Home · 2014 Chevrolet Malibu Eco · Complaints

What 361 owners told NHTSA about the 2014 Chevrolet Malibu Eco

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (361)Crash / fire / injury (28)Engine (127)Electrical system (88)Transmission & drivetrain (53)Brakes (49)Electronic Stability Control (esc) (36)Fuel system (26)Steering (25)Visibility & wipers (21)Wheels (19)Speed control (17)

28 of 361 complaints match · crash/fire/injury only · clear filters · page 1 of 2

Aug 24, 2025AirbagsCrash1 injury

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.

NHTSA ODI 11682743

Sep 8, 2022Transmission & drivetrainEngineCrash

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

Dec 16, 2021EngineFire

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

Jun 16, 2021Electrical systemBody & structureEngineFire

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

Apr 27, 2021Electrical systemEngineFire

BATTERY OR ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE. SEE ATTACHMENT.

NHTSA ODI 11414087

Mar 23, 2021Electrical systemCrash

WHEN THE AUTO STOP KICKS IT AT LIGHT THE CAR SHUTS OFF COMPLETELY AND TAKES A FEW MINUTES TO RESTART WITH MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS TO TURN THE KEY. THIS IS A ACCIDENT HAZARD AND THE 2014 MALIBU HAVE NO OPTION TO TURN OFF THE AUTO STOP LIKE THE NEWER CARS.. BEEN HAPPENING FOR A YEAR

NHTSA ODI 11404586

Aug 17, 2020Electronic Stability Control (esc)Crash

MY AUTO STOP AND START HAS NOT WORKED IN 6 MONTHS AND NOW THE STABILITRAK LIGHT COMES ON AND MY CAR STALLS AS I AM DRIVING SO MANY PARTS HAVE BEEN CHANGED AND NOW NO ONE KNOWS WHAT TO DO ITS BEEN IN THREE DIFFERENT SHOPS

NHTSA ODI 11349882

Aug 4, 2020AirbagsCrash1 injury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2014 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, WHEN A DEER SUDDENLY CAME FROM THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE CAUSING THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO IT. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND DEEMED TOTALED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NECK, INTERNAL BRUISING ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THEIR BODY, CHEST AND ABDOMINAL AREA INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE CONTACT HAD NOT SPOKEN WITH THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,194.

NHTSA ODI 11343133

Jun 18, 2020Electronic Stability Control (esc)Crash

THE CAR RAN WELL BUT NOT FOR LONG, AFTER LIKE 21/2 YEARS THE BATTERY HAD SOME ISSUES. THE CAR DID NOT START AT ALL. I ENDED BUYING A NEW ONE, EVEN THOUGH THE OLD ONE COULD BE CHARGED. LIKE 9 MONTHS AGO SAME SITUATION BATTERY NOT GOOD. AS IF NO ELECTRICITY IS THROUGHOUT THE SYSTEM, BOUGHT A SECOND BATTERY. IN 2 OCCASIONS THE CAR DID START PROPERLY. TWO WEEKS AGO DRIVING, THE CAR STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT BECAUSE IT JUST TURNED OFF FOR NO REASON! DRIVING AGAIN THE NEXT WEEK IT STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. I HAD TO PAY FOR A TOW TRUCK.THE CAR HAS NOT STARTED PROPERLY BUT IT THEN SHUTS DOWN WHEN I GET IT STARTED, DRIVING IN MY PARKING LOT. I'VE HAD TO PUSH IT BACK TO MY PARKING SPOT. AT THE END THIS CAR HAS LEFT ME IN THE ROAD A LOT OF TIMES. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11329639

Jan 29, 2020EngineFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, WHEN "POWER THE VEHICLE DOWN" WARNING MESSAGE WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DECELERATE SPEED AND STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO BLOSSOM CHEVROLET LOCATED AT 1850 SHADELAND AVE, INDIANAPOLIS, IN 46219, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO PENSKE CHEVROLET LOCATED AT 3210 E 96TH ST, INDIANAPOLIS, IN 46240, WHERE THEY NOTICED THE SPARK PLUG WERE COVERED IN OIL AND NEEDING TO BE CLEANED AND REPLACED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE PLUGS BUT WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START THE IGNITION, THE ENGINE STARTED TO SMOKE AND WAS UNABLE TO START THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH CYLINDER NUMBER 3 AND ENGINE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AS OF YET. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,500.

