What 976 owners told NHTSA about the 2011 Chevrolet Malibu Eco

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ENGINE STALLED AS THE ESC, SERVICE TRACTION AND REDUCE ENGINE CONTROL WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHERE IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE NUMEROUS TIMES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

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WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST ACCELERATION AND THE ESC, TRACTION CONTROL, AND REDUCED POWER WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. *TR

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I WAS DRIVING MY 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU AT ABOUT 40 MPH ON A FAIRLY BUSY 2 LANE STREET. WITHOUT WARNING THE CAR LOST POWER. A MESSAGE APPEARED IN THE INFORMATION SCREEN INDICATING SOMETHING LIKE "REDUCED POWER TO THE ENGINE". ALSO, A MESSAGE INDICATED THAT THE ENGINE WAS OPERATING UNDER REDUCED POWER MODE BECAUSE I NEEDED TO SERVICE ESC, AND THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS DISPLAYED AS WELL ON THE DASHBOARD. I WAS FORTUNATELY ABLE TO GET THE CAR PULLED OFF OF THE ROAD AND INTO A PARKING LOT. I READ THE OWNERS MANUAL AND ESSENTIALLY FOUND OUT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING IN "LIMP MODE". I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND FOUND THIS TO BE A "COMMON PROBLEM" FOR CHEVY MALIBU MODELS. MY CAR WAS, OF COURSE, OUT OF WARRANTY AND NOT COVERED UNDER ANY SORT OF RECALL, SO I HAD TO PAY ABOUT $500 FOR THE REPAIR. MY CONCERN IS THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS I SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT ANY WARNING LOST POWER. HAD THIS OCCURRED WHEN TRYING TO PULL ACROSS A HEAVY INTERSECTION OR MERGING INTO TRAFFIC THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS INJURY. FURTHER, I SEE REPORTS ALL OVER THE INTERNET ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND I AM REPORTING THIS AS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN - HAD THIS SITUATION HAPPENED UNDER DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCES IT VERY EASILY COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT AND SERIOUS INJURY TO SOMEONE. I SINCE FOLLOWED UP WITH CHEVROLET SERVICE AND THEY ESSENTIALLY TOLD ME THAT THEY ARE "AWARE" OF THE ISSUE BUT THERE ARE NO RECALLS ETC... *TR

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE JERKED AND STALLED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT REDUCED ENGINE POWER WAS DISPLAYED ACROSS THE MESSAGE BOARD AND THE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

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I WAS ON THE WAY TO WORK WHEN MY CAR STARTED TO JUMP, SPUTTER AND THEN STOPPED COMPLETELY, WAS GOING ON TO THE EXPRESSWAY. THE ENGINE REDUCED POWER LIGHT CAME ON, ENGINE STABILITY CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON AS DID MANY OTHER LIGHTS. TRIED TO TURN THE CAR BACK ON BUT DID NOT START, WAITED A BIT AND FINALLY GOT THE CAR RUNNING. TOOK TO MY AUTO MECHANIC AND STATED IT WAS THE ECS AND THROTTLE BODY THAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I HAVE LOOKED AND THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT SAME ISSUE. I WAS DRIVING TODAY AT 70RPM WITH THE LIGHTS CAME BACK ON AND WAS LUCKY ENOUGH FOR GET OFF THE HIGHWAY PRIOR TO CAR COMPLETELY STOPPING. IF THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WHY IS CHEVROLET WAITING UNTIL SOMEONE IS INJURY OR WORST YET KILLED BEFORE A RECALL IS DONE. *TR

