Home · 2017 Chevrolet Malibu Hev · Complaints

What 720 owners told NHTSA about the 2017 Chevrolet Malibu Hev

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 (720)Crash / fire / injury (22)Engine (255)Electrical system (171)Transmission & drivetrain (143)Speed control (136)Brakes (70)Fuel system (61)Electronic Stability Control (esc) (54)Steering (46)Lights (22)Body & structure (21)

Newest first · 720 complaints · page 19 of 29

May 29, 2020Body & structure

THE TOP OF THE REAR WINDOW NEAR THE THIRD BREAK LIGHT STARTING LEAKING. I REVIEWED ONLINE CHEVROLET FORUMS WITH COMMON COMPLAINTS AND READ THE DEFECT COULD BE RELATED TO RECENT RECALLS WITH THE VEHICLE. ALSO, THE LEAK IS CAUSE DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLES INTERIOR PANELS. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11326541

May 25, 2020

MY 2017 CHEVY MALIBU HAD THE ENGINE POWER REDUCED COME ON..IT WAS THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR..I GOT IT FIXED PAID ALMOST 400$..NOT EVEN 2 WEEKS LATER IT'S DOING IT AGAIN

NHTSA ODI 11325893

May 19, 2020Engine

I AM A 70 YEAR OLD TEACHER THAT PURCHASED A 2017 CHEVY IMPALA ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO, AND LAST YEAR I BEGAN EXPERIENCING ISSUES WITH THE CAR MALFUNCTIONING AND THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATING. I TOOK THE CAR TO CHEVROLET OF TURNERSVILLE, THEY SUPPOSEDLY FIXED IT, BUT THEN THIS PROBLEM RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES WITHIN A MONTH, AND EACH TIME I TOOK IT BACK TO THEM THEY "DIAGNOSED" SOMETHING DIFFERENT. LATER, COME TO FIND OUT, THIS CAR WAS RECALLED FOR "PRE IGNITION ISSUES", SO THEY ISSUED ME A REFUND FOR THE COST OF THOSE "REPAIRS". LAST WEEK, THE SAME EXACT ISSUED RECURRED, SO I TOOK IT BACK TO CHEVY, FOR THEM TO SAY IT WAS MY BATTERY. $400 LATER, I GOT THE CAR BACK, AND WITHIN A MATTER OF DAYS, THE SAME SYMPTOMS OCCURRED SO I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THEM NOW TO SAY THAT MY PISTON HEAD IN ENGINE WAS CRACKED, SO NOW THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED WHICH WOULD BE AROUND $8000. I SPOKE WITH THE GENERAL MANAGER AND THE BEST HE COULD DO WAS TO TELL ME HE WOULD "TRY" TO WORK UP SOME NUMBERS TO GET ME INTO ANOTHER CAR. I PLAN TO RETIRE NEXT YEAR, WHICH IS WHY I PURCHASED SOMETHING REASONABLY PRICED AND PRESUMABLY "RELIABLE", SO I WILL SOON BE ON A FIXED INCOME AND CAN'T AFFORD THAT TYPE OF FIX, NOR ANOTHER CAR WITH THE BALANCE OF THIS FAULTY CAR TACKED ON TO THE BALANCE. WITH RESEARCH, I FOUND OUT THAT THE PRE IGNITION ISSUE RESULTS IN THE CRACKING OF THE PISTON HEAD, WHICH LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT THE PRE IGNITION ISSUE WAS NEVER CORRECTED PROPERLY. ESPECIALLY SINCE BASED ON 17019 SPI NHTSA, THE FIX DIFFERED FROM WHAT THIS DEALERSHIP DID AND UNDER THIS PLAN THE FIX WAS BEING SERVICED AT NO CHARGE TO THE CUSTOMER. SINCE THIS ISSUE OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES, I'VE BEEN ON HIGHWAYS, SIDE STREETS, AND STATIONARY AT TRAFFIC SIGNALS WHICH HAVE ALL POSED SAFETY RISKS. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11325191

May 17, 2020Transmission & drivetrain

WHEN THE CAR IS PUT INTO PARK YOU GET A MESSAGE IT IS STILL IN DRIVE AND WON'T SHUT DOWN TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY REPLACED SHIFTER ASSY.AT COST OF 499.37. CONTACTED CHEVY CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THERE RESPONSE IS THAT THE WARRANTY IS OVER .ONLINE ARE MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS OF THIS ISSUE!

