2017 Chevrolet Malibu: Check engine light on
Common wear/failure (not a recall)
Symptoms
Owners of the 2017 Malibu report: check engine light on. CarComplaints.com lists 6 owner complaints, average mileage 68,600 miles.
NHTSA has 261 owner complaints for the 2017 Malibu in this area. Examples:
- NHTSA complaint ODI #11760675 (filed 08/29/2026): “The vehicle is experiencing an apparent fuel-system malfunction. the vehicle has a very strong raw gasoline odor, significant difficulty starting, and appears to be consuming fuel at an abnormally high rate. after filling the fuel tank completely, i drove appr…”
- NHTSA complaint ODI #11748133 (filed 07/03/2026): “I was driving back home and stopped at a red light. when the light turned green i started driving, but my car was jerking a little too much. i pulled over and turned my car off. when i cut my car back on my brake became very hard to the point i had to push dow…”
Likely causes
Sources do not establish a single root cause; diagnosis is needed. Owner-reported fixes are listed below.
Fix, in plain English
Most common owner-reported solutions on CarComplaints.com: replace charge air cooler & sensor (1 reports). Check for open recalls and extended warranty coverage with a dealer before paying out of pocket.
DIY difficulty: Pro
Internal engine work (lifters, oil consumption, fuel dilution diagnosis) requires engine teardown or dealer software/tests. (Our assessment.)
Cost
CarComplaints.com owners report a typical repair cost of about $660 (owner-reported average, not a quote).
Typical parts (search links, no affiliate codes)
AutoZone · O'Reilly · Advance · RockAuto
Sources
Page last updated .