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ON MY WAY TO WORK, I NOTICED THE ENGINE LIGHT ON. CAR GOT ME TO WORK FINE. CHECKED GAS CAP JUST TO BE SURE THAT WASN'T THE PROBLEM. OFF WORK ENGINE LIGHT STILL ON, BUT CAR RUNNING FINE. DID SOME RUNNING FOR ABOUT AN HOUR. GOT IN THE CAR TO GO HOME THE LIGHT WASN'T ON, SO IM THINKING MAYBE A SENOR BAD. DRIVING HOME WHICH WAS ABOUT A 30 MINUTE DRIVE. ABOUT HALF MILE FROM MY EXIT ON THE HIGHWAY AND ENGINE LIGHT POPS ON, ESC LIGHT POPS ON, REDUCED ENGINE SPEED FOLLOWS. THANKFULLY I MAD IT HOME. PRESSURED ON STAR FOR AN ON DEMAND DIAGNOSTIC CHECK AND ITS MY THROTTLE CONTROL SYSTEM. ITS AN 2011 MALIBU, NEXT MONTH MAKES A YEAR THAT IVE HAD IT. ALSO THE THIRD TIME ITS GOING TO THE SHOP. FIRST TIME WAS THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT, THE U JOINT DISLOCATED LOST ALL POWER TO STEER, THANK GOD IT HAPPENED IN MY PARKING LOT AT HOME FRESH OFF THE HIGHWAY. CHEVY ONLY PAID HALF AND AFTER A MONTH BATTLE WITH THEM, KICKER WAS IT WAS A RECALL FOR THAT BUT MY VIN NUMBER WASN'T INCLUDED. SECOND TIME WAS FOR LEAKING TRANSMISSION. SO DISAPPOINTED WITH CHEVY AND PAST FED UP. *TR

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST ACCELERATION AND THE ESC, TRACTION CONTROL, AND REDUCED POWER SPEED WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000.

NHTSA ODI 10689922

WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH ON CITY STREET, CAR LOST POWER. WARNING LIGHTS FLASHED, REDUCED ENGINE POWER AND ESC WARNINGS. CAR JERKED VIOLENTLY, SLOWED TO 5 MPH MAX. PULLED OVER. TURNED OFF CAR FOR ABOUT A MINUTE. RESTARTED CAR, SEEMED FINE. SINCE I HAPPENED TO BE ONLY ABOUT A MILE FROM THE DEALERSHIP, I DECIDED TO TRY AND MAKE IT. AT STOPLIGHT, CAR DID SAME THING, VIOLENT SHAKING, ALL WARNING LIGHTS. THANKFULLY, I MADE IT INTO DEALER LOT. TURNED CAR OFF. HAD TO RE-START TO PULL TO SERVICE DOOR. AGAIN, DID FINE. WAITING TO HEAR FROM DEALER. VERY DANGEROUS ISSUE TO SUDDENLY LOSE ENGINE POWER. AGREE WITH OTHER COMPLAINANTS...IF THIS HAPPENS MID-INTERSECTION OR ON THE INTERSTATE LIVES ARE AT RISK. *TR

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DRIVING 2011 CHEVY MALIBU LTZ LIGHT CAME ON.GOT MESSAGE SAYING ENGINE POWERING DOWN.CAR BEGAN TO SHAKE AND SPEED DROPPED TO ABOUT 20 MILES PER HOUR.PULLED INTO CVS PHARMACY LOT.TURNED CAR OFF AND RE-STARTED.DROVE AROUND LOT FOR 1 MINUTE.JUST AS I WAS ABOUT TO PULL OFF LOT AND ENTER EXPRESSWAY.CAR SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY.UNABLE TO RE-START.WAITED 2 HOUR'S FOR TOW ON STAR ROAD SIDE SERVICE.PLAN TO HAVE CAR TOWED MONDAY MORNING.WILL CHECK FOR ESC RECALL ON THIS CAR. *TR

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, IT SHOOK AND THE TRACTION, THE ESC AND THE ENGINE POWER REDUCE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON FIVE OCCASIONS. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SHAKE RAPIDLY AND THE TRACTION AND ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDED TO BE CLEANED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,533.

