P2181 on the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu
The bulletins listed name this code in NHTSA's summary, or are about the same components. A bulletin or a recall listed here may apply to the model year. None of it is a diagnosis.
Nobody has written a description of this code yet.
| PIP5300 | 2017-08-15. Service bulletin. This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on the steps to diagnose and repair vehicles that engine overheating, and/or poor heater performance, AC off message, and Malfunction Indicator Lamp illumination. Technician will find Diagnostic Trouble Code P00B7 and/or P2181. Technician will gain access to the water outlet assembly and inspect for flashing or debris. If flashing or debris found in the water outlet assembly it will need to be replaced. Also inspect the upper heater core hose and coolant bypass pipe at the water outlet for a black plug. If plug is found, remove and discard. |
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| PIC5764B | 2017-08-15. Service bulletin. This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on the steps to diagnose and repair vehicles that engine overheating, and/or poor heater performance, AC off message, and Malfunction Indicator Lamp illumination. Technician will find Diagnostic Trouble Code P00B7 and/or P2181. Technician will gain access to the water outlet assembly and inspect for flashing or debris. If flashing or debris found in the water outlet assembly it will need to be replaced. Also inspect the upper heater core hose and coolant bypass pipe at the water outlet for a black plug. If plug is found, remove and discard. |
| PIC5764A | 2017-08-15. Service bulletin. This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have an engine overheats ?A/C Off? or ?High Engine Temperature? Messages are displayed on the Instrument Panel Cluster poor heater performance after extended idling, or cruising at low revolutions per minute for extended period. Technician may find Diagnostic Trouble Code P00B7 or P2181 may be set in the Engine Control Module. Technician will need to check the water outlet for plastic flashing and/or debris by remove the water outlet attached to the rear of the cylinder head. Technician will need clean or replace the water outlet as needed. |
| PIC5764 | 2017-08-15. Service bulletin. This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have an engine overheats "A/C Off" or "High Engine Temperature" Messages are displayed on the Instrument Panel Cluster poor heater performance after extended idling, or cruising at low revolutions per minute for extended period. Technician may find Diagnostic Trouble Code P00B7 or P2181 may be set in the Engine Control Module. Technician will need to check the water outlet for plastic flashing and/or debris by remove the water outlet attached to the rear of the cylinder head. Technician will need clean or replace the water outlet as needed. |
4 on file from NHTSA, as of 2026-10-19. See them in the bulletin list. A bulletin lists model years: read the document for which vehicles it concerns.