What 361 owners told NHTSA about the 2014 Chevrolet Malibu Eco

The contact owns a 2014 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated upon starting the vehicle, the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an unknown dealer where it was diagnosed that the failure was associated with the battery. However, the battery was not replaced. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, the vehicle would not properly shift into gear, decelerated independently, and stopped. The contact was able to restart the vehicle however, upon moving the gear shifter into drive(D), the vehicle failed to respond. The contact then moved the gear shifter to park(P) however, the vehicle rolled away and struck a tree. The air bags did not deploy. There was no injury sustained. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The contact was awaiting a call back from the manufacturer. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.

NHTSA ODI 11483580

Stop/Start doesn’t work at least 20% of the time, leaving me stalled in the middle of the road, until *hopefully* it starts again, usually after a few tries.

NHTSA ODI 11482509

The vehicles "Auto Off" feature, which shuts the engine off when stopped at red-lights, fails to restart the engine when removing your foot from the brake pedal. The engine stalls out, and much be parked, shut off and then restarted. Sometimes it takes multiple times to restart the vehicle. This is very unsafe considering the car could stall out in an intersection or cause another vehicle to collide with mine if they were behind my vehicle, expecting it to begin moving. I have take my car in for multiple repairs and nobody can figure out the issue.

NHTSA ODI 11474085

My car only has 54,000 mile and my transmission is already going out and it happened out of nowhere literally I just started getting stuck at lights like the cat didn’t want to go so mechanic told me it had to be something the dealership could do cause it’s no way I keep up my fluids and all and my brakes just keep wearing

NHTSA ODI 11473379

My auto start/stop feature failed to engage properly. The safety of myself and my family have been put at risk on multiple occasions because the vehicle would not start back up leaving us stranded in the road amongst traffic. The problem has not been diagnosed or inspected. There were no warnings as to when the auto start/stop would fail, it just happens! At the moment this is the only vehicle my family has so we have to take risks any time we drive this vehicle! I purchased this car 4/26/2022 and this has happened at least 10 times since purchasing!!! Any assistance will be greatly appreciated!!!!

NHTSA ODI 11473025

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 can’t figure it out .

NHTSA ODI 11468039

It started off with just a little jerking when I would be in stop and go traffic then it progressed to whenever I was driving below 35mph, the car would completely cut off and the doors would unlock. The check engine light came on and I took it to be repaired. They stated there was a hole in my exhaust which a GM service employee repaired. Two days later the check engine light came on again and this time they stated I needed a new transmission. So I took it to a transmission company, who installed a rebuilt transmission. A few days after getting my car back, the same issue happened again. The transmission company did a diagnostic and stated it wasn't the transmission so I took it back to a GM service place and they stated it was my manifold. I paid for the repairs and the vehicle worked fine until the beginning of April 2022. Now the vehicle is doing the exact same thing expect this time the doors are not unlocking when the car cuts off. A new thing has started where the car shakes when I sit with my foot on the break for too long such as at a traffic light, once I take my foot off the break to accelerate it will jerk or turn completely off. Today, I was trying to do a U-turn and the car just stopped working almost like it was in neutral then the steering wheel locked up.

NHTSA ODI 11462629

Reduced Engine Power

NHTSA ODI 11461733

Rocker Arm Control Valves and solenoid . Check engine light came on

NHTSA ODI 11457712

As I was driving, “Engine Power Reduced” came up on my dashboard. Then my vehicle slowed down and would not let me accelerate over 20 mph.

NHTSA ODI 11451288

2014 Chevy Malibu has a start/ stop feature that doesn't work. When stopping the car shuts off completely and does not start back up. I have to put my emergency lights on, put the car in park try to start again, it doesn't restart , I have to try a couple of times. It has cut off on me at traffic lights, getting off highway ramps. THIS IS NOT SAFE!! I've taken it to two Chevy dealers & no one can pin point or address this problem.

NHTSA ODI 11447325

2014 Malibu lt with the auto stop issues. My auxiliary batter was replaced and everything was good until my engine light came on can’t even remember exactly but the code was for the rocker arm control valve and oil pressure sensor. I replaced vvt solenoid also the intake and exhaust solenoid. Shortly after that, maybe 2 months or so after was when the auto stop started having issues. After the suto stop is engaged and my foot comes off the brake, it fails to restart after two failed attempts. I’ll manually restart it and it might start right away but sometimes wont start until the 2nd or 3rd try

NHTSA ODI 11446745

The vehicle will still be running after I turn the engine off and take the key out of ignition.

