NHTSA Complaint #10493604 — 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU

AS I SAT DOWN IN DRIVERS SEAT THE SEAT SEEMED TO LEAN TO THE RIGHT AND TILTED BACK SLIGHTLY. I LOOKED UNDER SEAT TO SEE WHAT WAS WRONG AND NOTICED A BAR ACROSS FRONT SIDE OF SEAT WAS BROKE AWAY FROM IT'S ORIGINAL WELDED POSITION. AFTER REMOVING SEAT I NOTICED THAT THE BAR HAD INDEED BROKEN FREE FROM WELD. NOT ONLY WAS THE WELD BROKEN BUT THE BAR WHICH WASN'T REALLY A BAR BUT A PIPE SLIGHTLY THICKER WALLED THAN A PIECE OF TYPE M COPPER PIPING BROKE OFF WITH A PIECE MISSING. ALSO NOTICED SAME PROBLEM WITH THE PIPE THAT ENCASES THE BAR AT REAR OF THE SEAT THAT ALLOWS THE SEAT BACK TO TILT BACK OR FORWARD. THE PIPE HAS ALSO BROKEN THE WELD AND MISSING A PIECE OF THE PIPE.WE BOUGHT THIS CAR BRAND NEW AND MY WIFE IS THE PRIMARY DRIVER .WEIGHT AVERAGE 155 LBS. SO I DON'T BELIEVE WEIGHT PLAYS A PART OF THIS POORLY DESIGNED WORK OF FAILURE. MILEAGE IS LESS THAN 10,000 PER YEAR OWNED. THIS IS EXTREMELY UPSETTING. IS CHEVROLET RESPONSIBLE OR SINCE WARRANTY IS OVER THEY CAN GET AWAY WITH THIS POOR DESIGN AND SAFETY ISSUE? *TR