NHTSA ODI 11324888

May 14, 2020Speed control

WHILE DRIVING IN HEAVY INTERSTATE TRAFFIC MY VEHICLE BEGAN TO IDLE ROUGHLY AND CUT OFF TWICE IN TRAFFIC. ONCE IT CRANK FULLY IT ACCELERATED AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED JUST BARELY MISSING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. WHEN I WENT TO REPAIR MY VEHICLE I WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS A WIDE KNOWN ISSUE WITH NO RECALL IN PLACE. I COULD HAVE LOST MY LIFE THAT DAY. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11324553

May 10, 2020Engine

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 60MPH, A WARNING LIGHT CAME ON'REDUCED ENGINE SPEED' AND THE CAR SLOWED WAY DOWN TO 30MPH IN SECONDS, I WAS ALMOST HIT BY THE CAR BEHIND ME. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11324036

May 8, 2020

VEHICLE STUCK IN REVERSE SHIFT LOCK HAD AN INTERNAL FAILURE AND WAS REPLACED BY THE CHEVY DEALERSHIP. REPLACED SHIFTER DUE TO STUCK LOCK. PULLED UP TO CAR WASH PUT CAR IN REVERSE SHIFTER LOCKED AND WAS UNABLE TO MOVE OUT OF REVERSE. TOLL TRUCK CAME AND DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MANUALLY MOVE CABLE UNDER THE HOOD SO I COULD PUT CAR IN NEUTRAL. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11323900

May 6, 2020Electrical system

INTERMITTENTLY WHEN THE CAR HAS BEEN SHIFTED INTO PARK AND TURNED OFF A MESSAGE ON THE DRIVER CONTROL SCREEN STATES TO SHIFT TO PARK AND WILL LEAVE THE CAR BATTERY ON AND WILL BEEP THE DOORS ARE OPEN. HAPPENS 70 PERCENT OF THE TIME. TYPICALLY TO GET THE MESSAGE TO GO AWAY I HAVE TO TURN THE CAR ON AND SHIFT OUT OF PARK, SHIFT BACK INTO PARK AND TURN OFF AGAIN SOMETIMES I HAVE TO DO THIS SEVERAL TIMES. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11323553

May 4, 2020Speed controlEngine

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY TODAY GOING AROUND 70 MPH AND MY CAR DISPLAYED "REDUCED ENGINE POWER" AND IMMEDIATELY LOST POWER AND DECELERATED. IT IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THAT IT HAS DONE THIS BUT IT WAS THE FIRST TIME DRIVING AT THAT HIGH RATE OF SPEED. THE OTHER TIMES IT HAS HAPPENED ON CITY STREETS WHEN I WAS GOING MORE THAN MAYBE 40 MPH. EACH TIME IF I TURN THE CAR OFF AND THEN WAIT A FEW SECONDS AND START IT AGAIN, THE REDUCED ENGINE POWER DISPLAY IS GONE AND I DONT HAVE ANYMORE IMMEDIATE ISSUES WITH IT, SOMETIMES FOR DAYS OR WEEKS AT A TIME. I HAVE NOTICED ONLINE THAT SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVE EXPERIENCED SOMETHING SIMILAR WITH THEIR 2017 CHEVROLET MALIBU.

NHTSA ODI 11323224

Apr 17, 2020Seats

THE HORIZONTAL SEAT ADJUSTMENT MOTOR HAS A SHAFT THAT BROKE. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AT THE TIME.

NHTSA ODI 11321436

Apr 15, 2020Electrical systemEngine

WHEN I PUSH THE BUTTON TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE WHILE HAVING MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE IT DISPLAYS A MESSAGE SAYING 'SHIFT TO PARK'. IT WILL NOT LET YOU TURN OFF THE CAR. I HAVE TO PUSH THE BUTTON TO 'RESTART THE ENGINE' THEN SLAM IT INTO PARK. IT TYPICALLY TAKES 3 REPEATS OF THIS BEFORE THE CAR FINALLY ALLOWS ME TO SHUT IT OFF. IT'S FRUSTRATING, TIME CONSUMING AND NOISY AS IF YOU DO NOT SEE THE MESSAGE AND GO TO OPEN THE DOOR, IT BEEPS NOISILY NOTIFYING YOU THAT THE CAR IS NOT OFF. APPARENTLY QUITE A FEW DRIVERS HAVE THIS ISSUE, AS I HAVE READ THE COMPLAINTS LISTED. MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP QUOTED ME AT REPAIR COSTS OF OVER $700 TO FIX THIS. THIS SEEMS UNFAIR SINCE CLEARLY IT IS A MANUFACTURER ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11321243

