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
363 reports, newest first.
Visibility, Jun 20, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN USING THE REAR VIEW MIRROR WITH THE LIGHT SHINING ON THE REAR WINDSHIELD IT BLOCKED HIS VISIBILITY WHILE DRIVING IN REVERSE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 400. UPDATED 8/19/14*CN UPDATED 08/27/2014 *JS
Vehicle speed control, May 25, 2014
FIRST OF ALL THANKS NHTSA FOR RECALLING THE BRAKES ON THIS VEHICLE. WELL ANOTHER PROBLEM HAS AROSE WITH THIS VEHICLE. MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING THIS VEHICLE THIS MORNING. WHEN SHE APPLIED THE BRAKES COMING DOWN HILL SHE STATED THE VEHICLE SLOWED THEN SPED UP WHILE PUSHING THE BRAKE PEDAL. SO I THEN ROAD TESTED THE VEHICLE WHEN I GOT HOME FROM WORK. DESCENDING DOWN THE SAME HILL I FELT THE VEHICLE SPEED INCREASE WHILE I HAD THE BRAKE PEDAL PRESSED DOWN. IT SEEMS THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS NOT HELPING THE VEHICLE SLOW DOWN AT TIMES.. MEANING THE TRANSMISSION IS UP SHIFTING INSTEAD OF DOWN SHIFTING TO HELP SLOW THE VEHICLE. THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY CONCERN. I DID SOME RESEARCH ON THIS SITE AND THERE IS A TSB ON THIS ISSUE(VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL NO. PIC-5652-B). I WILL HAVE IT LOOKED AT ASAP. OF COURSE I ALREADY KNOW DAY CENTENNIAL SERVICE DEPT WILL SAY THEY CANT DUPLICATE MY CONCERN. I TRULY BELIEVE THAT THIS WILL BE A SAFETY RECALL. *TR
Service brakes, May 24, 2014
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH AN ANIMAL BEGAN ENTERING MY PATH. DUE TO THE SIZE OF THE ANIMAL I IMMEDIATELY APPLIED THE BRAKES HARD. THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY JERKED THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT AND THEN EVEN HARDER TO THE RIGHT. HAD I NOT HAD BOTH HANDS ON THE WHEEL, IT IS HIGHLY PROBABLE THAT CONTROL OF THE CAR WOULD HAVE BEEN LOST WHEN IT JERKED TO THE RIGHT. AS IT WAS, I WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE CAR BUT THIS WAS A SCARY EMERGENCY STOP EVENT. I DID NOT HAVE TO STOP THE CAR AND DID GET SLOWED ENOUGH TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT -- IT WAS THE REACTION OF THE CAR JERKING LEFT AND MORE POWERFULLY TO THE RIGHT THAT WAS SCARY AND WAS DEFINITELY NOT EXPECTED. THE CAR HAS DISC BRAKES ALL AROUND. *TR
Power train, May 22, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE GEAR LEVER WAS SHIFTED FROM ANY SELECTED GEAR, THE ENGINE REVVED AND THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO JERK WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2.
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Service brakes, May 19, 2014, crash
TL* THE CONTACT LEASED A 2014 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED AND THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED NECK AND BACK INJURIES WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 14V252000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100.
