NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2014 Chevrolet Malibu. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026
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.
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 restarts normally. 2014 model appears to not have a method of disabling this feature. Car has approximately 111,000 miles on it. Problem first occurred last year 1 or 2 times. Yesterday 2/13 was first time it occurred multiple times in one trip. I have not brought the vehicle to anyone at this point for evaluation. This problem appears In many areas on the internet with other owners of this vehicle type. I am not the first to experience it. What can be done?
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.
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
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
I receive a message on my screen stated to shift to park when it is already in park. I have to wiggle the shifter as well as try multiple times before the screen clears. I looked at information stating this is a problem but not to the level of recall but fixed by the dealership. I was told my vehicle did not qualify for the free repair. Wondering why?
Received vehicle at roughly 181,000 miles. Operated fine for about 5,000 miles and then began to show problems. In most cases when pressing down hard on the accelerator pedal, transmission drops into a lower gear and revs up to 5k rpm, cancelling cruise control, and staying there until accelerator is relieved. This makes accelerating more difficult since too much pressure on the accelerator pedal causes the car to get stuck at 5k rpm and stay at the same speed it is already at. This makes passing cars more dangerous as the car gets stuck at 5k rpm and can't pass the other vehicle, increasing the risk of a head on collision. Service engine and ABS lights are on as well as a service Stabilitrak notification in the driver information center. In addition, the outside temperature thermometer is faulty and shows much lower temperatures, such as -14 degrees during an 80 degree day. Vehicle is up to maintenance as far as my knowledge goes. Car has been previously junked twice and has a rebuilt title. There are no fluid leaks, the engine works well when the problem is not encountered, but it gets stuck at 5k rpm under hard acceleration more than it doesn't.
Was in a bad wreck, other drivers car deployed airbags, mine did not but engine shut off and hazards stayed on. Crash was about 30 miles an hour or so at impact.
Cant pass smog due to code P2646
Car rolls backwards when stopped on an incline until the brakes are pumped two to three times
I have to change sensor for the oil every year. Small battery in the back I have to replace it every year
I have been an issue with my auto stop system past 6 months. While driving and coming to a complete stop the auto stop kicks into gear as it should but when I release the gas pedal to drive off it stalls for a about 20 seconds unlocking/locking doors and proceeds to kick into drive gear. I have had auxiliary battery checked and it’s good. Checked main battery components those are good too! No check engine light came on only when I removed auxiliary battery removed to have it diagnosed it did give me a code of UO101 but quickly went away when replaced. Still trying to figure what the issue may be but it’s becoming more and more constant and worse. Dangerous when it happens on uphill and cars behind because car rolls backwards almost hitting them.
The contact owns a 2014 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled and jerked with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was able to restart. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and was diagnosed with engine failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 213,310. The VIN was not available.
The contact owns a 2014 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that upon driving four miles at approximately 35 MPH, the engine overheated. The message "Engine Overheating" was displayed. The temperature gauge increased to Hot. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle. The contact added water to the vehicle, but the water drained out. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the heater coil had failed. The local dealer was contacted and confirmed that the VIN was not under recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 105,670.
This is now the THIRD time this has happened, and GM doesn't seem to care, because when my mechanic "fixed" my auto stop problem, it was because GM themselves got the code to "fix" my car. My auto stop worked one time, before today, after my repair last week. I was at a stop light where my auto stop turned on. My brakes WERE STUCK AND COULDN'T BRAKE so I put it in park! THE SAME ISSUE WITH THE WHEEL AND BRAKE LOCKING OCCURRED. GM FIX THIS!
When the auto stop feature turns on, the car totally stops, and doesn't turn the engine back on for 20 minutes. I had complained about this before, and the mechanic did NOT fix it, so I am complaining AGAIN! I was in the middle of the street when it stalled! The steering wheel and brake locks up, and it's impossible for the engine to turn on. It revs, but doesn't work. THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.
The contact owns a 2014 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the lights on the gear shifter was flashing, with the power steering assist and parking assist messages displayed on the instrument panel. The contact stated that the vehicle jerked violently while depressing the accelerator pedal. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the vehicle was diagnosed with transmission failure. The vehicle was not repaired and remained with the dealer. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.
When I was on auto stop, my car never started back up. The steering wheel and brakes were frozen, and I could barely pull off the road I was on. Turning the key did not help, as the engine wouldn't turn back on.
