Chevrolet Cobalt Complaints (2006)

2,330 consumer complaints on file.

#10259146February 17, 2009
STEERING
OUR 2006 CHEVROLET COBALT LOSES IT'S POWER STEERING. AT FIRST IT IS ONLY INTERMITTENT, NOW IT LOSES POWER STEERING WITHIN ABOUT A MINUTE OF TURNING IT ON. IT MAKES IT HARDER TO STEER. WE HAVE NOT DONE ANYTHING TO CORRECT THE FAILURE BECAUSE THE SOLUTION TO FIX IT IS TO REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN AND WE CAN'T AFFORD IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10258190February 10, 2009
STEERING
I JUST BOUGHT A 2006 CHEVY COBALT SS LAST YEAR AND HAVE ONLY PUT 15000 MILES ON IT AND THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT LAST NIGHT WHILE I WAS GOING 70MPH ON THE FREEWAY! I RESEARCHED TO SEE IF ANYONE ELSE IS HAVING THIS PROBLEM WITH COBALTS AND FOUND SITE AFTER SITE OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE! THIS NEEDS TO BE RECALLED BEFORE IT KILLS SOMEONE! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10258226February 10, 2009
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET COBALT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, TWO CHIMES SOUNDED FOLLOWED BY AN UNINTENDED LOSS OF POWER STEERING. THE DRIVER HAD TO EXERT MORE EFFORT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE POWER STEERING FAILURE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND REMAINED LIT UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE DRIVER PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. IMMEDIATELY, THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF AND THEN RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN WITH CAUTION TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE POWER STEERING. THE PART WAS UNAVAILABLE AND ORDERED FOR THE REPAIR. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 10,200. UPDATED 3/9/09 *CN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10257632February 5, 2009
STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET COBALT. WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 65 MPH, THE POWER STEERING WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. WITHIN SECONDS, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND COULD NOT BE TURNED IN ANY DIRECTION. THE DEALER PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC AND DISCOVERED THAT THE POWER STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT AN ESTIMATED COST OF $547. THE VIN THAT WAS PROVIDED WAS NOT ACCEPTED BY THE SYSTEM. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 73,000. UPDATED 03-06-09 *BF UPDATED 03/09/09. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10256963January 30, 2009
STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET COBALT. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN WAS BECOMING STIFF WHEN ATTEMPTING TO TURN THE WHEEL. THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SAFELY STEER THE VEHICLE TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE ELECTRONIC STEERING SENSOR FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT THE COST OF $802.62. THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS OF NOTIFYING THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 74,500. UPDATED 03-09-09 *BF THE STEERING POSITION SENSOR FAILED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN. UPDATED 03/13/09.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10256355January 26, 2009
