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
724 reports, newest first.
Steering, Electrical system, Electronic stability control (ESC), Jun 22, 2020
CAR STALLS WHILE OPERATING, CAR SHUTS DOWN WHILE DRIVING AND FAILS TO RESTART WITHOUT WARNING. "SERVICE STABILITY" 'BATTERY SAVE MODE' 'SHIFT TO PARK' ALL BLINK WHEN THIS HAPPENS. I HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE PAST YEAR. CAR WILL ALSO SHUT DOWN WHEN THE VEHICLE IS NOT IN MOTION IE STOP SIGNS, TRAFFIC LIGHTS, STOP & GO TRAFFIC...ETC. THE CAR HAVING NO POWER THAT I CAN'T EVEN PUT MY EMERGENCY LIGHTS ON. THIS HAPPENS FOR THE LAST TIME ON 6/11/2020 CARS BRAKES BECAME TOUGH TO PUSH COULD BARELY STOP THE CAR, ONCE STOPPED THE CAR LOST ALL POWER SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY INTERSECTION I WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED. CAR WOULD NOT RESTART AND HAD TO BE TOWED ONCE AGAIN. ALL THE SAME WARNING LIGHTS. MY CAR IS CURRENTLY BROKE DOWN AND NOT STARTING AT ALL. ALSO I HAVE 2' OF WATER IN WHEEL WELL CAR LEAKS WATER INTO SPARE TIRE WELL. CAR IS MOLDING DUE TO THIS ISSUE. THIS CAR MODEL SHOULD BE RECALLED. THIS COULD CAUSE SOME HORRIBLE ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF A MALFUNCTION/ DEFECTIVE PART THAT WAS INSTALLED. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO MANY MANY PEOPLE. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS. PEOPLE ARE SPENDING LOTS OF MONEY FOR REPAIRS AND RENTAL CARS. IM A SINGLE MOTHER OF 3 CHILDREN, THIS CAR IS SUPPOSE TO BE SAFE TO DRIVE. IT'S BY FAR FROM THAT. THE MONEY I'M SPENDING ON A RENTAL CAR SO THAT I CAN GO BACK AND FORTH TO WORK IS NOT CHEAP. *TR
Electrical system, Jun 8, 2020
WHEN PUTTING GEAR SHIFT INTO PARK A MESSAGE STATES THE CAR IS NOT IN PARK AND WILL NOT SHUT OFF. HAVE TO PLAY WITH SHIFT LEVER TO GET IT TO RESPOND THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE LOTS OF POSTS ON FORUMS OF THIS PROBLEM THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR SEVERAL MONTHS 2 -3 TIMES A WEEK. *TR
Structure, Jun 4, 2020
I OPENED MY TRUNK UNDER THE SPARE TIRE AND THERE WAS WATER FILLED IN THE TRUNK. I DID MY RESEARCH AND I FOUND PLENTY OF MALIBU'S WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR
Electrical system, Engine, Jun 3, 2020
RECENTLY WHILE DRIVING AND STOPPED AT A LIGHT OR STOP SIGN, WHEN I LIFT MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE CAR SHUTS OFF. THIS HAS HAPPENED FOUR TIMES, THREE WITHIN THE LAST WEEK. I CAN START TO AGAIN, ALSO LOOSE ALL VOLUME TO TURN SIGNALS AND RADIO. *TR
Structure, Other or unspecified, May 29, 2020
THE TOP OF THE REAR WINDOW NEAR THE THIRD BREAK LIGHT STARTING LEAKING. I REVIEWED ONLINE CHEVROLET FORUMS WITH COMMON COMPLAINTS AND READ THE DEFECT COULD BE RELATED TO RECENT RECALLS WITH THE VEHICLE. ALSO, THE LEAK IS CAUSE DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLES INTERIOR PANELS. *TR
