Chevrolet Cobalt Complaints (2005)

1,649 consumer complaints on file.

#10256524January 27, 2009
STEERING
I AM EXPERIENCING A RANDOM LOSS OF POWER STEERING IN MY 2005 CHEVY COBALT. IT APPEARS THAT THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING IN MY VEHICLE WILL RANDOMLY QUITE WORKING. IF I SHUT THE CAR DOWN AND RESTART IT THE POWER STEERING WILL FUNCTION AGAIN FOR A TIME, BUT WILL EVENTUALLY GO OUT AGAIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10256523January 27, 2009
STEERING
I HAVE A 2005 CHEVORLET COBALT AND THE POWER STEERING MODULE FAILS DURING OPERATION. TO RESET THIS CONDITION YOU HAVE TO STOP THE CAR AND RE-START THE ENGINE. THIS HAPPENS AFTER LESS THAN THREE MINUTES OF DRIVING EVERY TIME YOU DRIVE THE CAR AND IS NOT SAFE FOR SOMEONE THAT IS NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO STEER THE CAR WITHOUT POWER STEERING. THE REPAIR WILL COST APPROXIMATELY $900.00. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10256412January 26, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH ON THE FREEWAY, THE "REDUCE ENGINE SPEED" INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE SHIFTED INTO LOW GEAR AND THE CONTACT COULD NOT ACCELERATE BEYOND 40 MPH, WHICH SHE CONSIDERED VERY DANGEROUS ON A HIGHWAY ALLOWING 70 MPH SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE BEGAN OPERATING NORMALLY. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, SHE NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE BEGAN STALLING WHEN SHE WOULD SLOW DOWN AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS OR STOP SIGNS. OCCASIONALLY, THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL SO THAT IT COULD PERFORM CORRECTLY. ON THREE OCCASIONS, A MECHANIC STATED THAT MULTIPLE CODES WERE PRESENT AFTER DIAGNOSING THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RELEVANT RECALL TO-DATE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 82,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80,000. UPDATED 4/23/09 *CN UPDATED 04/27/09*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10256301January 25, 2009
STEERING
POWER STEERING RANDOMLY GOES OUT WHILE DRIVING. VERY DANGEROUS!!! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10255544January 19, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
KEY LOCKED IN IGNITION - UNABLE TO REMOVE. CAR WOULD START BUT WAS IN LIMP MODE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10255575January 19, 2009
STEERING
POWER STEERING STOPS WORKING WHILE DRIVING, WORKS AGAIN AFTER RESTART. DEALER SAYS THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. DANGEROUS AS CAR IS VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10255240January 15, 2009
STEERING
WHILE DRIVING THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING ASSIST MOTOR FAILED AND LOST ALL POWER STEERING IN THE VEHICLE. CYCLING POWER TO THE MOTOR (KILLING IGNITION AND RESTARTING CAR) BRINGS IT BACK FOR A FEW MOMENTS BEFORE IT FAILS AGAIN. ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN HAD TO BE REPLACED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10254354January 9, 2009
STEERING
POWER STEERING FAILURE DURING MOUNTAIN DRIVING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10253950January 6, 2009
STEERING
AFTER DRIVING FOR A FEW MINUTES THE "POWER STEERING" INDICATOR COMES ON AND THEN THERE IS NO POWER STEERING, IT HAPPENS EVERY TIME YOU DRIVE IT. IT IS GOING TO COST OVER $1000 TO FIX IT BECAUSE THE FACTORY WARRANTY IS OUT, SO WE ARE UNABLE TO FIX IT AT THIS TIME. IT IS THE ONLY VEHICLE I HAVE TO DRIVE A 130 MILE COMMUTE EVERY DAY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10253832January 5, 2009
STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
