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 29 of 29

Feb 14, 2018Brakes

2017 CEHVROLET MALIBU. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO PURCHASING A VEHICLE THAT DID NOT INCLUDE FEATURES STATED AT TIME OF PURCHASE. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE EQUIPPED WITH CRASH AVOIDANCE SYSTEM. AFTER ATTEMPTING TO HAVE THE SOFTWARE UPDATED TWICE THE CONSUMER WAS ADVISED THE SYSTEM WAS ONLY DESIGNED TO OPERATE AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 30 AND 50 MPH. THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS NO WAY TO TEST IF THE FEATURE ACTUALLY WORKED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE.*JS

NHTSA ODI 11061930

Feb 7, 2018Fuel system

AFTER FILLING VEHICLE FULLY WITH FUEL THE FUEL GAUGE DOES NOT REGISTER FULL. MY DEALERSHIP CONTACTED GM AND THEY SAID IT IS A "NON-ISSUE" BUT THE DEALERSHIP DISAGREES SINCE THEY HAVE HAD NUMEROUS VEHICLES WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT.

NHTSA ODI 11067381

Feb 6, 2018Lights

THE HEADLIGHTS ARE VERY POOR AND EVEN UNSAFE ON DARK WET NIGHTS. AS PURCHASED THE LIGHTS WERE TOO HIGH. WITH THE LIGHTS AIMED LOWER, IT IS BARELY OK ON MOST NIGHTS BUT UNSAFE ON WET, DARK NIGHTS. I HAVE PURCHASED AFTERMARKET BULBS BUT THEY WERE ONLY SLIGHTLY IMPROVED. THE HIGH BEAMS ARE STILL TOO HIGH TO LIGHT THE ROAD, BUT THEY DO ILLUMINATE THE TREES. A EUROPEAN CUTOFF BEAM PATTERN WOULD HELP TOO.

NHTSA ODI 11067315

Feb 2, 2018Fuel system

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON I CALLED ON STAR DIAGNOSTIC REVEALED INJECTOR ERROR

NHTSA ODI 11066599

Feb 2, 2018Fuel system

DRIVING ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON CALLED ON STAR DIAGNOSTIC SAID INJECTOR ERROR SAME THING I HAD FIXED ON JANUARY 11TH 2018

NHTSA ODI 11066600

Jan 20, 2018Steering

I DROVE THE DESCRIBED CAR AS A RENTAL FROM ENTERPRISE WHILE MY CAR IS BEING REPAIRED. WHILE DRIVING THE CAR ON A MOSTLY STRAIGHT PARKWAY AT 55 MPH, AND SUDDENLY THE STEERING WHEEL JERKED SHARPLY TO THE LEFT, ON ITS OWN, AND I LEFT THE ROADWAY AND HIT THE GRASS MEDIAN, GOT THE CAR BACK ON THE ROADWAY, SHAKEN, AND CONTINUED DRIVING VERY CONFUSED AS TO WHAT JUST HAPPENED. TURNS OUT THESE CARS HAVE A STEERING DEFECT THAT APPARENTLY IS NOT CAUSING A RECALL, AND IT IS NOT BEING ACKNOWLEDGED BU CHEVY. BLOGS OF OWNERS DESCRIBE THE EXACT SAME EVENT WHICH HAS PITTED CHEVY OWNERS AGAINST THE COMPANY WHICH IS NOT ACKNOWLEDGING THE DEFECT. I WAS TOO SCARED TO GET IN THAT CAR AGAIN. PLEASE ADVISE ME IF A RECALL HAS FINALLY OCCURRED FOR THIS SCARY DEFECT.

