NHTSA Complaint #10649240 — 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU

THE REAR DOOR LOCK ACTUATORS( BOTH DOORS ) STOPPED FUNCTIONING WITHIN SEVERAL MONTHS OF EACH OTHER. THIS MADE IT SUCH THAT THE REAR DOORS COULD NOT BE OPENED WITHOUT MANUALLY LIFTING THE LOCK BUTTON FROM INSIDE THE VEHICLE. WHEN A CHILD WAS IN A CAR SEAT THE ONLY WAY TO OPEN THE REAR DOOR WAS TO GET BACK IN THE CAR, PUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, TURN IT TO THE ACCESSORY, LOWER THE REAR WINDOW, GET OUT OF THE CAR AND REACH IN TO PULL UP THE LOCK BUTTON. FORTUNATELY WE NEVER HAD AN EMERGENCY SITUATION WHERE THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A CRITICAL LIFE THREATENING PROBLEM. WE HAVE HAD THE ACTUATORS REPLACED ( AT SIGNIFICANT EXPENSE ). MY CONCERN IS MANY INDIVIDUALS, PROBABLY CAN NOT AFFORD THE COST AND WOULD FORGO THE REPAIR, THUS LEAVING THE PROBLEM AND ITS POSSIBLE CONSEQUENCES THERE. *TR