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: engine
261 reports, newest first. Show all
Power train, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Apr 9, 2021
WHILE DRIVING ON MULTIPLE ACCUSATIONS MY ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND GO OFF WITHIN MINUTES AND NOT RETURN TILL I TURN THE CAR BACK ON OR WHILE DRIVING LATER ON IN THE DAY OR DAYS AFTER SEEING THE LIGHT COME SO I WAS UNABLE TO BRING IT IN TO GET CHECKED OUT PROPERLY. A MONTH PASSED WHEN THE ISSUE APPEARED AND WHEN I DECIDED TO GO INTO THE DEALERSHIP TO POSSIBLY TRADE IN MY CAR THE LIGHT WAS NOT APPEARING FOR DAYS BEFOREHAND AND THINGS WERE NORMAL TILL A A COUPLE DAYS AFTER I LEFT THE DEALERSHIP MY CAR READ ON THE DASH 'REDUCED ENGINE POWER ' I WASN'T ABLE TO ACCELERATE QUICK ENOUGH IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC ON MILITARY TRAIL AND BELVEDERE I HAD TO PULL THROUGH A WALMART PARKING LOT TO AVOID ON COMING TRAFFIC AND BRING THE CAR TO MY HOME CLOSE BY VERY SLOW AND SLUGGISH DUE TO NOT GETTING ANY ACCELERATION FROM ME PRESSING ON THE PEDAL. THE DEALERSHIP WANTS TO REPLACE MY FUEL PUMP SYSTEM AT A COST HOWEVER IT HAS A CURRENT RECALL FOR MY SPECIFIC MAKE AND MODEL.
Other or unspecified, Engine, Apr 1, 2021
THIS ISSUE HAS HAPPENED TWICE. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED IT WAS IN MOTION ON THE HIGHWAY AND A MESSAGE APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD, "ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED." IT BEGAN DEACCELERATING FROM 75 MPH TO 20 MPH. I HAD TO QUICKLY PULL OVER THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY AND I CUT THE CAR OFF. I TRUNED THE CAR BACK ON AND THE MESSAGE WENT AWAY. THE SECOND TIME IT OCCURRED THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON THE HIGHWAY AGAIN WHEN THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON IN THE DASHBOARD WITH A MESSAGE, "ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED." THE CAR WAS GOING 80 MPH WHEN THE MESSAGE CAME ON THIS TIME. I REACHED OUT TO THE CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP AND THEY CONFIRMED THERE WAS NOT A RECALL. I DID SOME RESEARCH ON THE ISSUE AND DISCOVERED THAT THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME VEHICLE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME ISSUE.
Engine, Mar 30, 2021
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE ENGINE POWER REDUCED WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE RPMS BEGAN TO LOWER AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO EXCEED 20 MPH. THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND CONTINUED DRIVING WITHOUT FURTHER ISSUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HER HUSBAND WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SCHEDULED TO BE DIAGNOSED AT FAIRGROUND AUTO PLAZA (100 FAIRGROUNDS RD, ROLLA, MO 65401, (573)364-1002) WHICH WAS STILL PENDING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND A CASE WAS OPENED. THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING A RETURN CALL FROM THE MANUFACTURER. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000.
Vehicle speed control, Engine, Mar 27, 2021
I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE FOR MY SON IN JANUARY 2017. 3/27/2021, HE WAS DRIVING IT AND LOST POWER ON THE INTERSTATE. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO OVER 25 MILES AN HOUR. HE HAD TO STOP ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND LET IT SIT FOR A WHILE THEN RESTART IT. IT HAPPENED 4 ADDITIONAL TIMES WITHIN 30 MINUTES.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Engine, Mar 22, 2021
ON 03/10/21, I WAS DRIVING NORTH ON A BUSY HIGHWAY. I APPROACHED THE STOP LIGHT AND REDUCED SPEED. I CAME TO A FULL STOP AND THE CAR SHUT OFF COMPLETELY. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON BRIEFLY, THEN LOST ALL ELECTRICAL POWER. I HAD NO HAZARD LIGHTS, NO RADIO, NO DASHBOARD, NOTHING. AFTER BEING STRANDED FOR 5 MIN LIKE THAT AT A VERY DANGEROUS LEFT LANE STOP, THE CAR FINALLY RESTARTED. CALLED ONSTAR IMMEDIATELY TO SCAN THE CAR FOR CODES - THEY FOUND NONE. THE ISSUE OF THE CAR INTERMITTENTLY SHUTTING DOWN LIKE THAT HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES SINCE OCTOBER OF 2020. TAKEN THE CAR TO CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP MULTIPLE TIMES AND WAS TOLD THEY CANNOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. I CURRENTLY HAVE IT AT THE DEALERSHIP AND AM BEING TOLD THEY CAN FIND NOTHING WRONG DESPITE FOUR DIFFERENT PEOPLE IN MY CAR WITNESSING IT HAPPEN TO ME MORE THAN ONCE AND MY PROVIDING A LOG OF EVERY TIME IT'S HAPPENED.
