2014 Chevrolet Malibu Wipers & Visibility Problems
18 owner-reported wipers & visibility complaints from NHTSA data
Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.
Wipers & Visibility Recalls (2)
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
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."
Fix: 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.
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
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."
Fix: 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.
Owner Complaints (18)
The defrost control does not engage properly causing very poor visual conditions. Has been this way for a long time now and have not been able to get it fixed. If this problem does not get fixed soon I feel it will cause an accident. Thank you for your time.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THROUGH FOG AT 65 MPH, THE DEFROSTER WAS ACTIVATED HOWEVER, FAILED TO OPERATE AS NEEDED. THE CONTACT WAS FORCED TO PULL OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROADWAY AND MANUALLY WIPE THE INSIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD. THE CONTACT PLACED THE HEATER ON THE MAXIMUM LEVEL TO KEEP THE WINDSHIELD FROM FOGGING UP. THE CONTACT CALLED RAY SKILLMAN CHEVROLET (3891 S POST RD, INDIANAPOLIS, IN 46239) WHERE SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V567000 (VISIBILITY). THE CONTACT WAS PROVIDED AN ESTIMATE FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO INFORMED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT AN INVESTIGATION WOULD BE OPENED INTO THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT SHE COULD PAY FOR THE REPAIR OUT OF POCKET AND BE REIMBURSED IF THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED UNDER RECALL. THE CONTACT WAS PROVIDED A CASE NUMBER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 51,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEFROST SYSTEM WAS INOPERABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEFROST SYSTEM FAILED TO CLEAR THE WINDSHIELD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V567000 (VISIBILITY). QUIRK CHEVROLET OF PORTLAND (1000 BRIGHTON AVE, PORTLAND, ME 04102, (207) 420-8968) WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM FAILED TO FUNCTION CORRECTLY AND FROSTED THE WINDSHIELD WHILE DRIVING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE ALSO OCCURRED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED UP TO BE DRIVEN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,378.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD DEFROSTER FAILED TO DEFROST THE WINDSHIELD. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE WINDSHIELD DEFROSTER FAILED TO OPERATE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS UNDER THE VIN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.
IF I CHANGE THE SETTINGS OF MY DEFROST OR HEAT/AC AT ALL, THE BLOWER STOPS WORKING. IT WILL THEN COME BACK ON RANDOMLY IN 10 MINS OR AN HOUR OR DAYS. WHILE DRIVING I WON'T BE ABLE TO DEFROST MY WINDSHIELD AT ALL. MY DEALER RESET THE COMPUTER (MARCH) AND IT WAS FINE BUT NOW HAS STARTED AGAIN. NOW IT IS BACK TO JUST NOT TURNING ON RANDOMLY. MY VIN IS NOT APART OF THE RECALL?
I HAVE HAD MY CAR FOR 10 MONTHS AND WENT TO START IT ON 5/31/18 AND THERE WAS NO HVAC AT ALL. I TRIED TURNING THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTING IT BUT TO NO AVAIL. EVENTUALLY IT DID COME BACK ON A FEW DAYS LATER BUT IT IS HAPPENING INTERMITTENTLY. LIVING IN S. FLORIDA IT GETS VERY HUMID AND WHEN IT RAINS THE WINDSHIELD STEAMS UP SO YOU HAVE TO RUN THE AC. AT THIS POINT I HAVE TO PULL OVER OR OPEN ALL THE WINDOWS WHICH SOAKS MY INTERIOR. MY HUSBAND HAS A HEART CONDITION AND I AM VERY AFRAID TAKING HIM TO HIS APPOINTMENTS. I WENT ONLINE AND RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM AND IT APPEARS IT HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE 2013 BUT NO RECALLS HAVE BEEN MADE. IT HAS BEEN MENTIONED BY SOME THAT IT IS A SOFTWARE PROBLEM THAT CAN BE DONE BY THE DEALER BUT NO DEALER WILL TAKE CARE OF IT WITHOUT CHARGING ME. I DO NOT WANT TO TAKE IT ANYWHERE ELSE FOR FEAR OF SOMEONE MISSING UP THE COMPUTER ALL TOGETHER. PLEASE HELP! THIS IS AS BAD AS DRIVING WITH NO WIPERS. THEY SHOULD HAVE DONE A RECALL WITH AS MANY COMPLAINTS THAT I HAVE SEEN ONLINE ALONE.
