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 22 of 29

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

Nov 4, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

GOING INTO PARK THE CAR SAYS YOU NEED TO SHIFT TO PARK. CAR WILL NOT SHUT OFF.

NHTSA ODI 11277960

Nov 1, 2019Electronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

THE VEHICLE DISPLAYS/FLASHES QUICKLY, STABILI TRACK SYSTEM ERROR (MAYBE NOT THE EXACT WORDS) AND AFTER A WHILE THE ENGINE SPEED DECREASES. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME 3 TIMES AND TWO HAPPENED TO BE WHEN I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY GOING 70MPH AND THE VEHICLE SPEED SUDDENLY DECREASES TO 30MPH DUE WITH ANY WARNING.

NHTSA ODI 11277447

Oct 31, 2019LightsVisibility & wipers

THE BACK REAR WINDOW LEAKS AROUND THE TOP/THIRD BRAKE LIGHT. THE DRIVERS SIDE LOWER FOG LIGHT/DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT DOESN'T WORK RANDOMLY AND THERE IS CONDENSATION IN THE INSIDE OF THE LENS.

NHTSA ODI 11277235

Oct 28, 2019Electrical system

WHEN I PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND TURN THE CAR OFF A MESSAGE POPS UP SAYING SHIFT TO PARK....I TURN IT BACK ON PUT IN DRIVE AND PUSH THE GEAR HARD IN PARK AND IT WORK ...I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO DO THAT EVERY TIME. IT JUST RECENTLY STARTED.2017 CHEVY MALIBU LS

NHTSA ODI 11271436

Oct 28, 2019Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemEngine

FOR THREE WEEKS I HAVE BEEN GETTING A "SHIFT TO PARK" ERROR WHEN I PLACE CAR IN PARK. IT PREVENTS ME FROM FULLY TURNING CAR OFF AND WILL NOT ALLOW DOORS TO LOCK. I HAVE TO PLAY WITH THE SHIFTER TO GET THE WARNING TO COME OFF. LAST WEEK IT WAS IN THE SHOP AT BASIL CHEVROLET IN DEPEW, NY AND THEY REPLACED THE SHIFT RELAY AND IT IS STILL DOING IT. TODAY WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY MY CAR SUDDENLY SHOWED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT, SLOWED DOWN TO APPROXIMATELY 10-15 MILES PER HOUR AND SHOWED "REDUCED ENGINE POWER" WARNING ON THE DASHBOARD. I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. I WAS ABLE TO GET INTO A PARKING LOT BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT SHUT OFF AND THE "SHIFT TO PARK" WARNING SHOWED. FINALLY GOT THAT ERROR TO GO OFF AND SHUT OFF CAR. CAR WAS ABLE TO RESTART WITH ONLY THE ENGINE LIGHT ON. STAYED ON FOR THE NEXT 35 MILES. JUST WENT BACK OUT AT LUNCH TIME AND NOW NO LIGHTS AND IT WAS DRIVING FINE UNTIL I TRIED SHUTTING OFF AND THE "SHIFT TO PARK" WOULDN'T GO OFF NO MATTER HOW MUCH I TRIED TO WIGGLE THE HANDLE. CAR GOING BACK TO DEALER AT 5PM.

