NHTSA Complaint #10244072 — 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC

CAR WOULDN'T START SO TOOK IT TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND REMOVED BATTERY AND THEN REPLACED IT AND CAR STARTED. INFORMED US HE HAS WORKED ON OTHERS THAT HAD SAME PROBLEM AND IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE ANTI-THEFT DEVICE THAT HAD TO BE TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE TAKEN CARE OF. THE CAR STARTED AND RAN FOR 3 DAYS THEN IT WON'T START AGAIN. SO HAD IT TOWED TO THE CHEVY DEALER. MECHANIC TALKED TO ON THE PHONE INSTANTLY KNEW THE PROBLEM. THEY HAVE HAD TO REPAIR IT ON MANY CARS. TOLD US IT WAS THE ANTI-THEFT DEVICE AND THE ONLY WAY AROUND IT WAS TO REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE CAR IS STILL CURRENTLY AT THE DEALERS SO CANT GIVE A TOTAL ACCOUNT YET OF WHAT WAS DONE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. I'VE HAD TO MISS DAYS AT WORK BECAUSE OF THIS AND WONDERING IF IT IS SUCH A COMMON PROBLEM WHY SOMETHING ISN'T BEING DONE ABOUT IT. HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE ANTI-THEFT DEVICE BEFORE BUT CAUSED A DIFFERENT PROBLEM. IT WENT OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND DIDN'T LET ME USE CRUISE CONTROL, AND THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. IT ALSO WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO STOP. I HAD TO PULL OVER ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TURN THE CAR OFF AND WAIT A FEW MINUTES. THEN IT STARTED BACK UP AND HAD NO PROBLEMS TILL NOW. *TR