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.
A major fuel leak was discovered on the car during refueling. The car was loaned to a family member, john wilfong, when the issue occurred. The car was taken to the nearest dealership. The fuel supply line had multiple leaks due to rust/corrosion through the line. This may have led to a fire and potentially loss of life to vehicle occupants. The car has been properly maintained and washed on a monthly basis with an underbody spray. The car is currently 8 years old, rust leading to a fuel leak in this time frame is unacceptable. Manufacturers need to be made aware of this hazard, I fixed the problem by paying out of pocket for the repair.
Car is leaking gas. I noticed a faint gas smell the last few weeks and now you can smell it even in my house. It's that bad. There was a recall, but for some reason, my VIN does not fall under the recall. My daughter and I have had headaches the last few weeks and I believe it is from this gas leak. This is my only way to work and I pray that my daughter and I stay safe while I work to get this repaired. Gas leaking is very dangerous. The web has thousands of complaints on these Cobalts having gas leak. I believe this is a standard problem across the board.
While driving, anytime that need to accelerate, car will take off at max acceleration and does not responds to full braking, gear down shifting, neutral engagement, it gets fully out control, like if throtle stays in high, or full acceleration, even without pedal response, it is the most scaring experience I ever had. It happened while there was nobody in front of me. Otherwise I could hit any car in front or side of me. I feel lucky that the road in front of me was clear. I can not imaging what could happen to an inexperience driver. I was in kendall drive S.w. approaching 127 ave intersection wich is a very bussy intersection and road, before this many other time vehicle acted with erratic acceleration, but assume it was gas station bas gasoline, always use 87 octane grade, or water in the gasoline. Please make sure that this problem is taking care of. Possibly has been the cause of accidents involving this car, and since it will hit any car in front of it, by law it will be your fault when hitting some other or others vehicle, your insurance will count against you and god knows if somebody gets kill, or impaired including myself, please contact me as soon as possible, going to stop this car, wich I use to go work driving 44 miles each way. And rent something until this problem gets resolved. It happen at 6:20 am still dark outside.
Rusted through and leaking fuel supply and vapor lines. Noticed gasoline smell while driving and puddle under car when parked in hospital parking lot where I work. GM is fully aware of this rust problem as they coated the brake lines to prevent corrosion. This VIN# is not covered under the existing recall for the 2009 Cobalt and as a result the local dealership where car was purchase wanted over $800 to repair. Picture attached and still have most of the rusted lines if you want them.
Chevy Cobalt is leaking bad in rear driver side in front of my tire. I have seen this issue in many Cobalt. Chevy did a recall but for southern state. They need to add it for all the cars. Other northern state have had extreme heat too. Smell like gas in car. When stop driving sees it leaking.
- Frederick, MD, USA
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Takata recall got into my 2009 Cobalt and when I turned the key, it didn't start. When I tried to start it again, it chugged a bit before it started and instantly had a strong gas smell. I looked underneath on the driver's side in front of the back wheel and there was a gas puddle about 8" in diameter and gas was still leaking from a rupture in the gas line. I looked online and this seems to be a very common problem with the Chevy Cobalt with no existing recalls.
While driving the car shutdown. I pulled over and smelt gas. I looked underneath and I noticed the fuel lines leaking gas onto the exhaust. After looking the closely the fuel sending line has a hole inside the clip, behind the gas tank, holding the brake lines.
I started smelling gasoline while driving. I parked the car. I came out of my office hours later and there was a puddle of gasoline under the driver's side rear tire. I drove home and watched as the fuel gauge went down from a half tank to empty in the time it took me to drive 4 miles from work to home (1 mile in the city and 3 on the highway). This seems to be a problem but my car is not under the recall service because it is in the wrong state. There is a recall on the 2009 Chevrolet Cobalts for this issue but mine is not a part of it and should be obviously.
The fuel and vapor lines are rusted completely out. I took it to the dealership and they explained to me that this is a safety hazard. The cost to repair is well over $1200 and it is not recommended that the car is driven until the repairs are fixed for the safety of myself, other drivers and the environment.
On 7/27/17 my daughters car would not start. Upon diagnosis found there was no fuel pressure. Fuses and fuel pump relay tested ok. Diagnosed problem to be the fuel pump. Removed fuel tank and pump assembly and found arcing on the outside of the pump. When trying to disconnect fuel pump from wiring harness it had fused together. I replaced the fuel pump, wiring harness, and hose assembly. This arcing inside the fuel tank could have cause a catastrophic failure, fire, and even death from explosion. I am attaching pictures and have retained the components for further examination.
The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt. While driving 35 mph, there was an abnormal odor of fuel inside the vehicle. Additionally, while the vehicle was parked, the contact noticed fuel leaking. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The VIN was unknown. The failure mileage was 70,000.
The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled while in reverse. The contact was unable to restart the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the fuel pump wiring harness melted, which caused the fuel pump to become inoperable. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 118,000. Updated 08/04/17
The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt. While standing outside the vehicle, the contact noticed a fuel odor. The contact, who was once an independent mechanic, checked the vehicle but did not find a leak. The failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to jim trenary Chevrolet in union, Missouri where it was diagnosed that the fuel pump gasket was cracked and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and contacted the dealer. The dealer stated that there was no recall available. The contact stated that the repair cost was not affordable, so the vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 139,000. The VIN was not provided.
Overheat back in 2014 took in to dealer in richmond ca. Again car overheating told fine by dealer. Summer had to run heater for car to cool down when driving. Even after I put antifreeze in& fluids fine. Would not pass smog for 2016 tags, has 85,000 miles.P03000 random multiple cylinders misfired detected. Was then told need a new engine for 2009 car! just about paid off! replaced gear shift 2years ago! car died while driving all fluids good and battery good! also when driving car seat belt passenger light would lite up w/no one in the seat! called Chevy told my VIN does not match to any of the recalls on Chevy vehicles deal with it!
The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt. While driving 60 mph, the vehicle stalled and the low fuel sensor indicator illuminated. The contact stated that she had 50 miles to go until the fuel tank was empty. The contact had someone come to her location to replace the ECM/trans fuse, which allowed the vehicle to restart; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that the vehicle was not included in any open recalls per case number: 8-2926645326. The failure mileage was approximately 119,000.
Fuel pump cracked and fried. I saw this was a recall on 2009 Cobalt's in several states but Chevy said that my car didn't fall under this recall even though it was the same problem.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Indianapolis, IN, USA