2017 Chevrolet Malibu · symptom sheet
Brake pedal goes hard or the booster or vacuum pump fails
- 38owner reports
- 60,000median miles
- $1,134median quote
- 0involved a crash
Newest report Aug 15, 2026 · checked Sep 29, 2026
38 of the 71 reports of brake wear on the 2017 Malibu describe brake booster failure.
Part of Brakes grind, pulse or wear early (71 reports)
Tick what matches of 38 reports
Brake booster failure on other Malibu years
Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them. Model years with too few reports of it for a sheet: 2014, 2015, 2019.
What this problem usually is
This is the narrower sheet inside brakes for reports about a hard pedal or a failed power assist. The pedal stops feeling normal: it turns stiff, takes far more force, and the car needs a longer distance to stop.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the vacuum pump (30 reports) and the brake booster (16 reports).
Recalls and investigations
No recall on the brakes covers the 2017 model year as of Sep 29, 2026.
NHTSA investigations into the brakes on the Malibu
Brake backing plate. Closed nov 28, 1988.
None of these investigations covers the 2017 model year.
What owners paid
5 of the 38 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $700 to $3,409.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 47,000 and 72,365 miles, from the 9 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 2 service bulletins or notices for the 2017 Chevrolet Malibu that deal with this problem. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
This service bulletin informs dealers that a new Power Brake Booster Vacuum Cap will need to be replaced when installing the revised Power Brake Booster Vacuum Pipe to correct DTCs being set due to misrouting of brake booster vacuum pipe.
This Technical bulletin provides a fix to update the ECM if technicians find DTC P050F set or stored in history to correct a condition of Brake booster Weak vacuum.
What owners wrote
“In the last 6 months Iâve had to put 3 Brake Boosters on my 2017 Chevy Malibu and itâs NOT cheapâ¦. I donât know what else to do.”
Filed Feb 16, 2026
“Vacuum pump came apart inside the engine causing metal pieces to enter the engine”
Filed Jun 1, 2025
“Vacuum Pump exploded, my breaks went out on the freeway. Metal pieces from the pump went into engine. Broke the camshaft. Now having to pay hundreds and hundreds of dollars to repair. I am missing out on work u til this can be fixed.”
Filed Jul 28, 2024
“1, break vacuum pump. I have the defective unit available 2. My safety, my passengers and all other drivers were put at high risk 3. Defective vacuum pump verified my independent mechanic 4. Inspected by mechanic. Have not had anyone else inspect. 5. No warning of complete break failure”
Filed Sep 12, 2023
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 38 reports involved a crash. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Taking it to a shop? How to describe this problem so it gets found
Other problems on this car
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 124 reports
- "Shift to Park" or "Service Shifter" warning comes on 98 reports
- Check engine light or misfire 90 reports
- Traction control or StabiliTrak light comes on 53 reports
- Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 46 reports
- Battery dies or the car will not start 31 reports
- Power steering cuts out or goes heavy 29 reports