What 976 owners told NHTSA about the 2011 Chevrolet Malibu Hev

MUSTY ODOR FROM HVAC SYSTEM ON GM CARS AND TRUCKS PRIOR TO 2012. THE MICROBIAL GROWTH HAS TO BE IDENTIFIED TO ASSURE PUBLIC SAFETY. IN MY VEHICLE, THE ODOR CONTINUES EVEN THOUGH THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT PERFORMED THE REMEDIAL WORK SUGGESTED BY GENERAL MOTORS. THE SMELL FIRST BECAME UNBEARABLE ABOUT EIGHT WEEKS AGO, WHEN I STARTED USING THE AIR CONDITIONING MORE AND MORE. GENERAL MOTORS OUTLINED THE PROBLEM IN A TSB. ...UPDATED 07/19/12 *BF

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THE WINDSHIELD WAS NOT CLEAR ENOUGH AND HER VISIBILITY WAS IMPAIRED WHEN THE CONDITIONS OUTSIDE WERE CLOUDY. THERE WAS A VISIBLE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE SIDE VIEW MIRROR AND THE WINDSHIELD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER; HOWEVER, THEY STATED THERE WAS NO NOTICEABLE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE WINDSHIELD AND SIDE VIEW MIRRORS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000.

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SYSTEM WARNING LIGHTS CONSTANTLY SAY "SERVICE ESC" AND "SERVICE TRACTION". PROBLEM BEGAN WITHIN 4 MONTHS OF TAKING DELIVERY OF THE VEHICLE AND IS NOW SCHEDULED FOR AT LEAST THE FIFTH TIME IN THE SHOP FOR THE EXACT SAME THING. BY THE WAY THIS VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 5,500 MILES ON IT SINCE TAKING DELIVERY OF IT MARCH 2011. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT WHEN THESE WARNING LIGHTS ARE ON, THE SYSTEMS (TRACTION CONTROL AND ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM) ARE DISABLED. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THE MECHANICAL SYSTEMS WILL CONTINUE TO WORK FINE. MY ISSUE IS THAT THE TRACTION CONTROL AND ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM ARE AN ENHANCED SAFETY COMPONENT OF THE VEHICLE (AND ALL VEHICLES WHICH HAS BEEN SCIENTIFICALLY PROVEN) THAT ARE NO LONGER AVAILABLE TO ME BECAUSE THE MANUFACTURE CAN NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. *TT

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ENGINE SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. *JB

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SUNDAY, MAY 27TH 3PM CST DRIVING IN SOUTHWEST MISSOURI, THE TRANSMISSION HESITATED SHIFTING TO A HIGHER GEAR. I PULLED OVER AND PARKED ON A BACK ROAD, TURNED THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON. WHEN I SHIFTED INTO REVERSE, THE TRANSMISSION DID NOT SHIFT, PRESSING THE GAS HAD NO EFFECT. I SHIFTED THE CAR INTO D, THE CAR LURCHED FORWARD BUT MOVED ? INCREASING SPEED IT SHIFTED TO 2ND ROUGHLY AND THEN INTO 3RD WITH HESITATION ? IT WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO A HIGHER GEAR FROM THERE. I DID NOT NOTE A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AT THAT TIME. BECAUSE THERE WAS NO CELL PHONE SIGNAL I DROVE TO THE NEAREST RELATIVE?S HOUSE IN OKLAHOMA. WHILE DRIVING I SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AND BACK TO DRIVE, THE TRANSMISSION HESITATED AND TOOK A GOOD 15-20 SECONDS TO ENGAGE IN 3RD GEAR. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON BUT THE DISPLAY DID NOT INDICATE WHAT THE ISSUE WAS. SHIFTING TO MANUAL, THE DISPLAY DID NOT INDICATE THE CAR WAS IN MANUAL (SHOULD HAVE READ M3). SHIFTING BACK TO DRIVE HAD NO RESULT. THE CAR MAINTAINED SPEED IN 3RD GEAR. SO I DROVE IN 3RD GEAR WITH MY HAZARDS ON, NORTH ON 43, THROUGH SENECA (NO CHEVY DEALER), TO MY AUNTS HOUSE IN OKLAHOMA. I CONTACTED GM ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE 800-CHEVUSA AND HAD THE CAR TOWED. THE CAR NOW SITS AT A DEALER IN JOPLIN MO AWAITING "DIAGNOSIS" AND THE GM CUSTOMER SERVICE PEOPLE WILL NOT AUTHORIZE A RENTAL CAR UNTIL A "DIAGNOSIS" HAS BEEN DONE. 1ST BUSINESS DAY FOR DEALER IS TUESDAY, MAY 29TH AND THEY STATE THEY HAVE A BACK LOG OF DIAGNOSIS AND CAN NOT GET TO IT UNTIL WEDS OR THURSDAY. IT HAS BEEN A REAL CATCH-22 GETTING SUPPORT SINCE THE DEALER IS TOO BACKLOGGED TO DIAGNOSE I AM RENTING A CAR ON MY OWN DIME, PLUS LIVE 3 HOURS FROM JOPLIN! NOTE THAT OVER THE PAST YEAR THE CAR OCCASIONALLY HAD AUTOMATIC GEAR SHIFT DELAYS THAT WERE NOT CONSISTENT AND WERE TOLERABLE BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION RECOVERED. *TR

