Chevrolet Cobalt Complaints

7,975 consumer complaints on file.

#10318743March 10, 2010
STEERING
I HAD LEFT MY DRIVEWAY AND STARTED HEADING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN MY POWERSTEERING SHUTDOWN. TURN THE CAR OFF AND START IT AGAIN AND I HAVE POWERSTEERING FOR A SHORT TIME. NOW IT DOES IT AT LEAST ONCE A DAY. WAITING FOR GM TO COME UP WITH A FIX BEFORE I SEE A MECHANIC. HARD TO STEER BUT STILL DRIVABLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10318775March 10, 2010
STEERING, AIR BAGS
I HAVE HAD A 2007 CHEVY COBALT FOR ALMOST A YEAR, AND IT HAS BEEN WRECKED, BUT WAS FIXED AND IT HAS JUST AROUND 60,000 MILES ON IT AND THE POWER STEERING GOES OUT IN IT. I CAN TURN THE CAR OFF AND THEN BACK ON AND IT WILL WORK JUST FINE FOR A FEW MORE MINUTES AND THEN GO OUT AGAIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10318348March 10, 2010
STEERING
I BOUGHT A USED 2005 CHEVY COBALT ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO. A FEW MONTHS AFTER THE PURCHASE THE POWER STEERING STARTED TO FAIL AT SEEMINGLY RANDOM INTERVALS, BUT ON AN ALL TO REGULAR BASIS. I DON'T BELIEVE I HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE PROBLEM AS I WAS SIMPLY DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN IT CHOSE TO FIRST FAIL. IT OCCURS NUMEROUS TIMES DAILY AND HAS NEARLY CAUSED ME TO CRASH SEVERAL TIMES (ESPECIALLY WHEN IT FAILS MID-TURN). NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT SEEING AS THEY TOLD ME TO FIX THE POWER STEERING I WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN COSTING ME UP TO 2500 DOLLARS. SOMETHING THAT I JUST CANNOT AFFORD TO PAY FOR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10318352March 10, 2010
STEERING
POWER STEERING FAILURE AT RANDOM. I BOUGHT A 2005 CHEVY COBALT BRAND NEW IN 2005. AFTER DRIVING 40,000 MILES I WOULD GET A POWER STEERING FAILURE. WHEN I FIRST TURN THE CAR ON I HAVE POWER STEERING, BUT AFTER A RANDOM MOMENT OF TIME IT CUTS OUT AND THE LIGHT ON THE DASH COMES ON. IT WILL GO OUT IN MID TURN OR WHILE GOING STRAIGHT & BOTH FORWARD AND IN REVERSE. MOST REPORTS I CAN FIND ABOUT THE PROBLEM SAY IT WILL COST ABOUT $2000 TO FIX AND THE PROBLEM RECURS. THE ONLY WAY TO GET A PART TO FIX IT IS TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND SOME DEALERSHIPS ARE SAYING ITS THE STEERING COLUMN WHILE OTHERS SAY ITS A MOTOR. I THINK ITS A SCAM FROM GM TO MAKE A PART THAT GOES OUT AND CHARGE AN ARM AND A LEG TO FIX. THE FAILURE HAPPENS DAILY NOW. ITS DIFFICULT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. IT IS UNSAFE TO TURN INTO BUSY TRAFFIC IN THE CITY AND DRIVING AROUND MOUNTAINS. IT WAS THE CHEAPEST NEW CAR I COULD FIND AT THE TIME BECAUSE I'M POOR, SO FORKING OVER $2000.00 FOR A PART THAT WILL GO OUT AGAIN IN ANOTHER 40,000 MILES IS NEVER GOING TO HAPPEN. EVEN THOUGH THERE IS A LIGHT ON THE DASH TO INDICATE A POWER STEERING FAILURE, IT DOES NOT SHOW UP ON DIAGNOSTICS. IT IS AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE AND NOT MECHANICAL, SO ITS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. I HAVE NOT YET BEEN IN A CRASH, BUT I HAVE COME CLOSE MANY TIMES. MANY OWNERS I HAVE SPOKE WITH HAVE THIS PROBLEM, AND HAVE CRASHED OR COME CLOSE TO CRASHING ON MANY OCCASIONS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10318396March 10, 2010
STEERING
ON 3/5/10 AT ABOUT 4PM I WAS TRAVELING EAST BOUND ON ROUTE 280 NEAR NEWARK EXIT. I WAS IN THE FAST LANE OF A 3 LANE HIGHWAY. THE MIDDLE LANE WAS EMPTY SO I PULLED INTO MIDDLE LANE. A RED PICK UP TRUCK IN THE FAR RIGHT LANE (SLOW LANE) PULLED INTO THE MIDDLE LANE. I ASSUME I MAY HAVE BEEN IN HIS BLIND SPOT. I HAD TO PULL BACK INTO THE LEFT LANE. CAR LOCKED UP & I COULD NOT STOP IT FROM GOING LEFT. I HIT THE CEMENT BARRIER ALONG SHOULDER. THE WITNESSES ALL TOLD ME THEY COULD NOT UNDERSTAND WHY MY CAR DID NOT STOP. ITJUST SEEMED TO KEEP GOING LEFT FOR NO REASON. I'VE HEARD THROUGH THE NEWS THAT CHEVY IS ISSUING RECALLS FOR FAILED POWER STEERING IN COBALT 2010. I'VE HAD THIS CAR 6 WEEKS AND NOW ITS TOTALED. I COULD NOT PULL IT OUT OF GOING LEFT & IT SEEMS SINCE IT WAS 50 DEGREES THAT THIS WAS A STEERING FAILURE. I WAS TREATED AT THE SCENE FOR ABRASIONS & SWELLING TO THE FACE & ARM. MY NECK & BACK ARE SORE. I GOT A BLACK EYE FROM AIR BAG. NJ STATE TROOPER WROTE A REPORT. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10317918March 9, 2010
