IllustrationREAR WHEEL BEARING AND HUBS REPLACED AT 22,790 MILES AT 37,00 MILES LEFT REAR AND RIGHT FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS ARE BAD AGAIN
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
Wheels complaints
18 reportsITS A COMMON PROBLEM I HAVE SEEN THAT HAPPENED TO ME 2 MONTHS AFTER BUYING THIS CAR. THE REAR WHEEL BEARING AND HUB ASSEMBLY IN BOTH WHEELS HAVE GONE BAD AND IT CAUSE THE BRAKE LIGHT AND ABS LIGHT TO COME AND REPAIRS COST OVER 700 DOLLARS. THIS PROBLEM IS ALL OVER THE INTERNET AND HAPPENS TYPICALLY AROUND 50,000 TO 60,000 MILES…
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ITS A COMMON PROBLEM I HAVE SEEN THAT HAPPENED TO ME 2 MONTHS AFTER BUYING THIS CAR. THE REAR WHEEL BEARING AND HUB ASSEMBLY IN BOTH WHEELS HAVE GONE BAD AND IT CAUSE THE BRAKE LIGHT AND ABS LIGHT TO COME AND REPAIRS COST OVER 700 DOLLARS. THIS PROBLEM IS ALL OVER THE INTERNET AND HAPPENS TYPICALLY AROUND 50,000 TO 60,000 MILES. I AM NOT HAPPY AT ALL SEEING AS THIS IS MY FIRST BIG CAR PURCHASE AND FIRST CHEVY PURCHASE. IF THIS ISNT COVERED BY RECALL SOON OR BY CHEVY THEN THIS WILL BE THE LAST AND ONLY TIME I EVER GET A CHEVY ANDITS SAD BECAUSE I ACTUALLY WORK FOR A DEALERSHIP AND STILL GOT SCREWED. PROBLEM STARTED WHEN I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AND WAS SET ON CRUISE CONTROL AT 70 MPH WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE BRAKE AND ABS LIGHT CAME ON SO I HAD OUR MECHANIC CHECK IT OUT AND THATS WHAT WAS THE PROBLEM
WHEEL BEARINGS OR HUBS GOING BAD ON NUMEROUS MALIBU'S. MANY REPORTED BELOW 30K MILES. MY CAR IS AT 53K AND 2 &1/2 YEARS OLD AND JUST HAD MY FIRST WHEEL HUB GO! THE DEALER PAID BASICALLY FOR THE LABOR AND I PAID FOR THE FACTORY PART THAT WILL GO BAD AGAIN. THE PART BY ACDELCO HAS ONLY 1 SEAL AND THAT MAYBE GOOD FOR THE SOUTHERN H…
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WHEEL BEARINGS OR HUBS GOING BAD ON NUMEROUS MALIBU'S. MANY REPORTED BELOW 30K MILES. MY CAR IS AT 53K AND 2 &1/2 YEARS OLD AND JUST HAD MY FIRST WHEEL HUB GO! THE DEALER PAID BASICALLY FOR THE LABOR AND I PAID FOR THE FACTORY PART THAT WILL GO BAD AGAIN. THE PART BY ACDELCO HAS ONLY 1 SEAL AND THAT MAYBE GOOD FOR THE SOUTHERN HALF OF THE COUNTRY BUT THE NORTHERN HALF OF THE COUNTRY USES SALT WHICH WE AS CONSUMERS CAN NOT CONTROL. I WASH AND CLEAN MY CAR REGULARLY TO KEEP SALT OFF IN WINTER.BUT THE SEAL IS STILL CORRODING WITH NO BACKUP PROTECTION. MOOG PROVIDES A WHEEL HUB AND USES 4 SEALS! HOW ARE WE AS CONSUMERS SUPPOSED TO BE ABLE TO KNOW EXACTLY WHEN THE WHEEL HUB IS GOING TO GO. THE WHEEL HUB IS GETTING WATER AND DIRT INSIDE MEANING THAT 1 SEAL IS FAILING! ITS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME UNTIL SOMEONE GETS SERIOUSLY INJURED. HELP US STOP THAT FROM HAPPENING. IF MY VEHICLE WAS 7 YEARS OR HAD 100K MILES ON IT AND A WHEEL HUB WENT BAD THEN I WOULD REPLACE ALL 4 TO BE PROACTIVE, BUT AT 50K MILES I OR WE AS CONSUMERS (HOWEVER YOU WANT TO LOOK AT IT) SHOULDN'T HAVE TO BE THAT PROACTIVE TO KEEP THE WHEELS ON THE CAR! ALSO WHEN I CONTACTED 3 DIFFERENT DEALERS AND ASKED THEM FOR A REPLACEMENT WHEEL HUB AND TOLD THEM IT WAS FOR A 2014 MALIBU, EACH ONE OF THEM RESPONDED BY SAYING "THAT'S NOT SURPRISING, WE GET A TON OF PART REQUESTS FOR THAT PARTICULAR PART ON THAT VEHICLE." 2 OF THEM EVEN CHUCKLED BECAUSE THEY KNOW WE WILL NEED 3 MORE AND THEY KNOW THE PROCESS WILL CONTINUE TO START ALL OVER AGAIN. LUCKILY FOR ME I DO MY RESEARCH AND WON'T BE PUTTING ANYMORE WHEEL HUBS BY GM OR ACDELCO ON MY VEHICLE. I WILL BE PUTTING ON MOOG! SADLY OTHER PEOPLE WON'T RESEARCH LIKE I DID AND WILL GET TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF AND IF THEY TRADE THEIRS CARS IN ALL THEY ARE DOING IS EVENTUALLY PASSING ON THEIR PROBLEM TO SOMEONE ELSE WHO IS UNSUSPECTING. THE BEARING SOUNDED LIKE EXTRA LOUD ROAD NOISE.