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO HER BACK AND NECK, AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL BY AMBULANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS INSPECTED BY A TECHNICIAN AND A SPECIAL ENGINEER SENT ON BEHALF OF THE MANUFACTURER. BOTH THE TECHNICIAN AND THE ENGINEER STATED THAT THE CRASH DID NOT MEET THE THRESHOLD IN WHICH THE AIR BAGS WOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,700.

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WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING LOT, THE CAR SUDDENLY STOPPED GOING FORWARD. WHEN I PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR, THE ENGINE WOULD REV LIKE THE CAR WAS IN NEUTRAL, BUT IT WOULD NOT GO FORWARD. I PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND TURNED THE CAR OFF. STARTED THE CAR AND PUT IT BACK INTO DRIVE, BUT THE SAME THING HAPPENED. THE ONLY THING I WAS ABLE TO DO WAS GO IN REVERSE. I HAD TO DRIVE IN REVERSE DOWN THE STREET TO ANOTHER DRIVE ENTRANCE AND BACK IN AND PARK. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. *TR

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THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED FIRST IN NOVEMBER 2011. THE ENGINE STOPPED, THERE WAS NO STEERING, SERVICE ESC,THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED BUT WOULD NOT MOVE WHEN PUT IN GEAR. TODAY IS THE SECOND TIME THIS SAME PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED. CHEVY SAID THE PROBLEM WAS REPAIRED IN NOVEMBER, BUT NOW IT'S BACK. THE MALIBU IS BACK AT CHEVY FOR THE SECOND TIME FOR THIS PROBLEM. WE EXPERIENCED ANOTHER INCIDENT 2 WEEKS AGO BUT AFTER STARTING THE CAR AGAIN THE PROBLEM WAS NOT THERE AND HAS NOT SURFACED UNTIL NOW. I CERTAINLY HOPE THIS PROBLEM IS RESOLVED THIS TIME FOR GOOD. I FEEL VERY UNCOMFORTABLE PULLING INTO TRAFFIC. *TR

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AS I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 30MPH ON A SUBURBAN RD. THE MALIBU JERKED A COUPLE OF TIMES THEN THE (SERVICE ESC) LIGHT CAME ON ALONG WITH OTHER LIGHTS AND THE CAR STOPPED MOVING. IT ALSO HAD A (CAR LOCKED) SYMBOL LIT ON THE DASH. THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER SIMILAR COMPLAINTS AND THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR THIS. WE PAY GOOD MONEY TO DRIVE A NEW CAR SO WE DON'T HAVE BREAKDOWNS, NOT TO MENTION THE POSSIBILITIES OF GETTING HIT WHEN THIS FAULT OCCURS MAYBE EVEN BEING TAKEN OUT OF THE POPULATION. *TR

