Chevrolet Cobalt Complaints

7,975 consumer complaints on file.

#10153485March 23, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SEEMS TO BE DEFECTIVE. WHEN FIRST BOUGHT CAR, THE FAN FOR THE HEATER WOULD NOT WORK. FINALLY, DEALERSHIP TOOK PARTS OUT OF A BRAND NEW VEHICLE, SINCE THERE WERE NO PARTS MADE YET DUE TO IT BEING BRAND NEW, AND REPLACED IT. BUT, IT STILL MAKES A WHINING WHEN IT IS ON #1 SETTING. THE CD PLAYER WOULD LOCK UP ALL THE TIME AND SIMPLY SAY "LOCKED". ACCORDING TO USER MANUAL, WE ARE ADVISED TO TAKE IT TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY WILL FIX THAT PROBLEM. UPON TAKING CAR TO DEALERSHIP FOR THAT PROBLEM, THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT BECAUSE OF COURSE, IT DID NOT DO IT FOR THEM. SO, WE STOPPED TRYING TO EVEN USE THE CD PLAYER. THE LOCKED STATUS OCCURS FREQUENTLY FOR NO APPARENT REASON. LIKE, WHEN GOING OVER A REAL BUMPY PART OF THE ROAD. ALL OF A SUDDEN THE LOCK BUTTON APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD. I WAS AFRAID THE CAR WAS GOING TO TURN OFF ON ME. SOMETIMES THE WORD "LOCK" COMES ON IN THE RADIO DISPLAY AND SO THE CLOCK WON'T DISPLAY. I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IS WRONG OR WHY IT IS DISPLAYED. THE REAL SCARY PART, THOUGH, IS WHEN THE DASHBOARD DISPLAYS THE "LOCK" ICON. BECAUSE I FEAR THAT THE VEHICLE WILL JUST STOP RUNNING SINCE I READ THAT IT DOES HAVE AN ANTI-THEFT FUNCTION THAT WILL STOP THE SUPPLY OF GAS TO THE CAR AND I WONDER IF/WHEN THIS WILL BEGIN MALFUNCTIONING. WILL I BE ON THE HIGHWAY TRAVELING AT 65 MPS? I MEAN, MORE PEOPLE NEED TO LET CHEVY KNOW THAT THIS IS HAPPENING SO THAT IT CAN BE FIXED. LATELY, THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START. IT JUST WILL NOT START WHEN WE PUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. ALL OTHER LIGHTS AND THINGS TURN ON, BUT THE ENGINE WON'T TURN OVER. WHY, WE DON'T KNOW. DEALER CLAIMS WE MUST HAVE IT TOWED TO THEM AND NOT GET IT JUMPED SO THEY CAN TAKE A LOOK AT IT TO SEE WHAT IS WRONG. HAS HAPPENED THREE TIMES SO FAR. STILL NO RESOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM. FEEL THAT THE PROBLEMS ARE A RESULT OF THE SAME DEFECT-THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. GUY THAT CAME TO JUMP MY CAR SAID THE COBALTS HAVE HAD LOTS OF PROBLEMS. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10153285March 21, 2006
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
I HAVE A NEW 2005 COBALT SS WITH 10,000 MILES ON IT I JUST PURCHASED THIS CAR 4 DAYS AGO AND THE CLUTCH SLIPS PRETTY BAD. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10153104March 18, 2006
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
2006 CHEVY COBALT, SHIFTER WON'T ENGAGE @ 500 MILES-DEALER TRADES CARS. 2006 CHEVY COBALT, CLUTCH BURNS UP @2000 MILES, DEALER REPLACES CLUTCH PLATES AT NO CHARGE, WILL CHARGE FOR ANOTHER OCCURRENCE OF SAME NATURE. DEALER STATES ABUSE IS CAUSE OF CLUTCH DAMAGE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10152839March 16, 2006
STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALER FIVE TIMES DUE TO INTERMITTENT POWER STEERING FAILURE AND ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED SUDDENLY TWICE WHILE DRIVING, AT VARIOUS SPEED. THE WHEEL LOCKED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED. EACH TIME THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH DURING THE FAILURE. THE WHEEL UNLOCKED AFTER THE ENGINE WAS SHUT DOWN AND RESTARTED FOUR TIMES. THE FOLLOWING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY, ALL THE GAUGES FLUTTERED, THE FUEL GAGE SHOWED AN INACCURATE READING, AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING. ON ONE OCCASION THE DEALER REPLACED THE POWER STEERING HOUSING, BUT THIS DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. ON ALL OTHER OCCASIONS THE DEALER COMPLETED DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, BUT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEMS. THE CONSUMER STATED THE GAS TANK WAS FULL OF GAS, HOWEVER THE LOW FUEL ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH. THE RADIO MALFUNCTIONED TWICE. UPDATED 04/06/06. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10152740March 15, 2006
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:HIGH/LOW BEAM DIMMER SWITCH, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:FLOOR SHIFT, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.