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REDUCED ENGINE SPEED AND JERKING WHILE ON THE INTERSTATE. *TR

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED, SHOOK, AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. WHEN THE CONTACT TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, IT DROVE NORMALLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON ONE OTHER OCCASION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY WAS FAULTY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,200.

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CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, REDUCED ENGINE SPEED, LOW TRACTION LIGHTS CAME ON, AND COULD GO OVER 40 MPH. WE STOPPED AND LET IT SIT FOR APPX 5 MINUTES, AND WERE ABLE TO DRIVE IT HOME. MY SON HAS AN AUTOMOTIVE COMPUTER WE WERE ABLE TO HOOK UP AND IT READ THE MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR. WE REMOVED IT AND CLEANED IT WITH MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR CLEANER AND REPLACED IT. AS SOON AS WE STARTED THE CAR UP, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT OFF. THE CAR DROVE FINE UNTIL 2-7-2015 WHERE THE EXACT SAME THING HAPPENED AT APPX 74,700 MILES. WE TOOK IT IN TO THE DEALERSHIP (COUGHLIN AUTOMOTIVE IN CIRCLEVILLE) ON 2-14-15. THEY TESTED IT AND IT SHOWED THE CODE P2135 #PIP2019 THEY CHECKED CONNECTORS FOR CORROSION & DAMAGE , BUT FOUND NOTHING. THEY RAN THE THROTTLE SWEEP TEST. IT TESTED OK. THEY CLEARED THE CODE & DROVE & COULDN'T GET IT TO DO IT AGAIN. THEY SAID THEY JUST CAN'T REPLACE PARTS BECAUSE THEY COST TOO MUCH, NOT KNOWING EXACTLY WHAT THE ISSUE IS. THEY SAID IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN, TO BRING IT IN. MY WIFE DRIVES THIS CAR EVERY DAY TO COLUMBUS OHIO DURING RUSH HOUR, ON STATE HIGHWAYS. I'M SCARED THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN AGAIN DURING RUSH HOUR AND SOMETHING BAD IS GOING TO HAPPEN LIKE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT AND OR LOSS OF LIFE TO SOMEONE. SO, DOES GM THINK PARTS COST MORE THAN A LOSS OF LIFE BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE?????? *TR

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE ENGINE SHOOK VIOLENTLY, THE "REDUCED ENGINE POWER" MESSAGE APPEARED, AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

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TWO ISSUES EXIST: 1. THE THROTTLE BODY PREMATURELY WORE OUT AND CAUSED VARIOUS SYMPTOMS INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO IMMEDIATE LOSS OF POWER, INSTABILITY IN THE BRAKING SYSTEM DUE TO THE ENGINE REVVING UP WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED OR SLOWED, AND VARIOUS WARNING INDICATORS INCLUDING TRACTION CONTROL AND ECS INDICATORS. STEERING ALSO WAS DIFFICULT WHILE THE SYMPTOMS PERSISTED. 2. THE CONNECTOR TO THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE (ECM/ECU) THAT IS THE VEHICLE'S COMPUTER WAS NOT COMPLETELY SEALED WHICH ALLOWED WATER TO GET INSIDE WHICH STARTED TO CORRODE THE PINS OF THE CONNECTOR. THIS CAUSED INSTABILITY IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM OF THE VEHICLE. *JS

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WHILE DRIVING THROUGH A SCHOOL ZONE AT APPROX 25 MPH, ALL OF THE DASH WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON AND THE DASH SAID "LOSS OF ENGINE POWER" THE ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS CAME AN THE VEHICLE SPUTTERED AND WOULD NOT GO MORE THAN 5 MPH. *TR

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MAILBU. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND OPERATED AS NORMAL. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE THROTTLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 127,000.

