Chevrolet Cobalt Complaints (2005)
1,649 consumer complaints on file.
- #10438770December 6, 2011ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH INTO AN INTERSECTION, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AND THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESUME NORMALLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON A SEPARATE OCCASION. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10437965December 1, 2011POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT. WHILE STOPPED, THE CONTACT PLACED THE GEAR SHIFTER IN PARK AND NOTICED THAT THE INDICATOR WAS STILL ILLUMINATED IN DRIVE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SHUT THE ENGINE OFF BUT WAS UNABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10436591November 21, 2011ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 65 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHIFT OUT FOURTH GEAR. THE CONTACT STATED PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE LOW FUEL SENSOR ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY WITH THE TRACTION CONTROL AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING SENSORS ENGAGED. THE BRAKE AND ANTI LOCK SENSORS ILLUMINATED BUT DID NOT REMAIN ON CONSISTENTLY. THE ODOMETER ALSO BEGAN TO FLUCTUATE ON THE CONTROL PANEL. THE FAILURE WAS CORRECTED TEMPORARILY WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THE BODY CONNECTOR MODULE GEAR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 178,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10436581November 21, 2011STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED WITH THE ALERT OF THE WARNING CHIME. THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY FAILED AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE CONTACT STOPPED AND SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE. ONCE RESTARTED, THE VEHICLE REGAINED POWER STEERING. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 10V073000 (STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM) AND WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE AFTER REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000. UPDATED 12/22/11*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED SINCE THE RECALL REPLACEMENT OF THE STEERING MOTOR, THERE HAS BEEN CONSTANT STEERING ALERTS ON THE DASH/INFO CENTER WITH A CHIME. UPON POWER STEERING ALERT, THE VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF AND WHEN RESTARTED AGAIN, THERE IS A ROUGH IDLE. THE SHIFT WAS SO ROUGH, THE VEHICLE CAN NOT BE DRIVEN. SEVERAL CYCLES ARE NEED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. UPDATED 01/20/12
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10436667November 21, 2011STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SHAKING EXCESSIVELY AND WOULD LOSE POWER WHILE DRIVING. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WOULD VIOLENTLY JERK WHILE MAKING TURNS AND THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD SEIZE. NEITHER A DEALER NOR A MECHANIC WAS NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 168,267.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10434811November 7, 2011STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILED INTERMITTENTLY AND AS A RESULT, SEVERAL WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 10V073000 (STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM) YET THE FAILURE RECURRED ONE YEAR LATER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 154,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,445.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10432784October 25, 2011STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN TRAVELING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE POWER STEERING WOULD FAIL INTERMITTENTLY. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE NOR WAS THE VEHICLE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 48,800.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10432793October 25, 2011STEERING
THE POWER STEERING MOTOR ON MY 2005 COBALT FAILED FOR THE FIRST TIME IN DECEMBER, 2010. NOW, IN OCTOBER, 2011 I HAVE HAD THE POWER STEERING MOTOR REPLACED AS PER THE CHEVROLET RECALL. FIVE DAYS AFTER THE REPLACEMENT OF THE MOTOR, THE EXACT SAME ISSUES HAVE RETURNED. THE CAR STUTTERS AT ANY SPEED, THE POWER STEERING FAILS COMPLETELY MAKING THE CAR NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER AND THE CAR HAS STALLED AT LEAST HALF A DOZEN TIMES SO FAR. CHEVROLET KNOWS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, BUT IT IS CLEAR THAT THE RECALL OF THE POWER STEERING MOTOR ALONE DOES NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. THE ENTIRE POWER STEERING MECHANISM SEEMS TO BE AT FAULT AND IT SEEMS THAT CHEVROLET WILL ONLY COVER THE CHEAPEST PART OF THIS FIX. CHEVROLET EXPECTS ITS CUSTOMERS TO PAY FOR THEIR MISTAKE AND NOT ONLY IS THIS MISTAKE AN INCONVENIENCE IT IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN. MY VEHICLE HAS STALLED ON AN ON-RAMP, IN TRAFFIC AND ONCE IN AN INTERSECTION. CHEVROLET MUST BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS HUGE SAFETY CONCERN AND FIX THE PROBLEM AT ITS ROOT. *TT