WHEELS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET COBALT. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE SHAKES VERY BADLY. THE FAILURE OCCURS WITHOUT WARNING. THE SHAKING IS SO SEVERE THAT THE CONTACT OCCASIONALLY LOSES CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED HIM TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES AND EACH TIME HE WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WERE FAILURES WITH THE RIMS. THE RIMS WERE REPAIRED, CHANGED, AND BALANCED THREE DIFFERENT TIMES AT THE COST OF $120-$330. THE FAILURE STILL PERSISTS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,300.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10255896January 21, 2009
STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THERE WERE NO EVENTS LEADING TO THE FAILURE OF THE POWER STEERING IN MY 2006 CHEVY COBALT. IT HAPPENS EVERYDAY, ATLEAST ONCE EVERY THREE MINUTES. IN ORDER TO "TEMPORARILY" FIX IT YOU HAVE TO PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND TURN IT OFF AND RESTART THE CAR THEN IN ABOUT THREE MINUTES IT GOES OUT AGAIN. THEN YOU HAVE TO REPEAT THIS. I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH 2005 AND 2006 COBALTS. YOU CAN SEARCH ON THE INTERNET POWER STEERING PROBLEMS COBALT AND YOU WILL SEE. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR ABOUT 5 MONTHS BECAUSE ON TOP OF MY CAR NOTE AND INSURANCE I CAN NOT AFFORD TO FIX THIS. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
99
Deaths:
0
#10255770January 20, 2009
STEERING
NORMAL DRIVING, AND THE EPS SHUTS DOWN, MAKING IT HARD, OR SOMETIMES EVEN IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER. QUITE DANGEROUS SAYING IT DOES IT ONLY WHILE DRIVING. ONCE THE CAR IS STARTED AND RUNNING, IT TAKES APPROX 15 MINS TO BEGIN ACTING UP. SHUTTING DOWN THE CAR RESETS IT, BUT SHORTLY AFTER, THE EPS SHUTS DOWN AGAIN EPS(ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING). NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE YET TO FIX THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE THIS IS A NEWER CAR, AND IT'S BASICALLY NOT AFFORDABLE RIGHT NOW. KNOWING BY READING FORUMS THIS IS NOT ONLY A PROBLEM I HAVE, BUT MANY OTHERS ARE HAVING WITH THIS. WITH THIS KIND OF SYSTEM BEING IN NEWER CARS, THIS PRODUCT SHOULD BE LOOKED AT CLOSER TO SEE IF THERE IS GOING TO BE AN OUTGOING PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10255495January 18, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE CAR GAUGES AND ENGINE SHUT DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING. THE FLOOR GEAR SHIFT HAS BEEN DIFFICULT TO CHANGE GEARS AND PUT IN TO PARK. ONCE CAR SHUTS DOWN AT LEAST 15 MINUTES IS NEEDED FOR CAR TO RESTART. CAR SHUTS DOWN AT RANDOM TIMES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10255370January 16, 2009
STEERING
I WAS DRIVING MY CAR AT 25 MILES PER HOUR AND A WARNING SIGNAL WAS HEARD AND THEN THE DIGITAL DISPLAY READ POWER STEERING AND I COULDN'T TURN THE WHEEL. GOT IT HOME, NARROWLY MISSING A CAR, AND TURNED IT OFF. TURNED IT BACK ON AGAIN AND WORKED FINE. IT HAPPENS RANDOMLY, AND OFTEN. TOOK CAR TO LOCAL CHEVY DEALER, IT'S OUT OF WARRANTY AND CHEVY REFUSES TO PAY FOR IT. IT WILL COST $971 TO FIX. CAR IS UNSAFE AND I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10255251January 15, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
RESEARCHED ON LINE DUE TO ISSUE WITH MY CAR TO FIND LOTS OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME ISSUE. KEY IN THE CHEVY COBALT GETS STUCK IN THE ACCESSORY POSITION AND WILL NOT COME OUT. TOOK TO DEALER SAID THIS HAS HAPPENED IN A FEW VEHICLES THEY REPAIRED THERE. HAD TO REPLACE WHOLE SHIFTER ASSEMBLY. CALLED CHEVY SAID NO RECALL WAS OUT AT THIS TIME FOR THAT PROBLEM. READ ONLINE TO WRITE TO YOU GUYS. THANKS *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10255079January 14, 2009
STEERING