NHTSA ODI 11271593

Oct 15, 2019Engine

ON JULY 22, 2019 WHILE OUT OF TOWN, MY CAR WENT INTO REDUCED ENGINE POWER MODE, EVERYTHING LOCKED UP AND THE CAR CUT OFF. THE CAR WOULD NOT START BACK UP. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE CLOSEST SHOP WHERE IT WOULD SIT FOR ABOUT A MONTH AND A HALF. I WAS TOLD THAT INITIALLY IT WAS A SENSOR, THEN COME TO FIND OUT THE CAMSHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IT TOOK A FEW WEEKS TO GET THE PARTS AS THEY SAID THEY WERE ON BACK ORDER. FINALLY I GET THE MONEY TO PICK THE CAR UP. UPON GETTING INTO THE CAR ON OCTOBER 12, WHILE STILL AT THE DEALERSHIP THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. NOW I AM TOLD THAT THE SENSORS AND PISTONS NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE CAR HAS 89,000 MILES ON IT AND OVER ALL THE TOTAL REPAIRS WILL BE OVER SEVEN THOUSAND DOLLARS. I HAVE SENT SOME DOCUMENTATION TO THE DEALERSHIP WITH REGARDS TO CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM NUMBER N182195660 ATTACHED BELOW. THIS DESCRIBES EVERYTHING THAT HAS BEEN WRONG WITH MY CAR THIS TIME IN THE SHOP AND THE REPAIRS THAT THEY NEED DO WITH THE PISTONS AS OF NOW. I HAVE REACHED OUT TO GM TO OPEN A CASE TO SEE IF MY CAR COULD BE PART OF THIS NOTIFICATION, THOUGH THEY HAVE INITIALLY TOLD ME ITS NOT, ITS TOO OBVIOUS THAT THE CAR MEETS EVERYTHING THAT IS DESCRIBED IN THE NOTICE.

NHTSA ODI 11268644

Oct 12, 2019Transmission & drivetrainSpeed controlEngine

REDUCED ENGINE POWER IS A NORM FOR THESE NEW CHEVY MALIBU'S MY ENGENDER IS REDUCING POWER AGAIN. THEY CHARGES ME $345 LAST DECEMBER 3018 TO REPLACE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THIS OCTOBER 2019, IT'S DOING THE SAME THING. IT WILL REDUCE SPEED ON HIGHWAY UNDER 50 MPH AND I COULD HAVE BEEN HIT BY OTHER CARS IF THEY DID NOT NOTICE.

NHTSA ODI 11268079

Oct 11, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUDDERED, BUT NEVER STALLED. ALSO, WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK THE VEHICLE, THE GEAR SHIFT INDICATOR SHOWED THE VEHICLE IN PARK; HOWEVER, THE 'SHIFT INTO PARK' MESSAGE APPEARED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO KELLER MOTORS INC (LOCATED AT 1795 S PERRYVILLE BLVD, PERRYVILLE, MO 63775, (573) 547-1002) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE GEAR SHIFTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 11267896

Oct 11, 2019Electrical system

SHIFT TO PARK ERROR WHEN PARKING VEHICLE. VEHICLE IS PLACED IN PARK AND INFORMATION CENTER INDICATES IT IS NOT IN PARK. THEN I AM UNABLE TO SET VEHICLE SECURITY SYSTEM AND ALSO CAR DOORS WILL NOT LOCK. THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES.. I HAVE TO RESTART VEHICLE AND JIGGLE SHIFT HANDLE TO GET IT TO CLEAR SHIFT TO PARK ERROR... THEN I AM ABLE TO PARK AND LOCK THE CAR.

NHTSA ODI 11268007

Oct 9, 2019Electrical systemSpeed controlElectronic Stability Control (esc)

CAR STALLS WHILE OPERATING, CAR SHUTS DOWN WHILE DRIVING AND FAILS TO REBOOT WITHOUT WARNING. I EXPERIENCE THIS PROBLEM SEVERAL TIME WITHIN THE LAST MONTH. CAR WILL ALSO SHUT DOWN WHEN THE VEHICLE IS NOT IN MOTION IE STOP SIGNS, TRAFFIC LIGHTS, STOP & GO TRAFFIC...ETC. MOST RECENT ISSUE VEHICLE PROMPT "STEERING ASSIST IS REDUCED DRIVE WITH CARE" OR SERVIC STABLITRAK

