Is the 2014 Chevrolet Malibu a bad year?
351 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 127, 2.2× a quiet Malibu year.
Keep it, but watch the engine
The engine draws 2.2× the complaints of a quiet Malibu year, spread over 44k–106k miles, so there's no single mileage to plan around.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2014 Malibu owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 78,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| EngineSTANDS OUT | 127 (36%) | 44k–106k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Electrical system | 86 (25%) | 45k–107k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 52 (15%) | 15k–90k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Brakes | 45 (13%) | 16k–87k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Stability control | 31 (9%) | 43k–85k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Fuel system | 26 (7%) | 46k–97k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Steering | 26 (7%) | 20k–85k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Visibility and wipers | 21 (6%) | 24k–99k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Speed control | 17 (5%) | 27k–99k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Air bags | 16 (5%) | 40k–89k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Body structure | 11 (3%) | 17k–78k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Suspension | 9 (3%) | 52k–120k miles · around this mileage | Ball joint replacement (one joint) $200–$500 · Control arm replacement (one arm) $200–$900 |
| Seats | 6 (2%) | 35k–86k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Exterior lighting | 5 (1%) | 52k–85k miles · around this mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 78,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 351 complaints: 19 mention a crash · 8 mention a fire · 11 report an injury · 18 say the car was towed.
6 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Sep 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
My car cuts off at lights . These problems are in the drive shaft . The VVT thing.
I have a 2014 chevy Malibu ls. About a year ago while at a stop light the car engine shut stopped working, and all the lights came off.
The engine light is on and at times the car loses power! Trying to get parts since october 2019 was told no one is contracted to make the part and GM has not been helpful !!
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 78,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2014 Chevrolet Malibu: 6
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. If the key is removed without the transmission in PARK, the vehicle may rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.
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. 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.
The affected vehicles may experience a complete loss of brake vacuum assist, disabling the hydraulic boost assist. 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.
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. 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.
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." 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.
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. The inability to turn on the windshield defroster may decrease the driver's visibility thereby increasing the risk of a crash.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Chevrolet: 538
Repair instructions Chevrolet sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2014 Chevrolet Malibu. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
If the vehicle stalls and set diagnostic trouble code P0191 and may also set P0172
Normal transmission shift condition and the delay in throttle response when the throttle plate is opened rapidly and advises the customer that it is normal…
Guidelines to replace Oil Cooler, Oil Cooler Lines and Oil Tank if the engine was replaced where large amounts of debris has flowed throughout the oiling system
Internal Engine Noise or Damage After Oil Filter Replacement
Neighbouring years
2013 Malibu: 837 complaints, keep it, but watch the engine · 2015 Malibu: 270 complaints, keep it.
Every Chevrolet Malibu year
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Questions
Is the 2014 Chevrolet Malibu a bad year?
351 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 127, 2.2× a quiet Malibu year. At 78,000 miles the tool says: Keep it, but watch the engine. The engine draws 2.2× the complaints of a quiet Malibu year, spread over 44k–106k miles, so there's no single mileage to plan around.
What are the most common problems with the 2014 Chevrolet Malibu?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: engine (127), electrical system (86), transmission and drivetrain (52), brakes (45), stability control (31). Half of the engine complaints were filed between 44k–106k miles.
How many recalls does the 2014 Chevrolet Malibu have?
6 recall campaigns list this model year: Transmission and drivetrain (NHTSA 16V-502), Visibility and wipers (NHTSA 15V-164), Brakes (NHTSA 14V-247), Brakes (NHTSA 14V-240) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.