2017 Chevrolet Malibu
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine is the leading concern among 724 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 14th highest complaint count among 26 Malibu model years with reports.
Of the 2017 reports, 17 involved a crash and 4 involved a fire. 16 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Seat belts, critical fastenersAug 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.
An improperly secured seat belt retractor may not function properly in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
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.
Campaign 21V649000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bags, sensor, occupant classificationJun 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.
In the event of a crash, improper air bag deployment can increase the risk of injury.
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.
Campaign 18V400000 on NHTSA.gov
Fuel system, gasoline, delivery, fuel pumpMay 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.
A damaged fuel line can create a fuel leak, increasing the risk of a fire.
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.
Campaign 18V358000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bags, side/windowDec 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.
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.
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.
Campaign 16V870000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: electrical system
172 reports, newest first. Show all
Power train, Electrical system, Engine, Apr 12, 2024
Unknown. Original owner.24,000 miles. When car turned off, shift to park message occurs. Required 10 on off cycles to turn car off. Dangerous since could be draining battery.
Electrical system, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Feb 14, 2024
On numerous occasions while driving on highway my dashboard will display reduced engine power and engine light comes on. My traction control light also comes on. Car loses power quickly and will not accelerate. I’ve had to pull over numerous times almost being hit by cars behind me. Took it to get repaired and had to have fuel pump replaced as wires had melted to side of pump. Three months later same problem happened. This car is scary to drive
Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, Engine, Jan 26, 2024
Ice and sludge accumulated and froze causing the CAC system to fail resulting in engine issues, performance loss this was caused from GM poor design of a shield that they are aware of. GM knows that this can happen and have now designed a new shield to prevent this from happening but it is at the owner’s expense to fix. If GM knows that this will happen they should fix the issue I am now out of pocket 3,000.00 shame on them
Electrical system, Air bags, Engine, Jan 2, 2024
Gas pedal locked up can’t accelerate
Electrical system, Sep 27, 2023
Upon turning off car, throws shift to park error driver message. Have to restart the car, then shift to various conditions - R, D, L several times then P then turnoff car again. Repeat unto message no longer appears. Sometimes I cannot restart the car because it’s not sending the ke fob. I read online several complaints. Took car to dealership - they confirm that this problem exists in both older and several new Chevy model. My costs will be around $1k by replacing the gear shifter which I find scary. What if this car had jumped out of gear. What is the life of the replacement shifter? Why isn’t GM doing anything when this condition exist in brand new vehicles?
Power train, Electrical system, Sep 13, 2023
In 2019 I took my vehicle under warranty to the purchasing dealership to fix a "shift to park" reading after the vehicle is parked. It precludes turning off the car. Repeatedly restarting the car and shifting to park and/or jiggling the controller in park usually stopped the reading. The dealer replaced the control shifter, which fixed the problem for many years. This August, the problem started recurring and I have been attempting to make an appointment in the last week, but none of the local dealers say they can repair this for some time. Most cannot even diagnose the problem for a week or two.
Electrical system, Sep 11, 2023
The car continues to say "shift to park" when the car is already in park and its becoming a severe problem. Something is wrong with the shift stick
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Jul 28, 2023
Intermittent Shift to Park Message Displayed While Vehicle in Park. Frequently when I shift the car into park and turn off the engine, a "Shift to Park" display appears on the driver dashboard. The "Shift to Park" display doesn't clear unless turning the car back on and turning it off again.
Electrical system, Service brakes, Engine, Jun 20, 2023
Shift to park warning continues to come on daily when I go to put my car in park. I have to fidget with the shifter to get the computer to recognize that my car is in park and the car will then shut off. Recently I was stopped at a red light, tried to accelerate at the green light and my car completely shut off, while I was still in drive. I could not accelerate and had to place my car in park. Then my stabilitrak sensor came on, along with a notice that my battery saver was on. I had to call a police offer to help me off the road. The car was then able to turn on and I drove it home but this is not safe.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Jun 12, 2023
Driver door will not unlock from outside of car when car is sitting out in the heat and sun. Yes car Is available for inspection If I need to get in car while out somewhere I can’t in a hurry. I went to dealership in November 2022 when it happened 3 times it was hot outside. No warning message or symptoms before failure. Hot weather when sitting in sun lock will not work. Now that it is very hot lock is not working again June12, 2023 happened 2 times today
Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, Engine, Jun 12, 2023
The day I bought the vehicle in 2019 the engine light came on, I took the car back to the dealership and was told they couldn’t do anything. I took it to them and the shop here in town and I was told by both shops on multiple occasions they could not fix any of the issues. They treated me like I’m just a paycheck for them. My car for 3+ years now shuts completely off when I slow down or stop, including on highways. “Engine speed reduced” message comes up every time I drive. Now I am being told my brakes are going to go out and nobody can help me. I have to step on my gas after I start the car or it just sputters.
Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, Engine, Jun 7, 2023
Reduce Power Engine appears on the dash board. The car starts slowing down, I can’t speed up, I Have to park on the side of the heavy traffic in the Highway. I have to wait around 5 minutes and then drive. I still have the engine symbol on. This happens regularly like 2 to 3 times a week.
