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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

What owners actually said

702 reports
36,268 miles · Jul 3, 2019
Unknown Or Other

ONCE CAR IS IN PARK, MESSAGE INDICATES CAR NEEDS TO BE SHIFTED TO PARK - ALREADY IN PARK

NHTSA ODI #11229138

49,568 miles · Jul 1, 2019
EnginePower TrainService Brakes

ON SATURDAY, JUNE 29TH, 2019 APPROXIMATELY AT 12:30 PM MY FAMILY'S 2017 CHEVROLET MALIBU WAS IN MOTION IN A MAJOR INTERSTATE (I-75) AND THE TRAFFIC STARTED SLOWING DOWN, I PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO SLOW DOWN AND THE PEDAL BECAME VERY HARD TO BRAKE AND HAVING TO SWERVE TO THE SIDE OF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD TO AVOID A COLLISI…

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ON SATURDAY, JUNE 29TH, 2019 APPROXIMATELY AT 12:30 PM MY FAMILY'S 2017 CHEVROLET MALIBU WAS IN MOTION IN A MAJOR INTERSTATE (I-75) AND THE TRAFFIC STARTED SLOWING DOWN, I PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO SLOW DOWN AND THE PEDAL BECAME VERY HARD TO BRAKE AND HAVING TO SWERVE TO THE SIDE OF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD TO AVOID A COLLISION WITH THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. THE VEHICLE'S MESSAGE BOARD READ "ENGINE POWER REDUCED". I ALSO RECEIVED AN EMAIL MESSAGE FROM ON-STAR STATING THAT AN ISSUE WITH THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION SYSTEM WAS DETECTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO VICTORY LANE CHEVROLET IN FORT MYERS, FLORIDA, AND THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN TOLD US THAT THE ISSUE HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE ENGINE OR TRANSMISSION AS THE VEHICLE MESSAGE STATED, BUT A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKING SYSTEM'S VACUUM. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A REALLY BAD ACCIDENT AND HOPE THAT THIS INFORMATION CAN HELP AVOID ANY PROBLEMS TO ANYBODY. WE ARE STILL WORRY ABOUT DRIVING THIS VEHICLE, SINCE WE ARE BECOMING AWARE THAT THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT SEEMS TO BE REPEATING ITSELF TO MANY OTHER OWNERS OF THE SAME VEHICLE AND MODEL AS OUR MALIBU IN THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA.

NHTSA ODI #11228650

29,000 miles · Jun 26, 2019
Power Train

I BOUGHT THIS CAR AUGUST 2017. WHEN I PUT MY CAR INTO PARK IT STATES THAT IT NEED TO "SHIFT TO PARK" EVEN THOUGH IT IS PARK. IT HAPPENED ONCE AND THEN AFTER THAT IT WAS LIKE ALMOST EVERY TIME I PARK MY CAR. WHEN I TURN THE CAR OFF IS WHEN THE ALERT HAPPENS, THEN YOU HAVE TO RESTART THE CAR AND TAKE OUT OF GEAR AND TRY AGAIN. IT …

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I BOUGHT THIS CAR AUGUST 2017. WHEN I PUT MY CAR INTO PARK IT STATES THAT IT NEED TO "SHIFT TO PARK" EVEN THOUGH IT IS PARK. IT HAPPENED ONCE AND THEN AFTER THAT IT WAS LIKE ALMOST EVERY TIME I PARK MY CAR. WHEN I TURN THE CAR OFF IS WHEN THE ALERT HAPPENS, THEN YOU HAVE TO RESTART THE CAR AND TAKE OUT OF GEAR AND TRY AGAIN. IT HAPPENS UP TO 4 TIMES BEFORE IT FINALLY WORKS. IT IS LIKE YOU HAVE TO JAM IT INTO PARK TO MAKE IT REALIZE IT IS IN PARK. TAKING INTO THE DEALER TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT ON 06/27/19. HOPEFULLY IT WILL GET FIXED. TO NEW OF A CAR TO HAVE ISSUES THIS EARLY. NOT A HAPPY CAMPER AT ALL!!!!

NHTSA ODI #11222618

42,175 miles · Jun 24, 2019
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Unknown Or Other

2017 CHEVY MALIBU HAS "SHIFT TO PARK" WARNING LIGHT COME ON WHEN THE CAR IS PARKED EVEN WHEN HAS BEEN PUT IN PARK SEVERAL TIMES. THIS LIGHT ONLY COMES ON WHEN STATIONARY AND TRYING TO PARK THE CAR. IF I LEAVE IT LIKE THAT AND TAKE THE KEYS WITH ME, IT HONKS REPEATEDLY.

NHTSA ODI #11222061

65,000 miles · Jun 21, 2019
EngineFuel/propulsion System

I PURCHASED A 2017 CHEVY MALIBU IN APRIL 2017 WITH 11 MILES. IN LESS THAN A MONTH, THE CAR STARTED HAVING ISSUES. TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION WITH THE INITIAL PROBLEM BEING THE O2 SENSOR THEY UPDATED THE SOFTWARE AND IT WAS NOTED GM WOULD MONITOR THE CONCERN AND HAS BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE SINCE. THE PROBLE…

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I PURCHASED A 2017 CHEVY MALIBU IN APRIL 2017 WITH 11 MILES. IN LESS THAN A MONTH, THE CAR STARTED HAVING ISSUES. TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION WITH THE INITIAL PROBLEM BEING THE O2 SENSOR THEY UPDATED THE SOFTWARE AND IT WAS NOTED GM WOULD MONITOR THE CONCERN AND HAS BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE SINCE. THE PROBLEMS ARE AS FOLLOWS: DASHBOARD GOES BLANK WHILE DRIVING, CODES: P0036, P0037, P0138, P0141, P2097 X3; P2122, P2127, P2138, ACCELERATOR PEDAL REPLACED X3 WITHIN A TWO MONTH TIME FRAME WITH THROTTLE HARNESS BEING REPLACED ON THE THIRD TIME, REDUCED ENGINE POWER TO 20 MPH WHILE DRIVING, SCANNING NOISE COMING FROM ENGINE WHILE VEHICLE IS BOTH IN THE ON/OFF POSITION; STILL HAVE NO EXPLANATION OF THE PROBLEM. THE SOUND WILL SOMETIMES OCCUR BEFORE REDUCED ENGINE POWER. WHILE THE CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY, THE ISSUES WERE NOT ADDRESSED AND WERE NO LONGER GM'S CONCERN AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. I FILED A BBB CLAIM TO HELP RESOLVE THE ONGOING PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. THE BBB AWARDED THE DECISION THAT GM IS TO REPAIR ANY ISSUES WITH THE THROTTLE, ACCELERATOR PEDAL, AND EMISSIONS WITH FOUR ATTEMPTS TO DO SO.

NHTSA ODI #11221744

Mileage unknown · Jun 18, 2019
Electronic Stability Control (esc)EngineSteeringCrash

THE VERY FIRST ADVANCED DIAGNOSTIC REPORT BY 'ONSTAR" EMAILED TO ME ON 04/07/2017, WAS LESS THAN 30 DAYS AFTER THE FINAL SALE OF MY VEHICLE. I CALLED THE SERVICE TEAM FOR THE FIRST TIME ON APRIL 7, 2019 @4:13PM. (SEE PHONE RECORDS) I AM UNSURE OF THE MILEAGE HOWEVER; I DO CONFIRM IT WAS WITHIN THE 30 DAYS OF ME PURCHASING THE CA…

