2017 Chevrolet Malibu: Shift to park
Common wear/failure (not a recall)
Symptoms
Owners of the 2017 Malibu report: shift to park. CarComplaints.com lists 10 owner complaints, average mileage 33,800 miles.
NHTSA has 172 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 #11749242 (filed 07/09/2026): “When the vehicle is shifted into park and the ignition button is pressed, the vehicle fails to shut down. the dashboard displays a "shift to park" warning message, indicating the vehicle does not recognize that the gear selector is physically in the park posit…”
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: cables changed (4 reports). Check for open recalls and extended warranty coverage with a dealer before paying out of pocket.
DIY difficulty: Moderate
Finding and splicing chewed wiring is doable with a multimeter and patience but can be time-consuming; harness replacement is pro work. (Our assessment.)
Cost
CarComplaints.com owners report a typical repair cost of about $310 (owner-reported average, not a quote).
Typical parts (search links, no affiliate codes)
AutoZone · O'Reilly · Advance · RockAuto
Sources
Page last updated .