I PURCHASED A 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT IN AUGUST OF 2005. IN DECEMBER OF 05 THE CAR WAS HAVING A PROBLEM RELATED TO THE AUTOMATIC SHIFTER AND WAS IN FOR SERVICE. THE SHIFTING UNIT WAS REPLACED, ALSO THE RADIO WAS REPROGRAMMED FOR FLASHING AN ERROR MESSAGE AT THE TIME OF SERVICE. BY FEBRUARY OF 06 THE SHIFTER WAS AGAIN VERY STIFF TO MOVE AND WAS HAVING TROUBLE GETTING THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION. THE GARAGE ADJUSTED THE SHIFTER LINKAGE AND LUBED THE CABLE ASSEMBLY, AT THIS TIME I ALSO HAD A CONCERN WITH THE OPERATION OF THE HEADLIGHTS, CHANGING THEM FROM LOW BEAM TO HIGH BEAM. THE PROBLEM BEING THAT WHEN YOU SWITCH THE LIGHTS THEY GO OUT FOR A BRIEF TIME. THE GARAGE ORDERED A NEW MULTI-CONTROL SWITCH FOR THE CAR. A FEW DAYS AFTER HAVING THE CAR SERVICED FOR THESE PROBLEMS THE CAR WAS TOWED BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE I WAS UNABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY AGAIN FROM THE SWITCH CAUSING THE BATTERY TO GO DEAD, AND THE SHIFTER WAS VERY STIFF. THE GARAGE ORDERED AND REPLACED THE SHIFTER ASSEMBLY AND DEFECTIVE CYLINDER FOR THE KEY SWITCH. AS OF THE 7TH OF MARCH, 06, I WAS STILL HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE LIGHTS GOING OUT WHEN CHANGING FROM LOW TO HIGH BEAMS, THE CAR IS PRESENTLY IN THE SHOP. I HAVE CONTACTED GM ABOUT MY CONCERNS WITH THE SHIFTER AND THE LIGHTS. AFTER I DID THIS, I RECIEVED A CALL FROM THE GM REPRESENTITIVE THAT I HAD SPOKEN WITH ONLY TO BE TOLD THAT THE SERVICE MANAGER FROM THE GARAGE TOLD HIM THAT THIS IS A NORMAL CONDITION FOR THE VEHICLE AND THAT NOTHING CAN BE DONE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10154052March 13, 2006
INTERIOR LIGHTING
PETITION FOR PROCEEDING TO REMEDY A SAFETY DEFECT AND HAZARD WHICH HAS RESULTED FROM THE FAILURE OF GM TO COMPLY W/FMVSS 101 ON THE 2006 CHEVROLET COBALT. *TS THE ONLY TIME THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS OPERATE IS WHEN THE VEHICLES AUTOMATIC LIGHTING SYSTEM IS ACTIVATED. THE CONSUMER IS UNABLE TO MANUALLY TURN ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS. ***TRANSFERRED TO OVSC***
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10152395March 10, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WE PURCHASED A 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT (LS) IN DECEMBER, 2005. STARTING IN JANUARY 2006, WE NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE LIGHT GOES ON AND OFF AND WE HAD THE CHEVY DEALER WHOM WE PURCHASED CAR FROM CHECK IT. THEY TOLD US THAT THE ENGINE IS FINE AND IT HAPPENS TO MANY COBALT THAT THE ENGINE LIGHT WILL GO ON SOMETIMES WITHOUT ANY REASON. WE CALLED CHEVROLET AND WE WERE TOLD THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT HAVE NO SOLUTION TO IT. WE WERE ASKED TO KEEP DRIVING THE CAR WITH ENGINE LIGHT ON. WE FEEL VERY UNCOMFORTABLE DRIVING A CAR WITH ENGINE LIGHT ON. WE WOULD NOT KNOW IF THERE IS REALLY NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. CHEVROLET REFUSED TO TAKE ANY ACTION REGARDING TO THIS MATTER. WE DON'T KNOW WHERE TO SEEK FURTHER HELP ON THIS INCIDENT. THERE IS CURRENTLY 6000 MILES ON THE CAR AND THE ENGINE MAY BE FINE AT THIS MOMENT. BUT SINCE THE ENGINE LIGHT IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY, WE WOULD NOT KNOW IF SOMETHING REALLY HAPPENS IN THE FUTURE. WE DON'T FEEL SAFE BUT NOWHERE TO SEEK HELP. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10152301March 9, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND FIRE CAME FROM THE EXHAUST PIPE. THE EXHAUST TURNS BRIGHT RED AND THE FLOOR BOARD GETS HOT. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER HOWEVER THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10152225March 8, 2006
