RoadVitals

2017 Chevrolet Malibu Body & structure Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the body or structure system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Body & structure reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
18
Latest Sep 23, 2024
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
3%
of 698 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2017 Chevrolet Malibu submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 18 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming body or structure

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Body & structureElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Sep 23, 2024

Rear high mount brake light is loose allowing water to leak I. And around the electrical connections, rear speakers in vehicle have moisture around them, potentially causingin a short and fire hazard

NHTSA ID
11615919
Incident
Sep 22, 2024
Body & structureExterior lighting
Filed Jun 17, 2024

On March 18, 2024, I noticed that water began to enter the car when it was in the carwash. I opened a claim with the insurance company and an investigation was carried out that lasted approximately 3 months. On June 11, the body shop received my car to diagnose and provide a quote to the insurance company for the necessary repairs due to this water damage. The workshop considered it to be a problem in the upper rear brake light and mentioned that this is a Chevrolet recall on these cars. The insurance company called me and told me that I had to go directly to the dealer to have the necessary repairs made to my car that were caused by this water problem. However, I cannot find information about this recall online.

NHTSA ID
11594698
Incident
Mar 18, 2024
Body & structureVisibility
Filed Dec 19, 2023

Water was leaking through the center high mount stop lamp and pooling into the spare tire well. Water was also soaking through the rear headliner. Condensation was building up inside the vehicle due to the pooled water and water soaked headliner. Condensation buildup inside the vehicle with numerous electrical components is not safe. The vehicle has been taken to the Galleria Chevrolet dealership in Dallas, Texas for repairs. Galleria Chevrolet failed to repair the issue even after giving them notice of the service bulletin [XXX] Center High Mount Stop Lamp Water Leak. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID
11560940
Incident
Dec 14, 2023
Body & structure
Filed Mar 15, 2023

The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that water was leaking into the vehicle from the headliner by the rear third brake light. The dealer was contacted and notified of the failure, and the dealer stated that the warranty had expired on the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted but offered no assistance. The failure mileage was 92,000.

NHTSA ID
11512021
Incident
Dec 22, 2022
Mileage
92,000 mi
Body & structureExterior lightingSuspension
Filed Nov 16, 2020

THE THIRD BRAKE LIGHT CRACKED IN THREE PLACES AND NOW WATER IS IN THE CAR AND TRUNK. I SAW SPECIAL COVERAGE FOR THE CAR JUST FOR THIS ISSUE BUT THE DEALERSHIP STATES IT ISNT COVERED FOR MY VIN.. ALSO, THERE IS A POPPING NOISE UNDER THE CAR WHEN I TAKE OFF, TURN CURVES, GET OUT OF THE CAR ETC. SEEMS TO BE BUSHINGS WEARING OUT AND IS A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM. AGAIN, MY CAR IS NOT COVERED.

NHTSA ID
11374924
Incident
Nov 16, 2020
Mileage
76,918 mi
Body & structure
Filed Sep 15, 2020

I ALWAYS NOTICE A SMELL AND FOGGY WINDOWS AFTER RAINY DAYS ON MY STATIONARY VEHICLE BUT THOUGH LITTLE OF IT WE JUST GOT HIT BY HURRICANE LAURA WITH NO DAMAGE TO VEHICLE BUT LIGHT SCRATCHING AS I WAS GOING TO TAKE MY FAMILY OUT OF TOWN WHILE POWER RESTORATION EFFORTS STARTED I OPENED MY TRUCK (AS I RARELY USE IT)TO FIND MY SPARE TIRE COMPARTMENT COMPLETELY COVERED IN WATER AND MOLD GROWING IN THE INTERIOR I CALLED MY INSURANCE ABOUT IT BUT IT IS NOT COVERD UN INSURANCE AND WAS TOLD TO LOOK FOR RECALLS AS THIS VEHICLE HAS MANY ISSUES WITH THIS PROBLEM A PRESSURE TEST REVEALED WATER IS COMING IN FROM NO ALL COMPONENTS OF SPARE TIRE ARE RUSTED OR HAVE MOLD GROWING ON THEM AND ALL TRUCK INTERIOR IS FULL OF MOLD GROWTY

NHTSA ID
11355226
Incident
Aug 27, 2020
Body & structure
Filed Jul 14, 2020

I'VE NOTICED THAT WHEN IT RAINS THE RAIN COMES INSIDE THE CAR AND THE TRUNK .

NHTSA ID
11339268
Incident
Jul 10, 2020
Body & structure
Filed Jun 4, 2020

I OPENED MY TRUNK UNDER THE SPARE TIRE AND THERE WAS WATER FILLED IN THE TRUNK. I DID MY RESEARCH AND I FOUND PLENTY OF MALIBU'S WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID
11327264
Incident
Nov 20, 2019
Mileage
63,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed May 29, 2020

THE TOP OF THE REAR WINDOW NEAR THE THIRD BREAK LIGHT STARTING LEAKING. I REVIEWED ONLINE CHEVROLET FORUMS WITH COMMON COMPLAINTS AND READ THE DEFECT COULD BE RELATED TO RECENT RECALLS WITH THE VEHICLE. ALSO, THE LEAK IS CAUSE DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLES INTERIOR PANELS. *TR

NHTSA ID
11326541
Incident
Aug 1, 2019
Mileage
60,000 mi
Body & structureExterior lighting
Filed Sep 23, 2019

