NHTSA Complaint #11342583 — 2008 CHEVROLET HHR

I RECENTLY HEARD ON THE NEWS THAT THERE WAS A FUEL LINE LEAK PROBLEM REPORTED BY NHTSA, ON CHEVY COBALTS AND HHRS. I PRINTED A COPY OF THE NEWS REPORT, PROVIDED IT TO MY MECHANIC AND ASKED THE SHOP TO CHECK IT. THEY FOUND THE FUEL LINES READY TO CRUMBLE, WHICH THEY DID WHEN THE LINES WERE REMOVED. I WAS LUCKY THEY HAD NOT CRUMBLED--THE CAR COULD'VE CAUGHT FIRE. THE REPAIR WAS COSTLY AND LABOR INTENSIVE. THE BACK PART OF THE EXHAUST SYSTEM HAD TO BE REMOVED AND REPLACE DUE TO THE AGE OF THE CAR AND THINNESS OF THE EXHAUST PIPE AT THE CONVERTER.. THE MECHANICS STATED THAT THE CAUSE OF THE CORRODED FUEL LINES WAS POOR DESIGN, USING STEEL PIPES AND THE PIPES SITUATED SUCH THAT WATER (AND ROAD DE-ICER) GETS TRAPPED ABOVE A SHIELD PROMOTING CORROSION. I LOOKED UP THIS PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND MANY ENTRIES FOR HHRS WITH CORRODED FUEL LINES. I'M FORTUNATE THAT I HEARD THE NEWS ITEM OR MY CAR COULD'VE GONE UP IN FLAMES. I'M SURPRISED THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL--THERE SHOULD BE.