This service bulletin provides information on Tire Sidewall Irregularities.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2013 Chevrolet Malibu wheels problems
moderate Owners of the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu have filed 13 NHTSA complaints about the wheels, typically surfacing around 59,000 miles at roughly $400 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See wheels across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
13
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$400
| Model year | wheels complaints |
|---|---|
| 2009 Malibu | 9 |
| 2010 Malibu | 19 |
| 2012 Malibu | 8 |
| 2013 Malibu (this page) | 13 |
| 2014 Malibu | 16 |
| 2016 Malibu | 8 |
| 2017 Malibu | 5 |
What stands out
Among the 8 model years of Chevrolet Malibu in our records for wheels problems, this one ranks #3 by owner-complaint volume.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering wheels 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 service bulletin provides a procedure on how to clean and resurface aluminum wheel bead seats for vehicles that have the condition of Tire Slowly Goes Flat, Tire Air Loss, Low Tire Pressure Warning Light Illuminated, Aluminum Wheel Bead Seat Corrosion.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗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 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 Chemical Staining, Pitting, Corrosion and/or Spotted Appearance of Chromed Aluminum Wheels.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners report wheel bearing and hub assembly failures as the dominant issue across this cluster. Most failures occur between 40,000 and 75,000 miles—well short of typical bearing life. Symptoms include a low humming noise at highway speeds that increases with acceleration, loud grinding or grinding-type noise from the rear, and in some cases vibration felt when the wheel is spun by hand. Three owners replaced multiple bearings in quick succession (one replaced three of four; another replaced both rear bearings; a third is on their third assembly in three years).
Several owners note the encoder ring—part of the bearing assembly—cracks or fractures, triggering ABS and traction-control light failures. These failures caused one owner to lose stability control while entering traffic, and another while driving at 65 mph on a highway. Owners also report rim coating peeling off, creating a cosmetic but persistent problem that Chevrolet declined to address under warranty.
One owner's bearing failure triggered simultaneous failures in the speed sensor, stability-control system, and transmission shift behavior. A 2017 recall exists for this part, but one owner reported being on a waiting list since August 2021 with no parts available from GM and dealer repairs stalled. Repair costs cited range from $400 to $900 per bearing or assembly replacement.
Same Chevrolet Malibu wheels reports on nearby years: 2010 · 2014
Failure modes owners describe
Premature wheel bearing and hub assembly failure
Wheel bearing and hub assemblies fail prematurely, often multiple assemblies on the same vehicle. Encoder rings crack or break. Failures trigger ABS, traction control, and stability control light warnings. Some failures cause loss of traction control while driving.
When: 40,000 to 75,000 miles; one owner on third assembly in three years of ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Low humming noise from rear, increasing with speed; Loud grinding noise from rear at acceleration; Vibration felt when wheel is spun by hand; ABS light illumination; Stability control and traction control lights on; Loss of traction control functionality; Speed sensor failure
Codes mentioned: 13589507W-(S) wheel bearing assembly, Encoder ring damage (part of bearing assembly)
Repairs/costs cited: Wheel bearing and hub assembly replacement costs cited: $400 to $900 per unit. One owner replaced all four wheel bearings; another replaced three of four; a third is replacing every 12 months.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: 2017 recall exists for this part. One owner reported being placed on waiting list since August 2021 with no repair parts available from GM; dealer unable to complete repairs. Chevrolet declined to cover bearing replacements under warranty in multiple cases.
Wheel rim coating degradation
Factory wheel rim coating peels or flakes off, creating cosmetic damage. Chevrolet declined warranty coverage for replacement rims.
When: Present from purchase or early ownership; evident by 130,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Coating peeling off rims; Cosmetic deterioration of wheels; Rims appear worn and cheap
Repairs/costs cited: Owner sanded and repainted rims at own expense. Chevrolet refused to replace rims under warranty.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Chevrolet declined warranty replacement; owner pursued aftermarket solution.
Synthesized from 13 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had wheels 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 wheels problem on the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 13 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $400 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the wheels typically fail?
Across the 11 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most wheels failures cluster between 40,850 and 69,900 miles, with the median around 59,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 40,850; a quarter make it past 69,900. 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 $400 for wheels 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 wheels?
No active recalls currently cover wheels 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.