2017 Chevrolet Malibu Engine Problems

NHTSA component category: ENGINE · data through 07/14/2026

252Engine complaints

36.1%Of all 698 complaints

#1Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How engine ranks on this vehicle

ENGINE252 · 36.1%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM159 · 22.8%

Unspecified / other147 · 21.1%

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL132 · 18.9%

POWER TRAIN129 · 18.5%

Share of the 698 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2017 Chevrolet Malibu overview page.

What owners report

“VEHICLE WENT INTO 'ENGINE POWER DECREASED' UNABLE TO ACCELERATE WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON AS WELL AS THROTTLE SENSOR ON. TOOK TO DEALER WHO…”NHTSA complaint 11190128 — filed 03/19/2019

“THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC AND ALMOST CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE…”NHTSA complaint 11186536 — filed 03/13/2019

“I STARTED HAVING ISSUES WITH MY 2017 CHEVY MALIBU A LITTLE OVER A MONTH AGO. I WAS DRIVING IN THE CITY AND THE ENGINE LIGHT…”NHTSA complaint 11185686 — filed 03/10/2019

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2017 Chevrolet Malibu have engine problems?

Engine is the most-reported problem area on the 2017 Chevrolet Malibu: 252 of 698 complaints on file (36.1%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2017 Chevrolet Malibu have in total?

698 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Across all categories, 16 involved a crash, 4 involved a fire, 14 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's engine category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ENGINE category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/14/2026.