NHTSA Complaint #10114119 — 2000 CHEVROLET MALIBU

ABS LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY, FAN DOES NOT OPERATE ON SPEEDS 1 & 2, BRAKE ROTORS AND PADS NEED REPLACED EVERY YEAR, HAZARD/TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS OPERATE INTERMITTENTLY, AND INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET BEGAN LEAKING AROUND 70,000 MILES. THE COOLANT IS LISTED IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL AS NOT NEEDING SERVICE FOR 150,000 MILES BUT IT TURNED VERY ACIDIC IN LESS THAN HALF THAT TIME AND ATE THE GASKET CAUSING THE NEED FOR COSTLY REPAIRS OR ELSE RISK PERMANENT DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE. TURN SIGNAL ISSUE RECALLED BUT THE RECALL DID NOT APPLY TO MY VEHICLE'S VIN. VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO SIGNAL INTENTION TO TURN OR SWITCH LANES AND WAS UNSAFE ON HIGHWAYS. HAVE YET TO EXPERIENCE COMMON FUEL PUMP FAILURE THAT COULD CAUSE STALLING IN HIGHWAY TRAFFIC. NOT RECALLED IS THE MOST COMMON PROBLEM OF THE LEAKING INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET BECAUSE IT IS NOT DEEMED A SAFETY ISSUE. THIS CAN BECOME SAFETY ISSUE IF ENGINES CATCH FIRE OR FAIL ON HIGHWAY DUE TO COOLANT LEAK INTO MOTOR OIL. COST TO REPAIR LEAKING INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET QUOTED AT $743. CURRENTLY DISCUSSING WITH GM CUSTOMER SERVICE BECAUSE THE PROBLEM IS ADDRESSED IN TSB 03-06-01-010B (10/24/2003) AND THERE ARE SEVERAL CLASS-ACTION LAWSUITS. TSB DESCRIBES REPLACING FAULTY GASKET WITH A NEW GASKET THAT HAS IMPROVED SEALING QUALITIES. GM CUSTOMER SERVICE STATED THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF ANY TSB FOR 2000 MALIBU OTHER THAN TURN SIGNAL RECALL. GM IS BEING INTENTIONALLY DISHONEST WHEN OWNERS INQUIRE ABOUT PROBLEMS WITH AN OBVIOUSLY DEFECTIVE VEHICLE. I HOPE THAT THE NHTSA TAKES NOTICE OF THE MULTITUDE OF SAFETY ISSUES CONCERNING THIS VEHICLE AND CAN OBTAIN A SATISFIABLE RESOLUTION FROM GM TO MAKE THIS VEHICLE SAFE FOR OWNERS OR JUSTLY COMPENSATE THEM FOR THE REPAIRS NECESSARY TO MAKE THE VEHICLE SAFE.*AK