NHTSA complaint: 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU — STEERING
2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU 260 MILES PURCHASED ON 7-21-08 ON 7-22-08 RECEIVED WARNING LIGHT "SERVICE TRACTION" AND "SERVICE SCE" PULLED TO THE SIDE AND LOOK IN MANUAL DESCRIPTION OF PROBLEM. MANUAL SAID SERVICE AS SOON POSSIBLE. CAR WAS RUNNING VERY SLUGGISH AND ABS BRAKES WERE CHATTERING WHEN APPLIED. CAR SEEMED LIKE IT WOULD NOT SHIFT GEARS. TOOK TO DEALER ASAP. DEALER SAID THE PROBLEM WAS FROM A LOW CHARGE ON THE BATTERY. DEALER HAD CAR FOR 2 DAYS. DID NOT DRIVE CAR AGAIN UNTIL 7-28-08. DROVE 4-5 MILES AND "SERVICE TRACTION AND SERVICE SCE" WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. DROVE TO DEALER APPROX 2 MILES. WHEN I GOT TO THE DEALER, THE LEFT FRONT ABS BRAKE WAS SMOKING WAS VERY HOT, ALMOST SEEMED LIKE IT WOULD BURST INTO FLAMES. HUBCAP HAD WILTED ON WHEEL. LEFT CAR A DEALER, RECEIVED CALL FROM DEALER SAYING THE PROBLEM WAS PROBABLY DUE TO STEERING WHEEL BEING ADJUSTED TO THE LOWER POSITION, CAUSING THE STEERING ASSEMBLY TO PRESS AGAINST THE BRAKES. IF THIS IS THE CASE IT SOUND AS LIKE A DESIGN FLAW. SINCE PEOPLE ALWAYS LOWER THE STEERING COLUMN TO A LOWER POSITION. DEALER WAS ORDERING PARTS AND WOULD CAR FOR 4-5 DAYS. PARTS TO BE ORDERED WAS A PAD FOR THE STEERING COLUMN (BAND AID) NEW HUB CAP. *TR
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation