Chevrolet Cobalt Complaints (2005)

1,649 consumer complaints on file.

#10242023September 12, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, TIRES
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE CHEVROLET DEALER FOR MAINTENANCE. WHILE REPAIRING THE VEHICLE, A MECHANIC LEFT A RAG ON TOP OF THE ENGINE UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. AFTER THE CONTACT RETRIEVED THE VEHICLE, IT CAUGHT FIRE DUE TO THE RAG BEING LEFT ON THE ENGINE. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE VEHICLE, BUT THE CONTACT DOES NOT FEEL THAT IT IS SAFE TO DRIVE BECAUSE IT CONTINUES TO BREAK DOWN. IN ADDITION, THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT CONTINUES TO ILLUMINATE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY COULD ONLY REPAIR THE VEHICLE TO ITS ORIGINAL STATE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,059 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,083.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10241899September 11, 2008
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION, POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE
CLUTCH PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR. COULD NOT SHIFT GEARS. LUCKILY THIS HAPPENED WHILE PULLING AWAY FROM A TRAFFIC LIGHT AT LOW SPEED. IF IT HAPPENED PULLING ON TO A HIGH SPEED MERGE ONTO AN INTERSTATE, I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. CAR IS DEAD IN THE WATER AND INOPERABLE. THIS IS AN EVENT THAT SHOULD NEVER HAPPEN. DEALER SAID CLUTCH IS HYDRAULICALLY ACTIVATED AND HAS A SEALED UNIT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10241062September 5, 2008
STEERING, AIR BAGS
AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON CONTINUOUSLY AND NOW THE POWER STEERING LIGHT GOES ON AND YOU LOOSE STEERING AS YOU ARE DRIVING. THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS FIXED 1 TIME BY DEALER AND NOW IT IS ON AGAIN AND THEY SAY THEY WILL NOT FIX IT BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN TAMPERED WITH BUT THEY ARE THE ONLY ONE'S TO WORK ON IT I HAVE MY REPAIR INVOICE. THE POWER STEERING LIGHT JUST STARTED COMING ON AND NOW YOU LOOSE STEERING AS SOON AS IT GOES ON. IT ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED BECAUSE I WAS GOING AROUND A CURVE AND A CAR WAS COMING THE OTHER WAY AND I LOST MY STEERING. LUCKILY I DIDN'T HIT THE OTHER CAR BUT I THINK THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10240733September 3, 2008
STEERING
ON SATURDAY, AUGUST 16TH, 2008 I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY GOING ABOUT 55-60 MPH AND AS I WAS SLOWING DOWN TO APPROACH A LEFT TURN, A CHIME NOISE SOUNDED AND THE "POWER STEERING" MESSAGE CAME ON AND AS I WAS IN MY LEFT TURN, THE POWER STEERING COMPLETELY WENT OUT AND MADE MY CAR ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN THE WHEEL. I PULLED INTO A SERVICE/GAS STATION RIGHT DOWN THE ROAD AND TRIED TURNING OFF MY CAR TO SEE IF THAT WOULD HELP. ONCE I RESTARTED MY CAR THE POWER STEERING MESSAGE WAS NO LONGER ON AND THE STEERING WHEEL WENT BACK TO NORMAL. THIS SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED ONCE THE NEXT DAY. AS THE DAYS WENT ON, THE PROBLEM GOT MORE AND MORE FREQUENT TO THE EXTENT OF NOW IT HAPPENS LIKE FOUR OR FIVE TIMES A DAY. TO GET THE POWER STEERING TO WORK ONCE IT GOES OUT, I HAVE TO EITHER RESTART MY CAR AT REDLIGHTS, STOP SIGNS, OR SOMETIMES EVEN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY GM. I TOOK MY CAR TO A GM DEALERSHIP LAST FRIDAY AND I WAS TOLD MY STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE, AND I SEE IT IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH GM. I HAVE NOTIFIED THE CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT GM AND AM AWAITING A CALL BACK FROM THEM TO SEE HOW THEY CAN ACCOMMODATE ME WITH THIS SITUATION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10239970August 27, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STEERING, SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
MY 2005 COBALT HAS HAD ELECTRICAL AND POWER STEERING PROBLEMS EVER SINCE I LEASED IT. INTERMITTENTLY, WHILE DRIVING, THE INSTRUMENT MESSAGES START FLASHING (USUALLY "POWER STEERING"). THE CAR THEN BECOMES VERY HARD TO STEER AND BRAKE, THE ENGINE SURGES UP AND DOWN. ON AUG 3RD THE CAR WAS INVOLVED IN A MINOR ACCIDENT WHEN IT WAS STEERED INTO A CURB, POSSIBLY CAUSED BY ANOTHER EQUIPMENT FAILURE. I TOOK THE CAR IN TO A CHEVROLET DEALER AGAIN, WHEN IT FAILED AGAIN TWO MORE TIMES AFTER THE ACCIDENT. BOTH TIMES THE DEALER FOUND ERROR CODES. HOWEVER, THEY SAID THEY HAD A "TSB" ON THIS PROBLEM, FROM CHEVROLET WHICH SAYS TO JUST CLEAR THE LOGS, GIVE THE CAR BACK TO THE CUSTOMER AND TO "PERFORM NO WORK". THEY ARE PUTTING LIVES IN DANGER BY FOLLOWING THIS PROCEDURE. I HAVE COPIES OF THE SERVICE ORDERS TO CONFIRM MY STATEMENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10239637August 25, 2008
STEERING
WHEN I TURN THE STEERING WHEEL I HEAR METAL CLUNKING KIND OF LIKE A BALL JOINT COMING OUT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10239496August 23, 2008
STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE TIME THE INCIDENT OCCURRED WAS WHEN WE WERE ON OUR WAY (MY WIFE AND I) TO CANADA FOR A WEDDING, WE GOT TO OUR DESTINATION AND THE ALL OF THE SUDDEN THE CAR LITERALLY STARTS HOPING DOWN THE ROAD, THEN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD IT COMPLETELY STALLED. THE POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON THE DASHBOARD AND THEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. WE LOOKED IN THE MANUAL, BECAUSE WE HAVE ONLY HAD THE CAR FOR A MONTH AND FOUND THE POWER STEERING PIECE TO CONTACT GMC. WELL BEING IN THE CITY AND ALL DEALERSHIPS CLOSED WE COULDN'T DO ANYTHING. WE SHUT THE VEHICLE DOWN AND TRIED TO RESTART, THE SAME THING OCCURRED- WE WERE ABLE TO DRIVE IT TO A MECHANIC NEAR BY (WHEN FINALLY IT WAS WORKING) AND THEY HAD NO IDEA WHAT TO DO BECAUSE OF THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING. WE GAVE UP AND FINALLY WENT HOME TO MY MOTHER IN LAWS HOUSE. I RESEARCHED ON THE INTERNET AND THEN I CAME ONTO NOT ONE BUT MANY WEBSITES VIA GOOGLE ON HOW MUCH TROUBLE PEOPLE ARE HAVING WITH THEIR COBALTS. WE ARE VERY UNFORTUNATE AND DO NOT HAVE WARRANTY LEFT OVER. SO WHEN IT COMERS TO REPLACING THE 2000.00 PART WE CAN NOT. I REALLY NEED MY CAR TO RUN PROPERLY -MY WIFE AND I LIVE IN THE UNITED STATES AND ITS A LONG WAY HOME!!! I REALLY HOPE WE DO NOT GET INTO A VEHICLE ACCIDENT ALONG THE WAY DUE TO THE POWER STEERING MALFUNCTION, OTHERWISE OUR LAWYER AND GMC WILL BE TALKING. AT THIS TIME I WANT A RESOLUTION FROM SOMEONE! HOW CAN GMC PRODUCE A VEHICLE WITH MULTIPLE KNOWN ISSUES AND CONTINUE TO SELL IT WITHOUT NOTIFYING PEOPLE HOW DEADLY IT IS. I AM VERY UPSET AND I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER GMC PRODUCT AGAIN. IF ANYONE AT THIS COMPANY CAN DO SOME EASY RESEARCH AND FIND OUT THAT THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE WITH THE KNOW ISSUE OF POWER STEERING OUT THERE. I WANT A RESOLUTION AND SOMEONE TO PAY FOR THE CONSEQUENCE. I NEED TO BE CONTACTED ASAP!!! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10239247August 22, 2008
STEERING
AFTER PICKING UP THE CHILDREN I TAKE CARE OF, I TOOK THEM HOME AS USUAL. TO MY SURPRISE, AS I TURN ONTO THEIR STREET IN A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD, MY POWER STEERING WENT OUT. I WAS TURNING SLIGHTLY RIGHT AT APPROXIMATELY 5-10 MPH AND THE LIGHT ON MY INSTRUMENT PANEL INDICATED "POWER STEERING." I PUT THE CAR IN PARK, WAIT A FEW MINUTES, PUT IT IN DRIVE AGAIN, AND STILL NO POWER STEERING. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND WHEN I TURNED IT BACK ON AGAIN, THINGS WERE BACK TO NORMAL. AS I LEAVE WORK, POWER STEERING IS BACK TO WORKING, UNTIL I MERGE ONTO THE HIGHWAY AND MY POWER STEERING GOES OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FREEWAY ENTRY WAY. I MANAGED TO HOLD MY CAR STEADY TO GET TO THE EMERGENCY LANE, BUT TO DO SO I HAD TO CROSS ANOTHER LANE OF TRAFFIC. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AGAIN INDICATED "POWER STEERING." I TURNED THE CAR OFF, BACK ON AGAIN AND IT WAS NORMAL. DRIVING A VEHICLE AND HAVING NO INDICATION THAT THE POWER STEERING IS OUT,UNTIL IT'S TOO LATE, IS UNACCEPTABLE. GM IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM, AND YET THEY DO NOTHING ABOUT IT, AND THAT IS ALSO UNACCEPTABLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10239143August 21, 2008
STEERING
HIGHWAY DRIVING TO VISIT FRIENDS AT THE BEACH. "POWER STEERING" APPEARS ON THE DASH AND THE STEERING WHEEL GOES STIFF. WE MANAGED TO PULL OFF THE HIGHWAY; UPON RESTARTING THE CAR, THE MESSAGE WAS NOT PRESENT. THE SAME MESSAGE AND POWER STEERING FAILURE RECURRED SIX TIMES THAT SAME DAY. THIS IS A CLEAR SAFETY HAZARD AS ANY SUDDEN LOSS OF STEERING IN A CRITICAL MOMENT COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. I HAVE NOT YET TAKEN THE CAR TO BE REPAIRED YET BECAUSE THE DIAGNOSIS SEEMS CLEAR FROM MULTIPLE REPORTS OF THE SAME ISSUE (SEE HTTP://WWW.TOPIX.COM/FORUM/AUTOS/CHEVROLET-COBALT/T8FMSUQB7V2DTH5JH FOR OVER 110 ADDITIONAL COMPLAINTS) THE STANDARD RESPONSE FROM GM APPEARS TO BE TO REPLACE THE ELECTRONIC POWER ASSIST ASSEMBLY AT CUSTOMER COST GREATER THAN $600. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE FOR SUCH A COMMON FAILURE AND FOR SUCH A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. THIS CAR IS ONLY THREE MONTHS OUT OF WARRANTY COVERAGE. ALSO PLEASE NOTE THAT THERE WAS AN NHTSA INVESTIGATION (PE07023) OF THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING UNIT OF THE 2005 PONTIAC G6 WHICH MAY BE THE SAME SYSTEM FAILING IN THE SAME WAY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10239213August 21, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
SEVERAL TIMES THE IGNITION WOULD NOT TURN OFF WITHOUT CONTINUOUSLY CYCLING IT SEVERAL TIMES. ALSO SEVERAL TIMES THE IGNITION WOULD NOT TURN ON WITHOUT CONTINUOUSLY TAKING THE KEY OUT AND PUTTING IT BACK IN AND RETRYING TO TURN IT SEVERAL TIMES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10238905August 19, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2005 CHEVROLET COBALT WITH ONLY 10,000 MILES HAS HAD REPEATED PROBLEMS WITH IGNITION FAILING TO START THE CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10238752August 18, 2008
