NHTSA Complaint #701956 — 1997 CHEVROLET MALIBU

ONE MONTH AFTER I LEASED THIS VEHICLE, I BEGAN TO HAVE AN IGNITION PROBLEM WITH MY CAR. ONCE THE KEY IS INSERTED INTO THE IGNITION, IT WILL NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION CYLINDER IN ORDER TO START THE CAR, THE ANTI-THEFT LIGHT ON THE DASH BOARD FLASHES AND THE KEY CANNOT BE PULLED OUT. THE IGNITION CYLINDER HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE BY THE DEALER NOT INCLUDING THE ORIGINAL ONE. I HAVE BEEN STRANDED 7 TIMES. THE FIRST THREE TIMES I WAS PREGNANT. THE REST OF THE TIME, I HAD MY INFANT SON IN THE CAR OR WAS ON MY WAY TO PICKING HIM UP FROM DAY CARE. WHEN I HAVE CALLED THE DEALER, THEY INSTRUCTED ME TO WAIT AT LEAST 15 - 30 MINUTES AND IF THAT DID NOT WORK, THEN I WAS TO CALL THE TOWING SERVICE. I HAVE BEEN STUCK IN MANY PARKING LOTS AND MOST RECENTLY, ON CHRISTMAS DAY I WAS STUCK IN NEW YORK STATE. I HAVE FILED WITH THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY'S LEMON LAW UNIT, AND HAVE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, PER THEIR INSTRUCTION. I HAVE LEFT SEVERAL MESSAGES WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND MY "ASSIGNED" REP. HAS YET TO RETURN MY PHONE CALLS. THIS HAS BEEN AN EXTREMELY FRUSTRATING EXPERIENCE BECAUSE I PAYING $300 A MONTH FOR A CAR THAT I NEVER KNOW WHEN OR IF IT WILL NOT START. I AM, PARTICULARLY, AFRAID TO DRIVE IT AT NIGHT. I CANNOT COMPREHEND HOW THREE DIFFERENT PARTS, IGNITION CYLINDERS, CAN ALL BE DEFECTIVE. *AK