NHTSA Complaint #11010043 — 2016 CHEVROLET MALIBU

ENGINE AUTO START/STOP EXTREME SAFETY ISSUE (WHEN AT STANDSTILL IN DRIVE SHIFT POSITION) ENGINEERING MODIFICATION NEEDED ENGINE AUTO START/STOP NEEDS TO HAVE A DRIVER DETECTOR (IN SEAT) ADDED TO PREVENT THE CAR FROM INADVERTANTLY DRIVING FOWARD WITHOUT DRIVER IN THE DRIVER SEAT. IT IS ESPECIALLY CRUCIAL FOR THOSE NEW DRIVERS NOT USED TO THE FUEL SAVING START/STOP ENGINE. IT HAPPENED TO ME RECENTLY AND I WAS UNAWARE CAR WAS NOT IN PARK AS ENGINE WAS IN "AUTO STOP POSITION" AND SILENT. AS I GOT OUT AND SHUT DOOR, CAR STARTED TO ACCELERATE WITH NOBODY IN THE CAR. LUCKILY I WAS FAST ENOUGH TO CHASE AFTER IT, OPEN DOOR, AND SLAM ON THE BRAKES WITHOUT INCIDENT. THIS HAS ALMOST HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES PRIOR AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. I WOULD RECCOMEND PUTTING SOME KIND OF CHIP IN THE DRIVER SEAT WHICH WOULD DEACTIVATE THE ENGINE IF DRIVER SEAT IS EMPTY WHILE CAR IS IN DRIVE SHIFT POSITION. IF NOT CORRECTED THE CAR COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY TO PEDESTRIANS AND BYSTANDERS. THIS SHOULD BE IMPLEMENTED ACCROSS ENTIRE GM LINE AS WELL AS OTHER MANUFACTURERS.