2013 Chevrolet Malibu: headlights failing or too dim

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 Aug 27, 2025 · Electrical · 260,000 miles · ND

The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Malibu. While driving at 55 MPH, the "Service Battery Charging System" message was displayed, followed by the battery warning being illuminated. Simultaneously, the Service Stabili-trak, power steering, and ABS messages were displayed. The vehicle immediately lost steering assist, and the steering wheel became firm, and while depressing the brake pedal, the vehicle failed to slow down as intended. The vehicle was steered to the side of the road. Subsequently, the headlights turned off, the interface shut off, and the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed that the alternator was running at 11 volts instead of 13 volts. The mechanic determined that both the alternator and the GCM (Generator Control Module) needed to be replaced; however, the vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 260,000.

Filed Apr 12, 2024 · Electrical, Lights · MI

2013 Chevy Malibu LS Headlight found shorted and was causing other electrical issues. I found out the 8pin plug one of its pins showing burnt and its male mate same You can see this issue is not just one owner incident and it’s a public complaint in this public forum link [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Oct 15, 2021 · Electrical, Lights · KY

Both low beam headlights stopped working. Two days later the passenger side low beam headlight turned on again, but not the driver side. 2 months later both low beams again no longer working. I've replaced all 4 fuses (interior and exterior), headlight relay, and bulbs. None of that fixed the problem.

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 May 24, 2020 · Electrical, Seats · 118,000 miles · MO

Chafed wiring under passenger seat to short out and ground..causing headlights to go out and all electrical parts to short out...no headlights or tail lights.

Filed Feb 9, 2020 · Electrical, Lights · 70,000 miles · TX

My 2013 chevrolet malibu headlights specifically the right passenger side light keeps going out, I've replaced the bulb, and eventually I had the wiring inside fixed because it was exposed. I bought the car certified pre-owned from the dealership and never realized until recently that the electrical wires that lead to the bulb socket were cut and then twist tied back together and wrapped in electrical tape, instead of having a complete rubber tube cover around the outside and being one continuous uncut piece the way it should be. So I had someone at a car shop try to fix it but now the light is going on and off again. I've seen many chevrolet vehicles on the road with the right passenger side low beam headlight out while the left one continues to work fine. There are plenty of reports about this same problem by many other owners on the internet. I'm not the only one with this problem, and a costly safety hazard. A recall needs to be made.

Filed Nov 26, 2019 · Electrical · 75,000 miles · FL

Car shuts off and restarts on its own even while driving......been having problems with this since purchased but always told its the battery.....I have went through about 3 batters since purchasing in 2015....the other night it started shutting down little by little, power steering went, ended up with no inside lights, tail lights or headlights while driving on the highway......almost caused a collision.....this is very dangerous yet as many complaints as I have read about this identical problem, still told no recall on my vehicle and dealership is my responsibility.....this is not the first time the car has had to be towed for not staying cranked after these episodes.

Filed May 14, 2019 · Driver assistance, Electrical · OH

Door locks engaging and disengaging randomly while driving, headlights turning off and on randomly while driving, car starting while parked in garage (no remote start). Dealership replaced bcm, could not guarantee this fixed the problem. Indicated they had never seen the issue before. Within 2 weeks, all issues repeated themselves. Returned to dealership. The dealership kept the car for 2 weeks and then called me and left a message to pick it up as they could not find the issue. When I called back, the dealership said "it was a good thing you haven't picked up the vehicle yet, it started on its own 3 times this morning". If I had picked this vehicle up, the issue would have happened again while I was at home. Case has been filed with chevrolet customer car, and sufs (gm global safety). No action has been taken. No engineers have been sent down to look at the car from gm headquarters. After the car started on its own at the dealership, they changed out the ignition switch, but again, cannot guarantee the issues won't reoccur. Car was returned to the dealership for a third time on may 2nd after the headlights turned on and off 3 times on the way to work on may 1st. After having the vehicle until may 10th, I was informed that the dealership could not find an issue, and I should pick the car up as they could not diagnose the problem if they do not see it. The response from gm has been a joke. The car is not safe to drive. I cannot drive it at night, and cannot part it in my garage, as it could start and cause my entire family to die from carbon monoxide poisoning, or could overheat from running in park while we are sleeping and start a fire. I cannot in good conscience sell the car either. So, I am stuck with an unsafe vehicle that general motors will not take responsibility for. My concern is that there may be other vehicles on the road with the same issue.

Filed Nov 9, 2018 · Electrical, Lights · 60,000 miles · PA

While driving the vehicles electrical system, lights, radio dash start to intermittently go off then come back on. While this is happening the steering suddenly froze up while making a turn into oncoming traffic. This nearly caused a head on collision with oncoming cars. That same night when I pulled up in front of my house the headlights and instrument cluster kept flashing on and off.

Filed Nov 3, 2018 · Electrical · MO

I have had problems with this car since I bought it, loss of battery life, had it to multiple dealerships, nobody can figure out the problem, noticed a burning smell at one time, the trunk has a terrible really weird smell, I still owe a lot on this car and don't have the money to fix it or get another one, only had approx. 50,000 miles when it first started having problems, called gm, dealship replaced battery, same thing keeps happening, when I'm driving at night and the battery charge is low my headlights go extremely dim very quickly, this car is very dangerous and has left me stranded on several occasions. The car will just die right in the middle of traffic with no warning, completely dead,

Filed Sep 4, 2017 · Electrical, Engine · 75,000 miles · CA

While driving my chevrolet 2013 malibu ltz my stabiltrack light and service power steering pump light came on my dash immediately afterwards when driving at low speeds any where from zero to thirty miles per hour the car will randomly lose engine power and will stall but the electrical system will stay on but the head lights go out and the power steering will go out making the vehicle hard to turn. The car dies just about every time I am either accelerating from 0 MPH to any low speed unless I slam on the gas pedal. In bumper to bumper traffic im restarting my malibu every 3 seconds after it dies. It's is so dangerous if I have to turn and their is oncoming traffic cause the car could just die in the middle of the turn and be smashed by oncoming traffic. This happens on the street on the highway anywhere im driving . Car was taken to dealership where they held it for 2 weeks and said it was a oil pump solenoid valve being stuck. As soon as I drove off the lot I didnt even get around the corner and the car died at a low speed and the stability light came on along with the power steeri my pump and check engine light. Vehicle has to been taken in several times for cam shaft position sensor failure also. Car failures have been common since the date I purchased this vehicle