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.
The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated that the steering wheel became hard to turn while parallel parking. The power steering warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that first the transmission control module, the traction control, ignition and power steering warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the gear shifter was not shifting to first gear and that the speedometer was not functioning as designed. The contact stated that after the tcm was grounded to the chassis, the gear shifter shifted as designed. The contact also stated that shortly after the failure, the power steering became hard to turn. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing. The contact referenced NHTSA campaign number: 10V073000 (steering) and stated that the vehicle had experienced the same failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 89,000.
I had recalls fixed in 2015. And then suddenly power steering turns on and off. Never before they touched it was there an issue. It happens here and there and stops. This year is happening every day and won't go away. My power steering turns off in middle of driving. Dash board lights go off and car starts cranking. Goes super slow. I'm scared ita going to explode. I can't drive on freeway. And now besides the lock on screen coming on my engine light stays on now. Not sure what to do with it. Car shops can't help. When I 1st had the issue I called the dealer because they fixed the recall and they said nothing could be done because they had already fixed the recall
While driving all the light on instrument panel will all light up then the transmission will shift hard. The car will not crank at times and when this happens its a guarantee the transmission will shift hard. The evap sensor is faulting because when I put fuel in the vehicle seems like it does not want to crank. The evap problem does not seem to be related to a possible computer malfunction. We have had the fuel pump replaced by a local licensed mechanic.
I've given this car regularly by the book maintenance and now I'm being told the transmission is bad and needs replacing. There are no repair mechanics that want to replace it either. They all state it is too complicated to get too. They tell me its cheaper to buy a new car. With the amount of car I've given this car, there should be no reason the transmission should go bad. Anything small with it should be easy to repair. It is as if the engineers set the consumer up to fail. I have a great car that is only an 08 with a nice body, starts instantly, and no one will touch the transmission! when I start off with this vehicle and I slowly start to take off from 0-20 it takes it a strange amount of time to get to 20mph than its fine. It also happens at stop signs and some lights. Occasionally, if I turn off the car and restart it its fine. I was forced to purchase a second vehicle and dealers would not even accept it as a trade in when I tried to get a new car. Like I said, body wise she is in great condition. What is going on with this transmission is outrageous.
My 18-year-old daughter had a defective ignition switch in her vehicle causing her to lose control of her vehicle and crash into a ditch on today 11/29/2018 we check the recall list before we purchased her vehicle and it was listed as safe.
- Zachary, LA, USA
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When driving at a constant rate, with constant accelerator pressure, between approximately 25 to 50 mph, the rpms jump/fluctuate causing the car to lurch and hesitate. This can be a safety hazard, particularly in icy conditions. The only way to avoid the hesitation is to actively accelerate or decelerate. There are numerous owners that have posted an identical issue on message boards and have stated that their vehicles had similar issues that were remedied by similar repair processes and that Chevrolet has altered the process used to make replacement parts as the initial parts were defective. In addition to being a safety hazard, it is also an excessive and costly burden on vehicle owners. My vehicle has only 40,000 miles on it and has been doing this since under 35,000 miles. It cannot be documented without a video. The rpms jumping is a constant and unrelenting issue when driving at a constant rate of speed between approximately 25-50 mph.
Instrument cluster malfunctioning, speedometer and warning indicators flashing, going out, resuming normal operation, then repeating the failure symptoms repeatedly. During failure symptoms the transmission and engine bog down, stall and the power steering assist fails (with engine still running). Random electrical issues such as the check engine light, car alarm sensor, etc flash on and off then start working again totally normally. Can not get the failure to occur at the dealership or mechanics. Fails several times a week. Fails when driving on street, highway at low speeds, medium speeds or high speeds.
No forward drive, high or low gear, but reverse was working. Driving at 45 mph forward gear just went out and I had to turn into a buisness. Would not move in forward, but would go in reverse. Had car towed to home.
My 2008 Chevy Cobalt began secreting a very strong fuel odor; it didn't matter if it was parked, or driving, the odor has been prominent 24/7. I checked for leaks and found nothing. I recently moved, so I have yet to find a new, trustworthy mechanic, so I've been driving my husbands car due to the fact that I do not feel safe driving the Chevy at this point. I had however, been regularly starting the engine once a week, while trying to locate a mechanic, however now. My Chevy is completely dead; it wont turn on, nor will the lock system even function VIN number: [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).'
The powerstearing message appeared on my dashboard last night while, thankfully I was parked and stationery before I turnedmy car on. I had no mobility with the steering wheel and appeared to be locked up. I turned off the engine and after starting the car a short bit later the car was operational. The car runs fine for now but I fear it will happen again. To add before this happened I just finished driving 500 miles when I parked the car.
I was driving to work like normal on a street that goes 30 miles per hour and my door locks started locking and unlocking rapidly by themselves and the electricity was going on and off in the vehicle when I regained control of my vehicle the power steering showed up on my information dashbroad also the speedometer was dead it was no longer working it also became more difficult to handle the vehicle I took it to my mechanic and he said there has to be a recall as the car only has about 50,000 miles it I checked the website nhsta using my VIN number and it says there is no recall so checked the recalls for all Chevy Cobalt 2008 and all of the had the recall for the electrical and power steering so I called my local Chevy dealer and explained everything and then they asked for my VIN so I give it to them and they say there is no recall on this particular Chevy Cobalt and the they can't help me.
Start of the problem the gauges will go eratic, my car chimes a few dings then theft light comes on. I don't have a theft system. Ls model. Also effects the transmission(automatic) cause it will shift hard and jerk the car. The ac also shuts off during this issue, it will blow air but it won't be cold. Seems like the issue always comes back when it's extremely hot outside. This is an on going issue for about 5 years and it comes and goes. Every mechanic I went to their car reader can't read my car. Also it has happened while I was driving and again when I'm parked and just started the car. And I have had all the recalls fixed that were reported.
The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt. While driving various speeds, the instrument panel gauges fluctuated, the power steering failed, and the transmission shifted abnormally. The security system warning indicator illuminated. The failures occurred sporadically. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, but could not be diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 138,000. Updated 06/15/16 the consumer stated all codes read, a loss of communication. Updated 06/28/16.
Electrical/electronics problem. Symptoms: Dash warning lights (ie: Engine, traction, theft) came on. Digital display warning: Low fuel (over 1/2 tank of gas) power steering (which stopped operating) and transmission service (transmission stopped shifting smoothly). Gauges (speed, fuel and tach) operated erratically, not at all or combination of the two conditions. This condition started with a few of the listed symptoms which initially cleared them selves. Later as more showed at same time, I was able to clear them or sometime they cleared themselves. This happened over a years time. When all symptoms showed and would not clear, I took the vehicle to trusted mechanic. He could not locate problem but due to outstanding ignition switch recall, suggest that repair may fix the problem. Vehicle was taken to dealership and recall service preformed and no other outstanding recalls were found. Vehicle operated without a problem for almost a month before the listed symptoms reappeared. Was able to clear the fault codes but symptoms returned within the day and won't clear. A check of recalls found that a recall for power steering loss as described was issued and done at approx. 49,000 miles. Several electrical system checks were found in maintenance history (done after power steering recall) and preformed before I purchased the vehicle. The issue describe has become worse over time and has effected the safety of not only those operating the vehicle but any one else on the road when this problem manifest itself. Given that the ignition was replaced and the problems persist, I can't believe it was the ignition causing these problems. I will contact GM to see what my options are. Given that GM is paying 900 million to the government in fines, maybe uncle sam could held those of us with GM engineered lemons replace them with something that is safe to drive on the road.
Car rolled down slight hill after turning off and exiting vehicle, transmission shifter appeared to be in park but obviously not as car rolled after leaving alone on slight slope. After accident, I placed key in ignition, started car but will not back up or change position of gear from neutral or drive. Will not go back into park. Key will not come out of ignition now. Bumper and radiator are damaged after crash.
Clutch is losing pressure, can not shift gears to drive the 2008 Chevy Cobalt ls (manual). Must pump clutch over 200 times to get pressure back. The clutch pressure goes out while driving on street and the highways, making it no way to downshift/ slow down. Could cause injury to all passengers.
The contact was owns a 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated that the button located on the gear shifter housing became completely detached. In addition, the turn signal and windshield wiper mechanism fractured upon engaging. The dealer informed the contact that they would be responsible for fifty percent of the repair expense. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was 55,000.
My leg accidentally bumped the keychain 3 3/8 inches long (only one key on it, the ignition key) while I was driving, and the car shut off. I was in a 35 mph area, I shifted it into neutral and was able to steer into a left turn lane, shifted it into park and started it.
I noticed a slight tapping/rattling noise coming from the front driver side. The noise only occurs between the speeds of 50-60 mph and only when letting off the gas completely. Then I received in the mail an ignition cylinder recall. My car had problems with locking up and difficulties turning the key. So I took the car to the dealership told them about the noise I was hearing then waited a week with no call from the dealership so I called them. They told me my car would be finished by noon, I arrived at 4 pm. They then told me my car was not yet finished. The dealership had not even put in the new ignition cylinder even after a week. I was told the noise could not be replicated. I waited for the ignition to be put in (about 30 mins) then took one of the dealership mechanics on a test drive to hear the noise. Noise was heard and took it back to the shop. Checked under the car and nothing wrong could be found. The lead mechanic took it for a test drive but due to the heavy downpour of rain nothing was heard. I was asked to bring the car back on Monday due to possible severity of the situation. Dropped the car back off at the dealership Monday. A test drive and a look under the car and they found the problem, noise coming from rack and pinion while hitting bumps rack worn and needs replacement steering column making noise as well recommend replacement with out replacement the car would eventually have no steering ability at all: Cost $1524 no warranty. This car has had the power steering recall replacement (the steering wheel suddenly stopped working while in a parking lot due to broken pinion) in 2010 and a transmission issue (RPM rev when the car hit 40 when the gas was not being applied) that was a worn seal it was fixed and covered by warranty in 2011. This would be the twice now with no steering ability only its a different cause? I feel like I'm being cheated.
- La Vernia, TX, USA
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A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Franklin, NJ, USA