2017 Chevrolet Malibu
Common Problems
Ranked from 338 federal NHTSA complaints. Every problem links to the complaint IDs behind it.
6 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.
- 1
Engine Power Reduction During Driving
252complaintsSafety riskEngineThe engine power is reduced during driving, causing the vehicle to slow down unexpectedly.
- 2
Check Engine Light and Reduced Power Warning
159complaintsHigh severityEngineThe check engine light illuminates along with a warning about reduced engine power, often leading to a significant drop in speed.
$100–$250est. professional diagnosis · 1–2 hrs laborGet local quotes - 3
Check Engine Light and Warning Messages
30complaintsSafety riskOtherThe check engine light and various warning messages frequently appear, indicating potential underlying issues.
$100–$250est. professional diagnosis · 1–2 hrs laborGet local quotes - 4
Severe Acceleration Issues
5complaintsHigh severityEngineThe vehicle experiences severe acceleration issues, including sudden deceleration and acceleration to unsafe speeds.
- 5
Brake Booster and Vacuum Pump Failure
2complaintsHigh severityBrakesThe brake booster and vacuum pump repeatedly fail, leading to brake lock-up and engine stalling.
$500–$1,300est. brake booster replacement · 2–5 hrs laborGet local quotes - 6
Transmission Stall
2complaintsMedium severityTransmissionThe transmission stalls and fails to engage properly, causing the vehicle to hesitate and slow down.
$200–$2,500est. drivetrain diagnosis + repair · 1–8 hrs laborGet local quotes
Other years & sources
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.