Chevrolet Cobalt Complaints (2005)

1,649 consumer complaints on file.

#10266729April 26, 2009
STEERING
POWER STEERING LIGHT COMES ON DASH AND CAR LOSES POWER STEERING IMMEDIATELY. MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN WHILE DRIVING. IT IS HAPPENING OFTEN. USUALLY 1-2 TIMES A MONTH. I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON WHO HAS THIS PROBLEM. UPON LOOKING IT UP ONLINE AND SEEING THAT THERE'S HUNDREDS OF OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, IT CAUSED ME TO FILE THIS COMPLAINT. IT OBVIOUSLY IS A WIDE SPREAD ISSUE. I CONTACTED GM THROUGH E-MAIL AND THEY HAVE YET TO RESPOND. IT HAS BEEN ABOUT 2 MONTHS. ALSO THE KEY GETS STUCK INTO THE IGNITION, I DO NOT KNOW IF IT IS RELEVANT TO THE STEERING ISSUE BUT EVERYONE WHO HAS THE STEERING ISSUE ALSO HAS THE KEY/IGNITION PROBLEMS. WHEN I EXPERIENCE POWER STEERING FAILURE, I FEEL OUT OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. LUCKILY FOR ME, IT HAS NOT CAUSED A CRASH, BUT I CAN CERTAINLY SEE HOW IT COULD. I FEEL LIKE GM SHOULD STEP UP, TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS, AND FIX THE PROBLEM INSTEAD OF LETTING IT BE, AND LETTING THEIR CUSTOMERS DRIVE UNSAFE VEHICLES. I FEEL UNSAFE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10266610April 24, 2009
STEERING
ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING FAILS AT 40,000 MILES!!! GM IS CLAIMING IT IS NOT A "DEFECT" AND ALSO REQUIRING THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN BE REPLACED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10266646April 24, 2009
STEERING
POWER STEERING STOPS DURING DRIVING (ELECTRIC). MY DAUGHTER WAS ALMOST INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHEN THIS HAPPEN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10266492April 23, 2009
STEERING, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
THE POWER STEERING ON THE 2005 AND LATER COBALTS QUITS EITHER INTERMITTENTLY OR CONTINUOUSLY. IN MY CASE, THE PS ONLY WORKS FOR 2/10 OF A MILE BEFORE QUITTING. AFTER THAT POINT IT IS ONLY MANUAL DRIVE. THERE ARE WEBSITES AND BLOGS THAT ARE DEDICATED JUST TO THIS PROBLEM INCLUDING HTTP://WWW.TOPIX.COM/FORUM/AUTOS/CHEVROLET-COBALT/T8FMSUQB7V2DTH5JH. THIS SITE HAS 335 INSTANCES OF THIS PROBLEM AS OF TODAY. GM HAS FAILED TO STEP UP AND FIX THIS. IN FACT, THEY INSIST THAT THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN MUST BE REPLACED. HOWEVER, THIS SITE HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/CHEVROLET/COBALT/2005/STEERING/POWER_STEERING_FAILURE.SHTML SHOWS THAT IT IS USUALLY ONLY ONE COMPONENT BUT THAT COMPONENT CANNOT BE PURCHASED SEPARATELY. THE ENTIRE COLUMN REPLACEMENT RUNS FROM $800 TO $2000 WHEREAS THE COMPONENT ALONE HAS TO BE MUCH CHEAPER AND IS ACTUALLY SIMPLE TO REPLACE. I TRIED THE REMEDY LISTED BY WAYNE FROM ZION IL #318 ON THE FIRST WEBSITE LISTED HERE AND WHILE IT DIDN'T WORK FOR ME, THERE WAS SO MUCH BLACK POWDER COMING OUT OF IT I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT. NO WONDER IT DOESN'T WORK! THIS PART IS BASICALLY SEALED SO IT MUST BE MADE IN UNCLEAN CONDITIONS. I BELIEVE IT IS MADE IN JAPAN (ONE OF THE POSTS MENTIONS IT). I BELIEVE THAT POWER STEERING ISSUES ARE A MAJOR DEFECT AND WHY NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE BY THIS ORGANIZATION OR GM IS BEYOND ME. WHILE IT MAY BE SAFE TO DRIVE IN MANUAL STEERING, HAVING IT CHANGE IN THE MIDDLE OF A TURN (AS IS REPORTED IN THE POSTS) IS NOT SAFE! ANOTHER PROBLEM THAT SEEMS TO BE RELATED IS THE KEY NOT COMING OUT OF THE IGNITION. I SAY RELATED BECAUSE MOST CARS WITH THE FIRST ISSUE SEEM TO HAVE THE SECOND ISSUE TOO. LASTLY, THESE CARS ALSO HAVE THE A/C LEAK DIRECTLY INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT CAUSING MOLD AND MILDEW AND THEREFORE UNSAFE BREATHING CONDITIONS IN THE CAR. CHECK THE POSTS, DEALERS "CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG" WITH THEM. HOW DO I FORCE YOUR ORGANIZATION TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS AS I KNOW I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE TO COMPLAIN? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10266281April 21, 2009
