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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 2
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
32,891 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2017 Chevrolet Malibu engine problems

engine problem

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2017 Chevrolet Malibu Owner Comments (Page 9 of 12)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #68

Nov 212019

Malibu

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Vehicle abruptly slowed in heavy traffic for no apparent reason. Vehicle was diagnosed as having a faulty accelerator pedal. Part was replaced at owners expense 14 months into the life of the car. 8 months later the vehicle started to do the same thing for the next 5 months, sometimes 3 to 4 times in one day or not al all for several weeks. Car was again presented to dealer for diagnostic and it showed that the same fault occurred. This is a severe safety issue that needs to be addressed by General Motors. Fault codes P2138 for accelerator pedal, C0242 and U0401 for traction control system. Neither of these faults were addressed by the dealer during the repair.

- Howard City, MI, USA

problem #67

Dec 232019

Malibu

  • 60,000 miles
The car randomly will reduce engine power, lowering speeds to 20mph or less. This happens unexpectedly. This has occured over 20 times over the past 7 days, including on the highway. I was driving on the highway at 70mph and the immediately dropped to 20mph, causing me to swerve to the shoulder and almost was hit by three on coming vehicles at high rates of speed.

- Arlington, TX, USA

problem #66

Dec 212019

Malibu

  • 83,000 miles
I was driving my vehicle in heavy traffic and I came to a traffic light and my vehicle shut down and would not start back. It was frightening because someone could have hit me from behind. After the officer jump my car off it crank back up but I took it to the shop and place on the machine and the battery and alternator is fine. The car since then have shut down 4 more times and after sitting for a while it started back up. Once again this happened in heavy traffic. Please check if others having the same problem. Also a few times the doors came unlock at a stop light or stopping of the vehicle. Please help. 2017 Malibu

- Birmingham, AL, USA

problem #65

Nov 282019

Malibu

  • 23,957 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

On November 27, my wife was driving the Malibu at 55 mph on the highway when she experienced loss of engine power, down to 20 mph.. traffic backed up and came to screeching slow down. She ferried for her safety and pulled over in heavy traffic. She shut engine off and restarted vehicle to continue drive home at no more than 30 mph. Contacted dealer and they could not get to it till following week. She did not drive it anymore. Diagnosis at dealer was bad accelerator switch. They did not have any and said it maybe months because of this big problem. My car was down 15 days for this problem befor it was fixed.

- Whitehouse, OH, USA

problem #64

Dec 142019

Malibu

  • 74,500 miles
Engine power reduced warning came on with engine light and traction light car speed dropped

- Rainsville, AL, USA

problem #63

Nov 302019

Malibu

  • 85,000 miles
While driving my 2017 Chevrolet Malibu on the highway with my son in the car, the driver screen dash flashed a message 'engine power reduced', the check engine light turned on, and the car immediately lost power making it difficult to drive safely. After this happened, my car would not exceed 45 mph and would not shift. After pulling my car to the side of the busy highway and letting it set, I was able to get my car towed to my home. This has since happened five additional times and is happening at a more rapid rate. I took my car the oreilleys and autozone to have them run a general diagnostic check and the error code being returned was 'P2138' - 'throttle/pedal position sensor/switch D / E voltage correlation'. I then set up an appointment with the Chevrolet dealership, where technicians also ran a more thorough diagnostic test and found my car needed a new accelerator pedal position sensor. This part is not functioning as it is supposed to and at the very least is an extreme safety hazard.

- Carl Junction, MO, USA

problem #62

Nov 252018

Malibu

  • 20,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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.

- Marietta, GA, USA

problem #61

Nov 012019

Malibu

  • 39,000 miles
Car will indicate 'engine power reduced' and will abruptly reduce speed. This is a major safety concern not only to myself but other drivers on the road as well. Why is there no recall for this problem? I see it is a major problem with these models of Chevy Malibu. Happens everyday, most of the time more than once. My commute to work is about 25min and it did it 3 times today.

- Newark, DE, USA

problem #60

Oct 302019

Malibu

  • 55,687 miles
While driving my car says "steering assist reduced. Drive with care". it has started out of no where

- Cincinnati, OH, USA

problem #59

Nov 072019

Malibu

  • 23,000 miles
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.

