Model year record

2014 Chevrolet Malibu

6 recall campaigns on file for this model year. 607 owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 16V502000

Electrical system: ignition

Component
Electrical system: ignition
Manufacturer
General Motors LLC
Vehicles affected
8,367
Reported to NHTSA
2016-07-05
Owners notified
2016-10-14

Defect description

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."

Safety risk

If the key is removed without the transmission in PARK, the vehicle may rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.

Manufacturer 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.

Recall campaignNHTSA 15V164000

Visibility: sun/moon roof assembly

Component
Visibility: sun/moon roof assembly
Manufacturer
General Motors LLC
Vehicles affected
87,063
Reported to NHTSA
2015-03-23
Owners notified
2015-04-21

Defect description

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."

Safety 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.

Manufacturer 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.

Recall campaignNHTSA 14V247000

Service brakes, hydraulic: power assist: vacuum

Component
Service brakes, hydraulic: power assist: vacuum
Manufacturer
General Motors LLC
Vehicles affected
140,067
Reported to NHTSA
2014-05-14
Owners notified
2014-07-03

Defect description

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."

Safety 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.

Manufacturer 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.

Recall campaignNHTSA 14V240000

Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc

Component
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc
Manufacturer
General Motors LLC
Vehicles affected
8,208
Reported to NHTSA
2014-05-08
Owners notified
2014-06-23

Defect description

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.

Safety 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.

Manufacturer 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.

Recall campaignNHTSA 14V092000

Power train: automatic transmission

Component
Power train: automatic transmission
Manufacturer
General Motors LLC
Vehicles affected
355
Reported to NHTSA
2014-02-21
Owners notified
2014-04-10

Defect description

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."

Safety 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.

Manufacturer 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.

Recall campaignNHTSA 13V567000

Visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system: windshield: electrical heating element

Component
Visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system: windshield: electrical heating element
Manufacturer
General Motors LLC
Vehicles affected
42,696
Reported to NHTSA
2013-11-13
Owners notified
2013-12-06

Defect description

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."

Safety risk

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

Manufacturer 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.

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

ComponentComplaintsMedian mileage
Engine13175,000 mi
Electrical system9065,000 mi
Unknown or other6165,000 mi
Power train5154,000 mi
Service brakes4550,000 mi
Electronic stability control (ESC)3167,000 mi
Steering2936,731 mi
Fuel/propulsion system2882,000 mi
Vehicle speed control1945,000 mi
Air bags1874,000 mi
Wheels1853,891 mi
Visibility/wiper1269,000 mi
Structure: body1014,500 mi
Suspension874,500 mi
Seat belts774,000 mi
Seats675,813 mi
Visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system670,000 mi
Exterior lighting535,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic5139,098 mi
Visibility31,500 mi
Electrical system: instrument panel: speedometer/odometer2286,307 mi
Engine and engine cooling2105,670 mi
Fuel system, gasoline25,000 mi
Power train: automatic transmission: lever and linkage: floor shift2214,000 mi
Tires2701 mi
Electrical system: 12V/24V/48V battery116,000 mi
Electrical system: starter assembly1
Electrical system: wiring117,065 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine: oil/lubrication: oil cooler1139,605 mi
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: emission control: gas recirculation valve (EGR valve)183,000 mi
Latches/locks/linkages: trunk lid: latch131,000 mi
Power train: automatic transmission: control module (TCM/PCM/TECM)117,065 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: wheel speed sensor/tone ring131,000 mi
Structure: body: trunk lid126,000 mi
Suspension: front: wheel bearing138,000 mi
Suspension: rear150,509 mi
Tires: temporary/emergency spare tire1
Visibility: rearview mirrors/devices1400 mi
Visibility: sun/moon roof assembly171,000 mi

The 2013 model has about half as many complaints as this one. The 2015 model has about 1.5 times as many complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.