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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
20,000 miles · Feb 17, 2020
Engine

MY CHEVY MALIBU CURRENTLY HAS ABOUT 20K MILES ON IT IN ADDITION TO THAT IT IS UP TO DATE ON OIL CHANGES ETC. ABOUT 20 MINS AGO WHILE I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE MESSAGES ME SAYING "ENGINE POWER REDUCED" AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY VEHICLES POWER WAS REDUCED. THANKFULLY I WASNT DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY OR ANYTHING BUT THIS WAS VERY DANGEROUS…

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MY CHEVY MALIBU CURRENTLY HAS ABOUT 20K MILES ON IT IN ADDITION TO THAT IT IS UP TO DATE ON OIL CHANGES ETC. ABOUT 20 MINS AGO WHILE I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE MESSAGES ME SAYING "ENGINE POWER REDUCED" AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY VEHICLES POWER WAS REDUCED. THANKFULLY I WASNT DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY OR ANYTHING BUT THIS WAS VERY DANGEROUS AND ALARMING TO ME. I RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM ONLINE AND FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS FOR MY PARTICULAR MODEL AND FIND THAT VERY IRRESPONSIBLE OF GM TO NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY ON THIS ISSUE AND FIX IT. I ASK THAT YOU PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET HURT. THANK YOU

NHTSA ODI #11309714

26,916 miles · Feb 17, 2020
Vehicle Speed Control

I WAS DRIVING STRAIGHT AT 47MPH ON A MAJOR STREET IN DENVER AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. AT THE SAME TIME, THE DISPLAY READ "ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED" AND I LOST ALL ACCELERATION. MY SPEED DROPPED TO ABOUT 20MPH VERY QUICKLY (5 TO 8 SECONDS). LUCKILY THERE WAS RELATIVELY LIGHT TRAFFIC. I PULLED INTO AN AUTOZONE THAT WAS AT…

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I WAS DRIVING STRAIGHT AT 47MPH ON A MAJOR STREET IN DENVER AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. AT THE SAME TIME, THE DISPLAY READ "ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED" AND I LOST ALL ACCELERATION. MY SPEED DROPPED TO ABOUT 20MPH VERY QUICKLY (5 TO 8 SECONDS). LUCKILY THERE WAS RELATIVELY LIGHT TRAFFIC. I PULLED INTO AN AUTOZONE THAT WAS AT THE NEXT INTERSECTION AND THEY READ THE ERROR CODE P2138. COME TO FIND OUT THIS SHOWS AN ERROR WITH THE THROTTLE/PEDAL POSITION CENSOR. I GOT BACK IN MY CAR TO DRIVE HOME AND WITHIN 30 SECONDS, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT OFF AND MY CAR RAN LIKE NORMAL. I'M STILL VERY WORRIED ABOUT THIS SENSOR HOWEVER. WHEN I LOOKED THIS UP ONLINE TONIGHT, I CAME TO FIND OUT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM YET CHEVY HAS DECIDED NOT TO RECALL THIS PART. DOING MORE RESEARCH LEAD ME TO THE CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT WHICH HAS BEEN BY ROTHSCHILD V. GENERAL MOTORS LLC, CASE NO. 1:19-CV-05240, IN THE U.S. DISTRICT COURT FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK. FROM WHAT I READ, AND KNOWING THAT I DRIVE 35,000 MILES PER YEAR FOR WORK, I BELIEVE THIS COULD BE A HUGE IF THIS WERE TO HAPPEN WHEN I'M DOING 75+MPH ON THE INTERSTATE. I URGE THE NHTSA TO REVIEW THIS VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION CAREFULLY AND STRONGLY RECOMMEND YOU HAVE CHEVY DO THE RIGHT THING AND GET THIS PART FIXED AND REPLACED TO KEEP US DRIVERS SAFE!!

NHTSA ODI #11309576

55,000 miles · Feb 15, 2020
Electronic Stability Control (esc)

WHILE TRYING TO ACCELERATE DOWN THE ON-RAMP ONTO A HIGHWAY ALL OF A SUDDEN I LOST POWER AND COULD NOT EXCEED 40MPH. I ALMOST GOT SIDESWIPED WHILE TRYING TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC BUT COULDN'T GAIN SPEED. BEFORE ABRUPTLY PULLING ONTO THE SHOULDER THE ANTI-SKID AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS CAME ON ALONG WITH A DASH WARNING THAT STATED :"EN…

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WHILE TRYING TO ACCELERATE DOWN THE ON-RAMP ONTO A HIGHWAY ALL OF A SUDDEN I LOST POWER AND COULD NOT EXCEED 40MPH. I ALMOST GOT SIDESWIPED WHILE TRYING TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC BUT COULDN'T GAIN SPEED. BEFORE ABRUPTLY PULLING ONTO THE SHOULDER THE ANTI-SKID AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS CAME ON ALONG WITH A DASH WARNING THAT STATED :"ENGINE POWER REDUCED". I TOOK IT TO A VENDOR WHO SEARCHED THE CODE MY CAR PRODUCED AND IT WAS "P2138", WHICH IS "THROTTLE/PEDAL POSITION SENSOR/ SWITCH D/ E VOLTAGE CORRELATION". I SEARCHED THIS ISSUE ONLINE TO FIND A TON OF SIMILAR IF NOT THE EXACT SAME ISSUES WITH OTHER CHEVY MALIBUS.THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS ISSUE! I COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED.

