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: power train
144 reports, newest first. Show all
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!!
Power train, Jan 23, 2021
WHEN I PUT THE TRANSMISSION IN PARK, THE INDICATOR SCREEN ON THE DASH NOTIFIES ME TO PUT GEAR IN PARK. I'M ABLE TO SHUT DOWN THE ENGINE BUT NOT TURN OFF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WHICH ENDS UP DRAINING THE BATTERY. THE GEAR IS IN PARK, BUT A SWITCH IN THE STEERING COLUMN ISN'T OPERATING PROPERLY.
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.
Power train, Jan 14, 2021
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE GEAR SHIFTING SYSTEM FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A MESSAGE RECEIVED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ADVISING THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT IN PARK. THE MESSAGE WAS RECEIVED EACH TIME THE GEAR WAS SHIFTED INTO PARK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON ONE OCCASION WHEN AT A GAS SERVICE STATION THEY PARKED THE VEHICLE PUT THE GEAR IN PARK AND THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY MOVED FORWARD. THE CONTACT MANAGED TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND DID NOT CRASH INTO ANY OBJECT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AUTONATION CHEVROLET GREENACRES, 5757 LAKE WORTH ROAD, GREENACRES, FL 33463 PHONE (561) 491-2969 TO HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC PERFORMED. HOWEVER, THE CONTACT DID NOT HAVE THE DEALER PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC BECAUSE THE DEALER WANTED TO CHARGE $700.00 FOR THE DIAGNOSTIC FEE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000.
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Other or unspecified, Dec 29, 2020
REDUCED ENGINE POWER WARNING 12/29/20 PLUS NUMEROUS OCCURRENCES IN 2019 WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY; VEHICLE SLOWS TO 40MPH WITHOUT WARNING SHIFT TO PARK WARNING WHEN VEHICLE ALREADY IN PARK, CAN'T SHUT OFF VEHICLE UNTIL IT RECOGNIZES PARK, OFTEN TAKING UPWARDS OF 10 MINUTES OF REPEATED SHIFTING STABILITRACK SENSOR WARNING AND LOSS OF CRUISE CONTROL, AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS
Power train, Dec 28, 2020
DASH WARNING SAYS ACTION REQUIRED....SHIFT TO PARK. BUT THE CAR IS ALREADY IN PARK. CAR WILL NOT SHUT OFF TIL YOU GET IT IN PARK. SOMETIMES NEED TO START AND RESTART CAR A DOZEN TIMES TO GET IT TO STOP THE ERROR. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH LATE MODEL MALIBU'S. TSB # 19-NA-206. REPAIR COST APPROXIMATELY $300. THIS HAPPENS AT RANDOM TIMES, MAKING THE VEHICLE UNRELIABLE. NEED TO DO A RECALL!
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.
Power train, Electrical system, Engine, Dec 15, 2020
I WAS ON THE EWAY AND I WAS GOING 80MPH IN THE LEFT LANE, AND MY CAR JERKED TO DECELERATE TO 20MPH. THE MESSAGE SAID, 'ENGINE POWER REDUCED'.
Power train, Engine, Dec 11, 2020
ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO, I WAS DRIVING IN THE INTERSTATE GOING ABOUT 70 MPH, WHEN MY VEHICLE DROPPED ITS SPEED TO 20 MPH ADVISING OF ' REDUCED ENGINE POWER ', THE SPEED DID NOT DECREASE WHICH CAUSED A HAULT & JERK. WHICH COULD HAVE TURNED FATAL IF THERE WAS A VEHICLE BEHIND ME. OCTOBER 30TH, I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 30MPH IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA WHEN I APPROACHED A STOP SIGN AND MY VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST POWER, AFTER ABOUT 3 MINUTES I WAS ABLE TO START THE VEHICLE AND DRIVE TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE BATTERY AND A SENSOR HAD BEEN REPLACED. EXACTLY TWO WEEKS LATER, I WAS DRIVING ON THE STREET AROUND 25-30MPH, APPROACHED A STOP AGAIN AND CAR POWERED OFF.. IMMEDIATELY TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY COULD NOT IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY HAZARD, I DO NOT DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY OUT OF FEAR THAT THE CAR MAY SHUT OFF. I'VE BEEN TO AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIPS & HAD THE TRANSMISSION CHECKED OUT BY CERTIFIED TRANSMISSIONS SHOPS AND CAN'T SOURCE THE PROBLEM
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Engine, Dec 3, 2020
I WAS DRIVING ON A ROAD AT 47 MILES AN HOUR. OUT OF NO WHERE, THE CAR SLOWED ALL THE WAY DOWN TO 15 MILES AN HOUR. ON THE DASH BOARD A NOTICE FLASH STATING "ENGINE POWER REDUCED" I WAS BARELY ABLE TO NAVIGATE OUT OF TRAFFIC WITHOUT BEING HIT. THEN IT HAPPENED AGAIN SEVERAL HOURS LATER WHEN I WAS ON MY WAY HOME, I HAD TO CONSTANTLY KEEP PULLING OVER.
