IllustrationDefrost on car suddenly stopped working. Defrost is on, motor is running yet windows are not defrosting causing minimal visibility
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
Visibility/wiper complaints
11 reportsThe defrost control does not engage properly causing very poor visual conditions. Has been this way for a long time now and have not been able to get it fixed. If this problem does not get fixed soon I feel it will cause an accident. Thank you for your time.
Front defroster does not work. Started to function improperly at intermittent intervals but is completely non functional now. Makes driving hazardous as windshield fogs up while driving during cold temperatures and no way to clear it.
CONTROL PANNED FOR THE 2014 CHEVY MALIBU THAT CONTROLS HEATING A/C DEFROSTING ECT DOES NOT WORK . ALL OF THE LIGHTS WENT OFF AND NONE OF THE CONTROLS ARE OPERATIONAL
IF I CHANGE THE SETTINGS OF MY DEFROST OR HEAT/AC AT ALL, THE BLOWER STOPS WORKING. IT WILL THEN COME BACK ON RANDOMLY IN 10 MINS OR AN HOUR OR DAYS. WHILE DRIVING I WON'T BE ABLE TO DEFROST MY WINDSHIELD AT ALL. MY DEALER RESET THE COMPUTER (MARCH) AND IT WAS FINE BUT NOW HAS STARTED AGAIN. NOW IT IS BACK TO JUST NOT TURNING O…
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IF I CHANGE THE SETTINGS OF MY DEFROST OR HEAT/AC AT ALL, THE BLOWER STOPS WORKING. IT WILL THEN COME BACK ON RANDOMLY IN 10 MINS OR AN HOUR OR DAYS. WHILE DRIVING I WON'T BE ABLE TO DEFROST MY WINDSHIELD AT ALL. MY DEALER RESET THE COMPUTER (MARCH) AND IT WAS FINE BUT NOW HAS STARTED AGAIN. NOW IT IS BACK TO JUST NOT TURNING ON RANDOMLY. MY VIN IS NOT APART OF THE RECALL?
I HAVE HAD MY CAR FOR 10 MONTHS AND WENT TO START IT ON 5/31/18 AND THERE WAS NO HVAC AT ALL. I TRIED TURNING THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTING IT BUT TO NO AVAIL. EVENTUALLY IT DID COME BACK ON A FEW DAYS LATER BUT IT IS HAPPENING INTERMITTENTLY. LIVING IN S. FLORIDA IT GETS VERY HUMID AND WHEN IT RAINS THE WINDSHIELD STEAMS UP SO YOU…
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I HAVE HAD MY CAR FOR 10 MONTHS AND WENT TO START IT ON 5/31/18 AND THERE WAS NO HVAC AT ALL. I TRIED TURNING THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTING IT BUT TO NO AVAIL. EVENTUALLY IT DID COME BACK ON A FEW DAYS LATER BUT IT IS HAPPENING INTERMITTENTLY. LIVING IN S. FLORIDA IT GETS VERY HUMID AND WHEN IT RAINS THE WINDSHIELD STEAMS UP SO YOU HAVE TO RUN THE AC. AT THIS POINT I HAVE TO PULL OVER OR OPEN ALL THE WINDOWS WHICH SOAKS MY INTERIOR. MY HUSBAND HAS A HEART CONDITION AND I AM VERY AFRAID TAKING HIM TO HIS APPOINTMENTS. I WENT ONLINE AND RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM AND IT APPEARS IT HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE 2013 BUT NO RECALLS HAVE BEEN MADE. IT HAS BEEN MENTIONED BY SOME THAT IT IS A SOFTWARE PROBLEM THAT CAN BE DONE BY THE DEALER BUT NO DEALER WILL TAKE CARE OF IT WITHOUT CHARGING ME. I DO NOT WANT TO TAKE IT ANYWHERE ELSE FOR FEAR OF SOMEONE MISSING UP THE COMPUTER ALL TOGETHER. PLEASE HELP! THIS IS AS BAD AS DRIVING WITH NO WIPERS. THEY SHOULD HAVE DONE A RECALL WITH AS MANY COMPLAINTS THAT I HAVE SEEN ONLINE ALONE.