STEERING
I'M DRIVING THE CAR AND RANDOMLY THE POWER STEERING FLASHES ON THE SCREEN AND MY POWER STEERING STOPS WORKING. TURN THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON AND THE ISSUE GOES AWAY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10317953March 9, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
MY BRAKES VIBRATE AND HAVE DEEP GROOVES IN THEM AND I ALMOST GOT TURNED DOWN FOR REPAIRS BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT IT WAS FROM IMPROPER USE OF MY VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10317955March 9, 2010
STEERING
WE HAVE A 2005 CHEVY COBALT. ISSUE 1: THE POWER STEERING HAS FAILED INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING. THE POWER STEERING HAS FAILED COMPLETELY FOR THE LAST 4 MONTHS BUT, NOW STARTING TO WORK INTERMITTENTLY AGAIN. WE CALLED SEVERAL DEALERS BACK IN MAY 2009 ABOUT THIS ISSUE. SOME DEALERS WERE ARE VERY AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE DEALERS TOLD ME THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN HAS TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE IT IS A ELECTRONIC FAILURE. THE POWER STEERING IS CONTROLLED BY AN ELECTRIC MOTOR INSTEAD OF HYDRAULICS THAT ARE FOUND IN MOST CARS. THE COST TO REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN IS $1,200+. I WOULD LIKE THIS ISSUE FIXED BECAUSE IT HAS ALMOST CAUSED SEVERAL ACCIDENTS WHEN IT INITIALLY STARTED. WE WANT TO SELL THE VEHICLE BUT, WE DO NOT WANT TO PASS THIS LEMON ON TO ANOTHER CONSUMER WHO MAY NOT BE AWARE OF THESE ISSUES. ISSUE 2: THE WHEEL WELL COVERS AND INTERIOR MOLDING ARE ATTACHED TO THE VEHICLE WITH CHEAP PLASTIC GROMETS THAT FAIL FROM FATIGUE AND POOR ENGINEERING. THE WHEEL WELL COVERS HAVE COME OFF WHILE DRIVING. I REATTACHED A PARTIALLY ATTACHED WHEEL WELL COVER WITH SHEET METAL SCREWS AND REMOVED THE REST. THESE ITEMS ARE ACCIDENTS WAITING TO HAPPEN. I AM DISAPPOINTED IN GM'S QUALITY AND ENGINEERING PRACTICES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10318010March 9, 2010
STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET COBALT. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH THE VECHILE LOST POWER AND THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. WHEN THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF THE STEERING WHEEL WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. AFTER THE VEHICLE LOST POWER THE CONTACT WAS ONLY ABLE TO DRIVE TO THE DEALER AT 5 MPH. THE DEALER WAS PERFORMING A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND WILL LET HER KNOW THE RESULTS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10318051March 9, 2010
STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET COBALT. WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE WARNING PANEL FOLLOWED BY A WARNING CHIME. THE STEERING WHEEL THEN BECAME HARD AND INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE DEALER ADVISED THERE WAS AN UPCOMING RECALL CAMPAIGN FOR THE FAILURE AND THAT HE WOULD BE NOTIFIED ACCORDINGLY (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 10V073000: STEERING: ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM).THERE WERE NO REPAIRS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 63,000. UPDATED 04/20/10. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE STEERING DID NOT CHANGE DURING THE INCIDENT AND THERE WAS NO NOTICEABLE DIFFERENCE IN THE WAY THE VEHICLE PERFORMED. ON MARCH 21ST, THE WARNING CHIMED SOUNDED, THE POWER STEERING DISPLAY LIT UP AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACT ERRATIC, BUT THE STEERING REMAINED NORMAL AS THE VEHICLE JERKED VIOLENTLY SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND A CAUSE, BUT DID RESET THE COMPUTER AND ERASED SOME CODES. THE VEHICLE PERFORMED FINE UNTIL APRIL 3RD WHEN IT AGAIN THE WARNING CHIME SOUNDED. THE CONSUMER RETURNED TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE POWER STEERING MOTOR AS PER RECALL. UPDATED 09/22/10.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10318088March 9, 2010
STEERING
