2014 Chevrolet Malibu Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe engine problems tied to an intake oil control valve, which typically show up as a check engine light, hesitation, surging or a sudden loss of power while driving. Many complaints mention that the replacement part was described as unavailable or discontinued, leaving vehicles waiting at dealers. Electrical complaints center on the automatic stop/start feature shutting the engine off and being slow or unable to restart, and a smaller group describes brake pedal and power steering assist problems.

1. 1
   Engine

   Intake rocker arm oil control valve failure

   • 57 complaints (16%)
   • median 82,500 mi at 6.2 yrs old (40 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2014–2025

   Owners describe a check engine light that stays on, often with hesitation, surging, shuddering or a sudden loss of propulsion at speed or during acceleration. Dealers and independent mechanics diagnosed the intake rocker arm oil control valve (part 12633613) or its solenoid as the source, and several complaints state the part was on national back order or no longer produced, so the vehicle could not be repaired. A few owners report oil leaking or smoke under the hood when the valve failed, and some say the engine was ultimately replaced. Spread widely from under 25,000 miles to over 130,000 miles, with many reports in the 45,000-100,000 mile range.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask for service records showing whether the intake rocker arm oil control valve or solenoid has been replaced, and check the engine oil level and for leaks or fuel smell. A scan for stored codes such as P16D0, P16CF or P0011 before purchase is worthwhile.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Engine light keeps coming on while driving or stationary. I had a diagnostics test done they said it is the rocker arm solenoid. They said there is a national back order and 1 of our local dealers had 6 cars waiting for this part at the time and had already been waiting for several months. This is obviously a manufacturing defect that GM should be doing a recall for.”

   NHTSA complaint #11302538, filed 2020-01, 95,694 miles

   “For a few years after purchasing my vehicle I noticed sometimes it would stutter or throttle and surge while driving, but every time I took it to the dealer they were unable to duplicate the problem. Now the source of the problem I believe is error code p16d0, but there is no recall on this part that is mentioned in this code. General motors should compensate vehicle purchasers who have run into this issue.”

   NHTSA complaint #11362957, filed 2020-10, 74,500 miles
2. 2
   Electrical system

   Automatic stop/start shuts off and is slow to restart

   • 112 complaints (32%)
   • median 75,000 mi at 5.9 yrs old (57 state mileage)
   • 8 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2014–2026

   Complaints describe the engine shutting down at a stop light and then failing to restart promptly when the brake is released, sometimes requiring multiple key cycles or a jump start. Some owners report the dash, radio and climate controls going blank at the same time, and that there is no way to switch the feature off. A few mention the car stalling at low speed or on coming to a stop rather than only at idle. Mostly reported between 50,000 and 150,000 miles, often during city driving at stops.

   What to check: During a test drive, stop fully and let the engine auto-stop to see whether it restarts cleanly. Ask whether the auxiliary battery has been replaced and whether the stop/start system has been diagnosed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Auto/stop is having issues. When in gauged it stalls the car out and will not allow it to turn back over. I have been in traffic at a stop light several times when this has happened and almost got into an accident because of it. Also I am having an issue with my rpms jumping and the car losing power. I have replaced both the intake and the exhaust solenoid and still lose power.”

   NHTSA complaint #11351565, filed 2020-08, 110,000 miles

   “When the vehicle comes to a complete stop... And the start stop is being activated it completely shuts the vehicle off and it is hard to restart the vehicle... Most of the time I have to get somebody to jump start my vehicle in order to get it back in motion... I feel that it is a safety issue if I am at the traffic light and there is ongoing traffic or if I have to slam on brakes or if there is a emergency”

   NHTSA complaint #11394739, filed 2021-02, 150,000 miles
3. 3
   Engine

   Reduced engine power and stalling while driving

   • 62 complaints (18%)
   • median 78,600 mi at 6.1 yrs old (39 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2015–2025

