What 905 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu Eco

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A BURNING ODOR COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE REAR DEFROSTED FAILED TO FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE FUSES AND NOTICED SPARKS. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO REPLACED THE FUSE OR JUNCTION BOX. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER CONDITIONS, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE WINDSHIELD WIPER TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V269000 (SEAT BELTS) AND WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHEN THE PART WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE FOR THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000. ...UPDATED 02/19/16 *BF UPDATED 10/25/2017*CN

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THE REAR DEFROST DOESNT WORK

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER AND INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIANS DIAGNOSED THE FUEL PUMP MAIN CIRCUIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,695.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE SERVICE ESC AND SERVICE TRACTION WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. ON ONE OCCASION, THE VEHICLE DID NOT SHIFT OUT OF THE PARK POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE MODULATOR SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V252000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 19,000.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND OPERATED AS NORMAL. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD FAIL TO START ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,000.

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DRIVING ON THE [XXX] . A LARGE PIECE OF DEBRIS FROM A SUSPECTED TRUCK FLEW AND DAMAGED MY VEHICLE. THE TRUCK DID NOT STOP SO I'M NOT SURE IF IT ACTUALLY CAME FROM IT. THE INSURANCE COMPANY DENIED THE CLAIM BECAUSE THE DEBRIS WOULD BE CONSIDERED COLLISION NOT COMPREHENSION (I AM COVERED FOR COMPREHENSION). NOW I AM STUCK WITH FEES THAT I AM NOT EVEN LIABLE FOR. *TR

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DO NOT REMEMBER WHEN I BROUGHT MY CAR IN FOR CAMPAIGN 14V252000 MAYBE APPROX. A YEAR AGO. THE PROBLEMS THE CAR WAS HAVING BEFORE I HAD THE RECALL DONE HAVE STARTED AGAIN. UP UNTIL NOW HAVEN'T HAD ANY PROBLEMS. MY DEALER WANTS TO CHARGE ME TO FIX IT. *TR

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MY SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT WAS COMING ON EVER SINCE I BOUGHT MY CAR AND I TOOK IT TO KOONS FOR SERVICE AND I WAS TOLD ONE WHEEL WAS MOVING FASTER THEN ANOTHER NOT TO WORRY ABOUT IT THEN ON 06/18/2014 IWAS HIT BY A CHEVY SILVERADO THAT RAN A LIGHT AND I WAS DOING 45 MILES AN HOUR I HAD MY GRANDDAUGHTER IN HER SAFETY SEAT IN THE BACK NONE OF MY AIR BAGS WORKED NOR DID MY SEAT BELTS MY GRAND DAUGHTER HIT THE BACK OF THE SEATS.NOW MY CAR IS FLASHING THE CODES AGAIN NOW THAT ITS FIXED AND SHUTS DOWN WHILE DRIVING .ITS PART OF THE GM RECALL FOR THE UPPER WIRE HARNESS BUT THEY ARE SAYING IT ISN'T AND THEY ARE NOT STANDING BUY THE WARRANTY THIS DEFECT ALMOST KILLED US AND STILL IS ALMOST KILLING US BY SHUTTING DOWN WHILE DRIVING SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS COMING ON PLUS AIR BAG LIGHTS SAYING AIR BAGS ARE SHUTTING DOWN .SO THAT MEANS THE AIR BAGS IF WE NEEDED THEM WOULD NOT HELP US AGAIN IF NEEDED.WE WERE VERY BADLY HURT THE LAST TIME AND I NEED GM TO STEP UP AND REIMBURSE US FOR OUR INJURIES AND FOR MAKING US STILL RIDE IN AN UNSAFE CAR THAT THEY NOW IS ON THE RECALL LIST BUT THEY KEEP SAYING ITS NOT.MY CAR IS STILL IN SERVICE AND SERVICE IS SAYING IT IS PART OF THE RECALL BIT GM WILL NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. .. *TR

