Chevrolet Cobalt Complaints (2008)

940 consumer complaints on file.

#10341400July 4, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
UNDER NORMAL DAILY DRIVING CONDITIONS (MAJORITY IS COMMUTING), MY REAR ROTORS AND BRAKR PADS WERE REPLACED AT 21,259KM, QUOTE FROM SERVICE ORDER FROM MY DEALERSHIP, "REAR BRAKES AT SQUEALERS, CONFIRMED SQUEAL NOISE FROM REAR. FOUND REAR BRAKE PADS AT SQUEALERS. BOTH ROTORS BADLYSCORED. MACHINED ROTORS LR19.0MM AND RR19.10MM REPLACED REAR BRAKE PADS". THEN AT 42,465KM BROUGHT VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP AS I COULD SMELL BURNING BRAKES FROM THE REAR END AFTER ONLY 20 MIN OF DAILY AVERAGE DRIVING . FOLLOWING IS A QUOTE FROM MY DEALERSHIP WORK ORDER, "CAUSE: SEIZED/BINDS/STICKS. FOUND REAR BRAKES @ 2MM REMAINING ON REAR INBOARD PAD. CHECKED COMPLETE HYDRAULIC SYS. CHECKED FOR ABS CODES. CHECKED FOR BULLETINS ON REAR BRAKES. CHECKED E BRAKE NO PROBLEMS FOUND. REMOVED REAR CALIPERS AND FOUND CALIPERS STICKY. NEED TO BE REPLACED BOTH REAR CALIPERS STICKY. NEED TO REPLACE BOTH REAR CALIPERS, ROTORS AND PADS. INNER PADS 2MM OUTBOARD 6MM AND ROTORS UNDR MIN. REPLACED BOTH REAR CALIPERS, ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS. BLED BRAKE SYSTEM". THEN MY DEALERSHIP FOLLOWED WITH "THIS WILL BE THE LAST TIME GM WILL REPLACE REAR BRAKES". AS FAR AS I AM CONCERNED IF THE REAR BRAKES ARE INADEQUATE FRO THE APPLICATION AND ARE BEING WORN OUT AND DAMAGING BRAKE PARTS EVERY 20,000KM OR SO THEN A RECALL NEEDS TO BE DONE WITH REPLACEMENTS OF AN ADEQUATE BREAKING COMPONENTS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10340335June 28, 2010
STEERING
2008 CHEVROLET COBALT ONLY 16,000 MILES AND POWER STEERING IS GONE WHEN DRIVING ON CITY OR HIGHWAY, THIS IS A HIGH RISK PROBLEM I CANNOT BELIEVE IT HAS NOT BEEN SOLVE IN A 30 MINUTES RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET I HAVE SEEN HUNDREDS OF THIS CASES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10339916June 24, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
THE REAR BRAKES ON THE CHEVROLET COBALT SS ARE PURE CRAP. THEY SQUEAL PRETTY BADLY WHEN YOU COME TO A STOP, NO MATTER IF IT'S A FAST STOP OR A SLOW STOP. IT GETS EVEN LOUDER WHEN THEY GET HOT. I'VE TAKEN TO MY CAR TO THE DEALER SINCE MY 08 COBALT IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY AND THEY'VE TOLD ME THAT HIGH PERFORMANCE BRAKES ARE SUPPOSED TO BE LOUD...I'M SORRY GM, BUT NOT THIS LOUD! SO THEY ROTATED MY ROTORS, AND GAVE ME NEW BRAKES ABOUT A MONTH AGO, AND IT'S STILL AS BAD AS WHEN I GOT THE CAR BACK IN APRIL OF THIS YEAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10339568June 22, 2010
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET COBALT. WHILE BRAKING FROM APPROXIMATE SPEED OF 30 MPH, THE CONTACT PROCEEDED TO CRASH INTO A VEHICLE AHEAD OF HIM. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY YET THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED HE HAD CONTACTED THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES PRIOR TOP THE CRASH BECAUSE THE AIR BAGS WOULD PARTIALLY DEPLOY FROM ITS HOUSING. THE DEALER WOULD PUSH THE AIR BAG BACK INTO PLACE. ON ONE OCCASION, THE ENTIRE AIR BAG WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 24,650.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10336976June 16, 2010
STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
