YearToAvoid

2017 Chevrolet Malibu Transmission & Powertrain Problems

NHTSA lists 139 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2017 Chevrolet Malibu, 20% of all 702 complaints filed for that year. Owners report failures around a median 48,875 miles, with no related recalls on file and no crashes, fires, or injuries recorded.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints
139
20% of 702
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
48,875 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical transmission symptoms owners report

  • Owners report a persistent "shift to park" warning that appears even when the vehicle is already in park, preventing the engine from shutting off until the shifter is cycled multiple times.
  • Some drivers describe the accelerator pedal failing to respond when pressed, with the vehicle not accelerating despite no warning lights.
  • Several complaints describe the vehicle stalling unexpectedly, sometimes triggering a check engine light and diagnostic trouble code.
  • One owner researched the transmission model installed in the car and argued the torque rating did not match the engine's output.
  • Repeated repairs to the transmission and accelerator system were reported by at least one owner, with the same issues recurring after service.

When 2017 Chevrolet Malibu transmission complaints were filed

First complaint Jun 12, 2017, latest Sep 9, 2026.

2017 Chevrolet Malibu transmission & powertrain complaints: complaints filed per quarter142017 Q22019 Q42021 Q12022 Q22023 Q32024 Q42026 Q1
139 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2017 Q2 to 2026 Q3; peak 2020 Q3 (14).

Transmission & Powertrain recalls for the 2017 Chevrolet Malibu

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints by Malibu model year

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

  1. 200565 (7%)
  2. 200643 (4%)
  3. 200747 (5%)
  4. 200886 (9%)
  5. 2009121 (8%)
  6. 2010133 (10%)
  7. 2011112 (11%)
  8. 201249 (5%)
  9. 201353 (6%)
  10. 201452 (15%)
  11. 201531 (11%)
  12. 2016166 (20%)
  13. 2017139 (20%)
  14. 2018170 (24%)
  15. 201966 (35%)
  16. 202058 (29%)
  17. 202128 (31%)
  18. 202223 (24%)
  19. 20238 (12%)
  20. 20245 (13%)
  21. 20251 (9%)

Frequently asked questions

How common are transmission problems in the 2017 Chevrolet Malibu?
NHTSA has logged 139 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2017 Malibu, which makes up 20% of the 702 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2017 Chevrolet Malibu transmission?
No. NHTSA lists no related recalls tied to this transmission and powertrain complaint category for the 2017 Malibu.
At what mileage do 2017 Malibu transmission problems usually happen?
The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for this problem area is 48,875 miles.
What is the most common transmission complaint on the 2017 Malibu?
The most frequently described issue is a "shift to park" warning that displays even when the car is already parked, along with reports of stalling and accelerator non-response.
Have any crashes or injuries resulted from these transmission issues?
NHTSA data shows 0 crashes, 0 fires, and 0 injuries linked to this complaint area 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.