IllustrationWHILE DRIVING GOING AT LEAST 70 MPH I GET A ENGINE POWER REDUCED MESSAGE AND IT START HAPPENING EVERY 10 MINUTES NOW AS SOON AS YOU TURN THE CAR ON IT SAYS ENGINE POWER REDUCED AND WON'T GO OVER 30 MPH. HAD IT HOOKED UP TO A MACHINE AND WAS TOLD IT WAS MY ACCELERATOR WHICH APPARENTLY IS A ISSUE IN THE 2017 MALIBU'S
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Malibu years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
870–25K
12025–50K
11050–75K
5275–100K
22100–150K
6150K+
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 reportsTHE THIRD BRAKE LIGHT LEAKS WATER AND HAS BEEN LEAKING WATER EVIDENT BY WATER MARKS ON THE VEHICLES HEAD LINER
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.
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
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS. IN ADDITION, THE PARK ASSIST AND CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO STIVERS CHEVROLET (111 NEWLAND RD, COLUMBIA, SC 29229, (803) 254-1431) WHERE THEY WERE INITIA…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS. IN ADDITION, THE PARK ASSIST AND CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO STIVERS CHEVROLET (111 NEWLAND RD, COLUMBIA, SC 29229, (803) 254-1431) WHERE THEY WERE INITIALLY UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE DEFECT. AFTER MULTIPLE FAILURES, THE CONTACT BROUGHT THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE WITH A FAULTY SENSOR. THE PART WAS REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000.
MY CAR WILL RANDOMLY GO INTO ENGINE REDUCED POWER MODE CAUSING MY CAR TO DROP FROM WHATEVER SPEED I'M AT TO 30-40MPH, ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. IT'S HAPPENED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS.
THE ELECTRICAL BLINKS OUT . ENGINE REDUCED SPEED IS A PROBLEM AND IS VERY DAMGEROUS I WAS ALMOST HIT ON THE FREEWAY. THIS CAR IS A DUD AND MOST MODELS LIKE IT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM.
EMGINE REDUCED SPEED HAS BEEN COMIN ON FOR A WHILE ON MOST CHEVY MODELS. THE CAR IMMEDIATELY SLOWS ON THE FREEWAY DURING TRAFFIC AND ANYWHERE. THE SEATBELTS DO NOT ALWAYS ATTACH.
DURING THE COLD THE CAR WILL NOT TURN ON, WILL SHOW A STABILITRAK PROBLEM AND THE TRANSMISSION LIGHT TURNS ON. WHEN IT IS ON AND YOU DRIVE IT, IT WILL AUTOMATICALLY TURN OFF AND STAY OFF AT A RED LIGHT OR WHENEVER YOU PRESS THE BRAKE. I HAVE TWO OTHER FRIENDS WHO OWN THE SAME CAR AND IT DOES THE SAME , WHICH MAKES ME ASSUME A MA…
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DURING THE COLD THE CAR WILL NOT TURN ON, WILL SHOW A STABILITRAK PROBLEM AND THE TRANSMISSION LIGHT TURNS ON. WHEN IT IS ON AND YOU DRIVE IT, IT WILL AUTOMATICALLY TURN OFF AND STAY OFF AT A RED LIGHT OR WHENEVER YOU PRESS THE BRAKE. I HAVE TWO OTHER FRIENDS WHO OWN THE SAME CAR AND IT DOES THE SAME , WHICH MAKES ME ASSUME A MANUFACTURER PROBLEM OF CARS NOT TURNING ON IN THE COLD/ SENSOR ISSUE.
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.
Official recalls
421V649000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.