NHTSA Investigation: General Motors’ Cobalt, HHR Vehicles Investigated For Fuel Leaks

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has opened an investigation into General Motors’ (GM) Chevy Cobalt cars and HHR wagons over complaints of fuel leaks.

The investigation affects more than 614,000 vehicles, including 2008 to 2010 Cobalts and 2008 to 2009 HHRs.

The NHTSA said it received 208 complaints about fuel leaks from the vehicles, with 39 of the complaints specifying that puddles or drips from the vehicle were observed.

“The fuel leaks are the result of corrosion of the metal fuel lines underneath the vehicle near the left rear wheel well. The corrosion occurs at the polymer blocks that attach the fuel lines to the underbody and underneath an insulation wrap-heat shield adjacent to the exhaust pipe and muffler,” the agency said.

No fires, accidents, injuries were reported from the fuel leaks, according to the report from the NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation.

The agency said it was continuing to investigate the “scope, frequency, circumstances, and safety consequences of the alleged defect.”

GM said it is cooperating with the NHTSA investigation, Reuters reported.

Shares of GM stock were trading at $25.40 as of 12:48 p.m. ET, down $0.33 or 1.30%.