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE BRAKE DUST WAS NOTICED ON THE FRONT RIMS, THE INSIDE OF THE ROTORS HAD GROOVES ON THEM AND THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION. THEY TURNED THE FRONT ROTORS AND CUT THE BRAKE LINE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM HOWEVER THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10152196March 8, 2006
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO APPLY BRAKE PRESSURE AT 40 MPH THE VEHICLE HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE FROM BEHIND AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AT THE SCENE AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED FRONT END DAMAGE. IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE FRONT END WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10151636March 2, 2006
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
CLUTCH ON MY 2005 COBALT SS WILL NOT CLAMP DOWN AT HIGH RPMS IN SECOND GEAR. IT FEELS LIKE THE PRESSURE PLATE IS NOT GRABBING HARD ENOUGH. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10151546March 1, 2006
AIR BAGS, EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER
ON FEB. 10,2006 MY LITTLE BROTHER WAS ON HIS WAY HOME IN MY 2005 COBALT IT WAS RAINING HE WENT AROUND A CURVE AN LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. HE HIT A TOTAL OF 3 TREES THE CAR WAS TOTAL. THE AIR BAGS DIDN'T NOT DEPLOY AN THE SEAT BELT DIDN'T CATCH, BC OF THIS MY LITTLE BROTHER LOST HIS LIFE. HE WAS 5'11 AN WEIGHED ABOUT 350 LBS AN CAME UP OUT OF HIS SEAT AND HIT THE TOP OF THE CAR WERE THE METAL MEETS THE WINDSHIELD. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE. MY FAMILY CALLED CHEVY TO REPORT IT THEY SAID THEY WOULD CALL US BACK IN 24 TO 48 HRS THAT WAS ALMOST 3 WKS AGO AN HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING. *NM
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
4
Deaths:
1
#10151429February 28, 2006
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
11/24/05 CLUTCH BURNING ODOR, WAS TOLD IT WAS NORMAL EXHAUST COATING BURNING OFF 12/27/05 CLUTCH SLIPPING WHILE ON HIGHWAY, PROCEEDED TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHERE IT TOOK ALMOST 3 WEEKS AND COST ME 1600 DOLLARS TO REPLACE A FAILING CLUTCH. LATER CONFIRMED FOR A PRIVATE MECHANIC THAT THE CLUTCH WAS TOO WEAK FOR THE CARS HP RATING. I AM NOT THE ONLY COBALT SS/SC TO HAVE THIS FAILURE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10151469February 28, 2006