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2011 CHEVY MALIBU - . TAKES A LONG TIME FOR CAR TO SHIFT INTO GEAR WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP OR MAKING A TURN. I HAVE ALSO HAD SOME CLOSE CALLS WITH CARS ALMOST HITTING ME, (LIKE ANOTHER PERSON WROTE). BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER AND HE COULD NOT DUPLICATE IT (OF COURSE). I AM EXPERIENCING IT MORE AND MORE AND WILL TRY ANOTHER DEALER. *TR

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AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY IN A VEHICLE CRASH AT 55 MPH WHEN HIT BY LARGE PICKUP TRUCK HAULING EMPTY HORSE TRAILER WHEN DRIVER FELL ASLEEP AT WHEEL. IMPACT CAUSED 2011 MALIBU TO SPIN AT HIGH VELOCITY AND ROLL OVER. NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. INJURY OF FRONT PASSENGER OCCURRED. THE SDM MODULE READING SHOWED "NO EVENT" OCCURRING AND THAT IS JUST PLAIN UNBELIEVABLE. A COMPLAINT HAS BEEN FILED WITH GM AND DENIED. *KB

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WAS INOPERABLE AND HE WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE HOW FAST HE WAS TRAVELING OR HOW MANY MILES WERE ON THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER MADE THREE ATTEMPTS TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING A RESPONSE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 10,900. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. WHEN DRIVING ALONG DASH BOARD LIGHTS AND GAUGES GO OFF AND ON DAY AND NIGHT NO SPEED INDICATION EITHER. UPDATED 11/03/2011 *LN *TR

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2011 CHEVROLET MALABU DOES NOT COME EQUIPPED WITH SPARE TIRE; ONLY AN AIR PUMP. THIS IS ABSURD, UNSAFE AND DANGEROUS. IF FLAT TIRE OCCURS IT WILL NOT HOLD AIR, RENDERING AIR PUMP USELESS, AND LEAVING DRIVER STRANDED. DEALER DID NOT TELL ABOUT NO SPARE TIRE WHEN MAKING NEW LEASE 6-30-11. UNDERSTAND ALL 2011 CHEVROLETS DO NOT HAVE SPARE TIRE. IMMEDIATE ACTION NEEDED TO REQUIRE ALL CARS BE EQUIPPED WITH A SPARE TIRE. *TT

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A GROWLING NOISE WOULD BE HEARD COMING FROM THE BRAKES WHENEVER THEY WERE APPLIED AT LOW SPEEDS OF APPROXIMATLEY 5 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS WERE REPAIRED. APPROXIMATELY TWO MONTHS LATER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER TO BE REPAIRED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD EXPERIENCE DIFFICULTY SHIFTING FROM SECOND TO THIRD GEAR. AS A RESULT, THERE WOULD BE AN INCREASE IN ENGINE RPMS, BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE BEFORE ACCELERATING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,800 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 5,000.

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2011 CHEVY MALIBU 2LT - TRANSMISSION SLIPPING BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND GEARS, ALSO 2ND TO 3RD. TAKES A DANGEROUSLY LONG TIME FOR IT TO KICK IN TO THE CORRECT GEAR AND I HAVE HAD SOME CLOSE CALLS PULLING INTO TRAFFIC. ALSO, THIS SIX SPEED TRANSMISSION IS DEFECTIVE WHEN TRYING TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE AS ONCE YOU ARE IN 6TH GEAR, IT WILL NOT DROP TO 5TH IN ORDER TO PASS. THE RPMS RACE UP AND NOTHING HAPPENS. ALL OF THIS AND GM SAYS THAT THE VEHICLE IS OPERATING AS NORMAL AND THERE IS NO PROBLEM. OBVIOUSLY THERE IS. THIS IS A DEFECT AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. MULTIPLE DISCUSSION FORUMS ONLINE DESCRIBE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL YEAR AND ALSO 2010 1LT AND 2TL 4CYL AND 6CYL. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE AND GM IS NOT DOING IT. HELP!! *TR

