2017 Chevrolet Malibu transmission and drivetrain problems
145 of the 724 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2017 Chevrolet Malibu name the transmission and drivetrain (NHTSA’s “Power Train” heading — the transmission, transfer case, driveshafts, axles and differentials — NHTSA files them under one heading). Filed under the same heading: 161 manufacturer bulletins. 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 transmission and drivetrain
Source: NHTSA complaint database0 of the 145 reports a crash · 0 a fire · 0 injuries. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2017: 2 · 2018: 1 · 2019: 27 · 2020: 35 · 2021: 15 · 2022: 27 · 2023: 11 · 2024: 9 · 2025: 13 · 2026: 5
Half of the 81 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the transmission and drivetrain problem between 30,000 and 70,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
724 complaints in all about the 2017 Chevrolet Malibu, 5 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 “Power Train” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.
Across model years: Chevrolet Malibu transmission and drivetrain problems, every year on file →
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the transmission and drivetrain. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
The car completely lost power while being driven on a freeway in Sacramento, California. The car was towed to a Chevrolet dealer in Davis, California and they determined that the car lost power due to a faulty Auxiliary Battery Negative Cable Assembly (Part # 84085823).
In order to turn off the vehicle, the vehicle must be in park. I have experienced several incidences where, despite being in park (shifter is moved all the way forward and the “P” is red on the dash display), the vehicle will not turn off and states to shift to park to turn off.
This class action lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan by three separate plaintiffs in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Maryland, Car Complaints reports.
I placed my car in park and turned off the vehicle. However, the vehicle's dash stated 'shift to park.' although the engine turned off none of the electrical shut down and the vehicle sent notification that the keys were left in the car when they were not. This happened several time.
Shift to park light would display on the control panel and the car would not cut off completely.. This issue began intermittently and finally became constant. Diagnostics found internal fault in the shift control. Shift control was removed and replaced at a cost of $394.77 by woodall Chevrolet in danville, virginia
What is on file about the transmission and drivetrain
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications161 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
P1101 P0747 P1AEE P1AEF P1AF0 P1AF2 P1E22 P0299
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
- fuel system problems 62 complaints
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre transmission and drivetrain problems common on the 2017 Chevrolet Malibu?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 145 owner complaints naming the transmission and drivetrain on this model year (20% of everything owners filed about it), and 161 manufacturer bulletins 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 transmission and drivetrain 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 transmission and drivetrain problems show up on the 2017 Chevrolet Malibu?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 48,750 miles; half of them between 30,000 and 70,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Power Train" heading cover?
The transmission, transfer case, driveshafts, axles and differentials — NHTSA files them under one heading. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.