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A FUEL LINE LEAK IN HIS VEHICLE. IN MARCH OF 2009, HE SMELLED FUEL COMING FROM THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING AND ALSO WHILE IT WAS PARKED. THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 12,062 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,538.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10266292April 21, 2009
STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED. SHE HAD TO PLACE THE VEHICLE INTO PARK OR NEUTRAL AND THEN SHUT OFF THE ENGINE IN ORDER FOR IT TO RESTART. THE POWER STEERING FUNCTIONED SPORADICALLY BEFORE COMPLETELY FAILING AGAIN. THE FAILURE OCCURRED EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE WAS IN USE. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE DEALER OF A TSB FOR THE ISSUE AND STATED THAT THE REPAIR WOULD COST $700. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 39,200 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 37,500.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10266295April 21, 2009
STEERING
1. POWER STEERING LIGHT COMES UP WHILE DRIVING AND POWER STEERING GOES OFF/LOCKED, I CAN'T MOVE EITHER RIGHT OR LEFT. 2. IT OCCURS EVERY WHEN YOU DRIVE THE VEHICLE. 3. THIS IS PROBLEM WITH ELECTRICAL POWER STEERING FOR CHEVY COBALT 2005. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10265213April 14, 2009
STEERING
POWER STEERING CUTS OUT WHILE OPERATING VEHICLE EXTREME SAFETY HAZARD IF IN THE MIDDLE OF A TURN.HAPPENS AT WARMER TEMPERATURES, CAN BE RESET BY TURNING OFF AND RE-STARTING VEHICLE. PROBLEM RE-OCCURS AT RANDOM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10265067April 13, 2009
STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE POWER STEERING SHUTS OFF. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE BECOMES UNMANAGEABLE TO TURN AND UNCONTROLLABLE. IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO RESET ITSELF, THE CONTACT MUST SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE AND WAIT A FEW MINUTES FOR IT TO RESTART. OCCASIONALLY, THIS PROCESS MUST BE REPEATED SEVERAL TIMES. HE HAD TO TOW THE VEHICLE TO HIS RESIDENCE AFTER THE MOST RECENT FAILURE. THE CONTACT TOOK HIS VEHICLE TO THE DEALER ON APRIL 13, 2009. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,500.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10264784April 9, 2009
STEERING
2005 CHEVY. COBALT ELECTRIC POWER STEERING UNIT IN STEERING COLUMN FAILED WHILE DRIVING. THIS FAILURE OCCURRED AT 40,222 MILES AND HAPPENED ABOUT 15X . ABSOLUTELY NO STEERING WAS POSSIBLE, AND THIS HAPPENED IN TRAFFIC, ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF I HAD STEERING AGAIN, THEN WITHIN SECONDS I WOULD GET THE MESSAGE POWER STEERING AND THE STEERING WOULD BE GONE AGAIN. THE COST TO REPAIR WAS $849.00 AND ONLY GM HAS THE PART. FROM THE INFORMATION ON THE INTERNET, THIS IS A DEFECT WITH THE PART, AND GM HAS KNOWN ABOUT IT SINCE FALL OF 2005. THE SHOP MANAGER AT HUDIBURG CHEVY. WAS NOT AWARE OF ANY PROBLEMS BUT WHEN HE ASKED HIS TICKET WRITER, HE ACKNOWLEDGED HE HAS SEEN ALOT OF THIS PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10264227April 6, 2009
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
A HOSE FROM THE FUEL TANK TO THE EVAP CANISTER, CAME OFF ALLOWING EXPLOSIVE GASOLINE VAPORS TO ENTER THE AIR. THIS HOSE IS PRESSED ON WITH NO CLAMP HOLDING THE HOSE IN PLACE ON THE FUEL TANK. THERE IS A POSITIVE LOCK ON THE EVAP CANISTER SIDE OF THE HOSE, BUT NOTHING HOLDING THE HOSE TO THE FUEL TANK. THE NEW FUEL TANK, (TANK AND HOSE ONE ITEM), ALSO HAS NO CLAMP AT THE FUEL TANK. IN ADDITION TO ALLOWING EXPLOSIVE VAPORS INTO THE AIR, THE COST OF THE REPAIR IS HUGE. THE TANK ASSEMBLY, (THE HOSE AND FUEL TANK ARE ONE ITEM), IS $500, PLUS INSTALLATION. CHEVY AND GM WERE NOTIFIED AND I WAS TOLD, "THE PARTS ARE OFF THE VEHICLE AND NOTHING WILL BE DONE ABOUT THIS." TO FIND THIS DEFECT, THE PARTS , (TANK), MUST BE REMOVED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CAR HAS 45000 MILES AND HAS NEVER BEEN IN A CRASH OR HAD ANY DAMAGE TO IT. THIS HOSE HAS NO TENSION ON IT, JUST THE LACK OF A CLAMP ALLOWING IT TO COME LOOSE. THE GASOLINE VAPORS ESCAPING FROM THE TANK IN AN ENCLOSED AREA, LIKE A GARAGE, COULD LEAD TO AN EXPLOSION AND FIRE, (I'M A RETIRED FIREFIGHTER). DAMAGE TO THE ENVIRONMENT BY ESCAPING GASOLINE VAPORS ALSO OCCURS, (THAT'S WHY THE HOSE IS THERE IN THE FIRST PLACE). THIS NEGLIGENCE IN THE DESIGN ON THE PART OF GM COULD BE CORRECTED WITH A SIMPLE LOW COST CLAMP ON THE HOSE. THIS DEFECT CAUSES THE CONSUMER TO SPEND A LARGE AMOUNT OF MONEY NEEDLESSLY, EXPOSES THE ENVIRONMENT TO GASOLINE VAPOR DAMAGE AND COULD POTENTIALLY EXPLODE, KILLING SOMEONE. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10264188April 5, 2009
STEERING
STEERING MOTOR WAS DETERMINED DEFECTIVE BY GM AT 50K MILES. TIRES WOOD CATCH GROOVES IN THE ROAD PULLING THE CAR UNEXPECTEDLY. SHUTTERING OF STEERING WHEEL WHILE GOING STRAIGHT. KNOCKING/ RATTLE SOUNDS FROM STEERING COLUMN ON ROUGH/ BUMPY ROADS. THIS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME. THESE PROBLEMS STARTED ABOUT 35K, RIGHT AFTER MY WARRANTY EXPIRED. AFTER CONTACTING GM AND A CHEVY DEALERSHIP, THE COST WILL BE $850. AND IT IS A "COMMON PROBLEM", DESIGN ERROR. AT 52K DRIVING NORMALLY DOWN THE ROAD, POWER STEERING SHUT OFF, "POWER STEERING" DISPLAYED, AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS EXCESSIVELY HARD TO TURN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10263711March 31, 2009
STEERING
I HAVE A 2005 CHEVY COBALT LS AND AROUND 38,000 MILES THE POWER STEERING FLASHED IN THE DASH AND I LOST ALL POWER STEERING IN A PARKING GARAGE. THERE IS NO WARNING THAT'S ITS GOING TO HAPPEN BESIDES THE FLASHING IN THE DASH 3 SECS BEFORE IT GOES. THIS HAPPENED EVERYTIME I DROVE OVER 20 MILES AT A TIME, AND I GO TO SCHOOL IN SYRACUSE SO I DRIVE THE THRUWAY EVERYDAY SO IT WAS EXTREMELY HARD TO DRIVE WITH IT. I HAD TO GET THE WHOLE STEERING COLUMN REPLACED BECAUSE THE POWER STEERING IS ELECTRIC. IT ALL COST 675$ I WAS ABLE TO GET ALMOST ALL OF THE LABOR CHARGES DROPPED AFTER WORKING AND TALKING WITH A CHEVY DEALERSHIP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10262748March 23, 2009
STEERING
2005 CHEVROLET COBALT - POWER STEERING INTERMITTENTLY GOES OUT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10262845March 23, 2009
STEERING
I PURCHASED MY 2005 CHEVY COBALT A LITTLE OF A YEAR AGO. I ONLY HAVE 46,000 MILES ON IT AND MY POWER STEERING HAS GONE OUT OF IT. I AM NOW TOLD THAT IT WILL COST ME OVER 1,000 DOLLARS TO GET IT FIXED WHICH I CAN NOT AFFORD. I HAVE ALMOST GOTTEN INTO AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THE POWER STEERING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10262046March 16, 2009
EQUIPMENT, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I PURCHASED A 2005 CHEVY COBALT IN AUGUST OF 2005. LESS THEN A WEEK AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE IT WAS IN THE SHOP TO BE FIXED. I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING PANEL (KEY WILL NOT COME OUT OF THE IGNITION, BUTTON ON STICK SHIFT STICKS, CAN NOT TURN CAR OFF WITHOUT DISCONNECTING THE BATTERY), I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE POWER WINDOWS AND LOCKS, I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE STEREO GOING INTO "LOCK" MODE - WHICH IN TURN MAKES ME TURN THE CAR ON AND THEN OFF AGAIN TO GET THE RADIO TO WORK. I LOOKED INTO THE LEMON LAW AND THEY STATED SINCE IT WAS ALL ELECTRICAL, THEY COULD NOT PIN POINT IT TO BEING THE SAME PROBLEM ALL 5 TIMES OF IT BEING IN. WELL, IT