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2013 Chevrolet Malibu: battery drain or dead battery

8 of the 837 complaints about the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu describe battery drain or dead battery.

owner complaints
8
of this car's complaints
1%
recalls
2
Is there a fix? There are 2 recalls and 331 service bulletins for this area of the car. See below

Battery drain or dead battery by model year

What owners say

Filed Oct 2, 2026 · Electrical, Transmission · KY

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

Filed Feb 2, 2026 · Electrical · WY

Gradual battery charge loss, check engine light (MIL) illumination, and engine stall or failure to start. Burning/melting odor. Warning Lights: "Service Charging System" or battery light on dash. Electrical Failure: Vehicle stalled, won't start, has a dead battery. Noise/Smell: Burning odor, smoke from the trunk, or rattling/squealing noises. Specific Eco Model Issues: The 2013 Eco model (eAssist) has a known recall for a failing Generator Control Module but for some reason doesn't include my Vin number in the recall even tho I've experienced these same issues.

Filed Aug 13, 2025 · Electrical, Engine · CA

I I took the car to get a smog and it didn't pass due to battery pack malfunction which leads to the alternator going out and drain the battery causing the vehicle to stall even turning off at times and the most dangerous part is it could cause a fire in the backseat and the trunk this is what the technician at the small place told me he said it's very dangerous and I need to get rid of the vehicle or fix it and there is a recall but when I put my VIN number it shows no recall but if I look up the year make and model of my vehicle it shows that every call is for that exact problem

Filed Feb 26, 2023 · Electrical, Lights · OK

Dashboard light don't work majority of the time is started like month ago and before that started there was something on the dash I believe is said brake/stability trak And now the battery keeps dying

Filed Apr 9, 2021 · Electrical, Engine · 144,000 miles · TX

This car and news that always sunny allah stop our vehicle batteries dead city alternating battery particles at 09:00 so generator alternatives last call it in the battery was charging 50 picked up yesterday and today the car the same thing over andstop in the middle stream stay in your dead no power at all

Filed Mar 7, 2019 · Driver assistance, Fuel system · 80,000 miles · TN

The car will stall while pulling into traffic or at a red light or stop sign. After mmseveral stops it drains the battery completely. No problems when driving long distances on the interstate. Very dangerous. L

Filed Aug 21, 2018 · Airbags · 80,000 miles · IL

After the battery went dead for the first time on the car, it was jumped and taken to dealer to replace. The next day the service airbag light is on and taken back to dealership. They now want to charge over 1000 to fix something that was defect due to battery was jumped and shorted module. Now my car does not have working airbags and this problem is all over the web in different groups as a reoccurring problem.

Filed Mar 5, 2018 · Electrical, Lights · 70,000 miles · MI

Starting in october 23, 2017 got in the car started it and it started but dashboard lights did not come on. Proceeded to drive home the dashboard never came back on. I got in the car the next day the dashboard lights came on.. I took it george matick chevrolet on october 24, 2017 and they were unable to diagnose anything, the car continued to do the same with the lights blinking on and off including the signal light while driving until one day the dashboard was completely black and the battery died completely down and I had to have the car towed to george matick chevy on january 31, 2018. Once again they said they couldn't diagnose anything boosted the car and that's it. Still to this day the car continues doing the same and the dealership is saying nothing is wrong. I feel unsafe and believe this is electrical and wonder if the car will catch on fire. I also wonder if it will start up every day and what is going to happen when I drive it. Every single day it is doing this. I keep contacting the dealer and they basically are saying if the machine cannot do anything they cannot help me. I want to know if there is another way this issue can be checked or if I have to trade in a car that I just got over a year ago. They want me to bring it in and keep paying for diagnostic testing to tell me nothing is wrong. I am no mechanic but I do know that the dashboard instrument panel indicator light signals etc should not blink while driving and the dash should never go black while driving. Please help me because I am really afraid to drive and cannot get anyone to understand this is a safety hazard when you cannot see your speed, gas level, etc. In addition when signals are blinking and going crazy for no reason the car behind me could hit me. So this happens now in motion every single day on streets, highways. Turning or going straight.

Service bulletins that may apply

Related recalls

Electrical system: ignitionReported July 5, 2016 · 8,367 vehicles affected
What is wrong
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Buick Verano and 2016 Chevrolet Malibu as the electronic park lock lever may allow the ignition key to be removed without the transmission being in PARK. Also, certain 2013 Buick Encore, 2011 Buick Regal, 2013-2014 Buick Verano, 2011-2016 Chevrolet Cruze, 2010-2013 Chevrolet Equinox 2013-2015 Chevrolet Malibu, and 2011-2013 GMC Terrain vehicles may have been serviced with similar defective replacement electronic park lock levers. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention."
Risk
If the key is removed without the transmission in PARK, the vehicle may rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and if necessary replace the key cylinder lock housing, free of charge. The recall began on October 14, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1‑800‑222‑1020, Buick 1‑800‑521‑7300, and GMC 1‑800‑462‑8782. GM's number for this recall is 50490 and 50491.

Recall number 16V502000 · Recall details

Electrical system: softwareReported May 18, 2012 · 4,304 vehicles affected
What is wrong
General motors (gm) is recalling certain model year 2013 chevrolet malibu vehicles manufactured from october 24, 2011, through march 31, 2012. After an event of hard braking, the sensing and diagnostic module (sdm) may reset itself.
Risk
If this occurs during an aggressive turning maneuver, and then afterwards a potential vehicle rollover event is sensed, the roof rail airbag may unintentionally deploy. Additionally, the air bags and/or seatbelt pretensioners may not deploy during a severe crash, increasing the risk of personal injury.
Remedy
Gm will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the sdm. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety recall began on june 13, 2012.

Recall number 12V224000 · Recall details

Questions about the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu battery drain

Is battery drain or dead battery a common problem on the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu?

8 of 837 owner complaints about the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu (1%) mention battery drain or dead battery. The model year with the most reports is 2016.

Is there a recall or service bulletin for this on the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu?

There are 2 recalls and 331 service bulletins for the same area of the car. Check them below with your VIN.

Other symptoms on the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu

Stalling 105Check engine light 101Loss of power 82Power steering loss 43Steering lock-up 41Jerking 37Airbag light 28Engine failure 23Screen failure 23Won't start 23Overheating 21Warning lights 20Fire or smoke 16Headlights 16ABS 13No deployment 11Hesitation 9Adaptive cruise 8Brake failure 8Fuel gauge 8Key fob 6Wipers 6Backup camera 5Door locks 5Fuel pump 5Pulling 5Won't shift 5

All model years of the Chevrolet Malibu

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