No airflow or heat from the windshield defroster. Happened on a cold morning and the windshield fogged up and blocked vision of the road.
2015 Chevrolet Malibu
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2015 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
160 reports with mileage · 110 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 70 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 68 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 49 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Visibility/wiper complaints
9 reportsTHE BACK DEFROSTER QUIT WORKING OVER A YEAR AGO. FRONT DEFROSTER IS BLOWING OUT THE FRONT VENTS WHEN SET ON FULL DEFROST OR FEET AND DEFROST. NOTICED IT WHEN I STARTED MY CAR AND IT WASN'T WORKING ON THE WINDOWS AND IT WOULDN'T CHANGE.
MY DEFROSTER STOPPED WORKING ON MY 2015 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO SEE OUT OF THE WINDSHIELD WHILE DRIVING, WHEN I TURN ON FRONT WINDOW DEFROST IT BLOWS OUT OF THE FRONT VENTS AND NO AIR COMES OUT OF MY DEFROST. IT'S A HEADACHE AND I FEEL A HAZARD TO TRY TO DRIVE WITHOUT THIS, I USUALLY HAVE TO ROLL DOWN MY SIDE WIN…
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MY DEFROSTER STOPPED WORKING ON MY 2015 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO SEE OUT OF THE WINDSHIELD WHILE DRIVING, WHEN I TURN ON FRONT WINDOW DEFROST IT BLOWS OUT OF THE FRONT VENTS AND NO AIR COMES OUT OF MY DEFROST. IT'S A HEADACHE AND I FEEL A HAZARD TO TRY TO DRIVE WITHOUT THIS, I USUALLY HAVE TO ROLL DOWN MY SIDE WINDOWS TO GET ANYWHERE WITH VISIBILITY. IT DOESN'T MATTER IF I AM PARKED, DRIVING, ETC. IT JUST DOES NOT WORK AT ALL EVER AND IT'S SCARY TO DRIVE WITH THIS ISSUE. MY VEHICLE HAS 77,000 MILES ON IT SO I FEEL THIS PROBLEM SHOULD NOT BE OCCURING.
NHTSA ID NUMBER 10113609 MANUFACTURER COMMUNICATION NUMBER - P114464 MOISTUIRE / ICE FORMS ON INSIDE WINDSHIELD AND WINDOWS WATER PUDDLES DRIVERSIDE FRONT & REAR FLOORBOARDS
WITH 2015 MALIBU STATIONARY, OVERNIGHT EXPERIENCED LOSS OF BATTERY CHARGE AND WOLD NOT START. UPON RECHARGE, IT WILL NOW START. HOWEVER, THE HVAC CONTROL IS NOW INOPERATIVE. THE HVAC SYSTEM STILL RUNS WITH THE LAST SETTINGS IT HAD. THIS IS VERY SIMILAR TO RECALL 13V567000 (CHEVROLET 13380) THAT APPLIED TO 2014 MODEL CHEVROLET…
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WITH 2015 MALIBU STATIONARY, OVERNIGHT EXPERIENCED LOSS OF BATTERY CHARGE AND WOLD NOT START. UPON RECHARGE, IT WILL NOW START. HOWEVER, THE HVAC CONTROL IS NOW INOPERATIVE. THE HVAC SYSTEM STILL RUNS WITH THE LAST SETTINGS IT HAD. THIS IS VERY SIMILAR TO RECALL 13V567000 (CHEVROLET 13380) THAT APPLIED TO 2014 MODEL CHEVROLETS. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE ONE CAN NO LONGER SET THE WINDSHIELD TO DEFROST FOR WINTER DRIVING. FURTHERMORE, THIS BELONGS TO A CHAIN OF ELECTRICAL ISSUES THE CAR HAS HAD - LOSS OF BATTERY CHARGE ON 4 OCCASIONS, ENGINE STOPPAGE AFTER HARD BRAKING ON TWO OCCASIONS WITH WARNING MESSAGE TO CHECK ABS SYSTEM, INTERMITTENT LOSS OF CENTER CONSOLE DISPLAY PANEL. OBVIOUSLY, IF THE ENGINE STOPS IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC AFTER HARD BRAKING, THIS IS ALSO A SAFETY ISSUE. DEALER HAS REPLACED BOTH REAR BATTERY AND FORWARD BATTERY, HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM DIAGNOSIS HAS CLEARLY NOT BEEN DONE.
BLIND SIDE..NOT EASY TO LOCATE VEHICLES ON EITHER SIDE.AND IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE CHILD IN REAR WITH REAR VIEW CAMERA.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHEN THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE, THE REAR WINDOW SHATTERED SPONTANEOUSLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE TOP QUALITY BODY SHOP WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THEY WERE NOT THE ONLY VEHICLE OWNER WHO EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHEN THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE, THE REAR WINDOW SHATTERED SPONTANEOUSLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE TOP QUALITY BODY SHOP WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THEY WERE NOT THE ONLY VEHICLE OWNER WHO EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 24,000.
