2017 Chevrolet Malibu Problems, Recalls & Reliability
1,174 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2017 Chevrolet Malibu, alongside 4 recall campaigns and 0 defect investigations. It scores 44/100 on the trouble index — a below-average year for this model. Engine leads the reports, typically around 58,811 miles.
Below average
Where 2017 sits among all Malibu years
What owners report
“Engine power reduced, car reduces to 40-20 mph while in traffic. Has started to shut off completely while driving.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2017 Malibu
“Engine reduce power keep coming on it's been going on for a while today while driving in freeway it completely just went to 20 mph and I have to turn vehicle off to get it to go away this Is very dangerous.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2017 Malibu
“Shift to park replaced 2 times problem still happening. Car says not in park when in park.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2017 Malibu
“Vehicle says to shift to park when it is in park. This doesn't allow you to turn off the car.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2017 Malibu
“Engine power reduced warning came on with engine light and traction light car speed dropped”— owner report to NHTSA, 2017 Malibu
“Breaks are locked up, car won't start due to faulty Vaccum pump and brake booster!”— owner report to NHTSA, 2017 Malibu
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 634 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 52,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 31,000 and 70,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (4)
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.
Fix: 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…
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…
Fix: 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…
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…
Fix: 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…
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.
Fix: 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.…
Technical service bulletins
1,328 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on electrical and engine — are on file for the 2017 Chevrolet Malibu. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
See the 2017 Malibu TSB list →
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2017 Chevrolet Malibu reliable?
The 2017 Chevrolet Malibu drew 1,174 complaints in federal safety records — a below-average year for this model. Its trouble index is 44/100, scored against the model's worst year (2004).
What are the most common 2017 Chevrolet Malibu problems?
The top reported problems for the 2017 Chevrolet Malibu are engine (257 complaints), other (201), and electrical (181).
At what mileage do 2017 Chevrolet Malibu problems show up?
Owners most often report 2017 Chevrolet Malibu problems around 52,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 31,000 and 70,000 miles.
Does the 2017 Chevrolet Malibu have recalls?
4 recall campaigns apply to the 2017 Chevrolet Malibu. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.