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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

Electrical System complaints

161 reports
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25,000 miles · Jul 8, 2019
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

WARNING MESSAGE SAYS 'SHIFT INTO PARK' & EVEN THOUGH ENGINE SHUTS OFF, THE RADIO (& I'M ASSUMING BATTERY) DOESN'T. CAR WON'T LOCK BECAUSE OF IT. HAS REQUIRED TURNING CAR BACK ON & OFF AS MANY AS 8 TIMES, AND/OR MOVING FORWARD OR BACKWARDS NUMEROUS TIMES. CHEVY DEALER'S SERVICE ADVISOR TOLD ME "YEAH, WE'VE HAD LOTS OF PROBLEMS…

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WARNING MESSAGE SAYS 'SHIFT INTO PARK' & EVEN THOUGH ENGINE SHUTS OFF, THE RADIO (& I'M ASSUMING BATTERY) DOESN'T. CAR WON'T LOCK BECAUSE OF IT. HAS REQUIRED TURNING CAR BACK ON & OFF AS MANY AS 8 TIMES, AND/OR MOVING FORWARD OR BACKWARDS NUMEROUS TIMES. CHEVY DEALER'S SERVICE ADVISOR TOLD ME "YEAH, WE'VE HAD LOTS OF PROBLEMS WITH THAT. WE USUALLY HAVE TO REPLACE THE SHIFTER CONTROL BOX".

NHTSA ODI #11230053

66,000 miles · May 23, 2019
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Power Train

CAR WILL ADVISE TO "SHIFT TO PARK" WHEN VEHICLE IS ALREADY IN PARK. VEHICLE WILL NOT SHUT OFF. SHIFTER ASSEMBLY ISSUES AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THOUSANDS OF CUSTOMERS HAVE BEEN AFFECTED ACCORDING TO CHEVROLET FORUMS AND YOUTUBE VIDEOS

NHTSA ODI #11209577

37,938 miles · Apr 11, 2019
Electrical SystemEngine

2017 MALIBU LOST POWER WHILE ON THE FREEWAY ON 4/10/2019! DROPPED FROM 65 DOWN TO 45 WHILE IN THE 3RD LANE. THIS HAS TO DO WITH SOME ELECTRICAL CONNECTION AROUND THE DRIVE PEDAL! THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS OF PPL LOSING POWER WHILE ON THE FREEWAY. JUST GOOGLE IT! THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE THAT IS GOING TO GET SOMEONE KILLED! AS A FO…

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2017 MALIBU LOST POWER WHILE ON THE FREEWAY ON 4/10/2019! DROPPED FROM 65 DOWN TO 45 WHILE IN THE 3RD LANE. THIS HAS TO DO WITH SOME ELECTRICAL CONNECTION AROUND THE DRIVE PEDAL! THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS OF PPL LOSING POWER WHILE ON THE FREEWAY. JUST GOOGLE IT! THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE THAT IS GOING TO GET SOMEONE KILLED! AS A FORMER QE IN THE AUTO INDUSTRY, THIS WOULD HAVE ALREADY RESULTED IN RECALL EFFORTS BECAUSE OF THE SAFETY RISK! SO NHTSA, I HOPE YOU TAKE THIS COMPLAINT VERY SERIOUSLY AND NOT WAIT FOR SOMEONE TO DIE OR GET SERIOUSLY HURT! SUCH AS THE TAKATA AIRBAG, FIRESTONE TIRES WHICH ALMOST KILLED A FAMILY MEMBER!

NHTSA ODI #11195541

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

58,000 miles · Mar 19, 2019
Electrical SystemEngineVehicle Speed Control

VEHICLE WENT INTO 'ENGINE POWER DECREASED' UNABLE TO ACCELERATE WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON AS WELL AS THROTTLE SENSOR ON. TOOK TO DEALER WHO CHECKED ALL OF THE DIAGNOSTIC CODES AND SAID IT WAS FULLY OPERATIONAL. AGAIN DROVE FOR ABOUT 1 MONTH AND SAME THING HAPPENED. TOOK IT BACK IN AND CHEVROLET DEALER SAID IT WAS THE ACCELE…

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VEHICLE WENT INTO 'ENGINE POWER DECREASED' UNABLE TO ACCELERATE WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON AS WELL AS THROTTLE SENSOR ON. TOOK TO DEALER WHO CHECKED ALL OF THE DIAGNOSTIC CODES AND SAID IT WAS FULLY OPERATIONAL. AGAIN DROVE FOR ABOUT 1 MONTH AND SAME THING HAPPENED. TOOK IT BACK IN AND CHEVROLET DEALER SAID IT WAS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL SENSOR. WE REPLACED THE SENSOR BEING A $200 PART LAST WEEK AND AGAIN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. WHEN THIS HAPPENED WE WERE ON THE HIGHWAY IN A SNOW STORM AND HAD OUR BABY IN THE VEHICLE. IT LOCKED UP AND CARS COULDN'T SLOW DOWN APPROPRIATELY. WE LEFT THE HIGHWAY FOR SAFETY REASONS AND KEPT VEHICLE ON AS IT WAS BELOW 0 DEGREES OUTSIDE!

NHTSA ODI #11190128

64,000 miles · Mar 18, 2019
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

I PURCHASED THE CAR WITH 11MILES ON IT AND I AM STILL HAVING THESE ISSUES WITH LOSS OF POWER STEERING RESULTING IN ALMOST NEAR DEATH CRASHES. THE CAR STALLS WHILE IN MOTION. THIS HAS HAPPENED BOTH IN TRAFFIC AND ON THE HIGHWAYS. IVE HAD TO PULL OVER ON THE HIGHWAY. THE EMISSIONS IN THE CAR IS ALWAYS A PROBLEM AND THE ENGINE CONS…

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I PURCHASED THE CAR WITH 11MILES ON IT AND I AM STILL HAVING THESE ISSUES WITH LOSS OF POWER STEERING RESULTING IN ALMOST NEAR DEATH CRASHES. THE CAR STALLS WHILE IN MOTION. THIS HAS HAPPENED BOTH IN TRAFFIC AND ON THE HIGHWAYS. IVE HAD TO PULL OVER ON THE HIGHWAY. THE EMISSIONS IN THE CAR IS ALWAYS A PROBLEM AND THE ENGINE CONSTANTLY SOUNDS LIKE IT FALLING OUT AS YOU SWITCH GEARS. I HAVE REACHED OUT TO GM TO COMPLAIN, HOWEVER THEY HAVE NOT BEEN HELPFUL NOR ARE THEY EXPERTS IN FIXING TRANSMISSION/ EMISSIONS ISSUES. AT THIS POINT I NO LONGER HAVE FAITH IN THIS 2017 MALIBU AND I FEEL LIKE GM IS TAKING ABSOLUTELY NO RESPONSIBILITY IN THE ERRORS OF THE MECHANICS OF THIS CAR. SO FAR, I WAS TOLD AFTER 1 YEAR OF TRYING TO FIX THE ISSUE AND HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS SPENT ON RENTAL CARS BECAUSE THIS ISSUE IS NOT DEEMED A WARRANTY ISSUE, THEY GAVE ME $1500 TO PURCHASE ANOTHER GM VEHICLE, NEVER ADDRESSING THE ISSUE OF THE SAFETY CONCERNS I HAVE WITH THE CAR. THAT IS NOT FIX I AM WILLING TO SETTLE FOR. WHAT ABOUT THE MONTHLY OBLIGATION I HAVE IN TERMS OF PAYING OFF THIS CAR? NONE OF THE TECHNICIANS WERE ABLE TO EXPLAIN TO ME WHY THIS IS AND I HAVE SPENT COUNTLESS DOLLARS IN AN EFFORT TO HAVE THIS CAR LOOKED AT. THE REASON FOR MY RECENT COMPLAINT IS BECAUSE AGAIN THE CAR IS EXPERIENCING STALLING AND LOW POWER STEERING. THE ORIGINAL FIX FROM CHEVROLET WAS TO CHANGE SOMETHING IN THE BATTERY "FOUND CODE COBOO B1325 LOW VOLTAGE CODES. FOUND SHORTED CELL IN BATTERY CASUING LOW VOLTAGE AT STARTUP REPLACED BATTERY AND ROAD TESTED 6 MILES. NO CODE RETURNED " HOWEVER THEY HAVE CHANGES THAT CELL EVERYTIME I TAKE IT IN FOR SERVICE. THIS DOES NOT FIX THE ISSUE, INSTEAD CAUSES ME MORE MONEY BECAUSE THIS IS NOT A WARRANTY ISSUE AND I AM ALWAYS HAVING TO LEAVE MY CAR FOR WEEKS. I AM LOOKING FOR A REMEDY THAT IS SAFE FOR BOTH ME AND MY CHILDREN. I HAVE REPAIR ORDERS IF NEEDED

NHTSA ODI #11189735

33,550 miles · Mar 10, 2019
Electrical SystemEngineVehicle Speed Control

I STARTED HAVING ISSUES WITH MY 2017 CHEVY MALIBU A LITTLE OVER A MONTH AGO. I WAS DRIVING IN THE CITY AND THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND A WARNING FOR ENGINE POWER REDUCED CAME ON. CAR WOULD NOT GO OVER 30 MILES AND HOUR. IT DIDN'T HAPPEN AGAIN UNTIL 2 DAYS AGO ITS HAPPED FOR BOTH DAYS ON DAY IT CAME ON AS I WAS ENTERING THE FREE…

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I STARTED HAVING ISSUES WITH MY 2017 CHEVY MALIBU A LITTLE OVER A MONTH AGO. I WAS DRIVING IN THE CITY AND THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND A WARNING FOR ENGINE POWER REDUCED CAME ON. CAR WOULD NOT GO OVER 30 MILES AND HOUR. IT DIDN'T HAPPEN AGAIN UNTIL 2 DAYS AGO ITS HAPPED FOR BOTH DAYS ON DAY IT CAME ON AS I WAS ENTERING THE FREEWAY. HAD TO PULL OVER AND TURN MY CAR ON AND OFF UNTILL I COULD DRIVE IT AGAIN NORMALLY BUT THE ENGINE LIGHT WOULD TURN ON AND OFF. I'M VERY DISAPPOINTED THIS IS HAPPENING TO MY NEW CAR. THE REASON I GOT A NEW CAR WAS TO HAVE SOMETHING RELIABLE. I CANT EVEN TRUST TO DRIVE THIS CAR WHAT IF IT HAPPENS AND I HAVE MY BABY IN THE CAR... I'M SO DISAPPOINTED.

NHTSA ODI #11185686

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

Mileage unknown · Feb 25, 2019
Electrical System

ENGINE POWER REDUCED SEVERAL TIMES A DAY IN TRAFFIC AND ON THE HIGHWAY NOT LETTING ME ACCELERATE THE CAR OVER 30 MILES PER HOUR AT RANDOM TIMES ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT FOR ME AND MY 4 CHILDREN. CAR CAN BE IN MOTION OR SITTING STILL.

NHTSA ODI #11182253

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.