Apr 10, 2020

WHEN I PUT MY CAR IN PARK AND TURN THE ENGINE OFF I AM GETTING A MESSAGE THAT SAYS SHIFT TO PARK. THIS APPEARS TO BE A KNOWN ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI 11320746

Apr 2, 2020Electronic Stability Control (esc)

SEVERAL TIMES IN THE PAST MONTH OR SO MY CAR HAS DISPLAYED A WARNING THAT SAYS ENGINE POWER REDUCED, AND EVEN IF YOU'RE GOING HIGHWAY SPEED, WILL REDUCE YOUR SPEED DOWN TO AROUND 20 MPH. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED, IT WAS AROUND 6PM IN BUSY TRAFFIC ON THE HIGHWAY, ALMOST CAUSING ME TO WRECK. IT STOPPED HAPPENING FOR A WHILE, BUT NOW IT HAS DONE IT OVER 20 TIMES IN THE PAST 48 HOURS. IT ONLY HAPPENS WHEN YOUR VEHICLE IS IN MOTION.

NHTSA ODI 11320005

Apr 1, 2020Electronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

LATELY WHEN I STOP AT A LIGHT OR INTERSECTION MY VEHICLE AUTO STOPS BUT WHEN I TRY TO GO THE VEHICLE SHUTS OFF AND WILL NOT START. I HAVE TO PUT ON MY FLASHERS WHILE IN TRAFFIC AND SHUT THE VEHICLE ON AND OFF UNTIL IT RESTARTS. ONE OF THE WARNINGS READ STABIL AND ANOTHER READS POWER SHUT OFF AS WELL AS BATTERY SAVER ACTIVE. I HAVE TAKEN IT IN BUT HAVE BEEN TOLD THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT IS WRONG SO THEY RESET THE SYSTEM HOWEVER, THIS DANGEROUS ISSUE REMAINS. THIS STARTED THE BEGINNING OF MARCH AND HAS CONTINUED.

NHTSA ODI 11319950

Mar 28, 2020Steering

1ST SCENARIO/INCIDENT:WHEN AT A FULL STOP THE CAR IS IN "AUTO STOP". AFTER WHEN I RELEASE THE BREAK AND ACCELERATE THE CAR TURNS BACK ON AND THE STEERING WHEEL WILL JERK TO THE LEFT, WITHOUT ME MOVING THE STEERING WHEEL. THE DASH WILL DISPLAY MESSAGE "STEERING ASSIST IS REDUCED, DRIVE WITH CARE". 2ND SCENARIO/INCIDENT:WHEN AT A FULL STOP AT AN UPWARD STEEP ROAD AFTER I RELEASE THE BREAK AND ACCELERATE THE MESSAGE "STEERING ASSIST IS REDUCED, DRIVE WITH CARE" WILL APPEAR ON THE DASH AND THE CAR WILL NOT MOVE FORWARD IT WILL ROLL BACKWARD UNTIL THE BREAK IS PRESSED IT WILL STOP ROLLING BACK. AFTER THAT WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS PRESSED AGAIN IT WILL FINALLY MOVE FORWARD.

NHTSA ODI 11319557

Mar 25, 2020Seat belts

SEAT BELT WOULD NOT RELEASE WHILE BUCKLING, STUCK IN THE UNBUCKLED POSITION. WILL NOT RELEASE. STATIONARY.

