2017 Chevrolet Malibu · symptom sheet
Engine stalls or loses power while driving
- 124owner reports
- 52,000median miles
- $1,500median quote
- 1involved a crash
Newest report Aug 29, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
471 of the 702 complaints on this car are about the engine. 124 of those describe stalling, which makes it the most reported problem on the 2017 Malibu.
Tick what matches of 124 reports
Stalling 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.
What this problem usually is
Stalling reports are some of the most alarming on the site. The engine quits while the car is moving, sometimes on a highway and sometimes at a stop. Many owners say it restarted right away and the dealer found no stored code, which is part of why these complaints pile up before anything gets fixed.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the battery (26 reports), the throttle body (6 reports), the alternator (4 reports) and the fuel pump (3 reports).
Recalls and investigations
One recall on the engine covers the 2017 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.
The high pressure fuel pump may detach from its mounting flange, possibly resulting in the pump damaging the high pressure fuel line.
All 4 recalls on the 2017 Chevrolet Malibu, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
NHTSA investigations into the engine on the Malibu
Erratic fuel gauge. Closed dec 30, 2003.
Engine stall due to fuel starvation. Closed nov 3, 2003.
Engine coolant boils over. Closed sep 24, 2002.
None of these investigations covers the 2017 model year.
What owners paid
8 of the 124 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $700 to $4,000.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 35,000 and 72,365 miles, from the 86 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 7 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 advises the tech that the rotational Clicking Noise Heard After Engine Shut Down may be normal characteristics of the vehicle.
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have an intermittent no crank, no start, or start stall concern with the security light coming on.
This service bulletin provides a procedure to inspect and possibly repair terminals that may be damaged to correct customer concerns of Loss of Power, Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) Illuminated, Gauges Inoperative and/or Multiple Warning Lights/Messages ...
This Preliminary information communicates that a rotational clicking noise heard after engine shut down is a design characteristic and no repairs should be attempted.
3 more on the 2017 Chevrolet Malibu page.
What owners wrote
“Battery charging system is faulty. Drains battery and alternator shuts off. Car and other components shut off. Third brake light brakes when car is lifted or jacked, causes safety issue and concern. Worst part is cause expensive property damage to interior of vehicle from water leaking in.”
Filed Feb 11, 2023
“Engine shuts off while driving and sometimes will not restart. This is not the regular start/stop functionality. My car shuts of when it should not and creates a crash hazard.”
Filed Dec 5, 2022
“Engine power reduced, car reduces to 40-20 mph while in traffic. Has started to shut off completely while driving.”
Filed Oct 25, 2022
“When shutting off vehicle, will get an alert to put vehicle in park. Even though youâre in park. Engine will shut off but everything else stays on. Car will continuous beep. You then have to turn car on and off until message goes away.”
Filed Sep 14, 2022
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 1 of 124 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 Paid for this repair before a recall covered it? How recall reimbursement works
Other problems on this car
- "Shift to Park" or "Service Shifter" warning comes on 98 reports
- Check engine light or misfire 90 reports
- Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 71 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