Power train, Nov 27, 2020
CAR HAS SHIFT TO PARK WARNING WHEN PARK IS ENGAGED, CAR WONT SHUT OFF ,HAVE RESTART CAR
Power train, Other or unspecified, Nov 25, 2020
VEHICLE WOULD INDICATE/NOTIFY TO SHIFT TO PARK EVEN THOUGH VEHICLE INDEED IN WAS IN PARK NOT ALLOWING YOU TO COMPLETE TURN CAR OFF. CAR WOULD REMAIN IN ANCILLARY MODE.
Power train, Nov 18, 2020
MY 2017 MALIBU HAS 65,000 MILES ON IT. IN THE COURSE OF THREE DAYS A WARNING KEPT POPPING UP EVERY TIME I CAME TO A STOP THE CAR ENGINE WOULD TURN OFF FOR A SECOND AND THEN TURNED BACK ON WITH A WARNING THAT STATED SERVICE STABILITY TRACK, DRIVER ASSISTED STEERING NOT ENGAGED. TODAY I CAME TO A STOPLIGHT AND THE ENGINE COMPLETELY DIED LEAVING ME STRANDED THERE FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES UNTIL I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO GET IT STARTED AGAIN AND MOVING. I HAD TO PUT THE CAR IN MANUAL MODE TO GET IT TO DRIVE. I AM AWAITING THE ESTIMATE FROM THE DEALERSHIP TO SEE WHAT IT WOULD COST TO FIX THIS. I HAVE READ SCORES OF OTHER REPORTS OF THE SAME THING HAPPENING ON THESE CARS. TO THE POINT WHERE SOME PEOPLE ARE DRIVING AND IT STOPS. THIS IS A SERIOUS DANGEROUS PROBLEM AND IT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY GENERAL MOTORS.
Power train, Nov 2, 2020
DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE (WITH MY FAMILY) AT 70MPH AND LOOSE POWER. DISPLAY SHOWS "ENGINE POWER REDUCED" JUST ABOUT GOT REAR ENDED BY A SEMI DUE TO POWER LOSS. HAD TO GET OVER TO THE SHOULDER WHILE DODGING TRAFFIC FROM BEHIND ME. VERY DANGEROUS. NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED AND COVERED BY GM.
Power train, Oct 26, 2020
AFTER PUTTING MY 2017 CHEVY MALIBU INTO PARK, I RECEIVED A "SHIFT TO PARK" MESSAGE ON THE DASH. THE CAR WOULD NOT FULLY TURN OFF. IT STAYED IN AUXILLARY POWER MODE. DOORS WOULD NOT LOCK, EMERGENCY LIGHTS STAY ON AND HAD A BEEPING SOUND. THE PROBLEM WAS NOT RESOLVING ITSELF IRREGARDLESS OF HOW MANY TIMES I TURNED IT OFF AND ON. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 8,400. (YES, THE MILEAGE IS 8,400. THIS IS NOT A TYPO.) THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MARTIN CHEVROLET, LOCATED AT: 23505 HAWTHORNE BOULEVARD, TORRANCE CALIFORNIA, 90505. THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE SAID THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM AND THEY HAVE SEEN IT MULTIPLE TIMES. (IT IS A TRANMISSION CONTROL ASSEMBLY FAILURE). I ASKED IF IT WAS A DESIGN FLAW AND HE CONCURRED. HE SAID THERE WAS NO RECALL AT HIS TIME BUT THEY ARE EXPECTING ONE. I SPENT $550 TO HAVE THE REPLACEMENT DONE. GENERAL MOTORS NEEDS TO DECLARE A RECALL AND REFUND MY MONEY. A TWO YEAR OLD CAR WITH 8,400 MILES SHOULD NOT BE INCURRING MAJOR EXPENSES FOR FAULTY COMPONENTS.
