What 976 owners told NHTSA about the 2011 Chevrolet Malibu Eco

THE SEAT BELT LIGHT DASHBOARD LIGHT INDICATOR AND THE CHIMES SOUND WHEN THE SEAT BELT IS ENGAGED IT GOES OFF AND THEN IT COMES BACK ON AS YOU'RE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THERE IS A KNOWN PROBLEM FOR THE 2010 CHEVY MALIBU FOR THE SAME CONDITION

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RIGTH TURN POWER STEERING STOP WORKING OLMOST HAVE A ACCIDENT WITH THE CAR COMING POWER STEERING ESC ON

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL AND POWER STEERING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND SHOOK THE STEERING WHEEL TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED BY A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 155,000.

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THE SERVICE ESC AND TRACTION SENSORS FLASH, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT FLASHES. THE CAR LOSES POWER AND LURCHES AND BUCKS. THE CAR RUNS REALLY ROUGH AND SOUNDS HORRIBLE! THE DEALER SAID THE FUEL INJECTORS NEEDED $1700 WORTH OF CLEANING, BUT DIDN'T MENTION ANY OF THE STUFF WE FOUND FROM OUR RESEARCH.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE POWER STEERING AND TRACTION CONTROL INDICATORS ILLUMINATED AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER LANE AND RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 91,419.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING, THE STEERING WHEEL WIGGLED AND MADE A SQUEAKY AND GRINDING NOISE WHILE MAKING LEFT AND RIGHT TURNS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT BELT INDICATOR PREVIOUSLY ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SUBURBAN BUICK GMC (21800 WOODWARD AVE, FERNDALE, MI 48220 (248) 547-6100) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE RACK AND PINION AND THE MOTOR TO THE ELECTRICAL STEERING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 122,000.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE STATIONARY, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START WHEN PROMPTED. A DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 154,000.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO WYMER CHEVROLET IN CUMBERLAND, MD WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED AND THE FAILURE WAS REMEDIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,654.

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SERVICE TRACTION AND ESC OFF ARE THE MESSAGES THAT POP UP. THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT STAYS ON. UNABLE TO DISABLE ENABLE/DISABLE WITH THE TC BUTTON. WHILE DRIVING THE TWO MESSAGES APPEARED AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE TRACTION CONTROL FEATURE WON'T TURN OFF AND THE ESC FEATURE IS OFF. ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE THERE WERE 3 RECALLS FOR THE 2011 MALIBU. I HAVE A 2011 MALIBU AND WHEN I MADE A SEARCH WITH THE VIN IT SAYS THERE ARE NO RECALLS. ON VEHICLEHISTORY.COM I MADE A VIN SEARCH AND THE RECALLS WERE FOUND. THE RECALL ON THE 2011 MALIBU WAS FOR THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND THAT THERE COULD BE DISABLEMENT OF CRASH AVOIDANCE FEATURES SUCH AS TRACTION CONTROL, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL, AND PANIC BRAKING ASSIST FEATURES.

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ON 8/20/2017 AT AROUND 9:30PM I WAS DRIVING ON A DARK BACK-ROAD IN LEMONT, ILL. (BLUFF RD. TO BE EXACT) I WAS TRAVELING AT ABOUT 20MILES AN HOUR & NEEDED TO MAKE A SHARP TURN. ALL OF A SUDDEN MY TRACTION LIGHT WENT ON & MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP CAUSING ME TO HAVE NO CONTROL OF MY CAR. I IMMEDIATELY PUMPED MY BRAKES SO NOT TO GO OFF THE ROAD. AFTER LOSING CONTROL I PULLED OVER AND TRIED TO STEER MY WAY HOME BECAUSE THIS IS A VERY DARK BACK ROAD. VERY SCARY!! I NEED TO KNOW WHAT AND HOW TO GET MY CAR FIXED. AUTO MECHANICS ARE ON STRIKE HERE

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THE FRAME ATTACHED TO THE BASE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE COLLAPSED WHILE I WAS DRIVING CAUSING ME TO SWERVE BUT I WAS ABLE TO AVOID CRASHING INTO ANYTHING AND BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO A STOP. THE SEAT IS LEANING TO THE RIGHT . I GOT IT TO THE GM DEALERSHIP AND REQUESTED THEM TO REPAIR IT AND FILED A REPORT CASE# 8-3168765111. FILE NOTICE WITH GM AND I AM AWAITING A DETERMINATION ON MY CLAIM, I AM HOPEFUL THAT GM WILL HONOR MY CLAIM AND INVESTIGATE PRODUCTION ISSUES THAT MAY HAVE LEAD TO THIS ISSUE. I REVIEWED CARCOMPLAINTS.COM AND NOTICED THAT THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS INCIDENTS OVER THE YEARS .HOPEFULLY NHTSA CAN INVESTIGATE THIS PROBLEM,

