Problems · NHTSA complaints

2017 Chevrolet Malibu problems

Owners filed 727 complaints about the 2017 Chevrolet Malibu with NHTSA between Jan 2017 and Oct 2026. The most-cited component is engine (256).

Complaints
727
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
17
Reported by owners
Fires
4
Reported by owners
Injuries
16
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Engine256
  2. Electrical system172
  3. Power train144
  4. Vehicle speed control136
  5. Service brakes69
  6. Fuel/propulsion system59
  7. Electronic stability control (esc)54
  8. Steering47
  9. Exterior lighting22
  10. Structure21
  11. Air bags15
  12. Suspension10
  13. Visibility/wiper8
  14. Wheels7

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 3, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
201713
201852
2019147
2020142
202195
202298
202355
202446
202558
202621

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Engine

256 reports3 crashes2 fires
“The vehicle is experiencing an apparent fuel-system malfunction. The vehicle has a very strong raw gasoline odor, significant difficulty starting, and appears to be consuming fuel at an abnormally high rate. After filling the fuel tank completely, I drove approximately 20 miles at most and the fuel gauge decreased by approximately one-quarter of a tank. The engine oil also has a strong gasoline odor, indicating that fuel may be entering the engine oil. The exact failed component has not yet been diagnosed. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. The strong raw gasoline odor and apparent rapid loss of fuel create a concern for a fuel leak and potential fire hazard. The vehicle also has difficulty starting and shuts the engine off when the automatic stop/start system activates while stopped at a traffic light. This creates a safety concern because the vehicle may not restart normally when traffic begins moving. I am concerned that the vehicle may have a fuel-system defect similar to the high-pressure fuel pump/fuel-line issue previously recalled on certain 2016-2018 Chevrolet Malibus. No. The problem has not yet been diagnosed or confirmed by a…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 29, 2026Electrical system, Engine, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11760675

Electrical system

172 reports1 fire
“When the vehicle is shifted into Park and the ignition button is pressed, the vehicle fails to shut down. The dashboard displays a "Shift to Park" warning message, indicating the vehicle does not recognize that the gear selector is physically in the Park position.To shut the engine off, the driver must repeatedly wiggle, slam, or cycle the gear shifter back and forth into Park until the electrical sensor finally registers the connection. This creates a severe safety hazard, as the vehicle can roll away if left unsecured, drains the car battery, and prevents the doors from locking properly.Crucially, this defect traps drivers inside an operational vehicle for extended periods while they repeatedly struggle to force it to shut down. This poses an immediate risk of heat-related illness or death (hyperthermia), especially in high-temperature environments, during heatwaves, or for vulnerable occupants like children and the elderly who cannot exit the vehicle safely until it is off.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 9, 2026Power train, Electrical system, Unknown or otherODI 11749242

Power train

144 reports
“Turbo cooler and turbocharger failure, diagnosis and replacement on February 4 and February 17, 2026 by a certified GM dealership. Replacement of these parts was not included in service bulletin N222372590 (issued 12/22/22), which covered 100% replacement for the exact parts for the exact engine for a number of other GM vehicles manufactured from 2016-2022. The total repair cost for these two part replacements was $4,951.11 for a car that was purchase just two months prior for $17,000. A great disappointment! Code for issue in both cases was P0299. The failed parts resulted in significant engine power loss, which made it unsafe to drive as acceleration away from intersections and on entering the highway was poor!”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 9, 2026Power trainODI 11763134

Vehicle speed control

136 reports1 crash
“The Reduce Power to Engine keeps happening. It shuts my car down and lights up the traction control light, check engine light and its a serious hazard because I travel highway to and from work and its very dangerous when you loose power to your vehicle at high rates of speed. Also my emissions is bad due to a supposed fixed recall for the catalytic converter.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 5, 2026Vehicle speed control, Unknown or other, EngineODI 11716053

Service brakes

69 reports3 crashes
“I have two separate incidents regarding the vacuum pump on my 2017 Chevy Malibu. About two years ago, I was driving on the freeway, my brakes locked up, Car was dying, turns out my vacuum pump had exploded internally, causing metal pieces to go into my engine, it was in my oil as well. I had to replace the vacuum pump, and because it broke, it threw off the timing on my camshaft. I had a mechanic look at it and he had to tap the camshaft back into timing. Today, October 2026, I was on my way home from work, and my brakes were locking up and grinding. I had to use a lot of pressure for the brakes to even work. The break is very hard. Again, another vacuum pump failure. I’m hoping this time it does not lead to another camshaft issue as that is an expensive repair.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 23, 2026Unknown or other, Service brakesODI 11773310

Fuel/propulsion system

59 reports
“I have had experience with the "SHIFT TO PARK" error and I have had the "reduced engine power" error message resulting in an UNEEDED $2200 dollar repair only for it to break down 2 months later, same message this time with fuel spraying under the hood. I NEARLY BLEW MYSELF UP TRYING TO START MY CAR! How is it that I cant find this DANGEROUS defect on the recall list when I easily found the RECURRENT problem online? HELP”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 31, 2025Unknown or other, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11707988
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 3, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.