Power train, Sep 15, 2020
WHEN SHIFTING TO PARK IT IS NOT RECOGNIZED AND WILL NOTIFY VIA DISPLAY IN PANEL. THIS OCCURS 75% OF THE TIME AT THIS POINT-STARTED 2 WEEKS AGO. CONCERNING AS I LIVE ON A HILL.
Power train, Sep 14, 2020
CAR STOPPED WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY WITH A MESSAGE ON DASH SAYING 'ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED.' THE DEALERSHIP FIRST SAID IT WAS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THEN SAID IT WAS THE ENGINE CONTROL UNIT. THEY SAID THAT THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT CAUSES THIS TO HAPPEN, BUT IT JUST NEEDS REPROGRAMMED AND A SOFTWARE UPDATE. AN UPDATE THAT ONLY A GM FACILITY CAN DO. ALSO SPECIFICALLY ASKED IF THIS WAS WEAR AND TEAR, TOLD NO, THEY DON'T KNOW WHY THIS HAPPENS.
Power train, Sep 11, 2020
AFTER PUTTING MY 2017 CHEVY MALIBU INTO PARK AND TURNING IT OFF A MESSAGE APPEARS ON THE DASH SAYING "SHIFT TO PARK". THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN EVERY TIME, BUT ENOUGH TO HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT IT.
Power train, Aug 25, 2020
AFTER SHIFTING INTO PARK MESSAGE DISPAYS SHIFT TO PARK. CAR IS IN PARK BUT WHEN ATTEMPTING TO TURN OFF AUXILIARY POWER STAYS ON AND CAN'T BE TURNED OFF.
Power train, Aug 25, 2020
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER SHIFTING TO PARK, THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO MOVE AND THE SHIFT TO P WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED MULTIPLE TIMES IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO FUNCTION PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE HICKSVILLE CHEVROLET DEALER, LOCATED AT: 236 S. BROADWAY, HICKSVILLE, NY 11801, WHERE IT WAS STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 64,000. *BF*JB
Power train, Engine, Aug 20, 2020
I WAS DRIVING AT 70 MPH ON A HIGHWAY AND THE CAR SHUT OF CAUSING ME TO NEARLY GET HIT MULTIPLE TIMES. I WAS BARELY ABLE TO GET THE CAR TO THE OFF RAMP I WAS APPROACHING. I HAD THE CAR TOWED 100 MILES TO MY HOUSE AND THEN TO A DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THAT THE VACUUM PUMP CAME APART AND SENT METAL EVERYWHERE. THE VACUUM COMING APART ALSO CAUSED THE CAMSHAFT TO BREAK ALONG WITH A HOSE AND A CAMSHAFT SENSOR. THE REPAIRS ALONE ARE ESTIMATED SO FAR TO COST ME ABOUT $2,500.
Power train, Aug 19, 2020
"SHIFT TO PARK" WHEN PLACING CAR IN PARK WHICH DOES NOT ALLOW VEHICLE TO FULLY POWER OFF. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD THIS ISSUE. IT HAPPENED AT 37K AND I HAD IT REPAIRED WHICH COST CLOSE TO $600 JUST UNDER A YEAR AGO. THE VEHICLE MILEAGE SINCE THE REPAIR IS UNDER 30K.
