NHTSA Complaint #11288599 — 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU

CAR SUDDENLY FAILED TO ACCELERATE AS I PULLED ON THE THE INTERSTATE. CAR FILLED WITH A BURNING SMELL. DEALER SAID THE REAR DEFROST MALFUNCTIONED AND MELTED THE FUSE BLOCK LOCATED IN THE TRUNK DAMAGING ALL WIRING ON THE FUSE BLOCK. I'M CONCERNED THAT THIS BYPASSED THE FUSE AND THE RELAY WITH SUCH A SURGE THAT IT WAS HOT ENOUGH TO MELT THE ENTIRE FUSE BLOCK. THIS COULD HAVE LED TO A VERY SERIOUS FIRE WHERE I WAS TRAPPED IN THE CAR. I WAS FORTUNATE TO BE ABLE TO PULL OFF THE INTERSTATE, BUT IF I WERE IN THE FAR LANE, I COULD HAVE BEEN STUCK IN A HIGH SPEED LANE RESULTING IN INJURY TO MYSELF OR OTHERS. THE CAR IS VERY LOW MILEAGE AND GARAGE STORED, SO IT IS IN VERY GOOD CONDITION AND MAINTAINED REGULARLY. WAS JUST IN TO THE DEALER LESS THAN 10 DAYS PRIOR (POWER STEERING ESC RECALL) WITH NO INDICATION THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. CAR CURRENTLY AT PHILLIPS CHEVY IN FRANKFORT, IL.