Power Train Problems of Chevrolet Malibu - part 2

My car is displaying a "shift to park" message on the dashboard even when the shifter is already in the park position, preventing the vehicle from being turned off and potentially leading to a dead battery or the vehicle rolling away. The "shift to park" issue poses safety risks, as it can prevent drivers from turning off their vehicles and potentially lead to unintended movement. This issue is getting worse everyday.

See all problems of the 2020 Chevrolet Malibu 🔎.

"shift to park" error message and "engine power is reduced" error message.

Rocker arm malfunction. This car has repeatedly shut off while driving without warning and the rocker arm has been the only code. I saw this has been a problem for the 2014-2015 Malibu and impala models and this should be recalled due to faulty equipment and not to be repaired at the cost of the owners.

See all problems of the 2015 Chevrolet Malibu 🔎.

The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that on several occasions after shifting the gear shifter to park(p), and turning off the vehicle, the contact observed a dinging notification and the message "shift to park" was displayed on the instrument panel. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

See all problems of the 2017 Chevrolet Malibu 🔎.

We have had multiple codes with loss of power.

The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that occasionally while shifting into park(p), the computer failed register that the vehicle was in park(p). The message "shift to park" was displayed on the instrument panel. The contact stated that during the failure, the doors failed to lock. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where the vehicle was diagnosed, and the contact was informed that the shifter, shifter harness, and the shifter switch needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 47,000.

See all problems of the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu 🔎.

Car will not turn off. Message of “shift to park” will appear even if shift is in park. This is a safety issue. I just bought my car 2 days ago and it keeps happening. The car is only at approximately 44,000 miles.

See all problems of the 2022 Chevrolet Malibu 🔎.

While driving, random and complete engine power loss for several seconds, unable to accelerate at all. After power is regained, a cloud of white smoke is seen from the exhaust. The vehicle then drives completely normal, and no codes show up on the dashboard. This has happened three times within two months at around 100000mi on the odometer. Complete power loss could result in being a hazard to other drivers, along with not allowing the driver to make decisions to avoid an accident or propel their vehicle forward. The vehicle is going in for inspection within the next two weeks to determine cause.

Engine power reduced light keeps coming on while driving and the car stalls and won't go over 20mph. Several repairs later and it is still happening almost daily. It has nearly caused an accident several times. This needs to be fixed and a recall for the issue needs to be issued by chevy. With this many people experiencing this problem, why isn't chevy obligated to address the issue?.

See all problems of the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu 🔎.

Engine power abruptly stopped while driving causing drivers behind me to almost rear end me. Dashboard displays ‘engine power is reduced. ’ it has happened since I purchased the vehicle in 2017 but had not done this in a few years. I’m on top of maintenance and did mention this issue to the dealer but no one reached out or offered a solution.

Shift to park notification. The car would show this light when it actually is in park already. Would not allow the car to shut off. Appears to be fixed after paying the extended warranty deductible at the dealership. I looked for a recall, but the 2022 Malibu lt is not included in the recall.

I am writing to formally lodge a complaint regarding an ongoing issue I have encountered with my 2016 Chevrolet Malibu. Recently, I experienced a significant problem with the vehicle’s trunk and rear seat release mechanism, which has made it impossible for me to access the trunk or fold down the rear seats. The specific issues I am facing are as follows: trunk latch stuck: the trunk latch has become stuck, and I am unable to open the trunk manually or with the remote key fob. The latch mechanism appears to be malfunctioning, and it will not unlatch when attempting to open it. Remote key fob failure: the remote key fob, which is typically used to release the trunk, no longer works, making it impossible to access the trunk from outside the vehicle. Seat release mechanism: additionally, the release button for folding down the rear seats is also not functioning, and I cannot lower the seats from inside the cabin. Typically, this release mechanism can be accessed from the trunk; however, due to the trunk being inaccessible, I am unable to release the seats, which is an urgent issue. This situation is highly inconvenient and concerning, as I rely on the trunk and rear seats for storage and daily functionality. The inability to access the trunk or fold down the seats creates a major safety and usability issue, especially in situations where I need access to the trunk in emergencies. I kindly request that this issue be investigated and resolved as soon as possible. Ideally, I would like to have the trunk latch mechanism repaired and the seat release system fixed so that I can safely and reliably use my vehicle. Please let me know how we can proceed to address this matter, whether through an inspection, repair, or replacement of the defective components. Thank you for your prompt attention to this complaint. I look forward to your swift response and resolution to ensure that my vehicle remains functional and accessible.

