Chevrolet Cobalt Complaints (2005)
1,649 consumer complaints on file.
- #10317793March 8, 2010STEERING
MY WIFE AND I GOT INTO THE CAR, WE STARTED TO PULL OFF FROM HER PARENT'S HOUSE AND BEFORE WE MADE IT OFF THEIR STREET, THE CAR CHIMED AND "POWER STEERING" WAS DISPLAYED ON THE DASH. THE POWER STEERING IMMEDIATELY BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO MANAGE, AS WE ALMOST GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT ON THE STREET. IT CHIMES AS SOON AS WE START THE CAR AND BEGIN PULLING OUT OF OUR DRIVEWAY, OR PULLING AWAY FROM ANYWHERE WE ARE. IT TAKES MAYBE 5 SECONDS FROM THE TIME WE START THE CAR BEFORE WE HEAR THE CHIME. IT IS IMMEDIATE. WE HAVE RESEARCHED THIS ONLINE AND FOUND THAT GM HAS DONE A RECALL, FINALLY, ON THESE CARS DUE TO THE MALFUNCTION OF THE CHIP FOR THE POWER STEERING. WE ARE CONTACTING OUR LOCAL CHEVY DEALER TODAY TO SEE WHAT STEPS WE NEED TO TAKE NEXT TO FIX THE PROBLEM. WE HAVE ONLY HAD THIS CAR FOR 2 YEARS NOW. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10317441March 7, 2010STEERING
POWER STEERING WENT OUT IN 2005 CHEVY COBALT. I AM SMALL I COULD BARELY STEER. WILL CALL DEALER TODAY
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10317545March 7, 2010STEERING
I HAD NO POWER STEERING/POWER STEERING ON MY 2005 CHEVY COBALT FAILED AND THE NEAREST PLACE I COULD GO WAS A LOCAL GOODYEAR REPAIR SHOP. THEY KEPT MY CAR FOR 3 DAYS, HAD TO ORDER NEW PARTS AND TAKE OUT THE STEERING COLUMN ASSEMBLY AND REPLACE COST TO ME WAS $956.75. THIS OCCURRED ON AUG. 20, 2009. I HAD NO IDEA THAT THIS WAS A DEFECT UNTIL I JUST READ ABOUT IT NOW. 64,000 MILES ARE ON MY AUTO AND I AM ON A FIXED INCOME,CANNOT AFFORD ANOTHER AUTO. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10317326March 6, 2010SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
BRAKE PEDAL LOCKS OR GETS HARD TO PRESS. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10317362March 6, 2010STEERING
POWER STEERING FAILURE IN MY 2005 CHEVY COBALT. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10317401March 6, 2010STEERING
THE POWER STEERING ON MY 2005 CHEVY COBALT ALL OF A SUDDEN WENT OUT WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I COULD BARELY CONTROL THE CAR. I AM A 22 YEAR OLD FEMALE AND THIS SCARED ME HALF TO DEATH SINCE I ALMOST CRASHED AND COULD NOT TURN THE WHEEL. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10317316March 6, 2010STEERING
I PREVIOUSLY SUBMITTED A COMPLAINT ON THE POWER STEERING ON MY 2005 CHEVY COBALT. I HAD THE POWER STEERING MOTOR REPLACED BEFORE RECALL AND WAS TOLD THAT I CAN GET A REFUND ON THE REPAIR. NOW I HAVE A RATTLE WHEN DRIVING IN THE STEERING COLUMN AREA AND CONCERNS ME. I WONDER IF DRIVING WITH THE POWER STEERING ISSUES I HAD CAUSED MORE DAMAGE TO MY CAR. IT FEELS VERY LOOSE AND I AM CONCERN I MAY LOOSE CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10316964March 5, 2010STEERING
DRIVING 2005 CHEVY COBALT AND POWER STEERING GOES OUT. TRYING TO GET OUT OF OR IN A PARKING SPACE AND POWER STEERING GOES OUT. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10316981March 5, 2010STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON THREE OCCASIONS, SHE LOST THE POWER STEERING AND COULD NOT CONTROL THE VEHICLE. SHE FIRST NOTICED THE FAILURE IN JULY 2009. SHE HAD TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, TURN THE VEHICLE OFF AND THEN RESTART THE VEHICLE. ONCE RESTARTING, THE PROBLEM SEEMED TO CORRECT ITSELF. SHE HAD NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND HAD NOT SPOKEN WITH THE MANUFACTURER TO-DATE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 74,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10317276March 5, 2010STEERING
