The Verdict
Worst problem area
Engine
Engine leads by volume: 261 of 727 complaints (36%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Airbags & Restraints include more reported injuries (9) than those mentioning any other identified area.
Complaints filed fell from 865 in 2016 to 727 in 2017.
At a glance
- NHTSA complaints
- 727
- Recall campaigns
- 4
- EPA fuel cost per year
- $1,350–$3,000
- Combined MPG
- 26–46
Complaints by model year
Where owners report problems
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Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | vs. 2017 Midsize Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 2,150–2,600 | 1,350–2,400 | 1,350–3,000 | 1,350–3,000 | 1,350–3,000 | |
| Combined MPG | 24–29 | 26–46 | 26–46 | 26–46 | 26–46 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 21–25 / 29–36 | 22–47 / 32–46 | 22–49 / 33–43 | 22–49 / 32–43 | 22–49 / 32–43 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 308–373 | 196–342 | 194–342 | 194–344 | 194–344 | |
| Complaints filed | 270 | 865 | 727 | 711 | 195 | |
| Recalls issued | 3 | 10 | 4 | 6 | 1 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 18 | 24 | 17 | 24 | 8 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 9 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 1 | |
| Injuries reported | 13 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 7 | |
| Deaths reported | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 2 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2017 Chevrolet Malibu have?
4 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Nov 7, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2017 Chevrolet Malibu?
Engine: 261 of 727 NHTSA complaints (36%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2017 Chevrolet Malibu get?
EPA rates it 26–46 MPG combined across 3 configurations.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2017 Chevrolet Malibu?
EPA estimates $1,350–$3,000 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (3)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic 6-spd | 4 | 1.5L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Midsize Cars | 27 mpg | 36 mpg | 30 mpg | $2,100 | 293 g/mi |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic 9-spd | 4 | 2.0L | Front-Wheel Drive | Premium | Midsize Cars | 22 mpg (low) | 33 mpg (low) | 26 mpg (low) | $3,000 (high) | 342 g/mi (high) |
| Configuration 3 | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | 4 | 1.8L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Midsize Cars | 49 mpg (high) | 43 mpg (high) | 46 mpg (high) | $1,350 (low) | 194 g/mi (low) |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 261 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 144 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 62 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Electrical | 172 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Brakes | 123 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Steering | 47 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 17 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 21 | 9 | 0 | 9 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 146 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 26 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 28 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 152 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (4)
SEAT BELTS:CRITICAL FASTENERS; SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER:RETRACTOR
- Defect
- 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.
- Consequence
- An improperly secured seat belt retractor may not function properly in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect and tighten the rear seat belt retractors, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 17, 2021. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 and Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N212333380.
AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION
- Defect
- 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.
- Consequence
- In the event of a crash, improper air bag deployment can increase the risk of injury.
- Remedy
- GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger PPS seat service kit, free of charge. The recall began August 7, 2018. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 18208.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
- Defect
- 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.
- Consequence
- A damaged fuel line can create a fuel leak, increasing the risk of a fire.
- Remedy
- GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the high pressure fuel pump, and high pressure fuel pipe, free of charge. The recall began July 2, 2018. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 18188.
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
- Defect
- 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.
- Consequence
- Insufficient welds could cause the inflator to separate and propel air bag debris into the cabin during a crash. Also, the inflator could fail to inflate during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
- Remedy
- GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear side air bag modules, free of charge. The recall began on January 25, 2017. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 16146.