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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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35,000 miles · Oct 15, 2018
EngineVehicle Speed Control

WAS DRIVING WITH CAR IN DRIVE AND CAR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WITH TRACTION SIGNAL STATING 'REDUCED SPEEDS'. HAD TO PULL OVER AND CAR WOULD NOT GO PAST 20 MPH. CUT CAR ON AND OFF 3 TIMES BEFORE THE REDUCED SPEED SIGNAL WENT OFF. WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND IT HAPPENED AGAIN AND I IMMEDIATELY HAD TO GET OFF THE HIGHWAY BECA…

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WAS DRIVING WITH CAR IN DRIVE AND CAR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WITH TRACTION SIGNAL STATING 'REDUCED SPEEDS'. HAD TO PULL OVER AND CAR WOULD NOT GO PAST 20 MPH. CUT CAR ON AND OFF 3 TIMES BEFORE THE REDUCED SPEED SIGNAL WENT OFF. WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND IT HAPPENED AGAIN AND I IMMEDIATELY HAD TO GET OFF THE HIGHWAY BECAUSE MY KIDS WERE IN THE CAR.

NHTSA ODI #11140314

29,959 miles · Sep 27, 2018
Electrical SystemEngineUnknown Or Other

TAKATA RECALL: JUST PURCHASED A USED 2017 MALIBU PREMIER IN JULY 2018 WITH 26,000 MILES ON IT AND IT IS HESITATING TO START EVERY MORNING. EACH INITIAL START THERE AFTER THE CAR STARTS RIGHT UP AFTER I'VE PUT 3000 MILES ON THE CAR THE ENGINE JUMPS WHILE HOLDING BREAK.

NHTSA ODI #11131942

11,989 miles · Sep 24, 2018
EngineSteeringVehicle Speed Control

GEAR SHIFTER GAVE OUT WHILE DRIVING. ALMOST GOT REAR ENDED. CAR SHIFTED ITSELF INTO NEUTRAL EVEN THOUGH I SHIFTED GEARS INTO PARK ONCE I GOT TO A SAFE PLACE COMPUTER SCREEN READ NEUTRAL. CAR WOULD NOT TURN OFF FROM ACCESSORY MODE AND SAID "SHIFT TO PARK" BUT IT WOULD NOT. THEN WHEN I TRIED TO SHIFT IT JUMPED HARD AND YOU COULD …

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GEAR SHIFTER GAVE OUT WHILE DRIVING. ALMOST GOT REAR ENDED. CAR SHIFTED ITSELF INTO NEUTRAL EVEN THOUGH I SHIFTED GEARS INTO PARK ONCE I GOT TO A SAFE PLACE COMPUTER SCREEN READ NEUTRAL. CAR WOULD NOT TURN OFF FROM ACCESSORY MODE AND SAID "SHIFT TO PARK" BUT IT WOULD NOT. THEN WHEN I TRIED TO SHIFT IT JUMPED HARD AND YOU COULD SEE THE ENGINE JUMP AS IF IT WASN'T MOUNTED PROPERLY. WAS ABLE TO GET TO A SAFE PLACE BUT HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO DEALER. DEALER CALLED TODAY TO SAY IT WAS GEAR SHIFTER. WENT BAD BUT THE BATTERY HAD DRAINED TOO AND THEY REFUSED TO REPLACE BATTERY. THE SHIFTER PROBLEM IS DANGEROUS . I ONLY HAD 11989 MILES ON IT AND IT IS 1 YEAR OLD.

NHTSA ODI #11130920

24,180 miles · Sep 17, 2018
Electronic Stability Control (esc)EngineUnknown Or Other

I PURCHASED 2017 CHEVROLET MALIBU IN 03/ 2017 WITH APPROXIMATELY 7 MILES AT THE OURISMAN ROCKMONT CHEVROLET, LOCATED IN ROCKVILLE, MARYLAND. AT ABOUT 20,000 (12/23/2018) MILES I BROUGHT THE CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT DIAGNOSED AS I HAD A NEAR DEATH EXPERIENCE WHEN I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT & THEN TRIED TO ACCELERAT…

