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#BS-2017-CHEMAL-5B50

2017 Chevrolet MalibuProblems, Recalls & Reliability

Based on reports from 1,180 owners and 4 recalls for this exact model.

Data updated ·checked October 21, 2026 · NHTSA complaints through October 19, 2026

Complaints
1,180
Crashes
25
Fires
7
Recalls
4
TSBs
1,331
🛑

Preliminary Verdict

Red Flag

Based on 1,180 complaints, 25 crashes, 7 fires, and 4 recalls. Complaint rate is 8.3x the class average.

See full verdict with buy/skip conditions

Top reported problems

1

shift to park alert

15 complaints • Severity 6.5/10

$X,XXX
2

shift to park

10 complaints • Severity 7/10

$X,XXX
3

check engine light on

6 complaints • Severity 8/10

$X,XXX
4

wont start

3 complaints • Severity 7.3/10

$X,XXX
5

fuel gauge not registering properly

3 complaints • Severity 6/10

$X,XXX

Preview: What's in your full report

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Mechanic Inspection Checklist

!Check the EngineHIGH

257 owners reported engine issues — failures commonly reported around 51K miles.

!Inspect the ElectricalMED
Look for symptoms of wear and premature failure
+ 6 more items in full checklistUnlock

Failure Timeline by Mileage

160
0–30K
236
30–60K
197
60–90K
39
90–120K
11
120–150K
9
150K+

Peak failure range: 30–60K miles (236 reports) • Median: 51K miles

Full report: which components fail at each mileageUnlock

30,000-Mile Cost Projection

Best Case

$X,XXX

Most Likely

$X,XXX

Worst Case

$X,XXX

Top cost driver: Engine (257 reports).

Includes fuel costs, common repairs, and recall riskUnlock

Also in your report

Owner Intelligence

AI-synthesized themes from real complaints

Buyer Lot Checklist

Questions, test drive checks, walk-away triggers

Negotiation Talking Points

Data-backed dollar deductions

Buy / Skip Verdict

Final recommendation with conditions

10 sections total in the full reportUnlock all

Where the complaints fall

Engine257 (22%)
Electrical160 (14%)
Other147 (12%)
Speed Control132 (11%)
Drivetrain130 (11%)
Brakes72 (6%)
Fuel System59 (5%)
Stability Control53 (4%)

2017 Chevrolet Malibu: Known Issues & Problem Areas

Engine Issues

Engine complaints account for 22% of all reports filed for the 2017 Chevrolet Malibu, with 257 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. The median mileage at time of complaint is 51,000 miles, suggesting issues tend to surface around the 51K-mile mark.

Electrical Issues

Electrical complaints account for 14% of all reports filed for the 2017 Chevrolet Malibu, with 160 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to electrical-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Speed Control Issues

Speed Control complaints account for 11% of all reports filed for the 2017 Chevrolet Malibu, with 132 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to speed control-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Drivetrain Issues

Drivetrain complaints account for 11% of all reports filed for the 2017 Chevrolet Malibu, with 130 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to drivetrain-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Data sourced from NHTSA owner complaints and community reports. The full report analyzes severity, repair costs, and failure patterns for each category.

Complaint trend by year

14
17
78
18
246
19
234
20
151
21
166
22
88
23
79
24
90
25
34
26

Complaints filed with NHTSA by year for the 2017 Chevrolet Malibu. Recent trend: decreasing.

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Repair costs • Negotiation scripts • Mechanic checklist • Buy/skip verdict

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Recall History (4 recalls)

16V870000Jan 2017

AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW

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.

18V358000Jul 2018

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

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. The high pressure fuel pump may detach from its mounting flange, possibly resulting in the pump damaging the high pressure fuel line.

18V400000Aug 2018

AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION

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, 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.

21V649000Sep 2021

SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER:RETRACTOR

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 severity analysis & seller scripts

The full report rates each recall's severity and gives you scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.

