How common are engine problems in the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu?

NHTSA lists 229 engine-area complaints for the 2013 Malibu, which is 27% of the 835 total complaints filed for that model year.

Is there a recall for the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu engine?

No related recall is listed in NHTSA data for this engine problem area.

At what mileage do 2013 Malibu engine problems usually show up?

The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for this problem area is 77,226 miles.

Did the engine problems lead to crashes or fires?

NHTSA data shows 5 crashes, 4 fires, and 3 injuries linked to complaints in this problem area for the 2013 Malibu.

How does 2013 compare to other Malibu years for engine complaints?

The 2013 model's 27% share of complaints tied to engine issues is higher than 2010 (16%), 2011 (23%), and 2012 (16%), but lower than 2016 through 2018, which ranged from 45% to 49%.

2013 Chevrolet Malibu Engine Problems

NHTSA lists 229 engine-area complaints for the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu, 27% of all 835 complaints filed for the year. There is no related recall listed for this issue, and the median mileage at failure was 77,226. Five crashes and four fires were reported.

Engine complaints: 229; 27% of 835
Crashes reported: 5
Fires reported: 4
Injuries reported: 3
Median mileage: 77,226 mi
Related recalls: 0

Typical engine symptoms owners report

Some owners report the engine or vehicle stalling or losing power while driving at highway speeds, with the reduced engine power warning light illuminating.
Several complaints describe smoke or fire starting under the hood or from the engine area, sometimes while parked or after a stall.
Owners report rough or hesitant shifting at various speeds, described by one dealer as needing time for the transmission to learn driving habits.
Some drivers report the vehicle failing to start along with multiple warning indicators lighting up at once.
A few owners describe unintended acceleration while parking or idling that led to a collision.

When 2013 Chevrolet Malibu engine complaints were filed

First complaint Feb 7, 2013, latest May 19, 2026.

229 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2013 Q1 to 2026 Q2; peak 2019 Q3 (16).

Engine recalls for the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Engine complaints by Malibu model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

2010222 (16%)
2011223 (23%)
2012144 (16%)
2013229 (27%)
2014137 (39%)
201581 (30%)
2016373 (45%)
2017314 (45%)
2018339 (49%)
201970 (37%)
202070 (35%)
202114 (16%)
202236 (37%)
202318 (26%)
20244 (10%)
20250 (0%)

Frequently asked questions

How common are engine problems in the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu?: NHTSA lists 229 engine-area complaints for the 2013 Malibu, which is 27% of the 835 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu engine?: No related recall is listed in NHTSA data for this engine problem area.
At what mileage do 2013 Malibu engine problems usually show up?: The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for this problem area is 77,226 miles.
Did the engine problems lead to crashes or fires?: NHTSA data shows 5 crashes, 4 fires, and 3 injuries linked to complaints in this problem area for the 2013 Malibu.
How does 2013 compare to other Malibu years for engine complaints?: The 2013 model's 27% share of complaints tied to engine issues is higher than 2010 (16%), 2011 (23%), and 2012 (16%), but lower than 2016 through 2018, which ranged from 45% to 49%.