I HAVE NOTICED A FUNKY SMELL ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR IN AUGUST 2017. THE SMELL WOULD GO AWAY SO I NEVER LOOKED INTO IT. AFTER A BAD RAIN STORM, THE INTERIOR SMELLED AGAIN. I WENT INTO THE TRUNK A DAY LATER AND THE TIRE WELL COVER WAS WET. I FOUND WATER UNDER THE COVER AND SAW THAT IT RAN IN FROM UNDER THE DRIVER SIDE REAR WINDOW AREA. I ALSO FOUND WATER TRAILS DOWN THE REAR WINDOW SIDE PLASTIC CASING INSIDE THE CAR. I RESEARCHED AND FOUND MANY MANY COMPLAINTS FROM 2016 THRU 2019 VEHICLES ABOUT THE 3RD BREAK LIGHT LEAKING DUE TO LOOSE SCREWS. SOUNDS TO THIS IS A HUGE ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY GM. A SIMPLE FIX OF TIGHTENING THE SCREWS OR USING LOCK TYPE SCREWS. WHY DO I HAVE TO PAY FOR DIAGNOSTICS AND REPAIR FOR SOMETHING GM IS NOT DOING

NHTSA ID
11257445
Incident
Sep 6, 2019
Mileage
54,000 mi
Body & structureExterior lightingPowertrain (other)
Filed Jun 6, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT NOTICED WATER ENTERING THE VEHICLE AND THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE WAS WET. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AUTONATION CHEVROLET NORTHPOINT (2175 MANSELL RD, ALPHARETTA, GA 30009, (678) 601-2485) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT WATER WAS ENTERING THE VEHICLE FROM THE REAR TAIL LIGHTS AND THE DOME LIGHT INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE MOISTURE CAUSED THE WINDOWS TO FOG. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO AUTONATION CHEVROLET NORTHPOINT, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS UNDETERMINED. IN ADDITION, THE GEAR SHIFTER FAILED TO ENGAGE IN PARK AND THE CONTACT HAD TO FORCE THE SHIFTER INTO PARK. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE GEAR SHIFTER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE DEALER, THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WITH A 2018 PART THAT WAS NOT COMPATIBLE WITH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 145,300.

NHTSA ID
11218314
Incident
Nov 1, 2017
Mileage
145,300 mi
Body & structure
Filed May 29, 2019

MY VEHICLE LEAKS WATER AT THE TOP OF THE BACK WINDSHIELD. THE WATER RUNS DOWN THE METAL BODY INTO THE SPARE TIRE WELL IN THE TRUNK. WHEN I DISCOVERED IT, THERE WAS 10 INCHES OF WATER IN THE SPARE TIRE WELL. THE BODY WALL IS RUSTING AT THE TOP, WEAKENING THE BODY WALL AND JEOPARDIZING THE INTEGRITY AND SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE. THERE ARE WIDESPREAD COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET ABOUT THIS PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID
11210625
Incident
May 26, 2019
Body & structureVisibility
Filed Sep 14, 2018

I WENT INSIDE A CAR WASH AND WHEN MY CAR WAS BEEN WASH THE WATER WAS GETTING INSIDE FROM THE BACK ROOF NEXT TO THE BACK WINDOW I TOLD THE DEALER BUT THEY WANT ME TO PAY FOR A DIAGNOSTIC WHEN IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE CAR ISSUE. MY WATER PUMP IS NOT WORKING CAN NOT USE IT IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY ON THE ROAD CAN NOT CLEAN IT USING MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS

NHTSA ID
11129610
Incident
Jul 20, 2018
Mileage
33,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Aug 30, 2018

VEHICLE WAS LEAKING INTO CABIN THROUGH THE THIRD BRAKE LIGHT CAUSED BY A FAULTY GASKET.

NHTSA ID
11123380
Incident
Jul 28, 2018
Mileage
9,300 mi
Body & structureInterior & seats
Filed May 21, 2018

WE HAD A DOWN POUR 05/20/2018 IN KISSIMMEE, FLORIDA. MY VEHICLE HAD STAND STILL WATER IN MY TRUNK, THE WATER SEEPED THROUGH TO THE INTERIOR DAMAGING THE REAR SEATS, WATER COVERED THE FLOOR, THERE ARE STAINS ON THE ROOF AND THE SMELL OF AGED WATER IS THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE VEHICLE. MY VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND UNOCCUPIED, THE TRUNK WAS CLOSED AND THE WINDOWS WERE UP AS NORMAL AS MY VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR THE NIGHT.

NHTSA ID
11097082
Incident
May 20, 2018
Mileage
4,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed May 3, 2018

BACK WINDOW IS LEAKING WATER INTO THE INTERIOR AND INSIDE THE HEADLINER. NOTICED AFTER HEAVY RAINS AS WELL AS WHEN USING THE CAR WASH.

NHTSA ID
11091659
Incident
Apr 14, 2018
Mileage
51,796 mi
Body & structureEngineInterior & seats
Filed Mar 21, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOORS WOULD NOT LOCK OR UNLOCK WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ENTER OR EXIT THE VEHICLE. ALSO, ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE ENGINE WOULD NOT START AND THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO RUSH CHEVROLET (1395 W. HIGHWAY 290, ELGIN, TX). THE DEALER REPLACED THE REMOTE DOOR LOCK, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE ENGINE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,700.

NHTSA ID
11080697
Incident
Feb 1, 2018
Mileage
2,700 mi
Body & structureEngineOther / unspecified
Filed Jul 28, 2017
Fire reported

THE CAR WAS PARKED AND OFF IN OUR DRIVEWAY FOR 15 MINUTES -HORN STARTED WENT OUT SAW SMOKE CALLED 911 AND BY THE TIME BACK AT FRONT DOOR FLAMES FROM FRONT END. FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME AND PUT OUT FIRE -CAR TOTALED. WORRIED ABOUT SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION ESPECIALLY IF CAR PARKED IN GARAGE OR CLOSER TO HOUSE OR IF PEOPLE INSIDE

NHTSA ID
11011224
Incident
Jul 8, 2017
Mileage
5,000 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .