NHTSA Complaint #10081632 — 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX

WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED WITH THE REMOTE CONTROL DASHBOARD COMPONENTS FAILED TO FUNCTION WHEN THE KEY WAS TURNED IN THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP THE FOLLOWING DAY A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS PERFORMED, BUT NO FAILURE CODES WERE FOUND. THE FAILURE RECURRED 4 MONTHS LATER WHILE TURNING INTO A PARKING SPACE. ALSO, THE STEERING COLUMN LOCKED UP. WHEN THIS OCCURRED, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL READ STEERING COLUMN ASSISTANCE NEEDED. THE CONSUMER THEN TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF, THEN BACK ON. THE VEHICLE STARTED, BUT THE STEERING WHEEL WOULDN'T MOVE. THE STEERING WHEEL UNLOCKED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED 20 MINUTES LATER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP THE FOLLOWING DAY. THE SERVICE PERSON INDICATED THAT THERE WAS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ON THIS ISSUE, AND ORDERED A NEW STEERING COLUMN TO BE INSTALLED. THE CONSUMER WAS INSTRUCTED NOT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE OUT OF TOWN, IN ADDITION, WHILE DRIVING AT 1379 MILES, THE CONSUMER SMELLED A STRONG FUEL ODOR. THIS OCCURRED BECAUSE THE FUEL LINE CLIP CAME OFF, AND FUEL WAS LEAKING. THE DEALERSHIP REINSTALLED THE FUEL CLIP BECAUSE IT WASN'T PROPERLY INSTALLED AT FACTORY. *AK EA04018_CAT *SC