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 20 of 28

Dec 31, 2019Speed control

WHILE DRIVING GOING AT LEAST 70 MPH I GET A ENGINE POWER REDUCED MESSAGE AND IT START HAPPENING EVERY 10 MINUTES NOW AS SOON AS YOU TURN THE CAR ON IT SAYS ENGINE POWER REDUCED AND WON'T GO OVER 30 MPH. HAD IT HOOKED UP TO A MACHINE AND WAS TOLD IT WAS MY ACCELERATOR WHICH APPARENTLY IS A ISSUE IN THE 2017 MALIBU'S

NHTSA ODI 11292218

Dec 31, 2019Transmission & drivetrainFuel system

MY 2017 CHEVY MALIBU HAS PERIODICALLY SHOWED A REDUCED POWER MODE ALERT IN THE DASH WHILE DRIVING AND THEN THE CAR DROPS DOWN TO UNDER 40 MPH AND WHEN I PUSH THE GAS IT WON'T ACCELERATE. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON EVERY TIME BUT WITHIN DAYS IT GOES OFF AND DRIVES FINE UNTIL IT HAPPENS AGAIN WITH NO WARNING. MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING 70 ON THE INTERSTATE WHEN IT FIRST HAPPENED AND ALMOST WRECKED BECAUSE OF IT! I HAVE CALLED THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY TELL ME THEY DON'T KNOW WHY IT'S DOING IT AND TO JUST BRING IT IN. I HAD THE ENGINE CODES PULLED AND WAS TOLD IT WAS A SENSOR AND ACCELERATION PEDAL. I'VE READ SEVERAL POSTS ABOUT WHAT'S WRONG WITH IT AND EVERYONE SAYS EVEN AFTER HAVING IT FIXED IT GOES OUT AGAIN WITHIN TIME. IT'S REALLY DANGEROUS WHEN YOURS DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS WITH TRAFFIC THEN THE CAR RANDOMLY TRY'S TO SHUT DOWN AND CHEVY IS NOT CONCERNED AT ALL ABOUT FINDING A PERMANENT FIX!

NHTSA ODI 11292254

Dec 28, 2019

THE THIRD BRAKE LIGHT LEAKS WATER AND HAS BEEN LEAKING WATER EVIDENT BY WATER MARKS ON THE VEHICLES HEAD LINER

NHTSA ODI 11291780

Dec 27, 2019Speed controlEngine

THE CAR RANDOMLY WILL REDUCE ENGINE POWER, LOWERING SPEEDS TO 20MPH OR LESS. THIS HAPPENS UNEXPECTEDLY. THIS HAS OCCURED OVER 20 TIMES OVER THE PAST 7 DAYS, INCLUDING ON THE HIGHWAY. I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 70MPH AND THE IMMEDIATELY DROPPED TO 20MPH, CAUSING ME TO SWERVE TO THE SHOULDER AND ALMOST WAS HIT BY THREE ON COMING VEHICLES AT HIGH RATES OF SPEED.

NHTSA ODI 11291498

Dec 27, 2019Electrical systemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

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 DESIGN OF ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. BEFORE AND DURING THE BATTERY ISSUE, I GOT STABILITRAK LIGHT ON AND STEERING ASSIST IN REDUCED ALARM AS WELL. I JUST WANT TO VENT MY FRUSTATION WITH THIS BRAND NEW CAR. HOPE OTHER CAR OWNERS WILL BENEFIT FROM THIS INFO. FOR 10 YEARS I NEVER HAD BATTRY ISSUE ON MY PREVIOUS CAR. THANKS

NHTSA ODI 11291559

Dec 21, 2019SteeringElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND I CAME TO A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND MY VEHICLE SHUT DOWN AND WOULD NOT START BACK. IT WAS FRIGHTENING BECAUSE SOMEONE COULD HAVE HIT ME FROM BEHIND. AFTER THE OFFICER JUMP MY CAR OFF IT CRANK BACK UP BUT I TOOK IT TO THE SHOP AND PLACE ON THE MACHINE AND THE BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR IS FINE. THE CAR SINCE THEN HAVE SHUT DOWN 4 MORE TIMES AND AFTER SITTING FOR A WHILE IT STARTED BACK UP. ONCE AGAIN THIS HAPPENED IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. PLEASE CHECK IF OTHERS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. ALSO A FEW TIMES THE DOORS CAME UNLOCK AT A STOP LIGHT OR STOPPING OF THE VEHICLE. PLEASE HELP. 2017 MALIBU EZ

NHTSA ODI 11290650

Dec 20, 2019Transmission & drivetrainElectrical system

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS. IN ADDITION, THE PARK ASSIST AND CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO STIVERS CHEVROLET (111 NEWLAND RD, COLUMBIA, SC 29229, (803) 254-1431) WHERE THEY WERE INITIALLY UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE DEFECT. AFTER MULTIPLE FAILURES, THE CONTACT BROUGHT THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE WITH A FAULTY SENSOR. THE PART WAS REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000.

