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2017 Chevrolet Malibu

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Malibu years

Owner complaints for the 2017 Chevrolet Malibu are substantially higher than the model-year median of 310.5.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

397 reports with mileage · 305 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Engine. Review the 253 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 161 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 139 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

16 crash reports4 fire reports8 injury reports

Engine complaints

253 reports
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75,000 miles · Jan 23, 2020
Engine

I BOUGHT MY 2017 MALIBU IN JULY OF 2019 FROM A CHEVY DEALERSHIP. SINCE I'VE BOUGHT IT MY CAR HAS RAPIDLY SLOWED DOWN WITH NOW WARNING AND MY DASHBOARD READING ENGINE POWER REDUCED. IT'S HAPPENED 5 TIMES SINCE I GOT THE CAR ONE BEING I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY AND ALMOST GOT HIT BY A SEMI ON MY WAY TO WORK IN MORNING TRAFFIC. I LOOKED …

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I BOUGHT MY 2017 MALIBU IN JULY OF 2019 FROM A CHEVY DEALERSHIP. SINCE I'VE BOUGHT IT MY CAR HAS RAPIDLY SLOWED DOWN WITH NOW WARNING AND MY DASHBOARD READING ENGINE POWER REDUCED. IT'S HAPPENED 5 TIMES SINCE I GOT THE CAR ONE BEING I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY AND ALMOST GOT HIT BY A SEMI ON MY WAY TO WORK IN MORNING TRAFFIC. I LOOKED UP THIS ISSUE TO SEE WHAT COULD BE CAUSING IT AND TURNS OUT OTHER 2016-2018 MALIBU'S HAVE THE SAME ISSUES. I TOOK IT TO AUTOZONE FOR A DIAGNOSIS AND IT'S THE THROTTLE PEDAL POSITION BEING FARTHER APART THAN ALLOWED. THE DEALERSHIP IS CHARGING ME $200 TO FIX THE ISSUE AND I HAVE ONLY HAD THIS CAR FOR 6 MONTHS.

NHTSA ODI #11301315

100,275 miles · Jan 22, 2020
EnginePower TrainVehicle Speed Control

I WAS TRAVELING IN MY VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY GOING AT LEAST 65 TO 75 MPH AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY VEHICLE BEATS TWO OR THREE TIMES AND ACROSS THE SCREEN CAME THE WORDS 'REDUCE ENGINE SPEED'. AT THAT MOMENT I WAS TRAVELING IN THE MIDDLE LANE AND I HAD TO SAFELY GET OVER TO THE FAR RIGHT MEDIAN IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC SAFELY TURN O…

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I WAS TRAVELING IN MY VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY GOING AT LEAST 65 TO 75 MPH AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY VEHICLE BEATS TWO OR THREE TIMES AND ACROSS THE SCREEN CAME THE WORDS 'REDUCE ENGINE SPEED'. AT THAT MOMENT I WAS TRAVELING IN THE MIDDLE LANE AND I HAD TO SAFELY GET OVER TO THE FAR RIGHT MEDIAN IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC SAFELY TURN OFF AND WAIT AT LEAST 10 MINUTES TO START IT BACK UP. WHEN I STARTED MY VEHICLE BACK UP AGAIN I STILL RECEIVED THE SAME MESSAGE. I THEN WAITED EVEN LONGER AND EVERYTHING WAS OK BUT EVENTUALLY THE SAME ISSUE CONTINUED TO HAPPEN SEVERAL TIMES. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO GET CODED AND THE CODES THAT WERE GIVEN TO ME WERE 2122, 2123, 2101. IT'S UNSAFE FOR THIS TO HAPPEN ESPECIALLY I HAVE A CHILD THIS IS NO SAFE FOR ME.

NHTSA ODI #11301237

70,000 miles · Jan 22, 2020
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

THE CAR WILL NOT START SOMETIMES. YESTERDAY THE LIGHTS AND RADIO CAME ON RANDOMLY WHILE SITTING IN THE GARAGE WITH THE FOB IN THE HOUSE. RANDOMLY SHUTS DOWN WHILE DRIVING. THE LAST TIME IT WAS HALF WAY THROUGH AN BUSY INTERSECTION. HAD TO PUSH THE CAR OFF THE ROAD.

NHTSA ODI #11301109

75,000 miles · Jan 16, 2020
EnginePower TrainVehicle Speed Control

WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY GOING 70 MPH, MY TRACTION CONTROL, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, AND A WARNING FLASH ACROSS MY DASHBOARD SAYING ENGINE SPEED REDUCED. MY CAR WENT FROM GOING 70 MPH TO 40 MPH AND WOULDN'T GO ANY HIGHER. I IMMEDIATELY GOT OFF THE FREEWAY TOOK PICTURES OF THE LIGHTS. LUCKILY I HAVE A ANTI LEFT DEVICE THAT READS OFF C…

