Chevrolet Cobalt Complaints (2007)

1,564 consumer complaints on file.

#10248029November 8, 2008
STEERING
STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND IGNITION KEY COULDN'T MOVE LEFT OR RIGHT. CALLED DEALER AND WAS TOLD IT'S A COMMON PROBLEM. I FEAR THAT WHEEL WILL LOCK WHILE I'M DRIVING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10245788October 17, 2008
STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 CHEVROLET COBALT. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE MESSAGE CENTER INFORMED HER THAT THE POWER STEERING WAS MALFUNCTIONING. SIMULTANEOUSLY, SHE NOTICED THAT SHE COULD NO LONGER TURN THE VEHICLE. IF THE VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF AND THEN RESTARTED, THE STEERING WHEEL WILL OPERATE FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME AND THEN MALFUNCTION. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE CONTACT DID NOT NOTICE ANY DIFFERENCES BEFOREHAND. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 44,298.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10243365September 24, 2008
STEERING
MY 2007 CHEVY COBOLT WAS DRIVING FINE THEN ABOUT 4 WEEKS AGO IT STARTED DRIVING WEIRD, NOW THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT WHILE MY 17 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING IT IN A PARKING LOT PRACTICING FOR HER LICENSE!!!! SHE WAS SO UPSET WHEN SHE CAME HOME THAT IT TOOK ME ALMOST A WEEK TO GET HER TO DRIVE MY TRUCK!!!!!!!! WE CHANGED ONE OF THE FUSES AND IT STARTED WORKING AGAIN FOR ABOUT A WEEK AND TODAY IT WENT OUT AGAIN AS I WAS TAKING ONE OF MY KIDS TO WORK.. WE WERE ALMOST HIT FROM BEHIND AS I WAS TRYING TO MAKE A RIGHT HAND TURN INTO HER WORK!!!! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10243256September 23, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
BOUGHT THE CAR IN AUGUST 2006, IT HAD 2 MILES ON IT WHEN I DROVE IT OFF THE LOT, CURRENTLY HAS 28,500 MILES. I HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH IT UNTIL THIS PAST YEAR. IN MARCH THE FRONT SPEAKERS QUIT WORKING AND THE DINGING NOISE FOR THE DOOR BEING OPEN WAS CONSTANTLY ON ALONG WITH THE BLINKER SOUND. THE BLINKER WAS OFF AND THE DOORS WERE SHUT AND LOCKED BUT THE NOISE CONTINUED. TOOK TO THE GM DEALERSHIP AFTER A WEEK OF DEALING WITH IT AND THEY KEPT IT FOR 2 DAYS AND TESTED IT, SAYING THAT THEY DID NOTICE THE PROBLEM AND TIGHTENED THE SCREWS IN THE FRONT SPEAKERS. THEY SAID THAT IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM AND WOULD GO AWAY ON ITS OWN, WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. IT WENT AWAY ABOUT 2 WEEKS LATER AND HASN'T BEEN BACK SINCE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10241381September 8, 2008
VISIBILITY, STEERING, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 CHEVROLET COBALT. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY IN A RAINSTORM, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT FLOOR PANEL WAS DRENCHED WITH FOUR INCHES OF WATER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND REPAIRED. IN ADDITION, WHEN PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, IT WOULD CONSTANTLY STICK. THE CONTACT HAD TO MAKE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS BEFORE THE PEDAL WOULD RELEASE. THERE WAS ALSO A MALFUNCTION WITH THE STEERING ROD. ON FOUR SEPARATE OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR IDENTICAL FAILURES, BUT WITH NO RESOLUTIONS. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED OF THE SAFETY RISKS INVOLVED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,800 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 14,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10238961August 19, 2008
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR, EQUIPMENT