2008 CHEVROLET COBALT. CONSUMER WRITES TO INQUIRE ABOUT RECALLS AND COMPLAINT REGARDING THE DEATH OF A DRIVER *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WENT AIRBORNE AND HER SISTER WAS EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE LANDED AND ROLLED TO A STOP AT THE BOTTOM OF A BRIDGE, IN WHICH THE VEHICLE WAS SCATTERED IN PIECES. THE CONSUMER STATED HER SISTER LOST CONTROL AFTER ENTERING THE HIGHWAY. THE CONSUMER WANTED TO KNOW IF THE ACCIDENT WAS THE RESULT OF THE POWER STEERING FAILING. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
1
#10336459June 15, 2010
STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT RENTED A 2008 CHEVROLET COBALT. WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH AND THEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE POWER STEERING LOCKED UP. THE CONTACT LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHEEL, WHICH CAUSED A FRONT END COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WERE MINOR INJURIES AND FRONT END DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A BODY SHOP. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10335840June 11, 2010
SUSPENSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN DRIVING OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD, THE ENTIRE FRONT END WOULD RATTLE AS IF WAS GOING TO FALL OFF. THE VEHICLE HAD EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE BEFORE AND THE DEALER MADE REPAIRS TO THE BUSHINGS. THE FAILURE RECURRED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS YET CONTACTED REGARDING THE RECURRING FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10335643June 10, 2010
STEERING
MY SON WAS DRIVING MY 2008 CHEVY COBALT, TRYING TO MAKE A TURN INTO A PARKING LOT WHEN HE GOT THE CHIMING NOISE AND AT THAT POINT WAS WITHOUT POWER STEERING. TRAVELING @15-20 MILES PER HOUR AND A 6FT MAN AT 200LBS HAD EVERYTHING HE COULD DO TO NAVIGATE THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD. TWO DAYS AFTER THE INCIDENT WHEN MY SON COULD NOT MOVE AND WAS IN IMMEASURABLE PAIN HE WAS BROUGHT TO THE ER AND DIAGNOSED WITH A CERVICAL SPINAL SPRAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO JEFF WYLER CHEVY IN SPRINGFIELD OHIO AFTER THE CRASH. IN RESPONSE TO MY REQUEST FOR SERVICE ON THE VEHICLE KNOWN TO BE PART OF A RECALL FOR THIS EXACT SITUATION I WAS TOLD THAT THE THEY DETERMINED THE CODE FOR LOSS OF POWER STEERING WAS NEVER TRIGGERED. I EXPLAINED OF THE CHIMING DESCRIBED BY MY SON AND WAS TOLD BY THERE SERVICE MANAGER TJ THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO UNTIL DIRECTED BY GM. I HAVE SPENT FOUR DAYS TRYING TO GET GM TO HANDLE THIS ISSUE, I WAS ACTUALLY TOLD I COULD PUT IT THROUGH MY PERSONAL INSURANCE AND REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT? SERIOUSLY? AT THIS POINT MY SON IS HURT AND OUT OF WORK, WE HAVE NO VEHICLE AND NO RENTAL WHICH I HAVE REQUESTED SINCE THIS BEGAN. I WAS ACTUALLY TOLD BY THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE REP ON THE PHONE THAT SHE DID NOT SEE A RECALL ON MY VEHICLE. I ADVISED HER I HAD RECEIVED VIA MAIL THE NOTIFICATION AND WOULD NOT ACCEPT THAT AS AN ANSWER. HOW CAN GM CONTINUE TO HAVE THIS VEHICLE ON THE ROAD DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO DIE BEFORE THEY ARE ACCOUNTABLE. I HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS ISSUE FOR FOUR DAYS AND I AM NO CLOSER TO GETTING AN ANSWER FROM GM THAN I WAS THE DAY I STARTED. CAN ANYONE HELP WITH THIS?? *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10335697June 10, 2010
STEERING
I AM REPORTING THIS COMPLAINT ON BEHALF OF MY SISTER[XXX] . SHE OWNED AND OPERATED A 2008 COBALT THAT WAS INVOLVED IN FAULT WRECK, WHERE SHE WAS KILLED. SHE LOST CONTROL OF HER CAR ON 6-35 NORTH IN KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI. THERE WAS A REINACTMENT OF THE WRECK BUT IT WAS INCLUSIVE. I CHECKED FOR RECALLS BACK IN 2009 BUT THERE WERE NONE TO SPEAK OF UNTIL THE RECENT RECALLS OF HER CAR. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
