NHTSA Complaint #10572653 — 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU

THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR LATCH FAILED TO OPEN. NEITHER THE INSIDE NOR OUTSIDE HANDLES WORKED. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT, ABUSE OR INDICATION OF IMMINENT FAILURE. IT WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO EXIT THE VEHICLE; MY DAUGHTER NEEDED TO CRAWL ACROSS THE CONSOLE. WOULD BE EVEN MORE DIFFICULT (PERHAPS IMPOSSIBLE) IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION. I SEARCHED THE CHEVROLET OWNER FORUMS ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND MANY PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM GOING BACK YEARS. DEALER SERVICE PERSONNEL KNEW OF THE PROBLEM; OFFERED TO WAIVE USUAL $108 DIAGNOSTIC FEE FOR REPAIR. CHEVROLET CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE AGREED TO PAY $37 TOWARDS NECESSARY CORRECTION IF I PAID THE FIRST $200. *TR