Chevrolet Cobalt Complaints (2008)

940 consumer complaints on file.

#10459462May 23, 2012
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, ENGINE
LATE 2011 MY CAR STARTING HAVING ISSUES WITH THE RPMS GOING UP AND DOWN WHILE I WAS DRIVING AT A STEADY PACE. BY DEC 2011 MY CAR SMELLED LIKE IT HAD A SMALL FUEL LEAK; ONE THAT I COULD ONLY SMELL WHILE MY CAR WAS IDLING. SINCE FEBRUARY 2012 THE SMELL OF GASOLINE HAS GONE FROM A FAINT SMELL WHILE IDLING TO AN ALMOST UNBEARABLE SMELL THAT I CAN SMELL EVEN DOING 70+ MPH ON THE FREEWAY. WITH THE FUEL LINES NOT ALLOWING ENOUGH FUEL TO BE PUMPED INTO MY ENGINE IT ALSO DOES NOT LIKE TO START IF IT HAS BEEN SITTING FOR MORE THAN A FEW HOURS. I HAVE TO TURN THE KEY LET THE ENGINE TURN OVER A FEW TIMES, LET IT SIT, THEN ATTEMPT TO START IT UP AGAIN. CHEVY HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH THEIR COBALT'S SINCE THEY HAVE STARTED MAKING THEM IT SEEMS. THEY HAVE NOT FIXED THE PROBLEM WITH THE 2008'S THEY HAVE JUST CHOSEN TO IGNORE THAT OUR CARS HAVE THIS ISSUE AS WELL. WHEN I CALL THE DEALERSHIP THEY TELL ME THAT THE 2008 MODELS DO NOT HAVE THE ISSUE THAT THE EARLIER MODELS HAD, BUT THEY ARE MORE THAN HAPPY TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM FOR ME AT A COST OF $150 AND THEY CAN FIX IT AT DOUBLE THE PRICE ANYWHERE ELSE BECAUSE THEY ARE A DEALERSHIP. NO THANK YOU! I WILL NOT PAY CHEVY TO FIX A PROBLEM THAT THEY HAVE CAUSED AND REFUSE TO FIX. I DO KNOW THAT I WILL NOT BE BUYING ANOTHER CHEVY ONCE I AM ABLE TO GET RID OF THIS CAR. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10459319May 22, 2012
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
SINCE SEPTEMBER 2011 I HAVE NOTICED A SIGNIFICANT DECREASE IN FUEL EFFICIENCY. THE FUEL EFFICIENCY HAS GOTTEN WORSE SINCE THEN. I NOW GET ABOUT 12 MILES TO THE GALLON. TIRES ARE CHECKED AND I USE FUEL WITH NO ETHANOL. I HAVE SEEN RECALLS ON THE 2007 MODELS FOR THE FUEL PUMP AND WHY NOT FOR THE 2008 MODEL? THIS HAS BECOME A FINANCIAL NIGHTMARE. I BOUGHT THE CAR IN LOUISIANA WHERE I LIVE. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10459097May 21, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED THE KEY WAS STUCK IN THE IGNITION OF THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE TURNED OFF. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THE TUMBLER AND THE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER NEEDED TO REPLACED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 42,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10458164May 11, 2012
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
I NOTICED MY CAR HAD A HARD TIME STARTING ON THURSDAY, MAY 3, 2012. THEN ON FRIDAY, MAY 4, 2012, I BEGAN TO SMELL GAS HEAVILY IN MY CAR. BY SATURDAY, MY CAR HAD A HARD TIME STARTING. AFTER I TURNED ON THE CAR, I RECEIVED AGAIN A HEAVY ODOR OF GAS INSIDE MY CAR. I DID NOT DRIVE MY CAR THE ENTIRE WEEK OF MAY 7 - 11, 2012. I HAVE A MECHANIC CHECK MY CAR AND FOUND GAS LEAKING ONTO MY GAS TANK. I THEN SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND FOUND THAT SIMILAR DESCRIPTIONS OF FAULTINESS HAD BEEN REPORTED FOR 2007 MODELS AND I CAME UPON THIS WEBSITE AGAIN WITH SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ABOUT 2008 MODELS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10457641May 7, 2012
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
MY MOTHER IN LAW HAS A 2008 CHEVY COBALT AND SHE HAS A STRONG SMELL OF FUEL IN SIDE THE VEHICLE AND SHE HAS TO RIDE WITH THE WINDOWS DOWN, AND CANT TAKE HER GRANDCHILDREN ANY WHERE WITH ME BECAUSE OF THE SMELL. ALSO HER FUEL MILEAGE HAS DROPPED CONSIDERABLY SHE ONLY PUT $10 WORTH THE GAS IN AT A TIME BECAUSE SHE AM IN FEAR OF WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF SHE FILLS IT UP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10457685May 7, 2012