NHTSA ODI 11290341

Dec 19, 2019Seat beltsBrakesFuel system

EMGINE REDUCED SPEED HAS BEEN COMIN ON FOR A WHILE ON MOST CHEVY MODELS. THE CAR IMMEDIATELY SLOWS ON THE FREEWAY DURING TRAFFIC AND ANYWHERE. THE SEATBELTS DO NOT ALWAYS ATTACH.

NHTSA ODI 11290146

Dec 19, 2019Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

THE ELECTRICAL BLINKS OUT . ENGINE REDUCED SPEED IS A PROBLEM AND IS VERY DAMGEROUS I WAS ALMOST HIT ON THE FREEWAY. THIS CAR IS A DUD AND MOST MODELS LIKE IT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI 11290148

Dec 19, 2019Electrical systemSpeed controlElectronic Stability Control (esc)

MY CAR WILL RANDOMLY GO INTO ENGINE REDUCED POWER MODE CAUSING MY CAR TO DROP FROM WHATEVER SPEED I'M AT TO 30-40MPH, ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. IT'S HAPPENED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS.

NHTSA ODI 11290200

Dec 16, 2019EngineFuel system

ON NOVEMBER 27 ,MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE MALIBU AT 55 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN SHE EXPERIENCED LOSS OF ENGINE POWER,DOWN TO 20 MPH. . TRAFFIC BACKED UP AND CAME TO SCREECHING SLOW DOWN. SHE FERRIED FOR HER SAFETY AND PULLED OVER IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. SHE SHUT ENGINE OFF AND RESTARTED VEHICLE TO CONTINUE DRIVE HOME AT NO MORE THAN 30 MPH. CONTACTED DEALER AND THEY COULD NOT GET TO IT TILL FOLLOWING WEEK. SHE DID NOT DRIVE IT ANYMORE. DIAGNOSIS AT DEALER WAS BAD ACCELERATOR SWITCH. THEY DID NOT HAVE ANY AND SAID IT MAYBE MONTHS BECAUSE OF THIS BIG PROBLEM. MY CAR WAS DOWN 15 DAYS FOR THIS PROBLEM BEFOR IT WAS FIXED.

NHTSA ODI 11289343

Dec 16, 2019Electrical systemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Brakes

DURING THE COLD THE CAR WILL NOT TURN ON, WILL SHOW A STABILITRAK PROBLEM AND THE TRANSMISSION LIGHT TURNS ON. WHEN IT IS ON AND YOU DRIVE IT, IT WILL AUTOMATICALLY TURN OFF AND STAY OFF AT A RED LIGHT OR WHENEVER YOU PRESS THE BRAKE. I HAVE TWO OTHER FRIENDS WHO OWN THE SAME CAR AND IT DOES THE SAME , WHICH MAKES ME ASSUME A MANUFACTURER PROBLEM OF CARS NOT TURNING ON IN THE COLD/ SENSOR ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI 11289530

Dec 14, 2019Speed controlEngine

ENGINE POWER REDUCED WARNING CAME ON WITH ENGINE LIGHT AND TRACTION LIGHT CAR SPEED DROPPED

NHTSA ODI 11289032

Dec 5, 2019Speed control

MY VEHICLE HAS 6X,XXX MILES ON IT. I FIRST ENCOUNTERED A "REDUCED ENGINE POWER" MESSAGE ON NOVEMBER 27, 2019 AFTER DRIVING 15 MILES, TURNING THE CAR OFF FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES, AND STARTING THE CAR AGAIN. I CALLED ON-STAR TO RECEIVE A DIAGNOSTIC REPORT, WHICH RETURNED A P2138 CODE. I LIMPED THE CAR HOME ON A RURAL ROUTE WITH REDUCED POWER. ONCE HOME, THE CAR WAS TURNED OFF FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES. WHEN I TURNED THE CAR ON, THERE WAS A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BUT IT RAN FINE. THE LIGHT EVENTUALLY TURNED OFF. THE CAR RAN FINE UNTIL THE EVENING OF MONDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2019. THIS TIME THE REDUCED ENGINE POWER CONDITION OCCURRED AS I WAS IN TRAFFIC COMMUTING HOME FROM WORK, MOVING AT A LOW SPEED. LUCKILY THE ROAD WASN'T BUSY AND I WAS ABLE TO PULL INTO A GAS STATION. I POWERED THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON, AND IT RAN FINE ALL THE WAY HOME. BASED ON SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET, I BELIEVE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL POSITION SENSOR IS FAILING. THIS APPEARS TO BE A WIDESPREAD ISSUE WITH THESE VEHICLES. I WILL BE REPLACING THE PART ON MY OWN. THE REPLACEMENT PART WAS VERY HARD TO FIND, SUPPORTING MY SUSPICION THAT THIS IS A WIDESPREAD AND LIKELY AN ISSUE THAT GM IS AWARE OF.