STEERING
2005 COBALT 2.2L 5-SPEED 30,000 MILES I WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY WHEN I RECEIVED A POWER STEERING MESSAGE ON MY CARS DASHBOARD DISPLAY BUT BEING ON A STRAIGHT ROAD DIDN'T REALLY NOTICE THAT THERE WASN'T ACTUALLY ANY POWER STEERING I WANTED TO PULL OFF AT A REST STOP TO LOOK UNDER THE HOOD BUT WHEN I CAME TO THE END OF THE EXIT RAMP FOR THE REST AREA I COULD BARELY STEER THE VEHICLE AND ALMOST HIT A CONCRETE BARRIER NOW THE STEERING CUTS IN AND OUT USUALLY ABOUT 2-10 MIN AFTER STARTING THE CAR I HAVE READ ONLINE THAT THE REPAIR CAN COST ANYWHERE FROM 600-2000 DOLLARS NOT HAVING THAT KIND OF MONEY RIGHT NOW I AM DRIVING W/OUT POWER STEERING AWAITING A RECALL FROM GM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10237813August 12, 2008
STEERING
THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING (EPS) ON MY 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT SHUTS OFF AT RANDOM INTERVALS. IN ORDER TO REGAIN EPS FUNCTION, THE CAR MUST BE TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED. THIS HAPPENS AT LEAST 4-6 TIMES DURING A 30 MINUTE TRIP. CHEVROLET WILL NOT COVER TO SUBSTANTIAL COST TO FIX THE EPS SYSTEM IF IT IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. RESEARCH HAS LED TO ME BELIEVE THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED WITH SEVERAL COBALTS (05-08 ALL MODELS).
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10237508August 8, 2008
STEERING
RECENTLY, AFTER HITTING THE 30,000 MILE MARK ON MY 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT LS, THE POWER STEERING HAS BEEN FAILING MORE AND MORE FREQUENTLY. I WILL BE DRIVING IN A STRAIGHT LINE OR IN A TURN AND EITHER ONE WILL CAUSE THE FAILURE TO HAPPEN JUST THE SAME. IT HAS BEEN FAILING MORE AND MORE FREQUENTLY, STARTING AT ABOUT TWICE A WEEK TO NOW 4 TO 5 TIMES A DAY AND MAKES DRIVING INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS. I REFUSE TO TAKE THIS CAR THROUGH ANY MOUNTAINOUS AREAS FOR FEAR OF LOSING CONTROL AND HURTING MY LOVED ONES BESIDE ME. THIS ABSOLUTELY NEEDS TO BE DEALT WITH IMMEDIATELY, FOR THE SAFETY OF ALL DRIVERS ON THE ROAD, NOT JUST THOSE IN THE COBALT. PLEASE MAKE THIS HAPPEN, AS I'VE READ MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS ACROSS MANY MESSAGE BOARDS DESCRIBING THE SAME EXACT PROBLEMS WITH THEIR CHEVY COBALTS. STACY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10237211August 6, 2008
STEERING
05 CHEVY COBALT WITH POWER STEERING LIGHT GOING ON RANDOMLY. THE DEALERSHIP CAN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. IT IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. THE CAR STARTS TO SHAKE AND I AM LOSING CONTROL OVER IT!!! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10236701August 2, 2008
STEERING
MY DAUGHTER IS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE POWER STEERING GOING OUT ON THE CAR, WHICH IS VERY DANGEROUS. THE PROBLEM IS RANDOM. HER WARRANTY HAS RUN OUT AND THE REPAIR WOULD COST ABOUT $2000. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10236747August 2, 2008
STEERING
I WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND MY POWER STEERING WENT OUT AND THEN AS I WAS GOING AROUND A CURVE, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. I WENT INTO THE ONCOMING LANE AND WAS ABLE TO TURN MY CAR OFF AND RESTART IT AGAIN. I DROVE FOR ANOTHER 30 SECONDS OR SO BEFORE THE STEERING WENT OUT AGAIN. THE STEERING CONTINUED TO GO OUT AFTER DRIVING A SHORT DISTANCE AFTER EVERYTIME I STARTED TO DRIVE. THE STEERING COLUMN HAD TO BE REPLACED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10236748August 2, 2008
