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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.

About this comparison →

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

Unknown Or Other complaints

147 reports
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15 miles · Apr 19, 2019
EngineUnknown Or OtherVehicle Speed Control

I BOUGHT A 2017 CHEVY MALIBU IN JUNE OR JULY OF 17. NOT EVEN A YEAR LATER ON 11-10-17, MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND I HAD AN OXYGEN SENSOR SHORTING. THEY FIXED THAT. THEN ON 2-2-18 I WAS DRIVING 40MPH AND LUCKY I WASN'T ON THE FREEWAY BECAUSE MY CAR INSTANTLY SLOWED DOWN AND WOULD NOT ALLOW BE TO GO OVER 15 MPH. THEY SAID I…

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I BOUGHT A 2017 CHEVY MALIBU IN JUNE OR JULY OF 17. NOT EVEN A YEAR LATER ON 11-10-17, MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND I HAD AN OXYGEN SENSOR SHORTING. THEY FIXED THAT. THEN ON 2-2-18 I WAS DRIVING 40MPH AND LUCKY I WASN'T ON THE FREEWAY BECAUSE MY CAR INSTANTLY SLOWED DOWN AND WOULD NOT ALLOW BE TO GO OVER 15 MPH. THEY SAID IT WAS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. HOWEVER, ONSTAR SENT ME MESSAGE STATING MY ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE CHECKED. SO THEY ENDED UP REPLACING THE PEDAL AND "FIXING" THE PROBLEM. I GOT MY CAR BACK ON 2-5-18. IN THE SAME MONTH ON 2- 9-1818, I WENT TO GO PICKUP MY DAD WHO IS AN EXPERIENCE SEMI-TRUCK DRIVER AND HE WAS 2 HOURS AWAY. ON THE WAY THERE MY CAR KEPT FISHTAILING AND I THOUGHT MAYBE I AM JUST OVER EXAGGERATING AND MAYBE IT JUST ME. BUT, WHEN I GOT TO MY DADS DESTINATION I ASKED HIM TO DRIVE BACK AND HE DID. HE ASKED ME WHAT WRONG WITH YOUR CAR? IT FEELS LIKE ONE SIDE OF THE CAR IS PULLING FASTER THAN THE OTHER. HE THEN SAID WE NEED TO TAKE THIS TO GET SERVICED IMMEDIATELY BECAUSE THIS IS AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. HOWEVER, THIS WAS THE WEEKEND SO I HAD TO WAIT UNTIL MONDAY. 2-12-18 I BROUGHT IT IN TO BE SERVICED HOWEVER MY CAR WAS BACK TO ACTING NORMAL. ON 2- 22-18 . MY CAR KEPT CALLING ONSTAR EMERGENCY AND KEPT EXPLAINING TO THEM IT WAS MY CAR. THEY TOLD ME TO PULL OVER, TURN MY CAR OFF AND THEY WOULD TRY TO SEND TO SIGNAL TO MY CAR. THE LADY SAID SHE DID COULD NOT GET ANY SIGNAL FROM MY CAR AND I SHOULD TAKE IT TO BE SERVICED IMMEDIATELY. THE ONSTAR VOICE KEPT RUNNING I COULD NOT TURN IT OFF OR DOWN. ONCE AGAIN THIS WAS A WEEKEND. I HAD TO WAIT UNTIL MONDAY. THEY FIXED THAT PROBLEM. NOW AGAIN ON THE APRIL 1, 2019 I TOOK IT TO BE SERVICED AGAIN DUE TO MY CAR NOT ALLOWING ME TO GO OVER 20MPH. MY CAR IS UNSAFE I WAS ON THE FREEWAY WHEN IT SLOWED DOWN LUCKY I WAS IN THE FIRST LINE AND WAS ABOUT TO GET OFF SAFELY.

NHTSA ODI #11202556

20,210 miles · Mar 26, 2019
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Unknown Or Other

WELL COMING TO A STOP AT A RED LIGHT THE VEHICLE SHUTS OFF WITH NO POWER. THIS HAPPENED TO ME MULTIPLE TIME WITH THE CAR HAVING NO POWER THAT I CAN'T EVEN PUT MY EMERGENCY LIGHTS ON. PRIOR TO THIS MY VEHICLE NOTED "SERVICE STABILITY" ON DASH BOARD AND THAT WENT AWAY. AFTER THAT ISSUE POPPED UP ANOTHER ISSUE OCCURRED. MY DASHBOAR…

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WELL COMING TO A STOP AT A RED LIGHT THE VEHICLE SHUTS OFF WITH NO POWER. THIS HAPPENED TO ME MULTIPLE TIME WITH THE CAR HAVING NO POWER THAT I CAN'T EVEN PUT MY EMERGENCY LIGHTS ON. PRIOR TO THIS MY VEHICLE NOTED "SERVICE STABILITY" ON DASH BOARD AND THAT WENT AWAY. AFTER THAT ISSUE POPPED UP ANOTHER ISSUE OCCURRED. MY DASHBOARD NOTED "SHIFT TO PARK" WHEN MY GEAR WAS IN PARK. MY DEALERSHIP REPLACED IT IN WHICH THAT'S WHEN THE CAR STARTED TO SHUT OFF MORE.