THE POWER STEERING ON MY DAUGHTER'S 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT WENT OUT ON DECEMBER 21, 2009. WE CALLED CHEVROLET AND COMPLAINED ABOUT THE POWER STEERING MOTOR LASTING ONLY 65,000 MILES. THEY SAID THEY WOULDN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. SO WE SPENT $250 TO HAVE THE MOTOR REPLACED. NOW WE FIND OUT IN MARCH THEY ARE RECALLING THIS VEHICLE FOR FAULTY POWER STEERING MOTORS ON 2005 TO 2010 MODELS. THEY HAD TO KNOW THERE WAS A PROBLEM IN DECEMBER. SMELLS VERY FISHY. MY CONCERNS ARE: IS THIS A NEW AND IMPROVED MOTOR THAT WAS PUT IN OR AN OLD DEFECTIVE MODEL AND WE WILL BE REIMBURSED THE MONEY WE SPENT FOR SOMETHING THEY HAVE NOW RECALLED THE VEHICLE FOR? ANY SUGGESTIONS? *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10316618March 4, 2010STEERING
THE RECENT RECALL REGARDING COBALT POWER STEERING PROMPTED ME TO ACTUALLY REPORT THIS. WE HAVE A 2005 COBALT LS WE PURCHASED USED, AND THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING HAS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE PAST COUPLE YEARS, BUT TO MY KNOWLEDGE, ONLY IN OUR DRIVEWAY UPON PUTTING IT INTO GEAR. IT HAS NEVER HAPPENED WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY."POWER STEERING"MESSAGE POPS UP ON INFO PANEL, AND A COMBINATION OF THINGS SEEM TO OCCUR TOGETHER. THE TRANSMISSION SEEMS TO "CLUNK" UPON SHIFTING INTO GEAR, AND USUALLY THE TRACTION CONTROL DUMMY LIGHT COMES ON AS WELL AT THAT TIME. THE PROBLEMS HAVE ALWAYS CORRECTED THEMSELVES, SO NO INCIDENTS TO REPORT, BUT RATHER CONCERNED NOW UPON HEARING MORE. THE CAR NOW HAS 98000 MILES, BUT FOUND PAPERWORK FROM PREVIOUS OWNER THAT COMPLAINT WAS MADE TO DEALER AT 31000, AND THE ELECTRIC STEERING MOTOR WAS EVENTUALLY REPLACED @ 67000. SO IT APPEARS THIS CAR IS ALREADY ON IT'S SECOND MOTOR. I HAVE NEVER TAKEN IT IN, AS THE PREVIOUS REPLACEMENT COST OVER $1000, AND COULDN'T AFFORD THAT. THIS RECALL COULDN'T COME SOON ENOUGH, AS MY KIDS RECENTLY STARTED DRIVING IT TO SCHOOL. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10316724March 4, 2010STEERING
I CAN BE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT ANY RATE OF SPEED, AND THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT WILL COME ON & CHIME, BY THE TIME THE CHIME STOPS THE POWER STEERING HAS GONE OUT. I CAN STOP THE CAR, TURN IT OFF, TURN IT BACK ON AND IT FIXES THE PROBLEM FOR ABOUT 2-5 MINUTES THEN THE SITUATION REPEATS ITSELF. IT HAPPENS CONSTANTLY TO THE POINT THE CAR IS ALMOST NOT DRIVABLE. IT HAS PROGRESSIVELY GOTTEN WORSE OVER TIME. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10316172March 3, 2010STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE DRIVER STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY STIFF WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS AND WITHIN A FEW MINUTES IT WOULD FUNCTION NORMALLY. THE DRIVER ALSO STATED THAT THIS WAS A HEALTH HAZARD TO HIM. THE DRIVER HAS NO OTHER MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION AND HE CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY RISK WHILE DRIVING. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,604.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10316312March 3, 2010FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
