Chevy Cobalt, Pontiac G5 Recall Affects 778,000 Cars
General Motors has announced a recall involving roughly 778,562 Chevrolet Cobalt and Pontiac G5 vehicles for an issue that can cause the engine, airbags, and other electronic components to turn off.
Due to either weight of a key ring, rough roads or some kind of jarring of the vehicle, the ignition switch can move out of the run position, causing the engine to suddenly turn off. Most of the car’s electrical components, including the airbags, will not operate in this event.
General Motors is aware of five frontal-impact crashes and six front-seat fatalities as a result of the airbags not deploying. A GM spokesman said that all of the fatalities occurred off road and at high speeds where the probability of a fatality was high regardless of the airbags deployment.
There are 17 other non-fatal frontal impacts where the airbags didn’t deploy that GM is aware of.
Dealers will replace the ignition switch free of charge, but for now, General Motor recommends that all unnecessary weight be removed from key rings. The affected cars are the 2005 through 2007 Chevy Cobalt and the 2007 Pontiac G5.
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Stephen covers all of the day-to-day events of the industry as the News Editor at AutoGuide, along with being the AG truck expert. His truck knowledge comes from working long days on the woodlot with pickups and driving straight trucks professionally. When not at his desk, Steve can be found playing his bass or riding his snowmobile or Sea-Doo. Find Stephen on <A title="@Selmer07 on Twitter" href="http://www.twitter.com/selmer07">Twitter</A> and <A title="Stephen on Google+" href="http://plus.google.com/117833131531784822251?rel=author">Google+</A>
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God, another reason (#156) to not buy anything GM.