NHTSA Complaint #10132335 — 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT

DT:BOUGHT A NEW 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT IN MARCH. SINCE THEN IT HAS BEEN IN THE REPAIR SHOP 5 TIMES. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH DASHBOARD PANEL LIGHTS CAME ON AND THEN SUDDENLY THE ENGINE DIED. WHEN THIS OCCURRED THE KEY WAS IN THE IGNITION IN THE START POSITION. DEALER SAID IT WAS DESIGNED FOR WOMEN SO THEY MAY START THE CAR EASILY. THE IGNITION WAS DESIGNED TO STOP THE ENGINE IF THE KEY OR IGNITION WERE TOUCHED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. THE DEALER SAID CHEVROLET DESIGNED IT THIS WAY. THE SECOND OPINION FROM THE DEALER WAS SIMPLY THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. WHEN THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN THERE WAS A LOSS OF BRAKE POWER ALONG WITH EVERYTHING ELECTRICAL. THEY DID A DIAGNOSTIC CHECK WHICH SHOWED NOTHING. THERE WAS A RECALL SERVICE PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE, BUT THAT WAS ON THE AIR CONDITIONER. THERE WAS SOME SORT OF REPROGRAMMING WORK DONE. CONSUMER DID NOT KNOW WHAT WAS WRONG WITH VEHICLE. *AK