2005 CHEVY COBALT CAUGHT FIRE WHEN THE IGNITION KEY TRIED TO START THE ENGINE. THIS CAR WAS PARKED DURING THE WORK DAY AT THE HOSPITAL COVERED PARKING LOT. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10316356March 3, 2010STEERING
POWER STEERING FAILED IN NOVEMBER 2009. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE POWER STEERING FAILED TO WORK AND THE WORDS "POWER STEERING" APPEARED ON THE CONSOLE DISPLAY. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO BE VERY HARD TO STEER AND CONTROL ESPECIALLY AT LOW SPEEDS. THE POWER STEERING HAS FAILED WHILE NEGOTIATING CURVES ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AND ON AT LEAST ONE OCCASION I WAS UNABLE TO CONTINUE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE CURVE AS I WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL BECAUSE IT WAS TOO HARD TO TURN. WHILE NEGOTIATING THIS CURVE I ALMOST STRUCK ANOTHER VEHICLE. CONTACTED LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP AND ADVISED THEM OF THIS PROBLEM. I WAS ADVISED THAT THERE WAS NOT A RECALL AND THAT THIS WAS NOT A "PROBLEM" BEING ADDRESSED BY CHEVROLET. I WAS ADVISED BY MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP THAT IF I RESEARCHED THIS MATTER ON THE INTERNET I WOULD FIND HUNDREDS OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS BUT THAT AGAIN CHEVROLET WAS NOT ADDRESSING THIS AS A DEALER PROBLEM AND THAT THE CONSUMERS WOULD BE REQUIRED TO FIX THE PROBLEM ON THEIR OWN. I ADVISED THE SERVICE EMPLOYEE THAT THE STEERING WAS TOO STIFF / HARD FOR ME TO TURN THE WHEEL, ESPECIALLY AT LOW SPEEDS, AND WAS AGAIN ADVISED THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS MYSELF. I QUESTIONED THE SERVICE EMPLOYEE AS TO HOW CHEVROLET WAS NOT HANDLING THIS AS A RECALL AS IT WAS APPARENT THAT IT WAS NOT ISOLATED TO ONLY ONE TYPE OF VEHICLE AND INCLUDED HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF CONSUMERS AND WAS AGAIN ADVISED THAT I WOULD HAVE TO FIX THE PROBLEM MYSELF. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10316387March 3, 2010STEERING
I COULD HAVE DIED. I WAS DRIVING AROUND A TURN THREE DUMP TRUCKS WERE COMING TOWARD ME AND MY POWER STEERING WENT OUT. I LUCKILY SWERVED OFF THE ROAD CAUSING FRONT END DAMAGE TO MY CAR. I PAID OUT OF POCKET SOME WHERE CLOSE TO $800.00 FOR REPAIRS FOR THE CRASH. THE POWER STEERING WAS WORKING FINE FOR AWHILE TILL A LITTLE AFTER SEPTEMBER 26 WHEN IT WENT TOTALLY OUT AGAIN MAKING IT WHERE I WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE WHEEL AND IT NO LONGER SAFE TO DRIVE. I WAS TOLD TODAY THAT THEY ARE OFFERING ME $5,000.00 FOR MY 05 CHEVY COBALT. THE POWER STEERING WENT TOTALLY OUT A FEW DAYS AFTER SEPTEMBER 26 AND HAD CAUSED AN ACCIDENT EARLIER ON IN THE YEAR. THEY ARE NOW HOLDING MY CAR AT A PALM CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP IN OCALA FL. WHEN GOING TO RETRIEVE MY CAR THEY SAID GM WOULDN'T BE ABLE RELEASE MY CAR DO TO THE POWER STEERING RENDERING IT UNSAFE TO DRIVE. WHEN I FIRST TALKED TO GM THEY SOUNDED AS THOUGH IT WOULD BE NO PROBLEM THEY WOULD FIX THE CAR AND ALL THE REPAIRS NEEDED FROM THE ACCIDENT. NOW