DRIVING 35 MPH, WARNING TONE CAME ON, POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT CAME ON, STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT. PULLED OVER SHUT OFF IGNITION. CHECKED UNDER HOOD SAW NOTHING OBVIOUS. STARTED CAR, PULLED OUT ALL WAS WELL FOR TEN MINUTES THEN HAPPENED AGAIN. SAME SCENARIO EVERY TIME IT'S DRIVEN. REPAIR WILL BE $900.00 !?!?!? PARTS ARE ON BACK ORDER BECAUSE THIS IS APPARENTLY SUCH A PROBLEM. WHY IS THIS NOT A RECALL??? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10254754January 12, 2009
STEERING, POWER TRAIN
WHILE DRIVING OUR 2006 CHEVROLET COBALT A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL HAS OCCURRED OVER 3 TIMES WHICH INCLUDES ERRATIC TRANSMISSION AND GEARSHIFT NOISES. IF THIS HAD OCCURRED ON THE HIGHWAY IN ANY OF THESE OCCURRENCES A CRASH WOULD HAVE RESULTED. AFTER CONDUCTING AN ONLINE INVESTIGATION THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF OWNERS OF COBALTS WHICH HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRONIC STEERING AND OTHER ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITHIN THE STEERING COLUMN. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM DUE TO THE DEALER WANTING TO CHARGE $2K. IT IS CLEARLY A MANUFACTURING DEFECT WITH MOST DEALERS STATING IT IS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10254463January 10, 2009
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
DRIVING AS NORMAL ON A HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH WHEN I REALIZED THE TACHOMETER WAS FLUCTUATING AS IF I WERE AT A STAND STILL AND REVVING THE ENGINE, I HAD TO SLOW DOWN TO MERGE ONTO ANOTHER HIGHWAY AND WHEN I TRIED TO REACCELERATE FROM 50 MPH TO 70 MPH IN 4TH GEAR THE TACHOMETER SHOT UP AND THE ENGINE WAS AT A HIGH REV BUT WOULD NOT GO ANY FASTER, I SHIFTED TO 5TH, THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO REV AND THE ONLY LIGHT THAT CAME ON WAS A LIGHT TELLING ME I NEEDED TO UPSHIFT FROM 5TH GEAR. I PULLED OFF THE NEAREST EXIT AND HAD TO STOP AT A RED LIGHT, I PULLED AWAY FROM THE RED LIGHT AND THE ENGINE SCREAMED AT ME AS I CHANGED GEARS. I GOT THE VEHICLE SAFELY IN A PARKING LOT AND I COULD SMELL SOMETHING BURNING AND I REALIZED IT WAS MY CLUTCH, THE GEARS WERE CHANGING FINE AND SINCE I HAVE DRIVEN STANDARD TRANSMISSIONS FOR 15 YEARS AND KNOW HOW TO DRIVE A MANUAL AND I DO NOT RIDE THE CLUTCH I THOUGHT THERE MIGHT BE A HYDRAULIC ISSUE OR SOMETHING BROKEN IN THE GEAR BOX OR CLUTCH ASSEMBLY. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP I BOUGHT IT AT SINCE IT WAS STILL UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. THEY SAID THE CLUTCH SHOULDN'T BE BURNT OUT SINCE IT IS AN 06 AND HAS ONLY 48K MILES ON IT AND THEY CALLED GM TO TRY TO GET THEM TO PAY FOR IT BECAUSE THEY SAY THE EXTENDED WARRANTY I BOUGHT DOESN'T COVER A CLUTCH. GM SAID THEY WOULD ONLY PAY $400 OF THE OVER $2000 BILL, AND SAID IT BURNED OUT BECAUSE OF MY DRIVING HABITS. I FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU AT 800-955-5100. GM CALLED ME ABOUT THE COMPLAINT WITH THEIR STANDARD ANSWER OF "WE CAN'T HELP YOU. WE DON'T SELL DEFECTIVE EQUIPMENT." I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT THE CLUTCH AND FLY WHEEL ARE EXTREMELY THIN SO THEY DO BURN OUT AT A MUCH FASTER RATE THAN A CLUTCH SHOULD. THIS IS TYPICAL GM CUTTING THE TYPICAL CORNERS IN THEIR WORKMANSHIP AND DESIGN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10254423January 9, 2009
STEERING