The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the shift-to-park warning light was illuminated. The contact shifted the gear shifter until the warning light turned off. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a failed transmission shifter assembly. The contact was informed that the transmission shifter assembly needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 31,803.

In December 2024, driving to work when car abruptly stopped (no power). Waited for a while for my husband to arrive. Vehicle started again, drove to tropical chevy at 8880biscayne blvd, miami shores, FL for diagnostic testing (paid $160. Result - transmission problem estimated at $1,800). Did not have vehicle fixed. Decided to have vehicle examined again in September 2025; paid $160 diagnostic fee, estimate a whopping $8,400!!!!! did not have car fixed.

See all problems of the 2019 Chevrolet Malibu 🔎.

Trouble going into forward gears. Hard shifts into reverse. Hard idle, had transmission valve body replaced in October. Same issues before and after replacement.

The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that upon parking and attempting to turn off the vehicle, the message "shift to park" was displayed while the gear shifter was already in park(p). The contact stated that upon shifting out of park(p) and shifting back to park(p) several times, the vehicle failed to respond as needed, and the failure persisted. The contact stated that upon researching the failure online, the contact became aware that it was a common failure and that the battery needed to be disconnected. The contact disconnected the battery. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000.

Powertrain there is a problem with auto stop restarting then dying. The transmission not engaging after a complete stop like it is neutral this only happens after the car has been driven a bit everything at temp. Today stopped for trash service auto stop engaged got ready to go nothing gunning and gunning never died like no power though finally moved no more stops till home a problem sitting in road can not move. Have not taken to shop yet money for it now not.

See all problems of the 2014 Chevrolet Malibu 🔎.

Multiple times while driving this vehicle, get the message loss of engine power, abs light displays, and steering becomes difficult. Will be calling the dealership for repair. Once it resolved itself enough to drive over 100 miles after changing the battery, but the issue occurred again. Many searches online point to abs, or wheel issues. There are youtube videos but this is a safety issue that should be recalled and fixed. As a loyal chevy owner, I would love to have chevy back their vehicles and recall when there are some many instances of this widespread safety issue they would prioritize the safety of their vehicles.

See all problems of the 2011 Chevrolet Malibu 🔎.

The car has a reoccuring problem where is stalls in the middle of driving the vehicle. A warning comes up to shift to park. The car then restarts, runs extremely rough and stalls out. It then signals to shift to park again. The car is extremely unsafe. I took the vehicle to gm dealer and they said the car is "confused" between running on the battery and combustible engine. I have seen several similar issues with the cheverolt Malibu hybrid. I think gm knows they have an issue and one of the reasons they discontinued the model.

Was going about 30 car felt like it was sliding and not getting traction.

On 11/2/24, dashboard was displaying "shift to park" message when car was turned off and in park, ignition button displayed orange. Was advised by service advisor that this is a known Chevrolet issue but no recall issued to date. The fix required a park switch replacement; jumper park switched was installed on 11/7/24.

Park switch in gear shift is faulty.

Rear differential keeps going out and transmission keeps failing every 10k miles, apple car play doesn’t work and lags out. So hand free doesn’t work.

See all problems of the 2021 Chevrolet Malibu 🔎.

Shift to park issue . When the car is shifted to park, the system does not recognize the car is in park mode even though the stick is in park. It starts beeping and that dash board screen shows shift to park. It happened several times in October 2024. The dealer says it does not cover under the warranty and it has on 20000 miles and bought in 2021.

Around 37,000 miles, I intermittently started getting a shift to park error while the car was already in park. Whenever it happened, I had to turn the car off an on many times and jiggle the shifter until it went away. I brought it to bomnin Chevrolet in manassas, but it wasn't happening that day. I was then forced to come back, around 40,000 miles, when the error/beeping became persistent. I could not shut the car off, because it was beeping and would drain the battery. They said that because I was over 36,000 miles, it was no longer a warranty item. I will add that I am an uber driver, and I reached the 36,000 miles while the car was still very young. The dealership refused to reimburse or give a goodwill adjustment.

