NHTSA Complaint #707005 — 1997 CHEVROLET MALIBU

I HAVE HAD THIS VEHICLE FOR JUST OVER TWO YEARS, AND IN THAT TIME FRAME I HAVE HAD THE FOLLOWING PROBLEM OCCURRING 3 TIMES, AND ALMOST A 4TH. WHEN I GET IN THE CAR TO START IT UP, THE "THEFT SYSTEM" LIGHT ON THE DASH COMES ON AND THE CAR STARTS UP BUT SHUTS RIGHT BACK OFF. THIS CONTINUES, WITH THE RESULTS BEING THAT THE CAR NEEDS TO BE TOWED IN TO BE FIXED. THE FIRST TIME THIS OCCURRED WAS A FEW MONTHS AFTER I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, AND IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS "OPEN PASS CODES" AND FIXED BY REPLACING THE INGNITION CYLINDER. THE SECOND OCCURRENCE WAS IN JULY, 1998 AND AFTER SEVERAL UNPRODUCTIVE DAYS IN THE TUSCALOOSA CHEVROLET SERVICE DEPARTMENT WAS DIAGNOSED AS A DEFECT/SHORT IN THE WIRING, WHICH WAS REPLACED. THE THIRD OCCURRENCE WAS THIS ONE REPORTED - 5/15/99, WHICH WAS AGAIN DIAGNOSED AS "OPEN PASS CODES" WITH THE FIX BEING REPLACEMENT OF THE IGNITION CYLINDER. THIS SAME SCENARIO ALMOST OCCURRED AGAIN YESTERDAY EVENING 5/29/99, BUT THE CAR STARTED BACK UP AFTER HAVING SAT THERE FOR 10-15 MINUTES (THIS WAITING PERIOD WAS NOT PREVIOUSLY EFFECTIVE). THE SERVICE PEOPLE AT THE DEALERSHIP HAVE NO IDEA WHAT TRIGGERED THIS EVENT NOR HOW TO PREVENT IT. IN FACT, THEY SAY THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN IT BEFORE EXCEPT IN MY CAR. IT MAY NOT BE A SAFETY ISSUE WHILE DRIVING, BUT IT IS DEFINITELY A PERSONAL SAFETY ISSUE AND AN ISSUE OF VEHICLE RELIABILITY. *AK