2017 Chevrolet Malibu Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2017 Malibu most often describe a sudden loss of power while driving — a "Reduced Engine Power" or "Engine Power Reduced" message with the check engine and traction lights, accompanied by the car slowing sharply on its own. A second common thread is a "Shift to Park" message that keeps the car from shutting down fully after it is placed in park, plus intermittent "Steering Assist Reduced" warnings that appear most often when pulling away from a stop. Complaints cluster broadly from about 20,000 to 100,000 miles, with many between roughly 40,000 and 70,000.

1. 1
   Engine

   Reduced Engine Power / sudden power loss (often P2138)

   • 212 complaints (30%)
   • median 55,000 mi at 3.4 yrs old (127 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $2,200 (median of 5 quotes)
   • filed 2017–2026

   Owners describe a "Reduced Engine Power" or "Engine Power Reduced" message appearing while driving, with the check engine and traction control lights at the same time, and the car dropping to around 20-40 mph even with the accelerator pressed. Several report that shutting off and restarting clears it temporarily, sometimes for days, and that it returns. Complaints mention codes such as P2138 (throttle/pedal position sensor voltage correlation) and diagnostics pointing to the throttle body, throttle position sensor, or accelerator pedal sensor; some owners say dealers replaced the ECM or sensors, while others report no codes stored and no confirmed fix. Mostly reported between roughly 25,000 and 100,000 miles, often at highway speed or during acceleration.

   What to check: During a test drive, watch for hesitation or a sudden drop in power on acceleration, and ask whether throttle body, pedal sensor, or ECU work has been done. A scan tool check for stored or pending codes such as P2138 is worth doing.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Drove 30 miles since the last time it was in the shop for this issue. Started my vehicle in the driveway and the reduced engine power light came on. So frustrating and a waste of time!! I immediately drove back to dealership for repair. A bunch of codes came up. They removed and replaced the ECM. Road tested for 45 miles before returning vehicle.”

   NHTSA complaint #11331505, filed 2020-06, 76,513 miles

   “My check engine light came on starting at 30,000 miles has continued to do so more frequently as I hit 65,000in taking it to my mechanic he stated there was nothing wrong with my car I commute everyday to work and every day imy car says check engine reduce speed when I'm on the highway and drops to 20mph I work in bordentown 295 to rt1 and my car reduced engine speed in a 55mph zone to 20”

   NHTSA complaint #11402850, filed 2021-03, 46,790 miles
2. 2
   Other or unknown

   Shift to Park message, car will not fully shut off

   • 181 complaints (26%)
   • median 38,000 mi at 3.5 yrs old (89 state mileage)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $600 (median of 15 quotes)
   • filed 2018–2026

   Owners report that after shifting into park, the dash displays "Shift to Park" and the vehicle will not fully power down, sometimes so the electrical system stays on and drains the battery. Many say rocking or wiggling the shifter, stepping on the brake again, or cycling in and out of drive eventually gets it to recognize park. Complaints describe the shifter assembly or a switch in the steering column being replaced, with some owners seeing the problem return afterward. Reported across a wide range, from as low as about 15,000 up to roughly 72,000 miles; some owners describe a repeat failure after an earlier repair.

   What to check: Before buying, put the car in park and confirm it powers off and the message clears consistently. Ask whether the shifter assembly has been replaced and whether the battery has been drained by the car staying awake.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Ii bought my 2017 Chevrolet Malibu ls in august of 2017, in january of 2018 my first engine light warning came on with message shift to park came on when the car was already in park. I moved to denver, co in june of 2018 , during my long while driving through the rockies the check engine light came on showing stability track issues. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11390833, filed 2021-01, 72,365 miles

   “When I put the transmission in park, the indicator screen on the dash notifies me to put gear in park. I'm able to shut down the engine but not turn off the electrical system which ends up draining the battery. The gear is in park, but a switch in the steering column isn't operating properly.”

   NHTSA complaint #11389513, filed 2021-01, 64,300 miles
3. 3
   Electrical system

   Steering Assist Reduced warning at low speed

   • 39 complaints (6%)
   • median 64,838 mi at 3.8 yrs old (29 state mileage)
   • filed 2018–2024

   Owners describe a "Steering Assist Reduced, Drive with Care" message appearing on the dash, most often right after releasing the brake and accelerating from a stop, sometimes with a jerk of the steering wheel. Some complain the car shut off or failed to restart around the same time, and a few were told the power steering unit or battery needed replacement. Several owners note the dealer could not reproduce the message or found nothing on a diagnostic check. Typically reported between about 20,000 and 100,000 miles, and often at low speed or when pulling away from a stop.