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10432679October 24, 2011STEERING
THE POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON AND BECAME HARD TO STEER. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND STOP AS THERE WAS NO ONE ELSE ON THE HIGHWAY AT THE TIME. I'VE THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE PART BUT WHEN I CALLED THE DEALER THEY SEEM TO THINK THEY HAVE ALREADY FIXED THE PROBLEM BUT I WILL BRING IT IN TOMORROW. AFTER READING ALL THE STORIES ABOUT THIS MODEL ITS A WONDER GM HAS DONE NOTHING ABOUT IT. I WILL HAVE TO PAY ALMOST 100 DOLLAR FOR THEM TO JUST LOOK AT THE CAR. LORDS ONLY KNOWS WHAT ITS GOING TO TAKE FOR THEM TO ATTEMPT TO REPAIR IT FOR GOOD. I'M NOT REALLY SURE ITS WORTH FIXING BUT WHO CAN JUST GO OUT AND BUY A NEW CAR BECAUSE GM SOLD JUNK IN THE FIRST PLACE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10432371October 21, 2011STEERING
POWER STEERING STOPS WORKING AND THEN STARTS WORKING SOMETIMES WHEN DRIVING. POWER STEERING PUMP WAS CHANGED BY CHEVROLET DEALER IN MARCH, 2011. BY MAY, 2011, SAME PROBLEM OF POWER STEERING WORKING ERRATICALLY RESUMED. DEALER LOOKED AT IT AGAIN ON 9/30/11 AND WAS UNABLE TO FIX. ON OCTOBER 18, 2011, A NEAR ACCIDENT OCCURRED WHEN THE POWER STEERING STARTED WORKING DURING A SHARP TURN AT 25 MPH WHILE ENTERING AN ON RAMP. THE FORCE IT TAKES TO TURN THE WHEEL AT THAT SPEED IS ESTIMATED AT 30 LBS AND WHILE APPLYING THAT FORCE IN THE SHARP TURN AND THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY STARTED WORKING, RESULTING IN MY MAKING A SIGNIFICANT TURN TO THE RIGHT AND ALMOST RUNNING OFF THE RAMP AND DOWN A 15' EMBANKMENT. THE VEHICLE IS TOO HAZARDOUS TO DRIVE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10430781October 19, 2011VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, STEERING
WHEN PULLING OUT OF OUR DRIVE WAY THIS MORNING, THE CAR SUDDENLY BEGAN TO JERK, I THOUGHT IT WAS NOTHING. THEN AS I PULLED TO THE STOP SIGN, THE CAR THEN JERKED AGAIN AND SOMEWHAT SLOWED DOWN AND THE LOW BRAKE FLUID LIGHTS BEGAN TO FLASH AND A DINGING NOISE CAME ON AS WELL. I IMMEDIATELY TURNED THE CAR BACK INTO OUR DRIVEWAY BUT BARELY COULD BECAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL WAS SO STIFF IT WOULD HARDLY BUDGE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10430130October 13, 2011STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM, STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
I OWN A 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT, THE POWER STEERING AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE THEN BEGAN TO JERK AND BECOME DIFFICULT TO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 10V073000 (STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM); BUT THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT THERE NO RECALL FOR MY VEHICLE, APPARENTLY THEY WAS BASE ON THE VEHICLE VIN # INSTEAD OF MODEL/MADE/YEAR OF THE CAR. THE DEALER TOLD ME I NEED TO REPLACE STEERING COLUMN WHICH WILL COST ME CLOSE TO $1000 W/PART, LABOR & TAXES. PICKUP MY CAR ON THE SAME DAY LATE AFTERNOON, WAS ABLE TO DRIVE HOME WITH NO INCIDENT. HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED THE NEXT DAY, AGAIN TOWED THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP, THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS AWAITING FURTHER INSPECTION AT THE DEALERSHIP, IN THE MEANTIME I'M DRIVING THE RENTAL THAT WAS PROVIDED BY THE DEALERSHIP. THIS IS MFG DEFECTED PROBLEM, I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAID TO FIX THE STEERING COLUMN. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10427970September 29, 2011AIR BAGS, STEERING
THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED AT ABOUT 9:30PM ON THE NIGHT OF 9/21/11. THE FAILURE OF THE AIR BAGS AND STEERING OCCURRED ON NJ STATE ROUTE 78 WEST, ABOUT 50 FEET BEFORE THE RAMP TO ROUTE 31. THERE WAS NO TRAFFIC CONGESTION ON THE ROAD, AND VISIBILITY WAS GOOD. I WAS FULLY AWAKE, AND WAS FAMILIAR WITH DRIVING THIS ROUTE ON A DAILY BASIS. WHILE I WAS DRIVING MY 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT HOME FROM COLLEGE, MY VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING RIGHT BEFORE I GOT ONTO THE RAMP. KEEP IN MIND THAT MY VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING COMPLETELY STRAIGHT AT THE TIME WHEN THE POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON, AND ABOUT HALF A SECOND LATER MY VEHICLE BEGAN SPINNING TO THE RIGHT. BEFORE I COULD SLOW DOWN OR STRAIGHTEN THE CAR, MY VEHICLE HAD ROTATED ALMOST A FULL 90 DEGREES TO THE RIGHT. AT THIS POINT THE RAMP HAD STARTED, AND THUS TO AVOID HITTING THE GUARD RAIL ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD I MADE A STRONG EFFORT