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
I STARTED SMELLING FUEL IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT AND IT HAS GOTTEN WORSE. PEOPLE COMPLAIN ABOUT THE FUEL ODOR WHEN THEY WALK BY. I HAVE RECENTLY BEEN INFORMED BY MY MECHANIC THAT IT IS FUEL LEAKAGE AT THE TOP OF THE TANK. I HAVE FOUND THE RECALL ISSUES FOR THE 2006 AND 2007 COBALTS AND I BELIEVE THE 2008 SHOULD BE INCLUDED. MY CAR IS CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN TX, BUT IT IS A CA VEHICLE. OVERWHELMING ODOR INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF VEHICLE. EXTREME FIRE DANGER!!!!! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10457235May 3, 2012
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET COBALT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE POWER STEERING PUMP HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 10V073000 (STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM) AND WAS REPAIRED PREVIOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10456326April 24, 2012
SEAT BELTS
THE RIGHT REAR SEAT BELT WILL NOT REALEASE TO ALLOW ANYONE TO SIT WITHIN THE VEHICLE AND BUCKLE UP. I BROUGHT THIS ALONG TO THE ATTENTION OF MY SERVICE PROVIDER AND WAS ADVISED THAT THIS IS ACCESSORY EQUIPMENT AND THAT I WOULD BE CHARGED FOR THE REPAIR OF THIS EQUIPMENT ALONG WITH A TROUBLE SHOOTING CHARGE AS TO WHY IT WOULD NOT RELEASE. THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM HAS FAILED, THEREBY CAUSING LIGHT TO DISPLAY ON THE DASH. I HAVE TAKEN THIS BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR A THIRD TIME AND NOW A PART HAS BEEN ORDERED TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE MONITOR AND I'M BEING BILLED FOR THIS AS WELL. I HAVE BEEN PROVIDED WITH A LOANER, SINCE THE PART WAS GOING TO TAKE OVERNIGHT TO ARRIVE AND THE DEALER'S LOANER HAS THE SAME ISSUE. I HAVE OBTAIND THE VIN FOR THIS VEHICLE OF NEEDED, BUT WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF EITHER OF THESE HAVE BEEN REPORTED AND THE CIRCUMSTANCES AROUND THE ACTUAL REPLACEMENT COSTS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10455646April 18, 2012
STEERING
AT APPROXIMATELY 7:55 A.M. ON MONDAY, APRIL 16TH, I WAS DRIVING SOUTH ON STATE ROUTE 605 TO WORK (CENTER VILLAGE/NEW ALBANY OHIO AREA). GOING ON A STRAIGHT ROAD, AND AT 50 MPH, I FELT THE STEERING WHEEL BECOME A LITTLE SPONGY AS I WAS DRIVING WHEN I WAS MAKING A SMALL CORRECTION IN THE STEERING WHEEL TO ENSURE I WAS PROPERLY IN MY LANE. WHEN I MOVED THE STEERING WHEEL TO RIGHT A FRACTION, THE CAR DRIFTED TO THE RIGHT AS IT SHOULD. HOWEVER, UPON MAKING A CORRECTION TO THE LEFT THE CAR'S STEERING WHEEL BECAME IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN. BECAUSE OF THIS THE CAR VEERED RIGHT STRIKING A MAILBOX AND CRASHING INTO SOME TREES. THE CAR IS SEVERELY DAMAGED AND THE INSURANCE COMPANY IS LOOKING AT IT TODAY. I HAD THE ELECTRICAL STEERING BOX REPLACED LAST YEAR. THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG WENT OFF AS IT SHOULD BUT THE CAR ENDED UP ON ITS SIDE. *JS
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10455653April 18, 2012
