2017 Chevrolet MALIBU: complaints, problems and recalls

ON 27 APRIL, 2017, I WAS RIDING AS A PASSENGER IN A 2017 MALIBU. WE WERE TRAVELLING AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH WHEN WE NEEDED TO STOP RAPIDLY, TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT DID NOT FUNCTION AT ALL. BECAUSE I HAVE ZERO TRUST IN GM, I WAS PROTECTING MYSELF (THE BEST ONE CAN) FOR JUST SUCH AN OCCURRENCE. THIS WAS A RENTAL CAR, UNKNOWN WHICH RENTAL COMPANY, AS I WAS A PASSENGER. BUT THIS SCARES ME BECAUSE IN DECEMBER OF 2000, I WAS DRIVING A RENTED PONTIAC GRAND AM (TRULY THE LAST TIME I HAVE DRIVEN OR RIDDEN IN A GM VEHICLE), AND…

Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10983497 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

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 ↗

WHEN STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT AN ELECTRIC MOTOR KICKS IN FOR ABOUT 30 SECOND AND THEN THE ENGINE MOTOR RESTARTS MAKING THE CAR WHAT TO JUMP FORWARD. IF THE DRIVER HAS ONLY A LIGHT FOOT ON THE BREAK PETAL HE/SHE COULD HIT THE CAR IN FRONT. I HAVE NOTIFIED BOTH ME DEALER AND GM AS I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE IN IT DESIGN. IT HAPPENS EVERY TIME I DRIVE AND HAVE TO STOP AT A LIGHT AND WAIT FOR ABOUT 30 SECONDS

Owner-reported narrative. 25 miles reported. Look up ODI 11000968 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

THE CAR WAS PARKED AND OFF IN OUR DRIVEWAY FOR 15 MINUTES -HORN STARTED WENT OUT SAW SMOKE CALLED 911 AND BY THE TIME BACK AT FRONT DOOR FLAMES FROM FRONT END. FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME AND PUT OUT FIRE -CAR TOTALED. WORRIED ABOUT SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION ESPECIALLY IF CAR PARKED IN GARAGE OR CLOSER TO HOUSE OR IF PEOPLE INSIDE

Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11011224 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

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 ↗

Reported: 2016-12-02 (December 2, 2016)

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.

Consequence: Insufficient welds could cause the inflator to separate and propel air bag debris into the cabin during a crash. Also, the inflator could fail to inflate during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

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. GM's number for this recall is 16146.

Reported: 2018-05-31 (May 31, 2018)

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. The high pressure fuel pump may detach from its mounting flange, possibly resulting in the pump damaging the high pressure fuel line.

Consequence: A damaged fuel line can create a fuel leak, increasing the risk of a fire.

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. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 18188.

Reported: 2018-06-14 (June 14, 2018)

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. As a result, the PPS may not properly identify an adult passenger from a child passenger in the front passenger seat, potentially causing the air bag to not deploy when it should, or causing the air bag to deploy when it shouldn't.

Consequence: In the event of a crash, improper air bag deployment can increase the risk of injury.

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. GM's number for this recall is 18208.

Reported: 2021-08-20 (August 20, 2021)

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.

Consequence: An improperly secured seat belt retractor may not function properly in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

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. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 and Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N212333380.