TO TURN THE WHEEL TO THE LEFT AND STRAIGHTEN MY CAR. I SUCCEEDED IN TURNING THE WHEEL TO THE LEFT, AND THUS STRAIGHTENED MY CAR OUT UNTIL MY CAR THEN STARTED TO SPIN TO THE LEFT, AND BOUNCED OFF OF THE GUARD RAIL ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RAMP AT APPROXIMATELY 40MPH. A COUPLE SECONDS ELAPSED FROM WHEN THE POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON, TO WHEN MY CAR HIT THE GUARD RAIL. AFTER THE CAR BOUNCED OFF OF THE GUARD RAIL, IT CONTINUED TO SPIN FOR ANOTHER 270 DEGREES, AND CAME TO REST ON THE NARROW SHOULDER, PARALLEL TO THE ROAD. THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY, AND AFTER I SHUT THE CAR OFF AND TURNED IT BACK ON, THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT HAD DISAPPEARED ENTIRELY. ALTHOUGH I DROVE THE CAR OFF OF THE RAMP, AS I WAS INSTRUCTED TO BY POLICE, THE CAR WAS TOTALED DUE TO SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE FRONT OF THE BODY AND FRAME OF THE VEHICLE. AFTER THE INCIDENT I DISCOVERED THE PREVIOUS RECALL ON THE POWER STEERING MOTOR, HOWEVER WHEN I CHECKED WITH THE DEALER, THEIR RECORDS INDICATED THAT THE RECALL WAS FULFILLED. *TT
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10426256September 19, 2011STEERING, STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE AND THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD SEIZE WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,000. UPDATED 10/04/11 *BF THE CONSUMER REFERENCED RECALL # 10V073000. UPDATED 11/02/11
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10425973September 18, 2011UNKNOWN OR OTHER
KEY GETS STUCK IN IGNITION. *TT
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10425413September 14, 2011STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM, STEERING
I BOUGHT THE CHEVY COBALT (2005) IN THE FALL OF 2009. THE NEXT SUMMER I WAS NOTIFIED OF THE RECALL ON THE POWER STEERING. I HAVE SINCE BROUGHT MY CAR IN TWICE BECAUSE THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING HAS SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. TODAY, FOR THE THIRD TIME SINCE THE CAR WAS SUPPOSEDLY FIXED BY CHEVY THE POWER STEERING SHUT OFF AGAIN WHILE I WAS DRIVING IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN AND IT SEEMS LIKE CHEVY IS JUST REPLACING WITH THE SAME DEFECTIVE PARTS. THE WHOLE SYSTEM NEEDS TO BE REPLACED OR A DIFFERENT MOTOR NEEDS TO BE USED FOR THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING. *KB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10424480September 9, 2011STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING A RECURRING FAILURE IN WHICH THE POWER STEERING WOULD FAIL AND CAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL TO SEIZE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INITIALLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 10V073000 (STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 89,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10424131September 7, 2011STEERING
LOSS OF POWER STEERING, MULTIPLE WARNING LIGHTS APPEARED. RECALL WAS DONE 1/24/11. LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND WARNING LIGHTS AUGUST 3, 2011. DEALER UNABLE TO FIND PROBLEM. LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND WARNING LIGHTS AUGUST 31. AGAIN, DEALER UNABLE TO FIND PROBLEM. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10423257September 5, 2011STEERING, AIR BAGS
MY 05 CHEVY COBALT WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGH WAY GOING ABOUT 70MPH SWITCH LANES AND MY POWER STEERING GOT OUT OF CONTROL AND GOT INTO A WRECK HIT SOME ONE BESIDE ME. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10422748August 31, 2011ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
RANDOMLY, CHIMES SOUND, GAUGES ON INSTRUMENT PANEL CYCLE TO ZERO AND BACK, POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT, FUEL LOW WARNING SHOW, SOMETIMES THEFT LIGHT COMES ON AS DOES CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. ELECTRICAL ASSIST TO AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IS LOST RESULTING IN HARD SHIFTS. MUST MANUALLY SHIFT INTO 1ST GEAR WHEN STOPPING TO AVOID ENGINE STALLING. PARKING CAR SEEMS TO FIX/ALLOW CAR TO RESET. HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES OVER PAST TWO YEARS. HAD MECHANIC LOOK AT IT FIRST TIME. SAID EVERY COMPUTER ON THE CAR HAD TO BE RESET TO THE TUNE OF $100. RECURRED TWO DAYS LATER. FIXED ITSELF BEFORE TAKING IT BACK IN. NOW I JUST LIVE WITH THE PROBLEM BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO LET THESE GUYS TROUBLE SHOOT AND FIX THINGS THAT ARE NOT THE PROBLEM. AM HAVING THE POWER STEERING RECALL DONE TOMORROW HOPING THAT IT WOULD SOLVE THE PROBLEM BUT APPARENTLY IT DOESN'T. PROBLEM OCCURRENCE IS TOTALLY RANDOM. SOMETIMES THERE IS 6 MONTHS BETWEEN EPISODES, SOMETIMES WEEKS, DAYS. IT IS REALLY ACTING UP AFTER THE HEAVY RAINS OF IRENE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0