TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BATTERY MELTED AND LEAKED ACID ONTO THE ENGINE. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE AIR BAG LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY ILLUMINATED. AN ACID ODOR ALSO BECAME PRESENT AND SMOKE EMITTED FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE BATTERY SUFFERED A MELTDOWN AND RELEASED ACID ONTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE DEALER REPLACED THE BATTERY, THE NEGATIVE CABLE, AND CLEANED THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED CONCERN THAT THE FAILURE MAY RECUR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 38,000.