What breaks most · 2013 to 2014 model years
Chevrolet Malibu Eco problems by year
Owners have filed 99 safety complaints with NHTSA about the Chevrolet Malibu Eco across model years 2013 to 2014. Two years stand out: 2013 for electrical system complaints and 2014 for stability control complaints.
- Years to check closely: 2013, 2014
- Complaints on file
- 992013 to 2014, all trims
- Worst year
- 201387 complaints
- Crashes reported
- 51 fires · 2 injuries · 0 deaths
- Typical failure mileage
- 57kMedian where owners gave mileage
- Recall campaigns
- 1Across the years shown
Complaints by model year
Raw filings with NHTSA, not adjusted for how many were sold.
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Recalls | Most-reported component |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 87 | 5 | 1 | Electrical system (49) | |
| 12 | 0 | 0 | Stability control (5) |
What fails on the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu Eco
| Component | Share of complaints | Filings | Crashes | Parts for this job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical systemAlternators, starters and ignition | 56% |
49 | 1 | Shop all electrical system parts, not filtered to this vehicle |
| EngineEngine gaskets and seals | 25% |
22 | 0 | Shop all engine parts, not filtered to this vehicle |
| SteeringPower steering pumps, racks and hoses | 18% |
16 | 2 | Shop all steering parts, not filtered to this vehicle |
| Stability controlABS and wheel speed sensors | 14% |
12 | 0 | Shop all stability control parts, not filtered to this vehicle |
| Air bags | 11% |
10 | 3 | Check recalls for air bags on NHTSA.gov |
| BrakesBrake pads, rotors and calipers | 10% |
9 | 1 | Shop all brakes parts, not filtered to this vehicle |
| Unknown or other | 9% |
8 | 0 | — |
| Powertrain and transmissionTransmission parts | 9% |
8 | 0 | Shop all powertrain and transmission parts, not filtered to this vehicle |
One complaint can name more than one component, so shares add to more than 100%. "Unknown or other" is NHTSA's uncategorized bucket and is shown but never ranked.
In owners' words
Complaint narratives as filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length.
-
Stereo/navigation intermittent always default to one radio station and settings, passenger seat had a crackling sound a few times no odd smells or smoke, turns signals won't work when stereo is inoperative.
-
Auto stop start malfunctions when stopping at stop light, causing the vehicle to completely shut off and restart. Check engine light is on with code p305f coming up.
How to read this page
Every figure comes from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's public complaint database, which holds every safety-related defect complaint filed by owners since 1995. We refresh it monthly and count each complaint once per component it names. Data through September 6, 2026.
NHTSA only accepts safety-related complaints. Rattles, paint, infotainment bugs and other annoyances are under-reported here, so this page is a map of what fails in ways owners consider dangerous, not a full reliability score.
Counts are raw. Use the year-over-year shape and the component mix, not the absolute numbers. Where a component maps to parts we stock, the row links to that category filtered to the year you are viewing. Air bag and seat belt complaints link to the recall checker instead, because those repairs are almost always covered.
Common questions
Which Chevrolet Malibu Eco years have the most problems?
By NHTSA complaint volume, 2013, 2014 carry the most filings on the Chevrolet Malibu Eco. The 2013 alone has 87 complaints, led by electrical system.
What is the most common Chevrolet Malibu Eco problem?
On the 2013 model year, the most-reported component is electrical system with 49 complaints. The table above lists the top components for every year.
At what mileage do Chevrolet Malibu Eco problems start?
The median mileage at failure across all Chevrolet Malibu Eco complaints that include mileage is about 57,000 miles. Older model years skew higher; the per-year figure is in the "at a glance" card.
Are these complaints verified?
No. NHTSA publishes complaints as submitted and does not investigate individual filings. Patterns across hundreds of complaints are meaningful; a single one is not.