NHTSA ODI #11191693

32,000 miles · Mar 20, 2019
Unknown Or OtherFire

THE CAR WAS PARKED OUTSIDE MY HOUSE FOR 2 HOURS AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. FIRE DEPT SAID IT STARTED UNDER PASSENGER SIDE OF HOOD. IT BURNED TO A SHELL

NHTSA ODI #11190208

Mileage unknown · Mar 6, 2019
Unknown Or Other

EVERY TIME IT RAINS WATER GETS INTO THE CAR. THE FIRST TIME I DISCOVERED IT THE TRUNK WAS SOAKED AND THE CAR SMELLED HORRIBLE (8/24/2017, 11/2/2017, 1/2018 ETC ETC)

NHTSA ODI #11184551

55,201 miles · Mar 4, 2019
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Unknown Or Other

WHILE DROPPING OFF MY CHILDREN AT SCHOOL THE CAR CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP AND WENT INTO AUTO STOP. WHEN RELEASING THE PEDDLE SO THE CAR COULD TURN BACK ON THE WHOLE DASH BOARD AND THE RADIO SCREEN COMPLETELY CUT OFF AND WHEN THE CAR TURNED OFF IT ALL SWITCHED BACK ON. THE DASH SCREEN FLAGGED AND SAID STEERING ASSISTANT IS REDUCED…

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WHILE DROPPING OFF MY CHILDREN AT SCHOOL THE CAR CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP AND WENT INTO AUTO STOP. WHEN RELEASING THE PEDDLE SO THE CAR COULD TURN BACK ON THE WHOLE DASH BOARD AND THE RADIO SCREEN COMPLETELY CUT OFF AND WHEN THE CAR TURNED OFF IT ALL SWITCHED BACK ON. THE DASH SCREEN FLAGGED AND SAID STEERING ASSISTANT IS REDUCED DRIVE WITH CARE. THIS REPEATEDLY HAPPENDED ANOTHER TWO TIMES EVERYTIME I CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. AFTER THE THIRD TIME THE CAR DID NOT TURN OFF AT ALL. IN THE PAST I HAVE HAD THE ERROR MESSAGE COME ON WHEN THE CAR WOULD COME TO A STOP AND THE CAR WOULD TURN BACK ON BUT I AM BEGINNING TO BECOME VERY WORRIED BECAUSE NOW THE WHOLE DASH BOARD AND RADIO ARE TURNING OFF. I WAS ON A REGULAR CITY STREET BUT AM WORRIED WHEN I RETURN TO WORK AFTER MY VACATION I WILL GET STRANDED. I AM ATTACHING SCREENSHOTS OF A VIDEO I WAS ABLE TO CAPTURE ON THE THIRD TIME THIS HAPPENED TO ME. THE TIME IS ATTACHED ALSO.

NHTSA ODI #11184205

35,000 miles · Mar 2, 2019
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Unknown Or Other

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE I CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP WHILE WAITING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN ON A BUSY CITY STREET AND THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF THEREFORE REMAINING IN THE INTERSECTION FROM ON COMING TRAFFIC, IN OTHER TERMS THE VEHICLE DIED ON ME. I WAS UNABLE TO DO ANYTHING DUE TO NO CURRENT .THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED W…

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WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE I CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP WHILE WAITING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN ON A BUSY CITY STREET AND THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF THEREFORE REMAINING IN THE INTERSECTION FROM ON COMING TRAFFIC, IN OTHER TERMS THE VEHICLE DIED ON ME. I WAS UNABLE TO DO ANYTHING DUE TO NO CURRENT .THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED WITH THIS VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI #11183693

60,000 miles · Feb 13, 2019
Power TrainUnknown Or Other

ISSUE WITH CHEVROLET MALIBU 2017 WITH 60K MILES. I AM RIGHT AROUND THE TIME WHERE MY WARRANTY WOULD BE OVER, AND I HAVE HAVING ISSUES WITH A CAR THAT I DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY FOR 90-95% OF THE VEHICLES LIFE. MY CAR IS CUTTING THE POWER TO THE ENGINE AT RANDOM TIMES. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY AROUND THE SAME PERCENTAGE OF…