NHTSA ODI 11287234

Dec 3, 2019Transmission & drivetrainElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

WHILE DRIVING MY 2017 CHEVROLET MALIBU ON THE HIGHWAY WITH MY SON IN THE CAR, THE DRIVER SCREEN DASH FLASHED A MESSAGE 'ENGINE POWER REDUCED', THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TURNED ON, AND THE CAR IMMEDIATELY LOST POWER MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO DRIVE SAFELY. AFTER THIS HAPPENED, MY CAR WOULD NOT EXCEED 45 MPH AND WOULD NOT SHIFT. AFTER PULLING MY CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE BUSY HIGHWAY AND LETTING IT SET, I WAS ABLE TO GET MY CAR TOWED TO MY HOME. THIS HAS SINCE HAPPENED FIVE ADDITIONAL TIMES AND IS HAPPENING AT A MORE RAPID RATE. I TOOK MY CAR THE OREILLEYS AND AUTOZONE TO HAVE THEM RUN A GENERAL DIAGNOSTIC CHECK AND THE ERROR CODE BEING RETURNED WAS 'P2138' - 'THROTTLE/PEDAL POSITION SENSOR/SWITCH D / E VOLTAGE CORRELATION'. I THEN SET UP AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP, WHERE TECHNICIANS ALSO RAN A MORE THOROUGH DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND FOUND MY CAR NEEDED A NEW ACCELERATOR PEDAL POSITION SENSOR. THIS PART IS NOT FUNCTIONING AS IT IS SUPPOSED TO AND AT THE VERY LEAST IS AN EXTREME SAFETY HAZARD.

NHTSA ODI 11286721

Nov 27, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS AND THE ENGINE POWER REDUCED WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED SIMULTANEOUSLY. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO INFORMED HER THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE CAMSHAFT VACUUM PUMP. THE CONTACT CALLED VAN CHEVROLET (100 NW VIVION RD, KANSAS CITY, MO 64118, (816) 527-8564), BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 65,000.

NHTSA ODI 11282718

Nov 26, 2019Transmission & drivetrainSpeed controlEngine

CAR WILL INDICATE 'ENGINE POWER REDUCED' AND WILL ABRUPTLY REDUCE SPEED. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN NOT ONLY TO MYSELF BUT OTHER DRIVERS ON THE ROAD AS WELL. WHY IS THERE NO RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM? I SEE IT IS A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THESE MODELS OF CHEVY MALIBU. HAPPENS EVERYDAY, MOST OF THE TIME MORE THAN ONCE. MY COMMUTE TO WORK IS ABOUT 25MIN AND IT DID IT 3 TIMES TODAY.

NHTSA ODI 11282402

Nov 26, 2019Speed controlEngine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE AND ENGINE REDUCED INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO STEVE RAYMAN CHEVROLET (678-269-7886, LOCATED AT 2155 COBB PKWY SE, SMYRNA, GA 30080) WHERE THE TECHNICIAN PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND REPLACED THE THROTTLE CONTROL CABLES; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 20,000.

NHTSA ODI 11282543

Nov 21, 2019Electrical systemBrakesVisibility & wipers

THE VEHICLES BRAKES KEEPS POPPING WHERE IT MAKES IT VERY HARD TO STOP. ALSO THE CAR IS DYING WHEN THE CAR DOES COME TO A STOP SO THAT YOU HAVE TO PUT IT IN PARK AND START IT AGAIN. THE BACK GLASS IS LEAKING. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON AND SHOWS IT BEING THE TURBO BUT HAVE HAD IT IN THE DEALERSHIP AND THE CONTINUED TO SAY IT IS THIS SENSOR OR THAT SENSOR OR A SENSOR IS DIRTY BUT NEVER FIXED THE PROBLEM. THE ANTENNA WAS REPLACED TO FIX THE BACK GLASS FROM LEAKING. NOW THAT THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY IT COMES THAT THE PROBLEM IS THE MOST EXPENSIVE ISSUES THAT NEVER WAS SEEN BEFORE ON THE CAR. I HAVE BOUGHT SEVERAL OF NEW VEHICLES AND THE IS BY FAR THE WORST CAR. I HAVE BOUGHT MY FAMILY A DEATH TRAP WAITING TO HAPPEN.

