NHTSA Complaint #10254352 — 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE ANTI-FREEZE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL. THE CONTACT PULLED BACK INTO THE DRIVEWAY AND NOTICED THAT THE RESERVOIR WAS EMPTY. HE HAD TO REFILL THE VEHICLE WITH ANTI-FREEZE. APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH LATER, THE RESERVOIR WAS ALMOST EMPTY AGAIN AND HE HAD TO REFILL THE VEHICLE WITH ANTI-FREEZE. IN JANUARY OF 2009, THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THERE WAS SOME ANTI-FREEZE ON THE ENGINE DUE TO THE MANIFOLD GASKET BEING DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 79,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,500. UPDATED 2/5/09 *CN THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE GASKET WAS MADE OUT OF PLASTIC THAT WAS THE REASON FOR THE FAILURE. UPDATED 02/10/09. *JB