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WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY GOING 70 MPH, MY TRACTION CONTROL, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, AND A WARNING FLASH ACROSS MY DASHBOARD SAYING ENGINE SPEED REDUCED. MY CAR WENT FROM GOING 70 MPH TO 40 MPH AND WOULDN'T GO ANY HIGHER. I IMMEDIATELY GOT OFF THE FREEWAY TOOK PICTURES OF THE LIGHTS. LUCKILY I HAVE A ANTI LEFT DEVICE THAT READS OFF CODES FOR MY CHECK ENGINE LIKE CODE P2138 IS WHAT CAME UP. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS, I HAD MY [XXX] CHILD IN THE CAR WITH ME AND WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED DUE TO LOSS OF POWER FROM SUCH A HIGH SPEED. *DL PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ODI #11299798

22,000 miles · Jan 10, 2020
EnginePower TrainVehicle Speed Control

DRIVING AT ABOUT 55MPH THEN WITHOUT WARNING MESSAGE ON INSTRUMENT CLUSTER SHOWED LOW POWER ENGINE MODE WITH EMISSION WARNING ICON ILLUMINATED. SPEED DROPPED ALMOST INSTANTLY FROM 55MPH TO ABOUT 35MPH!!!!! SETTING STAGE FOR POSSIBLE REAR END COLLISION BUT WAS LUCKY THIS TIME.

NHTSA ODI #11298435

Mileage unknown · Jan 6, 2020
EnginePower TrainVehicle Speed Control

VEHICLE ABRUPTLY SLOWED IN HEAVY TRAFFIC FOR NO APPARENT REASON. VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AS HAVING A FAULTY ACCELERATOR PEDAL. PART WAS REPLACED AT OWNERS EXPENSE 14 MONTHS INTO THE LIFE OF THE CAR. 8 MONTHS LATER THE VEHICLE STARTED TO DO THE SAME THING FOR THE NEXT 5 MONTHS, SOMETIMES 3 TO 4 TIMES IN ONE DAY OR NOT AL ALL FOR SE…

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VEHICLE ABRUPTLY SLOWED IN HEAVY TRAFFIC FOR NO APPARENT REASON. VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AS HAVING A FAULTY ACCELERATOR PEDAL. PART WAS REPLACED AT OWNERS EXPENSE 14 MONTHS INTO THE LIFE OF THE CAR. 8 MONTHS LATER THE VEHICLE STARTED TO DO THE SAME THING FOR THE NEXT 5 MONTHS, SOMETIMES 3 TO 4 TIMES IN ONE DAY OR NOT AL ALL FOR SEVERAL WEEKS. CAR WAS AGAIN PRESENTED TO DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC AND IT SHOWED THAT THE SAME FAULT OCCURRED. THIS IS A SEVERE SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY GENERAL MOTORS. FAULT CODES P2138 FOR ACCELERATOR PEDAL, C0242 AND U0401 FOR TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM. NEITHER OF THESE FAULTS WERE ADDRESSED BY THE DEALER DURING THE REPAIR.

NHTSA ODI #11297372

60,000 miles · Dec 27, 2019
EngineVehicle Speed Control

THE CAR RANDOMLY WILL REDUCE ENGINE POWER, LOWERING SPEEDS TO 20MPH OR LESS. THIS HAPPENS UNEXPECTEDLY. THIS HAS OCCURED OVER 20 TIMES OVER THE PAST 7 DAYS, INCLUDING ON THE HIGHWAY. I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 70MPH AND THE IMMEDIATELY DROPPED TO 20MPH, CAUSING ME TO SWERVE TO THE SHOULDER AND ALMOST WAS HIT BY THREE ON COM…

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THE CAR RANDOMLY WILL REDUCE ENGINE POWER, LOWERING SPEEDS TO 20MPH OR LESS. THIS HAPPENS UNEXPECTEDLY. THIS HAS OCCURED OVER 20 TIMES OVER THE PAST 7 DAYS, INCLUDING ON THE HIGHWAY. I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 70MPH AND THE IMMEDIATELY DROPPED TO 20MPH, CAUSING ME TO SWERVE TO THE SHOULDER AND ALMOST WAS HIT BY THREE ON COMING VEHICLES AT HIGH RATES OF SPEED.

NHTSA ODI #11291498

83,000 miles · Dec 21, 2019
Electronic Stability Control (esc)EngineSteering

I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND I CAME TO A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND MY VEHICLE SHUT DOWN AND WOULD NOT START BACK. IT WAS FRIGHTENING BECAUSE SOMEONE COULD HAVE HIT ME FROM BEHIND. AFTER THE OFFICER JUMP MY CAR OFF IT CRANK BACK UP BUT I TOOK IT TO THE SHOP AND PLACE ON THE MACHINE AND THE BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR IS FINE…