1
#10332604May 28, 2010
STEERING
MY SON AND HIS FRIEND WAS TAKING ME TO WORK. ON THE WAY HOME ABOUT A MILE FROM HOME,THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. WHICH CAUSED THEM TO WRECK. THEY WERE HURT AND THE CAR IS A MESS. 2008 CHEVY COBALT. IT HAD 42,000 MILES ON IT. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10331958May 24, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
1) I DROVE MY CAR AND USED THE BRAKES. 2) SCORED BRAKES, SOUNDS LIKE A 747 COMING IN FOR A LANDING EVERY TIME I STOP. 3) NOTHING YET, CALLED THE DEALERSHIP TODAY (05/24/10). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10331686May 22, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
REAR BRAKE ROTORS AND DISCS WEAR OUT FAR TOO QUICKLY IN AVERAGE DAY TO DAY USE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10331325May 20, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
THE REAR BRAKE CALIPERS FAIL TO RELEASE PROPERLY, CAUSING THE INSIDE BRAKE PAD TO WEAR MORE THAN TWICE AS FAST AS THE OUTSIDE PAD. THEREFORE FORCING THE REAR PADS TO BE REPLACED TWICE AS OFTEN AS THE FRONT BRAKE PADS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10331126May 19, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
FEAR THIS ISSUE COULD HAVE LEAD TO ELECTRICAL FIRE IF THIS WAS SOME KIND OF SHORT IN THE UNDER HOOD FUSE CENTER. CAR PURCHASED NEW IN JUNE 2008. MILEAGE: 56,09423 MONTHS OLD. CAR WOULD CRANK, BUT WOULD NOT START. WOULD CONTINUE TO CRANK FOR SHORT TIME AFTER KEY TURNED OFF. TRIED FOR 15 MINUTES, FINALLY STARTED. DROVE TO DEALER AND LEFT FOR SERVICE. DEALER DIAGNOSIS, INTERMITTENT NO FUEL PRESSURE TO FUEL PUMP. FUEL PUMP CHECKED, OK AT THIS TIME. GM ADVISED DEALER TO INSPECT AND CLEAN BODY GROUND. REPAIR COST LABOR, SUPPLIES, TAX: $101 4 DAYS LATER CAR WOULD AGAIN (CRANK BUT NOT START - AT ALL), HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALER. AGAIN, WOULD CONTINUE TO CRANK FOR SHORT TIME AFTER KEY TURNED OFF. DEALER DIAGNOSIS: UNDER HOOD FUSE CENTER BAD. TOW $75, PARTS $283, LABOR $ 110, SUPPLIES + TAX $26. TOTAL: $494 TOTAL COST TO FIX VEHICLE: $595. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10329385May 8, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
MY 2008 CHEVROLET COBALT SS REAR BRAKES HAD TO BE CHANGED BEFORE THE FRONT BRAKES (40000KM). THE ROTORS WERE HEAVILY SCORED TO A POINT WHERE THEY COULD NOT BE RESURFACED. THE PADS WERE WORN OUT UNEVENLY AND HAD A DIFFERENT LEVELS OF WEAR. THE FRONT BRAKES AT 60000 STILL HAVE LOTS OF BRAKE PAD LEFT. I REPLACED THE BRAKES MYSELF AND DID NOT KEEP THE OLD PARTS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10328919May 5, 2010
STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET COBALT. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO SLOW DOWN, THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. THE POWER STEERING FAILURE CAUSED THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO A CONCRETE BARRIER. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED NECK AND HEAD INJURIES AND WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT FILED A CLAIM WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 68,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10328580May 3, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
