What 921 owners told NHTSA about the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu Eco

THE 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU TURNS OFF OR COMPLETELY DE-ENERGIZES DURING OPERATION. ON THREE OCCASIONS OVER THE LAST 2 WEEKS, THE VEHICLE HAS TURNED OFF OR COMPLETELY DE-ENERGIZED WHILE TRAVELING SPEEDS OF BETWEEN 10 AND 35 MPH. ON ONE OCCASION, THE VEHICLE TURNED OFF OR COMPLETELY DE-ENERGIZED WHILE IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, THE 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU HAS TURNED OFF OR COMPLETELY DE-ENERGIZED IN THE MIDDLE OF A TURN. THIS OCCURRED ONCE IN THE FACE OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC DURING A LEFT TURN AT AN INTERSECTION AND ONCE DURING A RIGHT TURN.

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THE CHARGING SYSTEM WENT COMPLETELY DEAD WHILE DRIVING. I HAD NO POWER STEERING EVERYTHING WENT BLACK NO SPEED, NO LIGHTS, I COULDN'T EVEN TURN ON MY HAZARDS WHILE I WAS SITTING IN THE MIDDLE LANE OF THE INTERSTATE HOPING I WOULDN'T GET KILLED BECAUSE OF THIS. WHY IS THERE NO WARNING TO LET YOU KNOW YOUR BATTERY AND CHARGING SYSTEM IS DEAD. WHY IS THIS NOT A RECALL FROM CHEVY? PLEASE ADVISE.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION GEARS WERE SLOW TO CHANGE OVER WHEN NEEDED, AND THEN THE GEAR WOULD CHANGE OVER ABRUPTLY. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE WOULD SURGE AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. THERE WERE TWO UNKNOWN WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED: ONE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE OTHER FOR THE TRANSMISSION GEAR SHIFT. KOEPP CHEVROLET (13221 US-87, LA VERNIA, TX 78121, (830) 253-8000) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NEED TO BE DIAGNOSED TO DETERMINE IF THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33,150.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, IT BEGAN TO HESITATE AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO FOUND THE FOLLOWING THREE CODES: P0089, P228D, AND P0016. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO KELLER MOTORS (LOCATED AT 700 CADILLAC LN, HANFORD, CA 93230, (866) 882-6546), BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,133. THE VIN WAS INVALID.

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I WAS DRIVING AND STARTED HEARING A LOUD ALTER HE AND THEN THE CAR SEEMED TO HAVE SHUT OFF AND STARTED BACK UP THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON I PULLED OVER TURNED THE CAR OFF TO SEE IF THE ENGINE LIGHT WOULD GO BACK OFF IT DIDN'T NOW IT KEEPS MAKING THE SKREECHING SOUND AND STILL SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING AND ON A STOP

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WAS DRIVING DOWN INTERSTATE GOING 70 MPH WHEN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WENT HAYWIRE. THE ENGINE ENGINE STALLED AND LOST POWER STEERING. VERY DANGEROUS!

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED. THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER PULLED THE VEHICLE OFF THE FREEWAY AND THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED. THE VEHICLE JERKED VIOLENTLY AND ALMOST CRASHED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO BURIEN CHEVROLET (14400 1ST AVE S, BURIEN, WA 98168, (206) 243-5800) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT A NEW TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE INSTALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,408. *TR THE CONSUMER STATED EVENAFTER HAVING THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE DUE TO THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKING UP. *JS

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EASSIST RECALL FOR MALIBU ECO. MY VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS THE RECALL, BUT MY VIN NUMBER IS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST. THE VEHICLE MAKE AND MODEL MATCH. ALL OF MY MAINTENANCE IS UP TO DATE. I WOULD LIKE SOMEONE TO FROM THIS COMPANY TO LOOK INTO MY VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START, I HAVE BROUGHT 4 NEW BATTERIES IN THE LAST 2 YEARS. THE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LIGHT IS ON. IT HAS BEEN ON FOR A YEAR NOW. THERE IS A BURNING SMELL WHEN I DRIVE IT SOMETIMES. I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE DIAGNOSED SEVERAL TIMES BY A DEALERSHIP AND NOW BY AN OUTSIDE MECHANIC, WHO INFORMED ME ABOUT THE RECALL. I WAS TOLD IF THIS DOESN'T GET FIT SOON MY VEHICLE COULD CATCH FIRE. I WOULD LIKE HELP IN RESOLVING THIS SITUATION.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE CONTACT SWITCHED GEARS AND THE VEHICLE MADE A KNOCKING SOUND. ALSO, WHEN THE CONTACT SHIFTED INTO REVERSE OR WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT A STOP, THE KNOCKING SOUND WAS HEARD AND THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT WITH TOM GILL CHEVROLET (7830 COMMERCE DR, FLORENCE, KY 41042, (859) 371-7566). THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND SUGGESTED THE CONTACT CALL NHTSA AND SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT WITH A DEALER. THE CONTACT RESEARCHED ONLINE AND STATED THAT THE POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE WITHIN THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE COULD BE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,267.

