← New search

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

What owners actually said

702 reports
56,541 miles · Dec 30, 2020
EngineVehicle Speed Control

REDUCED SPEED ENGINE PROBLEM WILL REDUCE SPEED WHILE DRIVING

NHTSA ODI #11385695

70,000 miles · Dec 29, 2020
Power TrainUnknown Or OtherVehicle Speed Control

REDUCED ENGINE POWER WARNING 12/29/20 PLUS NUMEROUS OCCURRENCES IN 2019 WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY; VEHICLE SLOWS TO 40MPH WITHOUT WARNING SHIFT TO PARK WARNING WHEN VEHICLE ALREADY IN PARK, CAN'T SHUT OFF VEHICLE UNTIL IT RECOGNIZES PARK, OFTEN TAKING UPWARDS OF 10 MINUTES OF REPEATED SHIFTING STABILITRACK SENSOR WARNING …

Read full complaint

REDUCED ENGINE POWER WARNING 12/29/20 PLUS NUMEROUS OCCURRENCES IN 2019 WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY; VEHICLE SLOWS TO 40MPH WITHOUT WARNING SHIFT TO PARK WARNING WHEN VEHICLE ALREADY IN PARK, CAN'T SHUT OFF VEHICLE UNTIL IT RECOGNIZES PARK, OFTEN TAKING UPWARDS OF 10 MINUTES OF REPEATED SHIFTING STABILITRACK SENSOR WARNING AND LOSS OF CRUISE CONTROL, AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS

NHTSA ODI #11385393

32,000 miles · Dec 28, 2020
Power Train

DASH WARNING SAYS ACTION REQUIRED....SHIFT TO PARK. BUT THE CAR IS ALREADY IN PARK. CAR WILL NOT SHUT OFF TIL YOU GET IT IN PARK. SOMETIMES NEED TO START AND RESTART CAR A DOZEN TIMES TO GET IT TO STOP THE ERROR. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH LATE MODEL MALIBU'S. TSB # 19-NA-206. REPAIR COST APPROXIMATELY $300. THIS HAPPENS AT RA…

Read full complaint

DASH WARNING SAYS ACTION REQUIRED....SHIFT TO PARK. BUT THE CAR IS ALREADY IN PARK. CAR WILL NOT SHUT OFF TIL YOU GET IT IN PARK. SOMETIMES NEED TO START AND RESTART CAR A DOZEN TIMES TO GET IT TO STOP THE ERROR. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH LATE MODEL MALIBU'S. TSB # 19-NA-206. REPAIR COST APPROXIMATELY $300. THIS HAPPENS AT RANDOM TIMES, MAKING THE VEHICLE UNRELIABLE. NEED TO DO A RECALL!

NHTSA ODI #11385250

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…

Read full complaint

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

82,540 miles · Dec 23, 2020
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemPower Train

VEHICLE WILL SHUT DOWN AFTER AUTO STOP ENABLED WHEN CAR COMES TO COMPLETE STOP AT LIGHTS, INTERSECTIONS, ETC. VEHICLE WILL ALSO SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING. STALITRAK WARNING BLINKS BUT THE ELECTRICAL POWER INSIDE DOESN'T ALWAYS SHUT DOWN. CAR WILL START BACK UP ONCE YOU QUICKLY PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK , SHUT IT OFF AND THEN TURN IT…

Read full complaint

VEHICLE WILL SHUT DOWN AFTER AUTO STOP ENABLED WHEN CAR COMES TO COMPLETE STOP AT LIGHTS, INTERSECTIONS, ETC. VEHICLE WILL ALSO SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING. STALITRAK WARNING BLINKS BUT THE ELECTRICAL POWER INSIDE DOESN'T ALWAYS SHUT DOWN. CAR WILL START BACK UP ONCE YOU QUICKLY PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK , SHUT IT OFF AND THEN TURN IT BACK ON. SOMETIMES IT TAKES 3-5 TIMES TO GET IT STARTED BACK UP. BATTERY HAS BEEN CHANGED AND SENSOR REPLACED BUT IT STILL HASN'T FIXED THE ISSUE. SEVERELY UNCOMFORTABLE DRIVING THE CAR ANYWHERE.