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I WAS DRIVING AND WHEN I WENT OVER A SMALL HILL THE CAR SEEMED TO LOSE POWER. THE SERVICE /ESC MESSAGE CAME ON. I WAS BARELY ABLE TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD THE CAR WAS RUNNING BUT WOULD NOT MOVE AT ALL. IT HAD NO POWER WHATSOEVER. WHEN I CALLED ONSTAR THEY SAID TO SHUT IT OFF FOR A MINUTE AND TURN IT BACK ON TO SEE IF THE CODE WOULD CLEAR. IT DIDN'T SO I CALLED A TOW TRUCK TO TOW IT TO BANKS CHEVROLET (NH). AFTER SITTING IN THE CAR FOR ABOUT AN HOUR WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING (IT WAS FEBRUARY AND VERY COLD OUT) THE TOW OPERATOR ARRIVED. I SHUT THE CAR OFF FOR ABOUT 3 MINUTES, HE THEN STARTED IT AND LOW AND BEHOLD THE MESSAGE WAS GONE THE CAR HAD POWER AND HE PROCEEDED TO DRIVE IT ON THE TOW TRUCK. THE GARAGE HAD THE CAR FOR SEVERAL DAYS TRYING TO RECREATE THE PROBLEM. THEY COULD NOT. THEY SAID A SERVICE BULLETIN DID GO OUT ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. I WILL ADMIT IT DOES MAKE ME NERVOUS THE CAR WAS 1 MONTH IN MY POSSESSION WHEN THIS HAPPENED NOT EVEN 1500 MILES ON IT. I NOW HAVE 7500 MILES AND NO PROBLEMS SINCE THEN. IT COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC IF I HAD BEEN MERGING ONTO THE HIGHWAY AND LOST POWER AT A HIGH SPEED-THANK-GOD THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN!!! BUT REALLY NO RESOLUTION THEY COULDN'T FIND OUT WHAT CAUSED IT THEY DID HOWEVER GIVE ME SOME SONG AND DANCE ABOUT THINGS LOOSENING UP FROM GOING OVER BUMPY ROADS. WELL I LIVE IN THE NORTHEAST SO THAT IS PRETTY UNAVOIDABLE. *KB

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I HAVE A 2011 MALIBU, I CHANGED MY TIRES OUT ON MY CAR AND TIRE PRESSURE LOW LIGHT CAME ON, THEN 3 DAYS LATER SERVICE ESC LIGHT CAME ON, AN I INSTANTLY FELT LIKE I WAS IN A WRONG GEAR, POWER AND SPEED REDUCED, THANKFULLY I WASN'T IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, I'M UNDER THE 5 YEAR WARRANTY CAN I GET SERVICE, AND IS IT DANGEROUS FOR ME TO DRIVE. *KB

