YearToAvoid

2017 Chevrolet Malibu Structure & Body Problems

Structure & Body complaints account for 24 of 702 total complaints (3%) on the 2017 Chevrolet Malibu, with a median failure mileage of 54,500 miles. No related recall exists for this issue. The dominant pattern is water leaking into the cabin and trunk, usually near the rear window or third brake light.

Structure & Body complaints
24
3% of 702
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
1
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
54,500 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical body and structure symptoms owners report

  • Water leaks into the trunk and rear seat area through the back window or third brake light gasket, often noticed after heavy rain or a car wash.
  • Owners describe wet spare tire wells, soaked carpets, musty smells, and in one case rusting at the top of the body wall.
  • Door lock actuators fail intermittently, sometimes paired with the engine not starting and the check engine light coming on.
  • The horizontal power seat adjustment motor breaks, leaving the seat stuck in one position and unable to move forward.
  • One reported fire started while the car was parked and off in the owner's driveway, resulting in a total loss.

When 2017 Chevrolet Malibu body and structure complaints were filed

First complaint Jul 28, 2017, latest Jul 10, 2026.

2017 Chevrolet Malibu structure & body complaints: complaints filed per month2Jul 2017Aug 2018Jun 2019Apr 2020Jul 2020May 2022Dec 2023May 2025
24 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jul 2017 to Jul 2026; peak May 2018 (2).

Structure & Body recalls for the 2017 Chevrolet Malibu

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Structure & Body complaints by Malibu model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 201079 (6%)
  2. 201158 (6%)
  3. 201253 (6%)
  4. 201347 (6%)
  5. 201418 (5%)
  6. 201522 (8%)
  7. 201647 (6%)
  8. 201724 (3%)
  9. 20189 (1%)
  10. 20193 (2%)
  11. 20202 (1%)
  12. 20213 (3%)
  13. 20222 (2%)
  14. 20232 (3%)
  15. 20242 (5%)
  16. 20250 (0%)

Frequently asked questions

How common are structure and body complaints on the 2017 Chevrolet Malibu?
NHTSA lists 24 Structure & Body complaints for the 2017 Malibu, which is 3% of the 702 total complaints filed for that year.
Is there a recall for water leaks in the 2017 Chevrolet Malibu?
No related recall is listed in NHTSA data for this Structure & Body issue on the 2017 Malibu.
At what mileage do structure and body problems usually appear on the 2017 Malibu?
The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for this problem area is 54,500 miles.
What is the most common structure and body complaint on the 2017 Malibu?
The most frequent pattern in owner complaints is water intrusion into the trunk and cabin, typically entering near the rear window or third brake light.
Did any 2017 Malibu structure and body complaints involve fires or crashes?
NHTSA records show 1 fire and 0 crashes among the 24 Structure & Body complaints for the 2017 Malibu.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.