2007 CHEVY COBALT SS, FRONT BRAKE ROTORS OBTAIN DANGEROUS RUNOUT CONDITIONS. IN MY CASE THE ORIGINAL SET LASTED 8000 MILES, AND THE REPLACEMENT OBTAINED FROM DEALER IN JULY 2007 LASTED 20000 MILES. SYMPTOMS OF THIS RUNOUT INCLUDE HEAVY SHUTTER OF BRAKE PEDAL AND STEERING WHEEL AT FREEWAY SPEEDS DOWN TO ABOUT 30MPH AND NOTICEABLE THUMPING IN STEERING WHEEL AT FREEWAY SPEEDS WHEN NOT APPLYING BRAKES. RUNOUT ON ROTORS IS SO SEVERE THAT IT ACTUALLY CAUSES A RIDE DISTURBANCE WITHOUT APPLYING BRAKES. HAVE ADDRESS THIS ISSUE WITH SIERRA CHEVROLET IN MONROVIA TO NO AVAIL. WAS SIMPLY TOLD THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PURCHASE NEW ROTORS. NO REMEDY APPEARS TO BE AVAILABLE TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. APPARENTLY, THERE IS A POOR DESIGN OF ROTORS OR SOME TYPE OF ISSUE WITH THE BRAKE PADS BEING TOO AGGRESSIVE. SUSPECT ROTORS OBTAIN HEAVY GROOVING WITHIN A FEW THOUSAND MILES. AFTER GROOVING IS NOTICED, THE VIBRATIONS BEGIN VERY SUBTLE SOON AFTER AND PROGRESS TO THE POINT TO WHERE THE VIBRATIONS ARE NOTICEABLE EVEN WHEN NOT APPLYING BRAKES. I AM ON MY THIRD SET OF ROTORS, AND AM FEARFUL THAT GENERAL MOTORS WILL NEVER PAY ANY ATTENTION TO THIS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS ISSUE. I BELIEVE THAT PERHAPS A LESS AGGRESSIVE BRAKE PAD NEEDS TO BE USED OR SOME KIND OF PROBLEM EXISTS WITH HOW THE ROTORS SEATS TO THE HUB. I AM ONLY FAMILIAR WITH THIS PROBLEM ON THE SS MODELS, I ALSO HAVE A 2005 COBALT BASE MODEL THAT HAS NO ISSUES WITH THE BRAKES WHAT SO EVER. MANY COMPLAINTS NOTICED ON THE WEB FORUMS FOR SS COBALTS. THESE PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINED TO THEIR LOCAL DEALERS TO NO AVAIL ALSO. I HAVE RUN OUT OF OPTIONS, OTHER THAN TO KEEP AN EXTRA SET OF PADS AND ROTORS AVAILABLE AT ALL TIMES AT THE COST OF 450 DOLLARS PER SET. DEALER REFUSES TO CONSIDER PREMATURE ROTOR WEAR AS A WARRANTY ISSUE OR ANY ISSUE FOR THAT MATTER, FORCING ME TO BUY THE PARTS AND PAY THE LABOR FOR A PROBLEM THAT I HAVE NO CONTROL OF. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10238078August 13, 2008
TIRES
TIRES ARE BAD ON DRIVERS SIDE ONLY AND DEALER WANTS TO PUT ON NEW TIRES AND RIMS ON FRONT END. I HAVE A WARRANTY AND THEY WONT COVER THIS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10237791August 12, 2008
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), STEERING
MY 2007 CHEVROLET COBALT LT VIN# [XXX] WITH 31209 MILES ON IT JUST HAD MAJOR COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER STEERING. I CHECKED THIS OUT ON THE INTERNET AND COME TO FIND OUT THAT THIS HAS BEEN A BIG PROBLEM WITH THE CHEVROLET COBALT SINCE 2005. I HAVE READ THAT DEALERSHIPS CAN'T REPAIR THE PROBLEM EVEN THOUGH THEY REPLACE COMPLETE STEERING CONTROLS AND ECM'S. SO HERE I AM NOT KNOWING WHAT TO DO AND AFRAID TO DRIVE VEHICLE. I NOTICE YOU HAVE THE QUESTION "NUMBER OF PERSONS INJURES:" BELOW ON THIS FORM. WELL NOT PHYSICAL BUT MENTAL: SO I AM LISTING 2. PLEASE TELL ME WHAT TO DO? INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10235817July 25, 2008
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR
TL-CONTACT STATED SHE WAS DRIVING AT 45MPH AND HER BRAKES LOCKED ON HER. THIS HAS HAPPEN OVER EIGHT TIMES. CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER THEY STATED SHE HAD LOW TIRES AND MAKING HER ABS BRAKES GO CRAZY AND LOCKING UP THE TIRES. THEY WENT AHEAD AND PLUGGED A HOLE IN HER TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS FINE ONCE SHE LEFT THE DEALER. THE NEXT DAY IT STARTED AGAIN. THERE IS NO INDICATION OF ANYTHING WARNING BEFORE IT HAPPENS. CONTACT HAS NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE ANGAIN TO THE DEALER.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10235141July 21, 2008
