SHIFT TO PARK SHOWN AFTER CAR IS IN PARK. I HAD THIS HAPPEN 3 TO FOR TIMES A WEEK, AND I WOULD HAVE TO RESTART CAR TAKE OUT OF PARK AND PUT IT INTO PARK SEVERAL TIMES TILL THE MESSAGE ON DASHBOARD WOULD GO AWAY.. I HAD TO REPLACE SL-N-CONTOL AND N-HARNESS.CAR ONLY HAS 37,000 MILES ON IT.
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.
Unknown Or Other complaints
147 reportsREDUCED 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 …
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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
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…
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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.
"STEERING ASSISTANCE REDUCED DRIVE WITH CARE" WARNING APPEARS ON DASH RIGHT BEFORE I'M GOING TO ACCELERATE AFTER BEING STOPPED.
WHEN DRIVING AT AUTO STOP, WHEN BEGINNING TO ACCELERATE, CAR ACTS LIKE IT SHUT OFF AND SAYS STEERING ASSIST REDUCED DRIVE WITH CARE. I NOTICED THE BATTERY VOLTAGE GOES DOWN TO 11.0 V. ALSO THE RADIO SCREEN FLICKERS BLACK. THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES IN MULTIPLE DAYS.
VEHICLE WOULD INDICATE/NOTIFY TO SHIFT TO PARK EVEN THOUGH VEHICLE INDEED IN WAS IN PARK NOT ALLOWING YOU TO COMPLETE TURN CAR OFF. CAR WOULD REMAIN IN ANCILLARY MODE.
DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE AT 70 MPH AND CAR STATES REDUCED POWER MODE. I COULD ONLY GO 20 MPH AND TRY TO CROSS 4 LANES OF A HIGHWAY DURING RUSH HOUR. I ALMOST KILLED SEVERAL PEOPLE INCLUDING MYSELF. I HAVE READ THIS IS HAPPENING TO OTHER PEOPLE AND I WANT IT FIXED.
SHIFT TO PARK ERROR MESSAGE. CANT TURN OFF CAR. SHIFTER IS IN PARK BUT SHIFT TO PARK ERROR MESSAGE. NOT SURE IF CAR IS FULLY IN PARK. GOT REPAIRED TWICE BUT CAR DEALERSHIP SAID TEMPORARY FIX, THIS WILL KEEP HAPPENING. *TR
I JUST SUBMITTED A COMPLAINT ABOUT THIS ISSUE, IT HAS HAPPENED MORE TIMES THAN I CAN COUNT SO I'M SUBMITTING AGAIN. I HAVE TOLD PEOPLE AT CHEVY ABOUT THIS PROBLEM TWICE, WHEN I WENT IN FOR OIL CHANGES/MAINTENANCE. I HAVE ONLY GONE TO CHEVY FOR ANY TYPE OF MAINTENANCE BECAUSE I WANT MY CAR TO BE TAKEN CARE OF BY PEOPLE THAT SHOUL…
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I JUST SUBMITTED A COMPLAINT ABOUT THIS ISSUE, IT HAS HAPPENED MORE TIMES THAN I CAN COUNT SO I'M SUBMITTING AGAIN. I HAVE TOLD PEOPLE AT CHEVY ABOUT THIS PROBLEM TWICE, WHEN I WENT IN FOR OIL CHANGES/MAINTENANCE. I HAVE ONLY GONE TO CHEVY FOR ANY TYPE OF MAINTENANCE BECAUSE I WANT MY CAR TO BE TAKEN CARE OF BY PEOPLE THAT SHOULD KNOW EVERYTHING ABOUT IT. THAT'S WHY I'M EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED THAT I HAVE PURCHASED THIS CAR BRAND NEW, TAKEN THE BEST CARE OF IT, ONLY TAKEN IT TO CHEVY EVEN THOUGH IT'S OBVIOUSLY MORE EXPENSIVE, BUT STILL NO ONE HAS HELPED ME WITH THIS PROBLEM OR EXPLAINED WHY IT'S HAPPENING. IT'S BEEN OVER A YEAR SINCE I'VE REPORTED THE PROBLEM, AND NOW I'M WORRIED I MAY HAVE TOO MANY MILES FOR THIS PROBLEM TO BE TAKEN CARE