Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2017 Chevrolet Malibu owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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. …
The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated while driving at 30 MPH, the "Steering Assist Reduced - Drive with Care" and other unknown warning lights illuminated, and the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that a nearby independent mechanic who witnessed the failure assisted her with restarting the vehicle with an unknown device and assisted the contact with pulling to the side of the road. The contact sated that the vehicle shut-off and failed to restart after several attempts. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The Used car dealer was notified of the failure but did not provide any assistance. The contact stated that the failure occurred the same day she had purchased the vehicle at the Used car dealer. Upon investigating on Carfax, the contact became aware that the vehicle had previously been totaled. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. …
The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving approximately 55 mph when the vehicle's speed suddenly slowed down to about 10 mph. The contact stated they had to pull over and restart the vehicle. The failure occurred a second time at the same speed and reduced to about 30 mph causing them to pull over and restart. The third time they experienced a failure occurred while idle at the light when the vehicle stalled and failed to restart. The contact had to push the vehicle to the side of the road where they had to leave the vehicle for several hours before they were able to restart the vehicle. The check engine and engine power reduced warning lights were illuminated. The contact taken the vehicle to a certified mechanic who had not diagnosed the failure as of yet. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. …
The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated while driving approximately 65 MPH, the instrument panel displayed the message "Reduce Engine Power" with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle immediately decelerated independently. The contact continued to depress the accelerator pedal; however, the vehicle failed to exceed 35 - 40 MPH before decelerating again. The contact pulled over to the side of the roadway and waited for approximately 15 minutes before continuing to drive; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to a certified mechanic where it was diagnosed and determined that the ABS, Power Train, and Throttle Sensor all had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired by the mechanic. The vehicle was taken to the dealer but was not yet diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. …
The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the reduced speed warning light and the check engine warning light were illuminated. The vehicle decelerated and the brake pedal became stiff while depressed, while the RMP's fluctuated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the vacuum pump was replaced; however, the contact stated that the RPM's was still fluctuating. Additionally, the contact stated that while driving, if the accelerator pedal was not depressed, the vehicle would shut off. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to exceed 60 MPH while driving. The contact stated that a DTC code for the camshaft was illuminated. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 95,000.
The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while stationary at a stop light and attempting to depress the accelerator pedal, the vehicle failed to respond as intended, and the vehicle stalled in the middle of an intersection. The vehicle was previously repaired; however, the failure persisted. The contact stated that the failure usually occurred during summer, on very hot days. The contact also stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer however, the failure could not be duplicated. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure; however, no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000.
The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle speed began to decelerate. The contact stated that engine power reduced warning light was illuminated. The contact parked on the side of the road for approximately 5-10 minutes before being able to drive to her destination. The contact stated she had to disconnect the battery to reset the software and warning light. The contact stated she had experienced the failure multiple times. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer but was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 30,000.
The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving and attempting to accelerate, the vehicle jerked and decelerated from 65 MPH to approximately 20 MPH; the vehicle then independently accelerated to 40 MPH. While at a stop sign, the vehicle stalled. The engine power reduced message was displayed. Additionally, water had entered the trunk of the vehicle and the contact was concerned about mold. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified but no additional assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 180,000.
The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while her daughter was at a red light, the engine failed to start-up upon depression of the accelerator as the STOP/START feature failed to operate as needed. The "steering assist reduced, drive with care" warning message appeared on the instrument panel. Her daughter was able to restart the vehicle and resumed normal driving; however, the failure continued to occur intermittently. The contact called the dealer and they informed her that there were no recalls on the vehicle. The manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was 46,550.
Engine complaints in other Malibu years
Frequently asked questions
How common are engine problems on the 2017 Chevrolet Malibu?
NHTSA has 258 complaints about the engine & cooling of the 2017 Chevrolet Malibu, 37% of the model year's 703 complaints. The component named most often is exhaust system › emission control › catalytic convertor (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2017 Chevrolet Malibu engine problems?
No. NHTSA lists no engine & cooling recall for the 2017 Chevrolet Malibu, though it has 4 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2017 Chevrolet Malibu engine problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 57,000 miles, and 19% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 3 crashes, 2 fires and 3 injuries to engine & cooling problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.