IllustrationTHE CAR SHUT OFF WHEN YOU GET ON YOUR BRAKES WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY
2014 Chevrolet Malibu
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2014 Chevrolet Malibu do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 310.5.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Malibu years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
560–25K
4225–50K
4250–75K
4375–100K
37100–150K
10150K+
230 reports with mileage · 121 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Engine. Review the 125 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 86 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 52 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
19 crash reports8 fire reports11 injury reports
Unknown Or Other complaints
54 reportsHVAC CONTROL MODULE. MODULE NEEDS TO BE REPROGRAMMED.
CAR HAS PROBLEM WITH AUTO STOP. STALLS AND HARD TO RESTART. TOOK TO MECHANIC AND GETS CODE WITH BRAKE ASSIST. CALLED CHEVY AND THEY STATED MY CAR HAD A RECALL WITH THIS EXACT ISSUE BUT STATES IS CLOSED HOWEVER THEY COULD NOT GET ANY INFO ON WHEN FIXED AND WHERE. CALLED DEALER WHERE BOUGHT CAR AND THEY STATE NO RECALL ON CAR EVER…
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CAR HAS PROBLEM WITH AUTO STOP. STALLS AND HARD TO RESTART. TOOK TO MECHANIC AND GETS CODE WITH BRAKE ASSIST. CALLED CHEVY AND THEY STATED MY CAR HAD A RECALL WITH THIS EXACT ISSUE BUT STATES IS CLOSED HOWEVER THEY COULD NOT GET ANY INFO ON WHEN FIXED AND WHERE. CALLED DEALER WHERE BOUGHT CAR AND THEY STATE NO RECALL ON CAR EVER AND NEVER EVEN HARD OF THIS RECALL. CALLED BACK OTHER DEALER AND THEY WILL LOOK AT CAR BUT CANT FOR DAYS AND WONT GIVE A LOANER. WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH CAR IS WHT THE RECALL IS. DEALER THAT WILL LOOK AT CAR THINKS IT IS VERY STARNGE THAT COMES UP WITH THIS RECALL BUT CLOSED WITH NO OTHER INFO. CAR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE AS STALLS AND HARD TO RESTART AND HAVING BRAKE ASSIST ISSUES.
MY WINDSHIELD AND BACK WINDOW WAS FOGGING ON THE INSIDE DURING THE FALL AND FROSTING ON THE INSIDE DURING THE WINTER. MY CARPETS FELT LIKE A SPONGE. IT TURNED OUT THERE WERE 6" OF STANDING WATER UNDER MY FLOORBOARDS ON THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE CAR (FRONT AND BACK). THE MECHANIC TRACED THIS BACK TO AN OPENING BETWEEN TWO PANELS, JU…
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MY WINDSHIELD AND BACK WINDOW WAS FOGGING ON THE INSIDE DURING THE FALL AND FROSTING ON THE INSIDE DURING THE WINTER. MY CARPETS FELT LIKE A SPONGE. IT TURNED OUT THERE WERE 6" OF STANDING WATER UNDER MY FLOORBOARDS ON THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE CAR (FRONT AND BACK). THE MECHANIC TRACED THIS BACK TO AN OPENING BETWEEN TWO PANELS, JUST BELOW THE WINDSHIELD, THAT WERE NEVER SEALED. HE SAID I WAS LUCKY. IF THE WATER GOT ANY HIGHER, IT COULD HAVE INTERFERED WITH THE ELECTRICAL AND AIRBAG SYSTEM. I ALSO LUCKED OUT IN THAT THERE WAS NO MOLD GROWTH. MY CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW ONLY FIVE YEARS PRIOR AND HAD NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. REPAIR REQUIRED THE REMOVAL OF MY WINDSHIELD, A SIDE PANEL ON THE CAR, MY DRIVER SEAT, AND THE TEARING UP OF MY CARPETS.
THE VEHICLE HAS A AUTO/STOP FEATURE WHICH IS EXTREMELY FAULTY. THE FEATURE IS SUPPOSED TO KEEP THE VEHICLE'S ELECTRONICS RUNNING WHILE THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF AFTER CERTAIN CRITERIA BEFORE STOPPING IS MET. HOWEVER, THE AUTO/STOP FEATURE ON MY CAR WHEN ACTIVATED CAUSES THE SYSTEM TO COMPLETELY SHUT OFF AND ALL ELECTRONICS GO BLACK U…
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THE VEHICLE HAS A AUTO/STOP FEATURE WHICH IS EXTREMELY FAULTY. THE FEATURE IS SUPPOSED TO KEEP THE VEHICLE'S ELECTRONICS RUNNING WHILE THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF AFTER CERTAIN CRITERIA BEFORE STOPPING IS MET. HOWEVER, THE AUTO/STOP FEATURE ON MY CAR WHEN ACTIVATED CAUSES THE SYSTEM TO COMPLETELY SHUT OFF AND ALL ELECTRONICS GO BLACK UPON STARTING BACK UP. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS ALSO COME ON BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE. AFTER RESEARCHING, THERE IS NO WAY I CAN DISABLE THE FEATURE AND THERE IS NO WAY TO REALLY FIX THE ISSUE. MY CONCERN IS THAT SOMETHING ELECTRICAL COULD HAPPEN AND THE CAR COULD BE RUINED AS A RESULT.