AT 8:00 P.M. I STARTED MY CAR TO WARM UP. IT WAS 27 DEGREES OUT AND WHEN I TURNED MY HEAT ON, NO AIR WOULD BLOW OUT. THE CAR WAS IN PARK. AFTER I LET IT WARM UP FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES, I NOTICED THE AIR WOULD STILL NOT BLOW OUT. I SHUT MY CAR OFF AND TURNED IT BACK ON AND THE AIR STILL WOULD NOT BLOW OUT. THE LIGHT ON THE KNOB IND…
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AT 8:00 P.M. I STARTED MY CAR TO WARM UP. IT WAS 27 DEGREES OUT AND WHEN I TURNED MY HEAT ON, NO AIR WOULD BLOW OUT. THE CAR WAS IN PARK. AFTER I LET IT WARM UP FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES, I NOTICED THE AIR WOULD STILL NOT BLOW OUT. I SHUT MY CAR OFF AND TURNED IT BACK ON AND THE AIR STILL WOULD NOT BLOW OUT. THE LIGHT ON THE KNOB INDICATING IT WAS ON, WAS NOT LIT UP. ALL OTHER ELECTRICAL FUNCTIONS WERE WORKING FINE IN MY VEHICLE. ONCE I STARTED DRIVING FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES, ALL OF A SUDDEN THE AIR KICKED ON AND STARTED BLOWING OUT. AND FUNCTIONED FINE FOR THE REST OF THE DRIVE. MY CAR HAS 20K MILES ON IT AND WAS PURCHASED ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO. *TR
I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE ON MARCH 2015 OFF THE SHOWROOM FLOOR OF A CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP. ON JUNE 18, 2016 MY CAR CAUGHT A FIRE WHILE IT WAS PARKED AND I WAS NOT IN THE VEHICLE. I HAD BEEN SITTING IN THE CAR WITH THE AIR BLOWING FROM THE DEFROSTER FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES. I DROVE TO THE STORE AND CAME BACK HOME. I GOT OUT OF THE CAR …
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I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE ON MARCH 2015 OFF THE SHOWROOM FLOOR OF A CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP. ON JUNE 18, 2016 MY CAR CAUGHT A FIRE WHILE IT WAS PARKED AND I WAS NOT IN THE VEHICLE. I HAD BEEN SITTING IN THE CAR WITH THE AIR BLOWING FROM THE DEFROSTER FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES. I DROVE TO THE STORE AND CAME BACK HOME. I GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND STOOD ON THE PORCH TALKING TO MY FAMILY. WITHIN IN 10 MINUTES OF ME EXITING MY CAR, IT WAS ON FIRE. I RAN TO THE CAR AND COULD SEE THAT THE FIRE WAS COMING FROM RIGHT ABOUT WHERE THE WINDSHIELD ENDS AND WHERE THE HOOD OF THE CAR BEGINS, RIGHT WHERE THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE. I CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WHO PUT THE FIRE OUT. THEY USED THE JAWS OF LIFE TO PLY THE HOOD OPEN AND CUT THE MAIN WIRE TO THE CAR. I THEN CONTACTED THE GM MANUFACTURING COMPANY CHEVROLET AND STARTED A CLAIM WITH THEM TO DO AN INVESTIGATION ON MY VEHICLE AS TO WHAT HAPPENED AND WHY TO THIS BRAND NEW CAR. ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING THE FACT THEIR WAS NO ONE IN THE CAR AT THE TIME IT CAUGHT FIRE, THANK GOD AND AS TO NO ONE COULD OF STARTED THE FIRE BECAUSE I WAS STANDING OUTSIDE THE ENTIRE TIME. THE ALLEGED INVESTIGATION TOOK ABOUT A MONTH AND A HALF TO COMPLETE. I RECEIVED A CALL A WEEK PRIOR TO GM CHEVROLET MANUFACTURING MAKING A DECISION FROM ONE OF THEIR REPRESENTATIVES ASKING ME HAVE I EVER GOTTEN THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR REPLACED BEFORE. I STATED TO HER NO I HAVEN'T AND REMINDED HER THAT THE CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW OFF THEIR SHOWROOM FLOOR AND THAT I HADN'T HAD ANYTHING REPLACED OR ALTERED ON THAT CAR. ON JULY 29TH I WAS CALLED BY A GM CHEVROLET REPRESENTATIVE AGAIN TELLING ME MY CLAIM WAS BEING DENIED BECAUSE OF A WINDSHIELD WIPER ISSUE. I STATED TO HER THAT I WOULDN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THAT. SHE THEN CHANGES THE REASON AND STATES THAT GM CHEVROLET REALLY CANT DETERMINE WHAT HAPPENED AND THEY WERE DENYING MY CLAIM. THEIR HAD BEEN SEVERAL RECALLS ON GM CARS
Official recalls
316V502000 · 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.
15V666000 · Air Bags:side/window
Oct 16, 2015
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015 Buick LaCrosse, Cadillac XTS, Chevrolet Camaro, Equinox, Malibu, and GMC Terrain vehicles. The affected vehicles have front seat-mounted side impact air bags whose inflator may rupture upon its deployment.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of one or both of the side impact air bags, the air bag's inflator may rupture and the air bag may not properly inflate. The rupture could cause metal fragments to strike the vehicle occupants, potentially resulting in serious injury or death. Additionally, if the air bag does not properly inflate, the driver or passenger is at an increased risk of injury.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the side impact air bag modules, free of charge. The recall began on October 19, 2015. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 01320.
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.
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.
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