NHTSA ODI #11384671

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…

Read full complaint

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

82,000 miles · Dec 22, 2020
Electrical SystemEngineFuel/propulsion System

MY POWER STEERING ASSIST POPS UP AND DISAPPEARS. CAR COMPLETELY SHUT OFF ON ME AT A STOP SIGN(TWICE) AND WOULD NOT CRANK BACK UP

NHTSA ODI #11384597

Mileage unknown · Dec 15, 2020
Vehicle Speed Control

STARTED LAST NOVEMBER 2019 I WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND SUDDENLY MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THEN A ENGINE POWER REDUCE COMES ON AND MY CAR STARTS TO SLOW DOWN. TOOK TO CHEVY AND WAS TOLD THEY COULD NOT TEST THE DIAGNOSTIC BECAUSE MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS NO LONGER ON. FAST FORWARD TO THIS SEPTEMBER 2020 AND IT STARTED UP AG…

Read full complaint

STARTED LAST NOVEMBER 2019 I WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND SUDDENLY MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THEN A ENGINE POWER REDUCE COMES ON AND MY CAR STARTS TO SLOW DOWN. TOOK TO CHEVY AND WAS TOLD THEY COULD NOT TEST THE DIAGNOSTIC BECAUSE MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS NO LONGER ON. FAST FORWARD TO THIS SEPTEMBER 2020 AND IT STARTED UP AGAIN AND HAS BEEN ON AND OFF SINCE. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AS IT HAPPENS AT ANY POINT IM DRIVING WHETHER IT'S ON THE FREEWAY OR SMALL ROAD. I'M HAVING TO PULL OVER AND TURN MY CAR OFF! I HAVE TEENAGE DAUGHTERS AND 2 SMALL BOYS THAT I HAVE IN MY CAR WHEN THIS HAPPENS AND IT'S VERY SCARY AND DANGEROUS! SO TODAY DECEMBER 15, 2020 I TOOK IT BACK TO CHEVY AND GETTING IT CHECKED. I WAS TOLD IT COULD TAKE UP TO 5 DAYS AND I'M REALLY HOPING THIS IS A FACTORY RECALL DUE TO THE SAFETY OF THIS HAPPENING WHILE DRIVING AND DRIVING AT FAST SPEED ON THE FREEWAY!

NHTSA ODI #11383568

61,000 miles · Dec 15, 2020
Electrical SystemEnginePower Train

I WAS ON THE EWAY AND I WAS GOING 80MPH IN THE LEFT LANE, AND MY CAR JERKED TO DECELERATE TO 20MPH. THE MESSAGE SAID, 'ENGINE POWER REDUCED'.

NHTSA ODI #11383512

43,800 miles · Dec 14, 2020
Unknown Or Other

WHEN I SHIFT MY CAR TO PARK AND TURN OFF THE IGNITION, I RECEIVE A MESSAGE STATING "SHIFT TO PARK". IT KEEPS MY CAR IN THE ACCESSORY START POSITION THEREBY RUNNING THE BATTERY DOWN IF I CANNOT GET IT TO RECOGNIZE THAT THE CAR IS IN PARK AND THE ENGINE IS SHUT OFF. THIS HAS BEEN AN INTERMITTENT, ONGOING PROBLEM FOR ABOUT 2 WEEKS…

Read full complaint

WHEN I SHIFT MY CAR TO PARK AND TURN OFF THE IGNITION, I RECEIVE A MESSAGE STATING "SHIFT TO PARK". IT KEEPS MY CAR IN THE ACCESSORY START POSITION THEREBY RUNNING THE BATTERY DOWN IF I CANNOT GET IT TO RECOGNIZE THAT THE CAR IS IN PARK AND THE ENGINE IS SHUT OFF. THIS HAS BEEN AN INTERMITTENT, ONGOING PROBLEM FOR ABOUT 2 WEEKS. I CONTACTED THE LOCAL GM DEALER ABOUT THIS BUT THERE IS NO RECALL.

NHTSA ODI #11383371

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.