repaired · 2023 Q2
Seat belts: critical fasteners
Risk. An improperly secured seat belt retractor may not function properly in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
2017 Chevrolet MalibuProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 705 owner complaints about the 2017 Chevrolet Malibu, most often about the engine. It is covered by 4 safety recalls, and for recall 21V-649 the manufacturer reports only 70% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through October 26, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: Mr.choppers, CC BY-SA 3.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2017 Chevrolet Malibu has problems
705 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
253Engine5 crash/fire/injury
161Electrical system1 crash/fire/injury
139Power train
135Vehicle speed control1 crash/fire/injury
69Service brakes3 crash/fire/injury
57Fuel/propulsion system
53Electronic stability control (ESC)
47Steering
21Exterior lighting
9816 other systems13 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 253 | 5 |
| Electrical system | 161 | 1 |
| Power train | 139 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 135 | 1 |
| Service brakes | 69 | 3 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 57 | 0 |
| Electronic stability control (ESC) | 53 | 1 |
| Steering | 47 | 4 |
| Exterior lighting | 21 | 0 |
| 16 other systems | 98 | 13 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
4 recalls
2017 Chevrolet Malibu recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2019 Q4
Sensor: occupant classification
Risk. In the event of a crash, improper air bag deployment can increase the risk of injury.
repaired · 2019 Q4
Delivery: fuel pump
Risk. A damaged fuel line can create a fuel leak, increasing the risk of a fire.
repaired · 2018 Q2
Air bags: side/window
Risk. Insufficient welds could cause the inflator to separate and propel air bag debris into the cabin during a crash.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Chevrolet.
Mileage at failure
When do engine problems start?
56kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 146 engine complaints. 91% were reported before 100,000 miles.
34under 30k miles133under 100k miles13100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs
What owners say repairs cost
Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.
Electrical system
8 owners mentioned a cost$750median
Middle half: $378 – $1,055
Power train
8 owners mentioned a cost$575median
Middle half: $474 – $700
If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.
Best & worst years
2017 vs. every other Malibu year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Malibu median. How we score
0120245321134439767899227215675691,1489751,1199779891,5111,36397890783735127084170570119320390100734612
'73'74'75'77'78'79'80'81'82'83'86'89'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2017 Chevrolet Malibu safety ratings
2017 Chevrolet Malibu 4 DR FWD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
★★★★★
Frontal crash★★★★★
Side barrier★★★★★
Side pole★★★★★
- Rollover: 4 stars (10.2% risk)
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: Optional
- Lane departure warning: Optional
In owners' words
What Malibu owners report
Recent engine complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
The vehicle is experiencing an apparent fuel-system malfunction. The vehicle has a very strong raw gasoline odor, significant difficulty starting, and appears to be consuming fuel at an abnormally high rate. After filling the fuel tank completely, I drove approximately 20 miles at most and the fuel…
I was driving back home and stopped at a red light. When the light turned green I started driving, but my car was jerking a little too much. I pulled over and turned my car off. When I cut my car back on my brake became very hard to the point I had to push down extra hard to stop my car. I started…
the trottle body position sensor just started acting up. took it to mechanic. they stated they can try to fix it but it may only work for a month then go back out. may end up paying over 6k and the car isn't worth it
Own a 2017 Malibu?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.