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
What owners actually said
351 reports
111,294 miles · Nov 3, 2020
Engine
CAME TO A STOP AT A STOP LIGHT AUTO STOP CAME ON. WHEN LET OFF THE BRAKE THE AUTO START DID NOT START. IT TRIED TO THEN COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. HAD TO PUT CAR IN PARK AND TURN THE KEY TO GET IT TO START. I WAS IN RIGHT LANE TRYING TO TURN. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED IT WOULD NOT START WITH TURNING THE KEY UNTIL THE SECOND TIME TURN…
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CAME TO A STOP AT A STOP LIGHT AUTO STOP CAME ON. WHEN LET OFF THE BRAKE THE AUTO START DID NOT START. IT TRIED TO THEN COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. HAD TO PUT CAR IN PARK AND TURN THE KEY TO GET IT TO START. I WAS IN RIGHT LANE TRYING TO TURN. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED IT WOULD NOT START WITH TURNING THE KEY UNTIL THE SECOND TIME TURNING THE KEY. THIS HAPPENED 5 TIMES ON MY WAY HOME. WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED. WHILE IT WOULD NOT START AT 2 STOPS CARS THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO MOVE AND I COULDN'T. AUTO STOP AND START WAS COMING ON AT ALMOST EVERY STOP THIS MORNING AND MY HUSBAND MADE A COMMENT ABOUT HOW THAT WAS STRANGE AND IT SHOULD NOT DO IT. YESTERDAY WE JUST REPLACED THE INTAKE AND EXHAUST SEANOID.
NHTSA ODI #11372917
Mileage unknown · Oct 15, 2020
Electrical SystemUnknown Or Other
KEY CONSISTING BECOMES STUCK IN THE IGNITION CYLINDER OF MY 2014 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE VEHICLE WILL NOT TURN OFF DUE TO THE KEY BEING STUCK IN THE IGNITION. THIS PREVENTS THE DOORS FROM BEING LOCKED AND INCREASING THE CHANCE OF THE VEHICLE BEING STOLEN. THERE ARE A MULTITUDE OF VIDEOS FOR THIS ISSUE ONLINE AND ALL ARE ASSOCIATED…
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KEY CONSISTING BECOMES STUCK IN THE IGNITION CYLINDER OF MY 2014 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE VEHICLE WILL NOT TURN OFF DUE TO THE KEY BEING STUCK IN THE IGNITION. THIS PREVENTS THE DOORS FROM BEING LOCKED AND INCREASING THE CHANCE OF THE VEHICLE BEING STOLEN. THERE ARE A MULTITUDE OF VIDEOS FOR THIS ISSUE ONLINE AND ALL ARE ASSOCIATED WITH CHEVROLET VEHICLES. THIS IS A REOCCURRING ISSUE WITH THIS MAKE OF VEHICLES.
NHTSA ODI #11364435
74,500 miles · Oct 6, 2020
Engine
FOR A FEW YEARS AFTER PURCHASING MY VEHICLE I NOTICED SOMETIMES IT WOULD STUTTER OR THROTTLE AND SURGE WHILE DRIVING, BUT EVERY TIME I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER THEY WERE "UNABLE TO DUPLICATE" THE PROBLEM. NOW THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM I BELIEVE IS ERROR CODE P16D0, BUT THERE IS NO RECALL ON THIS PART THAT IS MENTIONED IN THIS CODE.…
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FOR A FEW YEARS AFTER PURCHASING MY VEHICLE I NOTICED SOMETIMES IT WOULD STUTTER OR THROTTLE AND SURGE WHILE DRIVING, BUT EVERY TIME I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER THEY WERE "UNABLE TO DUPLICATE" THE PROBLEM. NOW THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM I BELIEVE IS ERROR CODE P16D0, BUT THERE IS NO RECALL ON THIS PART THAT IS MENTIONED IN THIS CODE. GENERAL MOTORS SHOULD COMPENSATE VEHICLE PURCHASERS WHO HAVE RUN INTO THIS ISSUE.