I STARTED MY CAR AND DROVE ABOUT 1/4 OF A MILE AND A WARNING LIGHT CAME UP ON MY CAR STATING ENGINE POWER REDUCED. PULLED OVER PUT CAR IN PARK TURNED CAR OFF THEN ON THEN DRIVE. CAR DID FINE FOR ABOUT A MILE. THEN CAR SHOWED REDUCED ENGINE POWER AGAIN AND THEN COMPLETELY SHUT OFF IN MIDDLE OF ROAD AND WOULD NOT START BACK. WAS …
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I STARTED MY CAR AND DROVE ABOUT 1/4 OF A MILE AND A WARNING LIGHT CAME UP ON MY CAR STATING ENGINE POWER REDUCED. PULLED OVER PUT CAR IN PARK TURNED CAR OFF THEN ON THEN DRIVE. CAR DID FINE FOR ABOUT A MILE. THEN CAR SHOWED REDUCED ENGINE POWER AGAIN AND THEN COMPLETELY SHUT OFF IN MIDDLE OF ROAD AND WOULD NOT START BACK. WAS IN MIDDLE OF CURVE GOING UP HILL. CAR WOULD NOT EVEN ROLL WHEN PLACED IN NEUTRAL SO THAT I COULD GET IT OUT OF ROAD.
AUTO START DOES NOT WORK. IT KEEPS GIVING ME A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WHEN I TRY TO START THE CAR WITH THE REMOTE. I TOOK IT TO AUTO ZONE TO GET A DIAGNOSTICS TEST. THE CODE CAME BACK WITH P305F DTC DEFINITION.
MALIBU WHILE DRIVING JUST HAS HOT AIR BLOWING AND WHILE SITTING ROOM TO DEALERSHIP I BOUGHT IT FROM AND THEY CAN NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND SAYS IT IS FINE. IT CONSTANTLY BLOWS HOT AIR IN 104 DEGREE WEATHER CHECKED COOLANT AND ANTIFREEZE AND COMPRESSOR STILL NOT WORKING BEEN TRYING TO GET IT FIXED BUT EVERYONE CANNOT DUPLICAT…
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MALIBU WHILE DRIVING JUST HAS HOT AIR BLOWING AND WHILE SITTING ROOM TO DEALERSHIP I BOUGHT IT FROM AND THEY CAN NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND SAYS IT IS FINE. IT CONSTANTLY BLOWS HOT AIR IN 104 DEGREE WEATHER CHECKED COOLANT AND ANTIFREEZE AND COMPRESSOR STILL NOT WORKING BEEN TRYING TO GET IT FIXED BUT EVERYONE CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM
JULY 16,2016 MY 2014 CHEVROLET MALIBU WAS PARKED IN A PARKING SPACE SPACE AND BEGAN TO ROLL BACKWARDS. THE CAR WAS OCCUPIED WITH A FRONT SIDE PASSENGER AND 2 REAR PASSENGERS. I WAS ABLE TO JUMP IN THE CAR AND PRESS THE BRAKE TO STOP THE CAR FROM GOING FURTHER. I DO NOT SEE THAT THERE IS A RECALL OR THAT THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL. …
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JULY 16,2016 MY 2014 CHEVROLET MALIBU WAS PARKED IN A PARKING SPACE SPACE AND BEGAN TO ROLL BACKWARDS. THE CAR WAS OCCUPIED WITH A FRONT SIDE PASSENGER AND 2 REAR PASSENGERS. I WAS ABLE TO JUMP IN THE CAR AND PRESS THE BRAKE TO STOP THE CAR FROM GOING FURTHER. I DO NOT SEE THAT THERE IS A RECALL OR THAT THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL. I AM CHECKING AFTER SEEING AN UNFORTUNATE ACCIDENT ON THE NEWS OF THE SAME PROBLEM RESULTING IN DEATH.
SIDE VIEW MIRRORS KEEP FALLING OFF. TABS HOLDING MIRRORS IN PLACE ALWAYS BREAK WHICH CAUSES MIRRORS TO FALL OUT OF SOCKETS WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. HAD TO REPLACE BOTH MIRRORS ON VEHICLE AT CONSIDERABLE EXPENSE.
Official recalls
616V502000 · Electrical System:ignition; Power Train:automatic Transmission:control Module (tcm/pcm/tecm)
Jul 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."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the key is removed without the transmission in PARK, the vehicle may rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: 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.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Electrical System:ignition
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."
Consequence: If the key is removed without the transmission in PARK, the vehicle may rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: 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.
Power Train:automatic Transmission:control Module (tcm/pcm/tecm)
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."
Consequence: If the key is removed without the transmission in PARK, the vehicle may rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: 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.
15V164000 · Visibility:sun/moon Roof Assembly
Mar 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."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: 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.
14V247000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist:vacuum
May 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."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: 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.
14V240000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:disc
May 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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: 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.
14V092000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission
Feb 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."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: 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.
13V567000 · Visibility:defroster/defogger/hvac System; Visibility:defroster/defogger/hvac System:windshield:electrical Heating Element
Nov 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."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: The inability to turn on the windshield defroster may decrease the driver's visibility thereby increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Visibility:defroster/defogger/hvac System:windshield:electrical Heating Element
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."
Consequence: The inability to turn on the windshield defroster may decrease the driver's visibility thereby increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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.
Visibility:defroster/defogger/hvac System
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."
Consequence: The inability to turn on the windshield defroster may decrease the driver's visibility thereby increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.