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2017 Chevrolet Malibu NHTSA Safety Ratings

Overall

★★★★★

5 of 5 stars

Frontal crash

★★★★★

5 of 5 stars

Side crash

★★★★★

5 of 5 stars

Rollover

★★★★★

4 of 5 stars

From NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings). Where NHTSA tested more than one version of this vehicle, the lowest rating is shown.

The worst model year for the Chevrolet Malibu is the 2010 — worth knowing if you're cross-shopping years. The biggest problem area is engine.

2017 Chevrolet Malibu vs. Class Average (Midsize Cars)

This vehicle

1,180

Class avg

141

8.3x the class average — significantly more complaints than typical midsize cars vehicles.

Complaint counts correlate with sales volume — popular vehicles naturally generate more reports. The full report normalizes for this.

About this data

NHTSA Complaints

Federal database of owner-filed safety complaints. 1,180 records for this vehicle.

NHTSA Recalls

Manufacturer-issued safety recalls. 4 recalls found for this vehicle.

Repair Cost Data

Real-world repair costs from owner reports and independent databases.

Last updated (checked October 21, 2026). NHTSA complaints received through October 19, 2026; safety ratings from NHTSA's 5-Star program.

Other Chevrolet Malibu Model Years

2025202420232022202120202019201820172016201520142013201220112010200920082007200620052004200320022001200019991998199719891983198219811980197919781977197519741973
View all Chevrolet Malibu years →

2017 Chevrolet Malibu: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most common problem with the 2017 Chevrolet Malibu?
The most commonly reported issue with the 2017 Chevrolet Malibu is related to the engine, with 257 complaints filed with NHTSA.
Is the 2017 Chevrolet Malibu reliable?
The 2017 Chevrolet Malibu has 1,180 complaints, 25 crash reports, and 7 fire reports filed with NHTSA. This is 8.3x the class average — higher than typical for its segment.
How safe is the 2017 Chevrolet Malibu?
NHTSA rates the 2017 Chevrolet Malibu 5 out of 5 stars overall, with 5 stars in frontal crash tests, 5 stars in side crash tests, 4 stars for rollover resistance. Where NHTSA tested more than one version, the lowest rating is shown.
How much does it cost to fix 2017 Chevrolet Malibu problems?
Repair costs vary by issue. The full BumperScan report includes detailed repair cost estimates (low/median/high) for every major issue, plus a 30,000-mile total cost of ownership projection.
Does the 2017 Chevrolet Malibu have any recalls?
Yes, the 2017 Chevrolet Malibu has 4 recalls on record. The full report includes recall severity analysis and scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.
What mileage do Chevrolet Malibu problems start?
Based on 652 complaints with mileage data, the median mileage at time of complaint is 51,000 miles. The highest concentration of reported issues occurs in the 30–60K mile range. The full report breaks down exactly which components fail at each mileage bracket.
When was the 2017 Chevrolet Malibu data last updated?
BumperScan last checked this vehicle against NHTSA on October 21, 2026, covering owner complaints received through October 19, 2026 plus the latest recalls, investigations and technical service bulletins. Its numbers last changed on October 13, 2026.
What’s in the full report?
10 sections of AI analysis: severity-ranked issues, component scores (0-100), 30K-mile cost projection, failure timeline by mileage, recall details with seller scripts, owner sentiment analysis, mechanic checklist, buyer lot checklist, negotiation ammo with dollar figures, and a buy/skip verdict.
How is this different from free NHTSA data?
NHTSA gives you raw complaint text. BumperScan cross-references 2.1M+ complaints with community repair cost data, EPA fuel data, and recall records — then uses AI to synthesize it into actionable advice with dollar figures.
How is this different from Carfax?
Carfax is VIN-specific history ($45/report). BumperScan is model-level reliability intelligence — what problems this car is known for, what they cost, and whether you should buy it. Complementary, not competing.
What if the report isn’t useful?
100% money-back guarantee. If the report doesn’t help you make a more informed decision, we’ll refund you — no questions asked.
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10 sections of AI analysis based on 1,180 owner reports. Know before you buy.

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