Other or unspecified, May 25, 2020
MY 2017 CHEVY MALIBU HAD THE ENGINE POWER REDUCED COME ON..IT WAS THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR..I GOT IT FIXED PAID ALMOST 400$..NOT EVEN 2 WEEKS LATER IT'S DOING IT AGAIN
Engine, May 19, 2020
I AM A 70 YEAR OLD TEACHER THAT PURCHASED A 2017 CHEVY IMPALA ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO, AND LAST YEAR I BEGAN EXPERIENCING ISSUES WITH THE CAR MALFUNCTIONING AND THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATING. I TOOK THE CAR TO CHEVROLET OF TURNERSVILLE, THEY SUPPOSEDLY FIXED IT, BUT THEN THIS PROBLEM RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES WITHIN A MONTH, AND EACH TIME I TOOK IT BACK TO THEM THEY "DIAGNOSED" SOMETHING DIFFERENT. LATER, COME TO FIND OUT, THIS CAR WAS RECALLED FOR "PRE IGNITION ISSUES", SO THEY ISSUED ME A REFUND FOR THE COST OF THOSE "REPAIRS". LAST WEEK, THE SAME EXACT ISSUED RECURRED, SO I TOOK IT BACK TO CHEVY, FOR THEM TO SAY IT WAS MY BATTERY. $400 LATER, I GOT THE CAR BACK, AND WITHIN A MATTER OF DAYS, THE SAME SYMPTOMS OCCURRED SO I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THEM NOW TO SAY THAT MY PISTON HEAD IN ENGINE WAS CRACKED, SO NOW THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED WHICH WOULD BE AROUND $8000. I SPOKE WITH THE GENERAL MANAGER AND THE BEST HE COULD DO WAS TO TELL ME HE WOULD "TRY" TO WORK UP SOME NUMBERS TO GET ME INTO ANOTHER CAR. I PLAN TO RETIRE NEXT YEAR, WHICH IS WHY I PURCHASED SOMETHING REASONABLY PRICED AND PRESUMABLY "RELIABLE", SO I WILL SOON BE ON A FIXED INCOME AND CAN'T AFFORD THAT TYPE OF FIX, NOR ANOTHER CAR WITH THE BALANCE OF THIS FAULTY CAR TACKED ON TO THE BALANCE. WITH RESEARCH, I FOUND OUT THAT THE PRE IGNITION ISSUE RESULTS IN THE CRACKING OF THE PISTON HEAD, WHICH LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT THE PRE IGNITION ISSUE WAS NEVER CORRECTED PROPERLY. ESPECIALLY SINCE BASED ON 17019 SPI NHTSA, THE FIX DIFFERED FROM WHAT THIS DEALERSHIP DID AND UNDER THIS PLAN THE FIX WAS BEING SERVICED AT NO CHARGE TO THE CUSTOMER. SINCE THIS ISSUE OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES, I'VE BEEN ON HIGHWAYS, SIDE STREETS, AND STATIONARY AT TRAFFIC SIGNALS WHICH HAVE ALL POSED SAFETY RISKS. *TR
Power train, May 17, 2020
WHEN THE CAR IS PUT INTO PARK YOU GET A MESSAGE IT IS STILL IN DRIVE AND WON'T SHUT DOWN TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY REPLACED SHIFTER ASSY.AT COST OF 499.37. CONTACTED CHEVY CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THERE RESPONSE IS THAT THE WARRANTY IS OVER .ONLINE ARE MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS OF THIS ISSUE!
