Chevrolet Cobalt Complaints (2008)

940 consumer complaints on file.

#10288651October 16, 2009
PARKING BRAKE
1. BEFORE PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE NEW IN 2008, I WAS MADE AWARE OF AN ISSUE WITH THE REAR BRAKE WEARING ABNORMALLY. I HAD MADE AT LEAST TWO INQUIRIES TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF A TSB (TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN) BEING RELEASED ON THE PROBLEM. AT THE TIME THERE HAD NOT BEEN, BUT I HAD NEITHER EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM UP UNTIL THEN. 2. THE FAILURE OCCURS WITH THE PARKING BRAKE MECHANISM. THE PARKING BRAKE FUNCTIONS BY ENGAGING THE INSIDE BRAKE PAD ON THE REAR BRAKES. THERE IS A RETURN SPRING THAT IS SUPPOSE TO DISENGAGE THE BRAKE PAD WHEN THE PARKING BRAKE IS RELEASED. THIS SPRING IS FAILING TO DISENGAGE THE INSIDE PAD CAUSING THE PAD TO WEAR ABNORMALLY. THE RESULT IS THAT THE INSIDE PAD WILL WEAR THIN VERY QUICKLY AND EVENTUALLY BEGIN TO DAMAGE THE BRAKE ROTOR. 3. I HAVE RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE AND I WAS DEFERRED TO GM CUSTOMER SERVICE. THEY INFORMED ME THAT THEY DO NOT BELIEVE THERE TO BE A DEFECT AND WILL NOT PERFORM THE REPLACEMENT WORK UNDER THEIR WARRANTY. TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM, I WILL BE REPLACING ALL OF THE REAR BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS AND INSTALLING A HIGHER TENSION SPRING ON THE PARKING BRAKE RETURN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10288545October 15, 2009
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, PARKING BRAKE
2008 CHEVY COBALT SS UNDER NORMAL DRIVING AND BRAKING CONDITIONS THE REAR DISK BRAKES WEAR UNEVENLY AND FAIL PREMATURELY. INCIDENT 1: 0% PAD MATERIAL ON INNER LININGS ON BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT REAR WHEELS WITH >80% MATERIAL OUTBOARD PADS. FAILURE OCCURRED WITH ABOUT 17K MILES. ON INSPECTION IT WAS OBSERVED THAT GM HAD FAILED TO APPLY LUTRICANT TO THE GUIDE PINS OF CALIPERS. REPLACEMENT OF ROTORS AND PADS WAS REQUIRED. INCIDENT 2: SAME FAILURE AS INCIDENT 1. 0% PAD MATERIAL ON INNER LININGS OF BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT REAR WHEELS WITH >80% MATERIAL ON OUTBOARD PADS. FAILURE OCCURRED WITHIN 20K MILES. REPLACEMENT OF ROTORS AND PADS WAS AGAIN REQUIRED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10286916October 9, 2009
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
I HAD ONLY 12000 MILES ON MY NEW COBALT TURBO 08 MODEL AND HAD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET TO HAVE THE REAR PADS AND ROTORS REPLACED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10286836October 8, 2009
STEERING
I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 45 MPH AND SUDDENLY THE IT WAS HARD TO STEER AND THE WORDS POWER STEERING POPPED UP ON MY DASH. THERE WAS LOTS OF TRAFFIC. IT WAS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE FOR ME TO TURN LEFT AND RIGHT. I TURNED THE CAR OFF ONCE I GOT HOME FOR ABOUT TWENTY MINUTES AND I STARTED IT UP AND TOOK IT AROUND THE BLOCK, NOT EVEN ONE MINUTE OF STARTING IT POWER STEERING FLASHED ON MY DASH. I HAVE HAD 2 OTHER ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR THIS WILL BE MY 3RD TIME TAKING IT INTO THE DEALER FOR SOMETHING ELECTRICAL. MY WARRANTY ENDED AT 30,000 IT CURRENTLY HAD 30,060. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10286185October 3, 2009
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
AT 6000 MILES, MY REAR BRAKES ARE COMPLETELY WORN DOWN, MY ROTORS ARE SCORED, AND ONE GM DEALER SAID THEY WOULD WARRANTY MY ROTORS IF I PURCHASED NEW PADS FOR OVER $100, AND ANOTHER DEALER SAID THAT THE WEAR WAS "NORMAL" FOR MY CAR. THIS OBVIOUSLY IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT, AND I AM NOT VERY HAPPY. THE DEALER SAID I HAVE OVER 75% LIFE LEFT ON THE PADS THROUGH HIS GAUGE SYSTEM, AND YET IT MAKES HORRIBLE SCREECHING NOISES. THE ROTORS ARE SCORED VERY BADLY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10286205October 3, 2009
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
REAR BRAKES ARE WEARING PREMATURELY. GROOVES ARE FORMING IN ROTORS FROM FAULTY EQUIPMENT. CAR IS AT 23,000 MILES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10285599September 29, 2009
