2017 Chevrolet Malibu: True Cost, Problems & Verdict
723 NHTSA owner complaints · 4 recalls · data-computed verdict. No opinions — public data only.
Editor's note
The Malibu's record is defined by the 2013–2015 eighth generation's electrical and stop-start problems and by the 2016 ninth-generation launch, which brought a 1.5-litre turbo engine, a new eight-speed automatic and a spike to 1,669 complaints — hesitation, loss of power and transmission shudder. The 2017 and 2018 years are only marginally better. Read the full note on the model page. 2017 specifically: this is one of the years the note above says to approach with care — 723 complaints on record, verdict AVOID.
Read the guide
Used Chevrolet Malibu, Cruze and Equinox: the four-cylinder years to watch, including 2017 — written and signed by Adir Trabelsi, 2026-09-01.
Owner complaints: 723 filed with NHTSA
Complaints per year on the road: 80.33
What owners say
Verbatim reports filed with the United States safety regulator (NHTSA) by owners of this exact model year. Public record.
While driving my 2017 Chevrolet Malibu LT equipped with the 1.5L turbocharged engine, the brake vacuum pump failed due to the pump’s mechanical drive/tang shearing. The failure resulted in loss of vacuum assistance to the power brakes, creating a significantly harder brake pedal and a serious safety concern because braking assistance can be reduced and stopping may require substantially more effort. After removing th…
Transmission has been slipping since the day I bought the car in 2023 approximately at 90,000 miles, I have been keeping up with the manufactured recommendations on the transmission and march of 2026 I went to move the passenger seat and it no longer moves
I have a 2017 Chevy Malibu 2.0 T. The incident involved the braking system. I was driving and as traffic came to a stop, I pressed the brake to stop and my brakes gave out. I immediately lifted my foot and press extremely hard on my brake pedal and was able to stop though the stopping distance was much further and nearly caused an accident. I have now taken the vehicle to a Chevy certified dealer and it has been iden…
Recalls: 4 campaigns (4 severe)
| Campaign | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| 16V870000 | 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. |
| 18V400000 | 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. |
| 21V649000 | Seat Belts:Critical Fasteners | 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. |
| 18V358000 | 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… |
What it costs to buy — and what owning it really takes
Class-level estimates, priced as a mid-size car of its model year, re-priced to your country. Not a quote, not a valuation of one specific car — condition, mileage and options move it. How these are computed.
What it costs to run
EPA combined 30 MPG · estimated annual fuel cost $2,100
Re-priced automatically from your country's retail fuel, electricity and parts indices — change country in the bar at the top. Estimates; see methodology.
What this car's problems cost to fix
Ranked by the components owners of this exact model year actually complain about. Each figure is flat-rate labour hours x the local shop rate plus a parts band — an estimate of what this kind of failure costs, not a quote, and not a prediction that this car will need it. Formula.
- Engine256 complaints · typical job: Cooling-system or timing-drive repair (6.0 h labour + parts)$1,040–$2,220
- Electrical System172 complaints · typical job: Alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement (3.0 h labour + parts)$540–$1,310
- Unknown Or Other150 complaints · typical job: Diagnosis and mixed repair (2.0 h labour + parts)$360–$940
- Power Train143 complaints · typical job: Transmission service or clutch-pack repair (7.0 h labour + parts)$1,290–$4,040
- Vehicle Speed Control136 complaints · typical job: Throttle body, pedal sensor or cruise module replacement (2.5 h labour + parts)$520–$1,150
- Service Brakes72 complaints · typical job: Pads, rotors and caliper service, both axles (3.0 h labour + parts)$580–$1,140
Other Chevrolet Malibu years
Chevrolet Malibu years to avoid, and the best years to buy →
FAQ
What is the most common problem with the 2017 Chevrolet Malibu?
The most-reported issue in NHTSA complaint data is Engine (256 complaints in our indexed sample).
Is the 2017 Chevrolet Malibu a good used car to buy?
Our data verdict is AVOID with a reliability score of 35/100, computed from 723 NHTSA complaints and 4 recall campaigns. See the verdict card for the top reasons.
How much does it cost to fix the 2017 Chevrolet Malibu's most common problem?
256 of the NHTSA complaints filed against the 2017 Chevrolet Malibu sit in the Engine group — more than any other component on this model year. The representative job there is cooling-system or timing-drive repair: about 6.0 hours of labour plus parts, roughly $1,040–$2,220 at a US independent shop and re-priced to your country at the top of the page. It is an estimate of what this class of failure costs, not a quote for this car.
What does a 2017 Chevrolet Malibu cost to run per year?
About $5,556 a year in fuel or energy plus the maintenance band — roughly $27,780 over five years, before purchase price, insurance and depreciation. Figures come from available EPA fuel-economy data and industry maintenance averages, and are re-priced to your country.
Does the 2017 Chevrolet Malibu have recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 4 recall campaign(s) for the 2017 Chevrolet Malibu, 4 of them touching fire, crash or stall risk, the most recent recorded 02/12/2016. Check this car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before you buy.
Compare with
Other midsizes of about the same age.
What will a 2017 Chevrolet Malibu really cost YOU per year?
Fuel, maintenance band and depreciation — computed from public data in 10 seconds.
Open the true-cost calculatorData sources
Complaints & recalls: NHTSA ·
Fuel economy: EPA fueleconomy.gov ·
Scoring: our published methodology.
Maintenance bands are industry-average estimates (AAA Your Driving Costs, CarMD index) — labeled estimates, not measurements.
Last updated: 2026-10-04.
Strong evidence — 723 complaints, 4 recalls on record
- 723 NHTSA complaints on record (80.3/yr of exposure) — worse than a typical year of this model (30.2/yr)
- 4 recall campaigns, 4 touching safety-critical systems