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT DEACTIVATE. TO DEACTIVATE THE CRUISE CONTROL THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED AT LEAST 4 TIMES EACH TIME HARDER THAN THE TIME BEFORE IN COMBINATION WITH TURNING THE CRUISE CONTROL OFF. WHEN IT DEACTIVATED THERE WAS A LOUD GRINDING NOISE THAT WAS HEARD. WITHIN THE NEXT 20 MINUTES OF DRIVING THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED WITHOUT BEING TURNED ON, THIS OCCURRED ON 2 OCCASIONS. IT WAS DEACTIVATED IN THE SAME MANOR AS STATED BEFORE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE DEALER TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE HOWEVER THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED THEREFORE NO REPAIRS WERE MADE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10151346February 27, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WITHOUT WARNING THE ENGINE STALLED WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THERE WAS A SHORT IN THE IGNITION SYSTEM CAUSING THE INJECTION FUSE TO BLOW. THE WIRING WAS REPAIRED. UPDATED 3/20/2006 - *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10151353February 27, 2006
STRUCTURE
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED UNLESS THE AUTOMATIC ON SENSOR DETERMINES IT NECESSARY THE DASH LIGHTS FAIL TO ILLUMINATE. THERE IS NO SWITCH ALLOWING THE CONTACT TO TURN ON THE DASH LIGHTS. ON PAGE 3-14 OF THE OWNER'S MANUAL IT STATES THE DASH LIGHTS ARE SUPPOSE TO ILLUMINATE WHEN THE LIGHTS ARE TURNED ON. ACCORDING TO TITLE 49 OF THE U. S. CODE PART 571.101, PARAGRAPHS S5.3.3 AND S5.3.1 UPDATED 03/15/05
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10151239February 26, 2006
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
MY PROBLEM IS WITH THE CLUTCH I HAVE 12000 MILES ON MY CAR AND CLUTCH IS SLIPPING UNDER LOAD. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10151180February 25, 2006
EQUIPMENT, SUSPENSION, STRUCTURE, VISIBILITY
I OWN A 2005 CHEVY COBALT LS AND HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH IT. 1ST I HAD TO TAKE IT IN BECAUSE THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR SUSPENSION WAS MAKING CLUNKING NOISES. 2ND I HAD TO TAKE IT IN BECAUSE THERE WAS MOISTURE BUILDING UP INSIDE THE DRIVERS SIDE HEADLIGHT. 3RD I HAD TO TAKE IT IN BECAUSE THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR WINDOW WAS HOWLING AND YOU COULD HEAR THE OUTSIDE AIR BLOWING THROUGH IT WHEN DRIVING. 4TH PROBLEM I JUST RECENTLY AM HAVING IS THE HEATING SYSTEM. THE BLOWER JUST DOES WHAT IT WANTS. I CAN HAVE THE AIR TO THE OFF POSITION AND IT STILL BLOWS AIR AT A HIGH SPEED. ALSO, WHEN DRIVING THE BLOWER TURNS ITSELF OFF AND ON WHENEVER IT WANTS TO. ALL THIS AND I ONLY HAVE 7,500 MILES ON MY CAR. I WON'T BE BUYING ANOTHER GM VEHICLE! *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10151124February 24, 2006
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
THE 2005 CHEVY COBALT POWER STEERING HAS A SERIOUS PROBLEM. AS STATED IN THE HAND BOOK IF YOU TURN THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE STOP POSITION YOU MAY LOSE POWER ASSIST, THAT DOES HAPPEN. IN MY OPINION YOU SHOULD NEVER LOSE POWER STEERING. IT OCCURS OFTEN WITH ME BECAUSE I TEACH DRIVER EDUCATION, AND IN PENNSYLVANIA PART OF THE TEST REQUIRES PARALLEL PARKING. WHEN TEACHING STUDENTS WE VERY OFTEN LOSE POWER STEERING. IF YOU ARE IN A CITY SITUATION AND YOU HAVE TO MAKE MANY TURNS TO GET INTO A SPOT YOU WILL LOSE POWER STEERING. GENERAL MOTORS CLAIMS THIS IS NOT A BIG ENOUGH PROBLEM TO WARRANT LOOKING INTO. I FEEL IN CAN VERY WELL BE A SAFETY HAZARD. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10150641February 19, 2006
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
CLUTCH WILL SLIP UNDER LOAD. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Chevrolet Cobalt