NHTSA lists 4 safety recalls and 727 owner complaints for the 2017 Chevrolet Malibu (including the hybrid).
Recalled components: seat belts, air bags, and fuel system. Most-described problem: loss of power or limp mode (201 complaints, 28%). Most-reported area: engine (256 complaints, 35%; median mileage when it happened: 56,100).
One of the Malibu years to avoid
The 2017 drew 212 owner complaints in its first three years, against 65 for a typical Malibu year (43 for a typical year since 2016): 3.2 times as many.
Years to avoid: 2013 and 2016 to 2018; best years: 2021, 2022, and 2023. Based on owner complaints, not adjusted for sales.
The rear seat belt retractors may be improperly secured with loose or missing fasteners.
Risk: An improperly secured seat belt retractor may not function properly in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix and full notice
Fix: Dealers will inspect and tighten the rear seat belt retractors, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 17, 2021. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 and Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N212333380.
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2021 Chevrolet Malibu and 2019-2021 Cadillac XT4 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, the PPS may not properly identify an adult passenger from a child passenger in the front passenger seat, potentially causing the air bag to not deploy when it should, or causing the air bag to deploy when it shouldn't.
Risk: In the event of a crash, improper air bag deployment can increase the risk of injury.
The fix and full notice
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger PPS seat service kit, free of charge. The recall began August 7, 2018. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 18208.
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles.
The high pressure fuel pump may detach from its mounting flange, possibly resulting in the pump damaging the high pressure fuel line.
Risk: A damaged fuel line can create a fuel leak, increasing the risk of a fire.
The fix and full notice
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the high pressure fuel pump, and high pressure fuel pipe, free of charge. The recall began July 2, 2018. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 18188.
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.
NHTSA listing: MALIBU. Chevrolet campaign 18188 18268.
The right-hand rear side air bag inflator manifold may have insufficient welds.
Risk: Insufficient welds could cause the inflator to separate and propel air bag debris into the cabin during a crash. Also, the inflator could fail to inflate during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix and full notice
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear side air bag modules, free of charge. The recall began on January 25, 2017. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 16146.
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2017 Malibu vehicles manufactured on November 10, 2016.
NHTSA listing: MALIBU. Chevrolet campaign 16146.
Questions about any of these recalls: call NHTSA's Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236 (TTY 888-275-9171) or check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA investigations
NHTSA's investigations file, dated Nov 12, 2026, lists no investigations for the 2017 Chevrolet Malibu.
What owners report
Owners have filed 727 complaints with NHTSA about the 2017 Malibu. Below, they are sorted by the problems owners describe and by the areas NHTSA files them under. NHTSA does not verify complaints.
Problems owners describe
Loss of power or limp mode201 · 28%
Median 52,000 miles at failure, from 119 reports with mileage
Shifter errors or stuck in gear154 · 21%
Median 38,000 miles at failure, from 70 reports with mileage
Check engine light147 · 20%
Median 48,000 miles at failure, from 91 reports with mileage
Stalling or shutting off79 · 11%
Median 59,900 miles at failure, from 51 reports with mileage
Hesitation or slow acceleration33 · 5%
Auto start-stop problems24 · 3%
Median 64,800 miles at failure, from 15 reports with mileage
Median 56,100 miles at failure, from 148 reports with mileage
Electrical system172 · 24%
Median 48,000 miles at failure, from 83 reports with mileage
Powertrain144 · 20%
Most named: automatic transmission, lever and linkage, floor shift (8) · Median 48,900 miles at failure, from 80 reports with mileage
Speed control136 · 19%
Most named: accelerator pedal (3) · Median 58,000 miles at failure, from 83 reports with mileage
Brakes73 · 10%
Median 58,100 miles at failure, from 26 reports with mileage
Fuel and propulsion system59 · 8%
Median 52,000 miles at failure, from 29 reports with mileage
Stability control54 · 7%
Median 54,500 miles at failure, from 46 reports with mileage
Unknown or other151 · 21%
Median 36,000 miles at failure, from 70 reports with mileage
A complaint can name more than one area, so shares add up to more than 100%. Mileage is shown where at least 15 owners reported it.
Chevrolet Malibu recalls and complaints by model year
The highlighted bars are the 2017 model year. Newer model years have had less time on the road, so their counts are lower. Counting complaints filed in each model year's first three years, the 2018 Malibu drew the most (220) and the 2017 drew 212.
Owner complaints
2017: 727 complaintsTap or drag across the chart for other years.
Show as a table
Owner complaints by model year, Chevrolet Malibu
Model year
Complaints
2010
1,365
2011
978
2012
907
2013
924
2014
363
2015
270
2016
865
2017
727
2018
712
2019
195
2020
203
2021
90
2022
100
2023
73
2024
46
2025
12
Safety recalls
2017: 4 recallsTap or drag across the chart for other years.
Show as a table
Safety recalls by model year, Chevrolet Malibu
Model year
Recalls
2010
3
2011
3
2012
2
2013
11
2014
6
2015
3
2016
10
2017
4
2018
6
2019
1
2020
1
2021
2
2022
1
2023
2
2024
2
2025
1
Crash test ratings
NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for each version it tested. Rollover risk is NHTSA's estimate of the chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
In the 727 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2017 Chevrolet Malibu, the problems described most are loss of power or limp mode (201), shifter errors or getting stuck in gear (154), and the check engine light coming on (147). NHTSA does not verify complaints, and one complaint can describe several problems.
Is the 2017 Chevrolet Malibu safe?
In NHTSA crash tests every tested version of the 2017 Chevrolet Malibu earns 5 stars overall. The table above lists each tested version.
Is NHTSA investigating the 2017 Chevrolet Malibu?
No. NHTSA's investigations file, dated Nov 12, 2026, lists no investigations for the 2017 Chevrolet Malibu.
How do I check if my Malibu has an open recall?
Enter the 17-character VIN from your dashboard, door jamb or registration at nhtsa.gov/recalls. The lookup lists unrepaired recalls for that exact vehicle. Safety recall repairs are free at Chevrolet dealers.
Sources and method
NHTSA recalls file (NHTSA datasets), dated Nov 12, 2026; every campaign checked against NHTSA's recalls API.
NHTSA owner complaints file, dated Nov 11, 2026. Counted by complaint number, so a complaint naming three components counts once in the total.
NHTSA investigations file, dated Nov 12, 2026. Defect petitions, which ask NHTSA to open an investigation, are listed apart and only while open. Audit queries, which check whether a company met its recall and reporting duties rather than whether a vehicle has a problem, are not listed.
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP).
NHTSA model names covered: MALIBU, MALIBU HYBRID.
Complaint counts are unverified owner reports. They rise with sales volume and time on the road, so compare model years with care. How we build these pages. Spotted an error? Tell us.