This service bulletin provides information on Tire Sidewall Irregularities.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2014 Chevrolet Malibu wheels problems
severe Owners of the 2014 Chevrolet Malibu have filed 16 NHTSA complaints about the wheels, typically surfacing around 60,000 miles at roughly $400 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See wheels across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
16
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$400
| Model year | wheels complaints |
|---|---|
| 2010 Malibu | 19 |
| 2012 Malibu | 8 |
| 2013 Malibu | 13 |
| 2014 Malibu (this page) | 16 |
| 2016 Malibu | 8 |
| 2017 Malibu | 5 |
1crash
What stands out
Among the 8 model years of Chevrolet Malibu in our records for wheels problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering wheels on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
This service bulletin provides a procedure on how to clean and resurface aluminum wheel bead seats for vehicles that have the condition of Tire Slowly Goes Flat, Tire Air Loss, Low Tire Pressure Warning Light Illuminated, Aluminum Wheel Bead Seat Corrosion.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This bulletin advises the dealers to maintain the vehicle stock on hand by doing a full inspection on the vehicles before being sold (prepping) to the customer.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This bulletin advises the dealers to maintain the vehicle stock on hand by doing a full inspection on the vehicles before being sold (prepping) to the customer.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This service bulletin provides information on Chemical Staining, Pitting, Corrosion and/or Spotted Appearance of Chromed Aluminum Wheels.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2014 Malibu has a well-documented wheel bearing and hub assembly problem that shows up across this complaint cluster. Owners are seeing bearing failures well before they should — some as low as 19,000 miles, most clustered around 50,000–60,000 miles, when the bearing should last much longer. The failures trigger ABS, stability control, traction control, and brake assist warning lights.
The root issue appears to be the magnetic speed ring (ABS sensor ring) on the rear of the hub assembly. Owners report this ring cracks and sections break off, which causes the wheel speed sensor to lose its signal and shuts down multiple safety systems at once. When that happens, the entire hub must be replaced—the ring cannot be serviced separately. One owner documented replacing six hubs in 160,000 miles of ownership, roughly every 30,000 miles. Another replaced hubs at 22,790 miles and again at 37,000 miles.
Repairs run $400–$600 per hub, sometimes more when additional brake diagnostics or module replacement is needed. One owner's bill reached $4,200 after a cascade of repairs that still did not resolve the problem. Owners note the OEM AcDelco hub uses only one seal versus the four seals on aftermarket Moog units, which they suspect contributes to premature corrosion, especially in salt-climate regions. No recall has been issued, and Chevrolet has not provided a design fix.
Same Chevrolet Malibu wheels reports on nearby years: 2013
Failure modes owners describe
Premature Wheel Bearing/Hub Assembly Failure
Wheel bearings and hub assemblies fail well below typical service life, often before 50,000 miles. Owners report failures as early as 19,000 to 21,000 miles on some vehicles. The OEM AcDelco hubs are equipped with only one seal, which owners allege corrodes inadequately in salt-exposed climates. One owner reported replacing six axle bearing hubs at approximately 30,000-mile intervals between each failure.
When: Typically 19,000–75,000 miles; many failures concentrated around 50,000–60,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Loud roaring or road noise from wheels; Slight shimmy or vibration in rear during driving; Brake and ABS warning lights illuminate; Stability control and traction control warning lights; Brake assist warning light
Codes mentioned: ABS system malfunction codes, Stability control (StabiliTrak) fault codes, Brake assist system codes
Repairs/costs cited: OEM AcDelco replacement hub assemblies cost approximately $400–$600 per unit; one owner paid over $700 to replace both rear hubs and cited additional brake system repairs. Aftermarket Moog hubs use four seals compared to one on the OEM unit. One owner documented six replacement hubs over the life of the vehicle; another reported replacing the same hub location twice within six months.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Chevrolet has not issued a recall. Owners report that dealer service managers have acknowledged the part is faulty but warranty coverage is limited or denied based on mileage. One owner stated they contacted Chevrolet on January 5 and received a call January 14 from someone described as rude and condescending who emphasized the owner did not pay Chevrolet to repair the problem rather than addressing safety concerns.