Vehicle speed control, May 14, 2020
WHILE DRIVING IN HEAVY INTERSTATE TRAFFIC MY VEHICLE BEGAN TO IDLE ROUGHLY AND CUT OFF TWICE IN TRAFFIC. ONCE IT CRANK FULLY IT ACCELERATED AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED JUST BARELY MISSING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. WHEN I WENT TO REPAIR MY VEHICLE I WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS A WIDE KNOWN ISSUE WITH NO RECALL IN PLACE. I COULD HAVE LOST MY LIFE THAT DAY. *TR
Engine, May 10, 2020
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 60MPH, A WARNING LIGHT CAME ON'REDUCED ENGINE SPEED' AND THE CAR SLOWED WAY DOWN TO 30MPH IN SECONDS, I WAS ALMOST HIT BY THE CAR BEHIND ME. *TR
Other or unspecified, May 8, 2020
VEHICLE STUCK IN REVERSE SHIFT LOCK HAD AN INTERNAL FAILURE AND WAS REPLACED BY THE CHEVY DEALERSHIP. REPLACED SHIFTER DUE TO STUCK LOCK. PULLED UP TO CAR WASH PUT CAR IN REVERSE SHIFTER LOCKED AND WAS UNABLE TO MOVE OUT OF REVERSE. TOLL TRUCK CAME AND DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MANUALLY MOVE CABLE UNDER THE HOOD SO I COULD PUT CAR IN NEUTRAL. *TR
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, May 6, 2020
INTERMITTENTLY WHEN THE CAR HAS BEEN SHIFTED INTO PARK AND TURNED OFF A MESSAGE ON THE DRIVER CONTROL SCREEN STATES TO SHIFT TO PARK AND WILL LEAVE THE CAR BATTERY ON AND WILL BEEP THE DOORS ARE OPEN. HAPPENS 70 PERCENT OF THE TIME. TYPICALLY TO GET THE MESSAGE TO GO AWAY I HAVE TO TURN THE CAR ON AND SHIFT OUT OF PARK, SHIFT BACK INTO PARK AND TURN OFF AGAIN SOMETIMES I HAVE TO DO THIS SEVERAL TIMES. *TR
Vehicle speed control, Engine, May 4, 2020
I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY TODAY GOING AROUND 70 MPH AND MY CAR DISPLAYED "REDUCED ENGINE POWER" AND IMMEDIATELY LOST POWER AND DECELERATED. IT IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THAT IT HAS DONE THIS BUT IT WAS THE FIRST TIME DRIVING AT THAT HIGH RATE OF SPEED. THE OTHER TIMES IT HAS HAPPENED ON CITY STREETS WHEN I WAS GOING MORE THAN MAYBE 40 MPH. EACH TIME IF I TURN THE CAR OFF AND THEN WAIT A FEW SECONDS AND START IT AGAIN, THE REDUCED ENGINE POWER DISPLAY IS GONE AND I DONT HAVE ANYMORE IMMEDIATE ISSUES WITH IT, SOMETIMES FOR DAYS OR WEEKS AT A TIME. I HAVE NOTICED ONLINE THAT SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVE EXPERIENCED SOMETHING SIMILAR WITH THEIR 2017 CHEVROLET MALIBU.
Seats, Apr 17, 2020
THE HORIZONTAL SEAT ADJUSTMENT MOTOR HAS A SHAFT THAT BROKE. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AT THE TIME.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Engine, Apr 15, 2020
WHEN I PUSH THE BUTTON TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE WHILE HAVING MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE IT DISPLAYS A MESSAGE SAYING 'SHIFT TO PARK'. IT WILL NOT LET YOU TURN OFF THE CAR. I HAVE TO PUSH THE BUTTON TO 'RESTART THE ENGINE' THEN SLAM IT INTO PARK. IT TYPICALLY TAKES 3 REPEATS OF THIS BEFORE THE CAR FINALLY ALLOWS ME TO SHUT IT OFF. IT'S FRUSTRATING, TIME CONSUMING AND NOISY AS IF YOU DO NOT SEE THE MESSAGE AND GO TO OPEN THE DOOR, IT BEEPS NOISILY NOTIFYING YOU THAT THE CAR IS NOT OFF. APPARENTLY QUITE A FEW DRIVERS HAVE THIS ISSUE, AS I HAVE READ THE COMPLAINTS LISTED. MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP QUOTED ME AT REPAIR COSTS OF OVER $700 TO FIX THIS. THIS SEEMS UNFAIR SINCE CLEARLY IT IS A MANUFACTURER ISSUE. *TR
Other or unspecified, Apr 10, 2020
WHEN I PUT MY CAR IN PARK AND TURN THE ENGINE OFF I AM GETTING A MESSAGE THAT SAYS SHIFT TO PARK. THIS APPEARS TO BE A KNOWN ISSUE.
