Chevrolet Cobalt Complaints (2006)

2,330 consumer complaints on file.

#10315929March 2, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
ON FEBRUARY 26, 2010 AS I WAS DRIVING MY 2006 CHEVY COBALT THE POWER STEERING QUIT FUNCTIONING. I COULD NOT STEER THE CAR. THE MESSAGE "POWER STEERING" APPEARED ON MY DASHBOARD. I TOOK THE CAR TO A LOCAL MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC STATED HE RECEIVED COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER COBALT OWNERS ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM. ON 2/28/10 I CALLED CHEVROLET CUSTOMER SERVICE AND REPORTED THE PROBLEM. I ASKED IF THERE WAS A RECALL AND TOLD THE REPRESENTATIVE WHAT I WAS TOLD BY THE MECHANIC. THE CHEVY REPRESENTATIVE SAID THERE WASN'T A RECALL AT THE TIME. I TOLD THE REPRESENTATIVE THAT I DID NOT WANT MY RELATIVES TO HAVE TO SUE THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE I HAD DIED DUE TO THE POWER STEERING FAILING WHILE I WAS DRIVING MY COBALT. THE REPRESENTATIVE SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT WITH A LOCAL CHEVY DEALERSHIP TO INSPECT THE PROBLEM AND SAID I WOULD HAVE TO PAY A DIAGNOSTICS FEE. ON 3/2/10 THE POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONED AGAIN AS I WAS DRIVING. FORTUNATELY, I DID NOT HAVE AN ACCIDENT. COINCIDENTALLY, WHEN I WENT HOME AND TURNED ON THE TELEVISION I SAW ON THE EVENING NEWS THAT CHEVY COBALTS WERE BEING RECALLED FOR POWER STEERING PROBLEMS. I AM LEARY OF CHEVY DEALERSHIPS. I PURCHASED MY USED 2006 COBALT IN 2008. IT HAD 36,000 MILES ON IT. SOON AFTER I PURCHASED THE CAR I NOTICED THE ENGINE KEPT OVERHEATING TO OVER 240 DEGREES. I TOOK MY CAR TO A CHEVY DEALERSHIP THREE TIMES ABOUT THE ENGINE CONSTANTLY OVERHEATING. THEY TOLD ME IT WAS DUE TO THE PLASTIC RADIATOR OVERFLOW BOTTLE LEAKING WHEN IT EXPANDED WHEN WARM. THEY REPLACED THE PLASTICE BOTTLE BUT THE CAR KEPT OVERHEATING. OUT OF FRUSTRATION I TOOK MY CAR TO ANOTHER REPAIR SHOP. THE OTHER REPAIR SHOP DISCOVERED THAT THE ENGINE OVERHEATED DUE TO A CRACKED MANIFOLD. THE CHEVY DEALERSHIP FAILED TO IDENTIFY THIS AFTER THREE VISITS. I HAVE ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE GEAR SHIFT AFTER 36,000 MILES AND A BUSHING AT 69,000 MILES. I AM CURIOUS AS TO WHAT THEY WILL SAY ABOUT THE POWER STEERING FAILURE AT MY APPOINTMENT NEXT WEEK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10315946March 2, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
CORRECTION TO ODI 10315929. MISTYPE ABOUT ENGINE OVERHEATING - THE ENGINE OVERHEATED DUE TO A CRACKED HEAD GASKET, NOT A CRACKED MANIFOLD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10315122March 1, 2010
STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 10 MPH AND ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A LEFT TURN, SHE NOTICED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED, MOMENTS LATER THE VEHICLE NO LONGER HAD POWER STEERING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT HAD THE POWER STEERING MOTOR REPLACED. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 28,451. UPDATED 04/01/10*LJ THE STEERING MOTOR WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 06/28/10*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10315118March 1, 2010
STEERING
WHILE DRIVING MY 2006 CHEVY COBALT, THE POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON AND IMMEDIATELY I LOST MY POWER STEERING. I WAS ON A SECONDARY ROAD AND ALMOST COLLIDED HEAD ON WITH AN ON COMING VEHICLE. FOR A WHILE YOU COULD TURN OFF THE IGNITION AND RESTART THE VEHICLE AND THE POWER STEERING WOULD ENGAGE, BUT AS OF NOW, I HAVE COMPLETE MALFUNCTION AND HAVE NOT HAD POWER STEERING IN ALMOST 4 MONTH! DESPITE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS(900,000) GMAC HAS YET TO ACKNOWLEDGE A PROBLEM OR RECALL THE VEHICLE. THE REPAIR IS IN EXCESS OF 800.00 DOLLARS. THE CAR IS EXTREMELY HARD TO HANDLE AND A DANGER ON THE ROAD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10315141March 1, 2010
