2014 Chevrolet Malibu
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine is the leading concern among 363 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 18th highest complaint count among 26 Malibu model years with reports.
Of the 2014 reports, 19 involved a crash and 8 involved a fire. 17 people were injured and 1 person died.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Electrical system, ignitionJul 5, 2016
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Buick Verano and 2016 Chevrolet Malibu as the electronic park lock lever may allow the ignition key to be removed without the transmission being in PARK. Also, certain 2013 Buick Encore, 2011 Buick Regal, 2013-2014 Buick Verano, 2011-2016 Chevrolet Cruze, 2010-2013 Chevrolet Equinox 2013-2015 Chevrolet Malibu, and 2011-2013 GMC Terrain vehicles may have been serviced with similar defective replacement electronic park lock levers. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention."
If the key is removed without the transmission in PARK, the vehicle may rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.
GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and if necessary replace the key cylinder lock housing, free of charge. The recall began on October 14, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Buick 1-800-521-7300, and GMC 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 50490 and 50491.
Campaign 16V502000 on NHTSA.gov
Visibility, sun/moon roof assemblyMar 23, 2015
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles October 24, 2011, to March 5, 2015. In the affected vehicles, the Slide or Tilt switch for the roof panel may not be adequately recessed to prevent the switch from inadvertently being pressed. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 118, "Power-Operated Window, Partition, and Roof Panel Systems."
The Slide or Tilt roof panel switch may inadvertently be pressed and the roof panel may auto-close unexpectedly, increasing the risk of a pinch injury.
GM will notify owners, and dealers will update the Body Control Module (BCM) software to remove auto-close feature for certain switch positions, free of charge. The recall began April 21, 2015. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 15176.
Campaign 15V164000 on NHTSA.gov
Service brakes, hydraulic, power assist, vacuumMay 14, 2014
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured June 12, 2013, through May 2, 2014, and equipped with a 2.5L engine with the auto stop/start option. The affected vehicles may experience a complete loss of brake vacuum assist, disabling the hydraulic boost assist. As such, these vehicles do not comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 135, "Light Vehicle Brake Systems."
If the hydraulic boost assist is disabled, slowing or stopping the vehicle will require additional brake pedal effort and a lengthened stopping distance. Both of these effects increase the risk of a crash.
GM will notify owners, and dealers will update the electronic brake control module software, free of charge. The recall began on July 3, 2014. Owners may contact General Motors customer service at 1-800-222-1020. General Motors number for this recall is 14201.
Campaign 14V247000 on NHTSA.gov
Service brakes, hydraulic, foundation components, discMay 8, 2014
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014 Buick Lacrosse vehicles manufactured January 29, 2014, through March 31, 2014 and 2014 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured February 7, 2014, through March 31, 2014, and equipped with 17 inch front brake rotors. The affected vehicles may have had brake rotors intended for the rear of the car accidentally installed on the front. The rear rotors, while the same diameter, are thinner and may result in a front brake pad detaching from the caliper.
If a brake pad detaches from caliper, there may be a sudden reduction in braking, lengthening the distance required to stop the vehicle and increasing the risk of a crash.
GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the front brake rotors, and install the correct rotors with new brake pads, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on June 20, 2014. Owners may contact General Motors customer service at 1-800-521-7300 (Buick) or 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet). GM's number for this recall is 14128.
Campaign 14V240000 on NHTSA.gov
Power train, automatic transmissionFeb 21, 2014
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014 Buick Regal, LaCrosse, Verano, and Enclave, and Chevrolet Impala, Malibu, Cruze, and Traverse, and GMC Acadia vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions. In the affected vehicles, the transmission shift cable adjuster may disengage from the transmission shift lever. As such, these vehicles do not conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 102, "Transmission Shift Lever Sequence, Starter Interlock, and Transmission Braking Effect." They also fail to conform to FMVSS number 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention."
