2015 Chevrolet Malibu

While driving my 2015 Chevrolet Malibu on a four-lane highway with a posted speed limit of 70 mph, the vehicle displayed an “Engine Power Is Reduced” message and limited the vehicle to less than approximately 25 mph. This created a serious safety concern because the vehicle could no longer maintain highway traffic speed, resulting in a significant speed differential of nearly 45 mph below the posted limit and surrounding traffic flow, creating a high risk of being struck by other vehicles. The vehicle also experienced an alternator problem while being driven on the highway. It repeatedly acted like it was not getting enough power to maintain the speed of surrounding traffic, and we had to pull over on the side of the road. The vehicle has also had an engine-related issue discovered during repairs. When the valve cover gaskets were replaced, the vacuum pump was found to be severely damaged, and metal shavings were found in the engine oil. The reduced-engine-power problem has occurred in connection with the vehicle's electrical and engine problems. The vehicle and affected components may be available for inspection upon request. The vehicle has been inspected during repairs, and the damaged vacuum pump and metal shavings in the oil were observed during that inspection. These problems create a safety risk because the vehicle can suddenly lose engine power and become unable to maintain highway speed. The loss of normal power while traveling on a four-lane highway could make it difficult to accelerate, merge, or get out of the way of other vehicles.

Wheel hubs causes car to think that it’s going faster(200mph) causing car to drop speed, locks steering wheel making it impossible to turn away from traffic and drive it’s an accident waiting to happen not sure why there isn’t a recall. Also batteries causes the battery system warning to be a major problem even if alternator is good. I’m not sure if the two batteries is a good idea. The stop/start feature can cause radio issues it’s like cutting the car off and turn it back on when brake is released radio comes back on.

The contact owns a 2015 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated while his wife was approaching an intersection and depressed the brake pedal, the vehicle stalled. There was no warning light illuminated. The driver shifted the vehicle to park, restarted the vehicle, and drove to her destination. The contact called the local dealer and made them aware of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 42,700.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP; THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY ONCE HIS FOOT SLIPPED OFF THE BRAKE PEDAL AND CRASHED INTO THE VEHICLE AHEAD OF HIM WITHOUT WARNING. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE AWAY FROM THE SCENE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SEAT HAD BROKE AS A RESULT OF THE ACCIDENT. THE CONTACT LINKED THE FAILURE TO THE AUTO ENGINE IDLE STOP FEATURE ON THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT SPOKE TO KEYES CHEVROLET (5949 VAN NUYS BLVD, SHERMAN OAKS, CA 91401) ABOUT DISABLING THE AUTO ENGINE IDLE STOP FEATURE ON THE VEHICLE AND HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE FEATURE COULD NOT BE DISABLED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD YET TO BE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD YET TO BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 40,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. *DT*JB

CAR WAS INITIALLY BROUGHT TO INDEPENDENT SERVICE CENTER IN SAVANNAH, GA. THEY WERE ABLE TO REPLICATE THE PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKING SYSTEM, BUT COULD NOT DETERMINE THE ROOT CAUSE. SPECIFICALLY, THE BRAKES FAIL WHEN THE CAR IS PLACED IN REVERSE. IT MAY BE TEMPERATURE SENSITIVE AS IT IS EXPERIENCED WHEN THE CAR IS STARTING UP - TYPICALLY IN THE MORNING. THEY SOUGHT HELP FROM VADEN CHEVROLET IN SAVANNAH, GA. THE CAR WAS IN THEIR POSSESSION FOR 1+ WEEKS AND THEY DID NOT FIND A PROBLEM WITH THE BREAKING SYSTEM. THE CAR WAS THEN RETURNED TO THE INDEPENDENT SERVICE CENTER WHERE THEY CONTINUE TO STUDY THE PROBLEM. WHEN THE CAR WAS RETURNED TO INDEPENDENT SERVICE CENTER AND VADEN FAILED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS SAFETY ISSUE, I CONTACT GENERAL MOTORS (1-866-636-2273) TO REPORT THIS SAFETY ISSUE DIRECTLY. THE INDIVIDUAL MY CASE WAS ASSIGNED TO, "[XXX]", DID NOT FOLLOW UP ON ACTION ITEMS AND WHEN I TRIED TO RETURN HER CALLS, HER VOICEMAIL BOX WAS FULL. I ASKED FOR THIS CASE TO BE ESCALATED TODAY (2/5/2020), BUT SHE INDICATED SHE WAS AT THE TOP - NO ONE TO ESCALATE ISSUE TO. WHEN I ASKED IF SHE REPORTED DIRECTLY TO GM'S CEO, [XXX] , SHE STATED SHE DID NOT KNOW WHO THAT WAS. I HAVE BEEN WITHOUT A CAR FOR QUITE SOMETIME NOW (MONTHS) AND WOULD LIKE THIS SAFETY ISSUE TO BE ACKNOWLEDGED BY GM AS IT WAS ACKNOWLEDGED BY MY INDEPENDENT REPAIR CENTER. I AM TRYING TO PREVENT A SERIOUS PROBLEM (BRAKES FAILING WHILE CAR IS IN USE), BUT GM IS NOT LISTENING. I WILL NOT DRIVE MY CAR UNTIL IT IS ADDRESSED, BUT IT'S QUITE POSSIBLE THIS PROBLEM EXISTS IN OTHER 2015 CHEVY MALIBU'S WHERE PERHAPS THE DRIVERS AREN'T YET AWARE OR DON'T UNDERSTAND THE POTENTIAL SERIOUSNESS OF THIS ISSUE WITH AN UNADDRESSED, UNKNOWN ROOT CAUSE. I'M GRATEFUL FOR ANY ASSISTANCE. THANK YOU. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR