IllustrationSERVICE ENGINE SIGNAL WON'T COME OFF AND MY CAR WON'T CUT OFF
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
Electronic Stability Control (esc) complaints
31 reportsAUTO/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.
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
ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS STARTING A MONTH AGO MY CAR WHEN STOPPED SHUTS COMPLETELY OFF WHEN I DISENGAGE AUTO STOP, AND THEN IT STALLS
THE CAR RAN WELL BUT NOT FOR LONG, AFTER LIKE 21/2 YEARS THE BATTERY HAD SOME ISSUES. THE CAR DID NOT START AT ALL. I ENDED BUYING A NEW ONE, EVEN THOUGH THE OLD ONE COULD BE CHARGED. LIKE 9 MONTHS AGO SAME SITUATION BATTERY NOT GOOD. AS IF NO ELECTRICITY IS THROUGHOUT THE SYSTEM, BOUGHT A SECOND BATTERY. IN 2 OCCASIONS THE CAR …
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THE CAR RAN WELL BUT NOT FOR LONG, AFTER LIKE 21/2 YEARS THE BATTERY HAD SOME ISSUES. THE CAR DID NOT START AT ALL. I ENDED BUYING A NEW ONE, EVEN THOUGH THE OLD ONE COULD BE CHARGED. LIKE 9 MONTHS AGO SAME SITUATION BATTERY NOT GOOD. AS IF NO ELECTRICITY IS THROUGHOUT THE SYSTEM, BOUGHT A SECOND BATTERY. IN 2 OCCASIONS THE CAR DID START PROPERLY. TWO WEEKS AGO DRIVING, THE CAR STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT BECAUSE IT JUST TURNED OFF FOR NO REASON! DRIVING AGAIN THE NEXT WEEK IT STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. I HAD TO PAY FOR A TOW TRUCK.THE CAR HAS NOT STARTED PROPERLY BUT IT THEN SHUTS DOWN WHEN I GET IT STARTED, DRIVING IN MY PARKING LOT. I'VE HAD TO PUSH IT BACK TO MY PARKING SPOT. AT THE END THIS CAR HAS LEFT ME IN THE ROAD A LOT OF TIMES. *TR
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON AND CHECK STABILIZERTRAK AND REDUCED ENGINE SPEED DIAGNOSTIC TEST SAYS MISFIRE AND VVT SENSORS REPLACED EVERYTHING STILL ON CAR LOST ALL SPEED AND POWER ON HIGHWAY. *TR
AS SOON AS CAR IS TURNED ON, A/C WILL NOT BLOW WHEN I TURN THE KNOB AND NO MATTER WHAT BUTTONS I PUSH. NOT SURE WHY IT DECIDES TO DO THIS SOMETIMES BUT NOT EVERY TIME. I HAVE SEEN THIS AS AN OFFICIAL RECALL, BUT IT SAYS MY VIN SHOULDN'T BE EFFECTED. THIS IS A RECURRING ISSUE THAT HAPPENS AT RANDOM. *TR
I'VE BEEN HAVING ISSUE WITH MY CAR SLOWLY BUT SURELY. FIRST MY SOLENOID ROCKET WENT BAD AFTER A 1YR OF PURCHASING THE CAR THAT CAME WITH 40,000 MILES. A YEAR AFTER THAT I WAS RUNNING ERRANDS ONE DAY, PULLED OUT OF A STRIP MALL AND MY CAR STARTED LIGHTLY SHAKING FOR A MINUTE TIL IT CAME TO A STOP AND WOULDN'T START. IVE CALLED MY…
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I'VE BEEN HAVING ISSUE WITH MY CAR SLOWLY BUT SURELY. FIRST MY SOLENOID ROCKET WENT BAD AFTER A 1YR OF PURCHASING THE CAR THAT CAME WITH 40,000 MILES. A YEAR AFTER THAT I WAS RUNNING ERRANDS ONE DAY, PULLED OUT OF A STRIP MALL AND MY CAR STARTED LIGHTLY SHAKING FOR A MINUTE TIL IT CAME TO A STOP AND WOULDN'T START. IVE CALLED MY INSURANCE PROVIDER FOR ROAD ASSISTANCE AND GAS, THINKING I WAS LOW ON GAS THAN NORMAL THAT COULD BE THE PROBLEM. I'VE RECEIVED GAS THEN PROCEEDED TO STARTING MY IGNITION 3 TO 5 TIMES, IT NEVER CRANK AND ULTIMATELY THE KEY STOP SWITCHING AND I COULD ONLY TURN THE KEY TO ON POSITION NOT START. DISPLAYING ON MY DASH THE MESSAGE STEERING/POWER DRIVE WITH CARE! GOTTEN MY