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FROM MY WIFE: AFTER TWO PRIOR TRIPS IN THE SAME DAY (36 MILES AND 16 MILES ROUND TRIP RESPECTIVELY), MY 3RD OCCASION TO START THE CAR WAS MET WITH A GLARING WARNING MESSAGE ON THE DIGITAL DISPLAY THAT SAID "ENGINE POWER REDUCED". IT WAS FOLLOWED BY "SERVICE ESC/TRACTION CONTROL". I WAS PUZZLED BY THIS WHEN AFTER THAT BOTH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. I WAS INCREDIBLY THANKFUL TO NOT HAVE TO GET ON THE HIGHWAY, BUT HAD TO GO TO GET TO A PERFORMANCE. THE ENGINE HAD BARELY ANY POWER AND IT WAS AS IF THE TRANSMISSION WAS FROZEN. I HAD TO CREEP ALONG WITH DRIVERS TAILGATING ME BECAUSE I COULDN'T GO ANY FASTER THAN ABOUT 30 MPH. AS SOON AS I REACHED MY DESTINATION (ONLY 4 MILES AWAY), I CONTACTED MY HUSBAND SO HE COULD COME TO GET THE CAR WHEN HE GOT BACK FROM HIS ERRAND. FROM HUSBAND AND PRIMARY DRIVER OF CAR: I ARRIVED TO DROP OFF ANOTHER CAR FOR MY WIFE AND I EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THE SAME SCROLLING MESSAGES AND SLUGGISH RESPONSE. I CALLED ONSTAR AND THEIR DIAGNOSIS SAID TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED BECAUSE THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE THROTTLE. WHEN I CALLED TO ARRANGE A TOW BACK TO CHEVY, I WAS TOLD THAT IT'S A BUILT IN SAFETY FEATURE OF THE CAR SO THAT DRIVERS CAN'T INADVERTENTLY DO MORE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. TODAY THE BROOKDALE CHEVROLET (MN) DEALER SAID THEY COULDN'T REPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND THAT I COULD EITHER PICK THE CAR UP, OR THEY WOULD KEEP IT ONE MORE DAY TO SEE IF THEY COULD "REPLICATE" THE PROBLEM TO IDENTIFY AND FIX THE ISSUE. I TOLD THEM I COULD NOT KEEP A CAR THAT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. IF MY WIFE OR I HAD BEEN DRIVING IN THIS VEHICLE AT HIGH SPEEDS WHEN THE ENGINE POWER WAS REDUCED, IT COULD HAVE HAD THE POTENTIAL TO CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS PROBLEM FURTHER. I'VE SEEN OTHER COMPLAINTS ONLINE REGARDING THE SAME ISSUE.

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THIS IS A GENERAL COMPLAINT: MODERN VEHICLES ALL SEEM TO HAVE EXTREMELY UNCOMFORTABLE HEADRESTS. I CANNOT GET COMFORTABLE IN MOST NEW CARS! THE HEADRESTS PUSH TOO FAR FORWARD. I AM 6'1" AND PREFER AN UPRIGHT SEATING POSITION. I AM BEGINNING TO DESPAIR ABOUT FINDING A COMFORTABLE CAR FOR LONG DRIVES AND IT IS VERY DISCOURAGING. YOU ARE PROBABLY GOING TO TELL ME ITS ALL IN THE NAME OF SAFETY (WHIPLASH) BUT WHAT'S THE POINT IF YOU CAN'T STAND BEING IN THE CAR MORE THAN 20 MINUTES? HEADRESTS NEED TO BE ADJUSTABLE ANGLE LIKE MY 07 VW GTI (WHICH HAS ABSOLUTELY PERFECT SEATING). IF ALL I CAN BUY NOW IS THESE STUPID FORWARD TILTING HEADRESTS I AM GOING TO PUT THE DARN THING IN A VISE AND BEND IT BACKWARDS! THAT'S NOT GOING TO HELP SAFETY, BUT AT LEAST I'LL BE ABLE TO WALK UPRIGHT WHEN I GET OUT FROM A 5 HOUR DRIVE. MY LATEST ENCOUNTER WITH THESE STUPID HEADRESTS WAS IN A RENTED CHEVY MALIBU. BUT I'VE ALSO FOUND THE SAME PROBLEM IN RECENT FORDS (MUSTANG ABSOLUTELY AWFUL), AND FOR THAT MATTER IN PRACTICALLY EVERYTHING MANUFACTURED SINCE 2008. PLEASE HELP RESTORE SOME COMMON SENSE TO THE INDUSTRY OR ELSE I'LL BE WALKING TO WORK OR I'LL JUST RIP THE STUPID THINGS OUT OF THE SEAT. *TR

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE NOTICED A BLIND SPOT WHEN LOOKING OUT THE PASSENGER REAR VIEW MIRROR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS ALMOST INVOLVED IN A CRASH DUE TO THE ABNORMAL BLIND SPOT. THE VEHICLE WAS NEITHER INSPECTED NOR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 1,500. UPDATED 04/15/11*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE SIDE VIEW MIRROR IS BLOCKED BY 26 INCHES BY THE POST MIRROR. UPDATED 09/16/11

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPER BLADES DID NOT FULLY CLEAR THE WINDOW IN COLD WEATHER. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO TWO SEPARATE DEALERS. THE FIRST DEALER STATED THAT THE WIPERS WERE OPERATING AS DESIGNED WHILE THE SECOND DEALER STATED THAT THE RUBBER USED FOR THE WIPERS SEEMED TO CONTRACT AWAY FROM THE WINDSHIELD IN COLD WEATHER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 4,900.

