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.
Hazard light button isn't properly secured to the dashboard which may cause the button to push into the dash. If hazards need to be activated following an emergency or another appropriate situation to use your hazards, this could prevent them from being activated; warning other drivers of a stopped vehicle. Several trim pieces need to be removed to fish out the button from the inside of the dash, it takes 10-15 minutes to do so and could provoke a dangerous situation while attempting to deactivate your hazards (if they activated in the first place)
Increasingly the vehicle is not operating properly. The lighting is not consistent and the smallest addition of extra features requiring power (ex: Using one or more window controls, heater and or defogger, lighting in dash at full capacity, musical performance, radio and bass, etc) will cause the power of existing devices to flutter or surge for example the headlights will dim out when turning the windows down or the vehicle will begin to vibrate and shake even more almost as though it is overpowering and wanting to shut down or quit. Also the rpms will feel like they are hiccuping or bouncing down and up more than usual and at random times and speeds at times seems like its going to red line even if you take your foot off the gas. This is also a bit of the same type of issue but it is the opposite when you push the gas it hesitates or something like that glitches or jolts and gains power very slowly and has a hard time accelerating and gaining speed (seems gutless?). and at stop lights and whenever parked its rumbles and shakes all together let alone if you are using the radio or heat etc it's loud enough to have to get the people in vehicle to almost yell when talking over it or if you are in a drive through the person can't hear you and either have to stut off the engine or speak to them in person at the next window. Also when you are slowing down to stop it almost seems the engine will be faster than the body or something like that (I know sounds crazy but I don't know how to explain it any other way). I've come to the conclusion that it will be fuel and or electricity related or both. Its also randomly showing a few different codes and then suddenly they go away all to do with fuel pressure or syster or evap type thing. Without clearing them they resolve themselves without any work or anything witch also seems very oddto me. Thankyou in advance for reading.
Service ESC light came on after car was parked overnight in garage. After car was driven 7 miles and engine turned off, lights did not come on. The next day, same process repeated.
I first had noticed my front passenger speaker would cut in and out. It didn't matter if the car was stationary or if I was driving. The following week I was driving through the parking lot of my job and the doors locks started locking and unlocking rapidly by themselves. And now they rarely ever do either when I try and push the lock buttons. So they either have to stay locked or unlocked depending the mood of the car. The following week I had a gas leak and had to have it serviced because that is very dangerous. The mechanic told me that there was a recall on that plastic piece to fuel system but only in southern states and I live in the North. And not to long after that my turn signal switch wouldn't stay on or it wouldn't shut off by it's self. Also dangerous trying to hold switch on while making a turn.
Drivers side low beam randomly goes on and off. Drivers headlight replace 2 times and problem remains, high beams and all other outside lights work ok. Checked the internet and many others with Chevy cars have this problem. Happens randomly, when starting, stopping or driving fast or slow, turning right or left or going straight
- River Falls, WI, USA
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The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the headlights would suddenly shut off or sometimes would not operate at all. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 100,000. Updated 03/16/17
"takata recall" when going slow in drive and reverse my car began to have trouble steering. It physically go to the point where I was manually turning it my self with no help from the power steering. The dash lights have gone out, none of them are currently working....I have to drive with a flash light secured to my dash just to see my gauges. I am unable to see any thing else that comes up on my dash that has to be seen by a light. My gear shift lights do not work. I must turn on the dome light in order to see the gear I shift into. Heating/ac lights are gone. Tail lights also are not working. Have changed the light bulbs and still no tail lights.
The contact owned a 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt. While merging approximately 35 mph, the front and rear exterior lights failed without warning. As a result, the contact crashed into a concrete wall. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact sustained a concussion that required medical attention. A police report was not filed. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 117,048....updated 01/20/16 the consumer stated the vehicle was repaired.
I am the very unhappy driver of a 2008 Chevy Cobalt with 4 recall repairs to date. I reported noticing problems with the power steering, struts and interior dashboard lights as early as Sept 2010, while having routine service done to my Cobalt. (the interior dash digital read out lights have always given misinformation and would dim on a regular basis.) I've recently been experiencing the power steering totally going out on my car (once on June 25, 2014 and again on Sept 4, 2014) which makes it practically impossible to steer my car. I've been involved with these recall issues since 2010 and have followed GM's instructions to have the repairs done, only to have continuing problems with the cars performance. It's not only a inconvenience, but is stressful and dangerous to continue driving this vehicle. I've requested to have GM help me get into another car more than once over the past few years, but have been denied. Now I've been told that GM has implemented a new "buy back program" for drivers such as myself and have requested they get me out of this vehicle and into another car, but again, have not been contacted concerning my request.. I can not and do not want to be without a car to drive and feel that I deserve to have my car replaced by General Motors at no cost to myself.
Was driving over to a friends house got pulled over for a front headlight being out. Found out its the same headlight I replaced 3 months ago and this is the same issue that I have with this cars lights every 3 to 4 months. Its either the front headlight bulbs need to be replace or rear light bulbs need to be replace and I can not plug in a car charge for my phone cause of a burning smell that comes from somewhere within the car. I had this investigated by three people who service cars and they can not find the problem they tell me to bring it to the dealer.
On February 21th, 2011, I was driving on the I-95 expressway. Suddenly, I lost the control of my car which was hit by another car driven by [xxx] (case # [xxx]). on June seventh, 2010, my wife had similar accident with her 2006 Chevy Cobalt. The fact that both crashes were so similar made dubious about our responsibility on them. I asked to inspect my vehicle twice (3/25/11 and 4/9/11), but inspectors said that my car was ok. On December 12, 2011 I presented a complaint to F. H.S. M. V. D. M. S. (complaint #[xxx]), on December 16, 2011 its answer was; your complaints do not fall within its jurisdiction. Dejected, I did not forward any more action. I have just received from GM a warning about a defect which relates to motor vehicles safety exists in 2005-2007 model year (my) Chevrolet Cobalt, then I read on tv news, and internet, that GM issued that it's possible that the air bags might not deploy if there is an accident. In this moment we realized that both the 2006 and 2008 Chevy Cobalt air bags did not deploy, regardless both vehicles crashes were on front bumper allstate insurance paid the amount of $6440.58 to repair my car. We have received a significant amount of letters from lawyers and allstate insurance dealing with injures damages and monetary compensation. Allstate paid to Mr. Sentmanat the sum of $10 000, consequently our allstate insurance premium was raised substantially. This entire situation had caused stress, economic problems and lack of confidence in both my wife I. because both crashes happened in the afternoon rush hour, I-95 traffic was crowded and slow, but in other conditions and as consequence of air bag malfunction my wife and might have died. For the reasons explaining above I, the writer, demand from GM a monetary compensation for the psychological, legal, and monetary problems caused by my car malfunction. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
Seals surrounding the front right headlight front plate have deteriorated and are allowing water to enter the headlight assembly while driving in the rain or using a car wash. This has caused shorts in the wiring and corrosion of the electrical contacts.
The audio indicator for the turn signals, chime for safety belts, door ajar (all warning chimes) stopped working. The left front speaker stopped working for the radio as well. (I've looked this up on the internet, and supposedly all audio indicators come through the speaker.) this appears to be a problem with many Cobalts, over a long time (I've seen it mentioned for many model years). It is always the same, the left front speaker stops working (none of the others) and the audio warning equipment stops functioning.
The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated that the lights on the dashboard and shift console failed. The rear taillights also failed and were only operable if the brake was applied. The contact was awaiting diagnosis of the vehicle. The vehicle had not been repaired. The failure and current mileages were 60,000.
Cruise control works intermittently turn signals turn off on there own once in about every 10 time use. If your don't hear turn signal still blinking and keep driving other driver think you going to turn, came close to wreaking couple of times that's when I notice they weren't turning off after making the turn.
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- Mechanicsburg, PA, USA