Owner-reported complaints naming the visibility system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors. 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. 40 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.
The 25 most recent of 40, in the owner's own words
I was looking up some info and noticed that some 2012-2014 Chevy malibu had an issue with the front and rear defrost not properly working . How would I know if my car was involved in that recall or if it was fixed. Because right now I am having trouble with front windshield defrost and also the rear window defrost and I see that was a recall and I don’t know if my car was done
The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that the defroster gear actuator fractured and had fallen onto the ground, causing the defroster to become inoperable. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the defroster needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000. The VIN was unavailable.
I have a 2013 chevy malibu and the defrost is the worst never works when I need it. When the windows fog it won’t even cool them down allowing me to see forcing me to pullover.
The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while attempting to turn on the front windshield defroster, the defroster failed to operate. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and diagnosed that the lever for the defrost door was broken and the blower motor was faulty. The dealer replaced the HVAC mode cam and levers however, the failure recurred with air coming out of different vents, not where it was designated. Additionally, the battery was failing causing the interior and exterior lights to dim. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and diagnosed that the body control module needed to be flashed. The vehicle was taken to another dealer Piehl Chevrolet Buick GMC of Princeton (1402 N Main St, Princeton, IL 61356), and diagnosed that the mode actuator cam had failed and the dashboard was disassembled to access the actuator mode cam and found that the gears were not positioned correctly. The second dealer Piehl Chevrolet Buick GMC of Princeton repositioned the gears and flashed the body control module. The contact stated that the failure persisted and the vehicle was taken back Piehl Chevrolet Buick GMC of Princeton and the air delivery was inspected and found that while the vehicle was turned off with the key not in the ignition, the door module would move inadvertently, the doors and gears were possibly broken by the previous dealer when the HVAC mode cam and levers were replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed however, no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 136,000.
Car is stuck in heat. Sometimes the controls come on by themselves and hard to turn off. Heat does not defrost the window it sometime make it worse and hard to see while driving. Was told that it is not the compressor but the wiring and programming of the control system. A recall for other years have been issued for similar issues. This is the third report filed.
HVAC SYSTEM MALFUNCTION. CLIMATE CONTROL DOES NOT SWITCH TO DEFROST AND WINDSHIELD WILL NOT CLEAR IN WINTER WEATHER. WHILE DRIVING ON A FREEWAY IN A SNOW STORM, I COULD NOT SEE THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD AND HAD TO PULL OVER. I WAS ABLE TO DEFLECT THE WARM AIR FROM THE FRONT VENTS TO THE WINDSHIELD WITH A HAT TO CLEAR THE FROST.
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
WINDSHIELD DEFROST DOES NOT WORK. HAD DIAGNOSED AND HAS CODE OF THE HVAC CONTROL MODULE IS BAD.
WHILE IN MOTION, THE FRONT DEFROST STOPPED WORKING AND ALL AIR STARTED BLOWING FROM OTHER VENTS. THIS CAUSED THE WINDSHIELD TO FOG OBSTRUCTING VISION. MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS WERE MADE TO TURN THE DEFROST BACK ON WITHOUT ANY SUCCESS. AIR CONTINUES TO BLOW FROM ALL OTHER VENTS. IT APPEARS AS IF A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR THE 2014 MALIBU FOR THE SAME PROBLEM.
VAPOR AND SMELL COME FROM VENTS WHEN DRIVING OR STATIONARY. WHEN THE DEFROSTER IS ON, IT STEAMS UP THE WINDOW SO BAD IN SOME CASES THAT I CAN NO LINGER SEE OUT OF THE WINDOW SAFELY. I HAVE MULTIPLE VIDEOS, BUT ARE TOO LARGE TO ATTACH.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEFROST BUTTON FAILED TO FUNCTION, WHICH PREVENTED HER FROM VIEWING THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRONIC CLIMATE CONTROL MODULE DEFROST WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT CALLED KARL CHEVROLET OF STUART (LOCATED AT 324 SW 8TH ST, STUART, IA 50250, (515) 523-1201) AND SCHEDULED A DIAGNOSTIC APPOINTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,800.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEFROST SYSTEM WAS INOPERABLE AND THE INDICATOR WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE REPAIR WOULD BE AN OUT OF POCKET EXPENSE SINCE THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,934.
