Lemon Law Check › 2017 Chevrolet Malibu

2017 Chevrolet Malibu Problems, Recalls & Complaints

The 2017 Chevrolet Malibu has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns and 715 owner complaints filed with federal regulators, with complaints concentrated in power train. Owners whose Malibu has needed repeated repairs for the same warranty problem may qualify for a buyback or compensation under state lemon laws.

Most-reported problem areas

Complaint counts by vehicle system, from 715 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2017 Chevrolet Malibu:

Power train137 complaints
Electrical system137 complaints
Vehicle speed control96 complaints
Unknown or other95 complaints
Engine76 complaints
Steering46 complaints

What owners told federal regulators

"I have had experience with the "shift to park" error and i have had the "reduced engine power" error message resulting in an uneeded $2200 dollar repair only for it to break down 2 months later, same message this time with fuel spraying under the hood. i nearly blew myself up …"
— owner complaint filed with NHTSA, 12/31/2025
"We own a 2017 chevrolet malibu plagued with the "shift to park" issue. i have read numerous articles regarding this issue and they reference a recall on this problem. however, i have been unsuccessful locating this document. was a recall actually ever created for this issue…"
— owner complaint filed with NHTSA, 12/31/2024
"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 app…"
— owner complaint filed with NHTSA, 12/31/2019

NHTSA recall campaigns (4)

Air bags:sensor:occupant classification
14/06/2018 · 18V400000
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles. During servicing, a Passenger Presence System (PPS) may have been installed that was not correctly calibrated to the vehicle's seat type. As a result, th…
Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump
31/05/2018 · 18V358000
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2018 GMC Canyon, 2016-2017 Buick Envision, 2016-2018 Chevrolet Colorado and Malibu, 2017-2018 GMC Acadia, 2018 Buick LaCrosse, Cadillac ATS, Chevrolet Equinox, and GMC Terrain vehicles. …
Air bags:side/window
02/12/2016 · 16V870000
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2017 Malibu vehicles manufactured on November 10, 2016. The right-hand rear side air bag inflator manifold may have insufficient welds.
Seat belts:critical fasteners
20/08/2021 · 21V649000
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2021 Chevrolet Malibu and 2019-2021 Cadillac XT4 vehicles. The rear seat belt retractors may be improperly secured with loose or missing fasteners.

Recall repairs are performed free of charge at franchised dealers. Check your specific vehicle with the free VIN recall checker.

Has your Malibu been in the shop repeatedly?

If the same warranty problem has needed 2+ repair attempts — or your Malibu has spent 30+ days out of service — it may qualify for a buyback, replacement, or cash compensation under your state's lemon law. Manufacturers pay the legal fees in most states, so the case review costs you nothing.

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Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2017 Chevrolet Malibu?

Based on 715 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas for the 2017 Chevrolet Malibu are power train, electrical system, vehicle speed control.

How many recalls does the 2017 Chevrolet Malibu have?

NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 2017 Chevrolet Malibu. Recall repairs are always free at franchised dealers regardless of warranty status.

Is the 2017 Chevrolet Malibu a lemon?

A specific vehicle qualifies as a lemon based on its own repair history, not the model's overall record. If your Malibu has had power train or other warranty problems repaired 2–4 times without success, or has spent 30+ days in the shop, it may qualify under your state's lemon law — attorneys evaluate this free of charge.

Researching this car as a buyer instead? Read the full Carivo review of the 2017 Chevrolet Malibu.

All recall and complaint figures on this page come directly from National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) federal records for this make, model, and year, fetched at page build time and cached daily. Complaint excerpts are owner-submitted reports to NHTSA, lightly truncated. Carivo is an independent data site, not a law firm; lemon law eligibility is determined solely by attorneys under your state's statute.