If a vehicle's shift cable disengages from the transmission shift lever, a driver may be unable to shift gear positions and the indicated shift position may not represent the gear position the vehicle is in. Should a disengagement occur while the vehicle is being driven, when the driver goes to stop and park the vehicle, the driver may be able to shift the lever to the "PARK" position, but the vehicle transmission may not be in the "PARK" gear position. If the vehicle is not in the "PARK" position there is a risk the vehicle will roll away as the driver and other occupants exit the vehicle or anytime thereafter. A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of injury to exiting occupants and bystanders.
General Motors will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace any affected transmission shift cable adjusters, free of charge. The recall began on April 10, 2014. Chevrolet owners may contact General Motors at 1-800-222-1020, Buick owners at 1-800-521-7300, and GMC owners at 1-800-462-8782. General Motors' number associated with this recall is 14048.
Campaign 14V092000 on NHTSA.gov
Visibility, defroster/defogger/hvac systemNov 13, 2013
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured June 12, 2013, through November 5, 2013. The heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) control in these vehicles may intermittently become inoperable when the vehicle is started, preventing the windshield defroster from working. Thus, these vehicles fail to conform to the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 103, "Windshield Defrosting and Defogging Systems."
The inability to turn on the windshield defroster may decrease the driver's visibility thereby increasing the risk of a crash.
GM will notify owners, and dealers will update the electronic climate control module software, free of charge. The recall began during December 2013. Owners may contact GM at 1-800-521-7300. GM's recall campaign number is 13380.
Campaign 13V567000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: engine
129 reports, newest first. Show all
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Engine, Sep 11, 2025
Received vehicle at roughly 181,000 miles. Operated fine for about 5,000 miles and then began to show problems. In most cases when pressing down hard on the accelerator pedal, transmission drops into a lower gear and revs up to 5k rpm, cancelling cruise control, and staying there until accelerator is relieved. This makes accelerating more difficult since too much pressure on the accelerator pedal causes the car to get stuck at 5k rpm and stay at the same speed it is already at. This makes passing cars more dangerous as the car gets stuck at 5k rpm and can't pass the other vehicle, increasing the risk of a head on collision. Service engine and ABS lights are on as well as a service Stabilitrak notification in the driver information center. In addition, the outside temperature thermometer is faulty and shows much lower temperatures, such as -14 degrees during an 80 degree day. Vehicle is up to maintenance as far as my knowledge goes. Car has been previously junked twice and has a rebuilt title. There are no fluid leaks, the engine works well when the problem is not encountered, but it gets stuck at 5k rpm under hard acceleration more than it doesn't.
Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Jul 23, 2025
Automatic Start/Stop feature is faulty! When it activates, it prevents the engine from restarting for several minutes. This puts myself and others in my car at a major risk of getting in an accident. I have so far been lucky and avoided any accidents. Several thousand has ben spent to try and fix the issue, with no luck.
Electrical system, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Jun 30, 2025
The headlights burn out frequently the air conditioner does not work the ignition had to be replaced there's always a code of p0171 the start/stop feature does not work the brakes make the car shake. When does stuff takes place I have to pull the vehicle over cousin me to put others in danger by being on the shoulder of the road broke down. Yes the car is available for inspection. The radio randomly turns on and off therefore the backup camera does not work as it should why this vehicle has not been recalled is beyond me.
Engine, Apr 30, 2025
The contact owns a 2014 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled and jerked with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was able to restart. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and was diagnosed with engine failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 213,310. The VIN was not available.
Engine and engine cooling, Apr 4, 2025
The contact owns a 2014 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that upon driving four miles at approximately 35 MPH, the engine overheated. The message "Engine Overheating" was displayed. The temperature gauge increased to Hot. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle. The contact added water to the vehicle, but the water drained out. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the heater coil had failed. The local dealer was contacted and confirmed that the VIN was not under recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 105,670.
Electrical system, Service brakes, Engine, Mar 3, 2025
This is now the THIRD time this has happened, and GM doesn't seem to care, because when my mechanic "fixed" my auto stop problem, it was because GM themselves got the code to "fix" my car. My auto stop worked one time, before today, after my repair last week. I was at a stop light where my auto stop turned on. My brakes WERE STUCK AND COULDN'T BRAKE so I put it in park! THE SAME ISSUE WITH THE WHEEL AND BRAKE LOCKING OCCURRED. GM FIX THIS!
Steering, Engine, Feb 14, 2025
When I was on auto stop, my car never started back up. The steering wheel and brakes were frozen, and I could barely pull off the road I was on. Turning the key did not help, as the engine wouldn't turn back on.
Seats, Service brakes, Engine, Dec 23, 2024
I am filing a complaint regarding a 2014 Chevrolet Malibu that I purchased from a dealership on November 22, 2024. The vehicle was advertised as being in “excellent condition” at the dealership’s site. During the test drive, I raised concerns about potential transmission issues, but the dealership assured me that the vehicle was “clean” and safe to drive. Unfortunately, this assurance turned out to be false, as the vehicle has since displayed significant mechanical failures, including overheating issues, that pose serious safety risks. Within a week of purchase, the vehicle broke down twice: first on November 29, while driving to work, and again on November 30, while on I-10 Katy freeway. The second breakdown created a life-threatening situation as the vehicle suddenly lost power in traffic. I incurred towing costs of $125 to return the vehicle to the dealership. After an attempted repair, the vehicle was returned to me on December 5, 2024. However, it broke down again on December 8, 2024, requiring another tow. Since that time, the vehicle has remained at the dealership, yet no adequate resolution has been provided. Additionally, I have since discovered that the vehicle has persistent overheating issues that were not disclosed at the time of sale. These overheating problems pose a serious safety risk as they could result in a fire or explosion, endangering my life and the lives of others on the road. The dealership’s negligence in addressing these critical safety concerns demonstrates a disregard for consumer safety. I believe the dealership knowingly sold me a defective vehicle with significant mechanical issues that were either hidden or misrepresented. The sudden and repeated breakdowns, particularly in hazardous driving conditions, and the risk of fire or explosion due to overheating, warrant immediate attention from the NHTSA.
Power train, Electrical system, Engine, Dec 6, 2024
powertrain there is a problem with auto stop restarting then dying. The transmission not engaging after a complete stop like it is neutral this only happens after the car has been driven a bit everything at temp. today stopped for trash service auto stop engaged got ready to go nothing gunning and gunning never died like no power though finally moved no more stops till home a problem sitting in road can not move. have not taken to shop yet money for it now not.
Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Dec 2, 2024
P0420 code
Electrical system, Service brakes, Engine, Jun 30, 2024
When Stopping/Coming To A Stop. The Auto Start Feature Kicks In And Causes My Locks To Unlock And Lock Back And The Car To Stall For A Second Or So
Engine, Jun 8, 2024
When the Auto Start/Stop engages at a stop sign or light it causes the car to turn off. I have trouble turning it back over. Sometimes it starts. Other times it does not. I have changed the mass airflow sensor, mass air pressure sensor, vvt solenoid. It has been in and out of a couple shops without an answer of why it is doing this. It is readily available for an inspection. There were not any warning lights or messages produced on the dash. This started happening about 3 months ago. My child and myself is in danger every time it dies at a stop light.
Electrical system, Engine, Jun 4, 2024
When I come to a stop at a red light & the car is idling the car turns off & I have to put the car in park and turn the car on so over again. This happens in busy intersections
Engine, May 23, 2024
my car which i own shuts down while driving its showing po6dc on code reader
Engine, May 5, 2024
Reduced power and coolant system My safety was put a risk when my car stop on me in the middle of traffic
Engine, Apr 9, 2024
While driving 60 MPH on the highway my car started stuttering then lost all power. It threw 3 codes P0131, P2097 and P0171. I have spent over $1,000.00 and a month later they tell me it was my intake bolts that were loose. They replaced every part PCV valve, MAF sensor, O2 sensor and car still wouldn't run right. PLEASE address this issue as that is UNSAFE for a car to just stop on the highway.