NHTSA ODI 11319266

Mar 24, 2020Electrical system

EVERYT I PUT MY CAR IN PARK I GET AN ERROR STATING SHIFT TO PARK AND THE CAR WILL NOT TURN OFF. THE CAR IS IN PARK WHEN I'M TRYING TO TURN THE CAR OFF. TOOK MY CAR TO CHEVY AND THERE IS SOME FAULTY PAPER WORK . I SIGNED OFF ON ONE CONTRACT THEN I WAS CALLED IN AND WAS TOLD SOME OF MY SIGNATURE DIDNT DO THROUGH AND NOW ITS SHOWING I CANCELED THE EXTENDED WARRANTY WHICH I NEVER DID. I STILL HAVE THE ORIGINAL PAPERWORK. THEY REVISED MY ORIGINAL CONTRACT WITH GOING OVER THE NEW CONTRACT. NOW IM STUCK WITH AN EXPENSIVE BILL FOR REPAIR BECAUSE I ASSUMED I WAS SIGNING THE SAME CONTRACT. THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE ADDED TO THE RECALL LIST FOR REPAIR. ITHIS IS NOT A USER ISSUE THIS IS A GM ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI 11319101

Mar 21, 2020SteeringElectronic Stability Control (esc)

VEHICLE STABILITY TRACK DISABLED AND STEERING GET STIFF AND HARD TO CONTROL. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE AND 1000'S OF PEOPLE HAVE REPORTED IT. DEALER WANT TO CHAR $2,700 TO FIX FOR AN ISSUE THAT WAS REPORTED AS A DANGEROUS AND KNOWN TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE WARNING COME ON INTERMENT AND MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTROL SPECIALLY AT HIGH SPEED. ALL OTHER SAFETY FEATURES SUCH AS ACCIDENT WARNING OR LANE DEPARTURE GETS DISABLED

NHTSA ODI 11318870

Mar 20, 2020Speed controlElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

WHILE DRIVING 60MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, MY CAR BEGAN BEEPING AND DISPLAYED 'REDUCED ENGINE POWER' ON THE SCREEN. THE TRACTION LIGHT AND ENGINE LIGHT ALSO CAME ON. THE CARS SPEED WAS IMMEDIATELY REDUCED ALMOST CAUSING A SERIOUS ACCIDENT AS I WAS IN THE LEFT LANE ON THE HIGHWAY WITH A SEMI BEHIND AND BESIDE ME. I WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER TO THE SHOULDER. I HAD TO RESTART THE CAR TWICE IN ORDER TO BE ABLE DRIVE IT HOME. THIS WAS AN ABSOLUTELY TERRIFYING SITUATION. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS STILL ON. UPON GOOGLING THIS ISSUE, MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM AND THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL! IF MY REACTION TIME WASN'T A FAST AS IT WAS TODAY, I WOULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY HURT, OR WORSE. GM NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS.

NHTSA ODI 11318797

Mar 10, 2020SteeringElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

WELL I'M DRIVING IN THE FREEWAY AND THE CAR STAR LOSSING POWER I ALMOST CRASH THEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TURN ON AND IT'S SAY SOMETHING ABOUT THE STABILITY SOMENTIHIN LIKE THAT AND THAT I HAVE TO BE BECARFULL DRIVING

NHTSA ODI 11317262

Mar 5, 2020Electrical systemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

IN AUGUST OF 2019 MY CAR WOULDN'T SHIFT OUT OF PARK. I HAD TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED TO A LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP AT NIGHT WHERE IT WAS THERE FOR A WEEK THIS VISIT WAS FOR THE GEAR SHIFT TO BE REPLACED. OCTOBER 2019 MY CAR START STOP FEATURE MADE MY CAR SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF RUSH HOUR MORNING TRAFFIC THIS TRIP WAS SAID TO BE THE CHARGING SYSTEM AND THE BATTERY. IN JANUARY 2020 I STARTED TO HAVE THE SAME ISSUE WITH THE CAR JUST STOPPING THIS TIME IT WAS THE ELECTRICAL MODULE I ALSO HAD THE OIL CHANGED AND A ALL WHEEL ALIGNMENT AND I PICKED UP MY CAR AND 10 DAYS LATER MY ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON SO BACK TO THE CHEVY DEALERSHIP 2 DAYS THEY SAY WE FIXED IT. 48 HOURS LATER THE ENGINE LIGHT IS BACK ON. I WAS TOLD THAT WE JUST CLEARED THE ENGINE LIGHT IN HOPE'S THAT WOULD JUST FIX THE PROBLEM SO NOW 2 AND HALF WEEKS LATER THEY STILL HAVE MY CAR. THEY HAVE NO CLUE OF WHAT'S HAPPENING.