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THE MECHANIC STATES IT MAY BE A CONDITION IN WHICH THE GENERATOR CONTROL MODULE (GCM) MAY NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. THE BATTERY WOULDN'T HOLD A CHARGE AND THEN SUDDENLY IT WAS CHARGED AND DRIVING AS NORMAL, THE BATTERY INDICATOR LIGHT WAS ON THE ENTIRE TIME. THEY CANNOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT NOW, BUT STATED THERE WAS A RECALL AND THINKS THAT IS WHAT IS WONT WITH MY VEHICLE. ALSO THE STOP/START FEATURE IS NOT WORKING AT ALL ON THE VEHICLE. IT ACTS LIKE IT WILL CUT OFF INTERMITTENTLY.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD SHUT OFF AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES AND ELECTRONICS WOULD TURN OFF AND ON. IN ADDITION, THE "SERVICE POWER STEERING" MESSAGE ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MIKE HAGGERTY GMC (9100 S. KENTON ST., OAKLINE, IL) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION MODULE WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

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WATER PUMP FAILURE

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WHILE DRIVING ACROSS A BRIDGE AT ABOUT 50MPH, THE ENGINE LIGHT, POWER STEERING, ABS AND BATTERY CHARGING SYSTEM WARNING LIGHTS ALL CAME ON AND THEN THE CAR COMPLETELY LOST ALL POWER. I HAD LITTLE CONTROL OF THE CAR BUT WAS ABLE TO SAFELY PULL ONTO THE SHOULDER. I COULD HAVE CRASHED ONTO THE MEDIAN OR ANOTHER FASTER CAR COULD HAVE HIT ME, I COULD HAVE DIED. TRIED TO GET A JUMP BUT IT WOULD NOT STAY ON ONCE CABLES WERE REMOVED. TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE 2 BUSINESS DAYS LATER I'M TOLD THE TIMING CHAINS, CAM SHAFT AND FUEL PUMP NEED REPLACING. CAR IS UNDER 38,000 MILES. I HAVE WITNESSED MY DASHBOARD AND RADIO LIGHT UP WHEN NO ONE IS IN IT AND ALL DOORS ARE LOCKED. CAR TURNED OFF ONCE LAST WEEK WHILE I WAS DRIVING UNDER 20MPH BUT IMMEDIATELY TURNED BACK ON BY ITSELF. JUST THOUGHT MAYBE I USED BAD GASOLINE. HAVE TO WAIT 2-3 MORE DAYS JUST FOR THEM TO START WORKING ON IT AND CANNOT GET AN ESTIMATE ON HOW LONG THE WORK WILL TAKE. CHEVY REFUSES A LOANER/RENTAL CAR UNTIL THE CAR IS BEING WORKED ON EVEN THOUGH THEY ALREADY RENDERED IT INOPERABLE. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS CAR AND HAVEN'T HAD THIS PREOWNED VEHICLE EVEN A YEAR YET. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH THIS CAR AND EVEN MORE DISAPPOINTED WITH THE SERVICE AND LACK OF HELP AND ACCOMMODATIONS FROM CHEVROLET. ALSO DISAPPOINTED THAT THE WARRANTY DOESN'T TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THE INCONVENIENCE THE CUSTOMER FACES WHEN THEIR CAR IS DOWN.