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EARLY OCTOBER 2014 I BEGIN TO SMELL A BURNING PLASTIC SMELL AFTER CAR IS STOPPED. SELF INSPECTION FOUND NOTHING, MECHANIC INSPECTION FOUND NOTHING. AROUND JANUARY I TOOK CAR IN FOR BRAKE LIGHT RECALL, HAD SERVICE TECH INSPECT; SAID THEY FOUND A MELTED BAG ON EXHAUST (I SAW NO SUCH THING). LATE JANUARY 2015 MY CAR WON'T START AFTER SITTING ALL NIGHT, CAR WAS JUMPED AND STARTED FINE. LATE MARCH 2015 PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT SOMETIMES FAILS TO TURN ON AT FIRST ATTEMPT AND AFTER A 2 HOUR DRIVE, NEXT MORNING CAR WON'T START; AFTER WAITING 20 MINUTES CAR STARTS. 4/4/2015 CAR IS LEFT ON (ENGINE OFF) WITH RADIO PLAYING WHILE CLEANING OUT CAR, AFTER 10 MIN SERVICE ESC COMES ON DASH, I IMMEDIATELY TURN OFF CAR. I TRY TO START ENGINE, NO IGNITION. THE CAR WOULDN'T EVEN TRY TO TURN OVER. I TOOK CAR TO AUTOZONE WHERE THEY TESTED THE BATTERY AND THE ALTERNATOR WHERE BOTH WERE FOUND TO BE IN PERFECT WORKING ORDER. I CAN HEAR THE FUEL PUMP ATTEMPT TO ENGAGE AND IF THE BATTERY AND THE ALTERNATOR ARE FINE THEN THAT LEAVES ME TO BELIEVE IT IS THE STARTER...HOWEVER, IF THE SMELL WASN'T A PLASTIC BAG BUT INSTEAD A WIRE MELTING, THEN I WOULD HAVE A SHORT WHICH COULD ALSO BE CAUSING THIS. BOUGHT THIS CARE AS A SAFE MODE OF TRANSPORTATION FOR MY SON AND I, I FIND MYSELF MORE STRESSED OUT WONDERING IF I WILL BE ABLE TO GET US WERE I NEED TO GO THAN WITH THE OLD CAR I USE TO HAVE. IF THIS TURNS OUT TO BE A MALFUNCTION I HOPE GM IS WILLING TO MAKE IT RIGHT. THE PROBLEM IS INCREASING AND NO ONE HAS YET BEEN ABLE TO FIGURE IT OUT. *TR

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING FAILED ON THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE CONTACT TO DRIVE INTO A SNOW BANK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT AND THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE PREVENTED THE VEHICLE FROM BEING STEERED. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE ELECTRONIC STEERING MODULE WAS NOT UNDER RECALL AND THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V252000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) EVEN THOUGH THE BODY CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED THIS INFORMATION FROM A SENIOR SAFETY SUPERVISOR FROM GM. THE FAILURE OCCURRED FOUR TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,000.

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WE HAVE TALKED TO OUT TWO DIFFERENT CHEVY DEALERS ABOUT THIS AND EVEN WENT THROUGH ARBITRATION OVER OUR AIRBAGS. NOTHING HAS EVER BEEN FOUND TO BE WRONG. THE SERVICE AIR BAG LIGHT HAS COME ON AGAIN. I WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH AND THE SERVICE AIR BAG LIGHT ON THE DISPLAY COME ON MOMENTARILY (ABOUT 60 SECONDS) AND WENT OFF. IT CAME ON FOR ABOUT 15 SECONDS AND STARTED FLASHING, THEN IT STAYED SOLID AGAIN. NOW, EVERY TIME I START THE CAR, IT IS ON. *TR

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2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO BODY CONTROL MODULE SYSTEM/ BRAKE APPLY SENSOR RECALL NOTICE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED HE WAITED FOR THE DETAILS TO RESTORE THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE. HOWEVER, UNABLE TO WAIT ANY LONGER, HE WAS FORCED TO SELL THE VEHICLE. *JB

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2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. CONSUMER WANTS TO BE REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPAIRS DUE TO RECALL FOR VEHICLE. *TA

