Chevrolet Cobalt Complaints (2005)

1,649 consumer complaints on file.

#10576910April 2, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, AIR BAGS, STRUCTURE:BODY, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I WAS STOPPED AT A RED SIGNAL FOR A FEW MINUTES. SUDDENLY, A UNIVERSITY OF BUFFALO STUDENT HIT MY CAR FROM THE REAR AT FULL FORCE. HE WAS TEXTING AND WHEN HE GOT OUT OF THE CAR HE WAS STILL TEXTING. HE ADMITTED IT WAS HIS FAULT BECAUSE HE WAS NOT LOOKING AT THE ROAD AND WAS TEXTING ON HIS PHONE. I CALLED THE POLICE AND OBTAINED A POLICE REPORT. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT WORK. MY MOM AND I WERE JOLTED FORWARD AT FULL FORCE WITH BACK AND NECK TRAUMA. MY CAR STALLED ON IMPACT OF THE OTHER CAR. LUCKILY MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE AND I DID NOT HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I HAD TO RESTART MY CAR AND I PULLED THE CAR OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD IN ORDER TO NOT BLOCK THE BUSY STREET. I COMPLAINED THAT MY AIR BAGS DID NOT WORK BUT I WAS IGNORED. ALSO, THE IGNITION SWITCH HAD TURNED OFF THE CAR WHICH I THOUGHT WAS STRANGE. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10576967April 2, 2014
AIR BAGS, ENGINE
MY COBALT, WHICH IS NOW TOTALED, WAS IN A HIGHWAY ACCIDENT AND THE CAR MALFUNCTIONED. THE FRONT END OF THE CAR COLLIDED INTO THE REAR END OF PICKUP TRUCK AND THEN WENT OUT OF CONTROL AND THE LEFT SIDE OF THE CAR SMASHED INTO THE CONCRETE GUARDRAIL. AT SOME POINT DURING THE CRASH, THE CAR SHUT OFF AND THE AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. WHEN THE CAR FINALLY STOPPED, MY FIANC WAS UNABLE TO TURN IT BACK ON AND HAD TO PUSH IT OFF THE BUSY HIGHWAY BEFORE SOMEONE ELSE HIT THE CAR. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10576444April 1, 2014
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING OUT OF A PARKING LOT, THE POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONED AND WAS NO LONGER CONTROLLING THE WHEELS. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE SHE NOTICED THAT THE WHEELS WERE SIDE WAYS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE RACK AND PINION EXPLODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 181,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 183,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10576462April 1, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STEERING
AS IM DRIVING FROM A FAST RATE OF SPEED AND I SLOW DOWN I LOSE POWER STEERING AND ON MULTIPLE TIMES I HAVE COME CLOSE TO HITTING VEHICLES AS IM PARKING OR ALMOST RUNNING INTO A HOUSE FOR NOT BEING ABLE TO TURN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10576489April 1, 2014
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT RETURN TO CENTER AFTER COMPLETING A TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED ABOUT THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,250 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 113,083.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10576522April 1, 2014
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
THE VEHICLE SHUTS OFF WHILE RUNNING. I'VE STOPPED AT STOP LIGHTS AND WHEN I TRY TO CONTINUE DRIVING THE CAR WILL SHUT TOTALLY OFF WHILE IN DRIVE. THE DOOR LOCKS ARE CONSTANTLY RUNNING UP AND DOWN AND WILL NOT STAY LOCKED. MANY TIMES I'VE COME BACK TO THE CAR THINKING IT WAS LOCKED TO FIND IT UNLOCKED ITSELF. THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEM HAS CREATED A PROBLEM WITH BRAND NEW BATTERIES. I'VE REPLACED IT TWICE SINCE PURCHASING THE CAR IN 2010. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10576033March 31, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH, STEERING, SERVICE BRAKES
