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NHTSA-Verified · Common Problems

2017 Chevrolet Malibu Eco
Common Problems

Ranked from 303 federal NHTSA complaints. Every problem links to the complaint IDs behind it.

4
Safety
6
High severity
7
Medium
1
Low
4 problems on this vehicle involve a crash, fire, or injury risk. If you are experiencing one, stop driving and have it inspected.

18 Common Problems

Ordered by how often owners reported each one to NHTSA. The bar shows how common a problem is relative to the most-reported on this vehicle. Expand any problem to see the federal complaint IDs.

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  1. 1

    Engine Power Reduced During Driving

    135complaints
    Safety riskEngine

    The engine power is reduced during driving, causing the car to slow down unexpectedly.

  2. 2

    Vehicle Suddenly Decelerates Without Warning

    77complaints
    High severityOther

    The vehicle suddenly decelerates to a very low speed without warning, potentially leading to accidents.

  3. 3

    Shift to Park Warning Light Issue

    65complaints
    High severityElectrical

    The vehicle displays a 'Shift to Park' warning light when in park, preventing the engine from shutting off.

    $200–$2,500est. drivetrain diagnosis + repair · 1–8 hrs labor
    Get local quotes
  4. 4

    Engine Power Reduction During Highway Driving

    58complaints
    High severityEngine

    The engine power reduces sporadically while driving on highways, causing the car to slow down significantly.

  5. 5

    Transmission Error Messages and Malfunction

    12complaints
    High severityTransmission

    The transmission displays errors such as 'Shift to Park' messages and fails to engage properly, trapping the driver in the vehicle.

    $200–$2,500est. drivetrain diagnosis + repair · 1–8 hrs labor
    Get local quotes
  6. 6

    Steering Assist Reduced

    10complaints
    Medium severitySteering

    The steering assist system reduces assistance, making it harder to control the vehicle, especially at lower speeds.

  7. 7

    Vehicle Speed Control Issues Causing Deceleration

    7complaints
    High severityOther

    The vehicle suddenly decelerates without warning, reducing speed to around 20 mph on the highway.

  8. 8

    Check Engine Light On

    5complaints
    Low severityEngine

    The check engine light illuminates, indicating potential engine issues such as reduced power and stalling.

    $100–$250est. professional diagnosis · 1–2 hrs labor
    Get local quotes
  9. 9

    Shift to Park Error and Unable to Turn Off Vehicle

    5complaints
    Medium severityOther

    The vehicle displays a 'Shift to Park' message and fails to turn off, requiring multiple attempts to clear the message.

    $200–$2,500est. drivetrain diagnosis + repair · 1–8 hrs labor
    Get local quotes
  10. 10

    Unexpected Deceleration on Highway

    5complaints
    Medium severityEngine

    The vehicle decelerates unexpectedly on the highway without warning, leading to reduced speed and potential loss of control.

  11. 11

    Brake System Failure

    4complaints
    Safety riskBrakes

    The brake system fails, leading to difficulty in applying pressure and causing the car to roll away.

    $150–$1,000est. brake system diagnosis + repair · 1–4 hrs labor
    Get local quotes
  12. 12

    Airbag Deployment Failure

    2complaints
    Safety riskOther

    The airbags fail to deploy during a collision, increasing the risk of injury to passengers.

  13. 13

    Brake System Malfunction Causing Loss of Control

    2complaints
    Safety riskBrakes

    The brake system malfunctions, causing the vehicle to lose control and difficulty in braking, posing a safety risk.

    $150–$1,000est. brake system diagnosis + repair · 1–4 hrs labor
    Get local quotes
  14. 14

    Engine Stall at Idle Due to Stop-Start System Failure

    2complaints
    Medium severityEngine

    The engine stalls at idle, especially during hot weather, leading to difficulty in starting the vehicle.

    $150–$900est. stop-start system diagnosis · 1–4 hrs labor
    Get local quotes
  15. 15

    Steering Assist System Failure

    2complaints
    Medium severitySteering

    The steering assist system malfunctions, causing the steering wheel to lock up and the vehicle to drift off course.

  16. 16

    Transmission Failure to Recognize Park Position

    2complaints
    High severityTransmission

    The transmission fails to recognize the park position, preventing the vehicle from turning off and requiring multiple attempts to clear the 'Shift to Park' message.

    $2,500–$5,500est. transmission rebuild/replacement · 8–16 hrs labor
    Get local quotes
  17. 17

    Vehicle Stalling in Park

    2complaints
    Medium severityOther

    The car fails to shut off properly when placed in park, requiring the driver to wiggle the shifter to engage park mode.

    $150–$1,200est. stalling / shutdown diagnosis + repair · 1–5 hrs labor
    Get local quotes
  18. 18

    Vehicle Stalling or Losing Power at Stoplights

    2complaints
    Medium severityEngine

    The vehicle loses power or stalls when approaching or at stoplights, requiring the driver to restart the engine.

    $150–$1,200est. stalling / shutdown diagnosis + repair · 1–5 hrs labor
    Get local quotes

Other years & sources

2016 Chevrolet Malibu EcoAll NHTSA complaints for this vehicle →

Data source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) owner complaints and recalls. Problems are clustered and ranked from the complaint record; occurrence counts reflect corroborating complaints, not total incidence. Vehicle image is illustrative. Repair-cost figures are typical U.S. independent-shop ranges (parts + labor) for the class of repair shown — actual quotes vary by region, engine, and diagnosis; always confirm with a local shop.