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET COBALT. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING HAD SUDDENLY STOPPED FUNCTIONING, CAUSING THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO A NEARBY TREE. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED DURING THE CRASH AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED AND NO REPAIRS HAD BEEN PERFORMED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 71,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10455507April 17, 2012
STEERING, SUSPENSION
PURCHASED 2008 CAR USED IN 2010 WITH APPROX. 10K MILES. HAVE HAD SEVERAL ISSUES WITH STEREO SPEAKERS GOING OUT. CAR NOW HAS LESS THAN 60K MILES. RECENTLY DEVELOPED KNOCK IN FRONT WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS. TOOK CAR TO DEALER TO HAVE RECALLED STEERING BOX FIXED. CHEVROLET SAYS LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS, FRONT STRUTS ARE LEAKING, AND SWAY BAR END LINKS NEED REPLACED SOON. ALMOST $1500 DOLLARS. NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY THOUGH ONLINE SEARCH SHOWS RAMPANT ISSUES. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10454926April 12, 2012
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
AFTER 12,000 MILES HAD TO GET NEW BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS DO TO LOUD SQUEALING. HAVE SINCE BEEN REPLACED TWO MORE TIMES FOR THE SAME THING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10453133March 26, 2012
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
BEGAN SMELLING A FAINT GAS ODOR IN JAN. 2012 WHILE SITTING AT STOPLIGHT COMING FROM MY 2008 CHEVY COBALT. ODOR HAS SINCE GROWN STRONGER AND MY MPG'S HAVE GONE FROM AROUND 30-32 MPG TO 26 MPG ON LAST FULL TANK OF GAS. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH 2008 COBALTS. THERE WAS A RECALL I HAVE COME ACROSS IN MY RESEARCH FOR YEARS 2005-2007 AND PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE OF SIMILAR NATURE, BUT ONLY IN CERTAIN STATES, MY CAR WAS PURCHASED IN TEXAS BUT CURRENTLY RESIDES IN OKLAHOMA AND I BELIEVE IT WAS KEPT IN ANOTHER STATE BY PREVIOUS OWNER. I FEEL AS THOUGH THIS SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO BY GM AND CORRECTED ON THEIR SIDE OF THE DEAL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10452738March 23, 2012
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
I WAS JUST INFORMED BY MY SON THE HIS 2008 COBALT SMELL LIKE GAS. HE STATED THAT IT HAS BEEN LIKE THAT FOR SOME TIME, BUT ONLY NOTICED THE SMELL WHILE AT A STOP OR VERY SLOW SPEED. NOW IT IS OVERBEARING AND ALL THE TIME. 66,000 CURRENT MILES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10452517March 21, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I HAVE A 2009 CHEVY COBALT AND UPON PARKING MY CAR I CANNOT TURN OFF THE CAR AND REMOVE THE KEYS FROM THE CAR. I WAS ABLE TO DO A QUICK SEARCH ON MY PHONE ON WHAT TO DO AND FOUND HUNDREDS OF RESPONSES ON ONLINE FORUMS OF PEOPLE HAVING THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. THE KEY WILL NOT TURN BACKWARDS (TOWARDS OFF). IT WILL BUDGE FORWARD SLIGHTLY BUT WILL NOT TURN THE CAR OFF AND ALLOW THE KEY TO BE REMOVED. UPON CALLING A DEALERSHIP AND GM DIRECTLY I HAVE FOUND OUT THAT THIS AN INCREDIBLY COMMON INSTANCE. I WAS ABLE TO POP THE TRUNK AND PULL THE FUSE AND POWER FROM THE BATTERY TO KILL THE ENGINE BUT NO MATTER WHAT I DO I CANNOT REMOVE THE KEY. I HAVE EVEN TRIED SUGGESTIONS FROM GM WHICH INVOLVE A MANUAL KEY RELEASE UNDER THE STEERING COLUMN BUT NOTHING HAPPENED (MECHANIC TOLD ME THIS ACTUALLY DOESN'T WORK THE WAY GM EXPLAINS). MY CAR IS GETTING FIXED FOR A NOMINAL FEE THAT I CANNOT AFFORD BECAUSE I HAVE RECENTLY LOST MY JOB. MY COMPLAINT HOWEVER RESIDES ON HOW COMMON THIS ISSUE IS AND HOW QUICK GM AND DEALERSHIPS ARE ABLE TO DIAGNOSE IT BECAUSE OF HOW OFTEN THIS COMES UP. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10452224March 19, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WAS TRAVELING 55-65MPH WHEN THE GAUGES ON THE CAR STARTED TO BOUNCE AROUND ERRATICALLY, NOT READING TRUE SPEED,RPM, FUEL LEVEL, AND FLASHING POWER STEERING AND NUMEROUS OTHER WARNINGS ON INFO DISPLAY. AFTER STOPPING AND RESTARTING SITUATION WENT AWAY. A FEW DAYS LATER PROBLEM REOCCURRED AT LOWER SPEED THIS TIME ALL PROBLEMS REOCCURRED AND CAR DIDN'T' WANT TO SHIFT GEARS, OR WHEN DID WAS EXTREMELY VIOLENT. GM ACKNOWLEDGES THIS PROBLEM ON MULTIPLE VEHICLES (THERE TSB # IS PIC4677F) HAS BEEN UPDATED NUMEROUS TIMES WITH VARIOUS MAKES AND MODELS. ALONG WITH SOME OTHER SYMPTOMS I HAVE YET TO HAVE SUCH AS ENGINE SURGING OR STALLING WHILE DRIVING. (THIS IS A HUGE DANGER!, TOYOTA HAD TO RECALL HOW MANY BECAUSE OF THIS SAME ISSUE?) IT IS MY OPINION AS A CERTIFIED,ACTIVE, AND SWORN POLICE OFFICER THAT THIS A DANGEROUS ISSUE. I BELIEVE SHOULD BE A MANDATORY RECALL. AS THE GAUGES BEING EFFECTED COULD EASILY CAUSE A WRECK,BLOWN ENGINE, ETC.. ALSO THE SHIFTING AT LOW SPEEDS IS ENOUGH TO CAUSE DAMAGE TO CHILD.(AND AS I HAVE 2 ONE OF WHICH IS 2 I COULD ONLY IMAGINE WHAT THIS WOULD DUE TO A NEW BORN..) THERE ARE JUST TO MANY VEHICLES EFFECTED AND TO MUCH TO RISK TO LET THIS GO-ON UN-TREATED.. #PIC4677F: NO START NO CRANK INTERMITTENTLY / NO COMMUNICATION OVER HIGH SPEED LAN - COMM NOCRANK NOSTART - (SEP 23, 2010) SUBJECT:NO START NO CRANK INTERMITTENTLY/NO COMMUNICATION OVER HIGH SPEED LAN MODELS:2005-2010 CHEVROLET COBALT 2006-2011 CHEVROLET HHR 2004-2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU 2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC 2008-2010 PONTIAC G5 2005-2010 PONTIAC G6 2006-2007 PONTIAC PURSUIT (CANADA) 2007-2009 SATURN AURA 2007-2009 SATURN SKY 2006-2009 SATURN SOLSTICE WITH ONSTAR (UE1) *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10452225March 19, 2012
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO RAPIDLY ACCELERATE. THE PEDAL REMAINED STUCK UNTIL THE CONTACT USED HER FOOT TO DISLODGE THE PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,000. UPDATED 04/19/12*LJ
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10451769March 15, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY WOULD NOT REMOVE FROM THE IGNITION. AS A RESULT, IT WAS DIFFICULT TO START THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT ON THE LAST ATTEMPT TO START THE VEHICLE, THE KEY FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 31,695 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 43,396. UPDATED 05/10/12*LJ
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10451788March 15, 2012
STEERING
WHILE PRACTICING PARALLEL PARKING POWER STEERING DISABLED ITSELF. COULD NOT GET POWER STEERING TO RE ENGAGE. TOOK CAR TO DEALERSHIP ON ABOVE STATED DATE. THEY REPLACED THE RECALLED INTERNAL POWER ASSIST MOTOR. A FEW DAYS LATER THE POWER STEERING FAILED AGAIN. UPON RETURNING TO THE DEALERSHIP WE WERE INFORMED THAT STEERING WAS BEING OVER USED. SINCE THAT TIME POWER STEERING HAS GONE OUT SEVERAL TIMES. SOME OF WHICH THE STEERING HAS NOT RETURNED AFTER TURNING OFF THE ENGINE AND RESTARTING THE VEHICLE. SOME INSTANCES HAVE OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING SLOWLY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10450309March 5, 2012
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE ATTEMPTING A RIGHT TURN. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS OR REPAIRS. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 43,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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