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
JUNE 29TH, 2008, MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR 2007 CHEVROLET COBALT ON A SINGLE 2-LANE COUNTRY ROAD WHEN SHE HAD TO AVOID A HEAD-ON COLLISION WITH AN ON-COMING PICKUP. SHE WENT INTO THE DITCH AND HIT A TREE AND FENCEPOST AT APPROX. 45 MPH. EVENTHOUGH THE FRONT END BUMPER WAS DESTROYED FROM THE CONTACT WITH THE TREE AND POST (BOTH HEAD-ON DIRECTLY), THE AIRBAGS IN THE CAR FAILED TO DEPLOY. NEITHER GM OR MY INSURANCE COMPANY (SINCE THE VEHICLE IS TOTALED) IS INTERESTED IN INVESTIGATING FURTHER. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10233692July 9, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THERE WEREN'T REALLY ANY EVENTS THAT LED TO THIS POINT - BUT MY CAR STARTS BASICALLY WHENEVER IT FEELS LIKE STARTING - I BROUGHT IT INTO DEALER FOR HELP AND THEY WON'T HELP ME BECAUSE THEY CAN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM IT IS VERY FRUSTRATING SPENDING TIME IN MY CAR TRYING TO GET IT STARTED. AND IT IS UNDER WARRANTY AND I CAN'T GET IT RESOLVED - WHY EVEN BOTHER GETTING THE EXTENDED WARRANTY? JUST A WASTE OF MONEY WHEN THE CAR IS SO BAD I AM READY TO GET IT FIXED OUT OF MY OWN POCKET. I AM FED UP! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10233524July 8, 2008
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
2007 CHEVY COBALT LS, BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH WENT BAD AFTER ONLY HAVING THE CAR 1 YEAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10233454July 7, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
JUST WOULDN'T START ONE DAY. IT'S AN 07 COBALT - CHEVY NEW CAR THAT I FINANCED WITH ABOUT 20,000 MILES ON IT. I PLAYED AROUND WITH THE SHIFTER AND IT STARTED! NOW IT DOES IT AT LEAST ONCE DAILY. IT USUALLY TAKES ABOUT 10 MINUTES TO GET IT STARTED. THE ENGINE WILL JUST CLICK AND THE BATTERY COMES ON, ALL THE LIGHTS ETC. IT IS NOT LIFE THREATENING DIRECTLY - BUT SUPPOSE I GET STUCK SOMEWHERE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT WITH NO HEAT? I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER - IT'S UNDER WARRANTY. THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND I HAVE TRIED NUMEROUS TIMES TO RESOLVE THIS. TODAY WAS THE LAST STRAW BECAUSE THEY TOLD ME THEY REFUSED TO HELP ME. I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO. . .CHEVROLET SHOULD PAY FOR THE THIS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10232595June 28, 2008
SUSPENSION:FRONT
THE LOWER BALL JOINT CAME COMPLETELY DETACHED FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL ASSEMBLY. THE BOLT AND NUT THAT LOCKS THE BALL JOINT TO THE WHEEL ASSEMBLY WAS GONE. I DO NOT KNOW IF THE BOLT AND NUT LOOSENED AND FELL OUT OR IF THE BOLT AND NUT WERE NEVER INSTALLED. I SUSPECT THAT THE BOLT AND NUT ASSEMBLY WERE NOT TORQUED CORRECTLY AT THE FACTORY. MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING THE CAR DOWN THE DRIVEWAY. THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE TURNED 90 DEGREES AND WEDGED AGAINST THE BACK OF THE WHEEL WELL . THE RIGHT FRONT DRIVE AXLE DISCONNECTED FROM THE TRANSMISSION. CONSEQUENCES WOULD HAVE BEEN SEVERE IF THIS OCCURRED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE LOWER BALL JOINT STEM WAS REINSERTED INTO THE WHEEL ASSEMBLY. I AM CURRENTLY SEARCHING FOR A REPLACEMENT BOLT AND NUT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10231367June 17, 2008
STEERING
