2017 Chevrolet MALIBU problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
701 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
48,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2017 model year. Data snapshot: . 397 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 253 of 701 complaints (36.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 90 | 12.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 78 | 11.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 68 | 9.7% |
| Steering behavior | 58 | 8.3% |
| Engine operation | 47 | 6.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 13 | 1.9% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Engine | 253 |
| Electrical System | 160 |
| Unknown Or Other | 147 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 132 |
| Power Train | 129 |
| Service Brakes | 67 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 57 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 53 |
Engine: 253; Electrical System: 160; Unknown Or Other: 147; Vehicle Speed Control: 132; Power Train: 129; Service Brakes: 67; Fuel/Propulsion System: 57; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 53
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 87 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 120 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 110 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 52 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 22 |
| 150,000 and above | 6 |
Under 25,000: 87; 25,000 to 49,999: 120; 50,000 to 74,999: 110; 75,000 to 99,999: 52; 100,000 to 149,999: 22; 150,000 and above: 6
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (120). 304 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 | 11 |
| 2018 | 49 |
| 2019 | 143 |
| 2020 | 139 |
| 2021 | 91 |
| 2022 | 96 |
| 2023 | 53 |
| 2024 | 46 |
| 2025 | 56 |
| 2026 | 17 |
2017: 11; 2018: 49; 2019: 143; 2020: 139; 2021: 91; 2022: 96; 2023: 53; 2024: 46; 2025: 56; 2026: 17
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 90 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 78 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 68 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 11012932 · 2017-08-05 (August 5, 2017)
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WHICH I HAD FOR 2 AN HALF WEEKS. THE VEHICLE MAKE A GRINDING OR RUBBING NOISE WHILE DRIVING IT DONT MAKE ANY NOISE WHEN PRESSING BRAKES. IT MAY BE THE ENGINE OR THE BRAKES OR SOMETHING IS RUBBING THE TIRES.
Owner-reported narrative. 900 miles reported. Look up ODI 11012932 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11025387 · 2017-09-25 (September 25, 2017)
TWO TIMES WHILE I WAS DRIVING I PUT ON MY BRAKES AND MY POWER STEERING LOCKED UP COMPLETELY I COULD BARELY DRIVE IT I ALMOST GOT INTO A WRECK I TOOK CAR TO CHEVROLET AND THEY SAID THAT RACK AND PINION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED
Owner-reported narrative. 17,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11025387 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11080993 · 2018-03-23 (March 23, 2018)
MY 2017 CHEVROLET MALIBU EXPLODED AND CAUGHT FIRE AFTER IT HAD BEEN PARKED FOR HOURS ON THE STREET. IT STARTED FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND MELTED THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE DASHBOARD. MECHANICAL/ELECTRICAL DEFECT FROM THE ENGINE OF THE CAR.
Owner-reported narrative. 5,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 11080993 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11113712 · 2018-07-26 (July 26, 2018)
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON I HAVE TAKEN IT TO DEALERSHIP AND IT HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED AND FIXED IT IS THE BATTERY MODULATER SENSOR (IF I SPELLED IT RIGHT) THE SAME CODE COMES UP. DEALERSHIP STATES ITS A MANUFACTURER ISSUE OR SYSTEM ISSUE AND A FIX IS BEING WORKED ON ITS BEEN A COUPLE OF MONTHS ALL THEY CAN DO IS RESET THE SENSOR BUT IT KEEPS COMING ON.
Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11113712 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10994389 · 2017-06-12 (June 12, 2017)
AFTER MUCH RESEARCH I HAVE FOUND OUT THAT THE TRANSMISSION THAT IS IN THE 2017 MALIBU, WHICH IS THE 6T40, IS NOT RATED TO BE IN THIS VEHICLE. THE 6T40 IS RATED AT 177LB-FT TORQUE, THE MALIBU HAS 184LB-FT. GMAUTHORITY.COM/BLOG/GM/GM-TRANSMISSIONS/MH8/ THIS LINK IS THE PAGE FOR THE 6T40. HOWEVER, THE 6T45 IS WHAT SHOULD BE IN THE CAR, HTTP://GMAUTHORITY.COM/BLOG/GM/GM-TRANSMISSIONS/MH7/ THIS IS THE LINK FOR THAT ONE, AS YOU CAN SEE THE MAX TORQUE IS 232LB-FT. HTTP://MEDIA.CHEVROLET.COM/MEDIA/US/EN/CHEVROLET/VEHICLES/MALIBU/2016…
Owner-reported narrative. 650 miles reported. Look up ODI 10994389 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11000283 · 2017-06-20 (June 20, 2017)
I PURCHASED A 2017 CHEVY MALIBU LAST WEEK. I WAS LOOKING OVER THE DATA ON THE CHEVY WEBSITE. CHEVY IS LISTING TWO DIFFERENT HP RATINGS FOR THIS CAR. ONE AREA STATES 163HP & 184 LB-FT TORQUE. THE OTHER SAYS 160HP & 184 LB-FT TORQUE. THE MAIN ISSUE I HAVE IS WITH THE TRANSMISSION. GM SAYS THE CAR COMES WITH A 6T45 TRANSMISSION. THAT TRANSMISSION IS RATED AT 215HP & 232 LB-FT TORQUE. ENOUGH FOR THE RATED ENGINE. THE TRANSMISSION IN THE CAR IS A 6T40. RATED AT 180HP & 177 LB-FT TORQUE. THE TORQUE ON THE MOTOR IS 184 LB-FT AT 2500 RPM TO 3…
Owner-reported narrative. 242 miles reported. Look up ODI 11000283 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11006591 · 2017-07-20 (July 20, 2017)
THE VEHICLE ENGINE TURNED OFF WHILE DRIVING IN THE CITY. IT THEN CAUSED THE STEERING WHEEL TO STIFFEN AND MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE CAR POWER WENT INTO LOW MODE. THE AC WENT INTO FAN MODE. AND THE CAR STAYED STATIONARY.
Owner-reported narrative. 2,757 miles reported. Look up ODI 11006591 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11023497 · 2017-09-14 (September 14, 2017)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 CHEVROLET MALIBU. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING, THE ENGINE STALLED AND LOST POWER. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BOB STEELE CHEVROLET (2800 FLORIDA 520, COCOA, FL 32926 [phone removed]) WHERE NO DIAGNOSTIC FAILURE CODES WERE FOUND AND THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT TO VIEW THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT DUE TO THE INCLEMENT WEATHER, THE MANUFACTURER WOULD N…
Owner-reported narrative. 204 miles reported. Look up ODI 11023497 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11083454 · 2018-04-05 (April 5, 2018)
MY 2017 MALIBU HAD A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER, IT HAPPENED WHILE ON VACATION. WHILE IN TRAFFIC ON A DARK CURVY ROAD, THERE WAS A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER, THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AND THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON AS WELL AS A MESSAGE INDICATING LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. I PULLED OVER AN RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, IT DID NOT GAIN FULL ENGINE POWER BACK. I WAS ABLE TO SLOWLY MAKE IT TO MY DESTINATION. THE NEXT MORNING (KIDS IN TOW) THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS STILL ON, AND THE VEHICLE STILL SEEMED SLUGGISH. WHILE DRIVING HOME ( OR TO A DEALERSHIP IF POSSIBLE) THE CAR AG…
Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11083454 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11066599 · 2018-02-02 (February 2, 2018)
WHILE DRIVING ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON I CALLED ON STAR DIAGNOSTIC REVEALED INJECTOR ERROR
Owner-reported narrative. 11,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 11066599 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11066600 · 2018-02-02 (February 2, 2018)
DRIVING ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON CALLED ON STAR DIAGNOSTIC SAID INJECTOR ERROR SAME THING I HAD FIXED ON JANUARY 11TH 2018
Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11066600 at NHTSA ↗