Chevrolet Cobalt Complaints

7,975 consumer complaints on file.

#10273751June 14, 2009
STEERING
THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP IN THE CAR AND THE DIC/ INSTRUMENT PANEL DISPLAYED 'POWER STEERING' . THE STEERING SYSTEM SHUTDOWN COMPLETELY WITH NO PRIOR WARNING OF ANY KIND. THIS HAPPENED IN THE MIDDLE OF A VERY BUSY INTERSECTION AND I WAS UNABLE TO STEER THE CAR IN ANY MANNER. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT POSES RISKS AND THREAT OF PROPERTY DAMAGE, SEVERE INJURY OR DEATH TO THE CAR OWNER, OTHER CAR DRIVERS ON THE ROAD, OTHERS CARS ON THE ROAD, PEDESTRIANS AND OTHER BUILDING STRUCTURES. THIS COULD HAPPEN AGAIN AT ANY GIVEN TIME. RESEARCH INDICATES THAT THIS SAFETY ISSUE PROGRESSIVELY INCREASES. REPAIR REQUIRES THE REPLACEMENT OF THE STEERING COLUMN, PSCM (POWER STEERING CONTROL MODULE) AND POWER STEERING MOTOR UNIT ESTIMATED TO COST UPTO $2000. RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET ALSO INDICATES A NUMBER OF CUSTOMERS WHOSE VEHICLES HAVE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING (AS THIS CAR DOES) AS OPPOSED TO CONVENTIONAL HYDRAULIC STEERING SYSTEMS HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS ISSUE. GM HAS ISSUED THE FOLLOWING COMMUNICATION ON THIS TOPIC, BUT THIS PARTICULAR BULLETIN DOES NOT REFER TO OWNERS OF 2005 COBALT CAR MODEL. BULLETIN GMP07-217 - 07126 SPECIAL COVERAGE ADJUSTMENT MESSAGE #:VSU20071643 SPECIAL COVERAGE ADJUSTMENT #07126 DATED: DECEMBER 3, 2007 SINCE THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE RESULTING FROM A MANUFACTURING DEFECT, I AM REQUESTING THAT CHEVROLET REIMBURSE ME OR PAY FOR THE COST OF REPAIR EVEN THOUGH MY CAR IS PAST THE STANDARD MANUFACTURERS WARRANTY PERIOD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10273768June 14, 2009
STEERING
STEERING FAILURE IN THE CHEVROLET COBALT. I WAS DRIVING AND THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. TOOK CAR IN TO THE CHEVROLET DEALERS SERVICES DEPARTMENT, I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT, I WAS TOLD THAT THIS PART WAS REPLACED BUT WHEN THEY TEST DROVE THE CAR THEY FOUND THE STEERING TO BE IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN. THEY RELEASED THE CAR BACK TO US WITHOUT SOLVING THE PROBLEM. I FIND THIS TO BE TROUBLING SINCE THIS IS THEIR PRODUCT. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM AND GM SHOULD BE LIABLE FOR THIS PROBLEM. THERE SHOULD A RECALL ON THE STEERING COLUMN IN THE COBALT, BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10273714June 13, 2009
STEERING
DEAR SIR OR MADAM: ON MY WAY TO WAL-MART ON ROUTE 40 ONE SATURDAY AFTERNOON, A "POWER STEERING" MESSAGE CAME UP ON MY 2006 COBALT SS DASHBOARD. THIS WAS HAPPENING AS I WAS INCREASING MY SPEED CLOSE TO THE SPEED LIMIT OF 55 MILES AN HOUR. I ARRIVED TO MY DESTINATION WITH DIFFICULTY SINCE I HAVE NEVER DRIVEN A CAR WITHOUT POWER STEERING AND DRIVING IT TOOK A LOT OF EFFORT TO AVOID CRASHING IN THE PARKING LOT TRAFFIC. AFTER I SHOPPED AT WAL-MART AND RETURNED TO MY CAR, I STARTED ENGINE AND RELIEVED THAT THE PROBLEM HAS DISAPPEARED. MUCH TO MY DISMAY, I WENT BACK TO ROUTE 40 UP TO 55 MILES AN HOUR AGAIN WITH THE POWER STEERING PROBLEM APPEARING AGAIN. BASED ON WHAT I'VE EXPERIENCED SO FAR, THE POWER STEERING SEEMS TO GET TURNED "OFF" DURING A LONG, STRAIGHT-AWAY DRIVE AT MORE THAN 50 MILES AN HOUR ON A HOT WEATHER. IT HAS HAPPENED TWICE TODAY AND I'M CONCERNED THAT IT MAY HAPPEN AGAIN AND AGAIN. THE DEFECT COULD ENDANGER MYSELF AND MY PASSENGERS IN THE EVENT THE POWER STEERING IS MUCH MORE NEEDED, ESPECIALLY IN LOW TRAFFIC SPEEDS. DURING LOW TRAFFIC SPEEDS, IT INCREASES THE RISK OF AN ACCIDENT DUE TO A MORE REQUIRED EFFORT TO STEER. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO IT YET AND I WILL BE CALLING MY CAR DEALERSHIP SOON TO SEE IF MY ZURICH VEHICLE CONTRACT COVERS THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING. SINCE GM'S WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED ALREADY, IT WILL NOT BE COVERED. I HAVE SEARCHED THE WEB AND FOUND THAT COUNTLESS COBALT OWNERS ARE HAVING THE SIMILAR PROBLEMS, WHICH WORRIES ME. GENERAL MOTORS HASN'T STARTED A RECALL FOR THE DEFECT AND IT'S UNFORTUNATE BECAUSE THE DEFECT CAN END UP BEING FATAL TO MANY OTHER COBALT OWNERS. I HOPE GENERAL MOTORS ISN'T BEING NEGLIGENT, ESPECIALLY NOW THAT THEY ARE UNDER BANKRUPTCY PROTECTION. I BOUGHT THE 2006 COBALT SS 4 MONTHS AGO USED AND I'VE ACCUMULATED 7000 MILES ON IT WITH AN ODOMETER READING OF ABOUT 67,400. IT WAS A GREAT CAR UNTIL I FIND OUT IT'S PRETTY UNSAFE WITH A RE-OCCURRING POWER STEERING PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10273717June 13, 2009
STEERING
THE PROBLEM I AM REPORTING IS WITH MY 2005 CHEVY COBALT LS. THE POWER STEERING QUIT WORKING SUDDENLY WITH NO WARNING. THIS FAILURE HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING DOWN A MAJOR ROAD AND CAUSE ALL POWER STEERING TO GO OUT. ONCE THE CAR IS SHUT OFF IT STARTS WORKING AGAIN, BUT EACH TIME THE MEAN TIME BETWEEN FAILURES DECREASES. THE FAILURE HAPPENS SO OFTEN NOW THAT I CAN'T DRIVE THE CAR. THE STEERING COLUMN HAS TO BE REPLACED NOW SINCE GM DOES NOT SELL INDIVIDUAL PARTS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10273629June 12, 2009
STEERING
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGH AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY POWER STEERING CAME ON AND HAS BEEN FOR 2 MONTHS NOW. I HAVE LOOKED UP THE ISSUE AND I AM NOT THE ONLY OWNER OF COBALT TO HAVE THESE PROBLEMS. I HAVE THE 2005 COBALT SS SUPERCHARGED WIT 84,000 MILES ON IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10273651June 12, 2009
STEERING
I OWN A 2007 CHEVROLET COBALT AND THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM INTERMITTENTLY FAILS AT NO PARTICULAR TIME LEAVING THE CAR WITHOUT POWER STEERING AT ANY MOMENT. THIS HAPPENED TO MY DAUGHTER TODAY AND FORTUNATELY SHE WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED WITHOUT INCIDENT. I RESEARCHED THIS ONLINE AND FOUND A WEBSITE WITHIN 5 MINUTES WHICH HAS 387 EXACT COMPLAINTS AND THEY DESCRIBE EVERYTHING FROM NO ACCIDENT TO BEING TOWED AND UNFORTUNATELY SOME COLLISIONS. I AM PAYING TO HAVE IT REPAIRED AS THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THIS DEFECTIVE MOTOR. IT IS A NEW TYPE OF ELECTRIC STEERING ASSIST AND NOT THE TRADITIONAL HYDRAULIC ASSIST TYPE. THIS NEEDS TO BE RECALLED BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10273451June 10, 2009
STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILS WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS. AS A RESULT, THE STEERING WHEEL BECOMES VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS AND THE WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED; THEREFORE, THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO PAY OVER $3,000 FOR THE REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10273466June 10, 2009
STEERING
MY 2006 CHEVROLET COBALT WITH ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING HAS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM IN THAT THE POWER STEERING JUST TURNS OFF. THERE ARE NO APPARENT REASONS WHY. I CAN DRIVE 1-2 DAYS WITH NO PROBLEM AND THE THIRD DAY IT WILL QUIT 4 OR 5 TIMES. TURNING THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTING IT TURNS IT BACK ON. CHEVROLET HAS RECALLED THE MALIBU BECAUSE OF THE SAME PROBLEM BUT NOTHING IS BEING DONE WITH THE COBALT. THIS OBVIOUSLY A BIG SAFETY ISSUE SINCE THE CAR IS VERY HARD TO STEER WHEN THE POWER STEERING JUST QUITS. I HAVE NOT HAD ANY ACCIDENTS YET DUE TO THIS PROBLEM AND WILL HAVE IT REPAIRED HOWEVER IT SEEMS A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE SOME UNEXPECTED PERSON HAS THIS HAPPEN AT AN INOPPORTUNE TIME RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10273477June 10, 2009
STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE POWER STEERING IN THE VEHICLE FAILS INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH ELECTRICAL POWER STEERING. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING AND ALMOST CAUSED THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. HE BELIEVES THAT THERE IS A DEFECT THAT COULD POSSIBLY LEAD TO A CRASH. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE POWER ASSIST SYSTEM AND THE STEERING COLUMN. THROUGH ONLINE RESEARCH, THE CONTACT FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THIS SAME FAILURE AND BELIEVES THAT A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED AND THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 46,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10273478June 10, 2009
STEERING
I ALMOST GOT IN A MAJOR ACCIDENT A WEEK AGO BECAUSE MY POWER STEERING FAILED ON MY 2006 CHEVY COBALT SS/SC. MY WARRANTY IS UP AND THE DEALER TOLD ME IT WOULD BE 900 DOLLARS TO FIX. I AM DISGUSTED THIS IS NOT RECALLED. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. AND I UNDERSTAND THERE ARE ALOT OF OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. JUST WAIT UNTIL SOMEONE REALLY GETS HURT, CAUSE I KNOW GM WONT RECALL IT UNTIL SOMEONE DOES!!!! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10273481June 10, 2009
STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE STEERING LOCKED UP AND THE CONTACT WAS FORCED TO PULL THE VEHICLE OVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND IS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN. THERE WERE NO PRIOR FAILURES WITH THE STEERING. THE DEALER STATED THAT IT WOULD COST $2,000 TO REPAIR THE STEERING. THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WAS ALSO DEFECTIVE AND WILL NOT ACTIVATE THE AIR CONDITIONING OR LOCK THE DOORS. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 73,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10273497June 10, 2009
STEERING, EQUIPMENT, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES, EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
MY HUSBAND AND I PURCHASED TO 2006 CHEVY COBALT IN SEPTEMBER OF 06. SINCE THE PURCHASE OF MY , "BRAND NEW" CAR THE AIR CONDITIONING, POWER LOCKS, AND POWER STEERING HAVE ALL CEASED TO WORK. MY AIR CONDITIONING ONLY WORKED FOR ONE SUMMER. THE POWER LOCKS WENT OUT ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO. NOW, THE MOST CONCERNING IS THAT MY POWER STEERING HAS NOW FAILED. I TURN THE CAR ON AND HAVE POWER STEERING FOR APPROXIMATELY 2-3 MINUTES, THEN THE CARS POWER STEERING FAILS. I WILL NEVER HAVE THE MONEY TO REPLACE ANY PARTS BECAUSE OF THE HIGH PAYMENTS AND INSURANCE. MY POOR HUSBAND IS A PIZZA DELIVERY PERSON! THIS IS THE WORST THING TO HAPPEN. I TRIED TO BUY AN AMERICAN MADE CAR HOPING THAT I WOULD AT LEAST GET TO DRIVE IT FOR A FEW YEARS WITHOUT HAVING IT BREAK DOWN. NOW GM IS GETTING MY PAYCHECK AND THE TAXES THEY TOOK OUT OF IT!! THIS IS PLAIN WRONG! I WILL NEVER BUY GM AGAIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10273192June 9, 2009
STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT. SPORADICALLY, WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ELECTRICAL POWER STEERING WILL FAIL. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER AND THEY SPECULATED THAT JUMPSTARTING OTHER VEHICLES COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE A SHORTAGE OF ELECTRICITY TO THE COMPONENT. AFTER THE DIAGNOSIS, THE ENTIRE POWER STEERING WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WERE UNAWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 53,890.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10273195June 9, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I OWN A CHEVROLET COBALT (2006) WITH 40,000 MILES. THE CAR WILL START, BUT OCCASIONALLY THE POWER STEERING WILL GO, THE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON, AND IT WILL SPUTTER AND HAVE TROUBLE ACCELERATING. WHEN I STOP IT MAKES A THUD NOISE. THIS OCCURS ONCE EVERY TWO DAYS, AND TO THIS POINT IT IS IN THE LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALER BEING DIAGNOSED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10273224June 9, 2009
