Chevrolet Cobalt Complaints

7,975 consumer complaints on file.

#10565006February 19, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STEERING
CAR WOULD CUT OFF WHEN STEERING WHEEL WAS TILTED AND AT TIMES KEY WOULD NOT COME OUT OF IGNITION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10565037February 19, 2014
STEERING
WHILE MAKING A LEFT HAND U-TURN, CAR SUFFERED A LOSS OF POWER CAUSING A LOSS OF CONTROL, AS A RESULT A TREE WAS HIT CAUSING THE CAR TO BE TOTALED. THIS IS AS REPORTED BY MY DAUGHTER WHO WAS DRIVING AT THE TIME. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10565052February 19, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
DRIVING 45 ON A STATE ROAD AND MY CAR JUST POWERED DOWN. NO PREVIOUS ISSUES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10564767February 18, 2014
STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, SERVICE BRAKES
ON JANUARY 10TH, 2010 OUR DAUGHTER [XXX] 21 YRS. OLD WAS KILLED IN A CAR ACCIDENT. WE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FROM GM IN APRIL 2010 ON THE CAR A 2005 CHEVY COBALT FOR POWER STEERING FAILURE. THE RECALL INVOLVES REMOVING ENTIRE POWER STEERING MECHANISM BUILT BY A PARTIALLY OWNED TOYOTA FACTORY. I KNEW THE MINUTE I GOT THE NEWS THAT MY DAUGHTER WAS KILLED SO VIOLENTLY AND THAT IT DID NOT INVOLVE ANOTHER CAR THAT IT HAD TO BE MECHANICAL FAILURE. IT WAS TOO LATE TO SAVE OUR DAUGHTER [XXX] BUT NOT TOO LATE TO SAVE OTHERS, I CONTACTED GM WHO SENT THREE REPRESENTATIVES TO THE COPARTS SCRAP YARD IN DURYEA WHERE THE COBALT WAS STORED IN JULY TO INVESTIGATE THE CAR ACCIDENT. A PHOTOGRAPHER, AN ACCIDENT RECONSTRUCTION AND A MECHANICAL ENGINEER THAT FLEW IN FROM DETROIT, THE OBJECTIVE WAS TO REMOVE THE BLACK BOX, COMPUTER FROM THE CAR AND ANALYZE THE DATA. WE WENT TO THE SCRAP YARD AND FOR THE FIRST TIME SAW THE WRECKAGE THAT WAS ONCE A BEAUTIFUL RED SPORTS CAR. ALL THE WINDOWS INCLUDING THE SUN ROOF WERE BLOWN OUT, THE COBALT HAD FLIPPED, ROLLED, EJECTING [XXX] ON TO THE HIGHWAY WHERE SHE WAS RUN OVER. WE ARE NOT SURE IF [XXX] WAS KILLED ON IMPACT. THE COBALT BURST INTO FLAMES MELTING THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, SHIFT, UPHOLSTERY. AT THE COPARTS SCRAP YARD IN DURYEA, MYSELF AND MY HUSBAND [XXX] FATHER SAW THE CAR FOR THE FIRST TIME THE COBALT TOLD THE STORY OF AN EXTREMELY VIOLENT WRECK. I WAS TOLD BY [XXX]THAT I WOULD KNOW THE RESULTS FROM THE BLACK BOX DATA THE NEXT DAY. WHEN I TRIED TO CONTACT GM THROUGH [XXX], MISS PRICE THAT THEY WOULD NOT COMMUNICATE WITH OUR FAMILY. GM HAS MY PROPERTY AND THEY WILL NOT RELEASE THE DATA WITHOUT US PROVIDING PROOF THAT THE CAR WAS DEFECTIVE. THIS IS NOT POSSIBLE SINCE THEY TOOK THE MOST VALUABLE PIECE OF INFORMATION FROM THE CAR. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
1
#10564724February 17, 2014
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
THE SEAL WHERE THE FUEL FILLER TUBE MEETS THE GASOLINE TANK IS LEAKING. IT IS CONTINUOUSLY WET IN A CIRCLE ABOUT TWO INCHES AROUND THE TUBE. IT IS NOT DRIPPING ON THE GROUND AT THIS TIME, BUT LOOKS AS IF IT WILL WITHIN A SHORT TIME. THE FUMES ARE VERY STRONG. I MOVED THE CAR OUT OF THE GARAGE TO AVOID AN EXPLOSION HAZARD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10564557February 16, 2014
POWER TRAIN
THE CAR DOES NOT WANT TO SHIFT FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR AND WHEN IT DOES, IT IS VERY JERKY. ACCELERATION IS VERY LIMITED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10564315February 14, 2014
AIR BAGS, STRUCTURE:BODY, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN, THE CAR FELT AS IF IT WAS SLIDING AND HIT A GUARDRAIL. THEN, SLIDE ALONGSIDE IT. THAT IMPACT PROPELLED MY CAR ACROSS THE STREET AND IT COLLIDED WITH A GUARD-WALL, ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STREET, TOTALING THE VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10564325February 14, 2014
STEERING
TL - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE POWER STEERING WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY HARD TO MANEUVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 107,000. PM *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10564428February 14, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
I RE-ENTERED THE HIGHWAY (I65) SOUTHBOUND FROM REST STOP. AS I APPROACHED CRUISING SPEED AND MERGED INTO THE OUTSIDE LANE, I DEPLOYED THE TILT STEERING LEVER AND PULLED THE STEERING WHEEL DOWN TO MY PREFERRED POSITION. SINCE I USUALLY DRIVE ANOTHER VEHICLE AND WAS NOT USED TO THIS ONE, I PULLED TOO HARD ON THE STEERING WHEEL CAUSING IT TO COME DOWN ABRUPTLY AND HARD INTO THE FULL DOWN POSITION. THIS CAUSED THE IGNITION TO SHUT OFF. MY SPEED WAS ABOUT 70MPH. I BEGAN TO SLOW AND EDGE TOWARDS THE SHOULDER WHEN I RECOVERED MY FACULTIES, PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL, AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE WITH THE KEY WHILE STILL IN MOTION AT ABOUT 50MPH. I RESUMED MY TRIP AS NORMAL AND CAUTIONED MY DAUGHTER AGAINST RAPID STEERING COLUMN ADJUSTMENTS WHILE DRIVING. I READ THE RECALL NEWS TODAY AND THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE HELPFUL IF I RECOUNTED MY EXPERIENCE WITH THE IGNITION FAILING ON MY VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10564185February 13, 2014
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WAS DRIVING ON FREEWAY GOING 55 MPG, WEATHER CLEAR, ROAD CLEAR, WENT TO APPLY BRAKES AND NO POWER TO CAR WHAT SO EVER, CAR DID COMPLETE U-TURN ON FREEWAY AND HIT SIDE CURBING ON FREEWAY WHICH CAUSED TIRE AND RIM DAMAGE. LIGHTS CAME ON DASH AND CAR WAS NOT ON WHEN IT CRASHED. CAR WAS TAKEN TO RALLY CHEVROLET FOR REPAIRS AND I TOLD THEM THAT CAR JUST QUIT RESPONDING AND I HAD NO CONTROL OF CAR. THEY SAID THEY FOUND NOTHING MECHANICALLY WRONG, MY INSURANCE HAD TO PAY FOR REPAIRS AND I HAD TO PAY DEDUCTIBLE FOR REPAIRS, AN INVESTIGATOR CAME OUT TO CHECK MECHANICAL ISSUES WITH CAR, BUT CODES HAD BEEN ERASED FROM RALLY CHEVROLET. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10564215February 13, 2014
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
HEADLIGHTS PERIODICALLY REMAIN ON, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER I TRY TO MANUALLY TURN THEM ON OR OFF. IN ADDITION, SOMETIMES WHEN I USE THE HIGH BEAMS AND TRY TO TURN THEM OFF, THE LOW BEAMS WILL NOT COME BACK ON. AFTER TURNING THE CAR ON AND OFF, TAPPING ON THE FUSE BOX, SWITCHING IN AND OUT OF GEARS AND TURNING THE LIGHTS ON AND OFF REPETITIVELY, EVERYTHING GENERALLY WILL START WORKING PROPERLY AGAIN AFTER 15 OR 20 MINUTES. THIS HAS CAUSED MY BATTERY TO DIE SEVERAL TIMES AND I CAN NO LONGER WALK AWAY FROM MY CAR WITHOUT CONFIRMING THE LIGHTS HAVE TURNED OFF. MECHANICS THOUGHT THE PROBLEM WAS IN THE IGNITION SWITCH, BUT REPLACEMENT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. SEVERAL WEEKS AGO I NOTED THAT THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL CAR HAD THE SAME ISSUE OUTSIDE OF MY WORKPLACE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10564255February 13, 2014
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
CONSISTENT WITH MANY, MANY OTHER OWNERS, MY 2006 COBALT HAS THE DREADED GAS LEAK SMELL, YET CHEVROLET REFUSES TO INCLUDE MY STATE IN THE RECALL. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE AND DANGEROUS TO ALLOW SO MANY CARS WITH GAS LEAKS TO NOT BE RECALLED. I DO NOT EXACTLY LIVE IN A COLD WEATHER STATE (MO). IT IS ABSURD THAT IF I LIVED 200 MILES TO THE SOUTH MY CAR WOULD BE AT LEAST PARTIALLY AFFECTED BY A RECALL FOR THIS VERY ISSUE. GM IS PINCHING PENNIES AND REFUSING TO FIX A PROBLEM WHICH EXISTS NATIONWIDE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10564262February 13, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD RECURRING STALL AND THE KEY COULD NOT BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY IN ORDER TO POWER OFF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO ADVISED THAT THE TUMBLER WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,314. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10564142February 12, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
THE IGNITION ON THE CAR IS LOOSE AND JUST THROUGH THE WEIGHT OF THE KEY CHAIN AND BY HITTING A BUMP, THE KEY CAN SHIFT OUT OF THE "ON" POSITION, CAUSING THE CAR TO TURN OFF. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, TYPICALLY ON THE HIGHWAY - THE CAR WILL COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. FORTUNATELY, EACH TIME MY WIFE WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND RESTART THE CAR. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN THIS MODEL YEAR. THE DANGERS OF THIS CONDITION ARE OBVIOUS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10563667February 10, 2014