Electronic stability control (ESC), Apr 2, 2020
SEVERAL TIMES IN THE PAST MONTH OR SO MY CAR HAS DISPLAYED A WARNING THAT SAYS ENGINE POWER REDUCED, AND EVEN IF YOU'RE GOING HIGHWAY SPEED, WILL REDUCE YOUR SPEED DOWN TO AROUND 20 MPH. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED, IT WAS AROUND 6PM IN BUSY TRAFFIC ON THE HIGHWAY, ALMOST CAUSING ME TO WRECK. IT STOPPED HAPPENING FOR A WHILE, BUT NOW IT HAS DONE IT OVER 20 TIMES IN THE PAST 48 HOURS. IT ONLY HAPPENS WHEN YOUR VEHICLE IS IN MOTION.
Other or unspecified, Electronic stability control (ESC), Engine, Apr 1, 2020
LATELY WHEN I STOP AT A LIGHT OR INTERSECTION MY VEHICLE AUTO STOPS BUT WHEN I TRY TO GO THE VEHICLE SHUTS OFF AND WILL NOT START. I HAVE TO PUT ON MY FLASHERS WHILE IN TRAFFIC AND SHUT THE VEHICLE ON AND OFF UNTIL IT RESTARTS. ONE OF THE WARNINGS READ STABIL AND ANOTHER READS POWER SHUT OFF AS WELL AS BATTERY SAVER ACTIVE. I HAVE TAKEN IT IN BUT HAVE BEEN TOLD THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT IS WRONG SO THEY RESET THE SYSTEM HOWEVER, THIS DANGEROUS ISSUE REMAINS. THIS STARTED THE BEGINNING OF MARCH AND HAS CONTINUED.
Steering, Mar 28, 2020
1ST SCENARIO/INCIDENT:WHEN AT A FULL STOP THE CAR IS IN "AUTO STOP". AFTER WHEN I RELEASE THE BREAK AND ACCELERATE THE CAR TURNS BACK ON AND THE STEERING WHEEL WILL JERK TO THE LEFT, WITHOUT ME MOVING THE STEERING WHEEL. THE DASH WILL DISPLAY MESSAGE "STEERING ASSIST IS REDUCED, DRIVE WITH CARE". 2ND SCENARIO/INCIDENT:WHEN AT A FULL STOP AT AN UPWARD STEEP ROAD AFTER I RELEASE THE BREAK AND ACCELERATE THE MESSAGE "STEERING ASSIST IS REDUCED, DRIVE WITH CARE" WILL APPEAR ON THE DASH AND THE CAR WILL NOT MOVE FORWARD IT WILL ROLL BACKWARD UNTIL THE BREAK IS PRESSED IT WILL STOP ROLLING BACK. AFTER THAT WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS PRESSED AGAIN IT WILL FINALLY MOVE FORWARD.