WELL DRIVING TO DINNER FOR MY BIRTHDAY AND GOING AROUND A CURVE, I HIT A POTHOLE THAT I COULD NOT AVOID WITHOUT CROSSING THE CENTER LINE OF THE ROAD INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC CAUSING MY IGNITION SWITCH TO TURN FROM THE ON POSITION TO THE OFF POSITION, MUCH LIKE THE MOST RECENT RECALL STATES. THOUGH I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY GET THE CAR TO COME TO REST ON THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD, I AM STILL EXTREMELY NERVOUS THAT IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN AND I AM ALSO VERY, VERY DISAPPOINTED TO HEAR THAT THIS HAS BEEN A KNOWN ISSUE SINCE THE CAR WAS RELEASED. THIS IS THE THIRD RECALL ON THIS CAR SINCE I HAVE OWNED IT, AND I AM FAR LESS THAN IMPRESSED WITH THE VEHICLE. THIS VEHICLE IS TRULY A DEATH TRAP, MUCH LIKE OTHERS HAVE STATED. MY GREATEST FEAR IS THAT SOMEONE IN MY FAMILY WILL BE DRIVING MY CAR AND NOT RETURN, ALL BECAUSE OF THIS GIANT MESS CREATED BY GM. IT IS VERY DEPRESSING TO KNOW THAT I AM STILL PAYING ON AN EXTREMELY FAULTY VEHICLE, IN WHICH THESE ISSUES WERE KNOWN ABOUT LONG BEFORE I HAD ACTUALLY PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. I WOULD LIKE SOMETHING DONE ABOUT THIS, SOMETHING MORE THAN JUST A "SIMPLE" FIX (LIKE ALL THE OTHER RECALLS WITH THIS DEATH TRAP WERE SAID TO BE). IT IS ONE THING AFTER ANOTHER WITH THIS CAR, AND THOUGH SOMETHING SERIOUS HAS YET TO HAPPEN TO ME, I AM CONCERNED FOR THE FUTURE OF OTHERS AND MYSELF. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10575110March 27, 2014
STEERING
I ENTERED THIS ONCE, COMPLAINT #10356159 BUT MY DAUGHTER IS STILL PAYING FOR THE ACCIDENT. SHE WAS CHARGED BECAUSE THEY SAID SHE WAS AT FAULT. SHE HAD THE STEERING "FIXED" BY THE DEALER AND ABOUT A MONTH LATER IT DID NOT RESPOND IN A TURN. SHE HIT A TELEPHONE POLE. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10575254March 27, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT. HE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE IN THE MAIL AND HE WAS ADVISED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. HE WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH AND THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF HE HIT A POT HOLE AND HIS TEMPERATURE LIGHT CAME ON AND GM STATED THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE. THE CONTACT OCCASIONALLY HAD DIFFICULTY GETTING THE VEHICLE TO START AND HAD TO MAKE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS WITH THE KEY. HE HAD TO WAIT UNTIL THE VEHICLE COOLED DOWN ALMOST TWO HOURS AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE VERY SLOWLY TO HIS RESIDENCE. HE ADVISED THEM IN 2005 THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH HIS IGNITION AFTER HE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN JULY 2005. THE FAILURE OCCURRED IN NOVEMBER OF 2005. THE DEALER DROVE 20 MPH TO TEST DRIVE THE VEHICLE AND WAS UNABLE TO REPRODUCE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT ADVISED THEM THAT HE WAS DRIVING 65 MPH WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. HE CANNOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE ANTI FREEZE CONTINUED TO LEAK OUT OF THE VEHICLE. HE WAS ADVISED THAT THE STRUTS, BUSHINGS, TIMING CHAIN, LINK AND THE WATER PUMP WAS LEAKING BECAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER MADE AN APPOINTMENT FOR HIM TO HAVE THE VEHICLE DIAGNOSED AT A DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WOULD TAKE 20 DAYS TO A MONTH BEFORE THE MANUFACTURER COULD SEND SOMEONE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT HIS RESIDENCE. THE DEALER NOTIFIED HIM TODAY TO ASK IF THE MANUFACTURER SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE DEALER WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED AND DIAGNOSED ARE NO LONGER IN BUSINESS. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS OVER 120,000 MILES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10574981March 26, 2014
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL FRACTURED WHILE THE CONTACT WAS MAKING A TURN INTO A PARKING SPACE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 157,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10575007March 26, 2014
AIR BAGS, SERVICE BRAKES, STEERING
WAS HEADING TO WORK WHEN THE CHEVY COBALT SUDDENLY SHUT OFF, CAUSING ME TO LOSE POWER BRAKES, POWER STEERING, AND CAUSING THE AIR BAGS NOT TO DEPLOY WHEN I WENT STRAIGHT THREW A STOP SIGN IMPACTING INTO A SNOW BANK. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10574750March 25, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH. THE FAILURE WAS RECURRING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN FOR UNKNOWN REPAIRS HOWEVER, THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 154,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10573439March 19, 2014
SUSPENSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 31,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 31,500.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10573462March 19, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND RESUME DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10573491March 19, 2014