NHTSA ODI 11445653

The contact owned a 2014 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that after he replaced his radiator, his vehicle caught fire. The fire department was called to the scene and extinguished the fire. The vehicle was destroyed and no injuries were reported. The contact was not certain if a police/fire report was filed. The vehicle had yet to be towed and remained in the possession of the contact. The dealer nor the manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle was a total loss. The failure mileage was approximately 180,000.

NHTSA ODI 11443979

THIS CAR HAS THE AUTO/STOP FUNCTION. THERE IS NO WAY TO CUT THIS OFF ACCORDING THE THE OWNERS MANUAL OR ONLINE RESEARCH. NOT EVERYTIME BUT IT HAPPENS ALOT. BE DRIVING STOP AT A RED LIGHT, THE AUTO STOP KICKS IN. WHEN THE LIGHT TURN GREEN, STEP ON GAS CAR IS SUPPOSE TO START, DOES NOT START. YOU HAVE TO PUT IN PARK, TURN KEY OFF, ATTEMPT TO CRANK AGAIN BEFORE YOU CAN GO. MEANWHILE PEOPLE ARE AVOIDING HITTING YOU IN THE REAR NOT KNOWING YOU ARE NOT MOVING ETC. ON THE MALIBU FORUM YOU WILL SEE MULIPLE COMPLIANTS FROM MALIBU OWNERS 2014-2016 WITH THIS SAME COMPLAINT! I CALLED GM NO RESPONSE . ITS GOING TO TAKE SOMEONE GETTING KILLED OR INJURED FOR GM TO DO A RECALL. THIS IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE- PEOPLE COULD REAR END ME , SITTING IN MIDDLE OF A ROAD NOT MOVING!! THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME AT LEAST 6 TIMES IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS. THERE IS NOTHING IN OWNERS MANUAL TELLING HOW TO DISABLE THIS FUNCTION.. ITS USELESS.. DEATH TRAP! PLEASE FORCE GM TO HAVE A RECALL ON THESE VEHICLES BEFORE THERE ARE LAWSUITS INVOLVING DEATHS!!! I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER GM PRODUCT!!

NHTSA ODI 11439287

The contact owns a 2014 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated while starting the vehicle, the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing the engine to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic and had the engine replaced; however, the check engine warning light remained illuminated. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 119,000.

NHTSA ODI 11432496

My car is throwing a rocker arm valve code but chevy is saying its not covered under the NHTSA program that was passed. Its a 2014 chevy malibu 2.5 L with 93000 miles on it. It causes the auto stop to malfunction and the car will completely shut down when stopped. It will not restart at all. Have been almost hit 3 times at major intersections.

NHTSA ODI 11424948

The contact owns a 2014 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that the engine was shaking, and the vehicle stalled while driving at an undisclosed speed, with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and suggested that the contact file a complaint with the NHTSA. The approximate failure mileage was 1,000.

NHTSA ODI 11422959

GOV vehicle was traveling north on the Baltimore Washington Parkway near Interstate 695. The steering and brakes failed, and the driver moved the vehicle safely to the shoulder and exited the vehicle. The vehicle began to smoke and caught fire. The Traction control , steering, brake and ABS warning lamps appeared.

NHTSA ODI 11421170

BATTERY OR ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE. SEE ATTACHMENT.

NHTSA ODI 11414087

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL. THE CONTACT WAS RELATING THE FAILURE TO AN ISSUE WITH THE BOLTS IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD BEING LOOSENED WHICH ALLOWED AIR TO GET INTO THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH THE SPARK PLUGS AND THE TRUNK BATTERY NEEDING TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80,000.

