2017 Chevrolet Malibu fuel system problems
62 of the 724 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2017 Chevrolet Malibu name the fuel system (NHTSA’s “Fuel/Propulsion System” heading — fuel tanks, lines, pumps and injection — and on an EV, the propulsion battery and motors). Filed under the same heading: 1 recall. 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 fuel system
Source: NHTSA complaint database1 of the 62 reports a crash · 0 a fire · 2 injuries. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2017: 1 · 2018: 5 · 2019: 13 · 2020: 9 · 2021: 12 · 2022: 5 · 2023: 3 · 2024: 5 · 2025: 8 · 2026: 1
Half of the 31 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the fuel system problem between 23,000 and 69,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
724 complaints in all about the 2017 Chevrolet Malibu, 1 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 “Fuel/Propulsion System” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.
Across model years: Chevrolet Malibu fuel system problems, every year on file →
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the fuel system. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
Car voltage stays very high (between 14.8 and 15 volts) for extended periods of time. At which point the windows have fogged up and there is a raw egg smell in the cabin - probably Sulfur. Both the hybrid and the 12v car battery are located in the truck and there are vents that draw air from the cabin to ventilate those batteries.
Fuel tank will not fill completely. It will only fill to 7/8ths at best. There are other complaints about this in online forums
Whenever I fill the take from e I have to at least refill an additional two times per week. The gas goes really fast and I can't even get 13 gallons in my tank. I get about 21 MPG every trip
Car is burning more fuel than usual and it is hesitant to take off; like the turbo is no longer working
My 2017 chevy Malibu has periodically showed a reduced power mode alert in the dash while driving and then the car drops down to under 40 MPH and when I push the gas it won't accelerate. The check engine light comes on every time but within days it goes off and drives fine until it happens again with no warning.
What is on file about the fuel system
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsRecall filed under this heading
- 18V358000 HighMay 31, 2018 · 895 vehicles
- General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2018 GMC Canyon, 2016-2017 Buick Envision, 2016-2018 Chevrolet Colorado and Malibu, 2017-2018 GMC Acadia, 2018 Buick LaCrosse, Cadillac ATS, Chevrolet Equinox, and GMC Terrain vehicles. The high pressure fuel pump may detach from its mounting flange, possibly resulting in the pump damaging the high pressure fuel line.
Trouble codes named on this system
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
- electrical problems 172 complaints
- transmission and drivetrain problems 145 complaints
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre fuel system problems common on the 2017 Chevrolet Malibu?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 62 owner complaints naming the fuel system on this model year (9% of everything owners filed about it), and 1 recall is 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 fuel system on the 2017 Chevrolet Malibu?
Yes — one campaign is filed under this heading: 18V358000. A recall is matched by VIN; check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
When do fuel system problems show up on the 2017 Chevrolet Malibu?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 52,000 miles; half of them between 23,000 and 69,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Fuel/Propulsion System" heading cover?
Fuel tanks, lines, pumps and injection — and on an EV, the propulsion battery and motors. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.