Chevrolet Cobalt Complaints

7,975 consumer complaints on file.

#10149805February 8, 2006
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP, AIR BAGS
THE 2005 CHEVY COBALT WE PURCHASED FOR MY DAUGHTER HAS A VIOLENT VIBRATION THAT IS INTERMITTENT. THE VIBRATION USUALLY HAPPENS ON LONG TRIPS, WHEN THE CAR IS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS OF OVER 65 MPH FOR 45 MINUTES OR LONGER WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ON. THEN WHEN COMING UP ON SLOWER TRAFFIC, YOU TOUCH THE BRAKES TO DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL, A VIOLENT VIBRATION PROCEEDS. IF YOU APPLY MORE BRAKES THE VIBRATION GETS WORSE. THIS VIBRATION REQUIRES THE DRIVER TO MAINTAIN BOTH HANDS ON THE WHEEL TO CONTROL THE CAR. THIS VIBRATION WILL LAST FROM A FEW MINUTES TO 15 MILES. USUALLY WHEN THE VIBRATION STOPS THE CRUISE CONTROL WILL NOT WORK FOR A MINUTE OF 30 MINUTES AND UP TO 3 DAYS. WE HAVE TAKE THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIPS 5 TIMES. 2 DEALERSHIPS IN OR AROUND TAMPA FLORIDA AND THE DEALER WE PURCHASED IT FROM IN JONESBORO GEORGIA. EACH TIME THEY DIRVE THE CAR A FEW MILES AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS OVER 60 MPH AND DECLARE NOTHING IS WRONG. AS WE STATED ABOVE AND TO THE DEALERSHIPS, IT TAKES A MINIMUM OF 45 MINUTES OR LONGER AT SPEEDS OVER 65 MPH FOR THIS VIBRATION TO HAPPEN, AND SOMETIMES IT WILL NOT HAPPEN. WE HAVE STARTED THE LEMON LAW PROCESS IN GEORGIA AND HAVE ASKED FOR A REPLACEMENT CAR OR PURCHASE BACK BY GM. WE ARE AWAITING THERE ACTIONS. SINCE THE MANUFACTURER'S LAST ATTEMPT TO FIX THE CAR, IN WHICH MY DAUGHTER DROVE 2 HOURS AND THE VIBRATION STARTED AS THEY WERE EXISTING THE EXPRESS WAY TO THE DEALERSHIP, SHE OVER HEARD THE SERVICE MANAGER ACKNOWLEGED "THE PROBLEM IS IN THE BRAKES' THEY CONTACTED THE GM REP IN ATALANTA AREA, AND DECIDED TO DO NOTHING TO FIXE THE CAR. NOW YESTERDAY, WHEN MY DAUGHTER WAS ABOUT TO SLOW DOWN ON THE CONNECTOR IN ATLANTA, DUE TO SLOWER TRAFFIC, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT SOFT AND THEN "HARD AS A BRICK" CAUSING THE CAR NOT TO STOP AND HITTING THE PICKUP TRUCK IN FRONT OF HER. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND SHE NOW HAS A "MILD CONCUSION". SHE HAD TO MISS WORK YESTERDAY AND TODAY. WHAT CAN BE DONE TO FORCE GM TO FIX THIS BRAKE PROBLEM OR REPLACE THE CAR?*JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10148860January 27, 2006
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP, AIR BAGS
BRAKES FAILED. HIT ANOTHER CAR AT STOP LIGHT. CAR SLOWED BUT WOULD NOT STOP. FELT ABS KICK IN BUT BRAKES ONLY SLOWED CAR DOWN. LESS THAN 5 MPH. NO AIB BAG INFLATION. CAR WAS A LOANER FROM DEALER, WHILE MY CAR WAS BEING WORKED ON. HAD CAR TOWED BACK TO DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY FOUND NO PROBLEM WITH BRAKES. I KNOW HOW TO DRIVE AND I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT BRAKES DON'T WORK WHEN YOU USE THEM.*AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10148510January 25, 2006
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
WINDSHIELD WASHER UNIT DOES NOT WORK WHEN OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE IS BELOW 38 DEGREES. IT APPEARS TO BE A VEHICLE FEATURE AS OPPOSED TO JUST A FROZEN WASHER UNIT AS I HAVE TESTED IT MULTIPLE TIMES. THIS CAUSES MAJOR PROBLEMS WHEN DRIVING IN SNOW OR SALTED ROADS AS VISIBILITY IS ALMOST ZERO. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10148348January 23, 2006
VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR
I GOT IN CAR CLOSED DOOR AND REAR WINDOW FELL OUT.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10147423January 11, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE STALLED 3 TIMES WITHOUT WARNING. THE FIRST 2 TIMES, AFTER WAITING FOR AN HOUR THE VEHICLE STARTED. THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE THIRD TIME THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10147447January 11, 2006
