Chevrolet Cobalt Complaints (2005)

1,649 consumer complaints on file.

#10315448March 2, 2010
STEERING
THE POWER STEERING IS FAILING ON MY 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT. I WILL BE DRIVING, A CHIME SOUNDS, THE POWER STEERING LIGHT COMES ON AND I HAVE NO POWER STEERING. I HAVE TO TURN THE CAR OFF, THEN BACK ON TO RESET IT. I WILL THEN HAVE POWER STEERING FOR A SHORT DISTANCE BEFORE IT HAPPENS AGAIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10315451March 2, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT. WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPOT THE CONTACT TOOK THE KEY OUT THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE REMAINED ON UNTIL THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND PUT THE VEHICLE IN FIRST GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS STILL ENGAGED AFTER PUTTING THE KEY BACK INTO THE IGNITION. SEVERAL TIMES THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START INSTEAD IT STALLED. THE CONTACT DID INFORM AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THEY INSTALLED A NEW IGNITION SWITCH AT THE CONTACTS EXPENSE. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED SINCE SHE HAS ONLY OWNED THE VEHICLE FOR ONE MONTH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79200 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80129.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10315458March 2, 2010
STEERING
2005 CHEVY COBALT AS SOON AS YOU START VEHICLE IT HAS POWER STEERING BUT AS SOON AS YOU START DRIVING A DINGER ALARMS AND DISPLAYS THE POWER STEERING MESSAGE. AND THEN THERE IS NO POWER STEERING, HOWEVER IT IS DRIVABLE BUT IN MY OWN OPINION NOT SAFE BECAUSE IT DOES TAKE ALOT OF FORCE TO STEER ESPECIALLY AT LOW SPEED!!!! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10315456March 2, 2010
STEERING, STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR, SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY BETWEEN 15-20 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS. A CHIME SOUNDED INSIDE THE VEHICLE; FOLLOWED BY THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT INDICATOR ILLUMINATION. IMMEDIATELY, THERE WAS A LOSS OF POWER STEERING. THE DRIVER PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESUME NORMAL OPERATION FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF FIVE SECONDS. IN ADDITION, THE FRONT DRIVER DOOR CAUSED AN EXTREMELY INTENSE ELECTRICAL SHOCK WHENEVER ACCESSING THE DOOR. THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILED TO FUNCTION. THE FAILURE OCCURRENCES WERE WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN REFUSED TO PERFORM A DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WITHOUT A SERVICE CHARGE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED FOR THE FAILURE OR REPAIRED AT THIS TIME. THE CONTACT HAD CONCERN OF THE POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,882.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10315574March 2, 2010
STEERING
I DRIVE A CHEVY COBALT (2005) WHICH WAS PURCHASED NEW. CURRENT IT'S GOT ~55000 MILES ON IT. THIS PAST WEEK I EXPERIENCED THREE TIMES SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING - TWICE ON LOCAL DRIVEWAYS AND ONCE ON THE FREEWAY. THE PROBLEM REMAINED ON AS LONG AS THE ENGINE WAS NOT SHUT OFF. RESTARTING THE ENGINE SEEMS TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM TEMPORARILY AS NO ONE KNOWS WHEN IT IS GOING TO HAPPEN AGAIN. I HAVE BEEN A DEFENSIVE DRIVE SO I WAS ABLE TO HANDLE THE SITUATIONS CALMLY WITHOUT CAUSING ANY TROUBLE; BUT THIS IS DANGEROUS. RIGHT NOW THE CAR IS AT THE GM SERVICE CENTER FOR A CHECKUP AND HOPEFULLY A FIX. APPARENTLY THERE HAVE BEEN OVER ONE THOUSAND CASES LIKE THIS. I BELIEVE THAT A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED FOR SAFETY CONCERNS. THANK YOU. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10315581March 2, 2010
STEERING
MY 2005 CHEVY COBALTS POWER STEERING FAILS FREQUENTLY. THIS HAPPENS AT ALL SPEEDS AND TERRAINS MAKING YOU RAPIDLY ADJUST TO THE CHANGE IN STEERING CAPABILITY. THIS IS EXCEPTIONALLY TERRIFYING WHILE DRIVING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10315564March 2, 2010
STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
