← New search

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
40,000 miles · Oct 14, 2020
Unknown Or Other

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…

Read full complaint

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.

NHTSA ODI #11364308

68,880 miles · Oct 14, 2020
EngineUnknown Or Other

IT TAKES A WHILE FOR THE CAR TO ACCELERATE ON HIGHWAYS OR STREETS. WITH MY FOOT TO THE FLOOR OF THE ACCELERATOR, IT GETS TO 20 MPH IN ABOUT 15-20 SECONDS WHICH PREVENTS ANY PICKUP. ONLY THING THAT HELPS THE PICKUP IS WHEN I USE OCTANE BOOSTER IN THE TANK AND IT'LL DRIVE AS IT SHOULD WITH PICKUP FOR A VERY SHORT PERIOD (5 MILES) …

Read full complaint

IT TAKES A WHILE FOR THE CAR TO ACCELERATE ON HIGHWAYS OR STREETS. WITH MY FOOT TO THE FLOOR OF THE ACCELERATOR, IT GETS TO 20 MPH IN ABOUT 15-20 SECONDS WHICH PREVENTS ANY PICKUP. ONLY THING THAT HELPS THE PICKUP IS WHEN I USE OCTANE BOOSTER IN THE TANK AND IT'LL DRIVE AS IT SHOULD WITH PICKUP FOR A VERY SHORT PERIOD (5 MILES) OTHERWISE THE ACCELERATION IS EXTREMELY LAGGY WITH NO PICKUP.

NHTSA ODI #11364254

68,880 miles · Oct 14, 2020
Fuel/propulsion System

WHENEVER I FILL THE TAKE FROM E I HAVE TO AT LEAST REFILL AN ADDITIONAL TWO TIMES PER WEEK. THE GAS GOES REALLY FAST AND I CAN'T EVEN GET 13 GALLONS IN MY TANK.I GET ABOUT 21 MPG EVERY TRIP.

NHTSA ODI #11364246

60,000 miles · Oct 11, 2020
Steering

BOUGHT THIS CAR NEW FOR MY DAUGHTER TO DRIVE BACK AND FORTH TO COLLEGE, I WANTED A SAFE CAR FOR HER, BUT THIS CAR IS ANYTHING BUT SAFE. STARTED HAVING ISSUES WITH GETTING RANDOM STEERING ASSIST WARNING LIGHTS, THEN TPMS LIGHTS, THEN IT SHUT DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION AND IT HAD TO BE TOWED. THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN U…

Read full complaint

BOUGHT THIS CAR NEW FOR MY DAUGHTER TO DRIVE BACK AND FORTH TO COLLEGE, I WANTED A SAFE CAR FOR HER, BUT THIS CAR IS ANYTHING BUT SAFE. STARTED HAVING ISSUES WITH GETTING RANDOM STEERING ASSIST WARNING LIGHTS, THEN TPMS LIGHTS, THEN IT SHUT DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION AND IT HAD TO BE TOWED. THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN UNABLE TO FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR AND NOW ITS OUT OF WARRANTY AND IS COSTING US HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS IN SERVICE FEES. BATTERY HAS BEEN REPLACED AND ITS STILL HAVING ISSUES. LATELY SHE HAS BEEN COMPLAINING THAT THE CAR SUDDENLY DRIFTS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND SHE HAS TO MAKE CORRECTIONS THAT JERK HER ALL OVER THE ROAD. IT DOES THIS AT RANDOM, NOT EVERY DRIVE, MAYBE EVERY OTHER, IT FEELS LIKE AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE AND NOT A MECHANICAL ISSUE. SHE HAS ALMOST CRASHED TWICE, WAS PULLED OVER THIS PAST WEEKEND COMING HOME FOR ANOTHER DEALERSHIP VISIT BECAUSE AN OFFICER NOTICED THE WEAVING AND CORRECTIONS AND ASSUMED SHE WAS DRUNK. AGAIN, THE DEALERSHIP CANNOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. I HAVE EXPLAINED THE ISSUE, BROUGHT IN A TECHNICAL BULLETIN THAT EXPLAINS THE EXACT ISSUE, STILL NO RESOLUTION, THEY STILL SAY THEY CANNOT FIND ANYTHING AND SEND ME HOME WITH ANOTHER BILL. THIS CAR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE, AND ONCE WINTER HITS AND THE ROADS BECOME SLICK, THIS ISSUE WILL LIKELY RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE REFUSED TO LET HER DRIVE IT TO COLLEGE AT THIS POINT AND THE CAR IS SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY. THE DEALERSHIP IS USELESS EVEN AFTER SHOWING THEM HUNDREDS OF INTERNET COMPLAINTS. WHY IS GM IGNORING THIS ISSUE?