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THE VERY FIRST ADVANCED DIAGNOSTIC REPORT BY 'ONSTAR" EMAILED TO ME ON 04/07/2017, WAS LESS THAN 30 DAYS AFTER THE FINAL SALE OF MY VEHICLE. I CALLED THE SERVICE TEAM FOR THE FIRST TIME ON APRIL 7, 2019 @4:13PM. (SEE PHONE RECORDS) I AM UNSURE OF THE MILEAGE HOWEVER; I DO CONFIRM IT WAS WITHIN THE 30 DAYS OF ME PURCHASING THE CAR AND I SPOKE WITH A SERVICE REP BY THE NAME OF GUY. AT THE TIME OF SALE, THE CAR HAD 15 MILES TOTAL. THE DIAGNOSTIC MESSAGE RECEIVED ON APRIL 7, 2017 WAS "AN ISSUE WITH THE EMISSIONS/ ENGINE POWER REDUCED/ENGINE STALLED". THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ALSO ON I HAVE RECEIVED AN EMAIL TO THAT EFFECT EVERY MONTH THEREAFTER, AND TO DATE. EACH TIME CAUSING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO COME ON. I HAVE ALSO ATTEMPTED TO HAVE THE CAR REPAIRED MULTIPLE TIMES, WITHIN WARRANTY AND WHILE OUT OF WARRANTY, BY TWO DEALERSHIPS. 1. ROCKMONT OURISMAN CHEVROLET &2. SPORTS CHEVROLET. BOTH SERVICE TEAMS NEVER RESOLVING THE ISSUE. THE LAST FEW TIMES THE CAR WAS IN FOR SERVICE AT THE SENIOR ADVISOR'S RECOMMENDATION WAS ON 10/17/2018 FOR 1 DAY, 11/09/2018-11/13/2018 FOR 4 DAYS AND FINALLY 12/10/2018-01/17/2019, OVER 1 MONTH AT THE SPORTS CHEVROLET. DURING THIS TIME, UNFORTUNATELY, I WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY; THEREFORE, I SPENT QUITE A BIT OF OUT OF POCKET EXPENSES ON A RENTAL VEHICLE FOR THE DAYS MY CAR WAS IN FOR REPAIR, EVEN THOUGH THIS ISSUE WAS OBVIOUSLY RELATING THE SAME UNRESOLVED COMPLAINT FROM APRIL 7, 2017 AND THAT A CHEVROLET SENIOR ADVISOR RECOMMENDED I GO THERE. I FOUND THE SENIOR ADVISORS TO BE UNHELPFUL AND LIMITED IN REMEDYING SIMPLE COMMON SENSE CUSTOMER CONCERNS. I HAVE LOTS OF DOCUMENTATION

NHTSA ODI #11220976

3,007 miles · Jun 17, 2019
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemPower Train

I HAVE A RECURRING EMISSION ISSUE DIAGNOSTIC TEST CODE P2097 GENERAL MOTORS HAS ADMITTING TO NOT KNOWING WHAT IS WRONG WITH MY VEHICLE. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE BRAND NEW THE EMISSION ISSUE IS ONGOING RECURRING AND MY VEHICLE IS UP FOR STATE INSPECTION FOR WHICH IT WILL NOT PASS, THIS ISSUE BEGAN AT MILE 3007 I'VE OWNED THE CAR F…