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS VERY HARD TO TURN. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED THE POWER STEERING FLUID WAS CHECKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE A DIAGNOSTICS TEST WAS PERFORMED. THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. ON DECEMBER 27, 2005 WHILE AT 35 MPH THE POWER STEERING FAILED AGAIN RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THE SEAT BELTS WERE WORN, BUT THERE WERE MINOR INJURIES, THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK UPDATED 2/13/2006 - *NM
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10147033January 5, 2006
STEERING:GEAR BOX:SHAFT SECTOR
DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING ON ROUGH ROADS A NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE STEERING. THE NOISE SOUNDED LIKE THERE WAS SOMETHING LOOSE IN THE STEERING. AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE APPROXIMATELY 5000 MILES THE STEERING SHAFT WAS REPLACED. THIS DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED , AND THEY STATED THERE WAS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (TSB) NHTSA 10017497 THAT DEALT WITH THIS PROBLEM. HOWEVER THERE WAS NO SOLUTION TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10146741January 3, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
2-INCIDENTS OF SUDDEN ACCELERATION AT FREEWAY SPEEDS: THE FIRST TIME THE CRUISE WAS ACTIVATED AND ON HITTING RESUME THE CAR TOOK OFF ON IT'S OWN. THE COAST FUNCTION DID NOT SLOW THE CAR AND TURNING OFF THE CRUISE DID NOT SLOW THE CAR. I WAS IN FAIRLY LIGHT TRAFFIC AND WAS ABLE TO STEER AND BRAKE OUT OF TROUBLE UNTIL THE ACCELERATOR RETURNED TO NORMAL[THE BRAKES ONLY PARTIALLY SLOWED THE CAR BECAUSE OF THE HIGH SPEED INVOLVED]. ABOUT AN HOUR LATER I WAS ENTERING A FREEWAY AND AT ABOUT 40-45 MPH THE ACCELERATOR WENT TO THE FLOOR ON ITS OWN AGAIN AND I HAD ONLY PARTIAL CONTROL OF THE CAR'S SPEED. THE CRUISE WAS OFF THIS TIME AND AGAIN AFTER A FEW MINUTES AND MILES THE ENGINE REVVED DOWN TO NORMAL ON ITS OWN. AGAIN TRAFFIC WAS FAIRLY LIGHT SO I WAS ABLE TO STEER AND BRAKE THROUGH WITHOUT A CRASH BUT IN HEAVIER TRAFFIC THIS WOULD BE A SERIOUS PROBLEM. THE DEALER TEST DROVE THE CAR FOR ABOUT 18-MILES BUT COULD NOT REPLICATE THE INCIDENT WHICH IS RANDOM AND INTERMITTENT AND THEIR DIAGNOSTIC TESTS SHOWED THESE INCIDENTS NEVER HAPPENED BUT BELIEVE ME THIS IS A REAL PROBLEM WHEN THESE COMPUTERS OR ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS MALFUNCTION. GENERAL MOTORS HAS OPINED THAT THIS IS IMPOSSIBLE WHICH IS A COVER UP SINCE EVERYTHING IS CONTROLLED ELECTRONICALLY. THIS IS PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SINCE IT HAPPENS AT FREEWAY SPEEDS AND THE PEDAL GOES TO THE MAX. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10145959December 23, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
THE IGNITION HOLDING THE STARTER KEY IS TOO LOSE. ON THREE OCCASIONS SIMPLY BRUSHING THE KEY CHAIN WITH MY LEG WAS ENOUGH TO TURN THE CAR OFF CAUSING LOSS OF POWER TO THE CAR. THE AUTO DEALER SAID THAT THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO TO DECREASE THIS DANGER. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10145635December 19, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY
DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING THE COOLANT LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. SHE PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, AND THEN THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP. THEY STATED THE RADIATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK UPDATED 01/25/06. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10146429December 19, 2005
STEERING
2005 CHEVROLET COBALT POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING AND CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE. *TS THE DEALER REPLACED THE STEERING MODULE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10144767December 8, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP, STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
