NHTSA Complaint #723770 — 1998 CHEVROLET MALIBU

I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FROM BOBB CHEVY IN 11/99, IN APRIL 2000 NOTICED A GRINDING NOISE WHEN BRAKING. TOOK CAR INTO A TUFFY AUTO SHOP WHO INDICATED I NEEDED COMPLETE BRAKE JOB. THEY SUGGESTED WARRANTY SHOULD COVER VEHICLE REPAIRS. SO I TOOK IT TO BOBB AT 7:30 AM ON 4/27/00, THEY COMPLETED BRAKE JOB - ROTORS, CALIPERS, FLUID, PADS AND LABOR. THIS TOTALLED $817.01, I PAID $496.12, WARRANTY PAID THE BALANCE. ON 5/17/00, COMING HOME FROM WORK ON A SERVICE ROAD I TRIED TO APPLY MY BRAKES AND FOUND I DID NOT HAVE ANY - THIS WAS 3 WKS AFTER A TOTAL REPLACEMENT. I HAD THE OPTION TO GO INTO AN INTERSECTION, OR HIT A CAR STOPPED AT THE STOP SIGN, BUT I CHOSE TO RUN OFF THE ROAD, HOPING THAT WOULD HAVE STOPPED ME. I HIT A PINE TREE, BOTH AIR BAGS POPPED OUT, WINDSHIELD CRACKED, SUBSEQUENTLY MY INSURANCE COMPANY - GEICO TOTALLED THE CAR. I SUFFERED SEVERE BRUISES, ENDED UP IN EMERGENCY, ORDERED TO TAKE 2 DAYS OFF WORK FOR BRUISES, SEVERELY SPRAINED ANKLE, BRUISES ON CHEST & STOMACH FROM SEATBELT AND AIRBAG. I HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP, GIVEN THEM GEICO'S REPORT AND POLICE REPORT. THEY SUGGESTED I CONTACT PRODUCT LIABILITY DEPT OF CHEVROLET. AT THIS TIME SOMEONE FROM GM PRODUCT ASST IS TO CONTACT ME.*AK