Chevrolet Cobalt Complaints

7,975 consumer complaints on file.

#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
#10266661April 24, 2009
STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, HEARD BEEPING AND MESSAGE ON DIC READ"POWER STEERING". PULLED TO THE SHOULDER AND RESTARTED THE CAR. NO MESSAGE WAS DISPLAYED AFTER RESTARTING THE CAR, BUT PROBLEM REMAINS. CAR WILL LOSE POWER STEERING NOW MORE FREQUENTLY, AT LEAST 5 TIMES DURING A 45 MINUTE RIDE. HAVE TO KEEP PULLING OVER TO RESTART THE CAR TO FIX THE PROBLEM. CAR IS 3 YEARS OLD WITH ABOUT 85,200. HAVE NOT REPAIRED IT YET, CAR NOT UNDER WARRANTY. *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
#10266360April 22, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE IGNITION WAS TURNED TO THE 'OFF' POSITION AND THE GEAR SHIFT WAS PLACED IN THE "PARK" POSITION. WHEN THE IGNITION KEY RELEASE CONTROL BUTTON WAS PUSHED, THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE VEHICLE IS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED. THE CONTACT IS AWARE OF THE SAFETY RISKS INVOLVED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 56,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10266359April 22, 2009
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
MY ORIGINAL COMPLAINT IS 10263782. I NOW HAVE TO HAVE THE REAR BRAKE PADS REPLACED AGAIN. WENT FROM NEW TO 3/32 IN LESS THAN 4000 MILES. IN LESS THAN 12,000 MILES THE REAR INNER PADS HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE AND THE ROTORS RESURFACED ONCE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10266378April 22, 2009
STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE POWER STEERING RANDOMLY FAILED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH. THE VEHICLE WILL BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL; HOWEVER, OCCASIONALLY, IT WOULD RESET ITSELF. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BEFORE OR AFTER THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE DEALER AGREED TO PAY HALF OF THE $1800 REPAIR COST AND THE CONTACT REQUESTED THE REPAIR BE NO CHARGE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 49,000.
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
#10266099April 20, 2009
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
I HAVE A 2007 CHEVROLET COBALT AND AT APPROXIMATELY 15,000 MILES BEGAN HAVING SOME SLIGHT VIBRATIONS WHEN BRAKING. I WENT TO HAVE THE BRAKES CHECKED TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING WAS OKAY AND WAS TOLD THAT MY BRAKE PADS WERE GOOD. I DROVE MORE UNTIL APPROXIMATELY 20,000 MILES AND THE VIBRATIONS INCREASED. I FINALLY ENDED UP GETTING IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP AT 26000 AND THEY TOLD ME MY ROTORS WERE WARPED AND THEY RESURFACED THEM AND THEY WERE FIXED. NOW ONLY AN ADDITIONAL 15000 MILES AND THE VIBRATION IS BACK BUT EVEN WORSE. I BELIEVE THEY JUST RESURFACED THEM KNOWING THAT THEY ARE MALFUNCTIONING SO THAT WHEN IT HAPPENED AGAIN THEY WERE NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. WHEN I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP BACK TO INFORM THEM THAT THEY ARE NOT FIXED THEY INFORMED ME THAT IT WAS MY OWN MAINTENANCE PROBLEM EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE OBVIOUSLY DEFECTIVE. I AM AT A LOSS AS NEW ROTORS WILL SURELY FIND THE SAME FATE AND IT IS VERY EXPENSIVE TO REPLACE ROTORS EVERY 15,000 - 20,000 MILES. I HAVE NEVER OWNED A VEHICLE THAT I EVEN HAD TO HAVE ROTORS RESURFACED OR REPLACED WITH REGULAR MAINTENANCE. VERY DISAPPOINTED AND UPSET THAT THIS IS NOT BEING RESEARCHED AND RECALLED BY CHEVROLET AS A DEFECT AND SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10266136April 20, 2009
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
THIS REGARDS A CHEVY COBALT SS. THIS VEHICLE IS MOSTLY DRIVEN ON CITY STREETS AND OCCASIONAL LONG FREEWAY TRIPS, NO TOWING OR OVERLOADING. NOTICED AT SOMEWHERE AROUND 10,000-15,000 MILES (MAYBE SOONER.) THAT REAR BRAKES WERE VERY NOISY WHEN BACKING. LOUD ENOUGH THAT THE NEIGHBORS COULD HEAR THEM IN THE MORNING WHEN I BACKED OUT OF THE GARAGE. EASILY BE HEARD DOWN THE STREET. THE BRAKES HAD ALWAYS BEEN NOISIER THAN I WOULD EXPECT FOR A NEW VEHICLE. FINALLY GOT TIRED OF NOISE AT 17,000 MILES AND TOOK CAR TO DEALER. (03/03/08.) THEY ADVISED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH BRAKES, INSPECTION REPORT FROM JACK MAXTON CHEVY STATES THAT FRONT AND REAR LININGS HAVE THE APPROPRIATE THICKNESS IN MM. THEY APPLIED "ANTI-SQUEAK" TO THE BRAKES. AS TIME PASSED THE BRAKES RETURNED TO THEIR NOISY STATE. TIME FOR A 30,000 MILE CHECKUP SO WE TOOK THE CAR IN AND ASKED THEM TO CHECK THE BRAKES AGAIN. THEY ADVISED US THAT WE NEEDED NEW ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS. THEY SAID IT WOULD COST OVER $400, WE DIDN'T WANT TO PAY THAT MUCH AT THE TIME SO THEY TURNED THE ROTORS, INSTALLED NEW