Service brakes, May 13, 2014
THE BRAKES FELT LOW AND THEN THE LOW BRAKE FLUID WARNING LIGHT AND ALSO STABILITY TRACK ALARM AND THE BRAKE LIGHT ON THE OTHER SIDE LIT UP. I DROVE A FEW MILES MORE AND THE ALARMS WOULD SOUND EVERY TIME I HIT THE BRAKES. THE CAR HAD TO BE FLAT BEDDED BACK TO THE DEALER. THE TRUCK DRIVER LOOKED FOR BRAKE FLUID LEVEL, THERE WAS NO BRAKE FLUID AT ALL. I WAS INFORMED LATER THAT THE BRAKE FLUID HAD ALL LEAKED OUT THE REAR CALIPER. THIS HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED, CAR IS STILL AT DEALER. *TR
Engine, Apr 27, 2014
THERE IS A GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I DO BELIEVE THERE ARE OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THIS SAME ISSUE. *TR
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Engine, Apr 27, 2014
I JUST PURCHASED A 2014 MALIBU ON 04- 22 FOR MY DAUGHTER. DUE TO MY DAUGHTER TELLING ME THAT THE BRAKES FELT MUSHY IN HER CAR I DECIDED TO TEST DRIVE IT MYSELF. WHILE DRIVING DOWN MY STREET AT APPROX. 25MPH WITH THE BRAKE SLIGHTLY DEPRESSED, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED UNEXPECTEDLY AND THE ENGINE SEEM TO REV UP. THIS MADE THE VEHICLE THAT MUCH HARDER TO CONTROL AND STOP. THIS HAS TO BE LOOKED INTO A.S.A.P. I DO NOT WANT MY DAUGHTER TO CONTINUE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE UNTIL THERE IS A SOLUTION. GOING TO TAKE THIS VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP FIRST THING MONDAY. *TR
Structure, Apr 3, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THE TOP CHROME TRIM ON THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW SEPARATED WHILE HE DROVE 70 MPH. THE DEALER REPLACED THE WINDOW TRIM; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT WAS NOT ADVISED IF THE FAILURE OCCURRED DUE TO A DEFECTIVE SEAL. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3200 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 4,700. UPDATED 06/24/14*LJ UPDATED 06/30/2014 *JS
Engine, Mar 31, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE BRAKING TO A COMPLETE STOP, THE VEHICLE ENGAGED INTO SLEEP MODE. ONCE THE CONTACT RELEASED THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SLOWLY REVERSE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURE WAS NOTIFIED AND WAS ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED TO FUNCTION IN THE MANNER IT DID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 2,000.
Engine, Mar 23, 2014
AS I WAS DRIVING AND COME TO A STOP LIGHT, MY VEHICLE CUT OFF AND ONCE I LET OFF THE BRAKE, TO GO, THE CAR STARTED BACK WITHOUT ME DOING ANYTHING. WHEN I WAS AT THE DRIVE THRU WINDOW, MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE AND I WAS STILL IN DRIVE MODE, THE CAR CUT OFF, AND WHEN I LET OF THE BRAKE SLIGHTLY THE VEHICLE STARTED ALL BY ITSELF. BOTH INCIDENTS HAPPENED A WEEK APART. *TR
Power train, Service brakes, Mar 20, 2014
1ST INCIDENT WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKE THE VEHICLE WOULD DO A EXTREME PULL TO THE RIGHT. 2ND INCIDENT 2/24/14 MILE 2940 - TRANSMISSION SHUTS DOWN AFTER EXITING HIGHWAY. *TR
Steering, Jan 17, 2014
WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS (65-70 MPH) ON STRAIGHT AND LEVEL HIGHWAY, STEERING WOULD DEVELOP A "STICKY, OR DEAD SPOT" ON CENTER. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A SLIGHT CORRECTION, IT REQUIRED INCREASED EFFORT TO OVERCOME THE "STICKY" SPOT; I COULD FEEL THE INCREASED RESISTANCE, AND THEN SUDDENLY THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD MOVE. IT TOOK EFFORT TO KEEP THE CAR FROM JERKING. INITIALLY THIS WOULD OCCUR ONLY WHEN TEMPERATURES WERE BELOW APPROXIMATELY 50 DEGREES (WE WERE ON CHRISTMAS BREAK IN UTAH). HOWEVER, UPON RETURNING TO TEXAS AND WARMER WEATHER, THE CONDITION HAS PERSISTED, ALBEIT INTERMITTENTLY. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER ON 15 JAN; HOWEVER THEY WERE "UNABLE TO DUPLICATE". THIS AFTERNOON I OBSERVED THE SAME "STICKINESS" WHILE WAITING AT A STOPLIGHT. I HAVE ATTEMPTED TO WORK THROUGH CHEVROLET CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVES ON-LINE, BUT HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET ANYONE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT A ""PROBLEM" EXISTS. *TR