OF. WHEN I PUT MY CAR IN PARK, IT DOESN'T ALWAYS RECOGNIZE IT'S IN PARK. THIS MEANS THAT MY CAR WILL NOT TURN OFF, AND I CAN'T LEAVE MY CAR UNTIL IT RECOGNIZES IT'S IN PARK. I'VE FOUND THAT THIS PROBLEM WILL ALMOST ALWAYS HAPPEN IF I TRY TO TURN OFF MY CAR ENGINE "TOO SOON". I HAVE TO WAIT ABOUT A MINUTE BEFORE I CAN TURN OFF MY ENGINE, OR I RISK MY CAR NOT RECOGNIZING IT'S IN PARK. IF THIS HAPPENS, SOMETIMES I ONLY HAVE TO PRESS ON MY BREAK. OTHER TIMES I HAVE TO TURN THE ENGINE BACK ON, DRIVE, AND WAIT BEFORE TRYING TO TURN MY ENGINE OFF AGAIN. THIS CAN TAKE MULTIPLE TRIES, MULTIPLE MINUTES WORTH OF JUST TRYING TO PARK MY CAR AND TURN IT OFF. I DO COMMUTE ABOUT 70 MILES ROUND TRIP FOR WORK EACH DAY (MONDAY-FRIDAY), SO I USE MY CAR QUITE A BIT, BUT LIKE I MENTIONED I BOUGHT THIS CAR BRAND NEW AND TAKE THE BEST CARE OF IT. I DO NOT CUT ANY CORNERS BECAUSE I DO DRIVE IT A LOT. I HAVE NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT, HAD A TICKET, I DRIVE VERY SAFELY. THERE IS NO REASON, MY CAR SHOULD HAVE ANY PROBLEMS SIMPLY PARKING AFTER HAVING IT FOR LESS THAN 2 YEARS.
WHEN I PUT MY CAR IN PARK, IF I TURN OFF MY ENGINE AFTER A FEW SECONDS OF SITTING IN PARK, SOMETIMES MY CAR DOESN'T RECOGNIZE IT'S IN PARK. MY CAR WILL TELL ME TO PUT IT IN PARK BEFORE I'M ABLE TO TURN OFF MY CAR. SOMETIMES I JUST HAVE TO STEP ON MY BREAK AGAIN, AND IT WILL RECOGNIZE IT'S IN PARK. SOMETIMES I HAVE TO TURN MY ENG…
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WHEN I PUT MY CAR IN PARK, IF I TURN OFF MY ENGINE AFTER A FEW SECONDS OF SITTING IN PARK, SOMETIMES MY CAR DOESN'T RECOGNIZE IT'S IN PARK. MY CAR WILL TELL ME TO PUT IT IN PARK BEFORE I'M ABLE TO TURN OFF MY CAR. SOMETIMES I JUST HAVE TO STEP ON MY BREAK AGAIN, AND IT WILL RECOGNIZE IT'S IN PARK. SOMETIMES I HAVE TO TURN MY ENGINE BACK ON AND WAIT A MINUTE OR TWO. SOMETIMES I HAVE TO PUT MY CAR IN DRIVE AGAIN BEFORE PUTTING IT IN PARK, WAITING A COUPLE MINUTES, AND THEN IT FINALLY RECOGNIZES IT'S IN PARK. I HAVE NOT FIGURED OUT WHAT WORKS BEST, EXCEPT FOR JUST WAITING A LITTLE BIT BEFORE TRYING TO TURN OFF MY ENGINE. IF I CAN'T GET MY CAR TO RECOGNIZE IT'S IN PARK, I CAN'T LEAVE MY CAR BECAUSE THE BATTERY WILL NOT TURN OFF UNTIL IT RECOGNIZES IT'S IN PARK. IT CAN BE VERY FRUSTRATING. WHEN I BROUGHT MY CAR IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE AT CHEVY, I MENTIONED THIS PROBLEM TO CHEVY, THINKING MAYBE SOMETHING WAS LOOSE. THEY SAID THEY'VE HEARD ABOUT THIS PROBLEM BEFORE, AND SAID THEY COULD FIX IT. WHEN I CAME BACK FOR MY NEXT OIL CHANGE, I AGAIN NEEDED TO MENTION THIS PROBLEM, BECAUSE THE PROBLEM GOES AWAY FOR A LITTLE BUT COMES BACK. AGAIN, THEY SAID THEY COULD FIX IT, BUT IT STILL HAPPENS. THEY ARE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM, IT'S HAPPENING TO MULTIPLE CHEVY CUSTOMERS, BUT NO ONE HAS BEEN ABLE TO TELL ME WHAT THE PROBLEM IS OR HOW TO FIX IT.
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.
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