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: vehicle speed control
136 reports, newest first. Show all
Vehicle speed control, Feb 11, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE SPEED SUDDENLY REDUCED TO 25 MPH. THE MESSAGE 'ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED' WAS DISPLAYED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO PAGE CHEVROLET (6500 LITTLE RIVER TURNPIKE, ALEXANDRIA, VA) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE INTERNAL PARTS OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ASSEMBLY WERE DEFORMED AND CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS REPLACED AND THE FAILURE WAS REMEDIED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED APPROXIMATELY EIGHT MONTHS LATER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO OURISMAN CHEVROLET (18201 OLD RICHMOND HWY, ALEXANDRIA, VA) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,000.
Vehicle speed control, Engine, Feb 9, 2019
MY MALIBU, PURCHASED NEW IN 2017, HAS 28170 MILES ON IT. WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY I SUDDENLY RECEIVED A MESSAGE SAYING THAT "ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED". INSTANTLY MY CAR STOPPED ACCELERATING NO MATTER HOW HARD I PRESSED THE GAS, AND RAPIDLY DECELERATED. AGAIN, ON THE HIGHWAY. I HAD TO COAST TO THE SHOULDER AND WAIT FOR A TOW TRUCK TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. THIS IS A TERRIFYING PROBLEM THAT SEEMS TO HAVE HAPPENED TO MANY OTHERS. WHAT EVER THE ISSUE IS THAT IS CAUSING THIS SHOULD BE RESOLVED AND A RECALL IN PLACE.
Vehicle speed control, Jan 23, 2019
DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON THE ROAD OR INTERSTATE AND IT LOSES POWER AND WONT LET YOU DRIVE OVER 30 MPH. THE VEHICLE ALSO WOULD NOT START. HAD TO LET THE CAR SIT FOR 15 SECONDS THEN TRY TO START IT AGAIN FOR IT TO START. THEN IT WOULD CUT OFF WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. GIVES A MESSAGE SAYING ENGINE POWER REDUCING
Vehicle speed control, Electronic stability control (ESC), Jan 7, 2019
DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON THE ROAD AND IT LOSES POWER AND WONT LET YOU DRIVE OVER 30 MPH. THE VEHICLE ALSO WOULD NOT START. HAD TO LET THE CAR SIT FOR 15 SECONDS THEN TRY TO START IT AGAIN FOR IT TO START. THEN IT WOULD CUT OFF WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. DEALERSHIP FIXED THE PISTONS AND ADDED A NEW BATTERY STILL HAD A PROBLEM AND NOW THEY REPLACED ACCEL PEDAL SENSOR. AND NOW DRIVES A LITTLE FUNNY.
Vehicle speed control, Dec 5, 2018
I'VE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE BACK IN SEPTEMBER 2017 AND THE ACCELLARATOR PETAL HAS GONE OUT. MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CANS ON AND AS I WAS DRIVING, IS GAVE A MESSAGE SAYING ENGINE POWER REDUCING. I'VE TAKEN IT TO THE JIM ELLIS DEALER TO DIAGNOSE AND THEY ADVISED ME IT WAS THE ACCELLORATOR PETAL FAULT. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING TO SEVERAL MALIBU'S FIE SOME YEARS NOW AND THIS ISSUE NEEDS A MASSIVE RECALL. NO ONE SHOULD HAVE TO REPAIR A VEHICLE WITHIN A YEAR OF PURCHASING. MIND YOU MY WARRANTY IS NOT IN EFFECT, IT'S EXPIRED. I'VE DONE RESEARCH AND SEVERAL MALIBU'S SINCE 2008 HAS THIS SAME ISSUE. ONCE THE REDUCE SPEED TOOK PLACE, IT WOULD NOT ALLOW MY VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE ABOVE 60 MILES PER HOUR WHILE ON THE FREEWAY.
Vehicle speed control, Oct 30, 2018
DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE WHICH IS 70 MPH I GOT THE ERROR OF REDUCED ENGINE POWER AND ALSO P2135 IT WENT OFF FOR ABOUT THREE WEEKS AND IT HAPPENED AGAIN TODAY ON MY COMMUTE TO WORK.MY CHEVROLET MALIBU IS A LITTLE OVER A YEAR OLD. THIS CAR HAS HAD SO MANY ISSUES THAT NEED TO BE FIXED
Vehicle speed control, Engine, Oct 15, 2018
WAS DRIVING WITH CAR IN DRIVE AND CAR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WITH TRACTION SIGNAL STATING 'REDUCED SPEEDS'. HAD TO PULL OVER AND CAR WOULD NOT GO PAST 20 MPH. CUT CAR ON AND OFF 3 TIMES BEFORE THE REDUCED SPEED SIGNAL WENT OFF. WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND IT HAPPENED AGAIN AND I IMMEDIATELY HAD TO GET OFF THE HIGHWAY BECAUSE MY KIDS WERE IN THE CAR.
Steering, Vehicle speed control, Engine, Sep 24, 2018
GEAR SHIFTER GAVE OUT WHILE DRIVING. ALMOST GOT REAR ENDED. CAR SHIFTED ITSELF INTO NEUTRAL EVEN THOUGH I SHIFTED GEARS INTO PARK ONCE I GOT TO A SAFE PLACE COMPUTER SCREEN READ NEUTRAL. CAR WOULD NOT TURN OFF FROM ACCESSORY MODE AND SAID "SHIFT TO PARK" BUT IT WOULD NOT. THEN WHEN I TRIED TO SHIFT IT JUMPED HARD AND YOU COULD SEE THE ENGINE JUMP AS IF IT WASN'T MOUNTED PROPERLY. WAS ABLE TO GET TO A SAFE PLACE BUT HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO DEALER. DEALER CALLED TODAY TO SAY IT WAS GEAR SHIFTER. WENT BAD BUT THE BATTERY HAD DRAINED TOO AND THEY REFUSED TO REPLACE BATTERY. THE SHIFTER PROBLEM IS DANGEROUS . I ONLY HAD 11989 MILES ON IT AND IT IS 1 YEAR OLD.
Engine and engine cooling, Vehicle speed control, May 31, 2018
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.
Vehicle speed control, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Mar 20, 2018
CAR DO NOT ACCELERATE
Air bags, Vehicle speed control, Mar 20, 2018, crash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 CHEVROLET MALIBU. ON SEVERAL DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT, THE ENGINE RPMS WOULD SUDDENLY INCREASE AND THE VEHICLE ATTEMPTED TO SURGE FORWARD. THE DRIVER HAD TO DEPRESS HARD ON THE BRAKE PEDAL IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE FROM SURGING FORWARD. ON FEBRUARY 17, 2018, WHILE IN A BANK PARKING LOT, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. DURING THE FAILURE, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED TO APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH. THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED; HOWEVER, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TOWED. THE LOCAL DEALER (DAVIS CHEVROLET IN HOUSTON, TX) AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,800. *TT VIDEO ATTACHED *BF