IllustrationUS GOVERNMENT OWNED 2017 CHEVROLET MALIBU VEHICLE FIRE. CAUSE UNKNOWN, BUT WAITING ON A FIRE REPORT FOR POSSIBLE CAUSE.
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
870–25K
12025–50K
11050–75K
5275–100K
22100–150K
6150K+
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 reportsVEHICLE WAS LEAKING INTO CABIN THROUGH THE THIRD BRAKE LIGHT CAUSED BY A FAULTY GASKET.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO IMMEDIATELY STOP. THE CONTACT TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND, UPON ATTEMPTING TO RESTART THE ENGINE, THE "KEY COULD NOT BE DETECTED" MESSAGE APPEARED. THE VEHICLE EVENTUALLY RESTARTED AND WAS TAK…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO IMMEDIATELY STOP. THE CONTACT TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND, UPON ATTEMPTING TO RESTART THE ENGINE, THE "KEY COULD NOT BE DETECTED" MESSAGE APPEARED. THE VEHICLE EVENTUALLY RESTARTED AND WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER (PHIL SMITH CHEVROLET, 1640 SR 7, LAUDERHILL, FL, 954-271-1474), BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19,000.
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON I HAVE TAKEN IT TO DEALERSHIP AND IT HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED AND FIXED IT IS THE BATTERY MODULATER SENSOR (IF I SPELLED IT RIGHT) THE SAME CODE COMES UP. DEALERSHIP STATES ITS A MANUFACTURER ISSUE OR SYSTEM ISSUE AND A FIX IS BEING WORKED ON ITS BEEN A COUPLE OF MONTHS ALL THEY CAN DO IS RESET THE SENSOR BUT …
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CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON I HAVE TAKEN IT TO DEALERSHIP AND IT HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED AND FIXED IT IS THE BATTERY MODULATER SENSOR (IF I SPELLED IT RIGHT) THE SAME CODE COMES UP. DEALERSHIP STATES ITS A MANUFACTURER ISSUE OR SYSTEM ISSUE AND A FIX IS BEING WORKED ON ITS BEEN A COUPLE OF MONTHS ALL THEY CAN DO IS RESET THE SENSOR BUT IT KEEPS COMING ON.
'TAKATA RECALL' CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE NEXT DAY THE SPEED OF VEHICLE DECREASED AND SAID ENGINE POWER REDUCED WHILE I WAS ON HIGHWAY
WITHIN 7 MONTHS I HAVE BEEN THROUGH 3 SETS OF REAR TIRES
BOUGHT VEHICLE BRAND NEW, NOW HAS 14,000 MILES. ON 2 SEPARATE OCCASIONS WHILE COASTING FROM HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD JERK RAPIDLY BACK AND FORTH ON ITS OWN. IT IS A RAPID RIGHT LEFT RIGHT LEFT ONLY MOVING THE WHEEL ABOUT 2 INCHES FROM THE CENTER EACH WAY. IT HAS ON NUMEROUS OCCASION AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS FELT LIKE THE…
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BOUGHT VEHICLE BRAND NEW, NOW HAS 14,000 MILES. ON 2 SEPARATE OCCASIONS WHILE COASTING FROM HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD JERK RAPIDLY BACK AND FORTH ON ITS OWN. IT IS A RAPID RIGHT LEFT RIGHT LEFT ONLY MOVING THE WHEEL ABOUT 2 INCHES FROM THE CENTER EACH WAY. IT HAS ON NUMEROUS OCCASION AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS FELT LIKE THE STEERING WENT REALLY LOOSE, ALMOST A NEUTRAL FEEL WITHOUT RESISTANCE AND VEHICLE BECOMES DIFFICULT TO CONTROL WHEN THIS HAPPENS. IN NEITHER SITUATION WILL IT DO IT TO THE POINT ANY SERVICE TECHNICIAN WILL EVER BE ABLE TO DUPLICATE IT. THE STEERING HAS WENT "LOOSE" ON ABOUT 12 TO 14 OCCASIONS. THE RAPID BACK AND FORTH JERKING HAS HAPPENED TWICE. THE RAPID JERKING HAS HAPPENED BOTH TIMES ON DIFFERENT ROAD SURFACES AT SPEEDS BELOW 45 MPH WHILE COATING, FOOT COMPLETELY OFF THE GAS PEDAL AND FOOT NOT TOUCHING THE BRAKE PEDAL.
WHEN I TO A STOP LIKE COME OFF THE EXIT CAR CUT OFF AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOT ON BE FOR SECOND. I HAVE TOOK IT TO THE DEAL THREE TIME AND THEIR EVERYTHING IS OKAY THEIR THE PROBLEM THE NEXT DAY SAME THING HAPPEN AND IT WILL COMES UP ON THE DASHBOARD THAT I`M LOSING POWER.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE TRACTION CONTROL AND CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT PULLED OFF THE ROADWAY AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AFTER A FEW ATTEMPTS; HOWEVER, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAK…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE TRACTION CONTROL AND CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT PULLED OFF THE ROADWAY AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AFTER A FEW ATTEMPTS; HOWEVER, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DOMINO MOTOR (3137 255TH ST, SAC CITY, IA 50583) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
GAS TANK ONLY FILLS TO 7/8 OF A TANK. I HAVE HAD IT AT CHEVY FIVE TIMES AND NOW IT READS FULL BUT WHEN I DRIVE THE CAR TEN MILES IT READS LESS THE 3/4 OF A TANK.
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.