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ISSUE WITH CHEVROLET MALIBU 2017 WITH 60K MILES. I AM RIGHT AROUND THE TIME WHERE MY WARRANTY WOULD BE OVER, AND I HAVE HAVING ISSUES WITH A CAR THAT I DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY FOR 90-95% OF THE VEHICLES LIFE. MY CAR IS CUTTING THE POWER TO THE ENGINE AT RANDOM TIMES. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY AROUND THE SAME PERCENTAGE OF TIMES THAT I'VE DRIVEN THE CAR IN TOTAL. I'VE HAD TO MOVE OVER TO THE BREAKDOWN LANE, AND SHUT THE CAR DOWN. IT WOULD POWER BACK UP, AND TYPICALLY I WOULD BE OK, BUT THIS IS HIGHLY DANGEROUS. THE ENGINE LIGHT WOULD STAY ON UNTIL THE CAR SITS FOR A WHILE, AND THEN GO AWAY. THEN I WOULD DRIVE SEEMINGLY FINE, THEN BOOM, ON THE HIGHWAY GOING 65-70, AND THE ENGINE IS REDUCING POWER, AND I'M SCRAMBLING TO GET OVER. I AM TAKING THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHICH HAS BEEN THE ONLY MECHANIC TO LOOK AT MY VEHICLE. I DID RECEIVE NEW TIRES FROM ANOTHER PLACE, BUT ALL OTHER SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE HAS BEEN WITH MY DEALERSHIP. I AM AFRAID I WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS AND THIS IS A JOKE BECAUSE THIS SEEMS TO BE A KNOWN ISSUE. THERE ARE MANY THREADS EXPLAINING WHAT COULD BE THE ISSUE AND I WOULD LIKE A FOLLOW UP ON HOW MY EXPERIENCE WITH MY DEALERSHIP WENT. WHEN I CALLED MY DEALERSHIP'S SERVICE LOCATION, THEY SEEMED TO BE EXTREMELY FAMILIAR WITH THE ISSUE I WAS HAVING. IT WAS STRANGE THAT I COULDN'T GET A STRAIGHT ANSWER EITHER WAY, AND I DON'T FEEL I SHOULD PAY FOR SOMETHING THAT IS CLEARLY A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT OF SOME KIND. NOT ONLY THAT, I'VE BEEN PUT IN DANGEROUS SITUATIONS WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY IN BAD WEATHER TRYING TO MANAGE, AS QUICKLY AND SAFELY AS I CAN, A WAY TO GET OVER TO THE BREAKDOWN LANE(SHOULDER). WHEN I PRESS MY ACCELERATOR AND NOTHING HAPPENS WHEN EVERYONE AROUND ME IS GOING AT A VERY HIGH RATE IS SPEED IS AN ISSUE NEEDLESS TO SAY. THERE SHOULD BE NO REASON A RECALL ISN'T ANNOUNCED FOR THIS ISSUE AND CHEVROLET HELD RESPONSIBLE.

NHTSA ODI #11179970

55,680 miles · Feb 12, 2019
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Fuel/propulsion SystemUnknown Or Other

A TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON THEN WARNING REDUCED POWER MODE AND ENGINE LIGHT WHILE CAR WAS IN DRIVE ON HIGHWAY 2 TIMES

NHTSA ODI #11176623

31,000 miles · Feb 12, 2019
Electrical SystemUnknown Or OtherVisibility/wiper

TRUNK LEAKS WHEN IT RAINS. THE PLASTIC BETWEEN THE BACK WINDOW AND CEILING LETS WATER IN WHEN IT RAINS. IT ALLOWS MOISTURE TO GET INTO THE VEHICLE, WHICH MEANS IN THE WINTER ICE FORMS ON THE INSIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD AS WELL AS THE OUTSIDE. RAIN AND MOISTURE GETTING INTO THE CAR HAS ALSO CAUSED A PROBLEM WITH THE BACK SPEAKERS NO…

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TRUNK LEAKS WHEN IT RAINS. THE PLASTIC BETWEEN THE BACK WINDOW AND CEILING LETS WATER IN WHEN IT RAINS. IT ALLOWS MOISTURE TO GET INTO THE VEHICLE, WHICH MEANS IN THE WINTER ICE FORMS ON THE INSIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD AS WELL AS THE OUTSIDE. RAIN AND MOISTURE GETTING INTO THE CAR HAS ALSO CAUSED A PROBLEM WITH THE BACK SPEAKERS NOT WORKING.

NHTSA ODI #11176464

21,482 miles · Jan 25, 2019
Unknown Or Other

I WAS ON MY WAY TO DO LAUNDRY AT THE LAUNDRY MAT. DRIVING DOWN RESIDENTIAL STREET MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT AND "REDUCED ENGINE POWER" MESSAGE CAME ON. MY CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE OVER 20-30 MPH. I PARKED MY CAR AND DID LAUNDRY. WHEN GOING HOME STILL HAD THE SAME ISSUE. LIGHTS STILL ON AND REDUCED ENGINE POWE…

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I WAS ON MY WAY TO DO LAUNDRY AT THE LAUNDRY MAT. DRIVING DOWN RESIDENTIAL STREET MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT AND "REDUCED ENGINE POWER" MESSAGE CAME ON. MY CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE OVER 20-30 MPH. I PARKED MY CAR AND DID LAUNDRY. WHEN GOING HOME STILL HAD THE SAME ISSUE. LIGHTS STILL ON AND REDUCED ENGINE POWER. SCHEDULED APPT. TO TAKE MY CAR FOR SERVICE ON 12/26. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS STILL ON BUT REDUCED ENGINE POWER LIGHT OFF. WIRE HARNESS WAS REPLACED

NHTSA ODI #11172076

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.