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severe Owners of the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu have filed 65 NHTSA complaints about the suspension, typically surfacing around 100,000 miles at roughly $900 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See suspension across all vehicles →
| Model year | suspension complaints |
|---|---|
| 2009 Malibu | 5 |
| 2010 Malibu | 6 |
| 2011 Malibu | 8 |
| 2012 Malibu | 4 |
| 2013 Malibu (this page) | 65 |
| 2014 Malibu | 8 |
| 2015 Malibu | 3 |
| 2016 Malibu | 18 |
| 2017 Malibu | 9 |
Of the 15 model years of Chevrolet Malibu we track for suspension problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 65.
All 4 active suspension recalls on this vehicle land at critical or severe — none classified moderate.
Sudden changes in vehicle handling may increase the risk of a crash.
A rear toe link fracture may reduce the driver's ability to control the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
A rear toe link fracture may reduce the driver's ability to control the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
A rear toe link fracture may reduce the driver's ability to control the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering suspension 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 preliminary informational (PI) bulletin provides information to dealership personnel that may be helpful when addressing underbody component corrosion with customers.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This service bulletin provides information to dealership personnel on diagnosis and replacement of shock absorber and strut due to fluid leak.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This service bulletin provides information to dealership personnel on diagnosis and replacement of shock absorber and strut due to fluid leak.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This service bulletin provides technicians with information to help identify the differences between what is considered a fluid leak, and what is considered fluid seepage.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have had multiple repair attempts that are being performed on customer?s vehicles that exhibit vibration conditions without utilizing the support of General Motors Technical Assistance Center. If valid vibration frequency or Road Force Variation data has been collected and a repair attempt does not correct the customer complaint, contact General Motors Technical Assistance Center for further support. For any vehicles that remains unrepaired after being at the dealer for three days or more and a related bulletin or PI is not found, contact General Motors Technical Assistance Center for furthe
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
Owners of 2013 Malibu models consistently report rear suspension toe links fracturing due to severe corrosion, often with no warning. The failures happen at highway speeds and parking lots alike, causing the rear wheels to shift out of alignment, lock up, or sway side-to-side. Owners describe losing control of the vehicle, veering into ditches, and colliding with other vehicles. Some were injured badly enough to need hospital visits.
Wheel bearings fail prematurely—sometimes multiple bearings on the same vehicle within months of repair. Front axle shafts have snapped during normal driving. Trailing arms rust and break. Owners report abnormal noises, shaking, and bouncing from the rear suspension across tens of thousands of miles of ownership.
The manufacturer issued Recall 20V764000 in 2020 for the rear toe links, but parts remain unavailable years later. Dealers refuse to perform the free recall work, citing lack of inventory. More troubling: dealers demand owners pay out-of-pocket for corroded lug nuts—a manufacturing defect—before they will touch the suspension repair. Some owners report extensive undercarriage corrosion so severe that dealers refuse to even attempt the recall repair. Owners trying to schedule service wait on hold for hours only to be told parts remain on backorder.
Same Chevrolet Malibu suspension reports on nearby years: 2016
Rear toe links fail prematurely due to severe corrosion and rust, causing loss of rear suspension alignment and control. Owners report the rear wheels shifting, swaying side-to-side, or locking up without warning. Failures happen across a wide mileage range (50,000–250,000 miles) and often occur during normal highway or city driving.
When: 50,000–250,000 miles; reported across multiple years of ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle sways or pulls left and right while driving; Rear wheels wiggle or shift out of alignment; Rear wheel locks up or skids; Loss of vehicle control requiring driver to pull over; Abnormal noise from rear suspension; High-pitched sound from vehicle during failure
Codes mentioned: NHTSA Campaign 20V764000, NHTSA Campaign 21V633000
Repairs/costs cited: Rear toe link replacement required. Many owners report dealers refuse to perform recall repairs due to: (1) parts unavailable for extended periods after recall issued, (2) extensive corrosion underneath vehicle preventing safe repair access, (3) swollen/corroded lug nuts that dealers demand customers pay for separately before performing recall work.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall 20V764000 issued; parts distribution delays documented across multiple complaints spanning months. Manufacturer provides no remedy or assistance when corrosion prevents repair access. Dealer refusal to cover lug nut replacement as part of recall despite it being a manufacturing defect.
Front and rear wheel bearings wear prematurely and fail sequentially, requiring multiple replacements on the same vehicle within short intervals.
When: 45,000–47,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Abnormal noise from wheel bearings (grinding, humming, or clicking); Noise occurs at various speeds or while turning
Repairs/costs cited: Front driver-side wheel bearing replaced; failure recurred on rear passenger side two months later, then on rear driver side again. Repairs performed at independent mechanics.
Front right axle shaft breaks during normal driving, causing immediate loss of power to that wheel and uncontrolled vehicle movement.
When: Unknown mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Axle shaft breaks completely while driving straight; Vehicle pulls hard to one side (right side up in air); Loss of control, collision with other vehicles
Repairs/costs cited: Owner reported accident; vehicle hit a van, traveled on two wheels, and struck another vehicle.
Trailing arm rusts and fractures, causing suspension instability.
When: 143,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: High-pitched sound from vehicle; Temporary loss of vehicle control; Vehicle becomes inoperable after fracture
Codes mentioned: NHTSA Campaign 20V764000
Repairs/costs cited: Independent mechanic diagnosed rusted toe link and fractured trailing arm; vehicle not repaired.
Abnormal rattling, clicking, popping, and humming sounds coming from underneath the vehicle, or abnormal bouncing during driving. Often associated with 20V764000 recall.
When: 50,000–162,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Abnormal rattling or popping noise from underneath vehicle; Clicking or humming from rear suspension; Vehicle shakes or bounces abnormally; Stabilitrak warning light illuminates
Codes mentioned: NHTSA Campaign 20V764000
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers often unable to diagnose or repair due to parts unavailability. Some owners reported shaking at highway speeds with stabilitrak warning; one owner's shock, alignment, brake pads, rotors, and tire were replaced.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall 20V764000 issued; parts unavailable for extended periods.
Synthesized from 65 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
It's a meaningful issue. 65 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $900.
Across the 26 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most suspension failures cluster between 70,000 and 120,000 miles, with the median around 100,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 70,000; a quarter make it past 120,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
Independent shops typically charge around $900 for suspension 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.
Yes — 4 active recall(s) cover suspension issues on this vehicle. Recall fixes are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status. Use the VIN decoder at the top of the page to check if your specific vehicle is affected.