THEY WANT NOTHING TO DO WITH THE REPAIRS. IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR A MONTH AND OUT OF SERVICE SINCE SEPTEMBER. I DON'T THINK I WAS BORN YESTERDAY. THE REPAIRS FOR POWER STEERING IS $1,400. LESS THAN THE $5,000 THAT THEY WANT TO PAY ME SO THEY CAN FIX THE CAR AND RESELL IT LEAVING ME TO DRIVE A PIECE OF JUNK THAT RUNS IF I COULD FIND IT THAT CHEAP. I PAID A LITTLE OVER $18,000 FOR A STOCK MODEL CAR. I PUT $800.00 IN TO IT FROM THE ACCIDENT LEAVING ONLY BODY WORK TO BE DONE. I'M TRYING TO RAISE MY TEN MONTH OLD SON. WITHOUT A CAR IT HAS MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO GO TO COLLEGE OR GET A JOB. NOT TO MENTION HAVING TO PAY OVER $1,000 ON INSURANCE FOR A CAR I CAN'T USE. I WANT MY CAR AND I WANT IT FIXED. CAN YOU PLEASE HELP? *TR
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10315997March 3, 2010EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL, STEERING
I AM FILING THIS COMPLAINT ON BEHALF OF MY BROTHER HE IS IN THE MILITARY SNF I HAVE HIS CAR WHILE HE IS GONE. I GUESS I DIDN'T THINK TO REPORT THIS WHEN IT HAPPENED THE FIRST TIME ON A 2005 CHEVY COBALT, UNTIL I READ A ARTICLE ONLINE ABOUT THE STEERING ASSIST MOTORS GOING BAD. BUT 2 YEARS THE MOTOR WENT OUT , TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC GOT A NEW ONE PUT IN AND JUST 2 WEEKS AGO IT WENT BAD AGAIN AND IS IN THE SHOP AGAIN. I KNOW I DIDN'T INCLUDE EVERYTHING BUT WHEN IT WENT OUT THE FIRST TIME MY BROTHER WAS COMING HOME FROM IOWA CITY WHEN THE STEERING WENT OUT AND WENT INTO THE MEDIAN NO DAMAGE TO THE CAR WAS DONE BUT THE CAR WAS PARKED CAUSE 2 DAYS LATER HE LEFT FOR IRAQ. THE CAR SAT FOR ALMOST 8 MONTHS BEFORE I PAID TO HAVE IT FIXED AND I STARTED DRIVING IT AND THEN 2 WEEKS AGO IT WENT BAD AGAIN. *TR
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10316066March 3, 2010STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL JERKED IN A LEFT AND RIGHT MOTION. THE VEHICLE LOSS CONTROL AND CRASHED INTO A GUARD RAIL. THERE WAS NO INJURY. THE POLICE WAS NOT CALLED TO THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 2,500.
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10316093March 3, 2010STEERING
I HAVE A 2005 CHEVY COBALT. IN THE SUMMER OF 2008 THE POWER STEERING BEGAN FAILING. I WOULD DRIVE AND FOR NO APPARENT REASON THE POWER STEERING WOULD CUT OUT AND STEERING WOULD BECOME INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT, MAKING A TURN WAS NEAR IMPOSSIBLE. I TOOK THE COBALT TO SERPENTINI CHEVROLET (IN STRONGSVILLE, OH) AND THEY SAID THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED REPLACED. MY CAR WAS NO LONGER COVERED BY WARRANTY SO I PAID FOR THE REPAIR OUT OF POCKET ($1100). I HAVE A COPY OF THE SERVICE INVOICE TO VERIFY THE INFORMATION I AM REPORTING. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10316120March 3, 2010STEERING
IN APRIL OF 2009, THE POWER STEERING ON MY 2005 CHEVY COBALT STARTED GOING OUT WHENEVER I WOULD GET SLOWER THAN 50 MPH. ON APRIL 22, 2009, I HAD TO HAVE MY STEERING COLUMN REPLACED. I UNDERSTAND NOW THAT THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE MODEL DUE TO THIS STEERING PROBLEM. I WOULD LIKE TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE AMOUNT I HAD TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR JOB. THANK YOU. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0