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I HAVE BEEN HAVING AN ISSUE WITH MY 2011 CHEVY MALIBU SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE 2017 YR. EVERY TIME I SLOW DOWN (20MPH OR LESS) OR STOP MY CAR STARTS TO SHAKE UNCONTROLLABLY AND THE ESC AND TRACKING LIGHT COMES ON AS WELL AS THE CHECK ENGINE LINE COMES ON AND STARTS BLINKING. ALSO, THE CAR LOOKS LIKE IT IS LOOSING POWER. ONCE I TRY TO ACCELERATE, THE CAR WILL NOT GO FAST AT ALL. IT IS LIKE IT HAS TO BUILD POWER BACK UP. IT IS NOW THE SUMMER TIME AND I CANNOT TURN ON MY AC BECAUSE IF I AM DRIVING LESS THE 40MPH, MY CAR WILL JUST CUT OFF. I HAVE REPLACED EVERYTHING UNDER MY HOOD EXCEPT MY ENGINE. I TOOK MY CAR TO NUMEROUS MECHANICS AND ONE PARTICULAR ONE TOLD ME I NEED A NEW ENGINE. HOW? WHEN I SEE TOO MANY PEOPLE WITH THIS REOCCURRING ISSUE. THIS IS A 2011 HOW COULD THERE BE A BAD ENGINE IN ALL THESE CARS. I TRIED TO TAKE MY CAR TO CHEVY DUE TO A RECALL THAT IS OUT FOR THE ESC ON THESE CARS AND SINCE MY VIN NUMBER DID NOT MATCH THE LOCATION IN WHICH THE RECALL CAME FROM, EVEN THOUGH IT IS FOR A 2011 CHEVY MALIBU, THEY WOULD NOT HONOR THE RECALL. I AM AFRAID I AM GOING TO GET HIT AND KILLED. I AM AT A STOPPING POINT. MY CAR TAG EXPIRES IN DEC I NEED TO FIND A RESOLUTION. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO ANYMORE.. TO BEAT IT ALL I STILL AM MAKING PAYMENTS ON THE CAR. FML

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WHEN DRIVING WITHOUT WARNING MY VEHICLE WILL SAY SYSTEM SHUT DOWN AND THEN ENGINE POWER REDUCED AND THE IT WILL SHAKE VIGOROUSLY AND TURN OFF. THIS HAPPENED TO ME ON THE HIGHWAY IN THE MIDDLE OF A SNOW STORM AND I WAS ALMOST HIT BY A SEMI. I HAD TO SWERVE OFF THE ROAD DOWN INTO A DITCH. IN THE WINTER IT HAPPENS ALMOST EVERYDAY. NOT IN WINTER MONTHS IT HAPPENS AT LEAST ONCE A MONTH. THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT WAS ON 7/11/17. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF POSTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND NO ONE CAN SEEM TO FIND OUT WHAT THE ISSUE IS EVEN AFTER THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS BEING SPENT.

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LAST 3 YRS MY ESC AND SERVICE TRACTION LIGHT COMES ON. LAST AUG 2016 HAD THE CAR IF FOR THIS REPLACED A BRAKE SENSOR PROBLEM CAME BACK 3 WEEKS LATER. WENT FOR 2 MORE DIAGNOSTIC TEST. COULD NOT FIND ISSUE. MAY 2017 PROBLEM STARTED AGAIN. IN ADDITION, WHEN THIS SERVICE ESC COMES ON MY BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT WORK. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. I AM BRING THE CAR IN AGAIN FOR ANOTHER DIAGNOSTIC. I AM SCARED TO DRIVE. THE LIGHT COMES ON DURING THE WARM MONTHS, EITHER DURING THE ACTUAL BRAKING OR WHEN I AM IN A STOP POSITION HOLDING DOWN THE BRAKE. GM CUSTOMER CARE HAS BE OF NO HELP THUS FAR.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO REVERSE OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON ANOTHER OCCASION, WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS SCANNED FOR A CODE BUT THERE WAS NO FAILURE CODE. THE CONTACT CALLED HERITAGE CHEVROLET BUICK OWINGS MILLS DEALER LOCATED AT 11234 REISTERSTOWN RD, OWINGS MILLS, MD 21117 AND AN APPOINTMENT WAS SCHEDULED FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AT THE CONTACTS EXPENSE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY VIOLENTLY ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS AGGRESSIVELY DEPRESSED WHICH DECREASED SLIGHTLY THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE BUT DID NOT COMPLETELY STOP THE VEHICLE. A CHIME SOUNDED BUT IT WAS UNKNOWN IF A WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE WENT OVER THE CURB AND CRASHED INTO A BUILDING. THERE WAS FRONT END DAMAGE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE MANUFACTURER CALLED THE CONTACT AND INFORMED HER TO NOT BRING THE VEHICLE IN FOR THE DIAGNOSTIC TESTING BUT TO TAKE PHOTOS AND SEND THEM TO AN E-MAIL ADDRESS PROVIDED BY THE REPRESENTATIVE. THE CASE NUMBER FOR THE CONVERSATION WITH THE MANUFACTURER REPRESENTATIVE WAS 8-3068861818. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 14V252000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL), 14E44000 (STEERING), AND 15V269000 (SEAT BELTS) WERE RELATED TO THE FAILURES EXPERIENCED. THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER BEING DRIVEN DUE TO THE CONTACT BEING CONCERNED FOR HER SAFETY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 106,807. *JS