STEERING
I HAVE A 2005 CHEVY COBALT THAT I BOUGHT NEW IN 05. AT ABOUT 50K MILES, THE POWER STEERING WOULD OCCASIONALLY STOP WORKING AND THE CAR WAS INCREDIBLY HARD TO STEER. THIS HAPPENED RANDOMLY, SOMETIMES DRIVING STRAIGHT, SOMETIMES TURNING. I HAD A FEW NEAR COLLISIONS WHEN IT FAILED MID-TURN. AFTER FINDING OUT THE REPLACEMENT PART WAS CLOSE TO $1000 FROM CHEVY, I FOUND A SUITABLE DONOR CAR AND SALVAGED THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING UNIT. I SWAPPED IT OUT AND HAVE HAD NO PROBLEMS IN THE 15K MILES SINCE. I STILL HAVE THE FAILED POWER STEERING UNIT AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10273251June 9, 2009
STEERING
I BOUGHT A 2006 CHEVY COBALT APRIL 9,2009. AFTER ABOUT 2 WEEKS THE POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THE STEERING COLUMN IS GOING OUT AND IT WOULD COST ABOUT $900. NOW THE LIGHT COMES ON AFTER A FEW MINUTES. THE CAR WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY, BUT I THINK THEY KNEW THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG WITH IT. I HAVE CHECKED ON THE INTERNET AND A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME COMPLAINT. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL OR SOMETHING HELP FOR PEOPLE LIKE ME THAT CANNOT AFFORD TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10273064June 8, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
KEY STUCK IN THE IGNITION OF A 2007 CHEVY COBALT. MY DAUGHTER WENT TO THE MALL AND REALIZED THAT SHE COULD NOT REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. SHE HAD TO DRIVE ALL THE WAY BACK HOME AND PARK IN THE GARAGE(THANK GOD WE HAD ONE). IT WAS THE WEEKEND SO THERE WAS NO SERVICE THAT COULD BE DONE FOR THE CAR. SINCE IT WAS IN THE ACC POSITION, HER BATTERY DIED OVER THE WEEKEND. ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE PROVIDED JUMP HOWEVER, THE CAR HAD TO BE TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND AT THE RATE OF $99.00 PER HOUR THEY WILL DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM (WHICH IS ALREADY REPORTED AS A TECH SERVICE BULLETIN. WHERE DOES THE MADNESS STOP?... THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM YET, THE DEALER CAN STILL CHARGE FOR REPAIRS. THIS IS CRAZY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10273128June 8, 2009
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING CONSTANTLY FAILED. THE POWER SCRIPT WARNING CONTINUED TO READ "POWER STEERING. THE DEALER INVESTIGATED AND STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING CONTROL MODULE AND STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE REPAIR COST WAS ESTIMATED AT $853 TO BE PAID BY THE CONTACT. THE MANUFACTURER COULD NOT ASSIST BECAUSE THE WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 62,000. UPDATED 062909 *BF UPDATED 07/01/09.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10273136June 8, 2009
STEERING
2005 CHEVROLET COBALT. POWER STEERING FAILS AT ALL SPEEDS. IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER THE CAR. COULD DEFINITELY CAUSE COLLISIONS AT HIGH SPEEDS. SHOULD BE A RECALL. GM IS UNWILLING SAYING THEY DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH COMPLAINTS. SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET HURT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10273146June 8, 2009
STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING CONSTANTLY FAILED. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE STEERING WOULD BECOME STIFF WITHIN ONE MINUTE. SHE WAS UNABLE TO MANEUVER THE STEERING WHEEL WITHOUT APPLYING MAXIMUM FORCE. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT ASSIST WITH THE REPAIRS BECAUSE THERE WERE NO RECALLS. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 37,500.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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