STEERING
I PURCHASED A USED 2006 CHEVROLET COBALT, IN APRIL, 2009 FOR MY DAUGHTER TO DRIVE. ON FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2010, SHE WAS MAKING A SHARP LEFT TURN, WHEN HER POWER STEERING FAILED TO WORK. SHE STOPPED THE CAR, TURNED IT OFF, AND WHEN SHE RE-STARTED IT, THE POWER STEERING BEGAN WORKING AGAIN. SHE WAS ABOUT 35 MILES FROM HOME, AND HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO DRIVE IT. I CALLED OUR LOCAL CHEVY DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT MANY COMPLAINTS OF THIS PROBLEM HAD BEEN REPORTED, AND NHTSA WAS INVESTIGATING. THE POWER STEERING CONTINUED TO SHUT OFF AND ON INTERMEDIATELY MORE THAN 8 OR 10 TIMES OVER THE 35 MILE TRIP. WE TOOK IT TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT ON SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2010 AND PAID $47.00 FOR A DIAGNOSTIC CHECK. IT WAS FOUND THAT STEERING MOTOR IS FAILING. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUED, AND WOULD APPRECIATE A FULL INVESTIGATION BEING CONDUCTED BY YOUR AGENCY. A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED AT ONCE, AS THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM AMONG COBALT OWNERS, AND, AS I AM SURE YOU REALIZE, IS AN EXTREME SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10315145March 1, 2010
STEERING
I DRIVE A 2006 CHEVY COBALT LT AND WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM COLLEGE MY "POWER STEERING" LIGHT FLASHED ON AND MY STEERING WHEEL IMMEDIATELY TIGHTENED UP. I WAS GOING ABOUT 65MPH ON A RT. 202 IN PENNSYLVANIA. I STRUGGLED TO GET OFF OF THE RAMP BECAUSE THE POWER STEERING HAD TIGHTENED UP AND MADE TURNING SO DIFFICULT. I WENT TO PEP BOYS TO GET POWER STEERING FLUID BUT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE HAS ELECTRICAL POWER STEERING AND ONLY THE MANUFACTURER COULD DO THE REPAIR. MY CAR JUST PASSED 45,000 MILES. I AM VERY UPSET THAT I AM BEING SO INCONVENIENCED WITH THIS BURDEN. I DID NOT PAY ALL THIS MONEY FOR A VEHICLE TO BEGIN TO BREAK DOWN PRIOR 100,000 MILES. WHEN I GOT HOME I WANTED TO LOOK UP HOW MUCH THE WOULD COST ME AND CAME ACROSS MANY OTHER COBALT OWNERS EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUES. I AM SO SHOCKED THAT A RECALL HAS NOT OCCURRED YET. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A RECALL IN THE FUTURE SINCE I GUESS THAT IT WILL NOT BE A CHEAP FIX. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION. I HOPE YOU MAKE THE CORRECT DECISION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10315187March 1, 2010
STEERING
THE POWER STEERING FAILS EVERY 50 YARDS ON MY 2006 CHEVY COBALT, MAKING IT VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. IT'S BEEN HAPPENING FOR MONTHS, SO I RARELY ATTEMPT TO DRIVE THE CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10315186March 1, 2010
STEERING
MY POWER STEERING FAILED WHILE I WAS ON THE FREEWAY ON FRIDAY AFTERNOON. "POWER STEERING" FLASHED ON MY DASHBOARD DIGITAL SCREEN, AND THE WHEEL STIFFENED UP. THE POWER STEERING DID NOT COME BACK ON THROUGH THE REMAINDER OF MY DRIVE. NOW EVERY TIME I TURN ON MY CAR, THE POWER STEERING WORKS FOR ABOUT ONE MINUTE, AND THEN IT FAILS AGAIN. I AM NOW HAVING TO CRANK MY WHEEL TO PARK, DRIVE ON NEIGHBORHOOD STREETS, ANYTHING THAT REQUIRES SLOWER SPEEDS. I HAD HEARD THAT THERE MAY BE A RECALL, AND WOULD LIKE TO WAIT TO SEE IF THIS REPAIR CAN BE DONE FREE OF CHARGE. IT IS AN ENORMOUS INCONVENIENCE AND MAKES ME FEEL UNSAFE BEHIND THE WHEEL OF MY OWN CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10315203March 1, 2010
STEERING
MY 2006 CHEVY COBALT ON 02/28/2010 HAD A POWER STEERING ISSUE. THE POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON AND THE POWER STEERING DID NOT WORK WHILE I WAS DRIVING. HOWEVER WHEN YOU TURN THE CAR OFF AND TURN IT BACK ON THE POWER STEERING WORKS FOR A LITTLE BIT THEN QUITS AGAIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10315278March 1, 2010
STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET COBALT. WHILE DRIVING THE STEERING WOULD BECOME INCREASINGLY TIGHT AND WOULD MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO OPERATE THE STEERING WHEEL. WHEN THIS WOULD OCCUR, THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE AND BEEP THREE TIMES BEFORE FAILURE. WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT, THE CONTACT COULD MAINTAIN THE STEERING WHEEL, WITH GREAT DIFFICULTY. WHILE ATTEMPTING A TURN, THE CONTACT WOULD FEEL AS THOUGH HE WOULD POSSIBLY LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED TAKING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AT HIS EXPENSE. THERE WERE NO REPAIRS MADE TO THE VEHICLE TO DATE. THERE WERE NO RECALLS, HOWEVER THERE WAS AN OPEN INVESTIGATION PERTAINING TO THE ALLEGED FAILURE (NHTSA ACTION NUMBER PE10005: STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM). THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 68,290.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10315321March 1, 2010
STEERING
MY WIFE WAS DRIVING TO THE STORE AND THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. EVERY TIME WE GET IN THE CAR AND START IT THE POWER STEERING IS ON, THEN A MINUTE AFTER DRIVING THE POWER STEERING GOES OUT. I HAVE NOT FIXED THE PROBLEM BECAUSE I WAS TO IT MIGHT COST 1 TO 2 THOUSAND DOLLARS. I SHOULD NOT BE LIABLE FOR SOMETHING THAT WAS NOT MY FAULT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10315041March 1, 2010
STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
FEB. 28, 2010 2006 CHEVY COBALT LS SEDAN 4 CYLINDER 4 DOOR AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION I PURCHASED THE 2006 CHEVY COBALT BRAND NEW FROM A CHEVY DEALER. I FULLY MAINTAINED AND SERVICED THE VEHICLE AS REQUIRED AND WHEN NECESSARY. ON OCTOBER 25, 2008 I WAS DRIVING THE 2006 CHEVY COBALT AND I WAS DRIVING ONTO THE CROSS COUNTY PARKWAY HEADING EASTBOUND WHEN THE VEHICLES STEERING SYSTEM FAILED THUS CAUSING ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE THUS CRASHING THE VEHICLE ONTO THE PARKWAYS GUARDRAIL. I WAS VERY SHAKEN, THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED SERIOUS DAMAGE, AND THE COUNTY POLICE WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED SOON THEREAFTER. THE 2006 CHEVY COBALT HAD TO BE TOWED OFF THE PARKWAY AND BACK TO MY HOME. GM SHOULD REALLY INVESTIGATE THE CHEVY COBALT FOR STEERING SYSTEM FAILURE. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10315053March 1, 2010
STEERING
CAR HAS ALWAYS PULLED TO THE RIGHT. ON NIGHT OF NOVEMBER 13, 2009, I WAS MAKING A RIGHT TURN GOING APPROXIMATELY 5 MILES PER HOUR. NEXT THING I KNEW I HAD NO CONTROL OVER THE STEERING AND WENT UP OVER A CURB AND COULD NOT GET OFF IT OR STEER AWAY FROM IT. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10314943February 28, 2010
STEERING
MY 2006 CHEVY COBALTS POWER STEERING JUST WENT OUT FOR NO APPARENT REASON IT HAS BEEN WORKING PERFECTLY FINE BUT NOW IT DECIDES TO COME OFF AND ON AS IT PLEASES. THIS IS AN ISSUE IT SEEMS FOR ALOT MORE PEOPLE THEN JUST ME WHEN RESEARCHED ABOUT THIS MODEL TO FIND THOUSANDS MORE WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE FOR ME MY PREGNANT WIFE AND MY TWO YEAR OLD DAUGHTER AND SHOULD BE TAKEN CARE OF. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10314937February 28, 2010
STEERING, TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM
THE TRACTION CONTROL SYMBOL SHOWED UP ON THE COMPUTER WHILE I WAS DRIVING. THEN THE WHEEL LOCKED UP AND THE COMPUTER SCREEN SAID POWER STEERING. THE CAR KEPT "JUMPING" FORWARD THE WHOLE RIDE TO MY DESTINATION. IT WAS NEAR IMPOSSIBLE TO GET THERE, AND I HAD TO LEAVE MY CAR THERE BECAUSE IT IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. THIS SEEMS TO BE A CONSISTENT PROBLEM WITH CHEVY COBALTS. A RECALL NEEDS TO BE ISSUED. IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE A CAR WITH NO POWER STEERING. SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET IN AN ACCIDENT. SOMETHING MUST BE DONE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10314934February 28, 2010
STEERING
2006 CHEVY COBALT POWER STEER FAILURE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10314963February 28, 2010
STEERING
MY 2006 CHEVY COBALT IS HAVING POWER STEERING ISSUES. THE CAR HAS BECOME HARD TO TURN WITH OUT HITTING THE CURB OR ALMOST HITTING OTHER CARS, AS WELL AS PULLING TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT AND GETTING OUT OF AN AMBULANCE, FIRE ENGINE, OR POLICE CAR'S WAY. THIS HAS BECOME A CONCERN TO ME AS MANY INEXPERIENCED DRIVERS I KNOW HAVE ONE, BECAUSE IT IS LIKED BY YOUNGER DRIVERS, AND THEY MIGHT NOT KNOW HOW TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT WITH THE POWER STEERING ACTING UP ON THEM. THIS PROBLEM SHOULD BE LOOKED AT BEFORE IT CAUSES INJURY TO PEOPLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10314995February 28, 2010
STEERING
MY 2006 CHEVROLET COBALT HAD A SUDDEN LOSS OF STEERING ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION WHILE DRIVING. I COULD STOP THE CA AND TURN IT OFF FOR A FEW MINUTES AND THEN RESTART IT AND THE POWER STEERING WOULD BE OK FOR AWHILE. WHENEVER THE POWER STEERING FAILED THE CAR WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO STEER AND COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A CRASH WHILE I WAS DRIVING AT A SPEED OF 70MPH! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10315019February 28, 2010
STEERING
MY POWER STEERING WENT OUT ON ME FOR THE FIRST TIME A FEW DAYS AGO WHEN I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF ACCELERATING ON A CURVED RAMP TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC ON THE HIGHWAY. IT CAUSED ME TO RUN OFF THE ROAD AND WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE STEERING AFTER THAT. THE POWER STEERING LIGHT FLASHED ON THE DASHBOARD AND AT THE SOONEST STOPLIGHT I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON AND THEN THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED. IN THE PAST FOUR DAYS SINCE THE PROBLEM BEGAN, THE POWER STEERING HAS FAILED AT LEAST TWICE A DAY. IT SEEMS TO FAIL WHEN I AM ACCELERATING AND/OR TURNING. IT HAS NOT HAPPENED AT SLOW SPEEDS YET - MAINLY ON THE HIGHWAY. IT'S VERY SCARY AND HAS CAUSED ME TO RUN OFF THE ROAD SEVERAL TIMES AND NEARLY SIDESWIPE CARS FROM LOSING CONTROL OF MY CAR IN THE MY LANE. THE SCARIEST PART TO ME IS THE SURPRISE OF THE ONSET. I'VE BEEN IN THE MIDDLE OF MAKING A TURN AT EACH FAILURE AND IT CAUSES ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF MY CAR. I AM CONTACTING THE DEALERSHIP TOMORROW FOR INFORMATION ON REPAIRING THE PROBLEM. I HAVE ABOUT 48,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE SO IT'S NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10314750February 27, 2010
STRUCTURE
DEFECTIVE LINING IN CAR. CAR HAS BEEN SENT FOR SERVICE OVER NINE TIMES IN FOUR YEARS DUE TO WATER LEAKING IN VEHICLE. EVERYTIME IT RAINS BOTH BACK SEAT FLOOR BOARDS ARE SOAKED. THEY HAVE REPLACED THE LINING AND REPLACED THE CARPET ONCE AND VEHICLE CONTINUES TO LEAK. I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE SINCE 2006. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Chevrolet Cobalt