NHTSA ODI 11063899

Jan 9, 2018Electronic Stability Control (esc)Brakes

ON FRIDAY DECEMBER 29, 2017 AS WE WERE DRIVING HOME WE ALMOST RE-ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE IN A CITY STREET AT THE SPEED OF 55 MPH DUE TO CAR BRAKES LOCKING AND HARD TO PRESS DOWN, LUCKILY HARD WE WERE ABLE FO BRAKE BY PUSHING HARD ENOUGH. ALSO SENSOR HAVE FAILED TWICE- THREE TIMES IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND WILL BRAKE ON THEIR OWN WITHOUT ANY CAR BEING DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF ME WHICH IS SCARY AND COULD CAUSE A MAJOR ACCIDENT ON THE HIGHWAY. WE CONTACT GMC AND FILED A CLAIM (83737025405) AND ALSO TOOK IT TO THE CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP IN OUR HOMETOWN WHICH IS NOT DOING MUCH BUT CHARGING US $1000+ FOR A CHANGE ON A VACUUM TOP AND SEAL BUT DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE FOR WE HAVE ALMOST CRASHED OVER 4 TIMES DUE TO THESE ISSUES.

NHTSA ODI 11061491

Dec 30, 2017

I PURCHASED MY 2017 CHEVROLET MALIBU IN OCTOBER OF 2017. SINCE I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE THE INTERIOR CARPET COMES UNTUCKED FROM THE TRIM. CHEVROLET INDICATES IT IS A BIG PROBLEM AND IS A COMMON PROBLEM. THE DO NOT HAVE A FIX TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE. IF THE CARPET COMES LOSE WILL BE A HAZARD TO DRIVERS.

NHTSA ODI 11057649

Nov 27, 2017Fuel system

INACCURATE GAS METER OR OTHER FUEL COMPONENTS. THE METER DOES NOT MATCH THE READING ON THE MYCHEVROLET APP. I JUST FILLED MY TANK UNTIL THE PUMP STOPS AND THE METER READS FULL IN MY CAR. THE APP READS 78% THUS I DO NOT KNOW HOW MUCH GAS I REALLY HAVE LEFT. THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE SINCE THE DAY I PURCHASED MY CAR ON 12/10/2016. AFTER 2 OR 3 VISITS TO MY DEALER, THEY FIXED THE PROBLEM AFTER CALIBRATING THE METER MONTHS AGO AND IT WAS FINE UNTIL TODAY. TODAY 11/27/2017, THE METER IS NOW INACCURATE AGAIN. I DO NOT HAVE THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM WITH ANY OF MY OTHER CHEVROLET VEHICLES. THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS RELATING TO THIS VEHICLE'S GAS METER AND THE CAR IN GENERAL IF YOU CHECK CHEVROLET'S FACEBOOK PAGE. THIS CAN CAUSE SOMEONE TO RUN OUT OF GAS BEFORE EXPECTED IN AN INCONVENIENT PLACE POSSIBLY CAUSING A SERIOUS ACCIDENT AND INJURIES. THIS NEEDS TO BE RECALLED IMMEDIATELY BEFORE THIS BECOMES A MAJOR PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI 11048824

Sep 25, 2017Steering

TWO TIMES WHILE I WAS DRIVING I PUT ON MY BRAKES AND MY POWER STEERING LOCKED UP COMPLETELY I COULD BARELY DRIVE IT I ALMOST GOT INTO A WRECK I TOOK CAR TO CHEVROLET AND THEY SAID THAT RACK AND PINION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED

NHTSA ODI 11025387

Sep 14, 2017Electrical systemEngine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 CHEVROLET MALIBU. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING, THE ENGINE STALLED AND LOST POWER. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BOB STEELE CHEVROLET (2800 FLORIDA 520, COCOA, FL 32926 (321) 632-6700) WHERE NO DIAGNOSTIC FAILURE CODES WERE FOUND AND THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT TO VIEW THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT DUE TO THE INCLEMENT WEATHER, THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOTIFY HER TO RESCHEDULE THE APPOINTMENT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 204.

NHTSA ODI 11023497

Aug 5, 2017

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WHICH I HAD FOR 2 AN HALF WEEKS. THE VEHICLE MAKE A GRINDING OR RUBBING NOISE WHILE DRIVING IT DONT MAKE ANY NOISE WHEN PRESSING BRAKES. IT MAY BE THE ENGINE OR THE BRAKES OR SOMETHING IS RUBBING THE TIRES.