Every time I shift the car into park, I receive a "shift to park" warning on the informational display. I am unable to turn car off until the car recognizes it. Can sometimes take 10 minutes before I can get car to recognize. This was fixed once before while under warranty and fix lasted 3 years. They cleaned the park switch contacts and installed an online shifter jumper harness but will not cover the fix now that it is happening out of warranty. It's a known issue that mechanics say is so common a recall should be issued.

The contact owns a 2022 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while parking the vehicle, the gear shifter was shifted into park(p); however, the “shift to park” message was displayed. The contact shifted the gear shifter back and forth and then shifted into park(p) before the proper gear was recognized. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that the warranty had expired. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.

The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that after parking the vehicle and pressing the start/stop button the vehicle did not immediately turn off and the message "shift to park" had displayed. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer was notified of the failure. The manufacturer was not yet contacted. The failure mileage was 34,200.

The contact owns a 2022 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that upon moving the gear shifter to the park(p), the message "shift to park" was displayed. The contact stated that after restarting the vehicle, the vehicle returned to normal functionality, but the failure became a regular occurrence. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer nor an independent mechanic to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was referred to the NHTSA hotline for assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 38,000.

Approximately 2-3 times a month the car's transmission intermittently fails to engage from a stop. Wont go forward or in reverse. Need to restart the car to fix the issue. Dont feel safe driving the car in traffic where a failure to accelerate could cause an accident. The issue started at under 17000, and the now has only 18846 miles. Chevy Malibu 2017 premier. Dealer not sure what this issue is but wants to replace the transmission which I dont have the budget to cover. Gm only offered to cover 15% of the repair and does not seem concerned about the safety issue.

A couple days ago I went to drive my car and it took a second to actually turn on and it was shaking way more than usual and pooped up with a message saying “engine power is reduced” I haven’t drove my car since because I tried and it was moving very slow, and I also didn’t wanna cause further issues. For some time now my car has been shaky. I have taken it in and balanced my tires because of this issue and nothing had helped. I am always scared to drive it because it has been so shaky but now that this message has popped up it’s even worse and it’s during my whole drive. Also every time I park it isn’t connecting and says “shift to park” even though it is shifted into park. I have to shake it and press some button to go all register that it is shifted into park and can shut my vehicle off. I have read every where that this issue has happened to so many 2016/2017 chevy Malibu’s. I have read the dangers and I do not feel safe driving my car like this. I also didn’t have my car when there was a recall on this exact part before. And I’m guessing the dealership who had it before me did not fix it, causing the problems to worsen other parts of my car. I can’t drive this car due to the safety and I believe it should be a recalled. I am not totally sure what is doing it but as of all the other people online, they said it has to do the gas pedal (2k replacement) and fuel pumps and also could have burned wires which my car also has. Thank you.

The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that the shift to park message was displayed while parking the vehicle. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact called the local dealer and was informed that there were no open recalls on the vehicle. The contact stated that an appointment was scheduled. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact called another local dealer, reedman toll Chevrolet (1700 Lincoln hwy. , langhorne, PA 19047), but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and informed that there was no recall coverage on the vehicle for the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.

The cars automatic start/stop will activate and not restart the car. This has happened at stop signs, stop lights, intersections, hard breaks, etc. There are no warning lights or system failed/malfunction warnings. This has been inspected multiple times with software updates, changing batteries, changing fuses, etc.

The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as needed. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled prior to accelerating. Additionally, the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the vehicle was diagnosed with power train control module failure. The contact was informed that the power train control module needed to be replaced. The contact was advised to contact the dealer. The dealer was made aware of the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The contact was informed of an unknown recall campaign; however, the VIN was not included. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 77,765.

My car has the auto shut off and when im driving it sometimes just dies while im driving with no warning and no power steering to pull over. Also when im at a red light and the auto shut off comes on when it starts back up all my head lights turning signals radio everything goes off and comes back on when the car restarts then when u go to take off it will die and everytime I push on the gas it hesitates to go if it dont die. I took my car to an independent car repair shop and they said they have tested everything and I have also replaced the front and back batteries and I was told it is the computer and he has had several of the same car come in with the exact problem.