Home · 2017 Chevrolet Malibu Eco · Complaints

What 687 owners told NHTSA about the 2017 Chevrolet Malibu Eco

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (687)Crash / fire / injury (20)Engine (242)Electrical system (163)Transmission & drivetrain (137)Speed control (131)Brakes (62)Fuel system (55)Electronic Stability Control (esc) (54)Steering (45)Body & structure (21)Lights (21)

Newest first · 687 complaints · page 16 of 28

Sep 21, 2020Speed control

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND ENGINE POWER REDUXE LIGHT CAME ON DASH. VEHICLE DECELERATED RAPIDLY ON MAJOR HIGHWAY WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED BY SEMI TRACTOR TRIAILER. WAS ABLE TO TURN CAR OFF AND IT WENT AWAY. BUT HAS RETURNED NEXT DAY. I CONTACTED GM 09/21/20 AMD THEY STATED THEY WERE AWARE OF ONGOING ISSUES AND I COULD BRING IT IN TO GET LOOKED AT BUT WOULD HAVE TO PAY A DIAGNOSTIC FEE

NHTSA ODI 11360187

Sep 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.

NHTSA ODI 11360250

Sep 15, 2020Transmission & drivetrain

WHEN SHIFTING TO PARK IT IS NOT RECOGNIZED AND WILL NOTIFY VIA DISPLAY IN PANEL. THIS OCCURS 75% OF THE TIME AT THIS POINT-STARTED 2 WEEKS AGO. CONCERNING AS I LIVE ON A HILL.

NHTSA ODI 11355127

Sep 15, 2020Body & structure

I ALWAYS NOTICE A SMELL AND FOGGY WINDOWS AFTER RAINY DAYS ON MY STATIONARY VEHICLE BUT THOUGH LITTLE OF IT WE JUST GOT HIT BY HURRICANE LAURA WITH NO DAMAGE TO VEHICLE BUT LIGHT SCRATCHING AS I WAS GOING TO TAKE MY FAMILY OUT OF TOWN WHILE POWER RESTORATION EFFORTS STARTED I OPENED MY TRUCK (AS I RARELY USE IT)TO FIND MY SPARE TIRE COMPARTMENT COMPLETELY COVERED IN WATER AND MOLD GROWING IN THE INTERIOR I CALLED MY INSURANCE ABOUT IT BUT IT IS NOT COVERD UN INSURANCE AND WAS TOLD TO LOOK FOR RECALLS AS THIS VEHICLE HAS MANY ISSUES WITH THIS PROBLEM A PRESSURE TEST REVEALED WATER IS COMING IN FROM NO ALL COMPONENTS OF SPARE TIRE ARE RUSTED OR HAVE MOLD GROWING ON THEM AND ALL TRUCK INTERIOR IS FULL OF MOLD GROWTY

NHTSA ODI 11355226

Sep 14, 2020Transmission & drivetrain

CAR STOPPED WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY WITH A MESSAGE ON DASH SAYING 'ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED.' THE DEALERSHIP FIRST SAID IT WAS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THEN SAID IT WAS THE ENGINE CONTROL UNIT. THEY SAID THAT THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT CAUSES THIS TO HAPPEN, BUT IT JUST NEEDS REPROGRAMMED AND A SOFTWARE UPDATE. AN UPDATE THAT ONLY A GM FACILITY CAN DO. ALSO SPECIFICALLY ASKED IF THIS WAS WEAR AND TEAR, TOLD NO, THEY DON'T KNOW WHY THIS HAPPENS.

NHTSA ODI 11354969

Sep 11, 2020Transmission & drivetrain

AFTER PUTTING MY 2017 CHEVY MALIBU INTO PARK AND TURNING IT OFF A MESSAGE APPEARS ON THE DASH SAYING "SHIFT TO PARK". THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN EVERY TIME, BUT ENOUGH TO HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT IT.

NHTSA ODI 11354479

Sep 8, 2020Electrical system

VEHICLE SUFFERS FROM BEHAVIOR IN SERVICE BULLETIN 19-NA-206. INTERMITTENT SHIFT TO PARK MESSAGE DISPLAYED ON THE DRIVER INFORMATION CENTER (DIC) WHEN THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN SHIFTED TO PARK AND THE IGNITION HAS BEEN TURNED TO THE OFF POSITION. ALOT OF OWNERS ARE HAVING THIS ISSUE THE PART SHOULD BE RECALLED HTTPS://STATIC.NHTSA.GOV/ODI/TSBS/2019/MC-10166630-9999.PDF

NHTSA ODI 11353622

Sep 6, 2020Electrical systemLights

I BOUGHT THE 2017 MALIBU PREMEIR WITH 5 MILES ON IT IN SEPT 2017 AND HAVE HAD PROBLEMS FROM THE START. 2018 WHILE RIDING ON INTERSTATE MY CAR JUST STOPPED WENT STRAIGHT TO DEALER THEY SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG AFTER KEEPING CAR FOR 2 DAYS. WENT TO LEAVE DEALER SHIP AND CAR STOPPED IN PARKING LOT ,SENSORS WENT OUT ON FRONT OF CAR. FIXED 2019.NEXT MY CAR KEPT GETTING WATER IN TIRE WELL AND I WENT TO DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS NOT A RECALL. SO I KEPT BAILING OUT WATER AND PARKING IN GARAGES. THREE MONTHS LATER RECALL .I WAS WITHOUT CAR FOR 4 WEEKS AS CARPET ,HEADLINER AND COMPLETE TRUNK CARPET AND MOLDING HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE OF MOLD,2020.MY CAR TELLS ME TO SHIFT TO PARK WHEN CAR IS IN PARK AND I HAVE TO TURN CAR OFF AND ON ND MOVE FROM D TO P TO GET IT TO WORK. TELLS ME WHEN 'I'M DRIVING NO KEY FOUND IN VEHICLE OR PUT KEY FOB IN POCKET.,YESTERDAY SEPT 5.2020 WENT TO GET INSPECTION STICKER AND ATTENDENT TOLD ME YOU HAVE NO BACKUP LIGHTS. NEVER NOTICED IT. SO WENT TO AUTO ZONE AND BOUGHT LIGHT AND WENT TO MECHANIC SHOP TO HAVE PUT IN. WHILE SITTING IN CAR WENT TO OPEN SUNROOF, IT WASN'T WORKING AND IT HAD BEEN MONTHS SINCE I REMEMBER OPENING IT, SO 'I'M READING OWNERS MANUAL AND WENT TO TURN ON MAP LIGHTS. NO LIGHTS. SO MECHANIC COMES AND SAYS THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH YOUR BULBS. LET ME CHECK FUSES, USUALLY WHEN BOTH LIGHT GO OUT AT SAME TIME ITS A FUSE PROBLEM TOLD HIM ABOUT SUN ROOF AND MAP LIGHT, HE CHECKED EVERY FUSE INSIDE AND OUT. THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH MY FUSES OR THE LIGHTS. THEY JUST WONT COME ON. NEITHER WILL SUNROOF OPEN. MY CAR HAS 56000 MILES ON IT AND I'VE HAD PROBLEMS SINCE 25000 MILES. I THOUGHT I WOULD KEEP THIS CAR FOR AT LEAST TEN YEARS AS IT COST A PRETTY PENNY FOR THE CAR

NHTSA ODI 11353384

Aug 30, 2020

WHEN SHIFT CAR INTO PARK AND GO TO TURN CAR OFF A MESSAGE POPS UP THAT CAR NEEDS TO BE IN PARK EVEN THOUGH IT SHOWS IT IS IN PARK. DOESN'T HAPPEN ALL THE TIME BUT HAPPENS AND YOU HAVE TO TURN CAR ON AND OFF AND SHIFT A FEW TIMES BEFORE IT WILL RECOGNIZE IT IS IN PARK.

