While driving going at least 70 MPH I get a engine power reduced message and it start happening every 10 minutes now as soon as you turn the car on it says engine power reduced and won't go over 30 MPH. Had it hooked up to a machine and was told it was my accelerator which apparently is a issue in the 2017 malibu's
2017 Chevrolet Malibu cruise control problems
moderate 96 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $600 · see cruise control across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
96
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$600
When does it fail?
Of the 96 cruise control complaints filed for the 2017 Chevrolet Malibu, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 50,000-75,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Owners have filed 96 cruise control complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Among the 16 model years of Chevrolet Malibu in our records for cruise control problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: The 2017 Chevy Malibu has a well-documented accelerator pedal position sensor defect that can trigger sudden, severe power loss at highway speeds—a serious safety hazard. This failure is known by dealers, was addressed in a TSB and GM's extended coverage program (expired 2020), and is subject to a class-action lawsuit; however, no broad recall has been issued. Buyers should avoid this model or have any used example thoroughly inspected and the pedal assembly replaced preemptively, as repairs are costly and failures recur.
The 2017 Chevy Malibu generates a consistent, dangerous failure pattern: the "Reduced Engine Power" message appears on the dashboard, the engine goes into limp mode, and vehicle speed drops from highway speeds (65–80 mph) to 20–30 mph—sometimes lower—without warning. Owners report this happens while driving freeways, interstates, and city streets. Many describe having to pull over immediately to turn the car off and restart it to regain normal function, though the check engine light often stays on afterward. Diagnostic codes point to the accelerator pedal position sensor (P2138, P2122, P2127 most common). Owners also report "Shift to Park" error messages when the transmission won't engage park mode unless shifted repeatedly, preventing engine shutdown. Some describe unrelated but concurrent problems: traction control lights, stability control warnings, hard brake pedals (linked to vacuum pump failure in several cases), and loss of motive power on hills. A few owners mention jerky acceleration at low speeds—the pedal not responding until pressed harder, then suddenly surging. Multiple owners note the dealer has acknowledged seeing this repeatedly, and some reference a known Technical Service Bulletin and class-action lawsuit (Rothschild v. General Motors). The vacuum pump failures appear in a few narratives and involved shattered internal components causing complete brake failure at highway speed. Owners report repeated repairs of the same part with recurring failures, sometimes within months. Cost varies; some owners replaced the pedal assembly themselves for ~$114, while dealer estimates and full engine replacements reached thousands of dollars.
Same Chevrolet Malibu cruise control reports on nearby years: 2015 · 2016 · 2018
Failure modes owners describe
Accelerator Pedal Position Sensor Failure – Reduced Engine Power Mode
The accelerator pedal position sensor fails intermittently or completely, triggering 'Engine Power Reduced' and 'Check Engine' messages. Vehicle speed drops suddenly from highway speeds to 20–30 mph, making acceleration impossible. The condition typically resolves after turning the car off and restarting, though the check engine light often persists.
When: Occurs at all speeds and driving conditions; many incidents reported between 20k–90k miles. Owners report initial failures within first 1–2 years of ownership and recurring failures after sensor replacement.
Symptoms owners cite: Engine Power Reduced message on dashboard; Check Engine light illumination; Sudden loss of acceleration; vehicle limited to 5–30 mph; Traction Control light comes on (sometimes); Temporary recovery after turning vehicle off and restarting; Repeated failures of same component within months of repair
Codes mentioned: P2138, P2122, P2127, P0016, P0017, P1101, P0014
Repairs/costs cited: Accelerator pedal assembly replacement; owners cite dealership costs and parts scarcity. Some owners replaced the pedal themselves for ~$114. Multiple repairs on same vehicle reported (up to 11 times for one owner over 3 years), yet failures continued.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Technical Service Bulletin acknowledged by at least one dealership parts manager as a known, recurring issue. Class-action lawsuit filed: Rothschild v. General Motors LLC, Case No. 1:19-CV-05240 (U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York). GM extended a special coverage program until 2020 for accelerator pedal issues on 2016–2018 vehicles; program has since expired. No broad recall issued despite widespread complaints.
Transmission Shift-to-Park Error – Limp Mode / Transmission Lock
The transmission displays 'Shift to Park' error message when the vehicle is already in park, preventing engine shutdown. Vehicle may also refuse to engage gears or allows shifter movement without catching into gear. Owners must repeatedly shift back and forth between gears to clear the error.
When: Reported in early ownership (January 2018 in one case with 20-mile purchase). Timing varied; some instances linked to weekend failures requiring Monday service delays.
Symptoms owners cite: Shift to Park error message when car is in Park; Transmission will not lock into Park; Shifter moves loosely without catching into gear; Engine cannot be turned off without repeated shift attempts; Gear indicator lights (D, R, L) may not illuminate during failure
Codes mentioned: Shift to Park error message (no specific OBD code cited in narratives)
Repairs/costs cited: Repairs performed but specific parts and costs not detailed in narratives. One owner mentioned waiting until Monday to bring vehicle in after weekend occurrence.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No manufacturer response documented in narratives. OnStar system in one case advised owner to service vehicle immediately due to communication loss with vehicle systems.
Vacuum Pump Failure – Loss of Brake Assist and Engine Shutdown
The brake vacuum pump shatters internally, causing complete loss of brake assist and engine power loss while driving. Brake pedal becomes hard and unresponsive. Vehicle may shut down at highway speed without warning.
