Home · 2017 · Chevrolet
2017 Chevrolet Malibu Eco
Solid pick. The public record on this car is clean for its age. Inspect it, then negotiate with confidence.
687 owner complaints · 0 recalls · data verified July 24, 2026 · source: NHTSA
Why buy?
Engine problems dominate (35% of complaints, typically reported near 28k miles).
Zero recalls, rare for a car this age.
Complaint reports have faded. Early issues appear resolved or aged out.
Score breakdown, by factor
Full methodology →#294 of 556Among the 2017 models with a matured record, the 2017 Chevrolet Malibu Eco ranks #294, scoring higher than 46% of them. See the 2017 ranking →
Complaints filed per year
Fading = early teething worked out. Climbing = problems aging in.
How it crashes
NHTSA’s own crash tests, separate from the reliability score above.
5/5 overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating · 2017 Chevrolet Malibu Eco e-Assist 4 DR FWD
Rollover risk in a single-vehicle crash: 10%
1 open NHTSA defect investigation on file, separate from the recalls above.
Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings. Star ratings compare vehicles within the same class and size, not across every car on the road.
The road ahead
What breaks on a 2017 Chevrolet Malibu Eco, plotted where owners report it happening.
Also reported (mileage varies): Brakes (62)
Mileage medians come from owners who mentioned an odometer reading in their NHTSA complaint, a rough guide, not a schedule.
Engine
35%242 complaints · typically near 28k mi · 16 in the last 2 years
“Vacuum pump failure caused engine damage.”
Electrical system
24%163 complaints · typically near 34k mi · 12 in the last 2 years
“The shift to park sensor will become stuck and not register that the car is in park causing the battery to drain.”
Transmission & drivetrain
20%137 complaints · typically near 30k mi · 16 in the last 2 years
“The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that on several occasions after shifting the gear shifter to park(P), and turning off the vehicle, the con…”
Speed control
19%131 complaints · typically near 35k mi · 4 in the last 2 years
“I was driving in my neighborhood I tried to park at my house and my car wouldn’t stop I had to step down on my break hard for it to finally stop my vacuum pump broke i…”
Check it against this car’s mileage
Type the odometer reading on the actual car you’re looking at to see which of these problem areas owners tend to report before it, around it, or after it.
We can place 5 of this model's commonly reported problem areas against a mileage. Nothing is stored.
Read all 687 owner complaints in their own words → · just the 20 crash/fire/injury reports →
Recalls (0)
No recall campaigns on file for this model year.
Questions to ask the seller
Questions worth asking the seller of this Chevrolet before you buy, drawn from its public record:
- Owners of this model report engine problems more than anything else (owners tend to report it near 28k miles). Has this car shown any engine symptoms, and are there repair records for it?
- Owners of this model report electrical system problems more than anything else (owners tend to report it near 34k miles). Has this car shown any electrical system symptoms, and are there repair records for it?
- Has this car been in any accident or had any structural, airbag, or flood-related repair? Do you have a clean title and a recent history report (Carfax / AutoCheck)?
- How many owners has it had, do you have the maintenance records, and why are you selling it?
- Are you open to me having an independent mechanic inspect it before we settle on a price?
Before you hand over money
Check the VIN for open recalls
NHTSA’s free lookup shows whether this exact car had its recall remedies completed.
Free NHTSA VIN check ↗Get a pre-purchase inspection
A $150 to $250 independent inspection of this exact 2017 Chevrolet MALIBU ECO beats every score on the internet, including ours.
What to ask forNot set on the 2017? See how every Malibu Eco model year scores →
Cross-shopping? Compare the 2017 Chevrolet Malibu Eco against another car →
What owners say
Real owners of this exact model-year, shown separately from the NHTSA score. If they disagree, that’s worth knowing.