Most common 2017 Chevrolet Malibu problems
Share of the 703 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Chevrolet Malibu complaints by model year
Best Malibu years: 2025, 2021, 2019. Years to avoid: 2010. Compare all years →
2017 Chevrolet Malibu recalls (4)
Seat belts › Rear/other › Retractor
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.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and tighten the rear seat belt retractors, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 17, 2021.
Air bags › Sensor › Occupant classification
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.
Remedy: 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.
Fuel system, gasoline › Delivery › Fuel pump
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.
Remedy: 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.
Air bags › Side/window
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.
Remedy: 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.
What 2017 Chevrolet Malibu owners say
Engine & cooling all 258 →
The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving approximately 20 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that the message to depress the brake pedal and shift to park(P) was displayed. The vehicle was restarted but stalled again. The contact had the vehicle towed to an independent mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the oxygen sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure reoccurred. The contact stated that the failure only occurred while driving at speeds below 40 MPH. The vehicle was returned to the same mechanic, and it was determined that the oxygen sensor needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the PCV valve and the valve cover were replaced; however, the failure reoccurred. …
The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that during cold weather, the engine would overheat, with the temperature gauge indicating that the engine was Hot(H). In addition, the contact stated that there was an abnormal burning odor coming from the vehicle. The contact stated that while depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle lost motive power with the check engine warning light illuminated and the "Reduce Power Mode" message displayed on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where a mechanic discovered an accumulation of ice and sludge on the throttle body. Due to the failure, the oil became contaminated when released from the throttle body. Upon investigation, the contact discovered Technical Service Bulletin: 10228956 (Engine and Engine Cooling); which the contact linked to the failure. …
Electrical system all 161 →
The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving approximately 20 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that the message to depress the brake pedal and shift to park(P) was displayed. The vehicle was restarted but stalled again. The contact had the vehicle towed to an independent mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the oxygen sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure reoccurred. The contact stated that the failure only occurred while driving at speeds below 40 MPH. The vehicle was returned to the same mechanic, and it was determined that the oxygen sensor needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the PCV valve and the valve cover were replaced; however, the failure reoccurred. …
The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that upon arriving to her destination and shifting into park(P), the vehicle failed to turn off. The contact stated that the "Please Shift to Park" message was displayed. The contact stated that after restarting the vehicle, the vehicle returned to normal functionality, but the failure became a regular occurrence. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed failures with the gear shifter wiring harness and battery current sensor. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 30,000.
Transmission & drivetrain all 139 →
The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving at 60 MPH, the accelerator pedal sensor failed with the check engine vehicle entered reduced power mode, the vehicle independently slowed down as the contact pulled to the side of the road. The contact was able to restart the vehicle and took the vehicle to a dealer. The dealer informed him warning light and several other unknown warning lights illuminated. As the that the accelerator pedal sensor was defective and needed to be replaced. The contact was also informed that the parts to repair the vehicle were unavailable. The contact then had an independent mechanic replace the accelerator pedal and the sensor. The contact also stated that while merging onto a highway at 60 MPH, the vehicle stalled with several unknown warning lights illuminated. …
The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated upon coming to a complete stop, the vehicle shut off and the warning messages "Power Engine Low", "Steering Reduced; Be Careful" were displayed. The contact stated upon restarting the vehicle, the warning messages were no longer illuminated and she was able to continue driving. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred several times. Additionally, the contact stated while driving 45-55 MPH, the vehicle decelerated independently to 25-30 MPH. The contact stated that the failure had been reoccurring intermittently. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the convertor actuator voltage performance for the power train system had failed. The vehicle was not repaired. …
2017 Chevrolet Malibu engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.8L 4-cyl hybrid | CVT | FWD | 49 / 43 / 46 |
| 1.5L 4-cyl turbo | 6-speed automatic | FWD | 27 / 36 / 30 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 9-speed automatic | FWD | 22 / 33 / 26 |
EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2017 Chevrolet Malibu a good car?
Based on 703 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2017 Malibu rates average: about as many complaints as a typical year of the Malibu 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?
The engine & cooling — 258 complaints, 37% of all complaints for this model year, most often about exhaust system › emission control › catalytic convertor. Next are the electrical system (161) and transmission & drivetrain (139).
How many recalls does the 2017 Chevrolet Malibu have?
There are 4 recalls for the 2017 Chevrolet Malibu, the most recent from August 20, 2021 (retractor). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Chevrolet Malibu?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2025, 2021 and 2019. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2010. See the full Chevrolet Malibu years comparison.
At what mileage do 2017 Chevrolet Malibu problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 48,000 miles; 52% 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.