NHTSA complaint: 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX — SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
LETTER FROM SENATOR NELSON ON BEHALF OF CONSTITUENT REGARDING STEERING PROBLEMS ON HER 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU; PLEASE SEND RESPONSE DIRECTLY TO SENATOR OFFICE AND REFERENCE CONSTITUENT. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE FRONT BRAKE CALIPERS FAILED TO RETRACT CAUSING THE BRAKES TO OVERHEAT AND CATCH FIRE. THE MECHANIC STATED IT MAY HAVE BEEN DUE TO A FACTORY FLAW AS HE HAD NEVER SEEN BOTH CALIPERS FAIL TOGETHER. THE BRAKE CALIPER SEALS WERE MELTED FROM HEAT AND THEY WERE CRACKED/DRY ROTTED LETTING THE CALIPER SLEEVE RUST. A MONTH PRIOR, THE CONSUMER NOTICED THE POWER STEERING SEEMED STIFF AND THE VEHICLE BECAME DIFFICULT TO STEER, THE CONSUMER DID RECEIVE A RECALL NOTICE REGARDING A POTENTIAL PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING. ON DECEMBER 20, 2011 THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED ANOTHER STEERING FAILURE, SLOW ACCELERATION, AND OVERHEATING OF THE BRAKES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHERE THE MECHANIC BELIEVED THERE WAS PROBABLY CONTAMINATION IN THE BRAKE FLUID, AS IT WAS MILKY. THE MECHANIC RECOMMENDED THAT ALL THE RUBBER COMPONENTS IN THE BRAKE AND ABS BE REPLACED DUE TO THE CONTAMINATION. *JB
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation