NHTSA Complaint #10426986 — 2001 CHEVROLET MALIBU

THIS COMPLAINT RELATES TO THE POORLY DESIGNED GM PASSLOCK ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM THAT ERRONEOUSLY ENTERS ANTI-THEFT MODE AND DISABLES THE FUEL INJECTORS. GM SHOULD BE FORCED TO RECALL THIS PASSLOCK SYSTEM '' IT IS SIMPLY UNACCEPTABLE TO STRAND MOTORISTS BECAUSE OF AN INCOMPETENTLY DESIGNED ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM. I HAVE REPLACED BOTH THE IN-TANK FUEL PUMP AND TWO IGNITION MODULES (AT AN EXPENSE OF THREE TOWING BILL PLUS $1000+ IN REPAIR COSTS), ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM WAS MISREADING MY IGNITION KEY AND DISABLING THE INJECTORS. SEVERAL INTERNET FORUMS THAT I FOUND AFTER THE EXPENSIVE REPAIRS DESCRIBE HOW TO RESET THIS ERRONEOUS SIGNAL AFTER HAVING TO WAIT 10 MINUTES FOR THE SYSTEM TO CLEAR. I HAVE PERSONALLY READ HUNDREDS OF SIMILAR HORROR STORIES IN ONLINE FORUMS, AND THIS IS A WIDELY KNOWN ISSUE. IT IS UNACCEPTABLE THAT PEOPLE HAVE TO DEAL WITH THIS DEFECTIVE SYSTEM, AND THAT DEALERSHIPS AND MECHANICS MAKE HUGE PROFITS REPLACING FUEL PUMPS AND IGNITION MODULES UNNECESSARILY. BY THE WAY, AFTER EACH OF THE EXPENSIVE REPAIRS I MENTIONED WERE DONE, THE CAR EXPERIENCED THE SAME ISSUES WITHIN 30 DAYS OF THE REPAIRS. *TR