This service bulletin provides information on proper use of floor mats.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2013 Chevrolet Malibu body problems
severe Owners of the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu have filed 16 NHTSA complaints about the body, typically surfacing around 69,000 miles at roughly $1,500 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See body across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
16
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,500
| Model year | body complaints |
|---|---|
| 2009 Malibu | 20 |
| 2010 Malibu | 35 |
| 2011 Malibu | 9 |
| 2012 Malibu | 12 |
| 2013 Malibu (this page) | 16 |
| 2014 Malibu | 7 |
| 2015 Malibu | 12 |
| 2016 Malibu | 28 |
| 2017 Malibu | 15 |
1crash
3injuries
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering body on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
This bulletin advises the dealers to maintain the vehicle stock on hand by doing a full inspection on the vehicles before being sold (prepping) to the customer.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This service bulletin provides information on Concerns or Questions Regarding Installation of Dealer Installed Accessories.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This preliminary informational (PI) bulletin provides information to dealership personnel which may be helpful when addressing underbody component corrosion with customers.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This service bulletin provides information on Paintless Dent Repair Process.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
2013 Malibu owners report widespread assembly quality problems starting within months of purchase. Door installation defects lead the pack: drivers struggle with doors that won't open or close smoothly, won't open at all, or sit misaligned. Peeling metal plating on door handles has cut owners' hands. Window trim—chrome strips and plastic moldings—pops off around all windows, sometimes crumbling into pieces. One owner found multiple failures within a week: a chrome window piece popped off mid-door opening, then trim between the front doors started crumbling.
Structural and sealing issues cause trunk problems: latches fail and pop open on locked, parked vehicles, while water intrudes into trunk wells despite sealed conditions. One owner found the spare wheel well overflowing with water and visible water damage inside.
The bumpers present a separate hazard. A rear bumper detached at 75 mph and landed in the road. The front bumper is described as flimsy, catching on parking stops easily, with GM apparently refusing warranty coverage. Wind deflectors rub and detach during normal driving.
Undercarriage rust appears early—one owner at 120,000 miles, another at just 3 years old with hood rust spots near the windshield. Both rear wheel bearings wore out prematurely, requiring replacement by 52,000 miles and again 6 months later. Owners report GM declining repeat repairs, and one dealership inspection reportedly confirmed the driver's door was never installed correctly at the factory.
Same Chevrolet Malibu body reports on nearby years: 2010 · 2012 · 2015 · 2016
Failure modes owners describe
Door installation and operation defects
Driver-side door not installed properly, causing difficulty opening/closing and misalignment. Passenger-side door strikes rear door, damaging moldings. Left door cannot open from outside or inside. Door handles have peeling metal plating creating sharp edges that caused hand/finger cuts.
When: Within 4 months of purchase; ongoing
Symptoms owners cite: Hard to open and close driver-side door; Driver-side door appears more ajar than normal; Passenger-side door hits rear door when opened; Left door inoperable from outside and inside; Metal plating peeling from passenger door handle; Sharp edges on door handle causing cuts
Repairs/costs cited: Service representative confirmed driver's door not installed properly. Owner reports dealership unwilling to repair in second occurrence.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: GM refused to repair second occurrence in 2015
Window trim and glass molding detachment
Chrome trim pieces and plastic moldings around windows pop off or crumble. Affects multiple windows including rear passenger, rear driver, and front passenger windows. Plastic section between driver and passenger doors crumbles at top.
When: Within months of ownership; recurring
Symptoms owners cite: Chrome piece pops off top of rear passenger window; Plastic trim between driver and passenger doors crumbles; Window trim pops off around all windows; Trim stays with rear driver window, then passenger front window
Repairs/costs cited: Owner suspects factory structural defect and improper dealership pre-purchase inspection
Wheel bearing failure
Both rear wheel bearings fail prematurely. Rear passenger-side bearing failed first around 52,000 miles, replaced. Rear driver-side bearing failed approximately 6 months later.
When: Around 52,000 miles and recurring 6 months later
Symptoms owners cite: Humming noise from vehicle increasing with speed; Recurrent humming noise after repair
Repairs/costs cited: Both rear wheel bearings replaced at dealer
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified
Trunk latch failure
Trunk spontaneously opens when vehicle is locked and parked. Owner finds trunk wide open when returning to vehicle despite locking it completely multiple times.
When: Ongoing during vehicle operation
Symptoms owners cite: Trunk opens on its own when vehicle is locked; Trunk found wide open after parking and locking
Trunk water intrusion
Water accumulates in trunk and spare wheel well. Musty smell indicates ongoing moisture issue with visible water damage on porous surfaces.
When: Ongoing during vehicle operation
Symptoms owners cite: Musty smell in car; Interior of trunk wet; Spare wheel well overflowing with water; Water drips from trunk door seal when opened; Water damage visible on porous surfaces
Repairs/costs cited: Owner suspects faulty trunk door seal or water entry from elsewhere
Bumper detachment and damage
Rear bumper detaches from vehicle while driving. Front bumper easily catches and damages due to flimsy design. Front bumper lip caught parking stop when vehicle settled.
When: At 83,000 miles for rear; varying mileage for front issues
Symptoms owners cite: Loud abnormal noise from rear at 75 mph; Rear bumper detached and lying in road; Front bumper easily damaged and not covered under warranty; Front bumper lip caught on parking stop
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer did not diagnose or repair rear bumper issue. Dealership does not cover defective front bumper lip.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified of rear bumper detachment
Undercarriage rust and corrosion
Rust appears underneath vehicle at midway point to rear. Hood shows bubbling/rust spots near front glass after only 3 years. Undercarriage described as flimsy.
When: At approximately 120,000 miles; also at 3 years old
Symptoms owners cite: Rust visible underneath at midway point to rear; Bubbling/rust spot on hood near front glass; Flimsy undercarriage construction
Codes mentioned: TPOA90 (drive motor A performance)
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle not diagnosed or repaired; independent mechanic consulted
Wind deflector detachment
Wind deflector rubs against ground and becomes detached from vehicle during normal driving.
When: During driving, mileage not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Wind deflector rubbed against ground; Wind deflector detached from vehicle
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer confirmed failure but vehicle not repaired
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer contacted but no repair action taken
Rearview mirror obstruction
Rearview mirror positioned too low due to low roofline for aerodynamic reasons, blocking approximately 25% of forward visibility through windshield.
When: Design issue present from test drive
Symptoms owners cite: Rearview mirror blocking 25% of forward vision; Driver must duck head to see under mirror; Safety concern due to impaired vision
Interior trim reflection glare
Shiny interior trim reflects sunlight and impairs driver vision when sun beams directly on it.
When: At approximately 100 miles / early ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Sunlight reflection from interior trim impairs vision
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle not diagnosed or repaired
Synthesized from 16 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had body trouble with your 2013 Chevrolet Malibu?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the body problem on the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu?
It's a meaningful issue. 16 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $1,500.
At what mileage does the body typically fail?
Across the 9 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most body failures cluster between 48,688 and 78,000 miles, with the median around 69,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 48,688; a quarter make it past 78,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $1,500 for body repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to body?
No active recalls currently cover body issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2013/Chevrolet/Malibu.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.