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WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT AHEAD ON A CITY STREET, AT APPROXIMATELY 30-35MPH, THE AXLE SHAFT ON THE FRONT, RIGHT SIDE OF THE CAR BROKE. THE BROKEN AXLE SHAFT CAUSED AN ACCIDENT WHERE MY CAR WENT TO THE RIGHT AND I HIT THE BACK-LEFT SIDE OF A VAN; THAT IMPACT SENT THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE CAR UP IN THE AIR WHERE I WAS ONLY TRAVELING ON THE TWO LEFT WHEELS. ALTHOUGH I THOUGHT MY CAR WAS GOING TO FLIP AND LAND ON IT'S ROOF, THE CAR DID COME BACK DOWN ON THE RIGHT WHEELS, BUT LANDED/HIT THE FRONT OF THE VAN AND THE BACK OF A PICK-UP TRUCK. *TR

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE RPMS DECREASED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WOULD ONLY RESTART AFTER RECEIVING A JUMP START. IN ADDITION, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND BATTERY CHARGE, STABILITY TRACK, AND SERVICE POWER STEERING WARNING MESSAGES APPEARED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL DISPLAY. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURES OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,212.

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CAR RANDOMLY LOSSES POWER AT ANY SPEED. DURING THIS TIME, I AM UNABLE TO CONTROL THE CAR. THE POWER STEERING IS OFF. THIS HAPPENED TO MY WIFE AS SHE MADE A LEFT TURN ON A GREEN LIGHT ON BELL ROAD, AZ (A BUSY ROAD). THERE IS NO WAY THAT THIS SHOULD BE TAKEN LIGHTLY.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT CRANK, BUT THE BATTERY WAS FULLY CHARGED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE KEY DID NOT COME OUT OF THE IGNITION AND THE GEAR SHIFTER WOULD NOT SHIFT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,000.

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WHEEL BEARING FROM GM DONT LAST. MY CAR HAS 75000 MILES AND HAVE ALREADY REPLACED ALL 4 AND THOSE WERE DONE MAY 9 USING GM PARTS AND HAVE ANOTHER ONE THAT IS FAILING.

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WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD ON 7/10/16 MY 2013 CHEVY MALIBU LOST POWER, ENGINE LIGHT AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON AND WENT FROM 55-60 MPH TO 20 MPH. WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE MORE THE CAR COULD SHAKE VIOLENTLY. AFTER STOPPING AND TURNING THE CAR OFF IT WOULD NOT RESTART. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO KERRY CHEVROLET IN ALEXANDRIA, KY. AFTER DIAGNOSTIC TESTING THEY DETERMINED THAT THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED REPLACED. ON 8/10/16 WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WHILE IN VACATION IN FLORIDA THE CAR AGAIN STARTED TO LOSE POWER, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO SLIP OR MISS AND JERK. AGAIN ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. CAR DIED THREE TIMES WHILE ON THE ROAD TRYING TO GET IT TO A SAFE PLACE FOR A TOW TRUCK TO TOW IT. IT WAS TAKEN TO A DEALERSHIP AND THE CAM SHAFT SENSOR WAS REPLACED. CAR CONTINUES TO HESITATE AND MISS.

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MY CHEVROLET MALIBU SHUT OFF ON ME IN THE MID OF THE WAY AND I ALMOST GO INTO A ACCIDENT WITH MY CHILDREN. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY CAN'T FIND OUT WHY MY CAR IS DOING THIS.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH IN INCLEMENT WEATHER OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AS THE FRONT END VEERED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE OR REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000.

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IN SUMMER 2015 WHILE USING AC, HEAT RANDOMLY WOULD BLAST OUT. (WHILE IDLE OR DRIVING). WOULD HAVE TO RESTART CAR TO GET AC TO WORK AGAIN. IN THE PAST 2 WEEKS DEC15/JAN16, ENGINE OVERHEATED-IDLE INDICATOR CAME ON WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, ONCE AT 65 MPH, ONCE AT 30 MPH. THEN A FEW MINUTES LATER IT WOULD TURN OFF. I LOOKED AT TEMP GAUGE, AND IT WAS NOT AT AN OVERHEATING LEVEL (HALF WAY ONLY). ALSO, NOW HEAT ONLY INTERMITTENTLY WORKS. I WILL HAVE TO TURN CAR ON AND OFF REPEATEDLY, AND TURN AC ON/OFF, HEAT ON/OFF, DEFROST ON/OFF, AND SOMETIMES THE HEAT WILL FINALLY GET WARM. NEVER SEEMS TO GET HOT LIKE IT'S SUPPOSED TO. TOOK TO REPAIR SHOP FOR THE ENGINE OVERHEATED/IDLE WARNING AND STATED NOTHING WAS WRONG. SAFETY ISSUE NOT HAVING HEAT FOR FRONT WINDSHIELD DEFROST WHEN IT'S UNDER 30 DEGREES OUT. MECHANIC SAID IT'S PROBABLY A COMPUTER ISSUE WITH THE CAR. BUT NOW I'M SEEING THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH MANY CAR OWNERS. GM NEEDS TO RECALL, AS THIS CAN BE A SAFETY CONCERN!

