2004 Chevrolet Malibu Latches & Locks Problems

Your car stalled at a red light and made strange noises from the dashboard. When you tried to restart it, the door locks started locking and unlocking on their own. You were able to get it running again and took it to a locksmith, who confirmed the ignition switch was fine. The dealer acknowledged the problem but said they couldn't fix it, and the issue was never diagnosed or repaired.

DRIVING DOWN THE ROADWAY AND MY CHILD WHO IS 4 IN THE BACKSEAT OPENED THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. THERE IS NO REAR CHILD SAFETY LOCK ON THE 2004 AND 2005 CHEVY MALIBU'S. YET 02 HAD THEM. *NM

AS A FORMER GM DEVELOPMENT ENGINEER I WOULD LIKE TO IDENTIFY A DOOR LATCH WET FREEZE CONDITION THAT UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS JEOPARDIZES CUSTOMER SAFETY. THE ISSUE OCCURS ON SOME VEHICLES USING THE DELPHI VERSION OF THE GM GLOBAL DOOR LATCH, AND THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS IN US AND CANADA. THE FAILURE MODE OCCURS WHEN THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN WASHED, OR EXPOSED TO WATER, AND THE VEHICLE IS FROZEN AFTERWARDS. WHEN WATER ENTERS THE LATCH, AND ICE FORMS THE DOOR LATCH BECOMES INOPERATIVE, THE DOOR CAN BE OPENED AND BUT THE LATCH WILL NOT RELATCH. THERE HAVE BEEN INSTANCES REPORTED IN CANADA IN WHICH THE CUSTOMER HAD EXPERIENCED THIS CONDITION AND THE A PASSENGER ALMOST FELL OUT OF A MOVING VEHICLE DUE TO THE DOOR NOT RELATCHING. THIS CONDITION HAPPENS PRIMARILY ON REAR DOORS AND EFFECT THE FOLLOWING VEHICLES (CHEVROLET MALIBU, COBALT, BUICK LUCERNE, BUICK LACROSSE, CHEVROLET EQUINOX, CADILLAC SRX, CADILLAC CTS). THE ISSUE INITIALLY SURFACE IN DECEMBER 2004, AND REMEDIATION PLANS TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE WE PROVEN INEFFECTIVE, YET MANAGEMENT CONTINUED TO BELIEVE THE PROBLEM WAS SOLVED. ONCE THE WINTER SEASON WAS OVER, THE PROBLEM WAS LONG FORGOTTEN. THE NEXT WINTER, WINTER 2005 THE PROBLEM RESURFACED. TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE THERE IS ONE FULL MODEL YEAR OF VEHICLES IN EXCESS OF 1 MILLION VEHICLES IN THE FIELD THAT WHEN EXPOSED TO WATER AND FROZEN BECOME AN OCCUPANT HAZARD. THE CONDITION CAN BE EASILY REPLICATED BY WASHING ONE OF THE VEHICLES AND PUTTING IT IN A COLD CELL , AND THEN OPERATING THE DOOR. I URGE NHTSA TO LOOK INTO THIS ISSUE BEFORE ANY INJURIES OCCUR. *NM

DT: THE CONTACT'S CHILD OPENED THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR WHILE IN MOTION. BY THE TIME SHE PULLED VEHICLE OVER THE CHILD WAS STILL IN CAR SEAT HANGING OUT OF THE DOOR. THE CONTACT COMPLAINED SEVERAL TIMES TO DEALERSHIP THAT THE CAR DID NOT HAVE CHILD SAFETY LOCKS ON IT. THE DEALER TOLD HER THAT IT WAS NOT POSSIBLE TO INSTALL THE CHILD LOCKS AT THIS POINT.*AK

THE INCIDENT OCCURRED IN SC, WHERE I WAS RESIDING AT THE TIME. THE CAR WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY OF MY HOUSE. I WAS GETTING READY TO LEAVE FOR WORK AND NEEDED SOMETHING FROM THE TRUNK OF THE CAR. OPENED THE TRUNK AND JUST AFTER I BENDED TO REACH IN, IT FELL DOWN ON MY HEAD CAUSING BLEEDING. I HAD TO HAVE 3 STITCHES PUT TO MY SCALP, LOST HALF A DAY OF WORK THAT MORNING AND SUFFERED HEADACHES FOR A FEW DAYS. CONTACTED GM DEALERSHIP AND THE PART WAS REPLACED. I'VE BEEN AVOIDING THE DECK LID EVER SINCE. CONTACTED ESIS/GM CENTRAL CLAIMS UNIT AND A CLAIM WAS ENTERED (#488402). THEY SEND AN INVESTIGATOR WHO OBTAINED THE FAILED PART FROM THE DEALERSHIP AT THE TIME IT WAS REPLACED AND TOOK PICTURES/VIDEO OF THE REAR DECK LID. STILL WAITING ON A RESOLUTION. *JB