Auto start stop malfunctioning, my safety as well as my children have been in the car when the car has stopped while in the middle of driving. It has stopped in the middle of the road and on the freeway in moving traffic and for 1-3 minutes the car won’t start back up leaving me and my family stranded in the middle of the road where anyone can and have almost hit us. When I’ve sent the car to my dealer mechanic he told me the car cuts off like that because it runs hot when that is not the reason after he told me that he fixed I drove off and it stopped on me as the light was turning green for traffic to go. The car had the issue about 3 days after i purchased it I’ve which was last year 2024 in June and as of now the issue still hasn’t been fixed by the dealer
powertrain there is a problem with auto stop restarting then dying. The transmission not engaging after a complete stop like it is neutral this only happens after the car has been driven a bit everything at temp. today stopped for trash service auto stop engaged got ready to go nothing gunning and gunning never died like no power though finally moved no more stops till home a problem sitting in road can not move. have not taken to shop yet money for it now not.
P0420 code
I am filing a complaint regarding a 2014 Chevrolet Malibu that I purchased from a dealership on November 22, 2024. The vehicle was advertised as being in “excellent condition” at the dealership’s site. During the test drive, I raised concerns about potential transmission issues, but the dealership assured me that the vehicle was “clean” and safe to drive. Unfortunately, this assurance turned out to be false, as the vehicle has since displayed significant mechanical failures, including overheating issues, that pose serious safety risks. Within a week of purchase, the vehicle broke down twice: first on November 29, while driving to work, and again on November 30, while on I-10 Katy freeway. The second breakdown created a life-threatening situation as the vehicle suddenly lost power in traffic. I incurred towing costs of $125 to return the vehicle to the dealership. After an attempted repair, the vehicle was returned to me on December 5, 2024. However, it broke down again on December 8, 2024, requiring another tow. Since that time, the vehicle has remained at the dealership, yet no adequate resolution has been provided. Additionally, I have since discovered that the vehicle has persistent overheating issues that were not disclosed at the time of sale. These overheating problems pose a serious safety risk as they could result in a fire or explosion, endangering my life and the lives of others on the road. The dealership’s negligence in addressing these critical safety concerns demonstrates a disregard for consumer safety. I believe the dealership knowingly sold me a defective vehicle with significant mechanical issues that were either hidden or misrepresented. The sudden and repeated breakdowns, particularly in hazardous driving conditions, and the risk of fire or explosion due to overheating, warrant immediate attention from the NHTSA.
The contact owns a 2014 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving 20-25 MPH, there was an abnormal sound coming from the engine. The contact was unsure if any warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to Firestone, where it was diagnosed that the rotors had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. Most recently, the contact stated that the vehicle needed to be warm for the defrost system to work. The contact stated that the failure persisted. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V240000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC); however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000.
The cars automatic start/stop will activate and not restart the car. This has happened at stop signs, stop lights, intersections, hard breaks, etc. There are no warning lights or system failed/malfunction warnings. This has been inspected multiple times with software updates, changing batteries, changing fuses, etc.
Hello. I have a 2014 Malibu. Recently it has been stalling when coming to a stop and yet there are no engine/warning lights on. Took it to numerous mechanics, spoke with people at the dealership service area and yet nothing! Nobody can figure it out at all. I’ve had the throttle body replaced, module piece, and a few other parts by someone who previously worked at the Chevrolet dealership and even they can’t figure it out. This is not only a safety hazard but a very uncomfortable feeling riding a car and having to put it into Neutral when approaching a light or stop sign ! My car will tell me if my turn signal is on for longer than 2-3 minutes so I’m not understanding why it won’t tell me why my car is shutting off. I’m frustrated because I’m paying different mechanics to figure it out and it’s still an unsolved problem! It would be nice if Chevrolet can look at everyone’s vehicle and not charge this time!! I have children so having them ride in a car that stalls is UNACCEPTABLE!
When coming to a complete stop, the auto stop feature kicks on and then stalls the car and won’t restart. Have seen in many online forms that this is a very common problem with these cars
When the Auto Start/Stop engages at a stop sign or light it causes the car to turn off. I have trouble turning it back over. Sometimes it starts. Other times it does not. I have changed the mass airflow sensor, mass air pressure sensor, vvt solenoid. It has been in and out of a couple shops without an answer of why it is doing this. It is readily available for an inspection. There were not any warning lights or messages produced on the dash. This started happening about 3 months ago. My child and myself is in danger every time it dies at a stop light.