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FOR THE PAST 2 WEEKS , I HAD A PROBLEM WITH MY CAR STARTING. I WOULD DRIVE TO WORK FINE BUT WHEN I WOULD LEAVE FROM WORK MY CAR WOULDN'T START. INITIALLY, I THOUGHT IT WAS THE BATTERY SO I HAD IT JUMPED. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK IT TO AUTOZONE TO HAVE THE BATTERY TESTED. I WAS TOLD THE BATTERY WAS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION. MY FATHER ADVISED TO PUT HEET FUEL INJECTOR CLEANER AS IT WAS EXTREMELY COLD AND HE THOUGHT MAYBE WATER GOT INTO THE FUEL LINE. WELL THAT SAME DAY AFTER STOPPING TO PICK UP MY CHILD FOR 5 MINUTES I SHUT THE CAR OFF. IT WOULDN'T START. I CALLED THE TOW COMPANY BUT AFTER WAITING ON HOLD 20 MINUTES LATER I START MY CAR AT THE DIRECTION OF THE ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE TECH. IT STARTED. THEN IT HAPPENED AGAIN A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER BUT I LET IT SIT AND TRIED IT AGAIN. CAR RAN FINE FOR A WEEK THEN AS I WAS LEAVING FOR LUNCH TODAY IT WOULDN'T START. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. COME TO FIND OUT THAT THE FUEL WIRES MELTED ONTO THE FUEL BOX AND THEY HAD NO IDEA WHY. THIS SOUNDS LIKE A SERIOUS MATTER BECAUSE I WONDER WHAT WOULD'VE HAPPENED HAD I CONTINUE DRIVING WITH MELTED WIRES ON THE FUEL BOX. SOUNDS LIKE A FIRE WAITING TO HAPPEN. I FELT THAT THIS IS SOME TYPE OF DEFECT BECAUSE THAT ISN'T NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. *TR

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DRIVING INTO TOWN, ALERTED BY PEDESTRIAN THAT MY CAR WAS ON FIRE UNDERNEATH. EVERYTHING FAILED, WHILE I TRIED TO PULL OFF THE ROADWAY. HAD TO KICK OUT THE WINDOW TO GET OUT. WHEN I BARELY GOT OUT, THE ENTIRE CAR WAS IN FULL BLAZE. *TR

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY FAILED TO START THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT LOCKSMITH WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A METAL PIECE INSIDE THE IGNITION CAUSING THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

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THE INTERIOR LIGHT PANEL WENT COMPLETELY DARK, AFTER A FEW MINUTES IT LIT UP AGAIN. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING MORE FREQUENTLY LATELY. THE RADIO STOPS PLAYING AND THE PANEL READS "AUXILLARY MODE"AND THEN BACK TO RADIO, THEN BACK TO "AUXILLARY MODE". I HAVE TO TURN THE RADIO OFF AND ON FOR IT TO START PLAYING AGAIN. IT IS HAPPENING MORE FREQUENTLY. WHEN I PLUG IN MY AUXILLARY CORD TO LISTEN TO MY IPOD, IT SHORTS OUT. THE CLICKER TO UNLOCK/LOCK THE CAR STOPPED WORKING AS WELL, SO I WENT TO GET A NEW BATERY. THEY TESTED THE BATTERY AND SAID IT WAS FINE. ALSO MY REAR DEFROSTER DOES NOT WORK AT ALL NOW. *JS

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE THEFT DETERRENT SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY AND VEHICLE STALLED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON A DAILY BASIS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW THEFT DETERRENT MODULE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000.

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THE INTERIOR LIGHT PANEL WENT COMPLETELY DARK, AFTER A FEW MINUTES IT LIT UP AGAIN. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING MORE FREQUENTLY LATELY. THE RADIO STOPS PLAYING AND THE PANEL READS"AUXILIARY MODE". I HAVE TO TURN THE RADIO OFF AND ON FOR IT TO START PLAYING AGAIN. IT IS HAPPENING MORE FREQUENTLY. WHEN I PLUG IN MY AUXILIARY CORD TO LISTEN TO MY IPOD, IT SHORTS OUT. THE CLICKER TO UNLOCK/LOCK THE CAR STOPPED WORKING SO I WENT TO GET A NEW BATTERY. THEY TESTED THE BATTERY AND SAID IT WAS FINE. MY REAR DEFROSTER DOES NOT WORK AT ALL. *TR

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V252000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT IT WOULD TAKE MONTHS BEFORE AN APPOINTMENT COULD BE SCHEDULED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND COULD NOT PROVIDE AN ESTIMATED DATE FOR WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD RECEIVE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT DID NOT EXPERIENCE A FAILURE.