NHTSA ODI #11309369

43,355 miles · Feb 14, 2020
Vehicle Speed Control

I WAS DRIVING 35MPH ON CITY STREET GOING STRAIGHT ON THE ROAD AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY CAR SLOWED DOWN TO 10MPH. A POP UP SAYING CAR ENGINE POWER REDUCED CAME UP ON THE DASH BORED ALONG WITH MY ENGINE LIGHT

NHTSA ODI #11309277

85,000 miles · Feb 11, 2020
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemService Brakes

MY CHEVY MALIBU HAS STOPPED SEVERAL TIMES ON THE HIGHWAY MORE OFTEN DURNING TRAFFIC TIME IT ALWAYS STOPS WHEN IT ENTERS AUTO STOP THEN IT CUTS ALL THE WAY OFF AND I HAVE TO RESTART IT I CALLED IN ABOUT THIS LAST YEAR . ALSO IT MAKES IT REALLY TOUGH TO PUSH MY BREAKS WHEN I START THE CAR UP IT DOES MAKE THE SOUND LIKE IT WANTS TO…

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MY CHEVY MALIBU HAS STOPPED SEVERAL TIMES ON THE HIGHWAY MORE OFTEN DURNING TRAFFIC TIME IT ALWAYS STOPS WHEN IT ENTERS AUTO STOP THEN IT CUTS ALL THE WAY OFF AND I HAVE TO RESTART IT I CALLED IN ABOUT THIS LAST YEAR . ALSO IT MAKES IT REALLY TOUGH TO PUSH MY BREAKS WHEN I START THE CAR UP IT DOES MAKE THE SOUND LIKE IT WANTS TO START THEN IT DIES OUT

NHTSA ODI #11308588

54,000 miles · Feb 10, 2020
Engine

WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE, A WARNING WILL RANDOMLY APPEAR SAYING 'REDUCED ENGINE POWER' AND WILL REDUCE SPEED TO ABOUT 20MPH AND WILL NOT ACCELERATE ANY FASTER.

NHTSA ODI #11308348

37,301 miles · Feb 9, 2020
Unknown Or Other

ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED APPEARS ON INFO DASH WORD AND CAR SLOWS DOWN TO SLOW SPEED WHILE ON HIGHWAY

NHTSA ODI #11308012

55,000 miles · Feb 9, 2020
Unknown Or Other

I WAS DRIVING IN THE MOUNTAINS WHEN ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED LIGHT CAME ON AND CARS MAX SPEED TOPPED OUT AT 20-25 MPH. STARTED THE CAR AN HOUR LATER AND EVERYTHING WENT OFF. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO BE TOLD NOTHING IS WRONG. A MONTH LATER SAME EXACT ISSUE. THIS TIME I WAS DRIVING IN THE CITY AT 30MPH WHEN ENGINE POWER IS RE…

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I WAS DRIVING IN THE MOUNTAINS WHEN ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED LIGHT CAME ON AND CARS MAX SPEED TOPPED OUT AT 20-25 MPH. STARTED THE CAR AN HOUR LATER AND EVERYTHING WENT OFF. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO BE TOLD NOTHING IS WRONG. A MONTH LATER SAME EXACT ISSUE. THIS TIME I WAS DRIVING IN THE CITY AT 30MPH WHEN ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN AND SPEED WAS AFFECTED AGAIN. NOW THE ENGINE LIGHT IS REMAINING ON.

NHTSA ODI #11307970

35,800 miles · Feb 8, 2020
Unknown Or Other

I WAS DRIVING ON A CITY STREET GOING 35MPH WHEN MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND A NOTIFICATION CAME ON MY DASHBOARD SAYING "ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED". THE CAR IMMEDIATELY WENT FROM 35MPH TO 20MPH; I'M LUCKY NO ONE WAS BEHIND ME OR I WOULD HAVE BEEN HIT. I JUST BOUGHT THE CAR 8 DAYS AGO AT 35,000 MILES. I WAS TOLD AT THE DEALERS…

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I WAS DRIVING ON A CITY STREET GOING 35MPH WHEN MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND A NOTIFICATION CAME ON MY DASHBOARD SAYING "ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED". THE CAR IMMEDIATELY WENT FROM 35MPH TO 20MPH; I'M LUCKY NO ONE WAS BEHIND ME OR I WOULD HAVE BEEN HIT. I JUST BOUGHT THE CAR 8 DAYS AGO AT 35,000 MILES. I WAS TOLD AT THE DEALERSHIP THAT IT HAD TO DO WITH THE ACCELERATION PEDAL POSITION SENSOR. THE CAR IS LESS THAN 36,000 MILES NOW.

NHTSA ODI #11307927

22,000 miles · Feb 7, 2020
EngineVehicle Speed Control

WHEN DRIVING DOWN A HIGHWAY TO DROP OFF KID AT SCHOOL, THE CAR SOMETIMES SLOWS DOWN ON ITS OWN AND A MESSAGE COMES ON STATING ENGINE POWER REDUCED. AT 6:30 AM IN THE MORNING WHEN IT'S STILL DARK, THIS IS GOING TO CAUSE A CAR CRASH SOONER OR LATER. BUT DEALER SAYS THERE IS NO RECALL.

NHTSA ODI #11307774

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.