Most common 2017 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid problems
Share of the 22 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid complaints by model year
Best Malibu Hybrid years: 2008, 2018, 2009. Compare all years →
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2017 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid:
Pedestrian alert sounds
NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles.
What 2017 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid owners say
Electrical system
The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that after his wife parked the vehicle, the "Shift to Park" message was displayed while the gear selector was shifted into park(P). The vehicle would not turn off until after several attempts; however, the failure recurred with the doors locking the contact's wife and 3 children inside of the vehicle. The contact's wife was able to turn off the vehicle while the brake pedal was depressed and the Start/Stop button was pressed and unlocked the doors with the key fob. The dealer was made aware of the failure and sent a tow truck to retrieve the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 57,733.
Car voltage stays very high (between 14.8 and 15 volts) for extended periods of time. At which point the windows have fogged up and there is a raw egg smell in the cabin - probably Sulfur. Both the hybrid and the 12v car battery are located in the truck and there are vents that draw air from the cabin to ventilate those batteries. The car voltage will also stay at 12.5 to 12.6 for extended periods of time. During both high and low periods numerous internal systems have failed, including bit not limited to steering assist, anti-locks bakes, Stabilitrack, On star, Hybrid Control Processor and ECM. Car has been brought to the dealer 3 times. First time (early November 2021) it was diagnosed with an hybrid inverter and a software update was installed. Issues continued. …
Transmission & drivetrain
The car completely lost power while being driven on a freeway in Sacramento, California. The car was towed to a Chevrolet dealer in Davis, California and they determined that the car lost power due to a faulty Auxiliary Battery Negative Cable Assembly (Part # 84085823). The Chevrolet dealer cannot find the part because GM has discontinued production of the part. Also, despite extensive internet searches for the part including after-market sites, E-Bay, Amazon, AC Delco, all major auto part supply chains, etcetera, the part has not been found. The car has been at the dealer's facility for ~ 6 weeks with no resolution. The car is a hybrid, has been serviced regularly and properly, has never been in an accident and is very good shape. In other words, if the car is safely repaired, it is still going to be a very useful family vehicle. …
Car voltage stays very high (between 14.8 and 15 volts) for extended periods of time. At which point the windows have fogged up and there is a raw egg smell in the cabin - probably Sulfur. Both the hybrid and the 12v car battery are located in the truck and there are vents that draw air from the cabin to ventilate those batteries. The car voltage will also stay at 12.5 to 12.6 for extended periods of time. During both high and low periods numerous internal systems have failed, including bit not limited to steering assist, anti-locks bakes, Stabilitrack, On star, Hybrid Control Processor and ECM. Car has been brought to the dealer 3 times. First time (early November 2021) it was diagnosed with an hybrid inverter and a software update was installed. Issues continued. …
Engine & cooling
The car sometimes has a huge delay after you push the start button on dash to actually start, and being a Hybrid the car shakes bad when engine starts, it's sounda like crap to be honest. I've got 12K miles on it and it's been serviced at Chevy only, and the [redacted] thing has a rattle in the dash they 'can't figure out' and they don't hear any abnormal engine noise. And they say it's normal to lag that bad when starting, as it has to 'power up'. But when car was new it didn't do that parts of this document have been redacted to protect personally identifiable information pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 U.S.c. 552(b)(6).
I purchased a 2017 Chevrolet Malibu as I am a salesman and on the road all day. My reduce engine light continues to come on. The car is not even 2 years old. I was advised it can be the throttle position sensor or throttle body. I have seen many complaints on line fopr the same car. Why is a brand new car having this issue?. I was on the highway and redused speeds to 20 MPH and almost caused a major accident. I continually need to pull over and turn off car top reset itself. Please let me know why this has not been recalled with so many complaints.
2017 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.8L 4-cyl hybrid | CVT | FWD | 49 / 43 / 46 |
EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2017 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid a good car?
Based on 22 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2017 Malibu Hybrid rates average: 1.2× as many complaints as a typical year of the Malibu Hybrid at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2017 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid?
The electrical system — 11 complaints, 50% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the transmission & drivetrain (5) and engine & cooling (3).
How many recalls does the 2017 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2017 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2008, 2018 and 2009. See the full Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid years comparison.
At what mileage do 2017 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 15,000 miles; 67% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.