HEAT INTERMITTENTLY DOES NOT BLOW THROUGH THE DEFROST CAUSING THE WINDOWS TO FOG AND DECREASE VISIBILITY.
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.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEFROST FUNCTION FAILED TO WORK PROPERLY AND IMPACTED THE CONTACT'S VISIBILITY WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, BUT DID NOT PROVIDE AN EXTENSIVE DIAGNOSIS TO DETERMINE WHAT WAS CAUSING THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000.
PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR CAUSES ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS INSIDE VEHICLE TO BE DISABLED. HEAT AND AIR CONDITIONING DO NOT FUNCTION AND TEMPORARY LOSS OF POWER OCCURS. THIS OCCURS WHILE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION AND WHILE STATIONARY.
FRONT DEFROSTER STOPPED WORKING NO MATTER WHAT BUTTON IS SWITCHED IT WILL NOT SWITCH TO DEFROST. SEEMS IT IS THE SAME REACURRING PROBLEM ON 2013 MODELS AS THE 2014 MODELS SO WHY ARE THE 2013 MODELS NOT INCLUDED???
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEFROST WAS NOT FUNCTIONAL WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRONIC CLIMATE CONTROL SOFTWARE WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V567000 (VISIBILITY). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 120,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH ON A ROADWAY, THE TEMPERED GLASS FRACTURED FROM OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VISOR WAS CLOSED AND PREVENTED THE GLASS FROM COMPLETELY ENTERING THE VEHICLE AND IMPACTING THE CONTACT'S VISIBILITY. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED (VERMILION CHEVROLET BUICK GMC, 1615 GEORGETOWN RD, TILTON, IL 61833, (217) 442-8400), BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE INSURANCE COMPANY WAS NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
BLEND DOOR FUNCTIONS DO NOT WORK PROPERLY. DUAL CLIMATE CONTROL ONLY ALLOWS HEAT TO DRIVERS SIDE OF VEHICLE. PASSENGER SIDE BLOWS A/C COLD AIR NO MATTER IF A/C IS ON OR OFF. PERIODICALLY DRIVERS SIDE ONLY WORKS ON DEFROST OR FEET ONLY SETTINGS. HAVE TO HAVE HEAT TO FOOT SETTING AND STUFF BLANKET UNDER PASSENGER SIDE DASH TO HEAT CAR IN WINTER. I CANNOT DEFROST ENTIRE WINDOW.
WHEN SWITCHING ON WINDOW DEFROST I NOTICED THE HEAT WAS NOT BEING DIVERTED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. I THEN PRESSED THE CONTROL SWITCH TO FEET/WINDOW TO SEE IF THIS FUNCTION WORKED. IT DID NOT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEAT WORKED IN THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, THE DEFROST DID NOT WORK WITHOUT WARNING. AN UNKNOWN LOCAL DEALER WAS CONTACTED; HOWEVER, DUE TO THE AMOUNT OF THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST, THE APPOINTMENT WAS NOT SCHEDULED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THEY WERE UNAVAILABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE AND THERE WERE NO RELAY CODES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 8-3447350312. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY OPEN RECALLS AND RECOMMENDED TAKING THE VEHICLE TO BE DIAGNOSED FOR THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 95,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER, THE DEFROSTER AND AIR CONDITIONING UNIT CEASED TO FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO PHILLIPS CHEVROLET (1730 TORRENCE AVE, LANSING, IL), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED DUE TO LIMITED STAFFING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED AND THE FUSES WERE CHECKED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,519.
THE HEAT AND AIR STOPPED WORKING ENTIRELY, CAUSING THE DEFROST TO ALSO FAIL, CREATING A VISIBILITY HAZARD. AFTER RESEARCHING THE ISSUE I DISCOVERED THAT MANY 2013 AND 2014 MALIBUS WERE RECALLED DUE TO THIS EXACT ISSUE BUT MY CAR WAS MANUFACTURED BETWEEN THE RECALL DATES. THE PROBLEM IS THE SAME BUT MY CAR ISN'T COVERED IN THE RECALL.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE DEFROST SYSTEM WAS ACTIVATED BUT FAILED TO OPERATE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,900.
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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