NHTSA Complaint #10158129 — 2006 CHEVROLET COBALT

TWO OF MY FRIENDS AND I WENT TO BRUNCH ON SUNDAY, 5-21-06. I HAD PURCHASED THE VEHICLE ON 5-13-06. IT IS A COBALT SS. WE PARKED THE CAR IN THE PARKING LOT. I COULD NOT REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. SINCE I HAD ANOTHER KEY, I TURNED THE MOTOR OFF AND LOCKED THE DOOR. WHEN WE CAME BACK ABOUT AN HOUR LATER, I OPENED THE DOOR AND WAS ABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY. THE DEALER STATES: "THEY INSPECTED SHIFTER AND LOCK CYLINDER PER BULLETIN 06-07-30-004B AND WAS UNABLE TO VERIFY THE COMPLAINT..." THEN I STARTED THE CAR WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND PUT IT IN REVERSE. THE CAR LUNGED BACKWARDS, I PUT IT IN NEUTRAL AND THEN PARK, THEN PUT THE HAND BRAKE ON, BUT NOTHING WOULD STOP IT UNTIL IT HIT A TREE BRACE IN THE PARKING LOT. THE DEALER STATED, "UNABLE TO DUPLICATE BUT REPROGRAMMED THE PCM WITH UPDATED CALIBRATIONS J6354..." OF COURSE, THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR THE DAMAGE TO MY 7-DAY OLD CAR. I AM LUCKY THERE WERE NO PEOPLE WALKING IN THE PARKING LOT AT THE TIME!! I OBTAINED 3 APPRAISALS TO REPAIR THE DAMAGES, THE LOWEST BEING $790.91. I BELIEVE GM IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS. IT DEFINITELY WAS A SAFETY HAZARD AND I'M AFRAID IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN. THANK YOU. *JB