2014 Chevrolet Malibu · symptom sheet
Brakes grind, pulse or wear early
- 37owner reports
- 70,000median miles
- $400median quote
- 2involved a crash
Newest report Jan 23, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
37 of the 318 complaints on this car describe brake wear.
Tick what matches of 37 reports
Brake wear on other Malibu years
Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them. Model years with too few reports of it for a sheet: 2015.
What this problem usually is
Brake reports cover a wide spread of symptoms. Grinding or squealing is common, and so is a pulsing pedal or a shake through the car when stopping. Others describe pads and rotors worn out long before they expected, a brake warning light, or a pedal that goes soft or sinks toward the floor. The most serious ones say the car didn't stop in time.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the ABS module (15 reports).
Recalls and investigations
2 recalls on the brakes cover the 2014 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.
The affected vehicles may experience a complete loss of brake vacuum assist, disabling the hydraulic boost assist.
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.
All 6 recalls on the 2014 Chevrolet Malibu, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
NHTSA investigations into the brakes on the Malibu
Brake backing plate. Closed nov 28, 1988.
None of these investigations covers the 2014 model year.
What owners paid
7 of the 37 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $125 to $600.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 43,000 and 90,000 miles, from the 26 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 7 service bulletins or notices for the 2014 Chevrolet Malibu that deal with this problem. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
This service bulletin informs dealers that a new Power Brake Booster Vacuum Cap will need to be replaced when installing the revised Power Brake Booster Vacuum Pipe to correct DTCs being set due to misrouting of brake booster vacuum pipe.
This service bulletin provides information for tire pressure monitoring (TPM) system concerns.
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have a brake pedal may not raise or seem stuck down after a normal braking event. Technician will need to replace the brake pedal arm.
THIS TECHNICAL BULLETIN PROVIDES A PROCEDURE TO REPROGRAM THE BCM TO CORRECT THE CUSTOMERS CONCERN OF THE BRAKE LIGHT STAYS ON WITHOUT THE BRAKE PEDAL BEING PRESSED.
3 more on the 2014 Chevrolet Malibu page.
What owners wrote
“The cars automatic start/stop will activate and not restart the car. This has happened at stop signs, stop lights, intersections, hard breaks, etc. There are no warning lights or system failed/malfunction warnings. This has been inspected multiple times with software updates, changing batteries, changing fuses, etc.”
Filed Sep 10, 2024
“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 didnât want to go so mechanic told me it had to be something the dealership could do cause itâs no way I keep up my fluids and all and my brakes just keep wearing”
Filed Jul 11, 2022
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 2 of 37 reports involved a crash. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Paid for this repair before a recall covered it? How recall reimbursement works
Other problems on this car
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 57 reports
- Check engine light or misfire 54 reports
- Traction control or StabiliTrak light comes on 30 reports