Power train, Aug 17, 2020
GETTING SHIFT TO PARK MESSAGE WHEN PUTTING CAR INTO PARK. UNABLE TO TURN VEHICLE OFF UNTIL PARK ENGAGES. WE HAD REPAIRED AT THE DEALERSHIP A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO AND IT IS DOING IT AGAIN. IT IS BEGINNING TO DO IT OFTEN.
Power train, Aug 14, 2020
BEGINNING SEVERAL MONTHS AGO, THE VEHICLE WOULD OCCASIONALLY DISPLAY A "SHIFT TO PARK" ERROR MESSAGE AFTER THE "START/STOP" BUTTON WAS PRESSED TO TURN OFF THE PARKED VEHICLE. ALTHOUGH THE ENGINE WOULD TURN OFF, ALL OF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS WOULD REMAIN ON. FOR THE FIRST FEW MONTHS, THE ERROR MESSAGE WOULD DISAPPEAR AFTER A FEW SECONDS TO A MINUTE, AFTER WHICH THE "START/STOP" BUTTON TO BE PRESSED TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY. OVER THE LAST MONTH, HOWEVER, THE AMOUNT OF TIME THE MESSAGE STAYED DISPLAYED INCREASED TO MANY MINUTES, AND IT WOULD TAKE TURNING THE CAR ON/OFF AND SHIFTING IN/OUT OF PARK MULTIPLE TIMES BEFORE THE VEHICLE COULD BE TURNED OFF COMPLETELY. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS FINALLY TURNED OFF COMPLETELY, I WASN'T ABLE TO DRIVE IT FOR A FEW WEEKS FOR FEAR OF NOT BEING ABLE TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE AT WORK/STORES/ETC., OR FOR FEAR OF BEING STRANDED WHEN THE BATTERY DRAINS. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE THAT EFFECTIVELY MAKES THE VEHICLE UNUSABLE. AFTER RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM, IT WAS FOUND THAT THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE TO GM FOR MULTIPLE MODELS AND YEARS OF VEHICLES PER SERVICE BULLETIN 19-NA-206. BASED ON MY EXPERIENCE, HOWEVER, THE INITIALLY INTERMITTENT NATURE OF THIS PROBLEM QUICKLY TURNS INTO A PERMANENT, DISABLING PROBLEM. IN ADDITION, A MORE PERMANENT SOLUTION NEEDS TO BE PROVIDED THAN WHAT'S LISTED ON THE SERVICE BULLETIN: (A) SCRAPING DEPOSITS OFF THE ELECTRICAL CONTACTS WITH YOUR THUMB 50 TIMES TO SEE IF THAT WORKS, (B) INSTALLING A JUMPER TO SEE IF THAT WORKS, OR (C) REPLACING THE SHIFTER CONTROL ASSEMBLY. MY CONCERN IS THAT IF THE DESIGN OF THE NEW ASSEMBLY IS THE SAME, THE PROBLEM WILL REAPPEAR IN A FEW YEARS WITH THE REPLACEMENT ASSEMBLY; ALL ARE JUST TEMPORARY STOP GAP MEASURES. A REAL FIX THAT PREVENTS THE CORROSION/DEPOSITS IS NEEDED, AND A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED.
Power train, Electronic stability control (ESC), Service brakes, Aug 4, 2020
DRIVING AND MY CAR WOULDN'T STOP BECAUSE MY STABLITRAK AND ABS SYSTEM MALFUNCTION AND NOW THE DEALER IS SAYING I NEED A VACUUM PUMP AND THROTTLE CHANGE. THIS IS A KNOW ISSUES IN THE GM CARS JUST SEEN ON GOOGLE THAT A GLOBAL LETTER WAS SENT OUT AUG OF 2019 ABOUT THIS ISSUES BUT I NEVER RECEIVED IT. THESE CARS SHOULD BE RECALLED AND WE SHOULD BE GIVEN OUR MONEY BACK. I HAVE 2017 CHEVY MALIBU AND I FEEL THIS PREMEDITATED MURDER BECAUSE THEY KNOW IT'S A ISSUE AND I COULD HAVE LOST MY LIFE JULY 30 2020 AT 959PM