   Owners describe a 'reduced engine power' or 'service stabilitrak' message followed by the vehicle decelerating on its own, sometimes at highway speed. Complaints mention throttle position sensor, variable valve timing solenoid and loose intake manifold bolts as the diagnosed sources, with some vehicles stalling and restarting only after being pulled over. Several describe repeated repairs that did not fully resolve the symptom. Reported from around 20,000 miles up to 110,000 miles and beyond, at both city and highway speeds.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check for stored codes such as P2138, P0171 or P0011 and ask whether the throttle body, pedal sensor or VVT solenoids have been replaced. Confirm the intake manifold bolts have been checked for tightness.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11377431, filed 2020-12, 90,000 miles

   “Driving down freeway about 70 MPH when all of a sudden I hear a chime then engine seems to downshift but it actually reduced speed quickly. I look up at dash and see that it says, 'engine power is reduced'. I then notice to the left of dash that the engine pic is lit up. I put my hazard lights on and exit the freeway right away. What I would normally do is open up the owners manuel and find out a little more to what's going on. I just purchased the car and it didn't come with one. I decided to take side streets the rest of way home. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11341531, filed 2020-07, 109,000 miles
4. 4
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission hesitation and failure to shift

   • 87 complaints (25%)
   • median 65,000 mi at 5.6 yrs old (59 state mileage)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2014–2026

   Complaints describe hesitation when shifting into gear, jerking or shuddering during acceleration, and in some cases a 'transmission failure' message with the vehicle dropping out of gear. Owners report independent mechanics diagnosing transmission failure, and some connect the behavior to a known shift-cable adjuster condition covered by a prior campaign, though their vehicles were not always included. Typically reported between about 80,000 and 130,000 miles, mostly during low-speed acceleration.

   Recall 14V0920001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask whether the transmission shift cable adjuster campaign was performed for this VIN, and test low-speed acceleration for hesitation or harsh shifts. Have the fluid condition and any stored transmission codes checked.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “This car allows you to shift to reverse, neutral, drive, etc. Without putting your foot on the break. You can shift to park while you are driving down the highway.”

   NHTSA complaint #11329189, filed 2020-06, 42,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2014 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that when she started the vehicle, the vehicle was in manual mode while the vehicle was parked. The vehicle failed to shift into gear as needed. An independent mechanic diagnosed the vehicle and replaced the battery; however, the failure persisted. The dealer was contacted, and the contact explained that her vehicle had experienced the failure listed in NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V092000 (Power Train). …”

   NHTSA complaint #11476882, filed 2022-08, 214,000 miles
5. 5
   Brakes

   Brake pedal and power steering assist cutting out

   Mentioned in 4 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners describe the brake pedal feeling unresponsive or the vehicle seeming to shut off while braking to a stop, and separately report power steering assist dropping out at random with warning lights across the dash. Dealers diagnosed electrical brake components and steering assist parts, and in several cases the parts were reported as discontinued. Some complaints also mention front rotors needing replacement. Mostly between about 75,000 and 160,000 miles, at low speed when braking or turning.

   Recall 14V247000Recall 14V240000

   What to check: Ask whether the brake vacuum assist and front rotor campaigns apply to this VIN and were completed. During the test drive, brake firmly from low speed and check that steering assist does not drop out when turning at parking speeds.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The contact owns a 2014 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that the heater and A/C system were inoperable. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the contact was provided an estimate for the repairs and for other unrelated repairs. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. Additionally, the contact stated that after turning off the vehicle, the vehicle restarted independently without the key in the ignition switch. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11682804, filed 2025-08, 139,098 miles

   “The contact owns a 2014 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated while approaching a stop sign, the contact felt as if the vehicle was shutting off without any warning. The contact stated he released his foot off the brake pedal and the vehicle started operating normally. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who confirmed that the electrical brake traction needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired due to parts were discontinued. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11500543, filed 2023-01, 100,000 miles

Buying note. Have a pre-purchase scan done for stored engine and transmission codes and ask for records on the intake oil control valve work, since several owners report the part being hard to source. Also confirm which open campaigns apply to the specific VIN and check brake and steering assist behavior on a test drive.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.