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
2008 CHEVROLET COBALT SS REAR BRAKES FAULTY. REAR PADS ARE GOUGING IN TO ROTORS VERY BADLY AT THIS POINT, 11,000 MILES. I DRIVER CONSERVATIVELY. THIS GOUGING OF ROTORS ACTUALLY BECAME NOTICEABLE AT ONLY 3500 MILES. I HAVE OWNED THE CAR SINCE NEW. I RECOMMEND GM PUTS RECALL OUT ON REAR BRAKES FOR THIS CAR TO REPLACE ROTORS AND PADS FREE OF CHARGE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10285096September 24, 2009
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
REAR BRAKES STARTED TO BE NOISY AT ABOUT 2000KM, HUGE GROOVES ON THE ROTORS. I DOWNSHIFT/REV MATCH ALL MY GEARS,I DON'T ABUSE MY CAR, I DON'T GO IN DIRT ROAD. BRAKES ARE SUPPOSED TO LAST 60K MINIMUM. DEALERS WON`T PUT THE JOB UNDER WARRANTY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10284714September 21, 2009
STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET COBALT. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH HE NOTICED THE POWER STEERING FAILURE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH BOARD AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. HE SHUT THE ENGINE OFF AND AFTER FIVE MINUTES RESTARTED IT AND HE WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE DRIVING NORMALLY. THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS OF TAKING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO BE INSPECTED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THAT NO COMPENSATION WOULD BE OFFERED SINCE THERE WERE NO RELATED RECALLS. THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 42,500.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10284636September 19, 2009
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
2008 CHEVROLET COBALT SS. REAR BRAKE ROTORS BADLY GROOVED. INNER BRAKE PAD WORN COMPLETELY OUT. OUTER PAD WORN TO LESS THAN 50%. FRONT ROTORS HAVE SMALL GROOVES AND HAVE JUST UNDER 40% OF PAD LIFE LEFT. GM DEALER WOULD NOT FIX UNDER WARRANTY BUT ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHY REAR BRAKES ARE WEARING BEFORE FRONTS. I HAVE OWNED CAR SINCE IT WAS NEW. NO RACING JUST DAILY COMMUTING TO AND FROM WORK (40MILES ONE-WAY). INSTALLED OEM PADS AT 15000. HAVE SEEN PROBLEM PROGRESSIVELY GET WORSE SINCE ABOUT 7000 MILES. CURRENT MILEAGE APPROX. 32000,PADS WORN OUT IN SAME MANNER AS STATED ABOVE AND ROTORS ARE SEVERELY GROOVED, WORN PAST SAFE REFINISH LIMITS. FRONT PADS ARE IN OK SHAPE AND SMALL GROOVES IN ROTORS. 95% OF DRIVING IS DONE ON HIGHWAY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10283792September 13, 2009
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
SCORING OF INNER REAR ROTOR. NOTICED AFTER 1100MI. DUE TO SOME PART OF CALIPER RUBBING ON ROTOR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10283780September 12, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN; MY PROBLEM HAPPENS TO BE A SERIOUS ONE INVOLVING THE HEAD LAMPS OF OUR 2008 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE INCIDENTS HAVE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING AND ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. WHAT I SPEAK OF IS THE LIGHTS, UPON ENGAGING ONLY THE RIGHT TURN SIGNAL SHUT OFF,FLICKER....WITH NO CONTROL FOR A PERIOD OF ONLY A FEW SECONDS. NOW, THE CONCERN I HAVE IS WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR MYSELF OR OTHER MOTORISTS TO HAVE SERIOUS COMPLICATIONS. DURING THAT SMALL PERIOD OF TIME IN WHICH THE HEADLAMPS FAILED, MY FAMILY'S LIFE WAS JEOPARDIZED,WHICH IS SOMETHING I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO,AND WILL NOT TOLERATE. I HAVE MADE ATTEMPTS TO CORRECT MALFUNCTION BY USING CHEVY DEALER TECHNICIANS. PROBLEM WAS ALLEGEDLY FIXED,THEN OCCURRED AGAIN. PLEASE HELP ME WITH ANY INFORMATION YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO PROVIDE TO FURTHER AID MY PROGRESS IN CORRECTING THIS PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10283694September 11, 2009
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
MY REAR BRAKE WERE SCORED UP AND SQUEAK EVER SINCE I GOT THE CAR BRAND NEW. AFTER A LITTLE BIT OF STOP AND GO TRAFFIC THE REAR BRAKES BEGAN TO SQUEAK WHEN BRAKE IS APPLIED TO GRADUALLY SLOW TO A STOP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10283498September 10, 2009