NHTSA ODI 11281657

Nov 14, 2019Electrical system

ON NOV 12,2019 I WAS DRIVING IN GLEN BURNIE MARYLAND IN A STREET , COMING TO A STOP LIGHT I STOP AND THE CAR TURNED OFF, I TURN IT ON AGAIN AND GOT ON THE HWY I-97 NORTH CAME OFF RAMP. WHERE I STOP ON RED LIGHT THE CAR TURNED OFF AGAIN. BUT THIS TIME. I LOST ALL POWER IT WOULD NOT TURN ON NOR ANY LIGHTS , COMPLETELY DEAD. NOT EVEN EMERGENCY BLINKERS, AT THIS TIME I CALLED A TOW TRUCK , POLICE ASISTES ME , AFTER GIVING THE CAR A BOOST CABLE. IT TURNED ON , BATTERY IS NEW AS OF 3 MONTHS AGO , TOOK CAR TO GARAGE. THEY CAN NOT FIND NO PROBLEMS WITH ANYTHING ,

NHTSA ODI 11280192

Nov 14, 2019

2017 CHEVY MALIBU REPETIVELY GETS REDUCED POWER LIGHT. I DRIVE HIGHWAY AT 65-80MPH AND THE CAR GETS THAT REDUCED POWER LIGHT AND CAR SLOWS TO 20 MPH AND WON'T ACCELERATE PAST 20MPH. IT HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 8 TIMES. IT'S VERY DANGEROUS AND COULD CAUSE FATAL CAR ACCIDENT. I FINALLY HAVE APPOINTMENT TOMORROW TO GET FIXED. IT'S DEFECT WITH THROTTLE BODY AND PEDAL POSITION SENSOR.

NHTSA ODI 11280217

Nov 13, 2019SteeringElectrical systemEngine

WHILE DRIVING MY CAR SAYS "STEERING ASSIST REDUCED. DRIVE WITH CARE". IT HAS STARTED OUT OF NO WHERE

NHTSA ODI 11279895

Nov 12, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

AFTER DRIVING, VEHICLE PARKED AND GEAR SHIFT TO PARK. VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF BUT WARNING LIGHT ON DASH SAYS 'SHIFT TO PARK'. VEHICLE STAYS 'ON' (RADIO ETC) ENGINE IS OFF. WHEN YOU EXIT CAR TO LOCK YOU GET A DOUBLE BEEP INDICATING CAR IS STILL ON. USE TO HAPPEN EVERY ONCE IN AWHILE (1/WEEK) NOW IT HAPPENS EVERY TIME I DRIVE IT. (4X DAY)

NHTSA ODI 11279551

Nov 11, 2019Crash

GEAR SHIFT NOT STAYING IN PLACE. MONITOR COMES ON DASHBOARD WHEN YOU PUT THE CAR IN PARK, AND SAYS 'SHIFT TO PARK'. CAR WAS PLACED IN PARK, BUT STILL ROLLED DOWN THE HILL OF A DRIVEWAY, AND GOT DAMAGED.

NHTSA ODI 11279349

Nov 10, 2019Electrical systemEngineFuel system

ENGINE LIGHT ON CONTINUALLY AND NEVER WENT OFF; I DROVE TO DEALER WHO SAID THE GAS CAP AREA OF FUEL LINE WAS LEAKING; NEEDS TO BE REPLACED THEY SAID AND TRIED TO ORDER IT FROM GM BUT THEY DO NOT HAVE THE PART; THEY ORDERED THE PART AND CANNOT TELL ME WHEN IT IS COMING. THEY COULD NOT ADVISE ME ON THE SAFETY OF THIS CONDITION. I KNOW SOMEONE WHO HAD A SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH THEIR MODEL CAR. CAN I DRIVE THIS OR SHOULD THE DEALER GIVE ME A LOANER? I AM STILL UNDER THE 3 YEAR BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY. WE HAVE ALWAYS HAD PROBLEMS FILLING THE CAR AND IT IS NEVER COMPLETELY FULL. WE HAVE BROUGHT IT TO DEALER SEVERAL TIMES ABOUT THIS WITH NO ADVISE. THEY DID RECALIBRATE ONE TIME. THEY SAID IT WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE DASH BOARD REPORTING LESS GAS THAN IS IN THE TANK. PLEASE LET ME KNOW ABOUT THIS AS WE CONTINUE TO DRIVE THE CAR.

NHTSA ODI 11279239

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Working with the data? Download all 687 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 24, 2026

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 →