CSR

Chevrolet · NHTSA safety record

2014 Chevrolet Malibu

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

349

Complaints

19

Crashes

8

Fires

17

Injuries

1

Deaths

Owners of the 2014 Chevrolet Malibu have filed 349 safety complaints with NHTSA between January 2014 and March 2026. The most complained-about system is the engine, named in 125 of them (36%). The typical failure was reported at 60,000 miles, the median across the 229 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

NHTSA has issued 6 recalls covering this vehicle.

Recalls (6)

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

16V502000 · July 5, 2016

The defect
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."
The risk
If the key is removed without the transmission in PARK, the vehicle may rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.
The 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 · up to 8,367 vehicles across all model years covered

VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY

15V164000 · March 23, 2015

The defect
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 risk
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.
The 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 · up to 87,063 vehicles across all model years covered

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM

14V247000 · May 14, 2014

The defect
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."
The risk
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.
The 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 · up to 140,067 vehicles across all model years covered

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC

14V240000 · May 8, 2014

The defect
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.
The risk
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.
The 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 · up to 8,208 vehicles across all model years covered

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

14V092000 · February 21, 2014

The defect
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."
The risk
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.
The 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 · up to 355 vehicles across all model years covered

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM

13V567000 · November 13, 2013

The defect
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 risk
The inability to turn on the windshield defroster may decrease the driver's visibility thereby increasing the risk of a crash.
The 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.

General Motors LLC · up to 42,696 vehicles across all model years covered

What owners report

Complaints naming each system. One complaint can name several, so these add up to more than 349.

ENGINE 125 36%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 86 25%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 54 15%
POWER TRAIN 52 15%
SERVICE BRAKES 42 12%
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) 31 9%
STEERING 25 7%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 24 7%
WHEELS 18 5%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 17 5%
AIR BAGS 16 5%
STRUCTURE 11 3%

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2020 at 66.

2014 2020 2026
2014 to 2026, the last of them a part year

In owners' own words

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

SEATS

1 death · crash · towed · 37,288 miles

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FATALITY CRASH DURING WHICH THE DRIVER HEADREST INCLUDING ANCHORS CAME OUT OF THE SEAT BACK AND WAS OBSERVED IN THE PASSENGER FLOORBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY (DISABLED - OUT OF GAS) PARTIALLY IN A MOVING LANE OF TRAFFIC ON A HIGHWAY AT THE TIME OF THE CRASH AND STRUCK BY A MOVING VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint 11175809. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

4 injured · crash · towed · 76,000 miles

THE CAR WAS REAR ENDED AT A FAST SPEED AS IT WAS PROCEEDING AT A SLOW PACE AS TRAFFIC WAS STARTING TO TAKE OFF FROM BEING AT A STAND STILL. THE PERSON DRIVING WAS SLAMMED INTO THE STEERING WHEEL AT THE SAME TIME THE SEAT BELT FLEW OFF AND THE BUCKLE STRUCK THE DRIVER ON THE ARM CAUSING INJURY THE SEATBELT WOULD NOT RETRACT BACK INTO PLACE AND ALSO THE DRIVER'S KNEE HIT THE STEERING CAUSING THE KEY TO BREAK OFF INTO THE IGNITION CAUSING INJURY TO THE KNEE AND LEG. THE CAR ACCIDENT HAPPENED ON THE TOP OF THE BRIDGE LEADING TO THE HIGHWAY. THE CAR WAS MOVING AT A SLOW PACE BECAUSE TRAFFIC HAD STOPPED THEN PROCEEDED TO GO. IT DIDN'T HAVE A CHANCE TO GO FULL SPEED BEFORE BEING STRUCK. I BELIEVE

NHTSA complaint 11128277, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

2 injured · crash · towed · 73,881 miles

CAR WAS SITTING STILL AND IT WAS REAR ENDED HARD AND SENT MY CAR FORWARD INTO THE CAR WITH B FRONT OF ME MY AIR BAGS DID NOT GO OFF. IT WAS A HIGH IMPACT CRASH AND THEY SHOULD HAVE GONE OFF I WAS SEEN IN EMERGENCY ROOM WITH POSSIBLE FRACTURES TO MY STERNUM AND THIRD RIB. I FEEL THIS SHOULD BE COMPENSATED AND THE CAR MAKER NEEDS TO BE AWARE IN THE EVENT OTHER CARS HAVE THIS PROBLEM. MY CONTACT IS (XXXX) PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA complaint 11154733. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STEERING

2 injured · crash

I PULLED TO A STOP AT A STOP SIGN. THE CAR WENT INTO AUTO STOP. AS I TRY TO NAVIGATE RIGHT THE STEERING LOCK UP ON ME. THIS MADE THE CAR START CLIMBING THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I TRIED TO STEP ON THE BRAKES AND THE CAR ACCELERATED AND HIT THE WALL. *TR

NHTSA complaint 10650157. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:INSTRUMENT PANEL:SPEEDOMETER/ODOMETER

286,307 miles

Odometer Fraud. The contact owns a 2014 Chevrolet Malibu. It was later discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle mileage was 177,918. The contact had owned the vehicle since 2022. After scanning the vehicle with an OBD scanner, the mileage was discovered to be 286,307.

NHTSA complaint 11722946. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS
I haven’t been in an accident or even tapped anything with my vehicle but a system warning stating the airbags may be malfunctioning continuously flashed on the driver dashboard and now my “check engine” warning light is continuously lit.

NHTSA complaint 11718099. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
2014 Chevrolet Malibu LS ECO , has a start/stop system that will shut off the engine at a traffic light or stop sign upon reaching a full stop and when the brake pedal is firmly pressed. Upon releasing the brake pedal the engine should immediately restart and driver can proceed. Randomly and intermittently the engine will fail to restart, recently it occurred while in heavy traffic with many traffic lights. Problem not noticeable in rural driving. Have not contacted a dealer, no recall found for my VIN. No Check engine light or MIL is illuminated. Can be unnerving when it happens, people are beeping their horns behind me while I have to shift into park, turn off ignition and restart. Engine

NHTSA complaint 11718024, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Car started shaking in the middle of driving it about 30 mph and all the electrical like door locks were going up and down car wasn’t accelerating and an alert came up for stabilizing wheels i believe. It happened for about a couple seconds and then everything went back to normal and randomly happens while I’m driving.Check engine appeared and went to the mechanic shop i usually go to and found out I had ebcm and ecm modules bad. Do some research on the car and noticed it had a recall back in 2014 for EBCM. The problem has resurfaced

NHTSA complaint 11712837. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER
have a 2014 Malibu with 132,000 miles. . It stalls in traffic, at intersections and stop signs, which is a dangerous safety issue. The Auto Stop will engage and when I put my foot on the accelerator, it stalls out. Also does it right when I start the engine at times.

NHTSA complaint 11687212. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Unknown, The ignition switch turns on when off position or restart engine when in off selection on ignition switch And the radio is powered back on if key left in the ignition switch powered off When u leave vehicle

NHTSA complaint 11687053. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Chevrolet Malibu

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2025 10 1
2024 35 2
2023 61 2
2022 91 1
2021 85 2
2020 194 1 1
2019 188 1
2018 694 6
2017 699 4
2016 835 9 1
2015 269 3 1
2013 835 9
2012 905 2
2011 976 3
2010 1,359 3

Other 2014 Chevrolet models

Every Chevrolet on this site — 298 vehicles, 747 recall campaigns and 5 open investigation s.

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. What each state asks for , read from the statutes.

Where these numbers come from

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

Compiled and maintained by
Independent developer and analyst