HAS DONE IT AGAIN NOW IN MARCH OF 2009. THEY ARE STATING THAT ME EXTENDED WARRANTY THROUGH NATIONAL WARRANTY DOES NOT COVER THIS THEREFORE I HAVE TO PAY $400 TO FIX SOMETHING THAT SEEMS TO BE A DEFAULT ON THIS CAR. IT IS NOT YET 4 YEARS OLD. I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR. I TRIED TRADING IT IN, BUT I WAS LAID OFF LAST YEAR AND MAKE LESS MONEY AND DO NOT HAVE THE BEST CREDIT BECAUSE OF NOT WORKING FOR ALMOST A YEAR. I HATE THIS CAR AND AFTER THE CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THE PROBLEMS I HAVE HAD WITH THIS CAR, I WILL NEVER PURCHASE A CHEVY AGAIN!! THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HAS HAPPENED SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR AND THEY SAY THEY WILL NOT COVER IT. I HAVE FOUND ON SEVERAL WEBSITES THAT OTHERS HAVE HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM, BUT CHEVY SAYS IT HAS NOT BEEN REPORTED ENOUGH TO THEM TO SAY THAT IT IS A RECALL. WOW! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10261905March 15, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
2005 CHEVY COBALT...THE KEY GETS STUCK IN THE IGNITION. NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO, IT WILL NOT COME OUT. I LOOKED ON LINE AND I CANNOT GET OVER HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THAT AND THE COMPRESSOR GOING OUT. CHEVY NEEDS TO OWN UP TO THEIR DEFECTS. I PAID OVER $200 TO HAVE THIS FIXED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10261532March 11, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THERE WERE NO EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE; IT JUST HAPPENED. THE IGNITION CONTROL MODULE HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE IN 4 YEARS ON MY 2005 COBALT. THE FIRST TIME WAS 2 WEEKS AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR SO IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY. THE SECOND TIME IT COST ME OVER $600 DOLLARS TO HAVE IT FIXED. THE ODOMETER WILL READ "ICE POSSIBLE" WHEN IT'S 80 DEGREES OUTSIDE AND THE BRAKE DUMMY LIGHT COMES ON ALL THE TIME. THE RADIO WILL DISPLAY A "LOCK" ON IT AND THE RADIO WON'T WORK. JUST RECENTLY THE REAR DEFOGGER QUIT WORKING. I REPLACED THE FUSE AND RELAY SWITCH THINKING THIS WOULD BE QUICK FIX AND NEITHER WORKED. THE 2005 COBALT HAS MANY ISSUES AND I'VE READ OF OTHERS WITH ISSUES SIMILAR TO MINE. NEW CARS AREN'T SUPPOSED TO HAVE THIS MANY PROBLEMS THIS SOON. MY CAR IS ONLY 4 YEARS OLD AND I CAN'T WAIT TO GET RID OF IT! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10261586March 11, 2009
STEERING
THE POWER STEERING ON MY 05 COBALT KEEPS GOING OUT I DRIVE AND ALL THE SUDDEN MY POWER STEERING FAILS AND ITS HARD TO TURN AND BOUNCES ALL OVER THE ROAD I TURN THE CAR OFF AND START IT AGAIN AND IT GOES AWAY IT DOES AT RANDOM TIMES MORE OFTEN IN WARM WEATHER I BOUGHT THE CAR FOR MY WIFE AND SHE CANT DRIVE BECAUSE OF AND IM STILL PAYING ON THE NOTE CHEVY FAILS TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE DEFICIENCY THE STEERING COLUMN HAS BEEN REPLACED ONCE BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM AND PROBLEM STILL EXIST A RECALL IS DUE BECAUSE THE COST OF REPAIR IS AROUND 2500 DOLLARS MORE THAN THE CAR IS WORTH. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10260961March 6, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I HAVE A 2005 CHEVY COBALT. WITHIN THE LAST YEAR THE POWER STEERING HAS STARTED GOING OUT ON IT. WHEN YOU TURN THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON, IT WILL BE FINE FOR A LITTLE WHILE. I HAVE TALKED TO SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL CAR. FROM WHAT I'VE BEEN TOLD, IT IS GOING TO BE EXTREMELY PRICEY TO FIX TOO. THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING SYSTEM IS FAULTY AND SHOULD BE RECALLED BEFORE SOMEONE GETS SERIOUSLY INJURED! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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