Electrical system, May 28, 2023
the secondary battery that sits in the trunk, above the back driver side tire had a short. the cable bunt out and my car reduced speed and it had me pull over. I did not know this is what had happened until i drove it again and i could no longer start it. the shift knob is locked and cant put it on drive or neutral. initializing wait to shift, theft deterrent system, transport mode on, stabilitrak, among other things popped up. Had that short sparked up into an actual fire, yes, my life could have been at risk as the car could have caught on fire. Due to it being a long weekend (memorial day weekend) I couldn't take it to a Chevy dealer. I am on an out of town trip for my kids soccer tournament. i currently have it sitting a tow yard waiting to take it to my house, and then towed to Chevy dealer in Hemet, CA, where I live.
Electrical system, Forward collision avoidance, Mar 24, 2023
Back left door will not open, from inside or outside. Has happen before and then will open a few days later. this time it’s been a week. Black paint also needs to be recalled.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Feb 11, 2023
Battery charging system is faulty. Drains battery and alternator shuts off. Car and other components shut off. Third brake light brakes when car is lifted or jacked, causes safety issue and concern. Worst part is cause expensive property damage to interior of vehicle from water leaking in.
Electrical system, Engine, Jan 31, 2023
Engine light comes on, reduced engine power message displays. Have had numerous issues with this. Replaced gas pedal, was fine for a year. The issue is back. Why has'nt NHTSA acted on this well known issue? Car goes from 70 to 40 on the highway. GM has done nothing to fix the problem! First started around 10,000 Miles.
Electrical system, Service brakes, Forward collision avoidance, Jan 19, 2023
Driving down highway slowed down brake assist kicked in for no reason I was stuck in traffic not moving but maybe 2 mph brakes locked up got super hard codes read brake booster and vacuum pump. Screen went black “parking assist off” came on dashboard earlier that morning but nothing seemed to be wrong with the car. Thank God I wasn’t going faster I could have died!
Electrical system, Jan 19, 2023
After coming to a complete stop and moving the shifter into Park, a message on screen in my car displays SHIFT TO PARK, while the icon in the bottom right of the screen clearly displays the car is already in park. This has been happening consistently over the last few days. I have learned that if I get a bit more aggressive (jam the shifter into Park) it tends to work although I'm not sure how long that will last without causing additional issues. If I can't get my car into Park, it may roll and cause injury/damage/death. I have not yet taken it in for inspection as it just began this week.
Electrical system, Engine, Dec 5, 2022
Engine shuts off while driving and sometimes will not restart. This is not the regular start/stop functionality. My car shuts of when it should not and creates a crash hazard.
Power train, Electrical system, Engine, Dec 1, 2022
ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON ALONG WITH DECREASED ENGINE POWER LIGHT. FELT THE TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTING. SPEED WENT FROM 50 DOWN TO 20 WHILE ON AN EXPRESSWAY AND I HAD TO PULL OFF THE ROAD AND SHUT IT DOWN. WAITED AWHILE, TURNED IT BACK ON AND IT CONTINUED SEVERAL TIMES TO DOWNSHIFT. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, HAD TO WAIT A FEW WEEKS FOR THE PART AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THANK GOD I WAS NOT IN THE PASSING LANE OR THERE WOULD 'VE BEEN A VERY BAD ACCIDENT.
Steering, Suspension, Electrical system, Oct 11, 2022
I have a 2017 Malibu and have gotten a message on my MFD (Multi-Function Display) screen on the dash that said Steering Assist Reduce, drive with care. It happens while driving city streets and at a complete stop. Now the doors are unlocking when the message pops up at stops. Also the care is losing power at the stops now and coming back on. It does not allow me to accelerate. This is very dangerous. I took my car into the dealership a couple months ago for the same error message but they blew it off saying I needed some type of fluid (if I remember correctly). Now, I have the same issue amplified. It wrecks lemon! I filed another complaint months ago, but I’m filing again due to scheduling yet another service appointment at the Chevrolet dealership. (Hence why I put todays date of the incident).
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Engine, Jun 17, 2022
Since purchasing this vehicle I have had to take to repair shop several times due to the automatic shut off when at a stop light but car cuts out completely and sometimes will not start back up. I have had to be towed to the shop I have had to replace the battery once already because of this and looks like will have to replace battery again because it has started doing the same thing again. I have only had this car a year and am ready to give it back to the dealership.
Power train, Electrical system, Jun 8, 2022
The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that the automatic START/STOP feature intermittently failed to operate as needed and the vehicle would shut off while at a complete stop. There were several unknown warning lights illuminated. During the most recent failure, the vehicle failed to restart after several attempts. A fellow motorist assisted her in jump-starting the vehicle and the contact was able to resume normal driving. The contact then took the vehicle to a dealer where it remained in their possession while awaiting a diagnostic test. The manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 67,000.
Electrical system, May 24, 2022
shift to park warning stays on and will not shut off when shifter is in park dealer replaced shifter assembly $800.00 when car electrical will not shut off that is a safety issue
Electrical system, Engine, May 23, 2022
Car looses power randomly “engine power reduced” comes up on the dash screen have to pull over shit car off and then turn back on to reset.