DT: THE CONTACT HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH A VEHICLE HE PREVIOUSLY OWNED. THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION. THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE KEY CHAIN WAS TOO LONG AND TOUCHED HIS KNEE. THE SECOND PROBLEM CONCERNED THE BRAKE LIGHT COMING ON MOMENTARILY. THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE THIRD PROBLEM WAS THAT THE DOOR HANDLE STUCK ONE EIGHTH OF AN INCH FROM THE DOOR. AS A RESULT, HE RETURNED THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP.*AK THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED TO HOLD THE CONSUMERS HEAVY KEY CHAIN. UPDATED 01/19/06. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10144299November 29, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH, VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
2005 COBALT HAS A DEFECTIVE IGNITION SWITCH WHICH CREATES HAZARDOUS DRIVING CONDITIONS. *TS THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. ALL THEY DID WAS REMOVE AN EXTRA KEY RING FROM THE KEY CHAIN AND ADVISED THE OWNER TO WATCH HIS KNEE POSITION WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALER KNOWS OF THE PROBLEM BUT DOESN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO TO FIX IT. THE DRIVER'S SIDE POWER WINDOW STOOPED WORKING DUE TO A FAULTY WINDOW MOTOR. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10143654November 25, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
WHILE DRIVING MY 2005 COBALT IT STALLS OUT WITH NO WARNING. THE RADIO FLASHES LOCKED ACROSS THE SCREEN, JUST AS THE CAR IS ABOUT TO SHUT OFF. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, AND THEY KEEP TELLING ME THEY CAN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. THIS HAS HAPPENED PROBABLY 15 TIMES OR MORE SINCE I LEASED THE CAR BACK IN JULY. I'M REALLY AFRAID THAT THIS MIGHT CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. AT THIS TIME, I AM GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS TO HAVE GENERAL MOTORS BY THE CAR BACK. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10142932November 16, 2005
INTERIOR LIGHTING
I BOUGHT MY CAR IN 6/05. MY CAR'S PARKING LIGHTS, TAIL LIGHTS, AND DASH LAMPS WERE NOT WORKING. I BROUGHT IT IN TWICE BEFORE IT WAS FIXED, ABOUT 7/05. THEN EVERYTHING WORKED PROPERLY FOR ABOUT A MONTH. WHENEVER I TURNED THE HEADLIGHTS ON MANUALLY, THE DASH PANEL WOULD ILLUMINATE. HOWEVER, ONE DAY IT BEGAN TO FLICKER AND NOW THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ONLY ILLUMINATES WHEN THE AUTO LIGHT SENSOR DEEMS IT DARK ENOUGH TO WARRANT ILLUMINATION. I HAVE DRIVEN IN THE RAIN AND TODAY IN A SNOW STORM AND WHEN I MANUALLY TURNED MY HEADLIGHTS ON MY INSTRUMENT PANEL REMAINED DARK. OR, AT TIMES, IT WILL ILLUMINATE FOR A FEW MINUTES, GO DARK AGAIN, ILLUMINATE, DARK, AND SO ON. I BROUGHT IT BACK TO THE DEALER AGAIN AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE AUTO LIGHT SENSOR IS SUPPOSED TO OVERRIDE ME MANUALLY TURNING MY HEADLIGHTS ON, HOWEVER, THIS WAS NOT THE CASE WHEN MY CAR WAS WORKING PROPERLY BETWEEN 7/05 AND 8/05. DURING THAT MONTH MY DASH LIGHTS WOULD ILLUMINATE WHENEVER I TURNED MY HEADLIGHTS ON, EVEN DURING BROAD DAYLIGHT. ALSO, MY EMERGENCY BRAKE LIGHT FLASHES ON AND OFF ON THE DASH MAYBE ABOUT ONCE A WEEK AS DOES MY 'BRIGHT' HEADLIGHT BEAM ICON ON THE DASH. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10141795November 4, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, EQUIPMENT
I OWN A 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT. AS I WAS DRIVING THE CAR I WENT TO MAKE A TURN ONTO A STREET AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR SHUTS OFF AND JUST COMES TO A COMPLETE STOP. I WASN'T GOING MORE THAN 5 MPH WHEN MAKING THE TURN AND I ALMOST GOT RE-ENDED BECAUSE MY CAR CAME TO A ABRUPT AND I ALMOST GOT RE-ENDED. I HAD TO TAKE THE CAR PUT IT BACK INTO PARK AND RESTART. THIS IS RIDICULOUS THIS HAPPENED ON 10/24/05, AND THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED 2 MORE TIMES AFTER FOR A TOTAL OF 4 TIMES B/C IT HAPPENED PREVIOUSLY ON 10/2/05. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10141686November 3, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