NHTSA ODI 11012932

Jul 28, 2017Body & structureWheelsEngineFire

THE CAR WAS PARKED AND OFF IN OUR DRIVEWAY FOR 15 MINUTES -HORN STARTED WENT OUT SAW SMOKE CALLED 911 AND BY THE TIME BACK AT FRONT DOOR FLAMES FROM FRONT END. FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME AND PUT OUT FIRE -CAR TOTALED. WORRIED ABOUT SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION ESPECIALLY IF CAR PARKED IN GARAGE OR CLOSER TO HOUSE OR IF PEOPLE INSIDE

NHTSA ODI 11011224

Jul 20, 2017Engine

THE VEHICLE ENGINE TURNED OFF WHILE DRIVING IN THE CITY. IT THEN CAUSED THE STEERING WHEEL TO STIFFEN AND MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE CAR POWER WENT INTO LOW MODE. THE AC WENT INTO FAN MODE. AND THE CAR STAYED STATIONARY.

NHTSA ODI 11006591

Jun 24, 2017

WHEN STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT AN ELECTRIC MOTOR KICKS IN FOR ABOUT 30 SECOND AND THEN THE ENGINE MOTOR RESTARTS MAKING THE CAR WHAT TO JUMP FORWARD. IF THE DRIVER HAS ONLY A LIGHT FOOT ON THE BREAK PETAL HE/SHE COULD HIT THE CAR IN FRONT. I HAVE NOTIFIED BOTH ME DEALER AND GM AS I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE IN IT DESIGN. IT HAPPENS EVERY TIME I DRIVE AND HAVE TO STOP AT A LIGHT AND WAIT FOR ABOUT 30 SECONDS

NHTSA ODI 11000968

Jun 20, 2017AirbagsCrash1 injury

6/13/2017 I WAS INVOLVED IN A 2 VEHICLE COLLISION ON A HIGHWAY. I WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH WHEN A VEHICLE PULLED OUT DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF ME, ATTEMPTING TO CROSS MY LANE OF TRAFFIC. BOTH VEHICLES WERE TOWED. STAFF AT THE TOW SERVICE DISCOVERED THE REAR DOOR AIRBAGS HAD NEVER BEEN PLUGGED IN AT THE FACTORY. THIS IS A LACK OF QUALITY CONTROL AT MANUFACTURERS LEVEL.

NHTSA ODI 11000133

Jun 20, 2017Transmission & drivetrain

I PURCHASED A 2017 CHEVY MALIBU LAST WEEK. I WAS LOOKING OVER THE DATA ON THE CHEVY WEBSITE. CHEVY IS LISTING TWO DIFFERENT HP RATINGS FOR THIS CAR. ONE AREA STATES 163HP & 184 LB-FT TORQUE. THE OTHER SAYS 160HP & 184 LB-FT TORQUE. THE MAIN ISSUE I HAVE IS WITH THE TRANSMISSION. GM SAYS THE CAR COMES WITH A 6T45 TRANSMISSION. THAT TRANSMISSION IS RATED AT 215HP & 232 LB-FT TORQUE. ENOUGH FOR THE RATED ENGINE. THE TRANSMISSION IN THE CAR IS A 6T40. RATED AT 180HP & 177 LB-FT TORQUE. THE TORQUE ON THE MOTOR IS 184 LB-FT AT 2500 RPM TO 3000 RPM. I WORK AND LIVE IN PHOENIX, AZ. 95% OF DRIVING IS CITY DRIVING. I AM PAST THE MAX OF THE TRANSMISSION MOST OF THE TIME. THIS TRANSMISSION WILL FAIL VERY FAST IN THIS HEAT. PLUS THE EPA FUEL RATING I'M SURE WAS CALCULATED WITH THE TRANSMISSION ADVERTISED BY GM NOT IN THE CAR. I OWN A CAR THAT IS NOT AT ALL WHAT I THOUGHT IT WAS.

