A 'SHIFT TO PARK' DISPLAYS WHEN I AM ALREADY ON PARK WHEN I TRY TO TURN OFF THE CAR. SO I AM UNABLE TO TURN OFF THE CAR PROPERLY DUE TO THIS. I TOOK THE CAR FOR A DIAGNOSTICS AT MY LOCAL CHEVY DEALER AND THE ADVISOR TOLD ME THAT IT'S A MANUFACTURER DEFECT WITH THE SHIFT CONTROL.
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
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.
Electronic Stability Control (esc) complaints
53 reportsTHE VOLT SHIFT TO PARK ISSUE. DOES NOT RECOGNIZE PARK (IF IT IS IN PARK??) TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF, WHICH WOULD MAKE IT A SAFETY ISSUE.
MY BRAKE BOOSTERS WENT OUT AND I PAID $700 NOW SOMETHING ODD IS HAPPENING TO MY BRAKES WITH THE AIR OR PRESSURE. SHOULD THIS WHOLE CAR BE RECALLED? MY ELECTRICS BLINKED OUT THE DAY I GOT THE CAR AND THE SALESMAN SAID ' IT HAPPENS SOMETIMES NOW I HAVE TO REPLACE A BATTERY FOR$290 ON A CAR I HAVE LESS THAN 2 YEARS?? IT WAS MENTION…
Read full complaint
MY BRAKE BOOSTERS WENT OUT AND I PAID $700 NOW SOMETHING ODD IS HAPPENING TO MY BRAKES WITH THE AIR OR PRESSURE. SHOULD THIS WHOLE CAR BE RECALLED? MY ELECTRICS BLINKED OUT THE DAY I GOT THE CAR AND THE SALESMAN SAID ' IT HAPPENS SOMETIMES NOW I HAVE TO REPLACE A BATTERY FOR$290 ON A CAR I HAVE LESS THAN 2 YEARS?? IT WAS MENTIONED THE AUTO START AFFECTS MY BATTERY!! I NEED TO SPEAK TO SOMEONE ABOUT REIMBURSEMENT AND COVERING MY BATTERY. LET'S TAKE AUTO START OFF TOTALLY IT'S A NUISANCE NOT A SOLUTION AND THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER SAID HE HAS TAKEN IN 4 GMC/CHEVROLET THIS WEEK AND 2 WERE MALIBU'S. MY CAR IS AT THE DEALERS RIGHT NOW!
AFTER PUTTING THE VEHICLE IN PARK, AND THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY, THE P ON THE SHIFTER LIGHTS UP THAT IT IS IN PARK, THE SCREEN READS THAT IS IS IN PARK, AND THE CAR IS PARKED AND NOT MOVING. AFTER PRESSING THE ENGINE BUTTON TO TURN THE CAR OFF, A WARNING POPS UP ON THE SCREEN SAYING 'SHIFT TO PARK!' EVEN THOUGH THE CAR IS IN PA…
Read full complaint
AFTER PUTTING THE VEHICLE IN PARK, AND THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY, THE P ON THE SHIFTER LIGHTS UP THAT IT IS IN PARK, THE SCREEN READS THAT IS IS IN PARK, AND THE CAR IS PARKED AND NOT MOVING. AFTER PRESSING THE ENGINE BUTTON TO TURN THE CAR OFF, A WARNING POPS UP ON THE SCREEN SAYING 'SHIFT TO PARK!' EVEN THOUGH THE CAR IS IN PARK. IT TAKES MANY TRIES AND A LOT OF TIME TO FINALLY GET THE CAR TO TURN OFF.
