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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

Steering complaints

47 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jan 4, 2021
Steering

IT'S GIVING ME A MESSAGE SAYING STEERING ASSIST REDUCE DRIVE WITH CARE

NHTSA ODI #11386412

10,757 miles · Dec 23, 2020
Service BrakesSteering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING ASSISTANCE REDUCED WARNING MESSAGE WOULD INTERMITTENTLY APPEAR ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT HAD INITIALLY TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO MALCOLM CUNNINGHAM CHEVROLET AUGUSTA (2031 GORDON HWY, AUGUSTA, GA 30909) WHERE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING ASSISTANCE REDUCED WARNING MESSAGE WOULD INTERMITTENTLY APPEAR ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT HAD INITIALLY TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO MALCOLM CUNNINGHAM CHEVROLET AUGUSTA (2031 GORDON HWY, AUGUSTA, GA 30909) WHERE SHE WAS INFORMED THAT SHE HAD A DEFECTIVE RACK AND PINION. THE CONTACT THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THEY DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE WITH A DEFECTIVE TIE ROD AND HAD THE TIE ROD REPLACED. RECENTLY, THE CONTACT STATED THAT AN ABNORMAL SCRAPING NOISE WOULD EMIT FROM THE VEHICLE UPON DEPRESSION OF THE BRAKE PEDAL AS THE ABS WARNING LIGHT APPEARED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO JOHNSON MOTOR COMPANY OF SOUTH CAROLINA (490 JEFFERSON DAVIS HWY, GRANITEVILLE, SC 29829) WHERE THEY REPAIRED THE VEHICLE FOR A DEFECTIVE PCV HOSE. AN HOUR AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE CONTACT, THE SAME FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN NOTIFIED SEVERAL TIMES ABOUT THE FAILURES AND SEVERAL CASES WERE FILED. THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE HAD YET TO BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,757.

NHTSA ODI #11384743

82,000 miles · Dec 22, 2020
EngineSteering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING ASSIST WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED WITH MESSAGE TO DRIVE WITH CARE. THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND FAILED TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING ASSIST WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED WITH MESSAGE TO DRIVE WITH CARE. THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND FAILED TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURE WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 82,000.

NHTSA ODI #11384601

Mileage unknown · Dec 9, 2020
Electrical SystemSteeringUnknown Or Other

"STEERING ASSISTANCE REDUCED DRIVE WITH CARE" WARNING APPEARS ON DASH RIGHT BEFORE I'M GOING TO ACCELERATE AFTER BEING STOPPED.

NHTSA ODI #11382759

64,838 miles · Nov 29, 2020
Electrical SystemSteeringUnknown Or Other

WHEN DRIVING AT AUTO STOP, WHEN BEGINNING TO ACCELERATE, CAR ACTS LIKE IT SHUT OFF AND SAYS STEERING ASSIST REDUCED DRIVE WITH CARE. I NOTICED THE BATTERY VOLTAGE GOES DOWN TO 11.0 V. ALSO THE RADIO SCREEN FLICKERS BLACK. THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES IN MULTIPLE DAYS.

NHTSA ODI #11376980

60,000 miles · Oct 11, 2020
Steering

BOUGHT THIS CAR NEW FOR MY DAUGHTER TO DRIVE BACK AND FORTH TO COLLEGE, I WANTED A SAFE CAR FOR HER, BUT THIS CAR IS ANYTHING BUT SAFE. STARTED HAVING ISSUES WITH GETTING RANDOM STEERING ASSIST WARNING LIGHTS, THEN TPMS LIGHTS, THEN IT SHUT DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION AND IT HAD TO BE TOWED. THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN U…