NHTSA ODI 11000283

Jun 12, 2017Transmission & drivetrain

AFTER MUCH RESEARCH I HAVE FOUND OUT THAT THE TRANSMISSION THAT IS IN THE 2017 MALIBU, WHICH IS THE 6T40, IS NOT RATED TO BE IN THIS VEHICLE. THE 6T40 IS RATED AT 177LB-FT TORQUE, THE MALIBU HAS 184LB-FT. GMAUTHORITY.COM/BLOG/GM/GM-TRANSMISSIONS/MH8/ THIS LINK IS THE PAGE FOR THE 6T40. HOWEVER, THE 6T45 IS WHAT SHOULD BE IN THE CAR, HTTP://GMAUTHORITY.COM/BLOG/GM/GM-TRANSMISSIONS/MH7/ THIS IS THE LINK FOR THAT ONE, AS YOU CAN SEE THE MAX TORQUE IS 232LB-FT. HTTP://MEDIA.CHEVROLET.COM/MEDIA/US/EN/CHEVROLET/VEHICLES/MALIBU/2016.TAB1.HTML THEIR WEBSITE ALSO SAYS THAT THE CAR SHOULD HAVE THE 6T45 TRANSMISSION IN IT. THE CAR IS BRAND NEW SO THE ONLY THING I HAVE NOTICED IS HARD SHIFTING, BUT IN THE FUTURE I FEEL AS IF THIS COULD BECOME A PROBLEM. I HAVE TALKED TO GM AND THEY SAID THEY ARE THE SAME, BUT AS YOU SEE THEY ARE NOT THE SAME. IF THIS POST NEEDS TO GO SOMEWHERE ELSE PLEASE LET ME KNOW, I JUST WANT TO STOP THIS BEFORE IT STARTS.

NHTSA ODI 10994389

May 4, 2017Seat belts

ON 27 APRIL, 2017, I WAS RIDING AS A PASSENGER IN A 2017 MALIBU. WE WERE TRAVELLING AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH WHEN WE NEEDED TO STOP RAPIDLY, TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT DID NOT FUNCTION AT ALL. BECAUSE I HAVE ZERO TRUST IN GM, I WAS PROTECTING MYSELF (THE BEST ONE CAN) FOR JUST SUCH AN OCCURRENCE. THIS WAS A RENTAL CAR, UNKNOWN WHICH RENTAL COMPANY, AS I WAS A PASSENGER. BUT THIS SCARES ME BECAUSE IN DECEMBER OF 2000, I WAS DRIVING A RENTED PONTIAC GRAND AM (TRULY THE LAST TIME I HAVE DRIVEN OR RIDDEN IN A GM VEHICLE), AND THE SEAT BELT, NOR THE AIR BAG FUNCTIONED CORRECTLY. SADLY, GM HAD KNOWN ABOUT BOTH PROBLEMS FOR YEARS, BUT REFUSED TO ISSUE A RECALL. I WAS NEARLY KILLED, AND WILL SUFFER FROM A LIFE ALTERING TBI FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE. IT IS NOT SURPRISING (AT LEAST TO ME) THAT GM STILL HAS ISSUES WITH THEIR SEAT BELTS. I JUST DON'T WANT ANYONE TO REPEAT WHAT HAPPEN TO ME. I CAN FIND OUT MORE INFORMATION CONCERNING WHERE THAT RENTAL CAR IS FROM IF NECESSARY.

NHTSA ODI 10983497

Jan 5, 2017Electrical systemLights

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 CHEVROLET MALIBU HYBRID. THE CONTACT ACTIVATED THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL AND IT FAILED TO TURN OFF AND CONTINUED BLINKING ONCE THE TURN WAS COMPLETED. THE CONTACT HAD TO MANUALLY TURN OFF THE BLINKER. ONE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND WAS UNABLE TO REPLICATE AND DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE FIRST DEALER TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE AND WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE A RECOMMENDED REPAIR SOLUTION. A SECOND DEALER INDICATED THAT THE CONDITION WAS NORMAL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70.

NHTSA ODI 10939907

← Newer

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 →