Chevrolet Cobalt Complaints (2006)

2,330 consumer complaints on file.

#10512888May 20, 2013
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 55 MPH AND OVER STEERED TO AVOID STRIKING A DOG. THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A BOULDER. THE VEHICLE THEN FLIPPED SIX TIMES. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A FRACTURED NOSE, LACERATIONS TO THE NOSE, A BLACK EYE, WHIP LASH AND SHOULDER INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED FOR THE CAUSE OF THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 134,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10512585May 17, 2013
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED TO PROPERLY OPERATE WHILE THE TRACTION AND CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE IT WAS ADVISED TO THE CONTACT THAT THE POWER STEERING MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10512435May 16, 2013
AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS
THE LIGHT ON THE DASH SWITCHES OVER AND SAYS THAT IT IS ON WHENEVER THE VEHICLE IS RUNNING AND SOMEONE IS SITTING IN IT BUT IT WILL DING AT THEM UNTIL THEY PUT THEIR SEAT BELT ON. WHENEVER THEY PUT THE SEAT BELT ON, THE DRIVER INFORMATION CENTER (DIC) ON MY DASH TELLS ME TO SERVICE AIRBAG AND THE LIGHT THAT TELLS WHEN THE AIRBAG IS ON OR OFF SAYS THAT IT IS OFF. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10509337April 23, 2013
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED SHE NOTICED A FUEL LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10508925April 20, 2013
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
INCIDENT #1: WHILE DRIVING AT 55MPH ON A HIGHWAY, THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR OPENED WITHOUT WARNING. GENERALLY, WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, THE VEHICLE DOORS LOCK AUTOMATICALLY. DRIVER WAS WEARING SAFETY BELT. DRIVER PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO SHUT THE DOOR. ONCE PARKED, THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT LATCH SHUT. AFTER A FEW MOMENTS OF MESSING WITH THE LOCKS AND JIGGLING THE DOOR HANDLE, THE DOOR LATCHED SHUT. INCIDENT #2: FIVE DAYS AFTER INCIDENT ONE, ON APRIL 6, DRIVER SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN. OWNER HAD TO CLIMB THROUGH PASSENGER SIDE TO ACCESS INTERIOR DRIVER SIDE DOOR HANDLE TO ATTEMPT TO OPEN THE DOOR. HOWEVER, FROM THE INTERIOR, THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN. A FEW HOURS LATER, DRIVER SIDE DOOR OPENS AFTER ANOTHER ATTEMPT FROM OUTSIDE. ONCE INSIDE THE VEHICLE, THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT LATCH SHUT. VEHICLE COULD NOT BE DRIVEN UNTIL DOOR LATCHED SHUT NEARLY 45 MINUTES LATER. INCIDENT #1 HAS HAPPENED ONLY ONCE. INCIDENT #2 HAS HAPPENED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. AS A 2006 CHEVROLET COBALT OWNER, I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT SHOULD CAREFULLY BE LOOKED INTO. AFTER RESEARCHING QUICK FIXES FOR THIS ISSUE ONLINE, I'VE FOUND HUNDREDS OF VERY SIMILAR CASES IN WHICH ALL INVOLVE 2006 CHEVROLET COBALT DRIVER SIDE DOOR ISSUES WITH OPENING, NOT OPENING, AND LATCHES. IN SOME INSTANCES, THE WINDOW WOULD NOT ROLL DOWN WHEN UNABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10508508April 17, 2013
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTICED FROM THE MANUFACTURER WHICH STATED THAT THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 12V459000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) DUE TO WHERE THEY LIVED. THE LETTER ALSO STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER WOULD REPAIR THE VEHICLE SHOULD THE FAILURE OCCUR. THE CONTACT FELT THAT ALL VEHICLES OF THE SAME YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED, REGARDLESS OF RESIDENCY. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10508361April 16, 2013
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I WAS PULLING OUT ONTO THE STREET WITH MANY CARS APPROACHING FROM A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND I BEGAN TO PRESS DOWN THE GAS PEDAL SO I COULD SAFELY GET UP TO SPEED AND I NOTICED THE CAR NOT ACCELERATING FOR THE AMOUNT OF PRESSURE I WAS APPLYING ON THE GAS PEDAL THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON AND THE TRANSMISSION STARTED JERKING INTO ALL THE GEARS, I DROVE IT HOME 8 MILES TURNED OFF THE CAR AND RESTARTED THE CAR AND LIGHT HAD RESET ITSELF THIS SAME THING HAS HAPPENED THREE MORE TIMES SINCE THIS FIRST TIME. ALL OCCURRED ON DRIVE PAVEMENT NO ICE OR OTHER WET CONDITIONS. I'VE SEARCHED ONLINE AND HAVE SEEN MANY OTHER PEOPLE ARE HAVE BEEN REPORTING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT STAYING ON AND LOSS OF POWER TO THE TRANSMISSION AND JERKY SHIFTING, IN PRETTY MUCH EVERY YEAR THE COBALT MODEL WAS MANUFACTURED BY CHEVROLET I BELIEVE THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE THAT GENERAL MOTORS SHOULD HAVE A RECALL TO FIX THESE ISSUES BUT, HAS NOT DONE SO TO THIS DAY, BEFORE I AND OTHER PEOPLE DRIVING THE CHEVROLET COBALT GET HURT OR HURT OTHER DRIVERS BECAUSE OF THESE MALFUNCTIONS THAT OUR OUT OF OUR CONTROL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10506083April 12, 2013
STEERING
VEHICLE HAS BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH STEERING SINCE THE POWER STEERING ASSIST MOTOR WAS REPLACED PER THE RECALL. VEHICLE WAS SERVICED ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO BY A CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP BECAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKING UP, AND THE FRONT END WAS RATTLING. THE FOLLOWING PARTS WERE REPLACED: FRONT STABILIZER END LINKS, STEERING COLUMN, AND SERPENTINE BELT. THE STEERING HAS SINCE DEVELOPED A DELAYED RESPONSE AND REQUIRES FULL TURNS FROM CENTER TO END TO TURN RIGHT OR LEFT AROUND CORNERS. THE TURNING RADIUS HAS SIGNIFICANTLY DECLINED. THE CAR ALSO PULLS RIGHT OR LEFT WHEN BRAKING IF THE STEERING WHEEL IS OFF CENTER. THE RATTLING FROM THE FRONT END ALSO HAS RESURFACED AND IS BAD WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS. CURRENT MILEAGE IS 83,000. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10505685April 9, 2013
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
I HAD NOTICED A VERY STRONG GAS ODOR IN MY VEHICLE FOR AWHILE WHEN I TOOK IT IN TO GET AN OIL CHANGE I INQUIRED ABOUT IT. WHILE WORKING ON THE CAR THEY NOTICED A LEAK COMING FROM THE GAS TANK AND MADE ME AWARE OF IT AND SUGGESTED I GET IT FIXED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. ONCE I WAS ABLE TO I LOOKED UP THE INFORMATION AND FOUND THAT THERE WAS INDEED A RECALL ON THESE VEHICLES FOR THIS PARTICULAR REASON AND MANY CONSUMERS WERE UPSET ABOUT IT. I CALLED GMC AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT I WAS ELIGIBLE FOR A SPECIAL COVERAGE ADJUSTMENT TO REPLACE MY FUEL PUMP AND I SHOULD MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALERSHIP. I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT ALTHOUGH IT WAS WITHIN THE TEN YEAR LIMIT IT WAS OVER 120,000 MILES AND THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE IT UNDER THE SPECIAL COVERAGE ADJUSTMENT. OBVIOUSLY THIS CAR IS EIGHT YEARS OLD AND THE CHANCES OF ANY VEHICLE THAT OLD BEING UNDER 120,000 MILES IS ABSURD! AND I WAS TOLD IN A VERY RUDE MANNER THAT IF MY CAR BLEW UP BECAUSE OF THIS IT WAS NOT THEIR PROBLEM. I HAVE ONLY OWNED THIS CAR FOR A YEAR AND A HALF AND WAS NOT MADE AWARE THAT THIS WAS A RECALL OR SPECIAL ISSUE UPON PURCHASE EVEN THOUGH IT HAS APPARENTLY BEEN RECORDED SINCE 2009. IT IS COMPLETELY AND UTTERLY RIDICULOUS THAT THEY ARE NOT MORE PRO-ACTIVE IN THE RECTIFICATION OF THIS ISSUE AS IT IS ENDANGERING LIVES! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10507097April 4, 2013
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET COBALT LS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE NOTICED A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL AND SHORTLY AFTER A LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. AFTER DIAGNOSIS, THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THERE WAS A FRACTURE IN THE FUEL PUMP AND IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 72,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 73,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10505511April 3, 2013