I AM A HIGH SCHOOL ALGEBRA TEACHER. I OWN A 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT IT HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING THESE POWER STEERING PROBLEMS THE ENTIRE TIME I HAVE HAD IT. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO NUMEROUS MECHANICS AND BACK TO THE DEALER WHILE IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. IT HAS A 175000 MILES ON IT NOW. THE FIRST TIME I DID TAKE IT BACK THEY REPLACED A WIRING HARNESS. AT APPROXIMATELY 3000 MILES (APPROX IN AUGUST 2005) I HAD MY FIRST OIL CHANGE AND THIS IS WHEN MY POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON FOR THE FIRST TIME. IT HAS BEEN COMING ON EVERY SINCE. WHEN THE POWER STEERING LIGHT COMES ON: *THE CAR JERKS SLIGHTLY AT CRUISING HIGHWAY SPEED AND* WHEN I AM AT SPEEDS LESS THAN 20 MPH IT JERKS VIOLENTLY AND * IT GOES DEAD WHEN IT STOPS AND *THE GAUGES ON THE DASH (ODOMETER, SPEEDOMETER, AND GAS) FLUCTUATE WILDLY, AND VERY FREQUENTLY AND FOR SUSTAINED PERIODS OF TIME (DAYS) I HAVE NO POWER STEERING AND THE POWER STEERING GOES OUT ABRUPTLY, SEVERAL TIMES THIS HAS HAPPENED WHILE I AM TURNING AT A BUSY INTERSECTION. SOMETIMES THE POWER STEERING WILL COME BACK AFTER TURNING THE CAR OFF ABOUT (1 OUT OF 5 TIMES) THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TURNS ON AND OFF AND THE LIGHT WITH A LOCK ON IT TURNS ON AND OFF. IT HAS BEEN CHECKED AT SELLERS CHEVROLET IN PURVIS NUMEROUS TIMES FOR THIS. I HAVE HAD REGULAR MAINTENANCE AND SERVICE CHECKS. I HAVE HAD THE TRANSMISSION FLUID CHANGED TWICE. THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIX IT THE POWER STEERING PROBLEM. IT KEEPS RECURRING. I HAVE NOT BEEN IN ANY ACCIDENTS. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL NEAR MISSES THOUGH. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EXPOSING THIS PROBLEM AND IF YOU WANT TO COME GET MY CAR AND TEST IT YOU ARE MORE THAN WELCOME TO HAVE IT AND MAKE IT YOUR POSTER BOY/CAR FOR LEMONS. I NEED A NEW VEHICLE SINCE I HAVE 4 FOSTER CHILDREN NOW. ALL MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY HAVE URGED ME TO SELL THIS CAR FOR THE ENTIRE TIME I HAVE HAD IT BECAUSE OF ITS RECURRING PROBLEMS. THE CONSUMER STATED THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AGAIN THREE DAYS AFTER THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED. UPDATED 04/21/10.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10315578March 2, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, STEERING:COLUMN
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT. SHE STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 40 MPH OVER A RAILROAD TRACK, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. WITHIN A FEW SECONDS, THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND FLASHED ACROSS THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. SHE WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE MOMENTS LATER AND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER REPLACED THE POWER STEERING COLUMN DUE TO ELECTRICAL FAILURES. THE REPAIRS WERE COVERED BY HER FACTORY WARRANTY. THE REPAIRS DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE AND THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY REPLACED THE POWER STEERING COLUMN A SECOND TIME. THE FAILURE OCCURRED AGAIN AND THE POWER STEERING COLUMN WAS REPLACED A THIRD TIME. SHE ALSO STATED THAT MOST OF THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS ON THE VEHICLE HAD FAILED; UPON OPENING THE DRIVER'S DOOR, THE HORN WOULD BLOW. THE POWER LOCKS WOULD NOT OPERATE, THE ELECTRICAL TRUNK RELEASE WOULD NOT OPERATE AND THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER ALSO FAILED. THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. THERE WERE NO ADDITIONAL POWER STEERING FAILURES AFTER THE THIRD REPAIR, HOWEVER THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD FEEL HARD AT TIMES. THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR ANY OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 79,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10315621March 2, 2010
STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND WITHIN SECONDS THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE STEERING WHEEL DID NOT SHAKE OR MAKE A NOISE. SHE TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF SO THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD RESET AND WITHIN FIVE MINUTES THE SAME THING HAPPENED. THE STEERING FAILED A TOTAL OF THREE TIMES. SHE CONTACTED THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT IF THE MOTOR WAS ELECTRICAL AND THERE WAS A PROBLEM THEY WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE MOTOR. THE DEALER REPLACED THE POWER STEERING MOTOR AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE FOR $391. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,418. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 48,847. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE ENTIRE ELECTRICAL POWER STEERING MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $391.00. THEY ALSO STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING COLUMN WAS ALSO MAKING NOISE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 05/12/10.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10315771March 2, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNED A 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT COOP. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 25 MPH OVER THE TRAIN TRACKS WHEN THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF COMPLETELY AND COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE VEHICLE DROVE IT TO A DEALER. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. EIGHT WEEKS LATER THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 45 MPH AND TRIED TO SWITCH LANES AND THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND WHEN HE TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL. THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE VEHICLE EVENTUALLY BEGAN TO RESPOND NORMALLY. THE CONTACT TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER WHO WAS IRATE AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT FIX THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER THREE MONTHS AFTER HE PURCHASED IT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED IN 2005 AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. ACCORDING TO THE INVOICE, THE VEHICLE HAS A LOW TORQUE IGNITION CYLINDER. UPDATED 09/21/10
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10315792March 2, 2010
STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 45 MPH HE NOTICED THAT THE POWER STEERING LIGHT HAD APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD, AT THE SAME TIME THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER STEERING. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALERSHIP AND THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 52000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10315860March 2, 2010
STEERING
CHEVY COBALT POWER STEERING. STARTING ABOUT A WEEK AGO MY POWER STEERING WOULD RANDOMLY GO OUT, MOST OF THE TIME IT HAPPENED WHEN THE TEMP OUTSIDE GOT ABOVE 50. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED I ALMOST HIT A CAR AND RAN OFF THE ROAD. I WENT AND HAD MY CAR FIXED FRIDAY AND PAID 500 DOLLARS TO HAVE IT FIXED. I FOUND OUT TODAY THERE WAS A RECALL BEING DONE. I CALLED THE CHEVY DEALERSHIP AND ALTHOUGH THE RECALL SAYS ITS FOR THE COBALT 05 TO 10, WHICH MINE IS AN 05, IT APPARENTLY DOES NOT HAVE THE VIN NUMBER OF THE ONES BEING RECALLED. I THINK THIS NEEDS TO BE REVIEWED ON WHAT COBALTS THEY ARE RECALLING BUT ITS REALLY ODD HOW MINE ONLY MESSES UP WHEN THE TEMP WAS OVER 50. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10315901March 2, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STEERING, SUSPENSION
POWER STEERING COLUMN AND MOTOR REPLACED FOR OVER 1,000 DOLLARS ALSO BUSHING. ENGINES STALLS WHEN PRESSING GAS AND BRAKE PEDAL. KEY WOULDN'T COME OUT IGNITION AND MY CAR WOULDN'T STAY IN PARK. HAD TO PAY A LOCKSMITH TO REMOVE THE KEY. HEADLIGHTS KEEP HAVING TO BE ADJUSTED. WHEEL BEARING AND STRUTS NEED TO BE REPLACE BUT I DON'T HAVE THE MONEY FOR ALL OF THESE REPAIRS FOR A 2005 VEHICLE. ITS TO MANY PROBLEMS FOR SUCH A NEWER VEHICLE. WHAT IS CHEVY GOING TO DO ABOUT THIS, HOW MANY MORE PEOPLE HAVE TO DIE OR GET INJURED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10315910March 2, 2010