REAR BRAKE PADS WORN OUT AFTER 20K MILE AND ROTOR ARE GROVED AND YOU CAN HEAR THE BRAKE PADS RUBBING METAL ON METAL. ALSO THE REAR CALIPERS AREN'T RELEASING THE REAR ROTORS CORRECTLY DUE TO CALIPER SLIDE PINS NOT BEING LUBRICATED FROM THE FACTORY. FRONT BRAKE PADS AND ROTOR ARE WEARING NORMALLY. I DROPPED MY CAR OFF AT MY LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP FOR THE BRAKES TO BE FIXED UNDER WARRANTY. I WAS TOLD IF IT WAS A CALIPER ISSUE THEN IT WOULD BE COVERED UNDERWARRANTY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10328641May 3, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
MY 2008 CHEVY COBALT CAME WITHOUT ABS BRAKING SYSTEM. THIS WINTER WHEN I TRIED BRAKING (EVEN AT LOW SPEEDS) THE REAR OF THE CAR LOST CONTROL AND ATTEMPTS TO SPIN THE CAR OUT OF CONTROL. AFTER THREE TRIPS TO THE DEALER, GM WAS CALLED BY THE DEALER. THEY WERE TOLD THAT GM WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BECAUSE OF THE LIGHT BACK END OF THE CAR AND THERE WAS NO FIX. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS CAR. I NO LONGER DRIVE IT. I HAD SEVERAL NEAR INCIDENTS ON SNOW BECAUSE OF THIS DESIGN PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10327353April 25, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
THE REAR BRAKES ON MY 2008 COBALT SS/TC WERE COMPLETELY SHOT AT AROUND 14000 MILES. THE GOUGES IN THE ROTORS WERE TOO DEEP TO GET TURNED AND I HAD TO DO A FULL BRAKE JOB ON THE REAR BRAKES BECAUSE GM SAID THAT THEY ONLY COVER THE BRAKES UNTIL 12,000 MILES. THE NEW BRAKES STILL MAKE STRANGE NOISES AND WHEN THE CAR IS IN REVERSE SOMETIMES A VERY LOUD SCREECH COMES FROM THEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10326980April 22, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
THE PROBLEM I AM EXPERIENCING WITH MY 2008 CHEVROLET COBALT SS IS THE REAR BRAKE PADS WEARING OUT QUICKLY UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. BECAUSE THE BRAKE BIAS IS SET TO THE FRONT BRAKES, THEY SHOULD WEAR OUT LONG BEFORE THE REAR BRAKES. I BELIEVE THE PROBLEM LIES IN THE HARDWARE OF THE BRAKING PACKAGE. EITHER THE CALIPER IS CAUSING THE PAD TO CONSTANTLY RUB THE ROTOR OR SOME OTHER ISSUE IS PRESENT. I FIRST NOTICED THAT THE ROTORS WERE SCORED AT ABOUT 3,000 MILES, WAS TOLD IT WAS NORMAL. AT 20,000 MILES THE REAR PADS WERE DOWN TO THE METAL ON THE INSIDE PAD. ALSO, ITS NOT JUST A PROBLEM WITH THE REAR PADS, EVERY ROTOR ON THE CAR IS SCORED BEYOND NORMAL WEAR. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH A LOT OF THE 2008+ SS COBALTS, NOT WITH THE WAY THEY ARE BEING DRIVEN. GENERAL MOTORS IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, AS MANY PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINED. WHEN I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALER, THEY TOO SAID THAT IT WAS UNEVEN WEAR THAT SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED. BUT, INSTEAD OF LOOKING INTO THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM, THEY SIMPLY REPLACED THE REAR PADS. THIS WAS A TEMPORARY "PATCH" NOT A FIX. IN 5,000 MILES, THEY'LL START TO WEAR AGAIN UNEVENLY. I THINK GENERAL MOTORS NEEDS TO EVALUATE THE ROTORS AND PADS ON THESE CARS. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES, IS THERE AN EXCUSE FOR THE BRAKES AND ROTORS TO BE WORN OUT ON THESE CARS AT 20,000 MILES UNDER DAILY DRIVING CONDITIONS. IF THE PROBLEM ONLY EFFECTED A COUPLE OF CARS, IT COULD BE BLAMED ON THE DRIVING PATTERNS OF THE OPERATOR. HOWEVER, THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR ALL THE OWNERS AS PASSED ALONG THROUGH ENTHUSIAST CAR FORUMS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Chevrolet Cobalt