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I PURCHASED 2017 CHEVROLET MALIBU IN 03/ 2017 WITH APPROXIMATELY 7 MILES AT THE OURISMAN ROCKMONT CHEVROLET, LOCATED IN ROCKVILLE, MARYLAND. AT ABOUT 20,000 (12/23/2018) MILES I BROUGHT THE CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT DIAGNOSED AS I HAD A NEAR DEATH EXPERIENCE WHEN I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT & THEN TRIED TO ACCELERATE WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN EXCEPT THE CAR STALLED ONCE THE EMISSIONS PORTION OF THE CAR TRIED TO KICK IN, IT CUT OFF AND DID NOT RESTART IN THE MIDDLE OF A 4 WAY INTERSECTION. I TRIED RESTARTING THE CAR FOR ABOUT 0 MINS UNTIL THEN FINALLY THE ACR RESTARTED AGAIN. THIS OCCURENCE CONTINUED TO HAPPEN PEIODICALLY, I AM NOT SURE WHAT THE CAUSE OF THIS REACTION, BUT I LET THE DEALERSHIP KNOW IF EVERY INSTANCE AND BROUGHTTHE CAR IN TO BE CHECKED AT 20,000 MILES, 24,000 , 26, 000 MILES & 27,000 MILES. I WAS TOLD BY THE REPRESENTATIVE "GUY" THAT GMC WAS NOTIFIED AND THAT I SHOULDN'T CONTINUE TO BRING THE CAR THERE. THAT WAS APRIL 2018. UNFORTUNATELY, THE INCIDENT HAPPENED AGAIN WHILE I WAS LEAVING THE GARAGE AT WORK. CAR CUT OFF ANOTHER CAR ALMOST SLAMMED IN THE BACK OF MY CAR DUE THE ABRUPTNESS OF THE CAR GOING OUT. THE SSUE HAS NEVER BEEN ADDRESSED BY THE DEALERSHIP AND DURING THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT AUGUST 2018 I TOOK THE CAR IN TO ADVISE THEM OF THIS ISSUE IN ADDITION TO A KNOCKING SOUND IN THE REAR OF THE CAR. I WAS TOLD IN AUGUST 2018 THAT I AM OUTSIDE OF MY WARRANTY AND THAT I WOULD BE CHARGED A DIAGNOSTIC FEE. MY CAR HAS ABOUT 50,000 MILES CURRENTLY. THAT IS NEITHER HERE OR THERE. AS THE ORIGINAL ISSUE WAS NEVER ADDRESSED WHEN IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY AND I AM NOT WILLING TO LOSE MY LIFE TRYING TO HAVE THIS CAR REPAIRED IN A TIMELY FASHION. INSTEAD I HAVE SPENT HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS IN RENTAL CAR FEES AS I AM NOT COMFORTABLE DRIVING IN A CAR WITH AN ISSUE SO SEVERE THAT GMC WAS NOTIFIED AND STILL HAS NOT BEEN TO RECTIFY THIS ISSUE WITH MY CAR.

NHTSA ODI #11129895

29,000 miles · May 23, 2018
Engine

ON OR ABOUT MAY 17 AND ON MAY 22 2018, THE ENGINE STALLED WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO ENTER AN INTERSECTION AFTER STOPPING AT A STOP SIGN. THE GREEN "ENGINE ON" LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. I HAD TO PUSH THE ENGINE START/STOP BUTTON TO TURN THE ENGINE OFF, THEN PUSH IT AGAIN TO RESTART THE ENGINE. AFTER THE MAY 22 INCIDENT, THE CAR M…

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ON OR ABOUT MAY 17 AND ON MAY 22 2018, THE ENGINE STALLED WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO ENTER AN INTERSECTION AFTER STOPPING AT A STOP SIGN. THE GREEN "ENGINE ON" LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. I HAD TO PUSH THE ENGINE START/STOP BUTTON TO TURN THE ENGINE OFF, THEN PUSH IT AGAIN TO RESTART THE ENGINE. AFTER THE MAY 22 INCIDENT, THE CAR MEDIA SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED AFTER THE CAR WAS RESTARTED. THE SCREEN DISPLAYS WERE NORMAL, BUT THERE WAS NO SOUND FROM ANY SOURCE INCLUDING THE TURN SIGNALS AND 4 WAY FLASHERS.