Electrical system, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Mar 22, 2021
I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN 2018 WITH 20,000 MILES ON IT. MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN ON MORE THAN 7 TIMES IN THE PAST 2 YEARS. I HAD TO HAVE THE FUEL INJECTOR WORKED ON, SOMETIMES IT WON'T SHIFT COMPLETELY INTO PARK, I HAD IT DECREASE IN SPEED FROM 70 ON THE HIGHWAY TO NO MORE THAN 20 MPH WITH OVER $400 IN REPAIRS JUST THAT TIME. I DO NOT DRIVE FAST OR DEPRIVE MY CAR OF REGULAR MAINTENANCE. I HAVE NEVER HAD ISSUES LIKE THIS WITH ANY OTHER VEHICLE.
Vehicle speed control, Engine, Mar 20, 2021
CAR WENT INTO LOW POWER MODE AND WOULDN'T DRIVE OVER THE SPEED OF 15-20 MILES AN HOUR.
Engine, Mar 14, 2021
MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON STARTING AT 30,000 MILES HAS CONTINUED TO DO SO MORE FREQUENTLY AS I HIT 65,000IN TAKING IT TO MY MECHANIC HE STATED THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH MY CAR I COMMUTE EVERYDAY TO WORK AND EVERY DAY IMY CAR SAYS CHECK ENGINE REDUCE SPEED WHEN I'M ON THE HIGHWAY AND DROPS TO 20MPH I WORK IN BORDENTOWN 295 TO RT1 AND MY CAR REDUCED ENGINE SPEED IN A 55MPH ZONE TO 20
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Engine, Mar 11, 2021
GOING TO WORK ON A CITY STREET CAR COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. IT BLACKED OUT. NO HAZARDS NO LIGHTS AND THIS WAS AT 3:30 IN THE MORNING. AND IT'S HAPPENING MORE AND MORE. IT HAPPENED TO MY HUSBAND ON A BUSY STREET. ALL WE CAN DO IS WAIT AND TRY TO START IT UNTIL LUCKILY IT DID. BUT BEFORE THIS STARTED, THE CAR KEPT ON SHUTTING OFF ON ME WHEN I COME TO A STOP. IT'S HAPPENED AT LEAST 6 TIMES IN THE LAST 3 WEEKS. AND TODAY IT STATED ON THE DASHBOARD THAT IT WAS REDUCING ITS SPEED. WHAT'S NEXT?! IT'S DANGEROUS BECAUSE I HAVE MY KIDS WITH ME AND I'M AFRAID SOMEONE MIGHT REAR END ME ONE DAY. OR IF IT COMPLETELY BLACKS OUT ON ME ON MY WAY TO WORK AND I HAVE NO ONE TO HELP ME AND I GET STRANDED. I WISH THEY WOULD DO A RECALL. I'VE SEEN ONLINE HOW IT'S BEEN HAPPENING TO A LOT OF PEOPLE.
Engine, Mar 11, 2021
I PARK MY CAR BUT I GET A SHIFT TO PARK MESSAGE EVEN THOUGH MY CAR IS IN PARK
Engine, Forward collision avoidance, Mar 1, 2021
MY CAR KEEPS REDUCING ENGINE SPEED CHEVY FIXED IT ONCE NOW IT'S DOING IT AGAIN. I ALMOST DIED ON THE FREEWAY
Electrical system, Engine, Feb 26, 2021
DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS CAR SUDDENLY SLOWED DOWN AND REDUCED ENGINE POWER POPPED UP ON THE SCREEN. THE CAR WOULDN'T ACCELERATE MORE THAN 20 MPH. LUCKILY I WAS NEAR THE SHOULDER, BUT IF I WASN'T I COULD'VE EASILY GOTTEN INTO AN ACCIDENT. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO MANY OTHER VEHICLES AND NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO. IT'S EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND COULD GET SOMEONE KILLED.
Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Feb 24, 2021
AS I'M DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, TRYING TO ACCELERATE, A REDUCED ENGINE POWER LIGHT COMES ON AND MY CAR WILL SLOW DOWN TO 20 MPH. I HAVE TO SHUT MY CAR OFF TO GET IT TO ACCELERATE. IT IS DOING THIS ON A REGULAR BASIS NOW.
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Engine, Feb 19, 2021
I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY TRYING TO PASS ANOTHER CAR, BUT WHILE I STEPPED ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL THE ENGINE POWER REDUCE WITH ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND MY CAR STARTED LOOSING IT'S SPEED. I RESTARTED THE CAR AND THE ENGINE LIGHT STAYED ON AND NOW MY REMOTE START(FOB) WILL NOT START. IT ATTEMPS TO START BUT THE ENGINE WILLNOT TURN OVER.
Vehicle speed control, Engine, Forward collision avoidance, Feb 19, 2021
VEHICLE REDUCES POWER AT RANDOM TIMES. WITHOUT BEING SIGNALED TO DO SO. HAS HAPPENED ON THE HIGH WAY AND STREETS
Vehicle speed control, Engine, Feb 17, 2021
THE REDUCED ENGINE POWER LIGHT IS CONTINUING TO APPEAR. I TOOK IT TO MY GM DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME THEY CAN'T FIX IT. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN. DROPPING FROM 60 MPH TO 30 MPH ON THE FREEWAY/HIGHWAY IS NOT SAFE.
Engine, Feb 17, 2021
CAR IS SAYING 'ENGINE POWER REDUCED'. CAR WILL NOT GET UP TO SPEED LIKE NORMAL. DID HAVE EXTREMELY HEAVY SNOWFALL YESTERDAY 02/16/2021 WHEN IT STARTED SAYING THIS ON THE CLUSTER
Power train, Engine, Feb 12, 2021
POWER ENGINE REDUCED INDICATOR WARNING ACROSS SCREEN- NOW IT WILL NOT EVEN RUN 20 MILES WITHOUT BOGGING DOWN TO 20MPH WITH NO WARNING- THEIR IS A RECALL ON IT IT WAS AND ALWAYS IS IN MOTION WHEN THIS OCCURS. FIRST HAPPENED AT 30,000 MILES - CONTINUED TO HAPPEN MAYBE ONCE OR TWICE EVERY FEW MONTHS- NOW HAPPENS EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE IS RAN! I'VE HAD THE CAR SINCE MARCH 2018 IT NOW HAS 100000 MILES ON IT AND ONLY GETTING WORSE!!
Engine, Feb 10, 2021
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, THE ENGINE POWER REDUCED MESSAGE DISPLAYED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED TO 20 MPH. THE FAILURE RECURRED ONCE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO CARL BLACK CHEVROLET SERVICE (535 MURFREESBORO PIKE, NASHVILLE, TN 37210) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE THROTTLE PRESSURE SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000.
