CONFIRMED RECALL ON THE CAR HAD BEEN REPORTED FOR DOING THE SAME THING PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT I CALLED KIN DIXON WHERE I PURCHASE THE CAR AND THEY TOLD ME THAT MY CAR ACCORDING TO THE VIN NUMBER I HAVE TO THEM WAS NOT AFFECTED BY RECALL I HAVE GM AND THEY HAVE YET TO RESPOND TO ME I COULD HAVE BEEN ONE OF THERE NUMEROUS CUSTOMERS WHO LOST THEIR LIFE IN THERE DEFECTED RETORT CARS I WAS NOT BURNED BUT THE POOR CAR WAS TORCHED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10713739
Incident
Apr 4, 2015
Mileage
35,000 mi
AirbagsInterior & seats
Filed Jun 24, 2014

FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG SENSOR TOO SENSITIVE?? THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON AS WELL AS FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT REMINDER WITH MINIMAL WEIGHT AND/OR PRESSURE EXERTED ON SEAT. I NOTED A 12OZ SODA BEVERAGE WAS PLACED ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AND IN APPROXIMATELY LESS THAN 10 SECONDS THE VEHICLE LIGHT ILLUMINATED THAT THE AIR BAG WAS ON (IT ILLUMINATED OFF UNTIL THIS POINT) AND THE REMINDER TONE CAME ON TO REMIND TO FASTEN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10605770
Incident
Jun 16, 2014
Mileage
26,000 mi
Interior & seats
Filed Mar 25, 2013

YOUR CURRENT REQUIREMENTS FOR POSITIONING OF THE HEAD REST ON CAR SEATS SUCKS. IT IS UNCOMFORTABLE TO THE POINT OF BEING A SAFETY HAZARD. THE FACT THAT IT CANNOT BE REMOVED INCREASES THE PROBLEM. CHANGE IT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10504489
Incident
Mar 25, 2013
Mileage
12,000 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 .