NHTSA ODI 11267319

Oct 9, 2019Seats

WHEN ADJUSTING THE DRIVERS SEAT FORWARD AFTER GETTING INTO THE VEHICLE, AND DRIVING, THE SEAT TURNS TOWARD THE MIDDLE CONSOLE. WHEN I GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE TO SEE WHY THIS WAS HAPPENING, I IMMEDIATELY ADJUSTED THE SEAT TO THE REAR POSITION. THE SEAT IS NOW LOCKED IN THE FARTHEST BACK POSITION AND WILL NOT MOVE FORWARD. THIS RESULTS IN A THE INABILITY TO MOVE THE SEAT FORWARD AND CAUSES A SAFETY ISSUE WHEN ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE. THE SEAT HAS SOMEHOW DISLODGED ITSELF FROM THE TRACK. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO STATED THIS HAPPENS SOMETIMES AND THAT IT WOULD COST AROUND 900.00 DOLLARS TO FIX.

NHTSA ODI 11267539

Oct 5, 2019Brakes

WAS DRIVING DOWN ROAD MY 2017 MALABU STARTED SLOWING DOWN ON IT'S ON I TRIED TO STOP AT A STOP SIGN AND THE BREAKS DID NOT WORK CAR DIED AND WILL NOT RESTART. CODE INDICATES BREAK BOOSTER CAR IS IN YARD

NHTSA ODI 11266506

Oct 4, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

RECENTLY WHEN TURNING THE CAR OFF A WARNING LIGHT APPEARS STATE ' SHIFT TO PARK' EVEN THOUGH THE GEARS ARE IN THE PARKED POSITION.

NHTSA ODI 11266438

Oct 3, 2019Speed controlElectronic Stability Control (esc)

CAR INDICATING TO PLACE IN PARK AFTER PLACING THE SHIFTER INTO PARK AND SHUTTING DOWN THE CAR THIS HAPPENS WEEKLY AT LEAST I WAS COMING TO A STOP AT A LIGHT AND THE CAR JUST COMPLETELY SHUT OFF NO POWER DASH FLASHED A FEW TIMES I PUT IT IN PARK, THEN I PUSHED THE BUTTON TO START IT DIDNT START. IM STUCK AT STOPLIGHT ON BUSY STREET DURING MORNING TRAFFIC. SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED

NHTSA ODI 11265909

Oct 1, 2019Electrical system

VEHICLE DOES NOT REGISTER THAT IT HAS BEEN SHIFTED TO PARK. WHEN YOU STOP AND SHIFT IT TO PARK AND THEN TURN THE VEHICLE OFF, IT WILL COME UP WITH A WARNING TO "SHIFT TO PARK". IF YOU IGNORE THE WARNING, AND TRY TO OPEN THE DOORS, IT STARTS TO HONK AT YOU. IT TAKES SEVERAL ATTEMPTS OF TURNING THE VEHICLE BACK ON AND SHIFTING OUT OF PARK AND BACK INTO PARK BEFORE IT REGISTERS THAT IT IS IN PARK.

NHTSA ODI 11265311

Oct 1, 2019Brakes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS DID NOT ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MIKE SAVOIE CHEVROLET (1900 W MAPLE RD, TROY, MI 48084, (877) 819-1038) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER PROVIDED THE CONTACT WITH CASE NUMBER: 9-555-18878406. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 50,000.

NHTSA ODI 11265357

Sep 30, 2019Electrical system

THE CAR INTERMITTENTLY DOES NOT RECOGNIZE WHEN THE VEHICLE IS SHIFTED INTO PARK. I WILL PLACE THE CAR INTO PARK, TRY TO TURN OFF THE CAR, AND THE MONITOR WILL DISPLAY "SHIFT CAR INTO PARK". THIS HINDERS ME FROM TURNING THE VEHICLE OFF AND I'LL SPEND TIME HAVING TO SHIFT THE CAR INTO DIFFERENT GEARS TO GET IT TO RECOGNIZE THAT IT'S IN PARK.

NHTSA ODI 11259096

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Working with the data? Download all 720 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 22, 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 Hev verdict →