I DROVE MY 2007 CHEVROLET COBALT INTO A HARDWARE STORE PARKING LOT AND WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN TO FIND A PARKING SPACE WHEN THE POWER STEERING FAILED. I WAS UNABLE TO COMPLETE THE TURN AND AS A RESULT HIT THE CEMENT POLE THAT WAS PROTECTING THE CABLE THAT WAS ATTACHED TO THE TELEPHONE POLE. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR HOME, BUT LATER THAT NIGHT I HAD TO GO TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM AS I WAS IN A LOT OF PAIN. AFTER READING MY X-RAYS, THE DOCTOR SAID I HAD RIB CONTUSIONS AND WHIPLASH. A WEEK LATER I AM STILL SUFFERING PAIN AND UNABLE TO FUNCTION NORMALLY FROM THE ACCIDENT. I HAVE NOT HAD THE DAMAGE TO THE CAR ADDRESSED YET AND I DON'T INTENT TO DRIVE IT AGAIN. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10318094March 9, 2010
STEERING
VEHICLE WOULD NOT TURN RIGHT STEERING ISSUE. AS A RESULT THE CAR CONTINUED STRAIGHT, OVER MEDIAN, OVER 2 CURBS BEFORE DRIVER COULD STOP VEHICLE JUST SHY OF GAS METER. FILED COMPLAINT WITH GM > THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE INFORMED ME OF A RECALL ON GM COBALT AND THE PARTS TO FIX PROBLEM WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE. AND IT APPEARS THAT IS WHAT HAPPENED WHY THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT TURN. AND MY VEHICLE CANNOT BE REPAIRED. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10318112March 9, 2010
STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET COBALT. WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS AS LOW AS 20 MPH, THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE AND CHIME ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD THEN BECOME HARD TO MOVE IN EITHER DIRECTION. HE WOULD THEN SHUT OFF THE ENGINE AND ONCE RESTARTED, THE POWER STEERING WOULD RE-SET ITSELF. THE DEALER ADVISED THE STEERING COLUMN WIRING SYSTEM WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. ALTHOUGH THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE FAILURE (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 10V073000: COMPONENT: STEERING; ELECTRICAL POWER ASSIST). THE CONTACT WAS NOT AWARE IF HIS VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED WITH THIS CAMPAIGN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77060 AND THE CURRENT IS 94,472. UPDATED 4/22/10 *CN THE DEALER REPLACED THE STEERING MODULE. UPDATED 06/18/10*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10318122March 9, 2010
STEERING
I AM AN UNFORTUNATE OWNER OF ONE OF THE WORST CARS EVER MADE, A CHEVROLET COBALT. I BOUGHT THIS CAR IN 2008 WITH HOPES THAT IT WOULD STAND UP TO MY OLDER CAVALIER AND SUNFIRE. I WAS SADLY WRONG ABOUT MY CHOICE. AFTER ONLY TWO MONTHS OF OWNING MY VEHICLE (I BOUGHT IT AT A USED CAR CENTRE WITH 54000 KMS. JIM GILBERTS IN FREDERICTON, NB) AND 500 KMS OVER MY 60000K WARRANTY MY SWAY BAR LINKS HAD TO BE REPLACED. ONE MONTH AFTER I REPLACED THEM I HAD TO REPLACE BOTH CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS. AFTER REPLACING ALL OF THAT I STARTED TO HEAR RATTLING COMING FROM MY STEERING WHEEL. I CAME TO FIND OUT THAT MY STEERING COLUMN WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. BEFORE I BOUGHT MY CAR I HAD A VEHICLE HISTORY REPORT DONE AND IT CAME BACK CLEAN. IT WAS USED AS A CITY COURIER CAR. I HAD THOUGHT THAT MAYBE BECAUSE OF CITY DRIVING THESE PARTS HAD BEEN WORN OUT PREMATURELY. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH I FOUND HUNDREDS AND THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS. ALMOST ALL OF THEM CLAIM THAT THESE PROBLEMS WERE WITH CARS BOUGHT DIRECTLY OFF THE LOT. I KNOW 5 PEOPLE PERSONALLY WHO ALSO HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS. ONE OF MY FRIENDS HAD HIS STEERING COLUMN REPLACED 4 TIMES. I REPLACED MY SWAY BAR LINKS TWICE AND THEY NEED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN AND I AM ON MY SECOND SET OF CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS. I HAVE YET REPLACED MY STEERING COLUMN BECAUSE I CAN NOT AFFORD THE BILL. I HAVE LEARNED OF THE RECENT RECALL FOR THE POWER STEERING MOTOR. THAT IS ONE OF THE PROBLEMS THAT I DON'T HAVE, YET. COULD SOMEONE PLEASE EXPLAIN TO ME HOW RECALLS ARE DECIDED ON? DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO GET INTO AN ACCIDENT FOR THESE COMPANIES TO TAKE SOME KIND OF ACTION? I AM WAITING FOR THE DAY WHEN I AM DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE FRONT END OF MY CAR FALLS OFF. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10318134March 9, 2010