- Highland Heights, OH, USA

problem #58

Mar 012019

Malibu

  • 24,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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.

- Bedford, TX, USA

problem #57

Oct 282019

Malibu

  • 40,500 miles
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.

- Arcade, NY, USA

problem #56

Jul 222019

Malibu

  • 89,000 miles
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.

- Greenbelt, MD, USA

problem #55

Oct 112019

Malibu

  • miles
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.

- Atlanta, GA, USA

problem #54

Sep 042019

Malibu

  • 62,000 miles
The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Malibu. While driving 25 mph, the contact heard a noise coming from the engine and the vehicle began to stall. Also, the check engine indicator illuminated. The contact drove to art moehn Chevrolet Honda (2200 seymour rd, jackson, mi 49201, 517-787-7700) where it was diagnosed that there was a defective camshaft that burst and spread metal fragments throughout the engine. The contact was informed that the entire engine needed to be replaced. The contact was given an estimate for the repair cost. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and offered the contact financial assistance towards the cost of a new engine. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 62,000.

- Jackson, MI, USA

problem #53

Sep 182019

Malibu

  • 59,211 miles
The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Malibu. While the vehicle was at a stop light, it attempted to restart independently and the power steering assist warning indicator illuminated. The instrument panel started to blink and the vehicle stalled. The contact attempted to restart the vehicle, but it failed to restart. The contact called moritz Chevrolet (9101 camp bowie, dr. West ste. # 1, fort worth, tx 76116, (817) 696-2000) and scheduled an appointment. The contact stated that the vehicle was in the process of being towed to the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 59,211.

- Fort Worth, TX, USA

problem #52

May 202018

Malibu

  • miles
I service check engine light goes on most of the time. I have gone to repair shop around 15X times in a almost 2 years period. I have trouble doing my last inspection did not wanna past, they told me to run the car in high way for 20 miles non stop, dnt understand why I needed to do this. Also at more times then I can remember the car didnt want to start it would after 10-15 min after I try to start it up, I feel motor jumps alot, and transmission not running normal as it should, I have done 2 cases with the headquaters in Chicago but both times they close the caes and nothing was solved, and until this day I still have problems with this car

- Ridgewood, NY, USA

problem #51

Jul 222019

Malibu

  • 64,000 miles
Car shuts off completely while driving-the car goes dead de-energized completely. All controls would not work just locked up on me. I had to have the unit towed twice, we switched the battery in the key fob and the car ended up starting, however 2 weeks later it died again while driving, I nearly had an accident again!! 3 times the car has been in motion going straight and completely shuts down. The dealership was not able to find anything with their diagnostic testing!! this has to be some sort of mal-function or recall regarding this issue.

- Hemet, CA, USA

problem #50

May 012019

Malibu

  • 23,904 miles
Driving on a major highway with a customer and the engine light comes on, power is reduced to a crawl, and then "power reduce" light comes on. At that point no acceleration occurs and car cuts off ( I was able to glide to the side) and will not start back up. After an hour, ( and me having to call another car to pick up my customer) car cuts back on. Take it to dealership, was advised that a bulletin was issued regarding this problem 18 months ago, 1 month before I purchased car. Said I needed my cylinders replaced (the engine) but once I took it in, they replaced the fuel injections (23,000 miles). 60 days later, the same exact issue has occurred, again on a major highway, this time I had just dropped off a passenger. Waited 30 minutes, and was able to drive home. Since it was the holiday weekend, I was not able to get into the dealership for immediate repairs again. Called today 7/8/19 to speak to my advisor, he has not called me back. I will have to have the car towed in or drive on the back roads at a crawl.

- Pflugerville, TX, USA

problem #49

Jul 082019

Malibu

  • 25,000 miles
Warning message says 'shift into park' & even though engine shuts off, the radio (& I'm assuming battery) doesn't. car won't lock because of it. Has required turning car back on & off as many as 8 times, and/or moving forward or backwards numerous times. Chevy dealer's service advisor told me "yeah, we've had lots of problems with that. We usually have to replace the shifter control box".

- New Smyrna Beach, FL, USA

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