NHTSA ODI 11352075

Aug 30, 2020Electronic Stability Control (esc)

CAR WON'T START AND THEN GET A MESSAGE SAYING STABILITRAK. CAR HAS UNDER 60,000 MILES ON IT.

NHTSA ODI 11352073

Aug 25, 2020Transmission & drivetrain

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER SHIFTING TO PARK, THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO MOVE AND THE SHIFT TO P WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED MULTIPLE TIMES IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO FUNCTION PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE HICKSVILLE CHEVROLET DEALER, LOCATED AT: 236 S. BROADWAY, HICKSVILLE, NY 11801, WHERE IT WAS STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 64,000. *BF*JB

NHTSA ODI 11351097

Aug 25, 2020Transmission & drivetrain

AFTER SHIFTING INTO PARK MESSAGE DISPAYS SHIFT TO PARK. CAR IS IN PARK BUT WHEN ATTEMPTING TO TURN OFF AUXILIARY POWER STAYS ON AND CAN'T BE TURNED OFF.

NHTSA ODI 11351155

Aug 24, 2020Lights

THERE IS WATER COMING INTO THE TRUNK. UPON LOOKING ONLINE THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM CAUSED BY THE LOOSENING OF THE NUTS SECURING THE 3RD BREAK LIGHT.

NHTSA ODI 11351001

Aug 20, 2020Transmission & drivetrainEngine

I WAS DRIVING AT 70 MPH ON A HIGHWAY AND THE CAR SHUT OF CAUSING ME TO NEARLY GET HIT MULTIPLE TIMES. I WAS BARELY ABLE TO GET THE CAR TO THE OFF RAMP I WAS APPROACHING. I HAD THE CAR TOWED 100 MILES TO MY HOUSE AND THEN TO A DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THAT THE VACUUM PUMP CAME APART AND SENT METAL EVERYWHERE. THE VACUUM COMING APART ALSO CAUSED THE CAMSHAFT TO BREAK ALONG WITH A HOSE AND A CAMSHAFT SENSOR. THE REPAIRS ALONE ARE ESTIMATED SO FAR TO COST ME ABOUT $2,500.

NHTSA ODI 11350525

Aug 19, 2020Electrical system

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO PARK, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO TURNOFF. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ON. THE VEHICLE STAYED ON UNTIL EITHER THE BATTERY WAS DRAINED OR THE ELECTRICAL WIRING OVERHEATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER MIKE SAVOIE CHEVROLET (1900 W MAPLE RD, TROY, MI 48084, (248) 566-6523) AND DIAGNOSED AND REPLACED THE GEAR SHIFTER. THE CONTACT PAID FOR THE REPAIRS OUT OF POCKET. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED THE CONTACT WITH A CASE NUMBER. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.*DT*JB

NHTSA ODI 11350243

Aug 19, 2020

A DASHBOARD NOTICE TO 'SHIFT TO PARK' POPS UP AFTER PUTTING THE CAR INTO PARK AND ATTEMPTING TO TURN IT OFF. THE CAR DOES NOT REGISTER THAT THE CAR HAS ALREADY BEEN STOPPED AND SWITCHED TO PARK.

NHTSA ODI 11350299

Aug 19, 2020Transmission & drivetrain

"SHIFT TO PARK" WHEN PLACING CAR IN PARK WHICH DOES NOT ALLOW VEHICLE TO FULLY POWER OFF. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD THIS ISSUE. IT HAPPENED AT 37K AND I HAD IT REPAIRED WHICH COST CLOSE TO $600 JUST UNDER A YEAR AGO. THE VEHICLE MILEAGE SINCE THE REPAIR IS UNDER 30K.

NHTSA ODI 11350314

Aug 17, 2020Transmission & drivetrain

GETTING SHIFT TO PARK MESSAGE WHEN PUTTING CAR INTO PARK. UNABLE TO TURN VEHICLE OFF UNTIL PARK ENGAGES. WE HAD REPAIRED AT THE DEALERSHIP A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO AND IT IS DOING IT AGAIN. IT IS BEGINNING TO DO IT OFTEN.

NHTSA ODI 11349938

Aug 14, 2020Transmission & drivetrain

BEGINNING SEVERAL MONTHS AGO, THE VEHICLE WOULD OCCASIONALLY DISPLAY A "SHIFT TO PARK" ERROR MESSAGE AFTER THE "START/STOP" BUTTON WAS PRESSED TO TURN OFF THE PARKED VEHICLE. ALTHOUGH THE ENGINE WOULD TURN OFF, ALL OF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS WOULD REMAIN ON. FOR THE FIRST FEW MONTHS, THE ERROR MESSAGE WOULD DISAPPEAR AFTER A FEW SECONDS TO A MINUTE, AFTER WHICH THE "START/STOP" BUTTON TO BE PRESSED TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY. OVER THE LAST MONTH, HOWEVER, THE AMOUNT OF TIME THE MESSAGE STAYED DISPLAYED INCREASED TO MANY MINUTES, AND IT WOULD TAKE TURNING THE CAR ON/OFF AND SHIFTING IN/OUT OF PARK MULTIPLE TIMES BEFORE THE VEHICLE COULD BE TURNED OFF COMPLETELY. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS FINALLY TURNED OFF COMPLETELY, I WASN'T ABLE TO DRIVE IT FOR A FEW WEEKS FOR FEAR OF NOT BEING ABLE TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE AT WORK/STORES/ETC., OR FOR FEAR OF BEING STRANDED WHEN THE BATTERY DRAINS. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE THAT EFFECTIVELY MAKES THE VEHICLE UNUSABLE. AFTER RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM, IT WAS FOUND THAT THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE TO GM FOR MULTIPLE MODELS AND YEARS OF VEHICLES PER SERVICE BULLETIN 19-NA-206. BASED ON MY EXPERIENCE, HOWEVER, THE INITIALLY INTERMITTENT NATURE OF THIS PROBLEM QUICKLY TURNS INTO A PERMANENT, DISABLING PROBLEM. IN ADDITION, A MORE PERMANENT SOLUTION NEEDS TO BE PROVIDED THAN WHAT'S LISTED ON THE SERVICE BULLETIN: (A) SCRAPING DEPOSITS OFF THE ELECTRICAL CONTACTS WITH YOUR THUMB 50 TIMES TO SEE IF THAT WORKS, (B) INSTALLING A JUMPER TO SEE IF THAT WORKS, OR (C) REPLACING THE SHIFTER CONTROL ASSEMBLY. MY CONCERN IS THAT IF THE DESIGN OF THE NEW ASSEMBLY IS THE SAME, THE PROBLEM WILL REAPPEAR IN A FEW YEARS WITH THE REPLACEMENT ASSEMBLY; ALL ARE JUST TEMPORARY STOP GAP MEASURES. A REAL FIX THAT PREVENTS THE CORROSION/DEPOSITS IS NEEDED, AND A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED.

NHTSA ODI 11349254

Aug 4, 2020Transmission & drivetrainElectronic Stability Control (esc)Brakes

DRIVING AND MY CAR WOULDN'T STOP BECAUSE MY STABLITRAK AND ABS SYSTEM MALFUNCTION AND NOW THE DEALER IS SAYING I NEED A VACUUM PUMP AND THROTTLE CHANGE. THIS IS A KNOW ISSUES IN THE GM CARS JUST SEEN ON GOOGLE THAT A GLOBAL LETTER WAS SENT OUT AUG OF 2019 ABOUT THIS ISSUES BUT I NEVER RECEIVED IT. THESE CARS SHOULD BE RECALLED AND WE SHOULD BE GIVEN OUR MONEY BACK. I HAVE 2017 CHEVY MALIBU AND I FEEL THIS PREMEDITATED MURDER BECAUSE THEY KNOW IT'S A ISSUE AND I COULD HAVE LOST MY LIFE JULY 30 2020 AT 959PM

NHTSA ODI 11343119

Aug 1, 2020Lights

THE NUTS USED TO FASTEN 3RD BRAKE LIGHT ARE NOT LOCKING NUTS THEREFOR LOOSEN CAUSING THE 3RD BREAK LIGHT TO FILTER TO LOOSEN AND BREAK. THIS ALSO CAUSES FLOODING IN THE TRUNK OF THE VEHICLE. I HAD 2 INCHES OF WATER IN THE SPARE TIRE COMPARTMENT ALONG WITH A SOAKED TRUNK WHICH CAUSED A TERRIBLE SMELL. YOU WILL SEE IN THE PICTURES I HAVE TRIED TO REPAIR THE BROKEN PLASTIC ON THE BREAK LIGHT WITH AN EPOXY MIX. REPLACEMENT WOULD BE BETTER. I THINK BREAKAGE IS CAUSED BECAUSE THE NUTS LOOSEN.

NHTSA ODI 11342734

Jul 30, 2020Fuel systemTransmission & drivetrainEngine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND WHILE IDLING, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND SHUTOFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO WAIT FOR APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES OR MORE BEFORE THE VEHICLE WOULD RESTART. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO FIVE STAR CHEVROLET (2199 DAVID H MCLEOD BLVD, FLORENCE, SC 29501, (843) 605-0183) HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO IDENTIFY THE CAUSE FOR THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ONSTAR DIAGNOSTIC TOOL SHOWED A FAILURE WITH THE ENGINE, TRANSMISSION, AND FUEL SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SUBJECTED TO A RECALL. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

NHTSA ODI 11342310

Jul 26, 2020Electrical system

THE 2017 MALIBU GIVES A MESSAGE TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN "PARK," WHEN THE VEHICLE IS ALREADY IN PARK. THE DISPLAY SCREEN STAYS LIT UP TO PUT THE CAR IN PARK. YOU CANNOT LOCK THE CAR WHEN THIS HAPPENS. THIS WENT ON FOR 15 ABOUT MINUTES. AFTER MOVING THE GEAR SHIFTER BACK & FORTH, THE ERROR MESSAGE FINALLY GOES OFF. ITS OBVIOUSLY A SAFETY ISSUE, IF YOU CANT LOCK & SECURE THE CAR.

NHTSA ODI 11341545

Jul 15, 2020Electrical system

WHEN I GET TO A STOP LIGHT THE AUTO STOP ACTIVATES. WHEN THE CAR GOES TO TURN BACK ON IT TRIPS UP AND DIES COMPLETELY. THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS AND THE CAR WON'T TURN BACK ON. I HAVE TO WAIT FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES UNTIL THE CAR WILL TURN ON AGAIN. IT DOESN'T HAPPEN EVERY TIME. IT USUALLY HAPPENS WHEN I AM AT A RED LIGHT FOR LONGER THAN 30 SECONDS.

NHTSA ODI 11339500

Jul 15, 2020SteeringCrash

TL* CONTACT OWNS A 2017 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HER GRANDDAUGHTER WAS DRIVING AT 70 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AND FAILED TO TURN. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE GUARD RAIL AND SPUN AROUND. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THERE WAS NO REPORTED INJURIES OR POLICE REPORT FILED. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT WITH AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE CONTACT CALLED THE LOCAL DEALER AUTO CENTER CARS (727 N. ROYAL AVE. FRONT ROYAL, VA 22630 (540) 622-2667) BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ODI 11339563

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How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2017 Chevrolet Malibu Eco verdict →