2013 Chevrolet Malibu Engine Problems

NHTSA component category: ENGINE · data through 07/14/2026

204Engine complaints

24.5%Of all 834 complaints

#2Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How engine ranks on this vehicle

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM364 · 43.6%

ENGINE204 · 24.5%

STEERING180 · 21.6%

Unspecified / other88 · 10.6%

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)72 · 8.6%

Share of the 834 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu overview page.

What owners report

“DRIVING 55MPH ON CRUISE CONTROL, I HEARD A WARNING CHIME. LOOKED AT DASH AND THE WORDS ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED WERE ON THE SCREEN. I…”NHTSA complaint 10691339 — filed 03/01/2015

“I WAS ON THE ON RAMP, BEHIND ANOTHER CAR DRIVING TO GET ONTO THE HIGHWAY WHEN WE BOTH DROVE THROUGH A BIG PUDDLE OF WATER…”NHTSA complaint 10629689 — filed 08/31/2014

“THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST ACCELERATION POWER THEN STALLED. THE CONTACT…”NHTSA complaint 10616082 — filed 07/24/2014

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu have engine problems?

Engine is the #2 most-reported problem area on the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu: 204 of 834 complaints on file (24.5%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu have in total?

834 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Across all categories, 33 involved a crash, 10 involved a fire, 32 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's engine category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ENGINE category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/14/2026.