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BOTH FRONT DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SEAT BELTS ON RENTAL CAR ARE INSTALLED ON VEHICLE BACKWARDS. BELT NEEDS TO BE TWISTED TO GET IT TO WORK. TWISTING IT DECREASES SURFACE AREA WHERE IT CONTACTS THE PERSON'S BODY (FROM THE FULL 2" WIDTH OF THE STRAP TO NOW A REDUCED WIDTH). THIS CAUSES IT TO "DIG IN" TO PERSON WHERE AS IF WERE INSTALLED CORRECTLY, THE FULL 2 INCH WIDTH OF THE SEAT BELT WOULD CONTACT THE PERSON'S BODY AND NOT "DIG IN" TO THE BODY. *TR

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I WAS ACCELERATING FROM THE ENTRY LANE OF A MOSTLY EMPTY (THANKFULLY) RURALHIGHWAY WHEN SUDDENLY A WARNING MESSAGE "SERVICE TRACTION" ENGINE POWER REDUCED" SERVICE ESC APPEARED ON THE DASH MONITOR.. I LOST POWER AND COULD NOT GET ABOVE 45 MPH. THE TRANSMISSION APPEARED TO BE LOCKED INTO A GEAR LEVEL. I CONTACTED CHEY AND THEY TOLD ME IT IS A SAFETY FEATURE. HERE'S THE PROBLEM, IF I HAD BEEN DOING A HIGH SPEED MERGE ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY THE POWER LOSS COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT NOT TO MENTION GETTING ME KILLED. I THINK THE FEATURE IS ENGINEERED INTO THE SOFTWARE THAT CONTROLS THE ENGINE/TRANSMISSION. A DETECTED FAULT TRIGGERS THE ACTION. INCIDENTALLY, THERE WAS NO PRIOR NOTICE, WARNING LIGHTS,ETC. THAT WOULD HAVE INDICATED A PROBLEM. THE LACK OF NOTICE EXACERBATES THE DANGER.

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I PURCHASED A 2011 MALIBU FROM CHAMPION CHEVROLET IN AUSTIN, TX IN NOVEMBER 2010. THE CAR WAS DELIVERED TO ME WITH A KNOWN DEFECTIVE EBCM (ELECTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL MODULE). THEY HAD THE PART ON ORDER AND DIDN'T TELL ME. I FOUND OUT A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER WHEN I HAD A TRACTION CONTROL FAILURE INDICATION AND WAS INFORMED THAT IT WOULD CONTINUE TO FAIL UNTIL THE MODULE WAS REPLACED. THE MODULE WAS REPLACED AND STILL HAD A TRACTION CONTROL/ABS FAILURE. LATER I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE CONNECTOR ON THE EBCM HAD A PUSHED PIN FROM THE MODULE REPLACEMENT. THE CAR WAS KEPT THERE A WEEK LOOKING FOR THE TRACTION CONTROL/ABS FAILURE AND A HYDRAULIC PRESSURE CONTROL MODULE WAS REPLACED. THIS LEFT THE BRAKES FEELING SOFT/MUSHY..MORE TRAVEL. TRIED TO GET A REPLACEMENT VEHICLE BUT DEALER WOULDN'T HELP ME UNLESS I WAS WILLING TO TAKE A $6000 LOST ON THE MONTH OLD MALIBU. COMPLAINED TO GM BUT ALL THEY SAID WAS THAT THE DEALER FIXED THE CAR. OFFERED SOME OIL CHANGES. IN JANUARY DECIDED TO GO AHEAD AND TAKE HIT ON THIS MALIBU AND BECAUSE OF CURRENT INCENTIVES TRADED IT FOR ANOTHER MALIBU. *TR

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