Vehicle speed control, Engine, Feb 10, 2021
I WAS DRIVING ON THE STREET WHEN MY ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED NOTIFICATION CAME UP ON MY DASH BOARD. MY ENGINE LIGHT ALSO CAME ON. I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 45MPH WHEN THE LIGHT CAME ON AND IT REDUCED MY SPEED TO 20MPH. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT HOME AT THE 20MPH SPEED. I PARKED IT OVERNIGHT AND CHECKED ON IT THE NEXT MORNING. WHEN STARTING MY CAR THE NEXT DAY THE ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED LIGHT WAS STILL ON. I WAS LOOKING ONLINE AND OTHERS ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. WHAT IS GOING ON. I NEED HELP
Vehicle speed control, Service brakes, Engine, Jan 31, 2021
II BOUGHT MY 2017 CHEVROLET MALIBU LS IN AUGUST OF 2017, IN JANUARY OF 2018 MY FIRST ENGINE LIGHT WARNING CAME ON WITH MESSAGE "SHIFT TO PARK" CAME ON WHEN THE CAR WAS ALREADY IN PARK. I MOVED TO DENVER, CO IN JUNE OF 2018 , DURING MY LONG WHILE DRIVING THROUGH THE ROCKIES THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON SHOWING "STABILITY TRACK ISSUES. IN NOVEMBER 2018 WHILE MY FAMILY WAS DRIVING HOME IN A SNOW STORM YET ANOTHER ENGINE LIGHT SHOWING "ENGINE POWEWR REDUCED" THE CAR WENT FROM A 45 MPH DRIVE ON THE FREEWAY BECAUSE OF HEAVY SNOW TO ALMOST 20 MPH TOO SLOW FOR FREEWAY SPEEDS EVEN IN SNOW. I TOOK IT TO THE CHEVY DEALERSHIP THEY SAID IT WAS A DIRTY SPEED SENSOR. WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH I WAS REACHING THE END OF THE FREEWAY WHEN THE CAR COMPLETELY SHUT OFF, I REACTED BY HITTING MY BRAKES BUT THE PEDAL WAS HARD AS A ROCK, I LOOKED UP AND I WAS FASTLY APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION SO I USED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE GOT ON THE RIIGHT DIRT SHOULDER, AND WAS ABLE TO SLOW IT DOWN TO ABOUT 35 MPH BEFORE REACHING THE INTERSECTION WHERE I TOOK A SHARP RIGHT TURN TO AVOID HITIING CARS IN FRONT OF ME AND SPUN OUT. THE CAR ISHOWED A MESSAGE "NO REMOTE DETECTED: IT WOULD CRANK BUT NOT START . BEING THAT THE CAR WARRENTY WAS ALREADY EXPIRED I HAD IT TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANICS SHOP WHERE THEY DISCOVERED A CODE READING "BRAKE BOOSTER SENSOR" THEY DISCOVERED A SHATTERED VACUUM PUMP. I GOT IT REPLACED WITH A NEW ONE AS WELL AS THE BRAKE SENSOR. I STILL HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO START IT. BECAUSE OF COVID-19 AND MY FINANCIAL SITUATION I HAVE NOT TAKEN IT TO A DEALERSHIP. I AM SAVING TO HAVE IT TOWED THERE AND HOPEFULLY REPAIRING IT BUT I'M SURE IT'S NOT GOING TO BE WALLET FRIENDLY. WE WERE EXCITED WHEN WE BOUGHT OUR FIRST NEW CAR IT DIDN'T LAST LONG. NOW HOPEFULLY A RECALL AND SOME JUSTICE FOR US HARD WORKING PEOPLE THAT WANT ONLY A RELIABLE CAR WITH NO HIDDEN REPAIR SURPRISES.
Power train, Electrical system, Engine, Jan 15, 2021
THE VEHICLE HAS SHUT OFF MORE THAN 5 TIMES WHILE DRIVING REQUIRING A TOW AND WORK DONE TO THE VEHICLE. THE ALTERNATOR, BATTERY, AND SENSORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED BUT THE VEHICLE STILL TURNS OFF WHILE DRIVING.
Vehicle speed control, Engine, Jan 6, 2021
WHEN DRIVING MY CAR, IT SUDDENLY STOPS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FREEWAY AND DISPLAYS A 'LOSS ENGINE POWER CODE'. I NOTICED THAT QUITE A BIT OF OTHER MALIBU OWNERS HAVE BEEN HAVING THIS SAME ISSUE
Vehicle speed control, Engine, Dec 30, 2020
REDUCED SPEED ENGINE PROBLEM WILL REDUCE SPEED WHILE DRIVING
Power train, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Dec 23, 2020
VEHICLE WILL SHUT DOWN AFTER AUTO STOP ENABLED WHEN CAR COMES TO COMPLETE STOP AT LIGHTS, INTERSECTIONS, ETC. VEHICLE WILL ALSO SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING. STALITRAK WARNING BLINKS BUT THE ELECTRICAL POWER INSIDE DOESN'T ALWAYS SHUT DOWN. CAR WILL START BACK UP ONCE YOU QUICKLY PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK , SHUT IT OFF AND THEN TURN IT BACK ON. SOMETIMES IT TAKES 3-5 TIMES TO GET IT STARTED BACK UP. BATTERY HAS BEEN CHANGED AND SENSOR REPLACED BUT IT STILL HASN'T FIXED THE ISSUE. SEVERELY UNCOMFORTABLE DRIVING THE CAR ANYWHERE.