NHTSA ODI 11408065

WHEN START STOP WAS ENGAGED AT LIGHT THE CAR SHUT OFF EVERYTHING ON THE DASH AND RADIO WENT BLANK. IT AUTO STARTED AND AC WAS NO LONGER WORKING. AFTERWARDS I SMELLED A SLIGHT BURNING SCENT (IN LOUISIANA TRAFFIC, I WAS UNSURE IT WAS ME) BUT CAR RAN FINE. WHEN START STOP ENGAGED THERE WAS A LONGER THAN NORMAL PAUSE BEFORE WOULD AUTO START WOULD ENGAGE. IT WOULD INTERMITTENTLY FAIL TO CRANK ON OCCASION FOR A FEW KEY TURNS. ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. TRUNK WOULD MYSTERIOUSLY POP OPEN. STARTED DISPLAYING TWO KEY FOBS PROGRAMMED, ABS STABLE TRACK, REDUCED ENGINE POWER, LOW BATTERY AND ANOTHER THING I CAN'T REMEMBER AT START UP. I CHANGED THE BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR WITH NEW ONES AND THE NEXT DAY THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FLICKERED AS WELL AS HEAD LIGHTS. AND WHEN I WAS TO TAKE IT IN TO DEALERSHIP IT HAD COMPLETE ELECTRICAL FAILURE. THE DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS THE ENGINE FUSE BLOCK AND REPLACED IT. NOW THE ENGINE LIGHT IS STILL ON AND HAS A PAUSE BEFORE IT START. WILL NOT SEND DIAGNOSTICS TO MY CHEVY APP. REMOTE START IS NOT WORKING WITH ENG LIGHT ON. I TOLD THEM I THOUGHT IS WAS BATTERY CONTROL MODULE BUT HE INSISTED THAT IT WAS JUST THE ENGINE FUSE BLOCK. I CANNOT EXPLAIN THE ANXIETY. AND HAVE TOLD MY FAMILY THAT IF I DIE IN THAT CAR TO SUE GM. THERE SHOULD BE NOTHING WRONG WITH THIS CAR AT 6 YEARS OLD. 53000 MILES AND IS DRIVEN LESS THAN 50 MILES A WEEK.

NHTSA ODI 11394952

DRIVING ON INTERSTATE AFTER WORK AROUND 12 AM & REDUCED ENGINE POWER APPEARS ON SCREEN, CAR SLOWS DOWN & I COULDN'T ACCELERATE MORE THAN 10MPH & HAD TO KEEP PULLING OVER TO TURN ENGINE ON & OFF. TERRIFYING! READ OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS JUST NOW & NEEDS TO BE RECALLED ASAP BEFORE SOMEONE IS INJURED OR WORSE ESPECIALLY DRIVING ON A BUSY INTERSTATE/HIGHWAY

NHTSA ODI 11386748

THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE NOW, ONCE FOR MY WIFE AND THE SECOND TIME I WAS DRIVING. BOTH INCIDENTS HAPPENED WHILE IN MOTION ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE VEHICLE DISPLAY SHOWED REDUCED ENGINE POWER AND THE VEHICLE DE-RATED AND SLOWED AUTOMATICALLY ON THE HIGHWAY. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DISPLAYED AND AFTER CONNECTING A CODE READER TO THE OBD AND CODE P2138 WAS LOGGED WHICH IS POTENTIALLY A FAULTY THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR/ FOOT GAS PEDAL. I REPLACED THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR CLEARED THE STORED CODE AND A COUPLE WEEKS LATER THE VEHICLE AGAIN WENT INTO LIMP MODE AND DE-RATED ON HIGHWAY. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE SAME CODE P2138 WAS LOGGED INDICATING VOLTAGE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN APP SENSOR 1 AND APP SENSOR 2 OF THE THROTTLE POSITIONING SENSOR. AFTER FURTHER RESEARCH ON LINE I FOUND THAT A GM SERVICE BULLETIN WAS ISSUED FOR POTENTIAL MOISTURE INTRUSION OF THE CONNECTORS FROM THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR TO THE ECM. (SEE ATTACHED) IT SEEMS LIKE MY VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING MOISTURE IN THE CONNECTORS AS BOTH INCIDENTS HAPPENED WITHIN MINUTES OF TAKING THE VEHICLE THROUGH AN AUTOMATIC CAR WASH. IN MY OPINION THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN FOR THIS MODEL VEHICLE TO DE-RATE AND SLOW DOWN SUDDENLY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WITH CARS FOLLOWING BEHIND AND HAS BEEN A KNOWN ISSUE BY GM AND SHOULD HAVE A RECALL ISSUED.

NHTSA ODI 11377431

CAME TO A STOP AT A STOP LIGHT AUTO STOP CAME ON. WHEN LET OFF THE BRAKE THE AUTO START DID NOT START. IT TRIED TO THEN COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. HAD TO PUT CAR IN PARK AND TURN THE KEY TO GET IT TO START. I WAS IN RIGHT LANE TRYING TO TURN. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED IT WOULD NOT START WITH TURNING THE KEY UNTIL THE SECOND TIME TURNING THE KEY. THIS HAPPENED 5 TIMES ON MY WAY HOME. WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED. WHILE IT WOULD NOT START AT 2 STOPS CARS THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO MOVE AND I COULDN'T. AUTO STOP AND START WAS COMING ON AT ALMOST EVERY STOP THIS MORNING AND MY HUSBAND MADE A COMMENT ABOUT HOW THAT WAS STRANGE AND IT SHOULD NOT DO IT. YESTERDAY WE JUST REPLACED THE INTAKE AND EXHAUST SEANOID.

NHTSA ODI 11372917