NHTSA Complaint #10663756 — 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU

THE BALL AND SOCKET JOINT THAT CONNECTS THE MODULE WIPER SYSTEM TO THE WIPER MOTOR HAS FAILED TWICE. ONCE AT APPROXIMATELY 62,000 MILES AND AGAIN THIS WEEK AT APPROXIMATELY 104,000. BOTH FAILURES OCCURRED DURING A LOW VISIBILITY CONDITION (STORM EVENT) WHEN THE WIPERS WERE ON "HIGH." THIS IS A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE THAT DISABLES THE WIPERS AND BOTH TIMES CREATED A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. THE SOCKET PORTION OF THE BALL AND SOCKET JOINT IS A PLASTIC PART THAT IN MY OPINION IS POORLY DESIGNED. OVER TIME THE SOCKET WEARS AND EVENTUALLY IT IS NOT ABLE TO WITHSTAND THE FORCE WHEN THE WIPERS ARE SWITCHED TO HIGH/FAST MODE. OF COURSE THE HIGH/FAST MODE IS USED ONLY DURING VERY LOW VISIBILITY CONDITIONS AND, AS SUCH, THE FAILURE CAUSES A DANGEROUS DRIVING CONDITION. *TR