2007 Chevrolet Cobalt

ON FEBRUARY 21, 2008 3:21 A.M. I WAS CALLED BY ALLEGHENY GENERAL HOSPITAL (AGH) IN PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA TO INFORM ME THAT MY SON WAS TAKEN THERE BY HELICOPTER AND WAS UNRESPONSIVE. HE WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT AND SUFFERED SEVERE BRAIN TRAUMA. UNFORTUNATELY HE DIED ON FEBRUARY 29, 2008. THIS WAS MY SON'S FIRST "NEW" VEHICLE. WE PURCHASED IT ON 12/3/2007 AND HE DIED IN IT 2 MONTHS LATER. THE VEHICLE IS A 2007 CHEVY COBALT. THE ACCIDENT WAS INVESTIGATED AND THE POLICE BELIEVE MY SON FELL ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL AS HE CROSSED THE CENTER LINE OF A 2 LANE ROAD AND HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE PERSON IN THE OTHER VEHICLE SURVIVED. AFTER RECEIVING THE FIRST RECALL NOTICE ABOUT THE IGNITION SWITCH ISSUE I CONTACTED THE CAR MANUFACTURER (GENERAL MOTORS) TO INQUIRE ABOUT WHETHER THEY WOULD INVESTIGATE THE VEHICLE TO DETERMINE IF IT WAS DEFECTIVE AND COULD HAVE BEEN THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT. I WAS TOLD BY A GM REPRESENTATIVE THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO AS THEY HAD FILED BANKRUPTCY. I CONTINUE TO RECEIVE THE RECALL NOTICES WHICH LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT MY SON'S DEATH IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE TOTAL NUMBER OF CHEVY COBALT DEATHS. I FIRST CONTACT THE US DEPT. OF JUSTICE AND GOT NOWHERE. I THEN CONTACTED YOUR ORGANIZATION (NHTSA) - REFERENCE# 614104 AND WAS TOLD THAT I NEEDED TO GO BACK TO GM. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT BOTH ORGANIZATIONS ARE INVOLVED IN AN INVESTIGATION OF GM HOWEVER NOBODY AT EITHER ORGANIZATION SEEMS TO WANT TO TALK TO ME. I DON'T TRUST GM AFTER SOME READING I HAVE BEEN DOING HOWEVER I PLAN TO MAKE THAT CALL. THIS IS RELIVING A NIGHTMARE! *TR

IT'S VERY DISTURBING TO RECEIVE A SAFETY RECALL NOTICE IN THE MAIL. IT'S EVEN MORE DISTURBING TO BE ADVISED THAT YOUR CAR CANNOT BE REPAIRED ASAP BECAUSE "PARTS ARE NOT CURRENTLY AVAILABLE." REALLY? IT'S COME TO LIGHT THIS WAS KNOWN AS FAR BACK AS 2001 AND PARTS ARE NOT CURRENTLY AVAILABLE??!! EVEN BY KEEPING THE IGNITION KEY ALL BY ITSELF ON THE KEY RING IS NO GUARANTEE THAT THIS ISSUE WILL NOT OCCUR. THIS IS THE SECOND RECALL I'VE HAD ON THIS CAR SINCE I PURCHASED IT IN 2009. I'VE OWNED A NUMBER OF CARS IN THE PAST AND NONE OF THEM EVER FACED ANY TYPE OF RECALL WHATSOEVER. NEEDLESS TO SAY, I'M VERY UNHAPPY AND VERY UNIMPRESSED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE BATTERY WAS DISCONNECTED TO AND THE KEY BECAME STUCK IN THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY A DEALER. THE DIAGNOSIS WAS TO REPLACE THE GEAR SHIFT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FRONT DRIVERS SEAT AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG ILLUMINATED WHEN THE FRONT PASSENGER AND DRIVER ARE IN THE VEHICLE OR IF NO ONE IS SEATED IN THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE. THE DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE AIRBAG FAILURE. THE FAILURE STILL RECURRED. THE BATTERY HAD TO BE REPLACED AND THE CODES HAD TO BE REPROGRAMMED DUE TO HAVING TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY TO REMOVE THE KEY MORE THAN ONCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN BACK TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR AN INSPECTION. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17000. *TR

