Chevrolet Cobalt Complaints

7,975 consumer complaints on file.

#10304303February 3, 2010
STEERING
ELECTRONIC STEERING IN THE CHEVY COBALT. AROUND OCT 2009, I BOUGHT A 2006 CHEVY COBALT, PRIMARILY FOR MY DAUGHTER TO CONTINUE HER DRIVERS ED TRAINING AND PRACTICE. I NOTICED WHEN SHE TRIED TO PARALLEL PARK WITHIN THE 3 MINUTE MVA TIME LIMIT THAT SHE WOULD LOOSE POWER STEERING AND THE WHEEL WOULD LOCK. IT WOULD STAY LOCKED FOR SOME TIME (A FEW MINUTES). MY DAUGHTER MENTIONED THAT SHE WASN'T ALLOWED TO DRIVE THE CHEVY COBALT AT HER DRIVERS ED TRAINING BECAUSE OF THE SAME PROBLEM--SO THE COMPANY COULDN'T USE THE VEHICLES FOR THE STUDENTS TO PRACTICE PARALLEL PARKING. THE COMPANY WAS FRIENDLY DRIVING ACADEMY IN GLEN BURNIE, MD I FILED A COMPLAINT WITH GM CUSTOMER SERVICE AND TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT THAT IS HOW THE CAR IS DESIGNED. I TOLD THEM THAT I THOUGHT IT WAS POOR ENGINEERING AND THAT TRYING TO MAKE PARALLEL PARKING ADJUSTMENTS WITHIN A 3 MINUTE MVA TIME LIMIT SHOULD NOT CAUSE THE STEERING TO LOCK. MY DAUGHTER WAS UNABLE TO USE THE VEHICLE TO TAKE THE MVA TEST BECAUSE OF THIS. IT SEEMS THAT THIS SHOULD BE DEFECT AND THE VEHICLES SHOULD BE RECALLED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10304235February 3, 2010
STEERING
MY CHEVY COBALT LS 2006 2-D LOST ITS STEERING POWER AND I HAD A HARD TIME DRIVING IT BUT LUCKILY I WAS STILL UNDER THE 36,000 MILES WARRANTY WHEN I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. IT WAS FIXED BUT I'M JUST WORRIED THAT IT MAY HAPPEN AGAIN AND MY CAR IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY ANYMORE AND I SEE THAT IT COSTS $2000.00 TO HAVE IT FIXED AND IN ADDITION TO THIS, IT MAY CAUSE A MAJOR ACCIDENT WITHOUT STEERING CAPABILITIES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10304242February 3, 2010
STEERING
ELECTRICAL POWER STEERING FAILURE IN MY 2005 CHEVY COBALT. I HAVE MADE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS TO THE MANUFACTURER WITH NO RESPONSE. MY POWER STEERING GOES OUT AND THEN RESETS ITSELF, SOMETIMES WHILE YOU ARE GOING DOWN THE ROAD. THE ONLY REPAIR FOR THIS IS TO REPLACE MY ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN WHICH COSTS OVER $1,000! THIS HAPPENED WHEN I HAD ONLY 62,000 MILES ON THE CAR. CANNOT AFFORD TO FIX THIS CAR AND PAY FOR IT TOO. I HAVE CHILDREN THOUGH AND THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION. WE LIVE IN KY AND THE ROADS ARE FULL OF HILLS AND CURVES, NOW THAT THE POWER STEERING IS STARTING TO RESET ITSELF AGAIN WHILE GOING DOWN THE ROAD, IT IS EVEN MORE HAZARDOUS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10304232February 3, 2010
STEERING
I OWN A 2006 CHEVY COBALT LS. I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS STEERING MY VEHICLE WHEN PARKING, BACKING OUT OF PARKING SPACES AND WHEN TRAVELING AT LOW SPEEDS AND TRYING TO TURN. I HAVE MENTIONED THIS PROBLEM TO MY CHEVY DEALERSHIP SERVICE CENTER AND THEY HAVE STATED THAT THIS IS JUST SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS WITH THE COBALTS OVER TIME. RECENTLY MY IGNITION LOCKED UP TWICE, AND RIGHT BEFORE IT LOCKED I FELT THE STEERING COLUMN TIGHTEN UP. NOT SURE IF THAT'S RELATED BUT IT MIGHT BE. THE SERVICE CENTER REPLACED THE SHIFTER IN THE VEHICLE AND IT HASN'T LOCKED UP AGAIN BUT THE STEERING WHEEL IS STILL TIGHTENING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10304276February 3, 2010
STEERING
