NHTSA Complaint #11230455 — 2016 CHEVROLET MALIBU

VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON AN INCLINED DRIVEWAY. THE CAR WAS RAINED ON FOR 2 CONSTITUTIVE DAYS. THE 3RD BRAKE LIGHT ASSEMBLY JUST ABOVE THE REAR LEAKED INTO THE ROOF OF THE CARE AND THE TRUNK. THE LEAK WAS EXTREMELY FAST AND CAUSED A POOL ABOUT 1/2 AN INCH DEEP TO BUILD UP IN THE SPARE TIRE STORAGE COMPARTMENT OF THE TRUNK. THE LEAK CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE ROOF PANEL ON THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR WITH SIGNIFICANT WATER MARKS, AND COMPLETELY SOAKED THE TRUNK AS MENTIONED BEFORE WITH THE POOL OF WATER. THE CAR WAS PURCHASE NEW AND HAS NEVER BEEN INVOLVED IN ANY MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT OR COLLISION OF ANY TYPE. THE TECHNICIAN THAT REPAIRED THE LEAK SHOWED THE LEAK WAS CAUSED BY A LOOSE NUT ON THE 3RD BRAKE LIGHT ASSEMBLY JUST ABOVE THE REAR WINDOW. I HAVE ATTACHED THE INVOICE FROM THE REPAIR SHOP THAT FIXED THE LEAK. THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO SERVICE OR INVESTIGATE THE SOURCE OF THE LEAK BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY DUE TO MILEAGE. THE CARE WAS STATIONARY AND PARKED UNDER A RAINSTORM WHEN THE DAMAGES WERE NOTICED. AS FAR AS I CAN TELL THERE IS NO ELECTRICAL DAMAGE HOWEVER THE PROXIMITY TO THE 3RD BRAKE LIGHT WARRANTS THE REPORT OF ELECTRICAL DAMAGE. BODY DAMAGE IS DUE TO WATER DAMAGE TO THE FLOOR MATS OF THE TRUNK, HEADREST IN THE PASSENGER AREA OF THE CAR, AND WATER DAMAGE TO THE ROOF OF THE VEHICLE. THE DAMAGE WAS FOUND ON SATURDAY JULY 6TH, 2019. THE REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED ON TUESDAY JULY 9TH, 2019.