The contact owns a 2007 Pontiac G5. When the contact shifts gears, she hears a noise that indicates the transmission is slipping. In addition, the parking brake does not engage successfully, which could allow the vehicle to roll away. She took her vehicle to the dealer, but they could not duplicate the failures or provide a remedy. The failure mileage was unknown and the current mileage was 5,600. Updated 4/16/09 updated 04/21/09.

- Alexandria, VA, USA

The parking brake on my 07 Pontiac G5 GT has already been repaired under warranty for a plastic piece of the ratchet mechanism in the handle breaking. In order for the parking brake to be reasonably effective on a hill, it must be very firmly applied. With the knowledge of the ratchet already giving out once, I'm wary of leaving my car parked without the transmission in gear to aid the parking brake to avoid a roll-away. The brake continues to be insecure when under nominal tension.

- Parkesburg, PA, USA

When pulling up the parking brake lever to sufficiently hold the car on a grade, the pawl (plastic part) failed, and the lever wasn't held mechanically in the 'on' position. Typically, the parking brake on disc-equipped rear axles of Chevrolet cobalt/ Pontiac G5 must be very tight to effect any significant hold on a grade. This is the experience of me, and other G5/cobalt drivers -- with increasing frequency. It was repaired for me under warranty, but I don't know if it was either replaced with a similar part, or a redesigned one.

- Parkesburg, PA, USA