NHTSA Complaint #10394235 — 2006 CHEVROLET COBALT

I HAVE HAD CONSTANT ISSUES WITH THE LOCK MECHANISM ON MY DOOR. A COUPLE OF TIMES WHEN OPENING MY REAR PASSENGER DOOR IT DOES NOT CLOSE. I'VE BEEN ABLE TO FIND A WAY TO GET THE LATCH TO GO BACK TO IT'S ORIGINAL POSITION AND THEN CLOSE AND LOCK THE DOOR. ON 04/02/11 HOWEVER, WHILE DRIVING, THE BACK DOOR OPENED UP ON ITSELF. SOME THINGS FELL OUT OF THE CAR AND WERE SLIGHTLY DAMAGED AND MY FRIEND RIDING IN THE BACK INJURED THEMSELVES WHEN THE DOOR OPENED ON ITS OWN AND SLAMMED AGAINST THEM. WE CLOSED IT AGAIN WITH SUCCESS AND THEN MY FRIEND MOVED TO THE FRONT OF THE CAR AND WE TOOK ANY ITEMS OUT OF THE BACK SEAT AREA. AGAIN THE CAR DOOR OPENED ON ITS OWN HOWEVER, THIS TIME, THE DOOR WILL NOT CLOSE. I HAVE NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT, THE MECHANISM THAT KEEPS THE DOOR CLOSED AND LOCKED JUST SEEMS TO BE FAULTY. I'VE LOOKED ONLINE AND IT SEEMS MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THIS HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED. NOW I'M FORCED TO FIND RIDES UNTIL I HAVE THE MONEY TO REPAIR AN IMPORTANT SAFETY ISSUE ON MY CAR THAT SHOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN AN ISSUE. I FOUND THAT MANY OF THE PARTS ON MY CAR USED FOR "SAFETY" ARE MADE OF PLASTIC. THIS INFURIATES ME. LUCKILY MY FRIEND IS ONLY SORE AND MY PERSONAL ITEMS DAMAGED WERE MORE OF PERSONAL VALUE THAN ACTUAL FINANCIAL VALUE BUT THIS IS STILL NOT ACCEPTABLE. I JUST KEEP THINKING IF THIS HAPPENS TO SOMEONE WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY THIS COULD BE FATAL AND CHEVY WILL HAVE DEATHS ON THEIR HANDS BECAUSE THEY HAVE SACRIFICED QUALITY FOR COST EFFECTIVENESS. *TR