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2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO BODY CONTROL MODULE RECALL NOTICE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING, THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED AND CAUSED HIM TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT. THE CONSUMER WAS INJURED. THE CONSUMER SENT IN A RECALL NOTICE ALONG WITH HIS COMPLAINT. *JB

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 14V252000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM , ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL , EXTERIOR LIGHTING , SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC , VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) AND STATED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE DEALER DID NOT GIVE A SPECIFIC DATE FOR WHEN THE PART WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO CONTACTED AND COULD NOT PROVIDE AN ESTIMATED DATE FOR WHEN THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WOULD RECEIVE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT DID NOT EXPERIENCE A FAILURE.

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I HAVE A 2012 CHEVROLET MAILBU WHERE THE KEY IS GETTING STUCK IN THE IGNITION. REALLY HARD TO GET OFF OF ACC WITHOUT JIGGLING GEAR SHIFTER AND TURNING WHEELS. THIS HAS HAPPENED THREE TIMES. THERE IS A RECALL ALREADY INITIATED BUT NOT FOR MY YEAR OF CAR! *TR

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IN JUNE 2014 CAR WOULDN'T START AFTER SITTING 4 HOURS TOWED IN SAID THEFT SYSTEM MADE NEW KEY WHICH I HAD TO PAY FOR, TOWED IN AGAIN 3 DAYS LATER SAME PROBLEM, STARTED FOR DEALER IN AM ANOTHER $120. 4 DAYS APPROX LATER AGAIN GOT TO WORK THEN WOULDN'T START. REPLACED REAR U-BEC, WIRING HARNESS JUNCTION BLOCK, RELAY, BECAUSE MELTED CONNECTOR WITH FIVE LEADS 30 AMP FUSE. THEN 9/23/2014 CAR STARTED GOT TO DAYCARE WITHIN 5 MINUTES OF BEING OFF NO START. WAITED THEN STARTED TEN MINUTES LATER. 9/272014 GOT TO WORK LUNCH TIME NO START SAME WANTED TO START LIKE GETTING NO FUEL THEN 3 HOURS LATER STARTED DROVE TO DEALER. *TR

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IN 8/25/2014 IT STARTED WHEN MY WIFE WANT TO START THE CAR AND IT DIDN'T JUST CRANKS BUT WONT STARTED, IT DID AFTER A FEW TRIES, AND THEN HAPPENED AGAIN THE SAME DAY TO MY SON AND AFTER A LITTLE WHILE IT STARTED RIGHT BACK, AND THAT SAME WEEK I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 30 MILES PER HR.AND ALL OF SUDDEN IT JUST DIED WITH NO CODES OR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DISPLAYED,IT IS TOO DANGEROUS THAT HAPPEN IN THE MIDDLE OF A MAIN ROAD BECAUSE IT DIDN'T WANT TO RE START I HAVE TO PUSH IT ACROSS OF THE ROAD WITH ALL THIS CARS BEHIND YOU AND BE AFRAID OF BEING HIT.IT SEEMS THAT IT BEEN MORE AND MORE FREQUENTLY HAPPENING THIS WEEK AND TAKES LONGER WAIT TO RE START IT, I JUST WANT TO KNOW IF IS A DEFECT OF THIS MALIBU 2012 I. I HEARD THAT MALIBU'S HAVE A ISSUE WITH THE ANTITHEFT SYSTEM. WE SCANNED COMPUTER HISTORY AND IT SHOWS ANTITHEFT HISTORY STORED ON IT. AM AFRAID OF GO INTO EXPRESSWAY AND RUN INTO AN ACCIDENT. PLEASE HELP MY CAR IS A 2012 IMPALA WITH 65000 MILES ON IT. *TR

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