NHTSA ODI 11302775

Dec 3, 2019Electrical systemEngineFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2014 CHEVROLET MALIBU. APPROXIMATELY ONE HOUR AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE, FLAMES WERE PRESENT UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS NOT DETERMINED. CANNON MOTORS (69900 HIGHWAY 82 WEST, GREENWOOD, MS) AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.

NHTSA ODI 11286689

Apr 25, 2019WheelsElectronic Stability Control (esc)BrakesCrash

ON MARCH 30TH, MY ABS LIGHTS CAME ON MY VEHICLE. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP. I WAS TOLD NOT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. MY CAR WAS SERVICED FOR THE WHEEL BEARINGS AND ABS BRAKE SYSTEM $1085. AFTER PICKING UP MY VEHICLE, I RECEIVED A DIAGNOSTIC REPORT FROM ONSTAR STATING THAT MY VEHICLE STILL HAD BRAKE AND ABS PROBLEMS. I PICKED UP THE CAR FROM THE DEALERSHIP. TWO DAYS LATER WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH MY BRAKES WENT OUT COMPLETELY OUT AND I CRASHED INTO A VAN.

NHTSA ODI 11203693

Mar 20, 2019AirbagsSeat beltsCrash1 injury

WHILE TRAVELING FROM WORK (BOULDER) TO HOME (WESTMINSTER) I HIT A PATCH OF SLUSH WHICH PULLED MY CAR TO THE RIGHT. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO CORRECT THE CARS PULL, THE BACK END OF THE CAR SLID OUT FROM BEHIND ME CAUSING THE CAR TO GO SIDEWAYS FOR A LITTLE BIT BEFORE THE CAR GOT TRACTION AND WENT FRONT END FIRST INTO THE CENTER MEDIAN/BARRIER. I THEN GOT OUT OF ANY ONCOMING TRAFFICS WAY, PULLED OVER, AND CALLED 911. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON A HIGHWAY. THE SEAT BELT NEVER LOCKED UP TO PROTECT ME AND THE AIRBAG NEVER DEPLOYED. I HIT THE WALL HEAD ON ONCE MY CAR CAUGHT GRIP.

NHTSA ODI 11190354

Mar 11, 2019Electrical systemFire

THE CAR SET ON FIRE AFTER THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. WITHIN MINUTES THE WHOLE CAR WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORTED THE FIRE WAS ELECTRICAL. GM REPORTEDLY INVESTIGATED THE CHARRED REMAINS WEEKS AFTER THE FIRE AND DECLINED TO PROVIDE ANY INFORMATION ON THE INVESTIGATION OR COMPENSATION FOR THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI 11185990

Feb 9, 2019SeatsCrash1 death

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FATALITY CRASH DURING WHICH THE DRIVER HEADREST INCLUDING ANCHORS CAME OUT OF THE SEAT BACK AND WAS OBSERVED IN THE PASSENGER FLOORBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY (DISABLED - OUT OF GAS) PARTIALLY IN A MOVING LANE OF TRAFFIC ON A HIGHWAY AT THE TIME OF THE CRASH AND STRUCK BY A MOVING VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI 11175809

Nov 29, 2018AirbagsCrash2 injuries

CAR WAS SITTING STILL AND IT WAS REAR ENDED HARD AND SENT MY CAR FORWARD INTO THE CAR WITH B FRONT OF ME MY AIR BAGS DID NOT GO OFF. IT WAS A HIGH IMPACT CRASH AND THEY SHOULD HAVE GONE OFF I WAS SEEN IN EMERGENCY ROOM WITH POSSIBLE FRACTURES TO MY STERNUM AND THIRD RIB. I FEEL THIS SHOULD BE COMPENSATED AND THE CAR MAKER NEEDS TO BE AWARE IN THE EVENT OTHER CARS HAVE THIS PROBLEM. MY CONTACT IS (XXXX) PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11154733

Sep 8, 2018AirbagsSeat beltsCrash4 injuries

THE CAR WAS REAR ENDED AT A FAST SPEED AS IT WAS PROCEEDING AT A SLOW PACE AS TRAFFIC WAS STARTING TO TAKE OFF FROM BEING AT A STAND STILL. THE PERSON DRIVING WAS SLAMMED INTO THE STEERING WHEEL AT THE SAME TIME THE SEAT BELT FLEW OFF AND THE BUCKLE STRUCK THE DRIVER ON THE ARM CAUSING INJURY THE SEATBELT WOULD NOT RETRACT BACK INTO PLACE AND ALSO THE DRIVER'S KNEE HIT THE STEERING CAUSING THE KEY TO BREAK OFF INTO THE IGNITION CAUSING INJURY TO THE KNEE AND LEG. THE CAR ACCIDENT HAPPENED ON THE TOP OF THE BRIDGE LEADING TO THE HIGHWAY. THE CAR WAS MOVING AT A SLOW PACE BECAUSE TRAFFIC HAD STOPPED THEN PROCEEDED TO GO. IT DIDN'T HAVE A CHANCE TO GO FULL SPEED BEFORE BEING STRUCK. I BELIEVE THE FORCE OF THE IMPACT CAUSED THE SEATBELT TO MALFUNCTION I DON'T KNOW WHY THE AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY.