STEERING
2006 CHEVY COBALT . THE CAR STARTED TO RATTLE WHEN DRIVING COUPLE DAYS LATTER THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED TO WOBBLE FROM SIDE TO SIDE. I TOOK IT TO A AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR GARAGE AND HAD THE LOOK AT THE PROBLEM AND WAS TOLD BY THE GARAGE THAT THE RACK & PINION STEERING ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WAS A LOT OF PLAY IN THE STEERING ASSEMBLY. THE GARAGE HAD ME SPEAK TO THE LOCAL CHEVY DEALER. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT INFORMED ME THAT THERE HAS BEEN MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH THE COBALTS STEERING AND THERE IS 1.3 MILLION CHEVY & PONTIAC CARS THAT HAVE A STEERING ISSUES BUT THERE IS NOTHING THEY COULD DO FOR ME BUT BUY A NEW ASSEMBLY AT $367.00 PLUS LABOR TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. GM MIGHT RECALL THE PROBLEM. THE STEERING HAS LOCKED UP ON ME TODAY AFTER THE GM DEALER SAID IT WAS OK TO DRIVE. THANK GOD I WAS NO GOING AT A LOW SPEED. I HOPE THAT NOBODY GETS KILLED. I HAVE PARKED THE CAR UNTIL I CAN HAVE A NEW ASSEMBLY INSTALLED BY THE REPAIR GARAGE. THE ASSEMBLY IS A SPECIAL ORDER FROM A GM DEALER. THIS ALSO TAKES A TOLL ON THE TIRES AND FRONT END. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10318164March 9, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
THE REAR BRAKES STARTED SQUEAKING REALLY BADLY AT 5000 MILES ON MY NEW 2009 CHEVY COBALT SS. WHILE PERFORMING A TIRE ROTATION, I INSPECTED THE BRAKES AND ROTORS FOR UNUSUAL WEAR. I NOTICED TWO REALLY DEEP GROOVES/SCORES ON THE BACKSIDE OF THE DRIVER SIDE REAR BRAKE ROTOR. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY AGREED THAT WAS NOT NORMAL WEAR AND REPLACED THE ROTOR. THE BRAKES STILL SQUEAK BUT NOT AS BAD. IT IS UNFORTUNATE THOUGH THAT I HAVE TO DRIVE AROUND IN A NEW CAR AND AM EMBARRASSED TO COME TO A STOP WITH ALL THE SQUEALING. I WAS HANDED A TSB (#08-05-22-004) STATING THAT SQUEAKING BRAKES ARE NORMAL AND ARE NOT TO BE REPAIRED. I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT NO ONE TOLD ME TO EXPECT SUCH AWFUL NOISES FROM MY NEW CAR WITHIN THE FIRST FIVE MONTHS OF DRIVING IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10318325March 9, 2010
STEERING
IN THE LAST WEEK, MY 2007 COBALTS POWER STEERING LIGHT HAS COME ON ABOUT 9 TIMES. ON 3-9-10 ALONE IT CAME ON 3 TIMES. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, THE POWER STEERING IS OUT. PULLING THE CAR OUT OF TRAFFIC I TURN THE CAR OFF AND RESTART IT AND THE POWER STEERING IS BACK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10317635March 8, 2010
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2007 CHEVROLET COBALT. HER DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING AT 57MPH SHE DIDN'T SEE A WARNING LIGHT FOR POWER STEERING. THE STEERING GOT HARD AND PULLED TO THE RIGHT, SHE PULLED THE STEERING BACK TO THE LEFT AND LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND COLLIDED INTO A GUARD RAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. SHE DID NOT RECEIVE ANY INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 59,381.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10317655March 8, 2010
STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY BETWEEN 30-40 ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS. SUDDENLY, THERE WAS A LOSS OF POWER STEERING. THE DRIVER CONTINUED WITH CAUTION EXPERIENCING EXTREME DIFFICULTLY IN STEERING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE STATION. THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AND RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THIS TIME. THE FAILURE 14,500.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10317764March 8, 2010
STEERING
I OWN A CHEVY COBALT LT AND THE POWER STEERING GOES OFF AND ITS HARD TO CONTROL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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