When: Reported between 50k–80k miles in two narratives; one occurred at 70 mph on freeway.
Symptoms owners cite: Engine shuts down while driving at highway speed; Brake pedal becomes hard as a rock; no brake assist; Hissing sound from engine; vacuum leak audible when car shuts off; Engine fan runs continuously after shutdown; Vehicle enters limp mode; cannot climb hills; Engine Power Reduced message appears simultaneously
Codes mentioned: Brake Booster Sensor code (specific code not provided in narrative), No Remote Detected message
Repairs/costs cited: Local mechanic discovered shattered vacuum pump requiring replacement, also replaced brake sensor. Estimate for full dealer repair: $8,224.80 for new engine (in one case with low compression in cylinder, possibly secondary to vacuum pump failure). Parts replaced: vacuum pump and brake sensor.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: One owner referenced recalls for vacuum pump and brake booster on 2013–2022 Chevy Malibu models on NHTSA website. No dealer or manufacturer assistance provided; vehicle out of warranty. Owner awaiting recall.
Auto Stop/Start Malfunction – Engine Stalling at Red Lights and Stops
The engine-stop-start (Auto Stop) system fails, causing the vehicle to cut off at red lights and traffic stops. Engine restarts erratically with hissing sounds and water-pipe sounds. Radio and climate controls turn off and on with each cycle. Check Engine light and Steering Assist Reduced alerts appear with each Auto Stop event.
When: Reported in 2020 (mid-June onset); owner noted water-sound started March 2020, stopping issue started late June 2020.
Symptoms owners cite: Engine cuts off at red lights and traffic stops (Auto Stop activation); Check Engine light comes on with each stop; Steering Assist Reduced warning message appears; Radio and air conditioning shut off during Auto Stop; Radio screen goes black temporarily; Hissing sound when engine restarts; Water-pipe sound during or after Auto Stop; Shift to Park error message (secondary symptom in this case)
Codes mentioned: Check Engine light (specific code not provided)
Repairs/costs cited: No repair completion documented in narrative. Owner attempted restart but transmission would not catch into gears initially; problem resolved after restart attempt.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No manufacturer response documented.
Accelerator Pedal Delayed Response / Surging – Low-Speed Jerking
At low speeds or from a stop, the accelerator pedal does not respond immediately. Pressing the pedal harder causes a sudden surge or jerk forward. Vehicle may hesitate or not move at all initially, then suddenly accelerate.
When: Reported during vehicle purchase period (week 2 of ownership) and in early months; one owner on Sunday pulling out of driveway.
Symptoms owners cite: Pedal not responsive at initial press when stopped; Jerking/surging acceleration after delay; Vehicle hesitates before moving; Sudden acceleration after prolonged pedal pressure; Check Engine light may come on after events
Codes mentioned: Emission issue message (one owner)
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer performed computer update ($100 charge); technician could not identify root cause. Update may have temporarily masked symptom but did not resolve underlying issue.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership service manager acknowledged multiple customers reported the same acceleration issue. Update performed, but no formal recall or technical bulletin for this specific symptom cited.
Engine Limp Mode / Complete Power Loss – Unrelated to Accelerator Sensor
Vehicle enters limp mode or complete power loss during normal highway driving without 'Engine Power Reduced' message or with engine codes unrelated to accelerator sensor (e.g., exhaust camshaft timing codes, oil pressure/gasket issues). Engine cannot climb hills; no power available.
When: Varied timing; one owner reported after dealer service on PCV system; others at high mileage (70k+) or during weather changes.
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden loss of engine power on highway; Vehicle cannot climb hills; Engine runs but no motive power available; Multiple warning codes: P0014, P0017, P1101 cited; Problem triggered or worsens after recent dealer PCV/related service
Codes mentioned: P0014, P0017, P1101, Oil pressure codes (referenced but not specified), Oil gasket fault codes (referenced but not specified)
Repairs/costs cited: One owner diagnosed with low compression in one cylinder requiring new engine at $8,224.80. Owners cite ongoing misdiagnosis (oil pressure, oil gasket) by dealership with no resolution. Parts may include PCV system components, but repairs not completed in all cases.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: One owner found recall references on NHTSA for vacuum pump and brake booster. Dealership service managers misdiagnosed issues as oil-related. No clear manufacturer guidance or TSB provided to owners.
Synthesized from 96 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 4 most recent
Reduced speed engine problem will reduce speed while driving
The car randomly will reduce engine power, lowering speeds to 20mph or less. This happens unexpectedly. This has occured over 20 times over the past 7 days, including on the highway. I was driving on the highway at 70mph and the immediately dropped to 20mph, causing me to swerve to the shoulder and almost was hit by three on coming vehicles at high rates of speed.
While driving at highway speeds, my vehicle suddenly experienced a loss of engine power and reduced acceleration. The traction control light and engine light illuminated, and a “Reduced Engine Power” message appeared. The vehicle would not respond to the accelerator, creating a serious safety hazard. This occurred shortly after authorized dealer service involving the PCV system and related…
Had cruise control trouble with your 2017 Chevrolet Malibu?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the cruise control problem on the 2017 Chevrolet Malibu?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 96 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $600 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the cruise control typically fail?
Across the 60 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most cruise control failures cluster between 43,355 and 74,500 miles, with the median around 59,621. A quarter of owners report trouble before 43,355; a quarter make it past 74,500. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $600 for cruise control repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to cruise control?
No active recalls currently cover cruise control issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2017/Chevrolet/Malibu.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.