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I HAVE FACED SPENDING HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS TO REPLACE A PART WITH A KNOWN PROBLEM. THE FIRST TIME WAS NHSTA COMPLAIN #10419243 FILED ON 08/12/2011. AT THE TIME, I ISSUED A COMPLAINT AFTER HAVING TO REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP ON MY 2006 CHEVY COBALT BECAUSE OF A CRACK IN THE PORT ON TOP OF THE PUMP THAT IS SITUATED ON TOP OF THE FUEL TANK. ON 3/11/2012 THE REPLACEMENT PUMP ALSO FAILED IN THE EXACT SAME SPOT. AT THE TIME, I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE ENGINE STALLED. I LATER LEARNED THERE WAS FUEL LEAKING ALL OVER THE ROAD UNDER MY CAR. AFTER BEING TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, I WAS TOLD THAT THE SAME PART HAD FAILED AGAIN. THOUGH THE MECHANIC TRIED TO FIND THE PART ITSELF, HE SOON LEARNED IT IS NOT SOLD SEPARATELY AND THE ONLY WAY TO FIX THE PROBLEM IS TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE PUMP.THIS TIME IS WAS OVER $600 TO REPLACE IT AND TOGETHER WITH THE $85.00 TOW BILL, I HAVE NOW SPENT OVER $1100 ON A KNOWN DEFECT THAT WOULD BE COVERED UNDER RECALL IF I LIVED IN ONE OF THE STATES WHERE A RECALL FOR THIS PART IS IN EFFECT. MORE THAN 100 COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN FILED BETWEEN THESE TWO PERSONAL INCIDENTS. WHEN IS SOMEONE GOING TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT???!!!!! DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO DIE IN A FIRE BEFORE THIS PROBLEM IS ADDRESSED? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10505542April 3, 2013
STRUCTURE:BODY, WHEELS, SUSPENSION
CRASH CAR ,STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT TO HANDLE. RAN OFF ROAD TO RIGHT HIT BANK AND FLIPPED CAR SEVERAL TIME. CAR WAS GOING A LITTLE FAST, BUT THIS CAR SHOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO HANDLE THE SPEED. ONE GUY HAD A INJURY TO HIS ARM AND THE OTHER WAS THROWN FROM THE CAR LEADING TO HIS DEATH. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
1
#10505447April 2, 2013
STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
WHEN DRIVING THE GAUGE CLUSTER LIGHTS UP WHILE BOTH THE MPH AND RPM NEEDLES JUMP AROUND. TOTAL LOSS OF POWER STEERING AS WELL AS THE TRANSMISSION GOES INTO LIMP MODE. LOST CONTROL ON FREEWAY THANKFULLY NO ONE WERE IN THE 2 LANES THAT THE CAR VEERED INTO AT THE TIME. WAS ABLE TO STOP THE CAR IN THE SERVICE LANE. THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS OF THIS SAME ISSUE.WE HAVE RECEIVED NO RECALL INFORMATION AND WE ARE NOT UNDER THE CURRENT RECALL FOR WHATEVER REASON. SAME ISSUES AS ORIGINAL RECALL FITS IN YEARS RECALLED FOR...WHY NOT INCLUDE US? TOOK THE LIBERTY OF PAYING FOR BOTH THE EPS MOTOR AND MODULE WITH NO SUCCESS. I AM CURRENTLY OUT $1,500.00 THIS IS NOT FAIR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10503901March 21, 2013
STEERING
THE STEERING MECHANISM ON THE VEHICLE HAS BECOME FAULTY, FORTUNATELY THIS OCCURRED ON LEAVING MY HOUSE AND I WAS NOT TRAVELING AT SPEED.. AS ONE DRIVES THE STEERING BEGINS TO PULL HEAVILY TO THE RIGHT AND ONE HAS TO FORCIBLY HOLD THE STEERING WHEEL TO KEEP THE VEHICLE FROM LEAVING THE ROAD. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC. THE INITIAL THOUGHT WAS THAT THIS RELATED TO THE RACK AND PINION. THIS WAS REPLACED BUT DIDN'T SOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE MECHANIC MADE SOME INQUIRIES AND FOUND THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN SUBJECTED TO A RECALL FOR FAULTY STEERING. AFTER FURTHER EXAMINATION, HE FOUND THAT THE ISSUE RELATED TO A SENSOR IN THE STEERING COLUMN WHICH HAD BECOME FAULTY.SINCE A RECALL HAD BEEN CARRIED OUT IN AUGUST 2012, HE SUGGESTED I REFER THE MATTER BACK TO THE VENDOR WHO PERFORMED THE RECALL. THE VENDOR