NHTSA Complaint #10522278 — 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU

THE FOLLOWING IS A SUMMARY OF A FLAT TIRE INCIDENT MY WIFE HAD ON I-75 AT DAVIDSON ON 6-18-2013. I HAVE ALREADY SUBMITTED THIS TO CHEVY.COM/WARRANTY, AND FELT THAT YOU TOO SHOULD BE AWARE OF THIS OCCURRENCE. "HAD A FLAT TIRE, 6/18/13 ON MY 2 MONTH OLD MALIBU. CALLED ON-STAR, NO HELP AFTER 1&1/2 HOURS. CALLED ON-STAR AGAIN, NO HELP AFTER TOTAL OF ALMOST 3 HOURS. MICHIGAN DOT ROAD SERVICE CAME ON SCENE AND TRIED REPAIR WITH EMERGENCY REPAIR KIT. NO GOOD, TIRE DID NOT INFLATE. FINALLY CALLED AAA WHO RESPONDED IN 10 MINUTES. WANTED TOW TO DEALER, BUT DEALER (RINKE) WAS CLOSED AFTER 6:00PM. WAS TOWED HOME AT COST OF $84.00. NEXT DAY, 6/19/13, TOOK TIRE OFF VEHICLE AND BROUGHT TO (RINKE) SERVICE DEPT. FOR REPAIR AT COST OF $25.00. ASKED ABOUT REPAIR/REPLACEMENT OF CANISTER IN EMERGENCY REPAIR KIT. NO ONE AT DEALER SERVICE HAD EVER REPLACED THE CANISTER OR WERE FAMILIAR ON HOW TO REPAIR IT. WENT TO PARTS DEPT. TO PURCHASE A REPLACEMENT CANISTER - NONE AVAILABLE, WOULD HAVE TO BE ORDERED AT PRICE OF OVER $26.00. ASKED ABOUT PURCHASE OF DOUGHNUT EMERGENCY TIRE AND TOOL KIT - AGAIN, NONE AVAILABLE, WOULD HAVE TO BE ORDERED AT A PRICE OF OVER $400.00. WITH COMPLETE ABSENCE OF DEALER ASSISTANCE, I TOOK TIRE HOME AND INSTALLED ON VEHICLE. MY RESOLUTION TO AVOID A RECURRENCE OF THIS EVENT WAS TO GO TO OUR LOCAL BELL TIRE STORE AND PURCHASE A NEW WHEEL AND TIRE SO THAT MY HUSBAND (84 YEARS OLD) AND I (75 YEARS OLD) WOULD HAVE THE SECURITY OF A REPLACEMENT TIRE IF WE ENCOUNTERED A FLAT AGAIN. IN OUR OPINION, THE ELIMINATION OF THE EMERGENCY SPARE TIRE WAS A BAD MOVE, AND THE UNAVAILABILITY OF REPLACEMENT COMPONENTS IS A SAD AND DISCONCERTING CONDITION." *TR