Seat belts, Mar 25, 2020
SEAT BELT WOULD NOT RELEASE WHILE BUCKLING, STUCK IN THE UNBUCKLED POSITION. WILL NOT RELEASE. STATIONARY.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Mar 24, 2020
EVERYT I PUT MY CAR IN PARK I GET AN ERROR STATING SHIFT TO PARK AND THE CAR WILL NOT TURN OFF. THE CAR IS IN PARK WHEN I'M TRYING TO TURN THE CAR OFF. TOOK MY CAR TO CHEVY AND THERE IS SOME FAULTY PAPER WORK . I SIGNED OFF ON ONE CONTRACT THEN I WAS CALLED IN AND WAS TOLD SOME OF MY SIGNATURE DIDNT DO THROUGH AND NOW ITS SHOWING I CANCELED THE EXTENDED WARRANTY WHICH I NEVER DID. I STILL HAVE THE ORIGINAL PAPERWORK. THEY REVISED MY ORIGINAL CONTRACT WITH GOING OVER THE NEW CONTRACT. NOW IM STUCK WITH AN EXPENSIVE BILL FOR REPAIR BECAUSE I ASSUMED I WAS SIGNING THE SAME CONTRACT. THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE ADDED TO THE RECALL LIST FOR REPAIR. ITHIS IS NOT A USER ISSUE THIS IS A GM ISSUE.
Steering, Electronic stability control (ESC), Mar 21, 2020
VEHICLE STABILITY TRACK DISABLED AND STEERING GET STIFF AND HARD TO CONTROL. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE AND 1000'S OF PEOPLE HAVE REPORTED IT. DEALER WANT TO CHAR $2,700 TO FIX FOR AN ISSUE THAT WAS REPORTED AS A DANGEROUS AND KNOWN TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE WARNING COME ON INTERMENT AND MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTROL SPECIALLY AT HIGH SPEED. ALL OTHER SAFETY FEATURES SUCH AS ACCIDENT WARNING OR LANE DEPARTURE GETS DISABLED
Vehicle speed control, Electronic stability control (ESC), Engine, Mar 20, 2020
WHILE DRIVING 60MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, MY CAR BEGAN BEEPING AND DISPLAYED 'REDUCED ENGINE POWER' ON THE SCREEN. THE TRACTION LIGHT AND ENGINE LIGHT ALSO CAME ON. THE CARS SPEED WAS IMMEDIATELY REDUCED ALMOST CAUSING A SERIOUS ACCIDENT AS I WAS IN THE LEFT LANE ON THE HIGHWAY WITH A SEMI BEHIND AND BESIDE ME. I WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER TO THE SHOULDER. I HAD TO RESTART THE CAR TWICE IN ORDER TO BE ABLE DRIVE IT HOME. THIS WAS AN ABSOLUTELY TERRIFYING SITUATION. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS STILL ON. UPON GOOGLING THIS ISSUE, MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM AND THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL! IF MY REACTION TIME WASN'T A FAST AS IT WAS TODAY, I WOULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY HURT, OR WORSE. GM NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS.
Steering, Electronic stability control (ESC), Engine, Mar 10, 2020
WELL I'M DRIVING IN THE FREEWAY AND THE CAR STAR LOSSING POWER I ALMOST CRASH THEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TURN ON AND IT'S SAY SOMETHING ABOUT THE STABILITY SOMENTIHIN LIKE THAT AND THAT I HAVE TO BE BECARFULL DRIVING
Steering, Vehicle speed control, Engine, Mar 5, 2020
I WAS ON A HIGHWAY IN WARREN OH DRIVING TO WORK TRAVELING AT 65 MPH IN THE LEFT LANE. A MESSAGE APPEARED AND SAID LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AND THE AT WENT FROM 65 TO 20 IN 1 SECOND. THERE WERE VEHICLES BEHIND ME AND BESIDE ME. I WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED AND WHEN I TRIED TO GET OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD I WAS ALMOST SMASHED BY A SEMI. AS WELL AS THAT MESSAGE IT THEN STATED STEERING ASSIST INACTIVE SO IT WAS THEN HARD TO TURN MY WHEEL AS IF THERE WASN'T ENOUGH OF A PROBLEM. THANK GOD I AM OK BUT SOMEONE ELSE MAY NOT BE SO LUCKY. THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS THAT I SEE ON THE INTERNET ABOUT THIS ISSUE. HOW IS THERE NOT A RECALL. GM SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THESE REPAIRS. I JUST PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IN NOV 2019.