The models concerned in the recall are a number of 2004 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles produced between May 2003 and March 2004. Of the total, about 95,000 of the vehicles are located in the US, and roughly 8,300 are in Canada. The rest are known to have been exported. Chevrolet dealers will place in a retainer in the seat belt anchor on both the driver and passenger sides.

 

In addition, GM will reprogram the ABS controller in about 73,000 of these vehicles in repairs that will come at no cost to the customers. During a NHTSA new car assessment program side impact test on the Malibu in late February of 2004, the terminal end of the driver-side seat belt detached at the seat belt anchorage and thus the recall.

 

After evaluating the condition, GM determined that a retainer inserted near the anchorage will help protect the connectors from detaching in the event of a severe side impact. GM was keen to emphasize that there have been no reports of incidents or injuries related to this condition however. While conducting dynamic vehicle tests at the assembly plant in February of this year, some operators also reported an increase in stopping distance during braking at low speeds in the Malibu.

 

GM discovered that an erratic rear wheel speed sensor signal may cause the electronic control unit to trigger two or four wheel ABS activation during braking as the vehicle speed reached about 3 mph. This could increase stopping distances up to 3.4m, depending on the grade of the road. Chevrolet dealers plan to reprogram the ABS controller electronic control unit.