CarComplaints.com Notes: The Cobalt was introduced to replace two of Chevy’s smaller cars, the Cavalier and Prizm. But the compact’s fresh start that Chevy was hoping for was riddled with issues, most notably widespread power steering failure.
This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
Vehicle losing power, speedometer flat, tachometer working, while in motion and stationary; displaying: Power steering = car has steering wheel play; car does not drive over 30 mph and revving high. The car regains power and loses power and regains intermittently. Chevy Cobalt 2005
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated that the vehicle experienced a loss of power steering. The vehicle was restarted and the power steering returned to normal. The failure occurred on four occasions and the power steering warning indicator illuminated. Prior to the failure, the vehicle was taken to the dealer to be repaired per NHTSA campaign number: 14V047000 (air bags, electrical system). The contact was informed that the vehicle was repaired per NHTSA campaign number: 10V073000 (steering) in 2011. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 99,000.
Our 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt has had ongoing intermittent electrical problems that cause the vehicle to slam into gears going when accelerating and slowing down. This is accompanied by the vehicle shaking. While this is going on, the speedometer fluctuates and we get a power steering warning. My son has lost the power steering assist occasionally and one time it almost caused and accident. If we shut the vehicle off, the problem seems to go away but only temporarily.
The first time it happened, was at interstate speeds.(60 to 70mph) the second, was in city stop and go traffic. The third was backing out of my driveway after a 5 minute idle. The fourth was when my last mechanic was test driving it because he thought he'd fixed it. Dash lights blink on and off, all warning lights come on, engine cooling fans stop operating, transmission hunts for what gear it should be in; resulting in the transmission self destructing. Engine management, other than the cooling fans, seems to be unaffected. I've replaced 4 tcm's so far; as all mechanics say that is the problem. It works for a few days or a week, then the same problem manifest. This seems to be a problem with quite a few GM vehicles.
While driving vehicle power steering light comes on, steering wheel locks up, gear shift starts clicking, stalling out during driving at speed. I have ran off road several times and have to use both hands to turn a curve because of steering locked.
- Smithfield, KY, USA
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The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt. While the vehicle was stationary, the ignition key became stuck in the vehicle. On another occasion, the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to shift into the reverse gear. In addition, the vehicle would not start when prompted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 158,000. The VIN was unavailable.
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt. While driving approximately 40 mph, the steering wheel seized and the key fob failed to release from the ignition switch. The failure recurred numerous times. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 14V171000 (electrical system). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 29,693.
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt. While at a stop, the steering wheel became difficult to turn. The contact had to apply force to the steering wheel in order to steer the vehicle and the anti-theft warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 108,000.
While driving in town shortly after turning onto a 45 mph road my vehicle, automatic, started hesitating while shifting into the next gear. It would shift but not like normal. Brought it into a repair shop to have a diagnostic ran to be informed it is a failure to communicate with tcm. Code U0101 and also U2100. After doing research there has been multiple complaints about this. So first things first replaced the tcm with a new one at the dealership. After replacement the vehicle is still not shifting correctly.
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled as the engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the ignition switch that was replaced under NHTSA campaign number: 14E021000 (electrical system) failed and would need replacing a second time. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 77,000. The VIN was not available.
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt. While driving approximately 40 mph, the steering wheel seized and the power steering warning light illuminated. In addition, the vehicle stalled and was able to be restarted, and all the instrument panel lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, but the cause of the failures could not be determined. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 77,439. The VIN was unavailable.
The power steering on my vehicle cuts off and the speedometer remains rested at 0 when driving. The doors also lock and unlock on their own while driving. The car does not automatically shift while driving making it hard to accelerate and the vehicle will also decelerate on its own while driving it is very dangerous and very scary to drive with these problems. The dealership claims that the problem with steering has already been fixed but I am still having these problems.
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt. While driving approximately 25 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning. After restarting, the vehicle resumed normally. The failure recurred numerous times at any given speed. The vehicle was serviced under NHTSA campaign number: 14V171000 (electrical system); however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was not repaired a second time. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unavailable.
Engine shut down while driving. Twice while stopped and 4 times while city driving in the process of making a turn. Car shuts down with key in the on position. I have to put the car in park, turn the key into the off position. I can then turn the key and the car turns back on. I was almost rear- ended. This is the same thing that happened when my car was part of the safety recall 13454. I called General Motors at 1 800 222 1020. I told the guy that the same thing was happening that happened when they had the recall for the ignition switch. He told me they were having other customer complaints about the same thing happening. I asked him how come they weren't having a recall on the recall? it is very scary driving this car. I was told that nothing would be covered and I would have to take it to the local Chevy dealer (which is 30 miles away)
The lights all over the car intermittently work and not work, the battery drains and have replace the battery 4 times.this has been going on since I got the car withe the lights. The steering thing just started, when you make a turn the steering binds up as if the power steering is going out. Also acts as if the car is going to stall. This only happens when you are in drive position. In park it doesn't do this. The power steering fluid levels are perfect. Also, when this issue starts, the speedometer needle bounces up to 40 mph even though you are at a stop. The radio will suddenly turn full blast sound for about 2 seconds and turn back down. Scares me half to death. There is a major electrical problem in this car for lights to work one time and then next time not. I go through light bulbs like crazy, every couple of months I am changing a different bulb. And the steering issue is unsafe, the car could stall while trying to turn across traffic. Still after having all recalls completed, the car is still not safe.
Made left turn and my airbag went off. Mechanic said that the clock spring shorted out internally in the coil and deployed the airbag. GM has not contacted me over this matter and have been trying to get them to reimburse me for since 2010.
When I unlock the driver door with the fob, the door would not open. I was driving one day and the relay electrical wiring started burning. When I took it back to the car dealer they told me there was nothing wrong. Myself and four other people smelled the burning. I gave the car back and nothing was done to satisfy the situation. I was told by an auto zone mechanic to park the car before it catches on fire.
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated that while driving at 40 mph, the steering wheel became difficult to maneuver. The contact also stated that the tachometer gauges would fluctuate whenever the failure occurred. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 10V073000 (steering). The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 160,550.
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt. While driving approximately 15 mph, the vehicle accelerated. The vehicle stalled when the brake pedal was depressed. The vehicle was not able to restart. The failure recurred several times. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 100,147.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- San Diego, TX, USA