I FIRST STARTED NOTICING A STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE WHEN I FILLED MY CAR UP AND PARKED IT IN MY GARAGE . I LOOK UNDER THE VEHICLE TO SEE IF THERE WAS A FUEL LEAK BECAUSE OF HOW STRONG THE SMELL WAS. I DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING SO I WAS THINKING MAYBE IT WAS A ONE TIME THING LIKE I HAD SPILLED SOME GAS ON THE CAR WHEN I FILLED UP. I AGAIN NOTICED THE SAME THING TWO WEEKS LATER WHEN I FILLED UP. IT HAPPENS EVERY TIME I FILL UP THE CAR. I CAN EVEN SMELL GAS ORDER IN A OPEN AIR PARKING LOT WHEN I WALK BY MY CAR. I TOOK THE CAR INTO THE CHEVY DEALER I BOUGHT IF FROM BECAUSE OF A SERVICE BULLETIN CSC-10051936-8902 WHERE THE PLASTIC SUPPLY OR RETURN PORT ON THE FUEL PUMP CRACKS AND LEAKS FUEL OR FUEL VAPORS. FUEL VAPORS, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE A VEHICLE FIRE. SO SINCE THIS IS MY ONLY SOURCE OF TRANSPORTATION I TOOK IF IN TO GET LOOKED. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT THIS REPAIR WAS ALREADY DONE TO MY VEHICLE BEFORE THEY SOLD IT TO ME. I TOLD THEM THAT THE SMELL IS SO BAD THAT I HAVE TO AIR OUT MY GARAGE BEFORE I STARTED MY CAR BECAUSE I'M WORRIED OUT IT. THE DEALER SERVICE REP. TOLD ME THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY TO FIX THE PART THAT WAS REPLACED IF IT WAS CRACKED AGAIN! I DON'T SEE WHY IT'S MY FAULT THAT THE PART THAT THEY REPLACED MAY STILL BE DEFECTIVE AND I HAVE TO PAY OUT OF MY POCKET. THE GUY REALLY DIDN'T SEEM TO CARE THAT THIS IS A SAFETY RELATED CONDITION THAT COULD CAUSE A POSSIBLE FIRE. I JUST SPOKE TO GM ABOUT IT AND WAS TOLD YES THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE MY CAR INSPECTED AND IF THE SAME FUEL LINE IS CRACKED THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY. NO HELP, BUT I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO AIR OUT MY GARAGE EVERY TIME I FILL UP BEFORE I START IT BECAUSE OF A POSSIBLE FIRE HAZARD. THE GM REP. I SPOKE TO ON THE PHONE SAID THAT WHEN I GET THE LETTER FOR THE IGNITION RECALL I SHOULD MENTION IT TO THEM AGAIN. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2007 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED AND WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 196,000. UPDATED 05/12/14 MA *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2007 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY STEERED TO THE LEFT AND CAUSED THE CONTACT TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE THEN SPUN IN A CIRCLE AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE, AND THEN INTO THE RETAINING WALL. THERE WERE 3 PEOPLE WITH MINOR INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED OF THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO A SALVAGE YARD. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 10V073000 (STEERING) BUT DID NOT CONFIRM IF THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL CAMPAIGN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. UPDATED 07/03/14 MA. UPDATED 07/08/2014 *JS *TR

I PURCHASED A CAR FROM COX CHEVROLET IN BRADENTON, FL WHICH HAPPENED TO BE A 2007 CHEVROLET COBALT AND IT HAD NUMEROUS POWER STEERING PROBLEMS WHICH WOULD AFFECT DRIVE-ABILITY DURING HIGH SPEEDS ON THE INTERSTATE. I HAD THE PROBLEM FIXED AT GAINESVILLE CHEVROLET IN FLORIDA WHICH COST ME OVER 900 DOLLARS. THE MANUFACTURER SENT ME A RECALL NOTICE AND FAILED TO REIMBURSE ME FOR THE COST, ALSO I HAD A FUEL LEAK WHICH WAS UNDER RECALL AND YET TO NO AVAIL THE CAR SMELLED OF FUEL AND HAD SPARKS FROM THE WIRING. THE CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY AND YET THE MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER, DID NOT PURCHASE THE CAR BACK FROM ME, THEY MADE ME PURCHASE A NEW VEHICLE AND AS WELL DID NOT TELL ME ABOUT THE RECALL UNTIL AFTER THE FACT. I AM UPSET TO LEARN THAT ONLY NOW THE NHTSA AND OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCIES ARE WILLING TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. I WANT COMPENSATION FOR ALL OF THE DAMAGES CAUSED BY CHEVROLET AND BY COX CHEVROLET IN FLORIDA. *TR

MY CAR WAS RUNNING AND GETTING WARMED UP, THEN SUDDENLY THE LOCKS START GOING OFF AND ON, REPEATEDLY. IT HAS CONTINUED TO DO THIS AND THE CAR WILL NOT STAY LOCKED. IT DOES THIS WHETHER IT IS OFF OR ON NOW. IT IS CONSTANT. THE POWER LOCKS NO LONGER WORK AND YOU CAN'T USE THE DOOR HANDLE TO UNLOCK THE CAR FROM THE INSIDE, YOU MUST MANUALLY PULL THE LOCK "UP" AND TO LOCK THE CAR YOU MUST MANUALLY PUSH ALL THE DOOR LOCK KNOBS DOWN, BUT THAT DOESN'T MATTER BECAUSE IT WILL NOT STAY LOCKED. IN ADDITION TO THIS ELECTRICAL ISSUE THE FRONT SPEAKERS GO OFF AND ON AT RANDOM. ALSO, THE TURN SIGNAL REMAINS ON EVEN AFTER THE FULL TURN HAS BEEN MADE. THE CAR WILL RANDOMLY SHUT OFF WHILE IT'S BEING DRIVEN. IT DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU ARE GOING 70 MPH OR 20 MPH. ALSO THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT ON MY CAR, THAT WAS RECALLED AND HAS SINCE BEEN REPLACED, BUT THE STEERING STILL MALFUNCTIONS. MY CAR WAS LEAKING FUEL THE SUMMER OF 2012, AFTER THE FUEL PUMP MODULE WAS REPLACED THE GAS TANK HAD TO BE REPLACED MONTHS LATER BECAUSE THE CAR CONTINUED TO LEAK GASOLINE. THERE ARE MANY OTHER COUNTLESS ISSUES WITH THIS CAR. I AM SURPRISED AND FORTUNATE THAT THERE HAVEN'T BEEN ANY INJURIES OR FATALITIES WHILE OPERATING THIS DEATH TRAP. I WILL NEVER PURCHASE ANOTHER GM. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2007 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AS ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE CONTACT AND A PASSENGER BOTH SUSTAINED BACK AND NECK INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND WAS TOWED TO A SALVAGE YARD. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE OF AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000. *TR

TL- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE DID RESTART. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DETECT THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE MILEAGE WAS 84,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. RG *TR