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I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND I CAME TO A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND MY VEHICLE SHUT DOWN AND WOULD NOT START BACK. IT WAS FRIGHTENING BECAUSE SOMEONE COULD HAVE HIT ME FROM BEHIND. AFTER THE OFFICER JUMP MY CAR OFF IT CRANK BACK UP BUT I TOOK IT TO THE SHOP AND PLACE ON THE MACHINE AND THE BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR IS FINE. THE CAR SINCE THEN HAVE SHUT DOWN 4 MORE TIMES AND AFTER SITTING FOR A WHILE IT STARTED BACK UP. ONCE AGAIN THIS HAPPENED IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. PLEASE CHECK IF OTHERS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. ALSO A FEW TIMES THE DOORS CAME UNLOCK AT A STOP LIGHT OR STOPPING OF THE VEHICLE. PLEASE HELP. 2017 MALIBU EZ

NHTSA ODI #11290650

23,957 miles · Dec 16, 2019
EngineFuel/propulsion System

ON NOVEMBER 27 ,MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE MALIBU AT 55 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN SHE EXPERIENCED LOSS OF ENGINE POWER,DOWN TO 20 MPH. . TRAFFIC BACKED UP AND CAME TO SCREECHING SLOW DOWN. SHE FERRIED FOR HER SAFETY AND PULLED OVER IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. SHE SHUT ENGINE OFF AND RESTARTED VEHICLE TO CONTINUE DRIVE HOME AT NO MORE THAN 30 M…

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ON NOVEMBER 27 ,MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE MALIBU AT 55 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN SHE EXPERIENCED LOSS OF ENGINE POWER,DOWN TO 20 MPH. . TRAFFIC BACKED UP AND CAME TO SCREECHING SLOW DOWN. SHE FERRIED FOR HER SAFETY AND PULLED OVER IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. SHE SHUT ENGINE OFF AND RESTARTED VEHICLE TO CONTINUE DRIVE HOME AT NO MORE THAN 30 MPH. CONTACTED DEALER AND THEY COULD NOT GET TO IT TILL FOLLOWING WEEK. SHE DID NOT DRIVE IT ANYMORE. DIAGNOSIS AT DEALER WAS BAD ACCELERATOR SWITCH. THEY DID NOT HAVE ANY AND SAID IT MAYBE MONTHS BECAUSE OF THIS BIG PROBLEM. MY CAR WAS DOWN 15 DAYS FOR THIS PROBLEM BEFOR IT WAS FIXED.

NHTSA ODI #11289343

74,500 miles · Dec 14, 2019
EngineVehicle Speed Control

ENGINE POWER REDUCED WARNING CAME ON WITH ENGINE LIGHT AND TRACTION LIGHT CAR SPEED DROPPED

NHTSA ODI #11289032

Official recalls

4

21V649000 · Seat Belts:critical Fasteners; Seat Belts:rear/other:retractor

Aug 20, 2021

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2021 Chevrolet Malibu and 2019-2021 Cadillac XT4 vehicles. The rear seat belt retractors may be improperly secured with loose or missing fasteners.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: An improperly secured seat belt retractor may not function properly in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect and tighten the rear seat belt retractors, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 17, 2021. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 and Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N212333380.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Seat Belts:rear/other:retractor

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2021 Chevrolet Malibu and 2019-2021 Cadillac XT4 vehicles. The rear seat belt retractors may be improperly secured with loose or missing fasteners.

Consequence: An improperly secured seat belt retractor may not function properly in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect and tighten the rear seat belt retractors, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 17, 2021. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 and Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N212333380.

Seat Belts:critical Fasteners

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2021 Chevrolet Malibu and 2019-2021 Cadillac XT4 vehicles. The rear seat belt retractors may be improperly secured with loose or missing fasteners.

Consequence: An improperly secured seat belt retractor may not function properly in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect and tighten the rear seat belt retractors, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 17, 2021. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 and Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N212333380.

18V400000 · Air Bags:sensor:occupant Classification

Jun 14, 2018

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles. During servicing, a Passenger Presence System (PPS) may have been installed that was not correctly calibrated to the vehicle's seat type. As a result, the PPS may not properly identify an adult passenger from a child passenger in the front passenger seat, potentially causing the air bag to not deploy when it should, or causing the air bag to deploy when it shouldn't.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: In the event of a crash, improper air bag deployment can increase the risk of injury.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger PPS seat service kit, free of charge. The recall began August 7, 2018. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 18208.

18V358000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump

May 31, 2018

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2018 GMC Canyon, 2016-2017 Buick Envision, 2016-2018 Chevrolet Colorado and Malibu, 2017-2018 GMC Acadia, 2018 Buick LaCrosse, Cadillac ATS, Chevrolet Equinox, and GMC Terrain vehicles. The high pressure fuel pump may detach from its mounting flange, possibly resulting in the pump damaging the high pressure fuel line.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A damaged fuel line can create a fuel leak, increasing the risk of a fire.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the high pressure fuel pump, and high pressure fuel pipe, free of charge. The recall began July 2, 2018. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 18188.

16V870000 · Air Bags:side/window

Dec 2, 2016

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2017 Malibu vehicles manufactured on November 10, 2016. The right-hand rear side air bag inflator manifold may have insufficient welds.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Insufficient welds could cause the inflator to separate and propel air bag debris into the cabin during a crash. Also, the inflator could fail to inflate during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear side air bag modules, free of charge. The recall began on January 25, 2017. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 16146.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.