NHTSA Complaint #10209364 — 1997 CHEVROLET MALIBU

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE IN FEBRUARY OF 2004 REGARDING THE LOWER RACK AND PINION STEERING. HE HAD NOT EXPERIENCED ANY FAILURES AT THE TIME; HOWEVER, HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. SIX MONTHS LATER, WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. HE WAS ABLE TO PULL THE WHEEL BACK TO THE RIGHT AND STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT DROVE HOME AND HIS FATHER, A MECHANIC, INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DECLARED THE CAUSE OF FAILURE TO BE THE LOWER RACK AND PINION. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE BECAUSE THE RECALL REPAIR HAD ALREADY BEEN PERFORMED. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 243,831. UPDATED 01/11/08. *LJ UPDATED *JB