2013 Chevrolet Malibu: screen or infotainment failure

Filed Oct 3, 2025 · Electrical, Fuel system · NE

While driving my 2013 Chevrolet Malibu, the electrical system intermittently fails: the radio shuts off, the instrument cluster goes blank (gauges drop to zero, fuel/temperature show empty), headlights flicker off then on, and turn-signal indicators disappear. Warning messages such as “Service Theft” and “No Key Detected” appear, power steering becomes difficult, and the vehicle shakes, stalls, or even turns off completely at stop signs. Sometimes the engine continues running even after the car is shut off, overheating and producing a burnt smell. These failures began months ago, occur unpredictably, and have been witnessed by an independent shop. The loss of lights, steering, and cluster data creates a serious safety hazard, and the vehicle is available for inspection.

Filed Sep 18, 2025 · Acceleration, Electrical · MD

While my daughter has been driving our 2013 Chevrolet Malibu 2013, the vehicle continues to experience add loss of electric power. The dashboard display and infortainment system went down black. The problem first began -2019-2020 and continues to recur about once or twice a month. The most recent incident occurred on September 18, 2025, with my daughter behind the wheel. An independentc mechanic confirmed that cause is a manufacturer's defect in the fuse box located near the battery. He stated this is a widespread issue and refused to repair it, advising Chevrolet should address it. Chevrolet Waldorf kept my car for over a month but only replaced the battery, could find the issue, which did not resolve the defect. This recurring failure creates a serious safety risk to the driver, passenger, and others on the road because the car can lose power and steering at anytime. This issue was he subject of prior the federal safety agency complaint I submitted in 2020 (ID 11315997), and it has continued despite the report. Everytime this defect occurs with Chevrolet Malibu 2013... my family's safety, and the safety of others on the road is placed in jeopardy. GM must be held accountable to correct this ongoing safety defect beforer more lives are placed at risk, and the federal safety agency's response wil demonstrate where consumer safety is being prioritized or neglected. The upload PDF shows the name BUTTERFLIES (is me asking questions) in a malibu forum date 2021.

Filed Aug 14, 2025 · MI

The knob that slides and opens the hidden compartment behind the radio has melted and gets black goo all over everything. It's definitely a widespread problem that many people have experienced and should be recalled. I can't find just a replacement knob without replacing the entire thing.

Filed Jun 3, 2023 · Electrical, Engine · AL

5/31/23, while driving uphill, car shuttered as I was slowing down at stop sign and displayed "Service Stabilitrak" & "Engine power reduced" which caused the car engine power to drop drastically. I was barely able to make it home safely with my children. On 6/1/23 tried to crank it, first time it wouldn't turn over, second time it started up. Check engine lights and messages still on, radio screen completely black (has gone out multiple times at random over past two years). Drove around the block with half power. On 6/2/23, attempted to crank three times, never turned over. Popped the hood to discover negative battery terminal severely coroded. While cleaning terminal, find battery cables possible faulty. Upon research, discovered how many thousands of others have the exact same issue, GM refuses to acknowledge to release a recall for those like me who can't afford hundreds wasted having anyone even looking at it, much less paying for guesstimating the wrong solution. So now I'm stranded along with my children, and don't have any resources to hope for a solution in the near future.

Filed Aug 12, 2021 · Electrical, Steering · WI

When driving this vehicle with ~111,000 miles on it. The infotainment center continually rebooted, causing drops of Bluetooth connection and pauses in the AC. The instrument panel stayed working, but lights turned off. This happened about 6 times in a 20 minute drive on the highway. After exiting the highway and executing a turn the reboot happened again, however the power steering locked up making the car unmanageable. Thankfully nothing was hit by the car! After this incident, driver was rightfully freaked out and won't touch the car again until this is resolved. One week prior the car rebooted once and the engine idled oddly, turned car off and on and worked fine for about a week, then the above incident happened.

Filed Apr 16, 2021 · Steering · 59,097 miles · OH

The steering wheel sticks/locks up on left and right turns, usually while driving on street roads. The steering wheel also locked while switching lanes on the highway. This is a major safety concern. The radio also blanks in/out often while driving the vehicle, sometimes in conjunction with steering issues. I've only had this vehicle for a short time and been to the dealership on repeated occasions without any luck with duplication or resolution. Also, the pending product safety recall regarding the rear suspension toe link hasn't been addressed by the dealership due to no availability of parts from manufacturer. I've paid for this used vehicle but inherited these issues which are major safety concerns and very bad business. (supporting docs available upon request)

Filed Sep 24, 2020 · Driver assistance, Electrical · 254,000 miles · WV

Car will stall out and won't go at time without pumping the gas. We have replaced vacuum pump and both o2 sensors. Power steering locks up when hitting a small bump, won't start unless I moved the drivers seat up and back, if I use the blinkers my radio goes off if I use my high beams the radio freezes. It will do weeks with no issues then one day it will start acting up and does it for days or weeks. Chevy says there is no recap for that model but I've read multiple complaints about the same things so why is it not being addressed by gm

Filed Jul 8, 2019 · Brakes, Electrical · 89,000 miles · TX

I recently paid my vehicle off and I am experiencing several electrical issues. The emergency brake went out and "service emergency brake light is on". There's no connection. When I hit a pothole in the road while driving, my radio screen blacks out. Then I can hit another bump and it comes back on. When I park, my ignition does not release my key. I have to turn the steering wheel several times and put it in drive then back in park several times to get the key to release. After doing this several times my key broke off in the ignition and I was stranded and had to walk home over two miles. Has anyone else complained of these issues with the 2013 malibu? I couldn't pass my recent safety inspection due to the brake issue and I was inconvenienced again as a result of these issues.

Filed Feb 11, 2019 · Acceleration, Electrical · 113,000 miles · MI

Expressway.the radio blacked out, stopped playing and then the car started shutting down-everything!steering went out, radio, lights, blinkers, etc.I took it as slow as I could all the way home and got onto back roads.this proved to be even more hazardous-every time I turned the steering wheel it would start to shut down again & again, all the way home.I took the car to the dealer-fixed but now happening again.sometimes it happens quickly and recovers quickly enough that the engine is not involved.my warning sign is that the radio cuts out and the screen goes blank.that's when I know to prepare myself. Sometimes that is all that happens.other times it's major! I look for an escape route-can I get off the road quickly, are there other cars around me, brace both hands on the steering wheel, slow my speed and pray.2/10/19, I was driving 55+ MPH on a 2 lane road.it was a fast radio out, fast engine wind down and out of power and door locks went on and off.there was a driveway for me to pull in to and assess the situation.engine then engaged and things seemed back to normal.I continued home, had 2 issues but I was going slower as I was aware this may happen again.I pulled over and continued each time.I had to stop at the store and was pulling into a parking spot and the car was trying to shut down and steering went out more than once until I finally got in the parking spot.drove home,parked.I went into the house an read the manual.I decided to go out and check my fuses.key fob did not work.doors were unlocked, got in car, put key in the ignition and car was totally dead.key would not come out of the ignition.my husband called tow truck in the am to jump.car would not jump so he had it towed to dealer where it is at this moment.I am afraid I'm going to be killed or cause someone else harm if they end up crashing into me because of the quick shut down and loss of steering!!!

Filed Oct 15, 2018 · Electrical · 110,000 miles · SC

Check engine light constantly on, cant clear. Screen on radio is completely blacked out and wont turn on. Trunk randomly pops open by itself. Hard down shift. Battery seems weakening when cranking car up

Filed Oct 15, 2018 · Electrical, Lights · 65,000 miles · MN

I purchased a 2013 certified pre-owned chevrolet malibu from a chevrolet dealership in november of 2014. I was satisfied with my purchase for a few months with no issues until I started having problems with the electrical. My first frightening experience was traveling on the interstate exiting onto a highway via a cloverleaf. While merging onto the highway, I lost all power, including power steering. Luckily no one was in the other lane, as my car veered across the line, into the other lane. The power came back on a few seconds later. I brought my car into the dealership where I purchased it, however they were unable to pinpoint the issue. They scanned the vehicles system for error codes, cleared the codes and sent me on my way. Since this initial issue, my car loses power randomly while driving, parked, using my turn signal, turning left, turning right, etc. The power steering goes out, the dashboard and vehicle display monitor go black. Some instances it will flicker, other times it will shut down completely. I have had it towed from my driveway as I have been unable to turn it on and towed from a retail parking lot. I have had the car inspected by the dealership 4 times and a separate privately owned garage twice, with no resolution. I contacted gm/chevrolet regarding the issue and a case number was given to me. They had me bring my car to a chevrolet dealership. After their inspection, the dealership stated it was the positive battery cable that is malfunctioning. I reached out to chevrolet again about a resolution and they indicated the vehicle is outside of warranty so no repair support will be provided. If this issue would have been resolved within the initial inspection, the certified pre-owned status of my vehicle may have covered repairs. My concern is the larger impact of others experiencing the same issues and getting the same response by gm.

Filed Jul 18, 2018 · Electrical, Steering · 114,796 miles · MO

While the vehicle is in motion, radio and other electrics go blank, steering wheel feels locked up but I assume it has lost power steering. This has happened multiple times. It corrects itself in few seconds but once nearly swerved into a car as the wheel would not turn.