I HAVE A 2006 CHEVY COBALT WHICH WAS BOUGHT BRAND NEW. IT NOW HAS 67,000 MILES ON IT. AT APPROX. 45,000 THE POWER STEERING LIGHT AND THEFT DETERRENT LIGHT BEGAN BLINKING. THE CAR DOESN'T EVEN HAVE A SECURITY SYSTEM. WE TOOK IT TO THE GM DEALER WHO "FIXED" THE PROBLEM BY TEARING INTO THE STEERING COLUMN AND CLEANING ALL OF THE PLUGS. IT WORKS FINE FOR A FEW MONTHS, THEN IT DID IT AGAIN. THEY THEN DID THE SAME THING AND CLEANED THE PLUGS. THE THIRD TIME WE TOOK IT BACK THEY REPLACED THE STEERING COLUMN AND IT WAS GOOD FOR ABOUT A YEAR. IT BEGAN ACTING UP AGAIN AND WE TOOK IT BACK AND THEY CLEANED THE PLUGS AGAIN. AFTER YEARS OF FRUSTRATION AND COMPLAINING, WE FINALLY FIGURED OUT WHAT CONTROLS IT. WHEN YOU OPERATE THE TILT WHEEL IT WILL EITHER FIX OR HINDER THE PROBLEM WORSE OR BETTER THAN WHAT IT IS AT THE TIME. I SAW THAT NHTSA IS LOOKING INTO THIS AND I WANTED TO FILE A COMPLAINT AS WELL AS EVERYONE ELSE TO LET THEM KNOW I AM NOT HAPPY WITH THE ELECTRONIC ASSIST STEERING. THERE WAS A POINT WHERE YOU COULD BE GOING DOWN HIGHWAY AND GOING AROUND A TURN AND THE POWER STEERING WOULDN'T' BE WORKING, AND IT WOULD KICK IN AND OUT JERKING THE WHEEL. MAKING IT DIFFICULT FOR THE DRIVE TO KEEP THE VEHICLE IN ITS OWN LANE. IN ADDITION TO BEING HARD TO PARK, THIS IS A HORRID SYSTEM. I WILL NEVER BUY A COBALT AGAIN DUE TO THIS SAFETY ISSUE, IT ALMOST FORCED ME TO WRECK GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10304316February 3, 2010
STEERING
2005 COBALT WITH ABOUT 40,000 MILES ON IT. STEERING COLUMN WENT OUT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10304324February 3, 2010
STEERING
I READ THAT YOU ARE INVESTIGATING THE LOST OF POWER STEERING IN CHEVY COBALTS, AND WE HAD AN INCIDENT THIS LAST WEEKEND. MY SON WAS PRACTICING PARALLEL PARKING IN FRONT OF OUR CONDO, AND THE VEHICLE LOST THE POWER STEERING. IT ONLY OCCURRED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING VERY SLOW, SINCE HE WAS NOT MOVING FAST TO DO THE PARKING, BUT IF YOU PULLED BACK OUT INTO THE ROAD, AND ACCELERATED, THE POWER ASSIST TO THE STEERING CAME BACK. WHEN THE ASSIST WAS OFF, IT WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL. I HAVE OWNED THE CAR ALMOST 4 YEARS AND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I HAVE NOTICED THE LOSS OF POWER ASSIST STEERING. SO IT MAY HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH TURNING THE STEERING TO EXTREMES AS YOU DO WHEN PARKING, OR MAYBE WITH STEERING AT A VERY SLOW RATE OF SPEED WHILE DOING THE WORK OF PARKING. JUST THOUGHT I WOULD REPORT THIS TO HELP IN YOUR INVESTIGATION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10304332February 3, 2010
STEERING
I HAVE A 2006 CHEVY COBALT AND FOR THE PAST MONTH THE POWER STEERING HAS BEEN TURNING OFF WHILE I'VE BEEN DRIVING. AT FIRST IT ONLY HAPPENED ONCE EVERY FEW DAYS, THEN IT STARTED HAPPENING DAILY, NOW IT HAPPENS EVERY TIME I GET IN THE CAR, ABOUT 15 SECONDS AFTER I START TO DRIVE IT TURNS OFF. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST ISSUE I'VE HAD WITH THIS CAR BUT I AM OUT OF WARRANTY SO THE DEALERSHIP WANTS ME TO PAY THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO REPLACE SOMETHING THAT SHOULD NOT BE BREAKING IN THE FIRST PLACE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10304346February 3, 2010
STEERING
I PURCHASED A 2006 CHEVROLET COBALT IN FEBRUARY OF 2009. AROUND 65,000 MILES, THE POWER STEERING BEGAN GOING OUT. AT FIRST, IT WOULD ONLY GO OUT IF IT WAS HOT OUTSIDE, AND IF YOU TURNED THE CAR OFF AND THEN BACK ON IT WOULD GO AWAY. IT BECAME MORE AND MORE FREQUENT TO WHERE IT IS OUT NEARLY ALL THE TIME NOW. I HAVE BEEN TOLD MY ONLY OPTION IS TO HAVE THE STEERING COLUMN REPLACED AT A COST OF APPROX. $700.00. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10304351February 3, 2010
STEERING
