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7.8

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$80
Average Mileage:
86,800 miles
Total Complaints:
8 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. not sure (6 reports)
  2. protect it from electromagnetic current (1 reports)
  3. took the wiring harness off transmission (1 reports)
2008 Chevrolet Cobalt electrical problems

electrical problem

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2008 Chevrolet Cobalt Owner Comments

problem #8

Mar 172022

Cobalt LT 2.2L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 200,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Pull the trans harness off the trans looked at the plug full of trans fluid bought a can of brake clean fixed it right there . Need to change the internal harness to fix it permanently. Went on line there are literally a thousand of them for sale. I also see same complaints for hundreds of other cars even the big allision transmissions.

- William H., Cedar Bluffs, NE, US

problem #7

Apr 262016

Cobalt LS S.S

  • Automatic transmission
  • 208,000 miles

Instrument gauges go berserk. It started October of 15, did it for a couple days off and on, then again about a week later. It did it again today March of 16. Really disconcerting.

- Patrick C., Sandia, TX, US

problem #6

Oct 242009

Cobalt LS 2.2L

  • Manual transmission
  • 24,800 miles

This started at about 24,800 miles and I took it to dealer. they said that the control module had a loose wire and it was fixed . Well that was bull$%*# ! It has 68000 miles and my gauges still bounce all over the place , my driver information center flashes "low fuel" and "powersteering" .My anti-theft light comes on all the time and my car is not equipped with the anti-theft.The car has never ran bad during these episodes , the dash just seems to go nuts for no apparent reason . Dealer wants me to bring it in when it does it , but it only does it for a few minutes and it goes back to normal .I have no idea , and the dealer has no idea, hoping someone here has an idea.

- swampcritter1, Seaford, VA, US

problem #5

Aug 012013

Cobalt

  • Automatic transmission
  • 44,569 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Car gauges began to act up like poltergeist were in it..The display would flash Low Fuel when tank was half full. The gauge's needles were going up and down, engine light came on with the auto theft light. Messages saying power steering fluid low..this was the first time.Second time the car did all of the above plus started sputtering like it was going to stall.Called dealership in hometown and it took a week to even get the car in to be scheduled.Well, they couldn't find anything and gave the car back after having for four days.Said bring it back when the problem happens..really..This is not good.

- Gretchen O., Roxboro, NC, US

problem #4

Sep 222011

Cobalt LS 2.2L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 68,351 miles

The digital display lit up like a Christmas tree. the dash illuminated multiple warning lights automatic transmission would slam into gear. when i finished my journey of 60 kms i shut it off and went to work.......it has never happened again. gm dealer attempted to fix it but didn't. a year later it did the same thing so i took it in and they found that the computer was picking up some sort of electrical magnetic stuff. so they put some "tabs" (as they called it). this fixed the problem and hasn't happened since. (this is an update/same account and Garry B)

thanks

- Jared B., Abbotsford, BC, Canada

problem #3

May 242011

Cobalt

  • Automatic transmission
  • 65,500 miles

This car is the biggest hunk of junk I have ever seen. The first problem we had, we had to replace tires at 25,000. This was with regular, city and highway driving. Then the bushings went bad. Then the front speakers just quit working. Then, the speedometer, tac and fuel gauge started bouncing, the car was lurching forward, not shifting right, power steering went out, the digital readout where the odometer is went blank, the car was running very hot and there was a smell of burning plastic. The dealership couldn't figure out what was wrong with it and returned it to me. About 2 weeks later the same problem occurred. They apparently called GM engineering and decided to replace the main computer in it. I cannot wait to get rid of this car. It was rated at 26 MPG and I've been lucky to get 21 MPG out of the thing since we've bought it. Its the biggest piece of sh*t ever.

- libertarianmama, Clare, MI, US

problem #2

Sep 072011

Cobalt LS 2.2L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 54,163 miles

The digital display lit up like a Christmas tree. the dash illuminated multiple warning lights automatic transmission would slam into gear. when i finished my journey of 60 kms i shut it off and went to work.......it has never happened again. gm dealer didn't do anything but charge me $150.

- Garry B., Abbotsford, BC, canada

problem #1

Jul 192010

Cobalt

  • Automatic transmission
  • 29,000 miles

ok so my gauges on my car all three of them will randomly bounce up and down like on and off and i get all sorts of alarms in my drivers information center thing like service traction, power steering, low fuel ect. and my engine will kinda sputter sometimes when this happens and it shifts hard if anyone can tell me whats up PLEASE do the dealership i got it from kept it for two days and couldnt fix it. im scared to drive to far in fear of f.n. up my car or getting stranded. and its my only vehicle if anyone has this problem please help!

- Nick B., Powell, WY, US

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