STEERING, STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT. WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 55 MPH THE POWER STEERING ALARM FLASHED ON THE DASHBOARD AND TRIGGERED THE ALARM. IMMEDIATELY, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING AND PROCEEDED TO DRIFT TO THE LEFT INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THE CONTACT HAD TO UTILIZE EXTREME BODILY FORCE IN ORDER TO AVOID CRASHING WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHEEL. SHE WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE OFF THE HIGHWAY AND SHUT OFF THE ENGINE. WHEN STARTING THE IGNITION, THE POWER STEERING RESET ITSELF AND WAS OPERATING NORMALLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWO ADDITIONAL TIMES AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE HE REPLACED THE ENTIRE POWER STEERING COLUMN AND ASSEMBLY. THERE WERE NO FAILURES AFTER THE REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,726 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WAS 82,000. UPDATED 4/7/2010 *CN THE POWER STEERING ASSIST MODULE WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 05/12/10.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10315951March 2, 2010
STEERING, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I HAD SEVERE POWER STEERING FAILURE AND MY MAP SENSOR IS ALSO DEFECTIVE EVEN THOUGH IT HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE. I HAVE A VERY LOW MPG ITS A 15MPG AT BEST. MY CAR ALSO ACCELERATES WITHOUT MY FOOT ON THE PEDAL AND I HAVE HAD SEVERE BRAKE FAILURE , TO THE EXTENT THAT I HAVE HAD TO USE MY HAND BRAKE TO STOP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10315058March 1, 2010
STEERING
INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) THIS IS THE SECOND TIME MY 2005 CHEVY COBALT POWER STEERING WENT OUT ON ME IN THE PAST YEAR. THE FIRST TIME I HAD THE WHOLE STEERING COLUMN REPLACED AND IT COST ME 400.00 FOR A USED PART AND LABOR (A NEW PART WAS WAY TOO EXPENSIVE). THAT WAS APRIL 2009. THIS PAST WEEK IT HAS GONE OUT AGAIN, AND I DO NOT HAVE THE EXTRA MONEY TO GET REPAIRED AT THE TIME. WHEN I START MY CAR THE POWER STEERING IS FINE UNTIL I DRIVE ABOUT A BLOCK OR TWO THEN THE "POWER STEERING" ALERT COMES UP ON THE DASH BOARD AND IT WILL NOT FIX UNLESS I SHUT OFF THE CAR AND START ALL OVER AGAIN. BUT THIS ONLY CORRECT THE PROBLEM FOR ANOTHER BLOCK OR TWO. [XXX] *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10315103March 1, 2010
STEERING
MY 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT HAS A POWER STEERING PROBLEM. THE POWER STEERING RANDOMLY GOES OUT WHILE DRIVING AND THE PROBLEM HAS BECOME MORE FREQUENT. IT NOW OCCURS WITHIN MINUTES EVERY TIME I DRIVE THE CAR. THIS CAR HAS AN ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING SYSTEM. IT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TO LOSE POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING, MAKING TURNS, PARKING, ETC. I HAVE READ NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER CONSUMERS REGARDING THIS ISSUE AND I REALLY HOPE THAT GM ISSUES A RECALL TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER THE CAR AND AT THIS POINT I AM NERVOUS TO DRIVE IT AT ALL. THANK YOU FOR TAKING THIS INTO CONSIDERATION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10315209March 1, 2010
STEERING
2005 CHEVY COBALT ELECTRICAL POWER STEERING FAILURE. A COUPLE OF BEEPS AND POWER STEERING IS NOTED ON THE DASHBOARD AND AT THE SAME TIME YOU LOOSE COMPLETE POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING. HAS HAPPEN TWICE IN THE LAST TWO DAYS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10315215March 1, 2010
STEERING
MY 2005 CHEVY COBALT LOST POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, AND MY WIFE NARROWLY AVOIDED A HEAD ON COLLISION. RATHER THAN HEAD INTO ON-COMING TRAFFIC, SHE SWERVED TOWARD THE SHOULDER HITTING A MAILBOX. I WISH A GM ENGINEER WAS STANDING THERE INSTEAD OF THE MAILBOX. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10315238March 1, 2010
STEERING
I HAVE A 2005 CHEVY COBALT, ON MARCH 1, 2010, Y CAR'S MESSAGE CENTER "DINGED" AND THE MESSAGE "POWER STEERING " WAS BEING DISPLAYED. THE TACHOMETER, AND SPEEDOMETER BOTH STARTED JUMPING UP AND DOWN, THAT SEEMED TO STOP AFTER A COUPLE OF SECONDS, MY STEERING SEEMED A LITTLE STIFFER BUT NOTHING REALLY NOTICEABLE, A FEW MINUTES LATER, PULLING UP TO A STOP LIGHT IT STARTED JERKING LIKE SOMEONE WAS SHIFTING GEARS HARD IN A STANDARD, OR LIKE THE CLUTCH WAS POPPING. THIS IS RIDICULOUS, NOT TO MENTION IT SCARED ME HALF TO DEATH, I DRIVE 400 MILES TO MY PARENTS EVERY WEEKEND, AND I TRANSPORT MY YOUNGER SIBLINGS ALL THE TIME. THIS IS DANGEROUS! AND NEEDS TO BE FIXED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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