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BOUGHT THIS CAR NEW FOR MY DAUGHTER TO DRIVE BACK AND FORTH TO COLLEGE, I WANTED A SAFE CAR FOR HER, BUT THIS CAR IS ANYTHING BUT SAFE. STARTED HAVING ISSUES WITH GETTING RANDOM STEERING ASSIST WARNING LIGHTS, THEN TPMS LIGHTS, THEN IT SHUT DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION AND IT HAD TO BE TOWED. THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN UNABLE TO FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR AND NOW ITS OUT OF WARRANTY AND IS COSTING US HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS IN SERVICE FEES. BATTERY HAS BEEN REPLACED AND ITS STILL HAVING ISSUES. LATELY SHE HAS BEEN COMPLAINING THAT THE CAR SUDDENLY DRIFTS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND SHE HAS TO MAKE CORRECTIONS THAT JERK HER ALL OVER THE ROAD. IT DOES THIS AT RANDOM, NOT EVERY DRIVE, MAYBE EVERY OTHER, IT FEELS LIKE AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE AND NOT A MECHANICAL ISSUE. SHE HAS ALMOST CRASHED TWICE, WAS PULLED OVER THIS PAST WEEKEND COMING HOME FOR ANOTHER DEALERSHIP VISIT BECAUSE AN OFFICER NOTICED THE WEAVING AND CORRECTIONS AND ASSUMED SHE WAS DRUNK. AGAIN, THE DEALERSHIP CANNOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. I HAVE EXPLAINED THE ISSUE, BROUGHT IN A TECHNICAL BULLETIN THAT EXPLAINS THE EXACT ISSUE, STILL NO RESOLUTION, THEY STILL SAY THEY CANNOT FIND ANYTHING AND SEND ME HOME WITH ANOTHER BILL. THIS CAR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE, AND ONCE WINTER HITS AND THE ROADS BECOME SLICK, THIS ISSUE WILL LIKELY RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE REFUSED TO LET HER DRIVE IT TO COLLEGE AT THIS POINT AND THE CAR IS SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY. THE DEALERSHIP IS USELESS EVEN AFTER SHOWING THEM HUNDREDS OF INTERNET COMPLAINTS. WHY IS GM IGNORING THIS ISSUE?

NHTSA ODI #11363796

41,102 miles · Oct 11, 2020
Electronic Stability Control (esc)SteeringUnknown Or Other

WHILE DRIVING MY CAR STARTED TO SAY DRIVING ASSISTANCE OFF PLEASE DRIVE WITH CARE THEN IT ACTS LIKE IT'S GOING TO TURN OFF. NOW ITS SYING

NHTSA ODI #11363771

62,520 miles · Sep 30, 2020
SteeringVehicle Speed Control

RECENTLY I HAVE A MESSAGE APPEAR ON MY DISPLAY SCREEN. WHILE SITTING AT A RED LIGHT OF COURSE THE CAR SHUTS OFF BUT WHEN THE TRAFFIC LIGHT TURNS GREEN AND THE CAR STARTS BACK, I GET THE MESSAGE STEERING ASSIST REDUCED. I'VE BEEN SEEING THIS MESSAGE FOR A FEW WEEKS NOW. THIS MORNING ON MY WAY TO WORK, ONCE AGAIN THE MESSAGE APPEA…

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RECENTLY I HAVE A MESSAGE APPEAR ON MY DISPLAY SCREEN. WHILE SITTING AT A RED LIGHT OF COURSE THE CAR SHUTS OFF BUT WHEN THE TRAFFIC LIGHT TURNS GREEN AND THE CAR STARTS BACK, I GET THE MESSAGE STEERING ASSIST REDUCED. I'VE BEEN SEEING THIS MESSAGE FOR A FEW WEEKS NOW. THIS MORNING ON MY WAY TO WORK, ONCE AGAIN THE MESSAGE APPEARS AND THIS TIME MY DOORS UNLOCKED & LOCKED, THE VEHICLE REDUCED SPEED AND I DROVE IT AT THAT SPEED UNTIL I WAS ABLE TO MERGE OFF THE HIGHWAY. I PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT AND TURNED THE CAR OFF. I WAITED A FEW MINUTES AND RESTARTED THE CAR. I WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT TO WORK BUT CONSTANTLY PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL OR PARK WHEN I GOT TO A RED TRAFFIC LIGHT. THIS REALLY SCARED ME WHILE DRIVING IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. SEVERAL CARS HAD TO GO AROUND ME DUE TO REDUCED SPEED. I SEE SEVERAL PEOPLE WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT. GOT TO BE A RECALL. I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT WITH A CHEVY DEALERSHIP ON TOMORROW AND HOPEFULLY I'LL GET SOME ANSWERS. PRAYING WHATEVER THE PROBLEM IS UNDER WARRANTY. I NEED ANSWERS!!!

NHTSA ODI #11362091

100,000 miles · Jul 15, 2020
SteeringCrash

TL* CONTACT OWNS A 2017 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HER GRANDDAUGHTER WAS DRIVING AT 70 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AND FAILED TO TURN. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE GUARD RAIL AND SPUN AROUND. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THERE WAS NO REPORTED INJURIES OR POLICE REPORT FILED. THE AIR BAGS D…

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TL* CONTACT OWNS A 2017 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HER GRANDDAUGHTER WAS DRIVING AT 70 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AND FAILED TO TURN. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE GUARD RAIL AND SPUN AROUND. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THERE WAS NO REPORTED INJURIES OR POLICE REPORT FILED. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT WITH AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE CONTACT CALLED THE LOCAL DEALER AUTO CENTER CARS (727 N. ROYAL AVE. FRONT ROYAL, VA 22630 (540) 622-2667) BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ODI #11339563

Mileage unknown · Jun 22, 2020
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Steering

CAR STALLS WHILE OPERATING, CAR SHUTS DOWN WHILE DRIVING AND FAILS TO RESTART WITHOUT WARNING. "SERVICE STABILITY" 'BATTERY SAVE MODE' 'SHIFT TO PARK' ALL BLINK WHEN THIS HAPPENS. I HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE PAST YEAR. CAR WILL ALSO SHUT DOWN WHEN THE VEHICLE IS NOT IN MOTION IE STOP SIGNS, TRAFFIC LIG…

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CAR STALLS WHILE OPERATING, CAR SHUTS DOWN WHILE DRIVING AND FAILS TO RESTART WITHOUT WARNING. "SERVICE STABILITY" 'BATTERY SAVE MODE' 'SHIFT TO PARK' ALL BLINK WHEN THIS HAPPENS. I HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE PAST YEAR. CAR WILL ALSO SHUT DOWN WHEN THE VEHICLE IS NOT IN MOTION IE STOP SIGNS, TRAFFIC LIGHTS, STOP & GO TRAFFIC...ETC. THE CAR HAVING NO POWER THAT I CAN'T EVEN PUT MY EMERGENCY LIGHTS ON. THIS HAPPENS FOR THE LAST TIME ON 6/11/2020 CARS BRAKES BECAME TOUGH TO PUSH COULD BARELY STOP THE CAR, ONCE STOPPED THE CAR LOST ALL POWER SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY INTERSECTION I WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED. CAR WOULD NOT RESTART AND HAD TO BE TOWED ONCE AGAIN. ALL THE SAME WARNING LIGHTS. MY CAR IS CURRENTLY BROKE DOWN AND NOT STARTING AT ALL. ALSO I HAVE 2' OF WATER IN WHEEL WELL CAR LEAKS WATER INTO SPARE TIRE WELL. CAR IS MOLDING DUE TO THIS ISSUE. THIS CAR MODEL SHOULD BE RECALLED. THIS COULD CAUSE SOME HORRIBLE ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF A MALFUNCTION/ DEFECTIVE PART THAT WAS INSTALLED. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO MANY MANY PEOPLE. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS. PEOPLE ARE SPENDING LOTS OF MONEY FOR REPAIRS AND RENTAL CARS. IM A SINGLE MOTHER OF 3 CHILDREN, THIS CAR IS SUPPOSE TO BE SAFE TO DRIVE. IT'S BY FAR FROM THAT. THE MONEY I'M SPENDING ON A RENTAL CAR SO THAT I CAN GO BACK AND FORTH TO WORK IS NOT CHEAP. *TR

NHTSA ODI #11330160

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.