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
THE REAR ROTORS ON MY 2008 CHEVROLET COBALT SS SEEM TO BE WEARING VERY FAST. MY CAR HAS 19,000 MILES ON IT, AND IT IS ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF OLD. I TOOK DELIVERY ON MAY 31ST 2008. I NOTICED THE ROTORS STARTING TO WEAR THIS PAST SPRING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10283551September 10, 2009
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
2008 COBALT SS. SCORING ON BOTH SIDES OF FRONT AND REAR ROTORS. NOISE FROM REAR BRAKES. FIRST NOTICED AT 10,000 MILES (CAR NOW HAS 12000). DEALER WOULD NOT FIX UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE IN THEIR VIEW, SCORED ROTORS ARE"COSMETIC". *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10283585September 10, 2009
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
SINCE I PURCHASED MY 08 COBALT SS, I NOTICED THE BRAKES MADE NOISES AND THE REAR BRAKES WORE FUNNY. BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY DEEMED THIS "NORMAL FOR THESE BRAKE PADS." AT 19,000 MILES I ALREADY NEEDED NEW REAR BRAKES AS THE DEALER SAID THEY WERE "GRINDING AGAINST THE METAL" AND MY ROTORS NEEDED TO BE RESURFACED. SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS AS PUTTING A NEW PAD ON DOES NOT FIX THE PROBLEM AND I WILL ONLY NEED NEW PADS AND ROTORS IN ANOTHER 15,000 MILES OR SO. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10283394September 9, 2009
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
THE REAR BRAKES ARE TOAST ON MY NEW CAR. I HAVE AROUND 10,000 MILES AND WILL SOON HAVE TO PAY FOR NEW ROTORS AND PADS. HOPEFULLY I CAN AFFORD TO DO THIS BEFORE MY CALIPERS GO OUT TOO. 2008 COBALT SS - PREMATURE WARE - NEVER DRIVING HARD - DAILY DRIVER - *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10283453September 9, 2009
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
AT APPROXIMATELY 18,000 MILES, MY 2008 CHEVROLET COBALT SS HAD A GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR BRAKES. THIS NOISE WAS WORSE WHEN I USED THE BRAKES. I DROVE THE VEHICLE ANOTHER 30 MILES TO MY DESTINATION. UPON ARRIVAL, I NOTICED THAT I HAD LOST ABOUT 50% OF MY BRAKING POWER AND THAT THE GRINDING NOISE WAS MUCH WORSE THAN WHEN I FIRST NOTICED IT, 30 MILES EARLIER. OF COURSE, I REPLACED THE BRAKE PADS, KNOWING THAT THE NOISE THEY WERE MAKING WAS CAUSED BY THE PADS WEARING OUT AND THE METAL GRINDING AGAINST THE ROTOR. TO MY SURPRISE, ONLY THE INSIDE BRAKE PADS WERE WORN TO THE METAL, AND THE OUTER BRAKE PADS HAD JUST OVER 1/4 OF AN INCH OF PAD LEFT. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED MY LOCAL GM DEALER AND I WAS INFORMED THAT THERE IS A TSB (TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN) POSTED IN THEIR COMPUTER SYSTEMS THAT SAYS THE PROBLEM IS CAUSED BY THE DRIVER AND THAT GM DEALERS ARE NOT TO COVER THE REAR BRAKE PROBLEM. I KNOW THAT THIS PROBLEM WILL OCCUR IN ANOTHER 20,000 MILES BECAUSE THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE CALIPERS OR ENTIRE BRAKE SYSTEM. THE INSIDE PADS SHOULD NOT WEAR OUT FASTER THAN THE FRONT. THEY SHOULD ALSO WEAR EVENLY. ANOTHER CONCERN I HAVE IS THE LOSS OF BRAKING POWER IN ONLY 30 MILES FROM THE EARLIEST SIGN OF A BRAKE PROBLEM. I DON'T LIKE THE FACT THAT THE REAR BRAKES, SPECIFICALLY THE INSIDE BRAKE PADS, ARE DOING APPROXIMATELY 50% OF THE BRAKING. MOST OF THE BRAKING SHOULD BE DONE BY THE FRONT BRAKES, WHICH HAVE WELL OF 1/4 OF AN INCH OF BRAKE PAD LEFT ON THE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE PADS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10283493September 9, 2009
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
REAR ROTORS BEGINNING TO SHOW GROOVES IN THEM WITH ONLY 14K MILES ON CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10283326September 8, 2009
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
REAR BRAKES: INNER PADS METAL ON METAL, OUTER PADS STILL PLENTY OF LIFE LEFT AT 17,500 MILES. REPORTED BRAKE SQUEAL/GRINDING BY 4,000 MILES, HAD PARKING BRAKE RE-ADJUSTED AT THAT TIME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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