Other or unspecified, Engine, Feb 26, 2024
I bought the car back in 2022 and since then the stop/start started malfunctioning. At first it would stop then be hesitant to start back up then 6 months later it completely would stall at lights and stop signs. Now the aux battery is draining my main battery and I’ve had to tow my car 3 times because I’ve been left stranded. I’m now in that same predicament and it’s 2/26/24
Electrical system, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Dec 31, 2023
6 months ago our car’s auto stop/start feature started to malfunction. The car will stall and sputter on the start after coming to a stop. This is very dangerous! On multiple occasions, the car would not accelerate through a turn on a light stalling out in the intersection. we have also been nearly rear-ended at red lights because the vehicle will not accelerate on a green light. This issue is well discussed on the Internet with many owners reporting the same issue. Chevrolet should be held accountable for this repair. This is not an isolated event with my vehicle.
Engine, Nov 20, 2023
Variable valve timing system Rocker arm oil control valve solenoid Need help asap! My car is unsafe!
Other or unspecified, Engine, Sep 21, 2023
When I stop my auto stop kicks in and when I take my foot off the brake my car rolls up a little and ends up dying. I have to turn it off and start it up giving it gas to get it going. There have been a couple instances when making a left turn I have almost gotten hit. I am no longer comfortable driving my car. There are several people posting about it online but no reason or fix for it as far as I know of. I have called the dealer and if course they want me to bring it in but I have no money for someone to go on a wild goose chase with my car. I think this should be something Chevrolet needs to figure out.
Power train, Electrical system, Engine, Aug 1, 2023
The automatic start and stop function does not work properly. When the car comes to a stop and auto stops, the vehicle shuts off and does not power up when you hit the gas. My safety is put at risk due to the car shutting off and the possibility of someone hitting me. The vehicle has been inspected countless times. I was told it was an electrical issue. Then told it was the battery. Brand new battery and issue isn’t fixed. The car cut off once and all the lights came on. Now no lights comes on it just cuts off.
Engine, Mar 21, 2023
The contact owns a 2014 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle lost motive power and started jerking. The contact stated that on one occasion the contact veered to the side of the road and restarted the vehicle. Additionally, the contact stated that the failure persisted and self-corrected while driving. The check engine warning light illuminated on one occasion but independently reset before taking the vehicle to the dealer. The dealer was not able to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was not available.
Engine, Mar 16, 2023
The contact owns a 2014 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 5 MPH, the vehicle suddenly lost motive power and stalled. After restarting the vehicle, the check engine warning light illuminated and remained illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local service center who diagnosed that the intake cam shift solenoid control circuit and the variable valve solenoid intake and the variable valve solenoid exhaust were faulty and needed to be replaced. The intake cam shift solenoid control circuit, variable valve solenoid intake, and variable valve solenoid exhaust were replaced but the failure recurred with the cold start engine rattling noise and loss of power failure persisting. The vehicle was later taken to the local dealer who was unable to duplicate the failure. The failure mileage was 75,000.
Engine, Feb 14, 2023
My 2014 Chevrolet Malibu has been shutting off quite frequently in traffic. Causing danger to my family and to other motorist by this malfunction. I have taken it to my local GM dealership for this to be resolve but to no success and charge for the service. I have also spoken with GM corporation but to no avail. I have researched this problem with compliance with this make and model this seem like an issue that GM should investigate. But I would like to keep driving my vehicle. Who can help me with this problem this is our transportation for now until we can afford another. Thanking you in advance. [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Engine, Feb 2, 2023
The AutoStop/Start feature malfunctioned while at a busy intersection. The AutoStop engaged but failed to start the engine, once pressure was released from the brake pedal. This has been an issue for about a year now. I have replaced both batteries, both VVT sensors, and the oil pressure sensor in the last year, thinking this would solve the issue. This vehicle has not been inspected by a mechanic, just scanned with a handheld scanner at a parts store, every time there is a check engine indicator light on. There are no dash indicators when this malfunctions, I just have to turn the vehicle completely off, or pump the accelerator in order for it to start.