2017 Chevrolet MALIBU HYBRID problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
22 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
14,725 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2017 model year. Data snapshot: . 12 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 11 of 22 complaints (50.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 8 | 36.4% |
| Transmission and shifting | 5 | 22.7% |
| Braking behavior | 3 | 13.6% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 9.1% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 11 |
| Power Train | 4 |
| Engine | 3 |
| Unknown Or Other | 3 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 2 |
| Structure:Body | 2 |
| Air Bags | 1 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 1 |
Electrical System: 11; Power Train: 4; Engine: 3; Unknown Or Other: 3; Fuel/Propulsion System: 2; Structure:Body: 2; Air Bags: 1; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 8 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 8; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (8). 10 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 4 |
| 2020 | 3 |
| 2021 | 4 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2025 | 2 |
2017: 2; 2018: 3; 2019: 4; 2020: 3; 2021: 4; 2022: 2; 2023: 2; 2025: 2
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 8 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 5 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11291559 · 2019-12-27 (December 27, 2019)
WITHIN 1 YEAR I BOUGHT BRAND NEW HYBRID MALIBU CAR FROM CHEVY DEALER, I HAD EXPERIENCED DEAD 12V BATTERY. DEALER REPLACED THE BATTERY WHICH I PAID EVEN THOUGH I THOUGHT IT SHOULD BE WITHIN WARRANTY. LAST NIGHT I EXPERIENCED 3RD DEAD BATTERY AGAIN AFTER I PARKED THE CAR FOR 7 HRS OFFICE WORK. THE 2ND TIME DEAD BATTERY OCCURED WAS LAST JUNE 2019 ONLY, DEALER ALSO REPLACED THE BATTRY. ITS A 3RD TIME THAT I EXPERIENCE DEAD BATTERY (STATIONARY/PARKED) FOR BRAND NEW CAR 2017 HYBRID MALIBU WITHIN 2 YEARS. OBVIOUSLY ITS NOT THE BATTERY ISSUE BUT ITS DE…
Owner-reported narrative. 9 miles reported. Look up ODI 11291559 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11300988 · 2020-01-21 (January 21, 2020)
TWO TIMES IN 24 MONTHS AND APPROXIMATELY 62,000 MILES THE PRIMARY 12 VOLT BATTERY HAS FAILED. THIS FAILURE CAUSES THE TRUNK LOCK TO BECOME INOPERABLE. THE TRUNK CANNOT BE ACCESSED IN THIS SITUATION. BECAUSE THE TRUNK WILL NOT OPEN THERE IS NO ACCESS TO THE FAILED 12 VOLT BATTERY. ALSO THERE IS NO WAY TO FOLD THE REAR SEAT BACKS AS THE RELEASE LEVERS ARE LOCATED IN THE TRUNK. THIS SITUATION IS BOTH A SAFETY DANGEROUS HAZARD AND INCONVENIENCE. BOTH OF THESE OCCURRENCES HAPPENED WHILE THE CAR WAS PARKED IN OUR GARAGE.
Owner-reported narrative. 62,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 11300988 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11120520 · 2018-08-16 (August 16, 2018)
MY REASON FOR WRITING IS MY CAR WAS STRUCK IN THE WINDSHIELD BY A ROCK REQUIRING REPLACEMENT OF THE WINDSHIELD. AFTER THE WINDSHIELD WAS REPLACED, I NOTICED UNDER CONDITIONS OF BRIGHT LIGHT SUCH AS A SUNNY DAY, I COULD NOT SEE CLEARLY THROUGH IT BECAUSE OF SIGNIFICANT REFLECTIONS OFF OF THE DASHBOARD. SEE PHOTO NUMBER 1. I DID BRING THIS TO THE ATTENTION OF THE CHEVROLET DEALER WHO REPLACED THE WINDSHIELD, AND THE GLASS COMPANY THAT SUPPLIED THE WINDSHIELD. THEY BOTH AGREED THE REFLECTIONS SEEMED UNUSUAL, BUT STATED THE AFTERMARKET REPLACEM…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11120520 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11360250 · 2020-09-21 (September 21, 2020)
SOMETIMES WHEN I PARK, EVEN THOUGH VEHICLE IS CLEARLY IN PARK, I RECEIVE A MESSAGE ON THE DASH THAT I NEED TO "SHIFT TO PARK". THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH MANY GM VEHICLES AND IF YOU LEAVE THE CAR LIKE THIS, IT WILL DRAIN YOUR BATTERY. I HAVE TO REPEATEDLY SHIFT OUT OF PARK AND BACK IN TO GET THE MESSAGE TO GO AWAY. I DON'T KNOW WHAT I WILL DO WHEN THIS STOPS WORKING. THE DATE OF "WHEN DID THIS HAPPEN?" IS THE MOST RECENT, BUT IT HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES.
Owner-reported narrative. 106,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11360250 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11182271 · 2019-02-25 (February 25, 2019)
I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE BACK IN AUGUST 2018. IN JANUARY 2019 I NOTICED THAT MY HEADLINER, BACK SEAT, AND TRUNK WAS WET AND IT SMELL MILDEWY. I HAVE 3 CHILDREN THAT HAVE ASTHMA AND I DON'T FEEL THAT IT IS SAFE FOR THEM. I TOOK IT BY THE DEALERSHIP AND SHOWED THEM THEY SAID THAT IT WAS COMING FROM THE 3RD BRAKE LIGHT WELL THEY ORDERED A PART FOR THE VEHICLE AND STATED THEATER SHOULD FIX THE PROBLEM, BUT THE PROBLEM IS STILL ONGOING. I'VE BEEN BACK ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AND THEY DID A WATER TEST AND CANNOT FIND THE SOLUTION. WHEN THE PROBLEM OCCUR…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11182271 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11310278 · 2020-02-20 (February 20, 2020)
HYBRID BATTERY CORROSION DUE TO FAULTY BRAKE LIGHT LETTING WATER INTRUDE INTO TRUNK. I WAS OUT OF COUNTRY FOR MOST OF 2019 AND WHEN I RETURNED I WENT THROUGH MAIL AND DISCOVERED A LETTER FROM GM STATING THAT WATER CAN GET INTO TRUNK AND CABIN FROM A CHMSL. I CHECKED MY TRUNK AND IT WAS FULL OF WATER AND METAL ITEMS ARE AND WERE OXIDIZED AS WELL AS THE HYBRID BATTERY IN THE TRUNK. THIS CORROSION WILL NOT STOP ONCE ESTABLISHED ESPECIALLY WITH CHARGED ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS. AND PREMATURELY SHORTENING THE LIFE OF THE HYBRID BATTERY DUE TO POOR QUAL…
Owner-reported narrative. 20,068 miles reported. Look up ODI 11310278 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11445397 · 2021-12-29 (December 29, 2021)
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, Stab…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11445397 at NHTSA ↗