2014 Chevrolet MALIBU: complaints, problems and recalls

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS (65-70 MPH) ON STRAIGHT AND LEVEL HIGHWAY, STEERING WOULD DEVELOP A "STICKY, OR DEAD SPOT" ON CENTER. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A SLIGHT CORRECTION, IT REQUIRED INCREASED EFFORT TO OVERCOME THE "STICKY" SPOT; I COULD FEEL THE INCREASED RESISTANCE, AND THEN SUDDENLY THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD MOVE. IT TOOK EFFORT TO KEEP THE CAR FROM JERKING. INITIALLY THIS WOULD OCCUR ONLY WHEN TEMPERATURES WERE BELOW APPROXIMATELY 50 DEGREES (WE WERE ON CHRISTMAS BREAK IN UTAH). HOWEVER, UPON RETURNING TO TEXAS AND WARMER WEATHE…

Owner-reported narrative. 2,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10560441 at NHTSA ↗

1ST INCIDENT WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKE THE VEHICLE WOULD DO A EXTREME PULL TO THE RIGHT. 2ND INCIDENT 2/24/14 MILE 2940 - TRANSMISSION SHUTS DOWN AFTER EXITING HIGHWAY. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 1,029 miles reported. Look up ODI 10573721 at NHTSA ↗

AS I WAS DRIVING AND COME TO A STOP LIGHT, MY VEHICLE CUT OFF AND ONCE I LET OFF THE BRAKE, TO GO, THE CAR STARTED BACK WITHOUT ME DOING ANYTHING. WHEN I WAS AT THE DRIVE THRU WINDOW, MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE AND I WAS STILL IN DRIVE MODE, THE CAR CUT OFF, AND WHEN I LET OF THE BRAKE SLIGHTLY THE VEHICLE STARTED ALL BY ITSELF. BOTH INCIDENTS HAPPENED A WEEK APART. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10574229 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE BRAKING TO A COMPLETE STOP, THE VEHICLE ENGAGED INTO SLEEP MODE. ONCE THE CONTACT RELEASED THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SLOWLY REVERSE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURE WAS NOTIFIED AND WAS ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED TO FUNCTION IN THE MANNER IT DID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 2,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10575953 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THE TOP CHROME TRIM ON THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW SEPARATED WHILE HE DROVE 70 MPH. THE DEALER REPLACED THE WINDOW TRIM; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT WAS NOT ADVISED IF THE FAILURE OCCURRED DUE TO A DEFECTIVE SEAL. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3200 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 4,700. UPDATED 06/24/14*LJ UPDATED 06/30/2014 *JS

Owner-reported narrative. 3,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10577085 at NHTSA ↗

I JUST PURCHASED A 2014 MALIBU ON 04- 22 FOR MY DAUGHTER. DUE TO MY DAUGHTER TELLING ME THAT THE BRAKES FELT MUSHY IN HER CAR I DECIDED TO TEST DRIVE IT MYSELF. WHILE DRIVING DOWN MY STREET AT APPROX. 25MPH WITH THE BRAKE SLIGHTLY DEPRESSED, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED UNEXPECTEDLY AND THE ENGINE SEEM TO REV UP. THIS MADE THE VEHICLE THAT MUCH HARDER TO CONTROL AND STOP. THIS HAS TO BE LOOKED INTO A.S.A.P. I DO NOT WANT MY DAUGHTER TO CONTINUE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE UNTIL THERE IS A SOLUTION. GOING TO TAKE THIS VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP FIRST T…

Owner-reported narrative. 300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10585127 at NHTSA ↗

THERE IS A GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I DO BELIEVE THERE ARE OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THIS SAME ISSUE. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 230 miles reported. Look up ODI 10585129 at NHTSA ↗

THE BRAKES FELT LOW AND THEN THE LOW BRAKE FLUID WARNING LIGHT AND ALSO STABILITY TRACK ALARM AND THE BRAKE LIGHT ON THE OTHER SIDE LIT UP. I DROVE A FEW MILES MORE AND THE ALARMS WOULD SOUND EVERY TIME I HIT THE BRAKES. THE CAR HAD TO BE FLAT BEDDED BACK TO THE DEALER. THE TRUCK DRIVER LOOKED FOR BRAKE FLUID LEVEL, THERE WAS NO BRAKE FLUID AT ALL. I WAS INFORMED LATER THAT THE BRAKE FLUID HAD ALL LEAKED OUT THE REAR CALIPER. THIS HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED, CAR IS STILL AT DEALER. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 158 miles reported. Look up ODI 10588106 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2013-11-13 (November 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: 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.

Reported: 2014-02-21 (February 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: 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.

Reported: 2014-05-08 (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: 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.

Reported: 2014-05-14 (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: 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.

Reported: 2015-03-23 (March 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: 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.

Reported: 2016-07-05 (July 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: 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.