NHTSA ODI #11363796

45,000 miles · Oct 11, 2020
Vehicle Speed Control

I PURCHASED MY 2017 MALIBU FROM JUD KUHN IN SC, IT HAD 40,000 MILES WHEN PURCHASED. WEEK 2 I WAS AT A STOP LIGHT HIT THE GAS TO TAKE OFF THE VEHICLE WOULDN'T MOVE SO I HIT THE GAS A LITTLE HARDER STILL NOTHING THEN SUDDENLY IT JERKED AND TOOK OFF FAST. I THOUGHT MAYBE MY FOOT WASNT ON THE HAS RIGHT. THE NEXT DAY I GOT IN THE CAR…

Read full complaint

I PURCHASED MY 2017 MALIBU FROM JUD KUHN IN SC, IT HAD 40,000 MILES WHEN PURCHASED. WEEK 2 I WAS AT A STOP LIGHT HIT THE GAS TO TAKE OFF THE VEHICLE WOULDN'T MOVE SO I HIT THE GAS A LITTLE HARDER STILL NOTHING THEN SUDDENLY IT JERKED AND TOOK OFF FAST. I THOUGHT MAYBE MY FOOT WASNT ON THE HAS RIGHT. THE NEXT DAY I GOT IN THE CAR TO BACK OUT MY DRIVE WAY AND IT DID IT AGAIN THE SAME EXACT WAY. THE SAME DAY THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND ONSTAR SENT ME A EMAIL ABOUT A EMISSION ISSUE. I CALLED THE CAR DEALER TOLD THEM ABOUT THE ACCELERATION ISSUE AND THE ENGINE LIGHT. NO ONE CALLED ME BACK AND THE ENGINE LIGHT WENT OUT . A FEW DAYS LATER THE LIGHT RETURNED AND I CALLED AGAIN. THIS TIME THEY SERVICED IT STATING THE CAR NEEDED A COMPUTER UPDATE AND CHARGED ME 100 DOLLARS AND STATED THEY COULDNT FIND THE PROBLEM WITH ACCELERATION AND THE UPDATE MAY HAVE FIXED IT. SUNDAY OCT 11TH I WENT TO LEAVE ME HOUSE AGAIN AND THE CAR WOULDN'T MOVE THE SAME THING HAPPENED HIT THE GAS WOULDN'MTOVE THEN TOOK OFF. I GOT OUT OF THE DRIVE WAY ONTO THE ROAD AND IT DID IT AGAIN. AT THIS POINT I'M SCEPTICAL ABOUT THE DEALER AS WELL AS THE VEHICLE AND I HAVE CHILDREN AND AM AFRAID THAT ONE DAY I WILL PULL OUT INFRONT OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND MAY BE HIT BECAUSE OF THE ACCELERATION ISSUES. I'M CALLING THE DEALER AGAIN TODAY

NHTSA ODI #11363775

41,102 miles · Oct 11, 2020
Electronic Stability Control (esc)SteeringUnknown Or Other

WHILE DRIVING MY CAR STARTED TO SAY DRIVING ASSISTANCE OFF PLEASE DRIVE WITH CARE THEN IT ACTS LIKE IT'S GOING TO TURN OFF. NOW ITS SYING

