NHTSA Complaint #10596528 — 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU

2013 CHEVY MALIBU 1LS MANUFACTURED 11/20/12, CURRENTLY LESS THAN 7,000 MI. 1) CHROME & RADIO GLASS - WHEN SUN SHINES ON CONSOLE IT BLINDS DRIVER & DRIVER MUST COVER AREA WITH A SCARF OR JACKET; CONSOLE IS BEAUTIFUL TO LOOK AT, BUT NOT PRACTICAL FROM A SAFETY VIEWPOINT SINCE THE DRIVER IS BLINDED & CANNOT SEE UNTIL THE AREA IS COVERED FROM THE SUN. 2) WHEN AIR CONDITIONING WAS TURNED ON, A BLAST OF VERY HOT AIR CAME OUT; IT TOOK A COUPLE OF TIMES OF TURNING THE SETTINGS OFF & ON (AT LEAST 60 SECONDS OR LONGER) BEFORE THE HOT AIR STOPPED & THE AIR CONDITIONING CAME ON. THE HOT AIR COULD NOT BE IMMEDIATELY TURNED OFF. HAPPENED ONLY ONCE. 3) PASSENGER SIDE FRONT FENDER/BUMPER LOOSE - MAKES NOISE, CAN POP IT BACK IN, BUT ON HOT DAYS, IT POPS OUT, VIBRATES AND MAKES LOUD NOISE UNTIL POPPED BACK IN. 4) REAR WINDOWS - WHEN DOWN 1/2, 3/4 OR FULLY, VIBRATES, MAKES VERY LOUD NOISE THAT SOUNDS LIKE TIRES ARE COMING APART, CAUSING DRIVER TO IMMEDIATELY PULL OVER TO CHECK TIRES, THE DISTRACTION & BEING ON SIDE OF ROAD COULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE. 5) NO SPARE TIRE - UNABLE TO LOCATE A TIRE & RIM (OR DONUT TIRE) FOR PURCHASE TO INSERT IN TRUNK TIRE AREA. NO CAN OF GOOP, ALSO GOOP ONLY LASTS FOR 6 MONTHS & MUST BE DISCARDED & NEW CAN PURCHASED. NOT GOOD WHEN STRANDED IN INCLEMENT SNOWY WEATHER OR OUT IN THE HOT DESERT & MUST WAIT FOR TOW TRUCK. I LIKE MY CHEVY MALIBU VERY MUCH, IT HAS BEEN ABLE TO HANDLE ROUGH GRAVEL/DIRT ROADS IN INCLEMENT WEATHER, SNOW, & HIGHWAY TRAVEL. I PLAN TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER SHORTLY FOR AN OIL CHANGE & TO TAKE CARE OF THESE ISSUES. WHAT I DON'T LIKE IS THAT I AM UNABLE TO TURN THE DRIVER AIRBAG OFF (I SIT LESS THAN 12 INCHES FROM THE WHEEL & AM CONCERNED THAT IF IT WERE TO DEPLOY I WOULD BE KILLED) & THAT THE VEHICLE IS FAIRLY LOW TO THE GROUND, MAKING SPEED BUMPS & GETTING OUT OF BUSINESSES WHERE THERE IS A DIP ONTO STREETS DIFFICULT. *TR