I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 65MPH WITH THE SUN ROOF TILTED UP WHEN IT SUDDENLY EXPLODED. NOTHING HIT THE GLASS. I WAS NOT AROUND ANY TRUCKS OR OVERPASSES. GLASS SHARDS CARPETED THE VEHICLE INTERIOR. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. IT WAS A SUNNY DAY AND THE TEMPERATURE WAS 68 DEGREES.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN OR WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER AND WINDSHIELD DEFOGGER WERE ACTIVATED, THE WINDSHIELD FAILED TO DEFOG. THE FAILURE MADE IT DIFFICULT FOR THE CONTACT TO SEE THE ROAD. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CALLED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS M…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN OR WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER AND WINDSHIELD DEFOGGER WERE ACTIVATED, THE WINDSHIELD FAILED TO DEFOG. THE FAILURE MADE IT DIFFICULT FOR THE CONTACT TO SEE THE ROAD. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CALLED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V567000 (VISIBILITY). THE FAILURE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 75,000.
DEC. 28 , 2016 I WAS LEAVING TO WORK AT 4 AM WHEN I TURNED ON THE MY CAR I TRIED TO TURN ON MY DEFROSTERS BUT I'M A/C WASN'T TURNING ON UNTILL LIKE 10 MINS AFTER THE CAR WAS RUNNING IT TURN ON. THE SAME THING HAPPENED IN THE SUMMER OF 2017 IT'S LIKE 110 DEGREES I TRIED TO TURN ON MY A/C JUST WASN'T TURNING ON MAYBE CARS HAVE BAD…
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DEC. 28 , 2016 I WAS LEAVING TO WORK AT 4 AM WHEN I TURNED ON THE MY CAR I TRIED TO TURN ON MY DEFROSTERS BUT I'M A/C WASN'T TURNING ON UNTILL LIKE 10 MINS AFTER THE CAR WAS RUNNING IT TURN ON. THE SAME THING HAPPENED IN THE SUMMER OF 2017 IT'S LIKE 110 DEGREES I TRIED TO TURN ON MY A/C JUST WASN'T TURNING ON MAYBE CARS HAVE BAD DAYS TOO.
UPON ENTERING VEHICLE AND STARTING UP TO GO TO WORK, THE HEATING AND VENTILATION SYSTEM DID NOT WORK , TURNED CAR ON AND OFF MULTIPLE TIMES AND STILL WOULD NOT WORK. DROVE CAR TO WORK AND THE HEAT WAS STUCK ON HIGH AND THE VENTS WERE UNTOUCHABLE DUE TO NOT BEING ABLE TO OPERATE HEAT/AIR OR ANY OTHER BUTTONS ON THE SYSTEM FOR THA…
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UPON ENTERING VEHICLE AND STARTING UP TO GO TO WORK, THE HEATING AND VENTILATION SYSTEM DID NOT WORK , TURNED CAR ON AND OFF MULTIPLE TIMES AND STILL WOULD NOT WORK. DROVE CAR TO WORK AND THE HEAT WAS STUCK ON HIGH AND THE VENTS WERE UNTOUCHABLE DUE TO NOT BEING ABLE TO OPERATE HEAT/AIR OR ANY OTHER BUTTONS ON THE SYSTEM FOR THAT. STARTED RAINING ON THE WAY AND HAD TO USE WIPERS AND PUT WINDOWS UP AND WINDOWS STARTED TO FOG AND UNABLE TO CLEAR THEM DUE TO THIS REASON ALSO, WILL TRY TO TAKE IN TO THE DEALERSHIP IN THE MORNING AND HOPE THEY CAN FIX THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS ABOUT THE 3RD TIME SINCE I HAD THE CAR THAT IT HAS DONE THIS, BUT THE OTHER 2 TIMES IT WAS ONLY FOR A SHORTER TIME THAN THIS. *TR
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.