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I HAVE A RECURRING EMISSION ISSUE DIAGNOSTIC TEST CODE P2097 GENERAL MOTORS HAS ADMITTING TO NOT KNOWING WHAT IS WRONG WITH MY VEHICLE. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE BRAND NEW THE EMISSION ISSUE IS ONGOING RECURRING AND MY VEHICLE IS UP FOR STATE INSPECTION FOR WHICH IT WILL NOT PASS, THIS ISSUE BEGAN AT MILE 3007 I'VE OWNED THE CAR FOR LESS THAN 2 YEARS. THE VEHICLE CAME WITHOUT AIR CONDITIONING FOR WHICH IT WAS EQUIPPED THAT ISSUE BEGIN AT MILE 598. I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE SYSTEMS ISSUES. I HAVE LOST MY JOB OVER THIS CAR THIS ISSUE HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED WITH SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO REPAIR IT. I WANT GENERAL MOTORS TO REPURCHASE THE VEHICLE WITH NO USAGE BEING CHARGED. THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE THAT IS CAUSED MY PERSONAL LIFE AND MY PROFESSIONAL LIFE SEVERE DISTRESS. I LITERALLY HAVE LOST EVERYTHING AFTER HAVING LOST MY JOB OVER THIS DEFECTIVE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAD AN ACCELERATOR PEDAL ASSEMBLY REPLACED WHICH PRIOR TO THAT MY CAR WAS GOING INTO LIMP MODE / SAFE MODE CONSTANTLY. THIS IS AN ISSUE GENERAL MOTORS IS AWARE OF AND HAS CONTINUED TO SELL THIS MODEL VEHICLE WITH ITS KNOWN DEFECTS WHICH IN MY OPINION IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS GIVEN THE RESULTING CHARACTERISTICS THE CAR DISPLAYS ONCE GOING INTO REDUCED ENGINE POWER / LIMP MODE THIS WOULD OCCUR WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY EARLY MORNING LATE NIGHT HOURS I WOULD HAVE TO PULL OVER UNEXPECTEDLY AND SUDDENLY, UNHOOK MY BATTERY TERMINALS AND RESET THE COMPUTER MANUALLY. IT WOULD HAPPEN ON SIDE STREETS, ON MAIN ROADS, SITTING IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC, ETC. AT ONE POINT MY CAR BEGAN DISPLAYING CHARACTERISTICS OF LOSING POWER STEERING, ENGAGING THE AUTO STOP/START FUNCTION AND NOT RE-ENGAGING THE VEHICLE UPON ACCELERATION FOR WHICH IT WAS INTENDED. I LOST POWER STEERING IN A TURN ONE TIME AND ALMOST CRASHED IN BROOKLINE MASSACHUSETTS A HEAVILY TRAVELLED PEDESTRIAN AREA

NHTSA ODI #11220662

Mileage unknown · Jun 10, 2019
Unknown Or Other

CARPET CUT TOO SHORT COMING ALL APART IN FRONT FLOOR BOARD AND NEAR DOORS

NHTSA ODI #11219086

50,522 miles · Jun 10, 2019
EnginePower Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL MALFUNCTIONED AND WAS REPAIRED TWICE. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPAIRED THREE TIMES. BIGGERS CHEVROLET (1385 E CHICAGO ST, ELGIN, IL 60120, (847) 742-9000) MADE THE REPAIRS UNDER WARRANTY. THE ACCELERATOR …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL MALFUNCTIONED AND WAS REPAIRED TWICE. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPAIRED THREE TIMES. BIGGERS CHEVROLET (1385 E CHICAGO ST, ELGIN, IL 60120, (847) 742-9000) MADE THE REPAIRS UNDER WARRANTY. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL FAILURE RECURRED AND THE VEHICLE WAS CURRENTLY BACK AT THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND PROVIDED A CASE NUMBER [XXX]. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT A SENIOR ADVISER FROM THE MANUFACTURER WOULD CALL BACK WITHIN TWO DAYS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,522.*BF *TR *TR *AS CONSUMER STATED THE ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN FIXED MULTIPLE TIMES AND TRANSMISSION. THE ACCELERATOR HAS BEEN REPLACED 4 TIMES AS WELL. DOOR PANELS CAME OFF, CARPET CAME UP, TRIM BY REAR SHAFT CAME UP. THE CAR WAS SURRENDERED TO JERRY BIGGERS. HISTORY LISTING REFERENCE #XXXXXXXXX 'PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).'*JB

NHTSA ODI #11218929

Mileage unknown · Jun 8, 2019
Engine

WHILE DRIVING IT WILL UNEXPECTEDLY POPS UP A MESSAGE SAYING POWER ENGINE REDUCED. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND COULD GET YOU INTO AN ACCIDENT. LESS THAN A YEAR AFTER I PURCHASED THIS NEW VEHICLE IT HAPPENED THEN AGAIN NOT EVEN ONE YEAR AFTER THEY HAVE SUPPOSEDLY FIXED IT

NHTSA ODI #11218616

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.