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CANNOT PASS INSPECTION! SHORT CIRCUIT FAULT - CAMSHAFT POSITION ACTUATOR SOLENOID FAULT. OPEN OR SHORT CIRCUIT DETECTION CONDITION IN THE SOLENOID. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE AND DEFECT WITH CHEVY MALIBU AND OTHER MODELS AND MY VIN HAS NOT HAD ONE RECALL ISSUED ON IT - THOUGH THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL RECALLS ALREADY ON OTHER MALIBU 2011 MODELS. NEED TO HAVE DATELINE NBC OR AN ATTORNEY INVESTIGATE VIN FRAUD FOR NOT HAVING MY VIN # ASSIGNED THESE RECALLS FOR WHICH THE MANUFACTURER WOULD PAY FOR ALL REPAIRS RELATED TO THESE KNOWN SAFETY DEFECTS. *TR

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHERE IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60,000.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ENGINE DECELERATED INDEPENDENTLY AND STALLED. THE CONTACT LAOS STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE, THE TRACTION CONTROL, THE ABS AND THE ESC WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,000.

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WAS IDLING AT A DRIVE THRU WINDOW AND THE CAR DASH LIGHTS STARTED COMING ON. ECS OFF NOTIFICATION, TRANSACTION SYSTEM OFF WARNING LIGHT . CAR ENGINE WAS STUTTERING, THAN REVVING UP TO FASTER SPEED. HAD CAR BRAKE ON, TRIED PUTTING IT INTO NEUTRAL AND IT STILL DID THE SLOW DOWN/SPEED UP ENGINE SPEED. VERY DANGEROUS, TURNED CAR OFF AND TURNED IT BACK ON. ECS OFF LIGHT IS NOW DARK BUT ENGINE LIGHT IS STILL LIT UP. *TR

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CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. DIAGNOSED AS FAULTY CAM SOLENOIDS. *TR

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I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM BEING OUT OF TOWN ON 10/15/13 WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 80MPH WHEN OUT OF NO WHERE THE CAR STARTED TO SHAKE AND VIBRATE THEN THE "TRACTION LIGHT ,SERVICE ESC,ENGINE POWER TURNING OFF AND CAR WENT FROM GOING 80MPH TO 10MPH ON THE FREEWAY, WHILE A BIG DIESEL TRUCK WAS BEHIND ME IN WHICH I WAS TO BE ABLE TO PULL TO THE SIDE TO AVOID BEING REAR ENDED BY THE DIESEL, IN WHICH I HAD MY (XXX) YR OLD DAUGHTER IN THE CAR AND OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS. ON DECEMBER 23,2014, THE SAME THING OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING THE CAR AT 60MPH IT REDUCES SPEED TO ALMOST ZERO MPH,SHAKES WITH THE "TRACTION SENSOR LIGHT AND "SERVICE ESC ENGINE POWER TURNING OFF COMES ON AND THE CAR STALLS! LEAVING ME STRANDED AND HAVING THE VEHICLE TOWED AGAIN! THE FIRST TIME THIS OCCURRED THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME SINCE THE ENGINE LIGHT WASN'T ON ANYMORE IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO DIAGNOSE!? I CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE CAR UNTIL THE SECOND INCIDENT! I CALLED 2 CHEVROLET DEALERS IN FRESNO,CA I WAS TOLD THEY HAVEN'T HEARD ANY COMPLAINTS, WHICH IS ASTOUNDING BECAUSE AFTER READING THE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THIS WEBSITE OF OTHERS HAVING THE SAME ISSUE WITH THE SAME CAR IS UNBELIEVABLE UNTIL THERE'S A LAW SUIT! *TRPARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

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THE ENGINE KEEPS REDUCING POWER THE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AFTER THE CAR ENGINE POWER REDUCES ESPECIALLY WHEN THE CAR SITS IDLE WARMING UP .THE THROTTLE BODY MUST BE A DEFECTIVE COMPONENT PART OF THE CAR I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC HE DID A DIAGNOSTIC TESTS AND THE CODES SAID THROTTLE BODY. *TR

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