STEERING
TL- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, HE ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A RIGHT HAND TURN AND THE POWER STEERING FAILURE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THEY STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,000. AP
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10563679February 10, 2014
STEERING
TRIED TO BACK OUT OF MY PARKING SPOT AT HOME TO GO TO WORK. COULD NOT TURN WHEELS AT ALL. HAD CAR TOWED TO CHAPMAN CHEVROLET BECAUSE MY BOTHER, WHO IS A MECHANIC, ADVISED ME THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS MODEL AND YEAR. AFTER CHAPMAN RECEIVED THE CAR THEY BLAMED PROBLEM ON STEERING COLUMN AND WOUND UP CHARGING ME $960.73 TO REPLACE IT. MY BROTHER ADVISED ME THAT POWER STEERING UNIT IS PART OF POWER STEERING OPERATION. INFORMATION SYSTEM ON DASH BOARD SAID POWER SYSTEM FAILURE. FORTUNATELY THIS DID NOT HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING TO WORK AS I COULD NOT HAVE HANDLED THE CAR AND WOULD HAVE HAS A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10563456February 7, 2014
POWER TRAIN, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I HAD THE IGNITION CYLINDER REPLACED ABOUT A YEAR AGO, DUE TO THE KEY NOT BEING ABLE TO RELEASE. THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH 2005 MODEL YEAR COBALTS. WELL, THE VEHICLE IS DOING THIS AGAIN. THE KEY IS NOT BEING RELEASED FROM THE IGNITION CYLINDER. HOWEVER, THIS TIME I BELIEVE IT IS THE SHIFTER ASSEMBLY THAT HAS GONE BAD. THERE IS NO REVERSE LOCK OUT. I CAN FREELY CYCLE THROUGH THE GEARS WITHOUT APPLYING THE BRAKES WHICH IS A SAFETY HAZARD. I CAN PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE WITHOUT APPLYING THE BRAKES BY SIMPLY MOVING THE SHIFT LEVER. LITTLE TO NO FORCE IS NEEDED, I CAN ACCIDENTALLY KNOCK THE LEVER INTO REVERSE WITH THE LITTLEST OF FORCE. I HAVE YET TO CONTACT THE DEALER ABOUT THE ISSUE SINCE I AM SURE IT WILL COST A FORTUNE TO FIX EVEN THOUGH IT IS A DOCUMENTED PROBLEM WITH A FEW TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS ON THE ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10563337February 7, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.
MY CAR RADIO AUTOMATICALLY SWITCHES TO AUX ON ITS OWN. THIS IS NOT JUST WHEN I GO OVER A BUMP, OR WHEN I'M DRIVING. I CAN BE SITTING IN A PARKING LOT LISTENING TO A RADIO WAITING AND OUT OF NOWHERE THE RADIO CUTS OUT AND I LOOK AND ITS IN AUX MODE. I FIRST NOTICED IT DOING THIS WHEN I WOULD COME OUT TO MY CAR. I HAVE A REMOTE START AND MY RADIO IS ALWAYS ON BUT THE VOLUME TURNED DOWN. FOR THE PAST MONTH OR TWO I NOTICED WHEN I CAME OUT TO MY CAR IT WAS ON AUX. I KNEW I DIDN'T LEAVE IT THAT WAY, SO I WAS SO CONFUSED ON HOW THIS COULD HAVE HAPPENED. I WOULD SWITCH IT TO RADIO AND WHILE I DROVE TO MY DESTINATION IT WAS FINE. THEN IT STARTED TO GET WORSE, HAPPENING WHILE I'M SITTING IN MY CAR IN THE MORNING. I'D TURN IT TO RADIO AND SECONDS LATER IT WAS SWITCHING TO AUX. I'D BE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND OUT OF NOWHERE I LOSE THE RADIO AND LOOK AND IT'S ON AUX. IT'S NOT HAPPENING JUST BECAUSE I'M DRIVING OVER A BUMP, OR ITS GETTING BUMPED SOMEHOW. IT NOW HAPPENS EVERYTIME I USE MY VEHICLE. IF I'VE REMOTED STARTED MY CAR, I ALWAYS COME OUT TO IT ON AUX, EVEN THOUGH I KNOW FOR A FACT I HAVE NOT LEFT IT THAT WAY. I STARTED JUST TURNING THE RADIO OFF WHEN I GET OUT OF MY CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10562884February 4, 2014
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY FAILED WHILE TRAVELING VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR WAS THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 10V073000 (STEERING). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 45,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10562701February 3, 2014
STEERING
CAR LOST POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING. I STOPPED, TURNED THE CAR OFF, TURNED IT BACK ON, STEERING WAS BACK TO NORMAL. LATER THAT DAY WHILE DRIVING, CAR LOST POWER STEERING AGAIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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