CAR POWER STEERING LOCKS UP. ENGINE ROUGH IDLE LOSS OF POWER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10304354February 3, 2010
STEERING
I OWN A 2007 CHEVY COBALT LS. ON MORE THEN 10 OCCASIONS, I'VE HAD MY CAR IN REVERSE TO PULL INTO A PARKING SPOT OR OPERATING MY CAR AT LOW SPEED WHILE TRYING TO MAKE A TURN EITHER LEFT OR RIGHT. I WILL GET A MESSAGE IN THE MESSAGE CENTER THAT SAYS CHECK POWERING STEERING, AND THE POWER STEERING WILL GO OUT ON THE VEHICLE MAKING IT VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO NAVIGATE. TO TEMPORARILY CORRECT THIS PROBLEM, I MUST TURN THE CAR OFF AND RESTART IT, IT THEN OPERATES AS NORMAL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10304370February 3, 2010
STEERING
IN JUNE 2006 I BOUGHT A 2006 CHEVY COBALT SD. ON JUNE 2008 I WAS LEFT STRANDED. THE CAR WOULD NOT START. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A NEARBY CHEVY DEALER. THEY CHECKED THE CAR AND FOUND THE FOLLOWING: BATTERY FAILED MIDTRONICS (BATTERY ONE REPLACED), CHECKED ENGINE LIGHT ON (INJECTOR FUEL CLEANED), INDUCTION SYSTEM DIRTY (THEY FLUSHED IT) AND AIR FILTER FULL OF DIRT (RAF REPLACED AIR FILTER). THIS PROBLEM COST ME $208.82. ON JAN 2009 THE HORN WAS REPLACED (IT HAD STOPPED WORKING 2 MONTHS PRIOR). THIS COST ME $58.85. THE MAJOR PROBLEM IS THE POWER STEERING. THE LIGHT CAME ON AROUND AUG OR SEPT OF 2009. THE STEERING WHEEL GETS HARD AND IT'S VERY HARD TO MANEUVER, SPECIALLY WHEN YOU'RE GOING TO TURN INTO A PARKING SPACE. I HAD THE CAR CHECKED BY TWO DIFFERENT MECHANIC SHOPS AND THEY BOTH SAID IT NEEDS THE POWER STEERING MODULE REPLACED. THIS PIECE COST AROUND $470. PLUS LABOR. THE FIRST MECHANIC CHECKED IT ON JAN 23, 2010 AND BOUGHT THE POWER STEERING MOTOR ($175.00)FROM THE CHEVY DEALER AND REPLACED IT. THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTED AND HE KEPT THE CAR FOR TWO DAYS TO CHECK IF MAYBE IT WAS SOMETHING ELSE. HE CONCLUDED IT WAS THE STEERING COLUMN THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. HE RETURNED THE MOTOR AND NOW WAS TOLD THAT THEY (CHEVY) DID NOT SELL THE MOTOR BY ITSELF, THAT HE NEEDED TO BUY THE WHOLE MODULE, WHICH IS $470.00. THE FIRST 2 MONTHS I WOULD TURN OFF THE CAR AND IT WOULD NOT HAPPEN AGAIN, BUT SINCE THE BEGINNING OF DEC 2009, EVEN WHEN I TURN OFF THE CAR AND THEN TURN IT ON AGAIN, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP AND IT STAYS THAT WAY THE WHOLE TIME YOU ARE DRIVING. IT HAPPENS EVERY DAY, EVERYTIME I TURN ON THE CAR. THIS IS A PAIN BECAUSE IT'S HARD TO MANEUVER THE CAR, BUT IT IS ALSO VERY DANGEROUS, BECAUSE IF I HAD TO MAKE A QUICK TURN, I COULDN'T DO SO, AND THAT WOULD PROBABLY END UP IN AN ACCIDENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10304391February 3, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STEERING, TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM
MY POWER STEERING TENDS TO GO OUT WHILE DRIVING. TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT COMES ON. THE SHIFTER CLICKS. MY SPEEDOMETER AND RMPS GO NUTS. MY ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT FLASH. THE CAR STALLS WHEN I STOP IN TRAFFIC OR AT LIGHTS. THEY REPROGRAMMED THE COMPUTER CHIP THREE TIMES AND REPLACED THE PART ONCE. I NOW AM HAVING THE PROBLEM AGAIN AND THEY SAID ITS NOT THEIR PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10304401February 3, 2010
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY BETWEEN 20-30 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS. A CHIME SENSOR SOUNDED INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND THE "POWER STEERING" WARNING LIGHT INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. IMMEDIATELY, THERE WAS A LOSS OF POWER STEERING. THE DRIVER PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHICH REQUIRED GREATER EFFORT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AND RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING COLUMN WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10304407February 3, 2010
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH WHEN BRAKING THE POWER STEERING LOCKED UP WITHOUT WARNING. SHE THEN PULLED OVER AND TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND THEN BACK ON AND THE VEHICLE DROVE NORMALLY. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY STATED THAT THIS WAS NORMAL AND NOT A BIG DEAL AND IF IT HAPPENED AGAIN TO BRING IT IN TO THE DEALER. THIS FAILURE HAS OCCURRED ONE TIME. THERE HAVE BEEN NO REPAIRS DONE TO THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 12000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10304338February 3, 2010
STEERING
I HAVE A 2006 CHEVROLET COBALT AND THE POWER STEERING KEEPS GOING OUT/DISABLING/NOT FUNCTIONING WHEN BEING DRIVEN. THIS HAPPENS WITH NO WARNING AND VERY FREQUENTLY AND CAUSES ME TO ALMOST LOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR. I SINCERELY BELIEVE THAT SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THE POWER STEERING PUMP OR THE STEERING COLUMN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10304419February 3, 2010
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2006 CHEVROLET COBALT. SHE NOTICED THAT WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS SET THE VEHICLE SPEED DECELERATED.THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ILLUMINATED BEFORE AND AFTER THE FAILURE OCCURRED AND WITHIN SECONDS THE POWER STEERING ALSO FAILED. SHE WAS ABLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE MANUALLY BUT IT REQUIRED MORE EFFORT. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE GARAGE TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE DIAGNOSTIC LOCATED THE FAILURE AT THE EMISSION CONTROL SENSOR AND THE STEERING COLUMN. THE VEHICLE WILL BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 61, 500.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10304438February 3, 2010
STEERING
MY POWER STEERING FAILED - SEVERAL TIMES, AFTER MY 2008 CHEVROLET COBALT HIT AROUND 45,00MILES. I WAS TOLD THE CAR HAD JUST RUN OUT OF WARRANTY AND I WOULD HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE THIS FIXED. I REFUSED, BECAUSE ALL OVER THE INTERNET WERE COMPLAINTS FROM CHEVROLET COBALT USERS SAYING THAT EVEN AFTER IT WAS FIXED, THE ISSUE RETURNED. THEY FINALLY AGREED TO FIX IT FOR FREE. THE PART WAS REPLACED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10304447February 3, 2010
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED THE FUEL LINE IS CRACKED AND THE RETURN VALVE LINE IS SPILLING FUEL ON THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND IT WAS REPAIRED COSTING $800. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 84,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10304450February 3, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
FOR ABOUT THREE MONTHS MY KEY WOULD GET STUCK IN THE IGNITION. I WOULD HAVE TO PLAY WITH THE SHIFTER BY MOVING IT BACK AND FORTH TO GET THE KEY TO COME OUT. WELL ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO THE SHIFTER BROKE AND I WAS NOT ABLE TO GET THE KEY OUT AT ALL. I LOOKED THIS PROBLEM UP ON THE INTERNET AND TO MY SURPRISE FOUND IT TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE COBALT. I NOW HAVE TO PUSH THE RELEASE BUTTON TO GET MY KEY OUT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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