The Recall Desk
Our severity:HighNHTSA·13V566000·Announced 2013-11-13

GM Recalls 2013 Chevrolet Malibu for Power Seat Wiring Fire Risk

General Motors is recalling 2013 Chevrolet Malibus with 8-way power seats because the wiring harness may chafe, potentially causing a short circuit or fire.

What this means for you

Our assessment, not the agency’s: severity 3/5 (High).

Real risk of harm even if no illness or injury has been reported yet. Stop using the product and follow the agency's guidance.

Our severity reasoning: The recall involves a risk of fire and unintended seat movement, which are significant hazards, but the source text does not report any injuries, deaths, or hospitalizations, placing it in the 'High' category for risk-of-harm products where injury has not yet been reported.

Plain-English summary

General Motors LLC is recalling certain model year 2013 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured between October 25, 2011, and June 29, 2012. The recall affects vehicles equipped with the 8-way power adjustable front seat feature. The defect involves the wiring harness for the power seat, which may contact the seat frame and become chafed.

If the harness is chafed enough to expose the wires, a short circuit could occur. This may result in unintended movement of the seat, the seat becoming inoperative, sparking under the seat, flickering lights, smoke, or possibly a fire. The source text does not report any specific incidents of injury or death associated with this defect.

GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the wire harness and repair and secure it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began in December 2013. Owners may contact GM at 1-800-521-7300 or the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236.

The recalled product

Product
CHEVROLET MALIBU
Brand
CHEVROLET
Manufacturer
General Motors LLC
Category
Vehicle — Power Seat Wiring
Hazard
Affected units
14,909

Is your product affected?

Check your packaging against the codes below. If any of them match, the product is part of this recall.

Model numbers (1)

  • MALIBU

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

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