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Chevrolet Malibu Vehicle Speed Control Safety Report | Nov 28, 2003



Reported on Nov 28, 2003


MY HUSBAND GOT IN OUR 2001 MALIBU BACKED IT UP, PUT IT INTO DRIVE, BARELY TOUCHED THE ACCELERATOR, THE CAR IMMEDIATELY TOOK OFF IN HIGH THROTTLE HE COULD NOT FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS CAUSING THE ACCELERATION NEXT THING HE KNEW THE CAR WAS UNDERNEATH HIS CHEVROLET 4-WHEEL DRIVE WITH A 6 INCH LIFT KIT. CAR THEN PUSHED TRUCK APPROXIMATELY 3 TO 6 FEET INTO A NEARBY OAK TREE CAUSING CAR TO BE TOTALED TRUCK TO RECEIVE EXTREME DAMAGE AS WELL. HE CALLED THE POLICE & REPORTED THE ACCIDENT. I CONTACTED GM THEY SENT AN INVESTIGATOR OUT TO INVESTIGATE THE PROBLEM WITH THE CARS ACCELERATOR. THE INVESTIGATOR HOOKED A COMPUTER UP TO THE CAR THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO RECORD THE LAST 5 SECONDS BEFORE IMPACT, TOOK SOME PICTURES, STARTED THE CAR TO LISTEN TO THE MOTOR (HE STATED THE CAR WAS STUCK IN HIGH ACCELERATION) MOVED SOME THINGS UNDER THE HOOD (THE GAS CABLE) A LOUD CLICKING NOISE WAS MADE THEN THE CAR WAS ONCE AGAIN STARTED & WAS FINE. THREE DAYS LATER I RECEIVED A CALL FROM GM ADVISING ME THAT THE RESULTS FOUND WERE THAT THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE. I IN TURN ASKED FOR A COPY OF ALL INFORMATION THAT WAS USED IN DETERMINING THIS DECISION INCLUDING A COPY OF THE PICTURES THAT WERE TAKEN AS WELL. I WAS TOLD THAT THE PICTURES WERE THE PROPERTY OF GM & SOME INFORMATION WAS AS WELL BUT I COULD BE SENT A SMALL PORTION OF THE INFORMATION USED IN THIS DETERMINATION PROCESS. A WEEK LATER I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM GM WHICH READ THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW THE PRODUCT ALLEGATION INVOLVING MY MALIBU, BUT OUR INVESTIGATION REVEALED NO EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT THE PRODUCT ALLEGATION. THEREFORE, GM IS UNABLE TO ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR DAMAGES & THEY SUGGESTED THAT I RESOLVE THIS MATTER THROUGH MY INSURANCE COMPANY. I LATER INVESTIGATED THIS ON THE INTERNET TO FIND THAT GM HAS ALSO BEEN HAVING SOME DEFECTS WITH THIS COMPUTER THAT RECORDS THE 5 SECONDS BEFORE IMPACT & THAT THEY HAVE ALSO HAD SEVERAL COMPLAINTS OF THIS SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHICH HAPPENED IN OUR CASE.
Make: Chevrolet
Model: Malibu
Manufactured by: General Motors LLC
Year: 2001
Was a crash reported? Y
Was an injury reported? 0 person(s) were injured.
Was a death reported? 0 person(s) died.
Was a fire reported? N
Location: MANY LA
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN): 1G1ND52J816
Mileage: 48599 miles.
Speed: 20 MPH
Number of cylinders: 6
Vehicle type: FWD
Vehicle fuel: GAS Fuel injection.
Was a police report filed? Y
Tire size:
Dealer name and location: FOY MOTORS MANY LA 71449
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