CAR SHUTS OFF COMPLETELY WHILE DRIVING-THE CAR GOES DEAD DE-ENERGIZED COMPLETELY. ALL CONTROLS WOULD NOT WORK JUST LOCKED UP ON ME. I HAD TO HAVE THE UNIT TOWED TWICE, WE SWITCHED THE BATTERY IN THE KEY FOB AND THE CAR ENDED UP STARTING, HOWEVER 2 WEEKS LATER IT DIED AGAIN WHILE DRIVING, I NEARLY HAD AN ACCIDENT AGAIN!! 3 TIMES …
Read full complaint
CAR SHUTS OFF COMPLETELY WHILE DRIVING-THE CAR GOES DEAD DE-ENERGIZED COMPLETELY. ALL CONTROLS WOULD NOT WORK JUST LOCKED UP ON ME. I HAD TO HAVE THE UNIT TOWED TWICE, WE SWITCHED THE BATTERY IN THE KEY FOB AND THE CAR ENDED UP STARTING, HOWEVER 2 WEEKS LATER IT DIED AGAIN WHILE DRIVING, I NEARLY HAD AN ACCIDENT AGAIN!! 3 TIMES THE CAR HAS BEEN IN MOTION GOING STRAIGHT AND COMPLETELY SHUTS DOWN. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOT ABLE TO FIND ANYTHING WITH THEIR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING!! THIS HAS TO BE SOME SORT OF MAL-FUNCTION OR RECALL REGARDING THIS ISSUE.
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…
Read full complaint
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".
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.
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…
Read full complaint
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
INTERMITTENT ISSUE WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS (70MPH) CAR WILL POP UP SERVICE STABILITRAK ERROR MESSAGE ON FRONT DISPLAY, THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT WILL ILLUMINATE, WHILE CEL BEGINS FLASHING. AT THIS TIME, CAR WILL LOSE POWER AND SPEED WILL BEGIN TO FALL. CONTINUING TO DEPRESS ACCELERATOR IN AN ATTEMPT TO MAINTAIN SPEED…
Read full complaint
INTERMITTENT ISSUE WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS (70MPH) CAR WILL POP UP SERVICE STABILITRAK ERROR MESSAGE ON FRONT DISPLAY, THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT WILL ILLUMINATE, WHILE CEL BEGINS FLASHING. AT THIS TIME, CAR WILL LOSE POWER AND SPEED WILL BEGIN TO FALL. CONTINUING TO DEPRESS ACCELERATOR IN AN ATTEMPT TO MAINTAIN SPEED WILL CAUSE CAR TO SHUDDER. ENTIRE INCIDENT LASTS ONLY 1-2 MINUTES, BEFORE DRIVABILITY RETURNS. IN-THE-MOMENT ONSTAR DIAGNOSTICS SHOW NO ISSUES. PURCHASED CAR BRAND NEW; ONLY BEEN SERVICED AT THE ORIGINAL DEALERSHIP, ONLY USE SHELL V-POWER GASOLINE. 1ST INCIDENT- DEALER SAID WET ROADS/RAIN TO BLAME; DID NOT RUN DIAGNOSTICS, DID NOT ATTEMPT TO SERVICE 2ND INCIDENT- DEALER NOTED CYLINDER 3 MISFIRE, SWAPPED COIL PACK AND SPARK PLUGS ON CYLINDERS 1 AND 3, CHANGED OIL. 3RD INCIDENT- ON MY WAY HOME FROM DEALERSHIP FOLLOWING ABOVE SERVICE, DEALER NOTED CYLINDER 3 MISFIRE, OPENED A CASE WITH GM, AND PERFORMED DECARBON SERVICE TO ENGINE, SAID CARBON BUILD-UP TO BLAME. 4TH INCIDENT- DEALER NOTED GENERAL ENGINE MISFIRE CODE, ALONG WITH SEVERAL COMMUNICATIONS ERRORS CODES; REPLACED ECM AND REPROGRAMMED CAR. DEALERSHIP TOLD ME USING NON-TOP TIER GAS IS TO BLAME. CAR HAS TOTAL OF 27K MILES ON IT- ISSUE BEGAN TO OCCUR AROUND 15K MILES. I HAVE DASHCAM VIDEO AND ALL SERVICE RECORDS.
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
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.
Illustration