CAR TOWED TO MY PERSONAL MECHANIC, HE TOLD ME MY FUEL PUMPS WERE BAD BECAUSE OF SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF WATER FOUND IN THE TANK SYSTEM, THAT I NEEDED TO PURCHASE TWO FUEL PUMPS AND 4 STARTERS FOR HIM TO COMPLETE THE JOB. NO LONGER THAN 5 TIL 6 MONTHS AFTER COMPLETION OF THE LAST REPAIR IM NOW EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WHEN STARTING MY VEHICLE MY ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, AGAIN A MESSAGE ON MY DASH DISPLAYING STEERING/POWER DRIVE WITH CARE! ONCE I SHIFTED MY GEAR IN DRIVE WHILE MY FOOT STILL ON THE BRAKES, THE LIGHT OF THE GEAR SWITCHES KEPT JUMPING BACK AND FORTH RAPIDLY AS IF THE GEARS WERE BEING SHIFTED MANUAL AND THE CAR MOVED LIKED IT WAS RESPONDING TO THE RAPID GEAR CHANGING AS WELL LUCKY I HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKES DURING THAT INCIDENT. WHILE DRIVING MY CAR SEEMED TO SWITCHED GEAR, IN MID DRIVE ON AN EXPRESS WAY WHICH CAUSED THE CAR TO SLOW DOWN INSTANTLY AS IF I PUMPED THE BRAKES. THAT HAPPENED FOR 30 SECS OR LESS THEN IT RESPONDED BACK TO THE INITIAL SHIFT IT WAS ORIGINALLY IN ON ITS OWN. AT TIMES MY CAR MOVES AND JERKS FORWARD WHEN I SHIFT MY CAR IN REVERSE. STILL ONGOING EVERY SO OFTEN MY CAR MOVES AND JERKS FORWARD MULTIPLE TIMES WHILE SHIFTING INTO GEAR TIL THIS DAY.
WE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE AS FOR SAFETY AND CONVENIENCE, WE ARE STUDENT AND FULL TIME WORKERS. WE SHARE ONE CARE AND BECAUSE OF THAT WE TOOK CARE OF THE CAR LIKE RECOMMENDED. SINCE OCTOBER, WE HAVE BEEN ISOLATED, DEPENDED ON UBER AND LYFT BECAUSE OF GM NOT HAVING THE PART FOR THE VEHICLE. WE SEARCHED EVERYWHERE, WE CALLED GM AND…
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WE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE AS FOR SAFETY AND CONVENIENCE, WE ARE STUDENT AND FULL TIME WORKERS. WE SHARE ONE CARE AND BECAUSE OF THAT WE TOOK CARE OF THE CAR LIKE RECOMMENDED. SINCE OCTOBER, WE HAVE BEEN ISOLATED, DEPENDED ON UBER AND LYFT BECAUSE OF GM NOT HAVING THE PART FOR THE VEHICLE. WE SEARCHED EVERYWHERE, WE CALLED GM AND FILED A COMPLAINT, NOTHING WAS DONE. WE PAID TO GET THE DIAGNOSIS DONE AND SAID WE NEED THE OIL CONTROL VALVE AND PART NUMBER 12633613. NO ONE HAS IT AND EVERYONE IS LOOKING FOR THE SAME PART. THERE IS AN ISSUE THERE AND GM SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE. WE'RE STILL PAYING FOR THE VEHICLE. THE INCIDENT HAD WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, AS I WAS DRIVING TO WORK, I HEARD A LOUD POP AND LUCKY I WAS TO MY JOB 21880 STATE ROAD 7, BOCA RATON FL 33064. I PARKED THE VEHICLE AND WENT OUT TO CHECK, OIL LEAKED EVERYWHERE LEAVING A TRAIL BEHIND. CALLED MY INSURANCE FOR ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE. WE WERE ABLE TO PURCHASE THE OFF MARKET BRAND WHICH DIDN'T LAST EVEN A MONTH! NOW WE STUCK. THANK YOU CHEVY,
CAR TURNS OFF THE ENGINE LIGHT IS ON AND FOUND OUT THE ROCKER ARM SOLENOID VALVE IS NOT WORKING I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO I HAVE NOT HAD THE CAR NOT EVEN ONE YEAR. I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR FOR IT TO TURN OFF IN THE HIGHWAY LUCKILY IT WAS ON THE STREET WHEN THE CAR JUST TURNED OFF
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.