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
WHEN IT RAINS, MY CAR DOORS DO NOT OPEN. I TOOK MY CAR IN TO GET THE DOOR LOCKS REPLACED AFTER BEING TRAPPED IN MY CAR AFTER THE BATTERY DIED AND I WAS TRAPPED FOR AN HOUR OR SO WAITING FOR SOMEONE TO JUMPSTARTED MY CAR. DUE TO THE BATTERY BEING DEAD, I WASN'T EVEN ABLE TO CLIMB OUT A WINDOW. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10236354July 30, 2008
STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY MAKING A TURN AND MY POWER STEERING WENT OUT IT BEEPED AT ME AND THE DASH DISPLAYED "POWER STEERING". WHEN I RESTART MY CAR ITS FINE FOR A WILE BUT THEN IT DOSE IT AGAIN AND FROM WHAT I CAN TELL SPEED, TURNING,RPMS, TEMPERATURE DISTANCE HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH IT. I WAS RAN OFF THE ROAD DUE TO THIS WITH MY WIFE AND CHILD IN THE CAR MY DAUGHTER SMACKED HER HEAD ON THE WINDOW I TORE SOMETHING IN MY SHOULD JUST TRYING TO STEER. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10236260July 29, 2008
STEERING
RE: MY SON'S CAR, A 2005 CHEVY COBALT 16,XXX MILES PURCHASED USED ON MAY 19, 2008 AT 14,869 MILES AT A LOCAL FORD DEALER. TWICE IN THE LAST WEEK, WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ON THE INTERSTATE DOING APPROX 60 MPH, WARNING CHIMES SOUNDED AND SECONDS LATER A "POWER STEERING" AND "LOW TRACTION" LIGHTS APPEARED. STEERING BECAME ALL BUT INOPERABLE, CAR BECAME EXTREMELY HARD TO HANDLE AND CAR "SHOOK". UPON STOPPING AND RESTARTING THE CAR, THINGS WENT BACK TO NORMAL. HIS COMMENT WAS THAT IF SOME "OLD FEEBLE PERSON" WAS DRIVING, THEY WOULD HAVE HAD AN ACCIDENT. LOOKING AT COMPLAINTS ON VARIOUS WEBSITES, THIS IS A VERY WELL KNOWN PROBLEM TO CHEVROLET (GENERAL MOTORS) IN THAT THE NEW "ELECTRIC POWER STEERING" IS PRONE TO FAILURE. DOZENS (HUNDREDS) OF PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT NUMEROUS ACCIDENTS AND CHEVROLET'S RESPONSE HAS BEEN THAT IF THEY CAN'T FIND A "CODE" TO POINT TO A STEERING FAILURE, THEN THERE MUST NOT BE A PROBLEM. CURRENTLY THE CAR HAS BEEN WITH BOEMLER CHEVROLET IN ARNOLD, MISSOURI MONDAY 7/28 AND TODAY TUESDAY 7/29. MONDAY AFTERNOON THEY CALLED AND SAID THEY WOULD LIKE TO KEEP IT ANOTHER DAY SINCE THEY COULD NOT GET IT TO FAIL AND COULDN'T GET A "CODE" TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. MULTIPLE TIMES IN THE WEBSITES, CUSTOMERS HAVE SAID THAT THE STEERING COLUMN HAD TO BE REPLACED TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THIS PROBLEM HAS CAUSED OTHER CUSTOMERS TO HAVE ACCIDENTS ACCORDING TO THE COMPLAINTS I HAVE READ. I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'VE BEEN SMART ENOUGH TO READ THEIR OWNER'S MANUAL TO GET THE PROPER PEOPLE TO COMPLAIN TO. I REALIZE THAT COMPLAINING ON SOME WEBSITE IS NOT GOING TO GET ANYTHING DONE, AND THAT IT MUST BE DONE THROUGH PROPER CHANNELS. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT MUST BE ADDRESSED BY CHEVROLET (GM) BEFORE MORE PEOPLE GET HURT OR WORSE. I THINK A VOLUNTARY RECALL ON THEIR PART WOULD LOOK A LOT BETTER THAN HAVING A "CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT" FILED AGAINST THEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Chevrolet Cobalt