NHTSA ODI #11097538

30,000 miles · Apr 5, 2018
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

MY 2017 MALIBU HAD A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER, IT HAPPENED WHILE ON VACATION. WHILE IN TRAFFIC ON A DARK CURVY ROAD, THERE WAS A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER, THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AND THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON AS WELL AS A MESSAGE INDICATING LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. I PULLED OVER AN RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, IT DID NOT GAIN FULL ENGINE POWE…

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MY 2017 MALIBU HAD A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER, IT HAPPENED WHILE ON VACATION. WHILE IN TRAFFIC ON A DARK CURVY ROAD, THERE WAS A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER, THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AND THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON AS WELL AS A MESSAGE INDICATING LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. I PULLED OVER AN RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, IT DID NOT GAIN FULL ENGINE POWER BACK. I WAS ABLE TO SLOWLY MAKE IT TO MY DESTINATION. THE NEXT MORNING (KIDS IN TOW) THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS STILL ON, AND THE VEHICLE STILL SEEMED SLUGGISH. WHILE DRIVING HOME ( OR TO A DEALERSHIP IF POSSIBLE) THE CAR AGAIN LOST POWER AND I HAD TO PULL OVER AS TO NOT OBSTRUCT TRAFFIC. UPON GETTING THE VEHICLE SERVICED, THEY CLAIM THE MATTER WAS RESOLVED I AM NOT CONFIDENT,

NHTSA ODI #11083454

5,300 miles · Mar 23, 2018
Electrical SystemEngineFire

MY 2017 CHEVROLET MALIBU EXPLODED AND CAUGHT FIRE AFTER IT HAD BEEN PARKED FOR HOURS ON THE STREET. IT STARTED FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND MELTED THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE DASHBOARD. MECHANICAL/ELECTRICAL DEFECT FROM THE ENGINE OF THE CAR.

NHTSA ODI #11080993

46,000 miles · Mar 22, 2018
Engine

CAR HAS ALWAYS RAN A LITTLE ROUGH, WE WERE TOLD BY CHEVY THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG EVERYTHING WAS NORMAL. ON OUR WAY HOME FROM FAMILY VACATION IN THE MOUNTAINS, THE CAR LOST POWER, ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THANKFULLY WE WERE ABLE TO MAKE IT TO AN AUTOZONE AND WE WERE TOLD IT WAS MISFIRING IN CYLINDER 1. WE THEN TOOK THE CAR T…

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CAR HAS ALWAYS RAN A LITTLE ROUGH, WE WERE TOLD BY CHEVY THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG EVERYTHING WAS NORMAL. ON OUR WAY HOME FROM FAMILY VACATION IN THE MOUNTAINS, THE CAR LOST POWER, ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THANKFULLY WE WERE ABLE TO MAKE IT TO AN AUTOZONE AND WE WERE TOLD IT WAS MISFIRING IN CYLINDER 1. WE THEN TOOK THE CAR TO CHEVY, WE WERE TOLD THEY COULDN'T SEE THE PROBLEM AND THE MECHANIC WHO TAKES THE ENGINE APART TO CHECK WAS BUST THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS. SO THE CAR WAS IN THE SHOP FOR A WEEK BEFORE WERE TOLD THERE IS A CRACKED PISTON AND THEY WILL BE REPLACING THE PISTONS AND GASKETS. IF I DIDN'T WORK IN THE CAR RENTAL BUSINESS, I WOULD THINK MY CAR WAS GREAT AND READY TO LIVE FOREVER, BUT I DO. SO I KNOW, WE HAVE HAD SEVERAL MALIBU'S AND CRUZ'S WITH THE SAME ENGINE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AND AFTER 10K MILES THE PISTONS CRACK AGAIN. WE GET THE CAR BACK AND IT IS RUNNING MORE ROUGH THAN IT USED TO, NOW WERE WAITING FOR THE ENGINE TO CUT OUT AGAIN. I AM NOT LOOKING FORWARD TO MY CARS ENGINE CUTTING OUT ON THE HIGHWAY AGAIN BECAUSE CHEVY CANNOT FIND A FIX FOR THEIR BUM ENGINE. WITH ONLY 12K MILES LEFT OF THE WARRANTY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #11080804

2,700 miles · Mar 21, 2018
EngineLatches/locks/linkagesStructure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOORS WOULD NOT LOCK OR UNLOCK WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ENTER OR EXIT THE VEHICLE. ALSO, ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE ENGINE WOULD NOT START AND THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO RUSH CHEVROLET (1395 W. HIGHWAY 290, ELGIN, TX). THE DE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOORS WOULD NOT LOCK OR UNLOCK WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ENTER OR EXIT THE VEHICLE. ALSO, ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE ENGINE WOULD NOT START AND THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO RUSH CHEVROLET (1395 W. HIGHWAY 290, ELGIN, TX). THE DEALER REPLACED THE REMOTE DOOR LOCK, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE ENGINE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,700.

NHTSA ODI #11080697

Mileage unknown · Mar 20, 2018
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemVehicle Speed Control

CAR DO NOT ACCELERATE

NHTSA ODI #11080378

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.