JIMMY GRAY OF SOUTHAVEN HAVE TOLD ME THAT THE RECALL WAS ONLY FOR A STEERING MOTOR REPLACEMENT AND THAT THE SENSOR REPLACEMENT WAS NOT COVERED. APPARENTLY ONE NEEDS TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN WHEN THE SENSOR FAILS. I CONTACTED GM AND THEY ARE SUPPORTING JIMMY GRAY AND REFUSING TO REPLACE THE SENSOR AS PART OF THE RECALL. THE ISSUE RELATED TO THE MOTOR ASSEMBLY MAY HAVE BEEN WRONG IN THE FIRST PLACE, IT COULD HAVE BEEN THE SENOR ALL ALONG CAUSING THE PROBLEM. IT WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED IF YOU COULD LOOK INTO THIS MATTER AND ADVISE. THIS VEHICLE BELONGS TO MY SON, I CANNOT LET HIM DRIVE IT THE WAY IT IS AT PRESENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10503763March 20, 2013
SUSPENSION
SINCE THIS VEHICLE REACHED 60000MI I HAVE REPLACED THE CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS TWICE. WHEN THESE BUSHINGS GO BAD THEY CAUSE STEERING ISSUES, BRAKING ISSUES AND HANDLING ISSUES. THESE BUSHINGS ARE POORLY ENGINEERED AND I THINK THAT ALL VEHICLES WITH THIS CONTROL ARM DESIGN SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER A RECALL. I HAVE A 2006 CHEVY HHR WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THESE BUSHINGS ARE MOUNTED HORIZONTALLY AND ARE SUPPOSED TO FLEX HORIZONTALLY WITH A VERTICAL BOLT THROUGH THEM. IMPOSSIBLE TO DO EFFICIENTLY. I WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED BY ANY NUMBER OF ACCIDENTS THAT COULD BE STEMMED FROM THIS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10503822March 20, 2013
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BOTH THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER'S SIDE DOORS WOULD NOT OPEN WHEN THE DOORS WERE UNLOCKED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR DOOR LATCHES WOULD ACTIVE NORMALLY BUT THE LOCKING MECHANISM MALFUNCTIONED AND CAUSED THE DOOR NOT TO OPEN. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE ENTIRE DOOR LOCKING MECHANISM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 129,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10503684March 19, 2013
STEERING, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
POWER STEERING SHUTS OFF WHEN STARTED, ESPECIALLY IN COLD TEMPERATURES. EVEN WHEN THE CAR RUNS FOR A FEW MINUTES TO WARM UP, STEERING WHEEL IS STILL RIGID AND STIFF. DEFINITELY NOT DRIVEABLE. GEARS SHIFT EXTREMELY ROUGH AND VIOLENTLY. UNSAFE IN ALL SITUATIONS, ESPECIALLY STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. AT IDLE IT NEARLY STALLS. TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT COMES ON WHEN ALL THESE THINGS EXIST. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10503312March 17, 2013
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
FOR THE PAST FEW DAYS MY WIFE AND I HAVE SMELLED GAS AFTER THE CAR WAS SHUT OFF. TODAY WE NOW HAVE FUEL LEAKING FROM THE FUEL TANK AREA OF THE CAR. WE LOOKED THE PROBLEM UP AND SEE THAT A RECALL FOR THE PROBLEM. WE CALL GM AND WERE INFORMED THAT OUR CAR IS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST. OUR CAR IS THE SAME YEAR AND MODEL AS THE RECALL BUT WE LIVE IN THE WRONG STATE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10503324March 17, 2013
STEERING
POWER STEERING LIGHT COMES ON AND STEERING WHEEL BECOMES HARD WHILE DRIVING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10502821March 14, 2013
POWER TRAIN, ENGINE
THE THROTTLE BODY BECOMES EXTREMELY 'GUNKED UP,' CAUSING THE ENGINE TO SHUT OFF IF THE RPMS DROP TOO FAST. IT HAPPENS MOST OFTEN WHEN COMING UP TO STOP LIGHTS. HOWEVER, THE MOST DANGEROUS TIME (WHICH CAUSED ME TO GET REAR ENDED DUE TO NOT BEING ABLE TO IMMEDIATELY SPEED UP) IS WHEN I SWITCH LANES ON THE HIGHWAY. I LET MY CAR SLOW DOWN BY REMOVING MY FOOT FROM THE PEDAL, SWITCH LANES, AND WHEN I PUT MY FOOT ON THE PEDAL, I DON'T SPEED UP. WHY?? BECAUSE THE ENGINE SHUT OFF WHEN I FIRST REMOVED MY FOOT FROM THE PEDAL AND LET THE RPMS DROP! *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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