I JUST BOUGHT A 2006 CHEVY COBALT LS FROM A DEALERSHIP. THEY HAD IT INSPECTED WHILE I WAITED, AT ANOTHER INSPECTION SITE, OFF THEIR LOT. I AM 4 DAY OUT OF THE 30 DAY WARRANTY THEY GAVE ME ON THE PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE. THE WARRANTY EXPIRED JANUARY 5, 2009. TODAY AS I'M DRIVING THROUGH THE TOWN I LIVE IN, I HEAR A WARNING SIGNAL AND LOOK DOWN AT THE DIGITAL READOUT ON MY DASH BOARD. IT SAYS POWER STEERING. I TRY TO TURN TO GO HOME, AND THE VEHICLE WILL NOT TURN. I ALMOST HIT ANOTHER CAR. I STRUGGLED WITH GREAT EFFORT, AFTER TURNING ON MY HAZARDS TO TURN IT ENOUGH TO GET IT INTO MY PARKING LOT. SINCE THEN IT HAS OCCURRED FIVE TIMES TODAY. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP FROM WHICH I BOUGHT IT AND THEY SAID THEY CAN NOT FIX IT. I BOUGHT IT FROM MONSTRE AUTO CREDIT IN MANASSAS, VA. THEY NEVER OFFERED ME AN EXTENDED WARRANTY AND ONLY OFFERED TO HAVE THE GUY THE GENERAL MANAGER KNOWS FIX IT FOR ME AT A DEEP DISCOUNT. I CANNOT EVEN DRIVE IT BACK TO MANASSAS BECAUSE I FEEL UNSAFE IN DRIVING IT A 55 MILES PER HOUR AND HAVING THE POWER STEERING GIVE OUT ON ME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10254098January 7, 2009
STEERING
CAR HAS 50,000 MILES ON IT. FIRST TIME THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING WENT OUT I WAS DRIVING 60 MPH DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND "POWER STEERING" POPPED UP ON THE DASH AND THEN THE POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING. I PULLED OVER AND TURNED THE CAR OFF AND THEN BACK ON AGAIN AND IT WORKED. IT SEEMS TO HAPPEN EVERY TIME I DRIVE THE CAR FOR LONGER THAN 45 MINUTES, IT WILL GO OFF AND THEN I WILL RESTART THE CAR EVERYTIME IT HAPPENS BUT IT WILL ONLY STAY ON AGAIN ANYWHERE FROM 1-10 MINUTES BEFORE IT GOES OUT AGAIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10253927January 6, 2009
STEERING
THE POWER STEERING ON MY 2006 CHEVY COBALT CUTS IN AND OUT WITH NO RHYME OR REASON. THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER PEOPLE WITH THIS SAME CAR WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESS BY GM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10253747January 4, 2009
STEERING
MY POWER STEERING LIGHT COMES ON , ON THE DASH AND I LOOSE ALL POWER STEERING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10253774January 4, 2009
STEERING
MY POWER STEERING HAS WENT OUT TWICE, BOTH TIMES WERE VERY FRIGHTENING. THE FIRST TIME, I WAS ABOUT TO TURN OUT INTO A BUSY STREET. LUCKILY, WHEN I NOTICED THAT IT WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL MY STEERING, I PUT MY CAR INTO REVERSE IN ORDER TO BACK INTO A PARKING SPACE IN THE LOT THAT I WAS ABOUT TO LEAVE. I WAS HOPING THIS WOULD BE THE ONLY INSTANCE WHERE THIS WOULD HAPPEN. HOWEVER, WHILE I HAD A CO-WORKER IN MY CAR, COMING BACK TO MY WORKPLACE AFTER PICKING UP LUNCH, I WAS FACED WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I WAS VERY THANKFUL THAT I WAS ABLE TO TURN INTO MY PARKING LOT. I COULDN'T IMAGINE WRECKING WITH A PASSENGER IN MY CAR. AND EVEN WORSE, IF I WOULD'VE LOST CONTROL AND CRASHED INTO THE NURSING FACILITY THAT I WORK AT, I COULD'VE INJURED RESIDENTS, TOO! AFTER READING ALL OF THE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, I'M JUST CURIOUS WHAT IT'S GOING TO TAKE FOR IT TO GET RECALLED. WILL SOMEONE HAVE TO LOSE THEIR LIFE IN ORDER FOR SOMEONE TO TAKE ACTION?! I'M FURIOUS WITH CHEVROLET FOR FORCING PEOPLE TO PAY FOR SOMETHING THAT THEY (CHEVROLET) CAN PREVENT!!! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10253511January 1, 2009
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
DRIVER SIDE INTERIOR DOOR OPENER IS PEELING THE METAL COATING FROM THE POLYMER SUBSTRATE. I HAVE BEEN CUTTING MY FINGERS CAUSING BLEEDING WHEN I TRY TO OPEN THE DOOR. CAR HAS LESS THAN 35K MILES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0

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