BRAKE PADS, COSTING OVER $200. THE NEW BRAKE PADS SQUEAK AND SQUEAL, TOOK THE CAR BACK IN, THEY LOOKED AT IT AGAIN, SERVICE REP ADVISED THAT THE NEW PADS WOULD SOUND THAT WAY WHILE THEY BROKE IN. I NEVER HAD NEW BRAKE PADS MAKE NOISES AFTER HAVING THEM INSTALLED ON OTHER VEHICLES IN THE PAST. THEY SENT US A SURVEY TO COMPLETE. (THEY'RE ALWAYS VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THESE.) WE REPORTED ALL OF THIS ON THE SURVEY AND ALL WE EVER RECEIVED IN RESPONSE WAS A PHONE CALL ADVISING US THAT WE WERE GOING TO RECEIVE A SURVEY. (WE RECEIVED A CALL WITH THE SAME ADVICE PRIOR TO THE SURVEY TOO.) TO ADD INJURY TO INSULT, WE PURCHASED AN EXTENDED, 7-YEAR BUMPER-TO-BUMPER WARRANTY WHEN WE BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE. AT THE TIME WE WERE TOLD IT WOULD COVER EVERYTHING ON THE CAR, NO MATTER WHAT WENT WRONG WITH IT. WE HAD BEEN CHEVY FANS FOR YEARS AND A FEW VEHICLES. WE'LL LOOK AT FOREIGN CARS NEXT TIME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10265970April 18, 2009
SUSPENSION:FRONT
I HAVE NOTICED LOOKING ON LINE TO CONSUMER COMPLAINTS, THERE ARE ALOT OF PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS GOING OUT ON THE CARS. I HAVE A 2006 CHEVY COBALT. MY NIECE HAS A 2007 CHEVY COBALT AND HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I THINK THIS NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON THESE CARS. I'M A SINGLE MOTHER JUST BACK AT WORK AFTER DAUGHTER HAD A TRANSPLANT. I DIDN'T WORK FOR 4 YEARS TAKING CARE OF MY DAUGHTER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10265714April 17, 2009
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM, STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET COBALT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH ON WET ROAD CONDITIONS, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. IMMEDIATELY, THE VEHICLE SPUN OUT OF CONTROL SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE SKIDDING OFF THE ROAD SURFACE INTO A WOODED AREA. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE WERE CALLED TO THE SCENE AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR FACIAL INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE HAS NOT YET BEEN DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER ENGINEERS ARE INVESTIGATING THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN. UPDATED 05/11/09.*LJ THE LOWER CONTROL ARM WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 05/11/09.*JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10265406April 15, 2009
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
REAR ROTORS FAILURE. MASSIVE SCORING ON REAR BRAKES DUE TO GM POOR QUALITY IN BRAKES. GRINDING NOISE WHEN STOPPING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10265428April 15, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, WHEELS
I BOUGHT MY 2007 COBALT IN JULY 2008, USED ONLY AS A RENTAL CAR WITH ENTERPRISE, WITH 34K MILES. WITHIN 2 MONTHS, MY ROTORS WERE WARPED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. MILWAUKEE HAS A TERRIBLE PROBLEM W/ POTHOLES SO I'VE HAD TO PUT 4 NEW RIMS AND TIRES ON IT TOO AND AN ALIGNMENT. IT STILL SHAKES WHEN I GO BETWEEN 45-60MPH. ALSO, THE GEAR SHIFT KEEPS GETTING LOCKED IN PARK, LIKE A SENSOR IS BROKEN OR SOMETHING. I HAVE TO CONTINUOUSLY PRESS ON THE BRAKE UNTIL IT GIVES. AND THERE MUST BE A SHORT SOMEWHERE BECAUSE OCCASIONALLY THE BLINKERS NOISE (TICK TICK) AND THE LEFT SPEAKER GO OUT, COME BACK ON, GO OUT, ETC. I'VE HAD THE CAR 8 MONTHS AND HAVE THIS MANY PROBLEMS WITH IT? OF COURSE THE DEALERSHIP IS CHARGING AN ARM AND LEG FOR REPAIRS THAT I CAN'T AFFORD BUT I THINK THEY SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS BECAUSE THERE IS NO WAY THESE PROBLEMS CAN BE "OPERATOR ERROR." THIS IS A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM! I CAN UNDERSTAND THE TIRES & RIMS BECAUSE I'VE HIT TOO MANY POTHOLES BUT EVERYTHING ELSE? COME ON. ANYONE ELSE COMPLAINED ABOUT SIMILAR ISSUES? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10265355April 14, 2009
POWER TRAIN
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD MY POWER STEERING LIGHT FLASHED AND SUDDENLY I COULD BARELY TURN THE WHEEL I WAS ABLE TO GET TO A GAS STATION AND MY CAR IS CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED BUT THOUSANDS OF OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR WHICH WAS EASY TO SEE WITH JUST A LITTLE RESEARCH ONLINE. *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
#10265053April 13, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CAR ALARM GOES OFF WHEN PARKED AND LOCKED FOR NO REASON. ALSO CAR HAS STARTED TWICE, ENGINE MISSES WITH CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON, SHUT CAR OFF AND RESTART AND IT THEN IS FINE UNTIL NEXT TIME. *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

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