Filing a complaint regarding my 2006 Chevy Malibu maxx...what is a safety-related defect? the United States code for motor vehicle safety (title 49, chapter 301) defines motor vehicle safety as ?the performance of a motor vehicle or motor vehicle equipment in a way that protects the public against unreasonable risk of accidents occurring because of the design, construction, or performance of a motor vehicle (the steering column is a genuine GM defective part(s), and against unreasonable risk of death or injury in an accident, and includes nonoperational safety of a motor vehicle." A defect includes ?any defect in performance, construction, a component, or material of a motor vehicle or motor vehicle equipment." Generally, a safety defect is defined as a problem that exists in a motor vehicle or item of motor vehicle equipment that: Poses an risk to motor vehicle safety, and may exist in a group of vehicles of the same design or manufacture, or items of equipment of the same type and manufacture. Examples of defects considered safety-related steering components that break suddenly causing partial or complete loss of vehicle control. * the above listed united state vehicle safety code is the reason for this complaint being file. I understand that Chevy used the same column unit in its 2004, 2005 and 2006 Malibu models and all three years are experiencing the same problem. Once odometer reaches a certain mileage reading the steering column electronic assisted steering column fails, it turns off, leaving the driver at the mercy of a manually hard to steer vehicle, in my wife and mine's case it is a metal death trap on the road when making a right hand turn. I have written directly to Chevy/GM motor corporation with out recognition of my complaint. This car is a large road safety issue and needs to be addressed immediately. I want Chevy to buy my car back of replace this vehicle. Please help!! I don't want to die in this vehicle, nor loose my wife.

- San Pedro, CA, USA

2006 Chevrolet Malibu maxx ss, all four rotors had to be resurfaced/turned to warping at 10,000 miles. Car currently has 18,500 miles.

- Center Valley, PA, USA