BEGINNING JANUARY 3RD, 2009, THE 'POWER STEERING' WARNING HAS INTERMITTENTLY APPEARED AND POWER STEERING ASSIST WOULD FAIL. THIS OCCURRED ABOUT 3 TIMES, BETWEEN 30 AND ABOUT 50 MILES PER HOUR. THIS IS CLEARLY A SAFETY HAZARD. I ALSO OWN A 2004 MALIBU. MY WIFE IS THE PRIMARY DRIVER. THE SAME ISSUE HAPPENED WITH HER CAR. AFTER FIGHTING WITH GM AND THE DEALER THEY AGREED, AS A ONE TIME EXCEPTION, TO REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN FOR THE MALIBU AT NO COST. THIS DUE TO MY "CUSTOMER LOYALTY." KNOWING THE TROUBLE INVOLVED AND THE LIKELY OUTCOME, I HAVE NOT YET CONTACTED GM REGARDING THE CURRENT COBALT ISSUES. THE COST OF REPAIR IS SUSPICIOUS, AROUND $2000. THE METHOD OF REPAIR IS ALSO SUSPECT; THE REPLACEMENT OF THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN. NOT ONLY DOES THIS SEEM TO BE EXCESSIVE, THERE IS LITTLE ASSURANCE THAT THE NEW STEERING COLUMN IS ANY DIFFERENT. IT IS NOT REASONABLE TO EXPECT ANYONE TO FOOT THIS BILL AS A CONSUMER. IT IS EXPENSIVE, AND CLEARLY A PRODUCT DEFECT. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT USING THE CAR, ESPECIALLY ON THE INTERSTATE, THUS RENDERING THIS COSTLY PRODUCT ALL BUT USELESS - AND DANGEROUS. THIS IS NOT THE ONLY ELECTRONIC ISSUE I HAVE HAD WITH THIS CAR. I NEED TO OPEN THE BOTTOM OF THE COLUMN TO REMOVE MY KEY FROM THE IGNITION (ESTIMATED REPAIR COST FROM GOODWRENCH - $450), AND REPEATED BLOWN FUSES WHEN I FIRST BOUGHT THE CAR, ATTRIBUTED TO PINCHED WIRING. A RECALL SEEMS IN ORDER FOR THIS SITUATION. THANK YOU. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10253835January 5, 2009
STEERING
WITHOUT WARNING THE POWER STEERING HAS FAILED AND HAS FAILED EVERYTIME I START TO DRIVE IT. THIS STARTED ON 12/20/08. DRIVING IT IS DIFFICULT AND THE ONLY CURE IS TO REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN COSTING $700. I HAVE FOUND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM TO THE CHEVY COBALT 05-08. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10253445January 1, 2009
STEERING
IT WAS CHRISTMAS MORNING AND I DROVE APPROXIMATELY 20 MILES HOME AND AS I GOT OFF THE HIGHWAY THE POWER STEERING SENSOR CAME ON, I LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AS I HAD NO STEERING. IT OCCURS EVERY TIME I DRIVE THE VEHICLE, THERE IS NO ACCURATE WAY TO DETERMINE WHEN IT WILL GO OUT, THE CONSEQUENCE IS POSSIBLE DEATH OR ACCIDENT DEPENDING UPON WHAT'S AROUND THAT I MAY HIT WHEN I CAN'T STEER MY CAR. IT WAS BROUGHT IT FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, IT WAS DIAGNOSED, IT WAS NOT REPAIRED AS IT COST OVER A THOUSAND TO FIX. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10253520January 1, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL
LEFT BLINKER RANDOMLY WILL NOT WORK. I HAVE TRIED REPLACING THE BULB AND THE WIRING ASSEMBLY. STARTED WITH JUST THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE AND NOW THE REAR DRIVER SIDE DOES NOT WORK. WORKED AFTER JIGGLING THE WIRES ONE DAY WHEN I WAS BORED BUT AFTER HITTING A BUMP ONE TIME WHEN RIGHT BACK TO NORMAL. I HAVE TRIED PUTTING THE FLASHERS ON TO FIX IT BUT DOES NOT WORK. ALL THE FUSES AND EVERYTHING ARE GOOD. LOOKED IT UP ONLINE AND LOOKS LIKE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM FOR CHEVROLETS AND 05 COBALTS IN GENERAL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10252801December 26, 2008
STEERING
THE POWER STEERING CONTINUES TO FAIL WHILE DRIVING ON A 2005 CHEVY COBALT, THERE HAVE BEEN MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS VEHICLE AND POWER STEERING. IT IS VERY UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL OF THIS COMPONENT. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10252828December 26, 2008
STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT. WHILE DRIVING 20-50 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED MORE THAN SIX TIMES IN ONE MONTH. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY PARKED BECAUSE THE CONTACT FEELS THAT IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. A MECHANIC STATED THAT THERE WAS FAILURE PERTAINING TO THE STEERING WHEEL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19,698.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10252873December 26, 2008
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY FLIPPED OVER THREE TIMES. THE WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE DRY. DUE TO SHOCK, ALL THE CONTACT COULD REMEMBER WAS CLIMBING OUT OF THE VEHICLE. SHE WAS INFORMED BY WITNESSES AT THE SCENE THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING AT A HIGH SPEED AND FLIPPED OVER WHILE EXITING OFF OF THE FREEWAY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A FRACTURED VERTEBRAE, INTERNAL BRUISING, AND A CRACKED TAILBONE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. A COUPLE OF MONTHS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING WAS DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER AND THE WARNING INDICATOR WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SERVICED AT THAT TIME. THE CONTACT HAD PREVIOUSLY TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO GET A ROD INSPECTED, WHICH WAS LOCATED BETWEEN THE BRAKE AND THE STEERING. SHE WAS INFORMED THAT IT WAS NOT A SERIOUS ISSUE AT THAT TIME. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 60,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10252775December 25, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
KEY WILL NOT REMOVE FROM IGNITION MY DAUGHTER GOT STRANDED TOLD WAS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH 2005 CHEVY COBALT DEALER SAID 500.00 TO FIX SHOULD BE RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10252359December 20, 2008
STEERING
I WAS RECENTLY TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME STIFF AND HARD TO MANEUVER. I LOOKED DOWN AT THE WARNING PANEL AND IT HAD LIGHTED UP "POWER STEERING". MY CAR IS A 2005 CHEVY COBALT WITH 45,000 MILES. I READ ON THE INTERNET ABOUT OTHER 2005 COBALT OWNERS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AROUND 40,000 MILES. I TOOK IT IN TO A CHEVY DEALER TELLING THEM THAT IT APPEARS THAT THIS IS A FLAW WITH THE 2005 COBALT BUT THEY SAID THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL ON THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING SYSTEM AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY SEVERAL HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS TO HAVE THE EPS MODULE REPLACED. I FEEL THAT IT IS UNFAIR TO HAVE SOMETHING SO EXPENSIVE TO GO OUT ON YOUR VEHICLE WHEN IT IS STILL FAIRLY NEW AND HAVE THE SAME THING HAPPEN TO OTHERS BUT YET WE ARE LEFT TO PAY FOR AN APPARENTLY WELL KNOW FLAW IN THE CHEVY COBALT THAT GM DOES NOT WANT TO ADMIT EXITS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10252364December 20, 2008
STEERING
WHILE DRIVING THE CAR A "POWER STEERING" WARNING CAME ON AND THE POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING. THE CAR BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. THIS IS THE SECOND THE MESSAGE CAME ON IN THE LAST MONTH BUT THE FIRST TIME IT WENT OFF AND THERE WAS NO STEERING PROBLEMS. THE CAR WAS DIAGNOSED BY A LOCAL DEALER AS NEEDING A NEW ELECTRIC POWER STEERING MOTOR. THE CAR IS SCHEDULED FOR REPAIR THIS WEEK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10252149December 17, 2008
STEERING
POWER STEER CUTS OUT AND DOES NOT COME BACK UNTIL CAR IS RESTARTED. HAPPENS RANDOM TIMING EVERY TRIP. CHEVY QUOTED 800.00 TO REPAIR STATING THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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