I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 65MPH WITH THE SUN ROOF TILTED UP WHEN IT SUDDENLY EXPLODED. NOTHING HIT THE GLASS. I WAS NOT AROUND ANY TRUCKS OR OVERPASSES. GLASS SHARDS CARPETED THE VEHICLE INTERIOR. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. IT WAS A SUNNY DAY AND THE TEMPERATURE WAS 68 DEGREES.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN OR WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER AND WINDSHIELD DEFOGGER WERE ACTIVATED, THE WINDSHIELD FAILED TO DEFOG. THE FAILURE MADE IT DIFFICULT FOR THE CONTACT TO SEE THE ROAD. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CALLED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V567000 (VISIBILITY). THE FAILURE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 75,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE FRONT WINDSHIELD DEFROSTER FAILED TO DEFROST. A DEALER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 121,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
VEHICLE HEATING AND A/C QUIT WORKING. VEHICLE HAD A RECALL BACK IN 2014 WHERE HVAC MODULE WAS REPROGRAMMED. DURING THAT TIME NONE OF THE CONTROLS FOR HVAC SEEMED TO HAVE ANY POWER (NO LIGHTS). DURING CURRENT ISSUE ALL THE LIGHTS STILL LIGHT UP ON THE CONTROLS, BUT THE BLOWER MOTOR DOES NOT FUNCTION.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE SUN ROOF EXPLODED AND SHATTERED GLASS WAS ALL OVER THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (GARRETT MOTORS IN COOLIDGE, AZ, 520-723-5401) AND THEY STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS UNUSUAL, AND THAT SOMETHING MUST HAVE CAUSED THE EXPLOSION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 71,000.
UPON ENTERING VEHICLE AND STARTING UP TO GO TO WORK, THE HEATING AND VENTILATION SYSTEM DID NOT WORK , TURNED CAR ON AND OFF MULTIPLE TIMES AND STILL WOULD NOT WORK. DROVE CAR TO WORK AND THE HEAT WAS STUCK ON HIGH AND THE VENTS WERE UNTOUCHABLE DUE TO NOT BEING ABLE TO OPERATE HEAT/AIR OR ANY OTHER BUTTONS ON THE SYSTEM FOR THAT. STARTED RAINING ON THE WAY AND HAD TO USE WIPERS AND PUT WINDOWS UP AND WINDOWS STARTED TO FOG AND UNABLE TO CLEAR THEM DUE TO THIS REASON ALSO, WILL TRY TO TAKE IN TO THE DEALERSHIP IN THE MORNING AND HOPE THEY CAN FIX THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS ABOUT THE 3RD TIME SINCE I HAD THE CAR THAT IT HAS DONE THIS, BUT THE OTHER 2 TIMES IT WAS ONLY FOR A SHORTER TIME THAN THIS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS VISION WAS OBSCURED BY THE TOP OF THE DASHBOARD REFLECTING ONTO THE WINDSHIELD. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,500. UPDATED 01/12/15*LJ UPDATED 9/7/2017*CN
WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE HVAC FAN CONTROL WAS NOT FUNCTIONAL. THE POWER INDICATOR LIGHT WAS NOT ILLUMINATED AND THERE WAS NO BLOWING REGARDLESS OF WHERE THE KNOB WAS POSITIONED. THIS PREVENTED THE DEFROST FUNCTION TO ENGAGE, AND AS A RESULT THERE WAS POOR VISIBILITY THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD. I TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE AND RESTARTED IT, AND THE HVAC FAN WOULD STILL NOT FUNCTION. I CHECKED THE FUSE BOX, AND THE FUSE WAS NOT BLOWN. LATER IN THE DAY, I STARTED THE CAR THE NEXT DAY AND THE FAN WAS WORKING PROPERLY. THIS ISSUE HAS OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES OVER THE PAST FEW WEEKS. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO A DEALERSHIP AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. THIS MALIBU DOES FALL INTO THE PRODUCTION DATES OF THE NOV 2013 VISIBILITY RECALL. *TR
2014 CHEVROLET MALIBU. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO WINDSHIELD VISIBILITY PROBLEMS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE SAME THE DAY THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, HE NOTICED PROBLEMS WITH THE WINDSHIELD VISIBILITY BECAUSE THE AC SYSTEM WENT OUT OF CONTROL THROWING THE AIR DIRECTLY TO THE WINDSHIELD AND THE CONSUMER HAD DIFFICULTY TURNING IT OFF. THE NEXT DAY, THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO SEE OUT OF THE WINDSHIELD AGAIN. A FEW MONTHS LATER, IT HAPPENED AGAIN AND THE CONSUMER WENT TO THE DEALER, AND THE CONSUMER WAS THEN INFORMED, THE VEHICLE WAS RECALLED FOR THE VERY ISSUE. HOWEVER, THE DEALER CLAIMED THE ISSUE WAS FIXED, BEFORE THE VEHICLE WAS SOLD TO THE CONSUMER. THE CONSUMER CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE THE PROBLEM WITH THE AC. THE CONSUMER REFERENCED RECALL # 13V567000. *JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN USING THE REAR VIEW MIRROR WITH THE LIGHT SHINING ON THE REAR WINDSHIELD IT BLOCKED HIS VISIBILITY WHILE DRIVING IN REVERSE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 400. UPDATED 8/19/14*CN UPDATED 08/27/2014 *JS