The contact owns a 2014 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while accelerating between 0 to 20 MPH, the transmission hesitated while shifting into first gear. While driving at speeds above 20 MPH the hesitation was more prominent, causing the vehicle almost stall; however, the vehicle would remain running. The contact stated that the “Transmission Failure” warning light was illuminated. The contact became aware of NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V092000 (Power Train). The dealer had not been contacted. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and confirmed that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V092000 (Power Train). The manufacturer had referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was 93,000.
When I come to a stop at a red light & the car is idling the car turns off & I have to put the car in park and turn the car on so over again. This happens in busy intersections
The contact owns a 2014 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle was shuddering. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed and determined that the fuel pump needed to be replaced. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 47,000.
Reduced power and coolant system My safety was put a risk when my car stop on me in the middle of traffic
my car which i own shuts down while driving its showing po6dc on code reader
When Stopping/Coming To A Stop. The Auto Start Feature Kicks In And Causes My Locks To Unlock And Lock Back And The Car To Stall For A Second Or So
While driving 60 MPH on the highway my car started stuttering then lost all power. It threw 3 codes P0131, P2097 and P0171. I have spent over $1,000.00 and a month later they tell me it was my intake bolts that were loose. They replaced every part PCV valve, MAF sensor, O2 sensor and car still wouldn't run right. PLEASE address this issue as that is UNSAFE for a car to just stop on the highway.
The Auto Stop/Start feature is experiencing issues where the vehicle fails to restart, resulting in significant disruptions during driving scenarios such as heavy city traffic, stop-and-go traffic, and maneuvering through busy intersections. These incidents not only cause traffic jams and congestion but also force detours for other drivers. Particularly, when encountering highway traffic from exit offramps, sudden stops due to overcrowding and tailgaters trigger the Malibu to auto stop without restarting, creating considerable challenges, especially during rush hours in cities like Atlanta. In each of these circumstances, attempts to restart the vehicle prove futile as the engine endlessly turns over without success. While resolving these situations required considerable effort and time, further elaboration is beyond the scope of this discussion, given the valuable time already expended on addressing these issues.
my vehicle had just fixed by chevy dealership they changed both battery. i drove and pick it up,but its having the same problem it stalled or stops in red lights when i push brake it engaged the autop stop and have to restart the car again. almost got into an accident because i was stucked in the traffic with green lights and im in the middle of the road and my gas pedal wont work/accelerate. i paid 700$ for both battery i need my refund too.
The car tries to start in its own. Even if the key is on the off-position. The car struts and shocks aren’t the best it won’t take a bump without moving the car
I am uncertain of what’s causing this major issue to happen. I see a lot of forums of other customers having the same exact issue and it is a HUGE SAFETY RISK in my personal opinion from experience. For the last maybe 9 months I’ve been dealing with the auto stop feature coming on, then once you let off the break the car doesn’t crank back up. This is very scary in traffic and stoplights much less everywhere!!! I have to turn the key to off and place it back in park, then proceed to crank back up. Only nearly EVERY SINGLE TIME it also will not crank up manually. Also, this issue is not showing ANY check engine codes, so diagnosing this issue has not been resolved. I’ve been stuck waiting 20 minutes or so. Please PLEASE recall whatever is causing this issue for so many of us customers!!!
No incident has occurred, thankfully. Car was purchased used in January 2018. It is now approximately about 9 years old. This issue happens intermittently but the electrical systems seem to be misfiring. Basically, it gives false negatives/positives. (1) The check engine comes on and off all the time even after servicing the vehicle with the mechanic. (2) The passenger seat has front airbags that get activated when someone sits in the seat. Lately, the seatbelt alert goes off while nothing heavy is in the seat. I have to latch the seatbelt to get that alert to stop. (3) The automatic lights that come on when you open the door sometimes don't turn on and the auto lights indicator is on. (4) Lately, when I have turned off the engine and opened the door, the radio won't turn off even after I have removed the keys. Electrical malfunctions could be happening due to the wrong wires being installed or something and may cause the car not to work any longer. I'm not sure but I don't want to encounter issues while I'm driving.
