2014 Chevrolet Malibu
The Verdict
Worst problem area
Engine
Engine leads by volume: 129 of 363 complaints (36%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Body, Seats & Latches include more deaths (1) than those mentioning any other identified area.
Complaints filed fell from 922 in 2013 to 363 in 2014.
Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | vs. 2014 Midsize Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 2,400–3,100 | 2,150–2,600 | 2,150–2,600 | 2,150–2,600 | 1,350–2,400 | |
| Combined MPG | 20–26 | 24–29 | 24–29 | 24–29 | 26–46 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 17–22 / 25–33 | 21–25 / 29–36 | 21–25 / 29–36 | 21–25 / 29–36 | 22–47 / 32–46 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 342–444 | 310–373 | 310–373 | 308–373 | 196–342 | |
| Complaints filed | 906 | 922 | 363 | 270 | 861 | |
| Recalls issued | 3 | 11 | 6 | 3 | 10 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 50 | 38 | 19 | 18 | 24 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 13 | 11 | 8 | 9 | 2 | |
| Injuries reported | 35 | 34 | 17 | 13 | 17 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| Configurations compared | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 4 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2014 Chevrolet Malibu have?
6 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Sep 16, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2014 Chevrolet Malibu?
Engine: 129 of 363 NHTSA complaints (36%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2014 Chevrolet Malibu get?
EPA rates it 24–29 MPG combined across 3 configurations.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2014 Chevrolet Malibu?
EPA estimates $2,150–$2,600 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (3)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic (S6) | 4 | 2.0L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Midsize Cars | 21 mpg (low) | 29 mpg (low) | 24 mpg (low) | $2,600 (high) | 373 g/mi (high) |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic (S6) | 4 | 2.4L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Midsize Cars | 24 mpg | 35 mpg | 28 mpg | $2,250 | 312 g/mi |
| Configuration 3 | Automatic (S6) | 4 | 2.5L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Midsize Cars | 25 mpg (high) | 36 mpg (high) | 29 mpg (high) | $2,150 (low) | 310 g/mi (low) |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 129 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 53 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 26 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 88 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Brakes | 70 | 6 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| Steering | 26 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 31 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 21 | 7 | 0 | 14 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 17 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 18 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 27 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 57 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (6)
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM); ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION · Campaign 16V502000 · Jul 5, 2016
Defect: 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.
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY · Campaign 15V164000 · Mar 23, 2015
Defect: 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.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM · Campaign 14V247000 · May 14, 2014
Defect: 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.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC · Campaign 14V240000 · May 8, 2014
Defect: 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.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION · Campaign 14V092000 · Mar 6, 2014
Defect: 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.
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM; VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:WINDSHIELD:ELECTRICAL HEATING ELEMENT · Campaign 13V567000 · Nov 19, 2013
Defect: 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.