A LADY RAN A RED LIGHT AND T-BONED MY CHEVY MALIBU ON THE DRIVERS SIDE AS I WAS PROCEEDING THROUGH THE INTERSECTION. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. MY HEAD SLAMMED IN TO THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW. DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WAS SMASHED IN. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED BECAUSE IT COULDN'T BE DRIVEN. I HAVE A CONCUSSION THAT'S LASTED FOR 2 WEEKS AND BOD…
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A LADY RAN A RED LIGHT AND T-BONED MY CHEVY MALIBU ON THE DRIVERS SIDE AS I WAS PROCEEDING THROUGH THE INTERSECTION. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. MY HEAD SLAMMED IN TO THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW. DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WAS SMASHED IN. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED BECAUSE IT COULDN'T BE DRIVEN. I HAVE A CONCUSSION THAT'S LASTED FOR 2 WEEKS AND BODY PAIN FROM THE ACCIDENT. SHOULDN'T THE AIRBAGS HAVE DEPLOYED?
I JUST BOUGHT MY VEHICLE FROM THE DEALER AND NOTICE CHUNKS OFF RUBBER COMING OF THE TIRE AND THE CAR ITSELF HAS LOW MILES 40,000 WANT TO KNOW IF ANYTHING CAN BE DONE TO FIX ISSUE
STABILITRAK STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM, ANTI LOCK BRAKES AND WHEEL BEARING. 2ND TIME I HAVE HAD THESE LIGHTS COME ON, DRIVING AND TRACKING CONTROL KICKED IN AND THEN THE LIGHTS ALL APPEAR. I PAID TO HAVE IT FIXED, AND THEY SPLICED INTO THE WIRE, NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY ACCORDING TO CARE. YET IT IS PART OF WIRING HARNESS.
WHILE ON A TRIP TO FLORIDA THE REAR WHEEL BEARINGS AND HUBS WENT BAD WITH LESS THAN 21000 MILES. VEHICLE WAS NOISY AND SLIGHT SHIMMY N THE REAR WHILE DRIVING ON ALL TYPE OF ROADS AND AT ALL SPEEDS.
THE WHEEL BEARINGS ARE GOING OUT WITH LESS THAN 40K MILES ON IT AND IT IS A WELL DOCUMENTED AND REGULARLY OCCURRING PROBLEM. ON THE MALIBU FORUM THERE ARE OVER 7 PAGES OF PEOPLE STATING THAT THEY HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE WHEEL BEARINGS WITH AS FEW AS 19K MILES ON THEM. I AM A FEW THOUSAND MILES OUTSIDE OF MY WARRANTY SO I HAVE TO…
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THE WHEEL BEARINGS ARE GOING OUT WITH LESS THAN 40K MILES ON IT AND IT IS A WELL DOCUMENTED AND REGULARLY OCCURRING PROBLEM. ON THE MALIBU FORUM THERE ARE OVER 7 PAGES OF PEOPLE STATING THAT THEY HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE WHEEL BEARINGS WITH AS FEW AS 19K MILES ON THEM. I AM A FEW THOUSAND MILES OUTSIDE OF MY WARRANTY SO I HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR OUT OF MY OWN POCKET BUT I THINK ITS RIDICULOUS THAT OEM PARTS, THAT THE GM SERVICE MANAGERS ADMIT ARE FAULTY, HAVE TO BE PAID FOR BY THE CONSUMER. IF MY WHEEL BEARING FAILED I COULD HAVE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND PUT MY WHOLE FAMILY AT RISK OF SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.
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.