NHTSA ODI 11128277

Feb 8, 2018Electrical systemFire

AUXILIARY BATTERY IN THE REAR COMPARTMENT FAILURE CAUSING FIRE WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND NOT POWERED ON. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN POWERLESS FOR APPROXIMATELY 10 HOURS PRIOR TO THE FIRE.

NHTSA ODI 11071803

Jun 27, 2017SteeringCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE THE CONTACT'S SON WAS PULLING INTO THE DRIVEWAY, THE STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY LOCKED AND THE VEHICLE DROVE INTO A NEARBY DITCH. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A COLLISION CENTER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE FRONT END NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,000.

NHTSA ODI 11001708

Sep 13, 2016Speed controlCrash1 injury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT DUE TO A FAULTY SEAL IN THE TRUNK, THE VEHICLE FLOODED IN FEBRUARY OF 2014. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE VIOLENTLY ACCELERATED FORWARD OR IN REVERSE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A CERVICAL NECK STRAIN THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER, BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,000.

NHTSA ODI 10906092

Aug 9, 2016Body & structureWheelsCrash1 injury

A LADY RAN A RED LIGHT AND T-BONED MY CHEVY MALIBU ON THE DRIVERS SIDE AS I WAS PROCEEDING THROUGH THE INTERSECTION. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. MY HEAD SLAMMED IN TO THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW. DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WAS SMASHED IN. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED BECAUSE IT COULDN'T BE DRIVEN. I HAVE A CONCUSSION THAT'S LASTED FOR 2 WEEKS AND BODY PAIN FROM THE ACCIDENT. SHOULDN'T THE AIRBAGS HAVE DEPLOYED?

NHTSA ODI 10894412

Jul 19, 2016SuspensionAirbagsElectronic Stability Control (esc)2 injuries

I HAVE NOTICED THAT MY CAR CUTS OFF FREQUENTLY AT STOP LIGHTS ALSO MY CAR ACCELERATES SLOW WHEN ENTERING ONTO HIGHWAY... I WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT 7/18/16 IN WHICH MY AIRBAGS ON STEERING WHEEL PARTIALLU DEPLOYED WHILE THE OTHERS DID NOT IN RESULT LEAVING ME WITH A FRACTURED FINGER.

NHTSA ODI 10885746

Dec 29, 2015SteeringBrakesCrash

DRIVING CAR ON THE EXPRESSWAY HIT A PUDDLE ABS LIGHT ALONG WITH CHECK STABIL TRAK AND CHECK BREAK ASSIST SYSTEM COME ON, FEW MINUTES DOWN THE ROAD ATTEMPT TO BREAK AND TURN WHEEL NEITHER WORK, HIT GUARD RAIL L, AFTER HITTING GUARD RAIL ANOTHER WARNING LIGHT SAYING SERVICE POWER STEERING, DRIVE WITH CARE APPEARS, TOOK TO DEALER FILED CLAIM WITH GM TO FIX BODY DAMAGE FOR MANUFACTURES DEFECT. GM DID NOTHING, BLAMED ISSUE ON WHEE BEARING.

NHTSA ODI 10816899

Sep 2, 2015AirbagsCrash1 injury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE AT A STOP AND ATTEMPTING TO YIELD FOR AN EMERGENCY VEHICLE, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED FACE INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTO REPAIR CENTER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI 10760922

Jan 16, 2015Body & structureCrash

TWO TIMES IMPACTED BY BEHIND WHEN STOPPED DUE TO TRAFFIC, FOLLOWER CARD DID NOT NOTICED IN TIME DUE TO STOP LIGHT NOT LIT. SAME SCENARIO IN BOTH CASES. NEED ADVISE ON GM RECALLS FOR MEDICAL EXPENSES COVERAGE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10672887

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Working with the data? Download all 361 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 24, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2014 Chevrolet Malibu Eco verdict →