2017 Chevrolet Malibu electrical problems
172 of the 724 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2017 Chevrolet Malibu name the electrical system (NHTSA’s “Electrical System” heading — wiring, modules, batteries, charging, infotainment and driver displays — NHTSA's broadest heading). Filed under the same heading: 391 manufacturer bulletins, 1 NHTSA investigation. Every figure below is a document in a federal file, linked; none is a failure rate, and none is a verdict on any one car.
What owners filed about the electrical system
Source: NHTSA complaint database0 of the 172 reports a crash · 1 a fire · 0 injuries. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2017: 2 · 2018: 9 · 2019: 40 · 2020: 28 · 2021: 26 · 2022: 24 · 2023: 14 · 2024: 13 · 2025: 12 · 2026: 4
Half of the 81 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the electrical problem between 30,000 and 62,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
724 complaints in all about the 2017 Chevrolet Malibu, 4 filed in 2026. The whole picture, every system →
Counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many of these were sold; nothing here is a rate. NHTSA groups complaints coarsely, so “Electrical System” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.
Across model years: Chevrolet Malibu electrical problems, every year on file →
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the electrical system. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
In 2019 I took my vehicle under warranty to the purchasing dealership to fix a "shift to park" reading after the vehicle is parked. It precludes turning off the car. Repeatedly restarting the car and shifting to park and/or jiggling the controller in park usually stopped the reading.
the secondary battery that sits in the trunk, above the back driver side tire had a short. the cable bunt out and my car reduced speed and it had me pull over. I did not know this is what had happened until i drove it again and i could no longer start it. the shift knob is locked and cant put it on drive or neutral.
The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that after his wife parked the vehicle, the "Shift to Park" message was displayed while the gear selector was shifted into park(P).
Get "SHIFT TO PARK" after putting car in park to shut it off. I am unable to turn the car off - so do I leave it running in my garage? This is a known error that they charge to fix
Hybrid battery corrosion due to faulty brake light letting water intrude into trunk. I was out of country for most of 2019 and when I returned I went through mail and discovered a letter from GM stating that water can get into trunk and cabin from a chmsl.
What is on file about the electrical system
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsNHTSA investigation
- DP22005 Pedestrian alert soundsopened Jan 27, 2023 · closed Aug 7, 2023
- NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and ele…
391 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading
The 0 newest are listed; every one is on the model year’s page. Quote the document number at a service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.
Trouble codes named on this system
P0300 B3055 B3060 B3935 P2097 P06DE P2127 P0442
Codes a bulletin or an owner’s complaint about the 2017 Chevrolet Malibu names on this model year; a code with a record of its own links it.
Other systems with a record on the 2017 Chevrolet Malibu
Source: the same files- engine problems 261 complaints
- transmission and drivetrain problems 145 complaints
- fuel system problems 62 complaints
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre electrical problems common on the 2017 Chevrolet Malibu?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 172 owner complaints naming the electrical system on this model year (24% of everything owners filed about it), and 391 manufacturer bulletins, 1 NHTSA investigation are filed under the same heading. Whether it is a problem on one particular car is a diagnosis, not a count, and a count says nothing about how many were sold.
Is there a recall for the electrical system on the 2017 Chevrolet Malibu?
No recall campaign is filed under this heading for this model year (there are 4 filed under other headings). A bulletin is not a recall: it carries no federal duty to repair for free.
When do electrical problems show up on the 2017 Chevrolet Malibu?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 49,000 miles; half of them between 30,000 and 62,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Electrical System" heading cover?
Wiring, modules, batteries, charging, infotainment and driver displays — NHTSA's broadest heading. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.