2013 Chevrolet Malibu Transmission Problems

54 owners have reported transmission & drivetrain problems with the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu to NHTSA — 6% of all 837 complaints for this model year. The typical failure happened around 68,000 miles. That ranks #12 of 29 Malibu model years for transmission complaints (a typical year has 49). One related recall has been issued.

54complaints
68ktypical miles
1related recalls
3crashes
0fires
2injuries

Mileage when the problem started

  • Under 25k
    924%
  • 25k–50k
    513%
  • 50k–75k
    924%
  • 75k–100k
    718%
  • 100k–150k
    718%
  • 150k+
    13%

Owner reports

Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2013 Chevrolet Malibu owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).

The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while coming to a stop, the vehicle would stall without warning. The contact stated that there was no warning light illuminated. The local dealer was contacted but offered no assistance. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 185,195.

185,000 miles · Aug 2021

My 2013 Chevy Malibu Eco 2LT has 120,000 miles on it. I purchased the vehicle at 68,000 miles from the only owner of the car. I have had the car 6 years and kept up on all maintenance. While I was driving in a 45mph zone my vehicle' s interior lighting started flashing. My dash flashed then said service stability track, car went blank then back on said service power steering flashed again and said service battery charging system and then went completely dead. When I got to the bottom of the hill to turn off main road my brakes had locked up in the rear and I had no power steering and wheel locked could not turn wheel. Vehicle would not allow me to shift into neutral so I could be pushed out of traffic and I had no flashers or any power. Battery was 1year old. My biggest concern is that the vehicle never alerted me with a service engine light. …

Apr 2023

Car starts idling up and down while stopped at light. When the car is given the gas to go it will not pick up speed it stalls and car completely turns off in drive. While parked in parking lot I put the car in reverse and it would not move and that has happened 5 times. The engine light comes on and I have taken it to 4 different mechanics to put the diagonstic test on it and it comes up with idle sensor, change it and 2 days later car starts jerking and will not go over 35mph and finally dies. While driving 55mph on the hwy the car looses speed and wont go over 35 mph. Nobody is allowed to drive this car until chevy fixes it, and it will sit in my yard until then because my family is more important than a piece of metal. I wont sell it because of this danger either. I crank it up every month but it has not been driven in 2 years.

Dec 2017

78153 miles 2013 Malibu econotec never 1 problem until out of the blue timing chain eats thru plastic and metal tensioners with metal and plastic shavings going into engine delillo Chevy Huntington Beach ca along with my mechanic confirmed engine replacement here lies my hazard and or product defect timing chain causes stalling idling compete shutdown rpms up and down no engine light comes I was on the freeway and on streets car completely stalls I have to shift in nuetral and pray it's starts almost getting rear ended 3 times if this is not a safety issues wow you got to kick me I've read numerous reports of same issues and still no recalls plus 78,153 miles and I'm to replace the engine I've never heard a mechanic say old is that engine it's how many miles this is my safety complaint

Mar 2024

GM reclassified a known safety defect affecting over 300,000 vehicles as a "special coverage campaign" instead of a recall. This has allowed them to deny timely repairs and loaner vehicles, leaving owners without safe transportation.I have been without my vehicle since August 2021. I began actively trying to repair it again in June 2025, and the dealer has had it for the past week with no resolution. Both Benton Chevrolet and Gwatney Chevrolet in Arkansas have refused to coordinate a loaner despite GM's ability to authorize one. My family is displaced, and this is a safety hazard.GM Case #[redacted].

Aug 2021

My wife and I bought this beautiful 2013 Chevy Malibu.upon the first couple of days we had to take the car back to the dealer cause it was repeatedly shut down on us.The used car dealership never fixed the problem.As I done my research on this 2013 Chevy Malibu it has 9 recalls and these recalls been issued since 11-13-2013.These are all the recalls on 2013 Chevrolet Malibu by National highway traffic safety.suspension 12-22-2021.suspension 08-12-2021.... suspension 12-10-2020...... electrical system tran 7-5-2016.....visibility 03-23-2015.... electrical system seats 11-13-2013... electrical system software 5-7-2012. Please tell me how to go abought all these defects

Oct 2022

My high Voltage cable has melted into the generator of my 2013 Chevy Malibu Eco hybrid. This causes my front battery to drain really fast. I seen online that there was a recall on the generator control module my battery control module was changed but I keep like five batteries with me at all times so I can change out when my front battery drained I think this is a safety hazard I need this problem fixed I'm at there has been no recall on my 2013 Chevy Malibu Eco can you help me

Jan 2026

My car charging system keep coming on I changed the alternator 2 times it worked for a while. While driving it went dead I was 4 hrs from home. Took my son to a football camp in Tallahassee at fsu. On way him voltage dropped from my battery but the aux battery say it's charging the Emc is not charging my battery under the hood. It's recalls for my year I have under 100,000

Jul 2022

Transmission stopped cold still on the.freeway due to codes.These codes that read on the code reader were (P0796) pressure solenoid control performance and the other code(P0722) speed sensor,no signal .These 2codes are coming from the transmission.GM ISSUED a recall for 2013 Chevy Malibu engine stalling.7-10-2020 Chevy Malibu were flagged for electrical system power train..

Nov 2022

I was trying to see if I could get a recall for a new motor because my motor makes weird popping noises when driving and reversing also a recall for suspension front and back shocks and springs because those are also making bad horrible noises

Mar 2023

Related recalls

Power train › Automatic transmission › Gear position indication (PRNDL)

NHTSA recall 15V-245 · Apr 24, 2015 · 3,690 vehicles

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured April 10, 2012, to August 2, 2012. In the affected vehicles, the console transmission gear selection indicator may not illuminate the shift position selected.

Remedy: GM has notified owners, and dealers will replace the transmission gear selection control module, free of charge. The recall began on April 20, 2015. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020.

Transmission complaints in other Malibu years

’97’98’99’00’01’02’03’04’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’2595021261851364654347861211331124954523116613917168582824861
Transmission complaints per model year, Chevrolet Malibu.

Frequently asked questions

How common are transmission problems on the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu?

NHTSA has 54 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu, 6% of the model year's 837 complaints.

Is there a recall for 2013 Chevrolet Malibu transmission problems?

Yes — NHTSA recall 15V-245 (gear position indication (prndl), Apr 24, 2015). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

At what mileage do 2013 Chevrolet Malibu transmission problems start?

Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 68,000 miles, and 24% before 25,000 miles.

Is it dangerous?

Owners linked 3 crashes, 0 fires and 2 injuries to transmission & drivetrain problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.