The headlights burn out frequently the air conditioner does not work the ignition had to be replaced there's always a code of p0171 the start/stop feature does not work the brakes make the car shake. When does stuff takes place I have to pull the vehicle over cousin me to put others in danger by being on the shoulder of the road broke down. Yes the car is available for inspection. The radio randomly turns on and off therefore the backup camera does not work as it should why this vehicle has not been recalled is beyond me.
The contact owns a 2014 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that the heater and A/C system were inoperable. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the contact was provided an estimate for the repairs and for other unrelated repairs. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. Additionally, the contact stated that after turning off the vehicle, the vehicle restarted independently without the key in the ignition switch. The contact also stated that while driving and depressing the brake pedal, the vehicle hesitated while responding, causing the braking distance to be extended. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 139,098.
I have a 2014 Malibu with 87,450 miles. It has worked perfectly up until 6 months ago. It started stalling in traffic intersections and at stop signs, which is a dangerous safety issue. The Auto Stop would engage and then when I put my foot on the accelerator, it stalled out. I would turn the vehicle off and restart it. I took it to countless mechanics who could not figure out what was causing the problem because the Check Engine light did not come on and no codes were triggered. The problem became worse over time and once the vehicle stalled, it would not immediately restart. I took it to my Chevy Dealer and they were baffled as well. They uploaded new software which included the Auto Stop feature, but it continued to stall. They replaced the front battery and checked the one in the trunk. It still stalled. The Dealer said that since the Check Engine light did not come on, they were shooting in the dark. I asked them to disconnect the Auto Stop function, but they said that they couldn't. Unlike other models, there was no disconnection method. I have looked at many on-line chats on the 2014 Chevy Malibu and this defect in the Auto Stop function seems pretty prevalent. No one has come up with a workable solution. I filed a Notice of Claim with Chevrolet corporate and asked them to provide a fix. Does anyone have any ideas of either how to fix the Auto Stop or to disable it? Right now I am shifting into neutral at all traffic signals and stop signs, so that the Auto Stop function does not engage, but that seems like a poor fix to the problem.
The automatic start and stop function does not work properly. When the car comes to a stop and auto stops, the vehicle shuts off and does not power up when you hit the gas. My safety is put at risk due to the car shutting off and the possibility of someone hitting me. The vehicle has been inspected countless times. I was told it was an electrical issue. Then told it was the battery. Brand new battery and issue isn’t fixed. The car cut off once and all the lights came on. Now no lights comes on it just cuts off.
See attached document from complainant
Variable valve timing system Rocker arm oil control valve solenoid Need help asap! My car is unsafe!
I have an electrical problem with my car. Driver seat is electrical and the seat has been stuck in one position. The siding of the seat where the buttons are broke. The seatbelt gets stuck from the plastic being broken. I’ve had the car for a year and within 3 months of purchase I had to change brakes and it needs brakes again.
6 months ago our car’s auto stop/start feature started to malfunction. The car will stall and sputter on the start after coming to a stop. This is very dangerous! On multiple occasions, the car would not accelerate through a turn on a light stalling out in the intersection. we have also been nearly rear-ended at red lights because the vehicle will not accelerate on a green light. This issue is well discussed on the Internet with many owners reporting the same issue. Chevrolet should be held accountable for this repair. This is not an isolated event with my vehicle.
Auto Start Stop Function (ASSF) malfunction. When releasing foot off brake when (ASSF) was engaged, engine failed to restart. After putting car in park and restarting the engine, it took multiple attempts for car to restart. This has happened numerous times, all of which have been while city driving (i.e. stopping at stop lights, waiting to turn in turn lane, stopped at stop sign) High safety concern for me and for other drivers on roadway. vehicle has been looked at by automotive shop, no definitive answer for the cause. no warning lights or messages appear before/during/ or after malfunction.
THE AUTO STOP SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONS SHUTS OFF AT RED LIGHTS AND DOES NOT ENGAGE WHEN BRAKE RELEASED AND GAS PEDAL PUSHED. THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF COMPLETELY AND HAS TO BE PUT IN PARK AND RESTARTED IN TRAFFIC WHICH CAN BE DEADLY. THERE'S NO WAY TO DISENGAGE THIS IS NOT A GOOD FEATURE.
The contact owns a 2014 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that after returning to the parked vehicle, it was discovered that the rear trunk lid had erroneously opened. The contacted indicated that the failure had occurred on several occasions. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 31,000.