POWER STEERING CUTS OUT INTERMITTENTLY. IT HAPPENS EVEN WHEN STEERING WHEEL IS STRAIGHT, OR WHEN IT IS BEING TURNED. AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, IT IS DIFFICULT TO CONTROL, BUT NOT IMPOSSIBLE. AT LOW SPEEDS, THE CAR IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN UNLESS ON LOOSE GRAVEL. NEARLY HIT A CAR IN THE OTHER LANE. HAD COMPUTER CHECKED AT CHEVY DEALERSHIP NEAR NEW PALTZ, NY AND WAS TOLD THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN HAD TO BE REPLACED. GM INFORMED US THAT THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO, YET INTERNET FORUMS SHOW MANY COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME SORT, MANY OF WHICH HAVE BEEN REPORTED TO GM AS WELL. (WEBSITE OF FORUMS - HTTP://WWW.TOPIX.COM/FORUM/AUTOS/CHEVROLET-COBALT/T8FMSUQB7V2DTH5JH) WE HAVE NOT REPLACED THE STEERING COLUMN DUE TO THE FACT THAT THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A PART DEFECT. THIS ISSUE OF POWER STEERING CUTTING OUT CONTINUES TO GET WORSE OVER TIME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10229453June 1, 2008
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
MY HEADLIGHTS STAY ON AND KILL THE BATTERY ON MY CAR SO I AM UNABLE TO ANYTHING. I HAVE TO GET SOMEONE TO JUMP START MY CAR FOR IT TO START. NOT ONLY THAT MY KEY GETS STICK IN THE IGNITION WHEN I TRY TO START IT AND THE BATTERY IS DEAD SO I AM UNABLE TO DO ANYTHING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10225437April 23, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
KNOCKING NOISE FROM REAR OF VEHICLE FROM COLD START. HAS OCCURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10225438April 23, 2008
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.
STOCK AM/FM RADIO - CD PLAYER IN VEHICLE WOULD NOT POWER ON UPON START UP OF VEHICLE. PROBLEM WOULD NOT REPLICATE ITSELF FOR THE DEALER, AS IT OCCURS AT RANDOM INTERVALS. NO TIME WOULD DISPLAY ON RADIO. NO AUDIO THROUGH SPEAKERS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10224079April 10, 2008
STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
RE: 2007 CHEVROLET COBALT. SPOKANE, WA. EVENTS: IN A MIX OF ICE, DEEP SLUSH AND SNOW (WITH MICHILIN X-ICE WINTER TIRES ON ALL FOUR WHEELS), VERY SLIPPERY CONDITIONS, LOW SPEED (E.G., DRIVING DOWN ALLEY FROM MY GARAGE), FAILURE: THE ELECTRONIC STEERING BECAME ERRATIC. I FELT OUT OF CONTROL, COULDN'T KEEP THE CAR MOVING DIRECTLY FORWARD UNTIL I SLOWED TO ALMOST A STOP. THIS WAS NOT SLIPPING OR SKIDDING THAT OCCURS WHEN SLIDING ON ICE OR SNOW. RATHER, IT WAS THE STEERING WHEEL HAVING A FEEL OF BEING DISCONNECTED FROM THE WHEELS. WHAT WAS DONE: NO REPAIR WAS SOUGHT. I JUST WAS ESPECIALLY CAREFUL AT LOW SPEEDS. IN NORMAL DRIVING, EVEN IN ICY OR SNOWY CONDITION ON THE HIGHWAY AT HIGHER SPEEDS THERE WAS NO PROBLEM STEERING. THE STEERING PROBLEM OCCURRED ON EVERY OCCASION THROUGHOUT THE WINTER THAT THE SPECIFIC CONDITIONS OUTLINED ABOVE OCCURRED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10222611March 28, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 CHEVROLET COBALT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH ON A SNOWY ROAD, THE VEHICLE DROVE ACROSS A PATCH OF SLUSH. THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL AND THE VEHICLE WENT AIRBORNE. THE VEHICLE STRUCK A GUARDRAIL, AND THEN DROPPED APPROXIMATELY FOUR FEET FROM THE INTERSTATE TO THE OFF RAMP. THE CONTACT WAS INJURED AND THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED MINOR DAMAGE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. SHE SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE AND REMOVED THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES LATER, THE VEHICLE STARTED ON ITS OWN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER TWICE, BUT THEY COULD NOT DETERMINE HOW THE VEHICLE COULD START AND SHUT OFF WITHOUT A KEY IN THE IGNITION. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 19,084 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,315.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0

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