   What to check: Ask whether the steering assist warning has appeared and whether the battery or steering gear has ever been replaced. Check that the battery is healthy, since similar warnings on this platform are sometimes tied to voltage.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was leaving work and got 5 minutes into my drive and I had a warning light come on in my Malibu while I was in motion driving straight in town. It indicated electric steering issues it was on for no more than 5-10 seconds then it turned off automatically. Allthough this warning went away, I did not feel safe so I pulled over and started doing some research on my Malibu. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11297002, filed 2020-01, 80,400 miles

   “1st scenario/incident:when at a full stop the car is in auto stop . After when I release the break and accelerate the car turns back on and the steering wheel will jerk to the left, without me moving the steering wheel. The dash will display message steering assist is reduced, drive with care . …”

   NHTSA complaint #11319557, filed 2020-03, 74,052 miles
4. 4
   Engine

   Check engine light and emissions-related faults

   • 200 complaints (28%)
   • median 49,000 mi at 3.1 yrs old (133 state mileage)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $400 (median of 5 quotes)
   • filed 2017–2026

   Owners describe the check engine light coming on and going off repeatedly, sometimes starting at fairly low mileage, with dealers changing the battery or clearing codes without resolving it. Some complaints mention emissions-related codes and OnStar notices, and a few describe the engine misfiring or stalling and being told the engine needed replacement. Owners often say the light reappearing after a repair was the pattern. Often reported from about 20,000 to 90,000 miles, sometimes shortly after routine service.

   What to check: Have the car scanned for stored and pending codes rather than relying on the light being off at inspection time, and ask whether emissions-related repairs or an engine replacement have been done.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While driving on multiple accusations my engine light would come on and go off within minutes and not return till I turn the car back on or while driving later on in the day or days after seeing the light come so I was unable to bring it in to get checked out properly. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11407282, filed 2021-04, 89,000 miles

   “I purchased my 2017 Malibu from jud kuhn in sc, it had 40,000 miles when purchased. Week 2 I was at a stop light hit the gas to take off the vehicle wouldn't move so I hit the gas a little harder still nothing then suddenly it jerked and took off fast. I thought maybe my foot wasnt on the has right. The next day I got in the car to back out my drive way and it did it again the same exact way. The same day the engine light came on and onstar sent me a email about a emission issue. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11363775, filed 2020-10, 45,000 miles
5. 5
   Electrical system

   Auto stop/start stalls or fails to restart

   • 131 complaints (19%)
   • median 55,201 mi at 3.5 yrs old (77 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $750 (median of 6 quotes)
   • filed 2017–2026

   Owners report the engine shutting off at a light under the auto stop feature and then not restarting when the brake is released, requiring repeated on/off cycles or a jump start. Some describe putting on hazard lights in traffic while trying to get the car going again, with messages such as "battery saver active" or stability warnings appearing. Complaints mention starter, battery, and sensor replacements, with some owners saying the problem continued after repairs. Reported from roughly 50,000 to 167,000 miles, usually at a complete stop in traffic or at a light.

   What to check: Test the auto stop feature at a light and confirm the engine restarts cleanly. Ask about battery age, starter replacement, and whether the car has ever needed a jump start.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Lately when I stop at a light or intersection my vehicle auto stops but when I try to go the vehicle shuts off and will not start. I have to put on my flashers while in traffic and shut the vehicle on and off until it restarts. One of the warnings read stabil and another reads power shut off as well as battery saver active. I have taken it in but have been told they do not know what is wrong so they reset the system however, this dangerous issue remains. This started the beginning of march and has continued.”

   NHTSA complaint #11319950, filed 2020-04, 65,640 miles

   “The vehicle has shut off more than 5 times while driving requiring a tow and work done to the vehicle. The alternator, battery, and sensors have been replaced but the vehicle still turns off while driving.”

   NHTSA complaint #11388396, filed 2021-01, 86,000 miles

Buying note. A pre-purchase scan for stored codes and a test drive that includes a highway acceleration and a stop-start cycle will surface most of what owners describe. Ask for service records on the shifter assembly, throttle body or pedal sensor, battery, and any engine work, since several of these complaints recur after repair.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.