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DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WHEN CHECK ENGINE LIGHT FLASHED, CAR "SQUEALED", CAR STARTED SHAKING, AND TRANSMISSION GAVE OUT. I COULD NOT ACCELERATE PAST FIRST GEAR. IN THE MIDDLE OF RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC, HAD TO COAST OFF THE HIGHWAY TO SAFETY. NO PRIOR NOTIFICATION (LIGHTS, WARNINGS, NOISES) THAT THERE WAS A TRANSMISSION ISSUE. CAR JUST RECENTLY EXCEEDED THE 100000 MILE POWER TRAIN WARRANTY. WAS NOTIFIED IT WAS THE WAKE PLATE THAT FAILED. CONSIDERING ALL OF THE OTHER CHEVY OWNERS HAVING THIS SAME ISSUE, I THINK CHEVY SHOULD AT THE VERY LEAST ACKNOWLEDGE THIS ISSUE.

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ENGINE POWER REDUCED AND THE VEHICLE SOUNDS LIKE IT IS GOING TO EXPLODE. IT REDUCES THE SPEED TO 5 MPH. YOU CAN TURN THE CAR OFF SIT FOR A FEW MINUTES AND TURN THE CAR BACK ON AND IT RUNS FINE. IT DOES THIS DAILY. I HAVE REPLACED SEVERAL SENSORS AND IT HAS NOT FIXED THE PROBLEM. I HAVE ALSO REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY TWICE AND THAT DID NOT FIX IT EITHER.

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ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY THE ENGINE STARTED TO LOSE POWER GOING UP A HILL AND THEN LOST ALL POWER AS WE WERE ABLE TO MAKE IT OFF TO AN EXIT RAMP. HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO AN AUTO REPAIR SHOP SINCE WE WERE IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE DRIVING HOME. AUTO MECHANIC SAID THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE AND THE ENTIRE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. LUCKILY THERE WASN'T MUCH TRAFFIC OTHERWISE IT COULD HAVE BEEN WORSE. NO OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR IN 6 YEARS AND ONLY 66,000 MILES. HAVE HEARD OF THIS HAPPENING ON OTHER MALIBUS. ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS FOR THIS TO HAPPEN ON A NEW CAR.

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MY WIFE WAS IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE THE OTHER VEHICAL RAN A RED LIGHT AND COLIDED WITH HER IN THE DRIVER FRONT AND HEAD ON TYPE. THE VEHICALS SIDE AIR BAGS AND THE DRIVER OR PASSANGER AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED.THIS IS IN A POLICE REPORT AND I HAVE PICTURES OF THE CAR.THE TWO CARS COLIDED AT A INTERSECTION IN THE MIDDLE OF LACROSSE WIS AND THE OTHER VEHICAL WENT OVER MY CARS HOOD AND OVER TURNED. THE OTHER DRIVER WAS EXTRACTED FROM HIS VEHICAL WITH THE JAWS OF LIFE.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO GO INTO DRIVE POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE MASTER OVERHAUL KIT, PISTONS, CONTROL SOLENOID, AND THE TORQUE CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE PLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33,000.

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CAR SEAT (HEAT WARMER) CAUGHT ON FIRE

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY DECELERATED WHILE BEING OPERATED AT 80 MPH. THE CHECK ENGINE, THE TRACTION CONTROL, THE SERVICE ESC, AND THE ENGINE POWER REDUCED WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V252000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL) AS A POSSIBLE SOLUTION HOWEVER THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 134,000.