NHTSA ODI 11316211

Mar 5, 2020SteeringSpeed controlEngine

I WAS ON A HIGHWAY IN WARREN OH DRIVING TO WORK TRAVELING AT 65 MPH IN THE LEFT LANE. A MESSAGE APPEARED AND SAID LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AND THE AT WENT FROM 65 TO 20 IN 1 SECOND. THERE WERE VEHICLES BEHIND ME AND BESIDE ME. I WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED AND WHEN I TRIED TO GET OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD I WAS ALMOST SMASHED BY A SEMI. AS WELL AS THAT MESSAGE IT THEN STATED STEERING ASSIST INACTIVE SO IT WAS THEN HARD TO TURN MY WHEEL AS IF THERE WASN'T ENOUGH OF A PROBLEM. THANK GOD I AM OK BUT SOMEONE ELSE MAY NOT BE SO LUCKY. THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS THAT I SEE ON THE INTERNET ABOUT THIS ISSUE. HOW IS THERE NOT A RECALL. GM SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THESE REPAIRS. I JUST PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IN NOV 2019.

NHTSA ODI 11316294

Mar 4, 2020Engine

ON TUESDAY, MARCH 3, 2020, I WAS TRAVELING ON THEY HIGHWAY WHEN SUDDENLY MY CAR REDUCED SPEED. AND THE ENGINE POWER REDUCE LIGHT CAME ON. THIS WAS AT APPROXIMATELY 5:30 PM DURING RUSH HOUR ON THE HIGHWAY. THERE WAS NO ALERT PRIOR TO THIS HAPPENING AND A VEHICLE BEHIND ME HAD TO QUICKLY GO AROUND ME. I COULD NOT GO OVER 20 MPH. ONCE I GOT BACK ON THE HIGHWAY AND THEN I HAD TO PAY TO HAVE MY VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP.

NHTSA ODI 11316115

Feb 27, 2020Speed controlElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

REDUCED ENGINE POWER FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED I WAS MAKING A U TURN AT SLOW SPEEDS WHEN MY DASH DISPLAYED ' REDUCED ENGINE POWER' CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AS WELL AS TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT . I PULLED OVER TURNED MY CAR OFF AND BACK ON A FEW MINS LATER LATER LIGHTS WENT AWAY AND CAR DROVE FINE . ( NOVEMBER 2019 ) SECOND TIME WAS MID FEBRUARY 2020 I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 40 MPH WHEN SAME THING HAPPENED . DASH LIGHTS CAME ON REDUCED ENGINE POWER CAME BACK ON AND CAR SLOWED DOWN TO LESS THE 20 MPH WITHIN SECONDS . ONCE AGAIN I HAD TO PULL OVER TURNED MY CAR ON/OFF ABOUT 3 TIMES IN 20 MINS FOR LIGHT TO GO AWAY AND CAR DRIVE NORMAL AGAIN . THIRD TIME TODAY 2/27/20 AT MAYBE 10 MPH MY DASH LIT UP ONCE AGAIN CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DID NOT GO AWAY THIS TIME . BUT CAR DROVE FINE AFTERWORDS LUCKILY IT HASN'T HAPPENED ON HIGHWAY SPEEDS OR WITH MY DAUGHTER IN THE CAR . ALL THIS IN THE LAST 3 MONTHS I BOUGHT MY CAR WITH 20 MILES JUNE 1ST 2017 AND CURRENTLY HAS 38K MILES . THIS DEFINITELY HAS TO BE FIXED BEFORE IT CAUSES SERIOUS ACCIDENTS !

NHTSA ODI 11311775

Feb 25, 2020Electrical system

THE CAR KEEPS SAYING SHIFT TO PARK, HAD TO PUT IN REVERSE SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE IT DOESN'T SAY THIS. TOOK IT TO DEALER JEFF SMITT. THEY DID DIAGNOSTIC AND SAID IT WAS SHIFT HARNESS. COST 237.94 TWO DAYS LATER CAR CONTINUES TO SAY SHIFT TO PARK. TOOK BACK TO DEALER, THEY NOW SAY WHOLE HARNESS NEEDS REPLACED. $312. I HAVE NOT PAID IT. DOING RESEARCH LOOKED ON INTERNET AND SEE SEVERAL OTHERS ARE HAVING THE EXACT ISSUE WITH THE MALIBU. IT SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS. I WORKED FOR GENERAL MOTORS FOR 14 YEARS. THIS IS A PROBLEM GM SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR, NOT THE PEOPLE WHO GIVE THEM BUSINESS. IT NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ASAP

NHTSA ODI 11311388

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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 Hev verdict →