Speed Ring Cracking on Wheel Hub
The magnetic speed ring (ABS sensor ring) bonded to the rear of the wheel hub assembly cracks and sections break off. When the ring fails, the ABS wheel speed sensor cannot read it, causing the ABS, traction control, stability control, and brake assist systems to shut down immediately. Multiple failures occur on the same vehicle, with owners reporting cracks appearing on the second hub after the first is replaced.
When: No specific mileage consistently cited for ring failure; occurs during routine driving and can develop rapidly after initial hub replacement
Symptoms owners cite: ABS warning light illuminates; Stability control (StabiliTrak) warning light illuminates; Brake assist warning light illuminates; Traction control warning light illuminates; All four systems disable simultaneously
Codes mentioned: ABS wheel speed sensor circuit fault codes, StabiliTrak system fault codes, Brake assist/Electronic Brake Module codes
Repairs/costs cited: The entire hub assembly must be replaced; the speed ring cannot be serviced separately. Replacement cost is approximately $400–$600 per hub. One owner had the speed ring crack a second time on the other rear hub shortly after the first replacement and required a second hub replacement.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recall issued. One owner stated Chevrolet is 'fully aware' of the speed ring cracking issue. Another owner noted that dealer and online forum discussions indicate this is a well-known recurring problem.
ABS and Stability Control Warning Lights with Recurrent Failures
Warning lights for ABS, stability control, and brake assist illuminate during normal driving, often recurrently. Owners repair the hub and warning lights return within months or even days. In some cases, wheel speed sensors were replaced but did not resolve the warning lights, leading to recommendations for expensive electronic brake module replacement (approximately $1,200). One owner reported a three-month interval between first hub replacement and recurrence of the same warning lights.
When: Can occur as early as 30 mph during on-ramp entry or at 40–70 mph during routine highway driving; recurrence typically 3–6 months after initial hub repair
Symptoms owners cite: ABS warning light; StabiliTrak warning light; Brake assist warning light; Traction control warning light; Shaky or rumbling brakes, especially when braking at speeds over 55 mph; Steering column vibration during braking
Codes mentioned: Multiple ABS faults, StabiliTrak control module codes, Electronic Brake Module (EBM) codes, Wheel speed sensor circuit codes
Repairs/costs cited: Initial repairs include hub replacement (~$400–$600) and wheel sensor replacement (~$100–$200 per sensor). One owner's repair history included hub replacement, throttle body replacement, valve replacement, two wheel sensor replacements, and eventually electronic brake module replacement for a cumulative ~$4,200 in repairs over a short period, with lights returning after each repair.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recall. Dealerships claim subsequent warning light occurrences are unrelated to hub replacement despite temporal proximity. One owner stated the dealership refused to acknowledge a connection between the hub replacement and subsequent brake shaking.
Complete Brake System Failure
One owner reported complete brake failure while driving at 40 mph after having the vehicle serviced at a dealership for wheel bearings and ABS brake system issues. The vehicle crashed into a van. The owner had been advised not to drive the vehicle until service was completed, received a diagnostic report stating brake and ABS problems persisted, and drove the car home before brakes failed entirely.
When: Two days after dealership service for wheel bearing and ABS system repair
Symptoms owners cite: Brakes failed completely while driving at 40 mph
Repairs/costs cited: Wheel bearings and ABS brake system service cost $1,085 at the dealership. Brake system failure occurred despite this repair and a post-service diagnostic report indicating brake and ABS problems remained.
Rubber Chunks Separating from Tire
One owner with approximately 40,000 miles on the vehicle reported observing chunks of rubber coming off the tire. This complaint lacks detail regarding cause or whether it is related to wheel bearing or hub failure.
When: 40,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Chunks of rubber separating from tire
Synthesized from 16 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had wheels trouble with your 2014 Chevrolet Malibu?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the wheels problem on the 2014 Chevrolet Malibu?
It's a meaningful issue. 16 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $400.
At what mileage does the wheels typically fail?
Across the 15 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most wheels failures cluster between 40,000 and 70,000 miles, with the median around 60,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 40,000; a quarter make it past 70,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $400 for wheels repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to wheels?
No active recalls currently cover wheels issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2014/Chevrolet/Malibu.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.