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MY ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN ON SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR BACK IN 2014 THE DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS NO BIG DEAL THAT THE LIGHT WOULD EVENUALLY GO OUT. UPON PURCHASE IT HAD 51,000 MILES ON IT, BECAUSE THEY HAD IT FOR A FEW WEEKS DUE TO IT HAVING HAIL DAMAGE THE FINANCE COMPANY WOULDN'T APPROVE THE LOAN BECAUSE OF PROBLEMS. THE CAR WAS RIDING OK UP UNTIL A FEW MONTHA AGO I NOTICED I WAS LOOSING POWER IT WAS DRIVING SLOWER, I STARTED FEELING IT TUGGING WHEN I WANTED TO PICK UP SPEED. THEN 3 DAYS AGO IT JUST WOULDN'T GO IN REVERSE, WHEN I TRIED TO SWITCH BACK TO DRIVING IT WOULDN'T GO INTO DRIVE ULTIMATELY I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED BECAUSE THE TRANMISSION WENT OUT ON IT. THE CAR ONLY HAS 71,000 MILES ON IT. I BARELY DRIVE IT ANYWHERE. THE ENGINE TO LOOK AT IT IS VERY CLEAN. I LOOKED UP ALL THE RECALLS ON MY CAR AND NONE OF THEM I WAS NOTIFIED FOR AND THERE ARE MANY. SO WHY AM I NOT GETTING A LETTER ABOUT THIS TRANSMISSION THAT HAS OBVIOUSLY GONE OUT. UP UNTIL NOW I WAS IN LOVE WITH THIS CHEVROLET MALIBU AND WAS A DEVOTED CUSTOMER ADVISING PEOPLE THIS WAS A GOOD CAR, NOW I'M NOT SO SURE. LOOKING AT ALL THESE RECALLS ARE ALARMING.

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WHILE TRAVELING AT A SLOW SPEED (BETW 10-20 MPH) ON 3/20/17, THE CAR STARTED TO SHAKE, THE SERVICE ESC MESSAGE LIGHT TURNS ON, AND SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT TURNS ON (WITH MESSAGE THAT CAR WILL POWER DOWN). SO, IF I PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND SHUT THE CAR OFF (BEFORE IT SHUTS DOWN ON IT'S OWN), WAIT 2 MINUTES FOR THE COMPUTER TO RESET, THEN GET RPM UP QUICK (SO THE SPEED IS QUICKLY ABOVE THE 20 MPH), THEN IT IS WOULDN'T DO IT AND I COULD GET IT TO THE MECHANIC. WHEN THE MECHANIC WENT TO CHECK IT, THE BATTERY WAS DEAD, SO NO LUCK WITH COMPUTER SCAN. HE PUT IN NEW BATTERY. SO I DROVE IT AND IT DID IT AGAIN. I TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC AND HE CHECKED IT AND HE REPLACED THE GAS PEDAL (COMPUTER CODE INDICATED A BAD SENSOR). HOWEVER, IT DID NOT TAKE CARE OF THE ISSUE. BRAND NEW BATTERY AND STILL DRAINING BATTERY (OVERNIGHT). MECHANIC THINKS A RELAY MAY BE STAYING OPEN SOMEWHERE HOWEVER ISN'T SURE. CURRENTLY NOT DRIVABLE DUE TO THE SHAKING AND THAT SERVICE ESC AND SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL MESSAGES COME ON WITH STATEMENT THAT VEHICLE WILL POWER DOWN (WHILE DRIVING). FIRST OCCURRED ON 3/20/2017 AND IS STILL OCCURRING 4/20/2017 (MECHANIC HASN'T BEEN ABLE TO FIX)! BEEN DEALING WITH A SLOW BATTERY DRAIN SINCE PURCHASED CAR IN JULY 2016. IF DIDN'T DRIVE CAR FOR 5 DAYS, BATTERY WOULD BE DEAD (4TH DAY WAS STILL OK). THEN IN MARCH 2017, OTHER ISSUE STARTED AND THE BATTERY DRAIN BECAME MUCH WORSE. NOW BRAND NEW BATTERY AND WILL DRAIN COMPLETELY DEAD OVERNIGHT. HUGE ELECTRICAL ISSUE. CAR HAS 85,000 MILES ON IT.

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HEATING/AIR DOESN'T WANT TO BLOW UNLESS A WINDOW OR SUNROOF IS OPEN AND CAR IS IN MOTION.

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