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WHILE DRIVING INTO CHICAGO ON A BUSY INTERSTATE HWY A WARNING DISPLAYED ON THE DASH "SERVICE GENERATOR CONTROL MODULE," BEFORE I COULD REACH A SERVICE CENTER THE VOLTAGE BEGAN TO DROP AND ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS FAILED (LIGHTS, STEERING & BRAKE ASSIST, ETC. THE ENGINE SUBSEQUENTLY STOPPED. FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER TO THE SHOULDER. THE BATTERY WAS COMPLETELY DEAD, NO ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS WORKED, E.G. EMERGENCY FLASHERS, COULDN'T REMOVE IGNITION KEY. AFTER WAITING 4 HOURS FOR TOW TRUCK, TOWED TO ROGERS CHEVROLET IN CHICAGO. VEHICLE SAT ON THE LOT TWO DAYS, THEN SERVICE TECH SAID VEHICLE STARTED AND RAN NORMALLY WITH NO FAULT INDICATIONS. VEHICLE CONTINUES TO OPERATE NORMALLY. DEALER ADVISES TO BRING VEHICLE BACK WHEN IT FAILS. CHEVROLET CUSTOMER SERVICE SAYS PERHAPS THE COMPUTER INITIATED A FALSE ERROR REPORT AND THEN SHUTS DOWN THE GCM CAUSING THE ENGINE TO STOP AND THAT'S WHY MY VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL FOR THE GCM PROBLEM. IT WOULD APPEAR FURTHER INVESTIGATION IS WARRANTED. FORTUNATELY NO PERSONAL INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED, BUT MY DOG LEAPED FROM THE STRANDED VEHICLE INTO TRAFFIC RESULTING ON OVER $6,600 IN MEDICAL EXPENSE SO FAR. I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE DEATH/INJURY THRESHOLD IS UNTIL GM WILL REPAIR THEIR OWN FAULTY VEHICLES.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION WAS SHIFTED INTO REVERSE, BUT FAILED TO SHIFT INTO GEAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS WAS A RECURRING FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING FROM THE DEALER, THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN BACK TO THE DEALER, WHERE UNKNOWN REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000.

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DRIVING 55MPH ON CRUISE CONTROL, I HEARD A WARNING CHIME. LOOKED AT DASH AND THE WORDS ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED WERE ON THE SCREEN. I LOOKED FOR A SYMBOL ON THE DASH TO TELL ME MORE AND SAW THE ENGINE SYMBOL WAS ON. THE CAR DIDN'T PERFORM OUT OF CHARACTER FROM ALREADY GOING 55 ON CRUISE. NOTHING CHANGED IN THE ENGINE PERFORMANCE. I CONTINUED TOWARD HOME AS THAT WAS MY DESTINATION AND WAS LESS THAN 15 MILES FROM HOME. I PARKED THE CAR IN MY GARAGE, TURNED OFF THE ENGINE, WAITED A FEW SECONDS, THEN STARTED THE ENGINE AGAIN. THE WARNING CAME ON RIGHT AWAY. I CALLED THE DEALER WHO I'M LEASING THE CAR FROM BUT IT WAS A SATURDAY AFTERNOON AND THEY WERE CLOSED. I DID LEAVE THEM A MESSAGE TO CALL ME ON MONDAY AND WHY. I HAVE NOT AND WILL NOT DRIVE THE CAR UNTIL I HEAR FROM THE DEALER AND HAVE A DATE AND TIME TO BRING IT IN BECAUSE OF THE CONCERN THE ENGINE COULD POWER DOWN AS I'M DRIVING ACCORDING TO INTERNET FORUMS I SINCE READ THAT OTHERS WITH THE SAME WARNING SAID THEIR CAR DID SLOW DOWN ON A FAST BUSY HIGHWAY. THIS WARNING IS IN THE MANUAL THAT CAME WITH THE CAR AND SAYS IT IS THE THROTTLE BODY SENSOR GONE BAD. *TR

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