NHTSA ODI #11362957
Mileage unknown · Oct 6, 2020
Engine
2014 CHEVROLET MALIBU. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DEFECTIVE ROCKER ARM OIL CONTROL VALVE. CONSUMER IS ALSO SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT FOR OUT OF POCKET COSTS RELATED TO REPAIRS. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME COMPLETING THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE PART NECESSARY…
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2014 CHEVROLET MALIBU. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DEFECTIVE ROCKER ARM OIL CONTROL VALVE. CONSUMER IS ALSO SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT FOR OUT OF POCKET COSTS RELATED TO REPAIRS. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME COMPLETING THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE PART NECESSARY TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE REPAIRED WITH AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT AS SUGGESTED BY THE MANUFACTURER. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE COST OF REPAIRS. *JS
NHTSA ODI #11361813
Mileage unknown · Oct 5, 2020
Electrical SystemEngineFuel/propulsion System
THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WON'T GO OFF AND THERE'S ONLY 78000 MILES. THE AUTO STOP ISN'T WORKING. THE TRACKING LIGHT WON'T GO OF AND THE ABS LIGHT WONT GO OFF
NHTSA ODI #11362932
51,000 miles · Sep 25, 2020
Visibility
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THROUGH FOG AT 65 MPH, THE DEFROSTER WAS ACTIVATED HOWEVER, FAILED TO OPERATE AS NEEDED. THE CONTACT WAS FORCED TO PULL OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROADWAY AND MANUALLY WIPE THE INSIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD. THE CONTACT PLACED THE HEATER ON THE MAXIMUM LE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THROUGH FOG AT 65 MPH, THE DEFROSTER WAS ACTIVATED HOWEVER, FAILED TO OPERATE AS NEEDED. THE CONTACT WAS FORCED TO PULL OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROADWAY AND MANUALLY WIPE THE INSIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD. THE CONTACT PLACED THE HEATER ON THE MAXIMUM LEVEL TO KEEP THE WINDSHIELD FROM FOGGING UP. THE CONTACT CALLED RAY SKILLMAN CHEVROLET (3891 S POST RD, INDIANAPOLIS, IN 46239) WHERE SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V567000 (VISIBILITY). THE CONTACT WAS PROVIDED AN ESTIMATE FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO INFORMED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT AN INVESTIGATION WOULD BE OPENED INTO THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT SHE COULD PAY FOR THE REPAIR OUT OF POCKET AND BE REIMBURSED IF THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED UNDER RECALL. THE CONTACT WAS PROVIDED A CASE NUMBER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 51,000.
NHTSA ODI #11361106
Mileage unknown · Sep 21, 2020
Engine
WHEN I STOP AT A STOP SIGN OR RED LIGHT, MY CAR GO INTO AUTO STOP. WHEN I PRESS ON THE GAS TO GO, THE CAR SHUT OFF. AFTER MONTHS OF THIS I JUST UNDERSTOOD WHAT WAS REALLY GOING ON. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON. THIS IS HARD TO DETECT. NOT EVEN THE DEALERSHIP FOUND THIS OUT. MY AUTO SOUND GUY EXPLAINED THIS TO ME NOW I CAN EXPLA…
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WHEN I STOP AT A STOP SIGN OR RED LIGHT, MY CAR GO INTO AUTO STOP. WHEN I PRESS ON THE GAS TO GO, THE CAR SHUT OFF. AFTER MONTHS OF THIS I JUST UNDERSTOOD WHAT WAS REALLY GOING ON. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON. THIS IS HARD TO DETECT. NOT EVEN THE DEALERSHIP FOUND THIS OUT. MY AUTO SOUND GUY EXPLAINED THIS TO ME NOW I CAN EXPLAIN THIS TO THE DEALERSHIP . THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL . THIS IS DANGEROUS. WHY DID CHEVROLET PUT THIS OPTION IN CARS.
NHTSA ODI #11360193
Mileage unknown · Sep 11, 2020
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Vehicle Speed Control
SERVICE ENGINE SIGNAL WON'T COME OFF AND MY CAR WON'T CUT OFF
NHTSA ODI #11354406
110,000 miles · Aug 27, 2020
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Fuel/propulsion SystemService Brakes
AUTO/STOP IS HAVING ISSUES. WHEN IN GAUGED IT STALLS THE CAR OUT AND WILL NOT ALLOW IT TO TURN BACK OVER. I HAVE BEEN IN TRAFFIC AT A STOP LIGHT SEVERAL TIMES WHEN THIS HAS HAPPENED AND ALMOST GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF IT. ALSO I AM HAVING AN ISSUE WITH MY RPMS JUMPING AND THE CAR LOSING POWER. I HAVE REPLACED BOTH THE INT…
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AUTO/STOP IS HAVING ISSUES. WHEN IN GAUGED IT STALLS THE CAR OUT AND WILL NOT ALLOW IT TO TURN BACK OVER. I HAVE BEEN IN TRAFFIC AT A STOP LIGHT SEVERAL TIMES WHEN THIS HAS HAPPENED AND ALMOST GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF IT. ALSO I AM HAVING AN ISSUE WITH MY RPMS JUMPING AND THE CAR LOSING POWER. I HAVE REPLACED BOTH THE INTAKE AND THE EXHAUST SOLENOID AND STILL LOSE POWER.
NHTSA ODI #11351565
73,000 miles · Aug 17, 2020
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Unknown Or OtherCrash
MY AUTO STOP AND START HAS NOT WORKED IN 6 MONTHS AND NOW THE STABILITRAK LIGHT COMES ON AND MY CAR STALLS AS I AM DRIVING SO MANY PARTS HAVE BEEN CHANGED AND NOW NO ONE KNOWS WHAT TO DO ITS BEEN IN THREE DIFFERENT SHOPS
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
0
No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
2014 Chevrolet Malibu Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year