NHTSA Complaint #10724216 — 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU

DRIVER'S DOOR WILL NOT CLOSE AND LATCH PROPERLY OR UNLOCK/UNLATCH TO OPEN. THIS HAS STARTED OCCURRING FREQUENTLY. THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS REGARDING DOOR LATCH MECHANISM FAILURES THAT DEALERS ARE MORE THAN WILLING TO FIX FOR HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS. I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, AS EACH TIME THE CAR IS STARTED, IT IS A GAMBLE, AS TO WHETHER THE DOOR WILL LATCH, OR UNLATCH, PROPERLY, AS NEEDED. IF THIS VEHICLE IS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, I AM NOT CONFIDENT THAT THE DOOR WILL OPEN, EVEN IF IT IS AN UNDAMAGED ONE, DUE TO THE FAILING LOCK/LATCH MECHANISM. I AM REPLACING THIS AT MY COST BUT FEEL THAT THE MANUFACTURER BEARS RESPONSIBILITY FOR FAULTY PARTS/DESIGN. THANKFULLY, NO ONE IN MY FAMILY HAS BEEN INJURED, YET. I FEAR THAT THIS COULD BE AN ISSUE DURING TIMES OF GREAT STRESS THAT CAN AND WILL LEAD TO FATALITIES, IF LEFT UNADDRESSED.