NHTSA ODI #11363771

40,000 miles · Oct 8, 2020
Service Brakes

OUR CAR BEGAN SHOWING AN ERROR MESSAGE "SHIFT TO PARK" WHEN THE SHIFTER WAS CORRECTLY IN THE ''PARK' POSITION AND YOU ATTEMPT TO TURN OF THE IGINITION. ESSENTIALLY THE CAR IS NOT RECOGNIZING THAT IT IS IN 'PARK' AND AS SUCH WOULD NOT TURN OFF OR LOCK CORRECTLY. THIS WOULD HAPPEN REPEATEDLY WHENEVER WE ATTEMPTED TO PARK THE CA…

Read full complaint

OUR CAR BEGAN SHOWING AN ERROR MESSAGE "SHIFT TO PARK" WHEN THE SHIFTER WAS CORRECTLY IN THE ''PARK' POSITION AND YOU ATTEMPT TO TURN OF THE IGINITION. ESSENTIALLY THE CAR IS NOT RECOGNIZING THAT IT IS IN 'PARK' AND AS SUCH WOULD NOT TURN OFF OR LOCK CORRECTLY. THIS WOULD HAPPEN REPEATEDLY WHENEVER WE ATTEMPTED TO PARK THE CAR. THE DEALER TOLD US THAT THIS IS A FREQUENT PROBLEM AND (IF NOT CORRECTED) WOULD EVENTUALLY LEAD TO NOT BEING ABLE TO TURN OFF THE IGNITION AS THE SENSOR IS TELLING THE CAR THAT IT IS NOT PARKED. I THINK THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM, AND OBVIOUSLY WELL KNOWN BY THE MANUFACTURER. THIS NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED SO NO ONE IS INJURED IN A ROLL-AWAY TYPE ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI #11363420

74,000 miles · Oct 7, 2020
Electrical System

SHIFT TO PARK MESSAGE IS DISPLAYED AFTER THE VEHICLE IS PARKED. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THAT I HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE (2017 MALIBU). THE FIRST TIME AT 30,000+ MILES, AND NOW AGAIN AT 74,000+ MILES. FORTUNATELY, THE 1ST WAS COVERED BY WARRANTY. THIS TIME WILL BE OUT OF POCKET EXPENSES (FOR THE SAME IS…

Read full complaint

SHIFT TO PARK MESSAGE IS DISPLAYED AFTER THE VEHICLE IS PARKED. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THAT I HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE (2017 MALIBU). THE FIRST TIME AT 30,000+ MILES, AND NOW AGAIN AT 74,000+ MILES. FORTUNATELY, THE 1ST WAS COVERED BY WARRANTY. THIS TIME WILL BE OUT OF POCKET EXPENSES (FOR THE SAME ISSUE), AND THE DEALERSHIP WANTS TO CHARGE AN "UNNECESSARY" DIAGNOSTIC TESTING FEE. CONDUCTING RESEARCH REVEALS THAT MANY PEOPLE ARE EXPERIENCING THIS EXACT PROBLEM WITH THIS MANUFACTURER AND/OR VEHICLE. CAN WE PLEASE GET A RECALL?

NHTSA ODI #11363140

41,280 miles · Oct 5, 2020
Suspension

REAR CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS HAVE WORN OUT AFTER ONLY 40,000 MILES CAUSING A POPPING NOISE IN THE REAR SUSPENSION. I WAS TOLD THIS WOULD NEED REPLACED EVERY 30,000 TO 40,000 MILES TO PREVENT DAMAGE TO THE CONTROL ARM. POPPING COULD BE HEARD THE MOST WHEN FIRST TAKING OFF IN EITHER REVERSE OR DRIVE.

NHTSA ODI #11362907

14,000 miles · Oct 4, 2020
Unknown Or Other

MY TRUNK WAS FLOODED FOR NO REASON. PLUS WHEN I SHIFT TO PARK IT SAYS SHIFT TO PARK WHEN I ALREADY HAVE. MY SISTER JUST GAVE ME THIS CAR WITH ONLY 14,000 MILES AND TWO PROBLEMS. THE TRUNK MAT IS GETTING WHITE MOLD. THIS CAR SAT FOR 6 MONTHS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #11362692

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.