THREE MONTHS AFTER REPLACEING THE RADIATOR IN MY CAR FROM HITTING A RACCOON. I STARTED THE CAR AND SMOKE CAME FROM THE EXAUST. TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP ON FRIDAY. ON THE FOLLOWING MONDAY I GOT A CALL SAYING "WE CAN NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG" AND DROVE THE CAR HOME. THE NEXT MORNING I STARTED THE CAR AND SMOKE CAME FRON THE EXAUST AGAIN, THE SAME THING HAPPEND AFTER WORK EXCEPT THE CAR STARTED AFTER TURNING THE KEY A FEW TIMES. THE SAME THING HAPPEND THE NEXT TWO DAYS IT DIDN'T WANT TO START AND AFTER IT DID, IT SMOKED FOR APPROXIMATLY 10 MINUTES. THAT FRIDAY MORNING WAS NO DIFFERENT AND THE SAME WITH LEAVING FROM WORK UNTILL I GOT 12 MILES FROM AWAY WHEN THE TEMPERATURE GAGE CAME ON, SO I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. THERE I TALKED TO A DIFFERENT MECHANIC AND TOLD HIM WHAT WAS GOING ON AND IN LESS THEN A MINUTE HE TOLD ME WHAT IT WAS PROBABLY A CRACKED HEAD ON THE ENGINE. THE FOLLOWING MONDAY AND FURTHER INSPECTION HE WAS RIGHT IN SAYING IT WAS THE HEAD AND NEEDS TO BE SENT OUT FOR REPAIR. NOW THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO FIX THIS PROBLEM SAYING THAT IT IS NON WARRANTY AND WE ARE STUCK WITH ALL COSTS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10141164October 28, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I AM WRITING THIS LETTER BECAUSE OF CONCERNS I HAVE WITH MY 2006 COBALT I PURCHASED 31 AUGUST 2005. (VIN#1G1AK55F767633 614) MY FIRST CONCERN IS THE SAFETY OF THE CAR. ON THE 25 OF OCTOBER WHILE DRIVING THE CAR THE TRANSMISSION STARTED TO GO OUT OF GEAR AND BACK IN CAUSING A JERKING MOTION AND WHEN I PULLED OVER THE MOTOR STOPPED. I HAD 675 MILES ON IT AT THAT TIME. YESTERDAY I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND THEY DROVE IT FOR A FEW MILES WITH NO PROBLEM. NO OTHER CHECK WAS MADE BY THE DEALER ON THE CAR. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10139150October 9, 2005
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
WASHED CAR IN PARKING LOT, PARKED CAR IN CAR PORT OVER NIGHT. APPROXIMATELY 18 HOURS LATER AFTER STARTING THE ENGINE ATTEMPTED TO PULL OUT OF THE CAR PORT AND THE CAR FELT STUCK, I GOT OUT TO MAKE SURE NOTHING WAS BLOCKING THE WHEELS; TRIED DRIVING THE CAR AGAIN WITH GREATER ACCELERATION--WAS ABLE TO MOVE CAR BUT THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL WAS LOCKED AND MADE SKID MARKS AND SOUNDS FOR ABOUT 15 FEET, THE WHEEL WOULD NOT UNLOCK, TRIED PUTTING THE CAR IN REVERSE, THE WHEEL REMAINED LOCKED, THEN TRIED ACCELERATED AND BRAKING HARD, THE WHEEL WOULD NOT UNLOCK. CALLED CHEVROLET ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE THEY SENT A FLATBED TRUCK TO TAKE TO DEALER, THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER HAD THE SAME PROBLEM, AT MY HOME AND AT THE DEALER; LEFT COBALT IN THE SERVICE DRIVE OVERNIGHT; NEXT DAY WHEN SERVICE DROVE THE VEHICLE INTO SERVICE IT OPERATED NORMALLY. DEALERS SERVICE DEPT WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM--I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THIS HAPPENING WHEN I AM NOT HOME OR I AM DRIVING. 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT LS. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10138901October 6, 2005
STEERING:COLUMN, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH, SUSPENSION, WHEELS:HUB
DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THAT HE HEARD A SNAPPING NOISE IN STEERING COLUMN AND COULD FEEL IT IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS HAPPENED ALL OF THE TIME AND WOULD OCCUR WITH NO WARNING. THE STEERING COLUMN SHAFT WAS REPLACED. THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED BECAUSE OF THE FLASHING THAT HELD THE TUMBLER AND THE S HAD COLLAPSED. THE MANUFACTURER TOLD THE DEALER NOT TO REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN SHAFT BUT THE DEALER MADE THE REPAIRS BECAUSE THEY HAD ALREADY ORDERED THE PART. *AK (12/01/05) AFTER THE COLUMN WAS REPLACED, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER TWICE. THE WHEEL COVER DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH RINGS TO HOLD THE RIMS TIGHT AND WOULD RATTLE WHEN GOING OVER LIGHT BUMPS, THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE RIGHT AND THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT PILLAR WAS LOOSE. *SC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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