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I WENT TO CRANK MY VEHICLE THEN PROCEEDED TO PUT IT INTO DRIVE TO TAKE OFF, BUT I HAD NO POWER NOTHING. TURNED MY KEY OVER TO RECRANK AND IT CRANK WITH NO PROBLEM. THIS TIME ALLOWING ME TO TAKE OFF AND DRIVE. NOW IF I HAVE THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND TURN IT TO THE ON POSITION IT SPUTTERS FOR ATLEAST 50 TO 60 SECS BEFORE CRANKING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10573579March 19, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AS THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 31,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 71,155.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10573584March 19, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE ENGINE WAS RESTARTED AND THE VEHICLE OPERATED NORMALLY. THE CONTACT ALSO INDICATED THAT THE POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONED AND MADE THE STEERING WHEEL VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN. IN ADDITION, THE KEY BECAME STUCK IN THE IGNITION SWITCH AND WAS UNABLE TO BE REMOVED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 158,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10573610March 19, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION, STEERING
THERE IS NO ACCIDENT INCIDENT IN THIS REPORT. I DID RECEIVE THE COBALT NOTICE ABOUT THE "KEY IN THE IGNITION SWITCH MAY MOVE OUT OF THE 'RUN' POSITION" LETTER AND I FEEL I SHOULD REPORT ANOTHER PROBLEM WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH THAT MAY ALSO BE A SAFETY ISSUE. HOWEVER, I HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED ANY ADVERSE IMPACT OF THE CONDITION I AM ABOUT TO DESCRIBE BELOW. I AM REPORTING THIS BECAUSE IT MIGHT BE AN ISSUE FOR OTHERS AND THAT HOPEFULLY MAY BE FIXED BY THE LATEST COBALT IGNITION SWITCH RECALL. FOR A COUPLE YEARS I HAVE NOTICED THAT AFTER I START THE COBALT AND LET THE KEY MOVE BACK TO THE RUN POSITION THAT I CAN REMOVE THE KEY COMPLETELY FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH AND PUT THE KEY IN MY POCKET AND THE CAR CONTINUES TO RUN. I HAVE ONLY DONE THIS WHILE THE CAR IS NOT MOVING. I NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL DOES NOT LOCK UP IN THIS CASE, SO THEORETICALLY I COULD DRIVE AND STEER THE CAR WHILE IT IS MOVING ON THE ROAD WITHOUT A PROBLEM. HOWEVER, I DON'T WANT TO TEST THAT POSSIBILITY, BECAUSE THE THOUGHT IS SCARY. SO IF THIS INFORMATION CAN HELP OTHERS AVOID AN ACCIDENT WHEN THE IGNITION SWITCHED IS REPLACED, THIS REPORT WILL BE WORTHWHILE. I AM NOW DRIVING THE COBALT WITHOUT ANY ATTACHMENTS TO THE IGNITION KEY AND AM WAITING TO BRING THE CAR IN FOR THE IGNITION AND POWER STEERING RECALL. I AM EXPECTING THAT THE REPLACEMENT IGNITION SWITCH WILL ALSO FIX THE PROBLEM OF BEING ABLE TO REMOVE THE IGNITION KEY IN THE SWITCH WHEN IT WAS IN THE IN THE RUN POSITION. IF YOU WANT ME TO SEND YOU A PICTURE OF THE KEY REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH WHILE THE TACHOMETER SHOWS THAT THE ENGINE IS RUNNING, LET ME KNOW. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10573192March 18, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION MODULE FAILED AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL SPORADICALLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE WAS RECURRING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TWICE, WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE BOTH TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER:14V047000 (AIR BAGS , ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) AFTER THE FAILURE AND WAS AWAITING THE PARTS NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10572761March 17, 2014
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 10V073000 (STEERING) WAS PERFORMED HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE STALLED NUMEROUS TIMES AFTER THE REPAIRS. ADDITIONALLY, THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED AN ABNORMAL AND SPORADIC CLICKING NOISE. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS WERE ABNORMALLY DIM AND THE TRANSMISSION EXHIBITED A LOUD NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 39,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Chevrolet Cobalt