The Recall Desk
Our severity:HighNHTSA·13V567000·Announced 2013-11-13

GM Recalls 2014 Chevrolet Malibu for Defroster Software Defect

General Motors is recalling 2014 Chevrolet Malibus because the HVAC control may fail, preventing the windshield defroster from working and reducing visibility.

What this means for you

Our assessment, not the agency’s: severity 3/5 (High).

Real risk of harm even if no illness or injury has been reported yet. Stop using the product and follow the agency's guidance.

Our severity reasoning: The recall addresses a functional defect that increases the risk of a crash due to reduced visibility, fitting the rubric criterion for risk-of-harm products where injury has not yet been reported.

Plain-English summary

General Motors LLC is recalling certain model year 2014 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured between June 12, 2013, and November 5, 2013. The recall involves approximately 42,696 vehicles.

The heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) control in these vehicles may intermittently become inoperable when the vehicle is started. This failure prevents the windshield defroster from working, causing the vehicles to fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 103, "Windshield Defrosting and Defogging Systems."

The inability to turn on the windshield defroster may decrease the driver's visibility, thereby increasing the risk of a crash. GM will notify owners, and dealers will update the electronic climate control module software free of charge. The recall began in December 2013. Owners may contact GM at 1-800-521-7300 or the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236.

The recalled product

Product
CHEVROLET MALIBU
Brand
CHEVROLET
Manufacturer
General Motors LLC
Category
Vehicle — HVAC / Defroster
Hazard
Affected units
42,696

Is your product affected?

Check your packaging against the codes below. If any of them match, the product is part of this recall.

Model numbers (1)

  • MALIBU

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

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