2005 CHEVROLET COBALT Complaints

WHEN MANEUVERING THE VEHICLE MY STEERING WHEEL SEIZES UP OVER AND OVER AGAIN WHILE MAKING A TURN. CONSEQUENTLY IT MUST BE TURNED HARD TO OVERCOME THIS RESISTANCE. OFTEN THIS CAUSES THE DRIVER TO OVER STEER. IT DOES THIS REPEATEDLY EVEN WHEN GOING THROUGH THE SAME TURN. CORRECTING THE OVER STEER IS ALSO PLAGUED BY THESE SAME SPOTS OF HARD RESISTANCE. IF YOU TURN THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE THE CAR IS NOT MOVING YOU CAN FEEL THE SAME PROBLEM. HAD THE FRONT END OF THE CAR INSPECTED AND THOSE COMPONENTS ARE IN GOOD SHAPE. YOU CAN HEAR A SOUND COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN WHEN RESISTANCE IS FELT. THE CAR HAD SAFETY RECALL # 10023 REPAIR DONE ON 6/14/2010 AT DUTCH CHEVROLET IN BELFAST, MAINE (REPAIR ORDER 25485). I CALLED CHEVY AND THEY SAID THAT THE RECALL REPAIR WAS WARRANTED FOR 12 MONTHS OR MILES WHICH EVER CAME FIRST. I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT TODAY 5/1/12 TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT BY THE SAME DEALER. THE REPRESENTATIVE FROM CHEVY SAID THEY WILL FOLLOW UP ON THIS HOWEVER THEY DID NOT OFFER TO COVER THE COST OF THE REPAIR. BAD ENOUGH THAT THE PROBLEM IS CHRONIC, A REAL SAFETY CONCERN, BUT WORSE YET CHEVY WON'T EVEN TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR A LIFETIME WARRANTY ON A RECALL REPAIR. THIS IS UNCONSCIONABLE. *JS THE CONSUMER STATED HE WENT TO THE LOCAL DEALER TO HAVE THE STEERING PROBLEM DIAGNOSED. IT TURNED OUT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE ORIGINAL REPAIR OF THE ELECTRIC STEERING ASSIST UNIT AFTER ALL. RATHER, THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT U-JOINT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CHARGE WAS SLIGHTLY UNDER $250. AFTER DISCUSSING THE PROBLEM WITH THE WARRANTY DIVISION, THE CONSUMER WAS GIVEN A DISCOUNT OF $150.00. THE CONSUMER NO LONGER WISHED TO PURSUE HIS COMPLAINT. UPDATED IVOQ 06/15/12

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD COMPLETELY LOOSE POWER SPORADICALLY, WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIR TO THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 90,000. UPDATED 05/10/12*LJ

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 10V073000 (STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM). AFTER THE REPAIR WAS PERFORMED, THE POWER STEERING WARNING INDICATOR BEGAN TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONRTACT WAS AWAITING FURTHER REPAIRS. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A DEFECT WITH THE POWER STEERING PRIOR TO THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,997.

TOOK MY CAR TO DEALER BECAUSE OF BAD CLUNKING IN FRONT END. THEY REPLACED THE BUSHINGS (WHILE UNDER WARRANTY). NOW (58000 MI) I AM HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AND THE CLUNKING IS MUCH WORSE?! SEEMS TO BE AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THESE COBALTS. SEEMS THERE SHOULD BE SOME KIND OF RECALL WITH ALL THESE COMPLAINTS BEFORE THERE IS A HORRIFIC ACCIDENT!!!! ALSO (I HAVE THE 2 DOOR) THERE IS A CONSTANT PROBLEM WITH THE DOORS NOT WORKING! ALL THE SUDDEN YOU TRY TO GET IN AND THE HANDLE MOVES BUT DOES NOT OPEN! I WOULD HAVE TO ENTER/EXIT ON PASSENGER SIDE! I HAVE HAD PARTS TO THIS REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES NOW. THIS TOO COULD ALSO BE VERY DANGEROUS IF IN AN ACCIDENT! I AM STILL HAPPY WITH MY CAR BUT NOT WITH THE SAME ONGOING ISSUES THAT COULD LEAD TO POTENTIAL DISASTER! *TR

MY CAR SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING OUT OF A PARKING LOT A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO. EVERYTHING SHUT DOWN. I COULDN'T EVEN BRAKE. I WAS ABLE TO PUT THE GEAR IN PARK AND RESTART IT JUST FINE. HOWEVER THIS IS THE FOURTH TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. THE LAST TIME BEING ON THE GEORGE WASHINGTON BRIDGE. THE VERY FIRST TIME WAS 2 MONTHS AFTER I PURCHASED THIS CAR. I ASSUMED IT WAS BECAUSE I WENT OVER A SPEED BUMP THAT WAS LARGER THAN NORMAL. THE SECOND TIME I WENT OVER A POTHOLE. THE THIRD TIME WAS ON THE HIGHWAY. SO I HAD A MECHANIC LOOK AT IT AND HE STATED THAT I COULD BE THE ALTERNATOR. THIS WAS ABOUT 2-3YRS AFTER PURCHASE. HOWEVER MY TIME WAS VERY LIMITED. I LIVE IN MD BUT I WORK IN NEW YORK SO I SPEND A LOT OF TIME THERE AND LEAVE MY CAR AT HOME. SO I HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO GET IT FIXED. WITH THIS LAST INCIDENT I DECIDED TO SEARCH THE INTERNET AND IT TURNS OUT THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS ISSUE. I FOUND IT FUNNY THAT THERE WERE MANY OTHERS WITH THE SAME OR SIMILAR PROBLEM. I PUT IN A SEARCH FOR "COBALT SHUTTING OFF WHILE DRIVING" AND FOUND A COUPLE OF SITES DESCRIBING SIMILAR ISSUES. THIS LAST INCIDENT REMINDED ME OF HOW DANGEROUS THIS COULD BE. I HAD MY 4 YR OLD NIECE IN THE BACKSEAT AND THE EXIT OF THE PARKING LOT WAS ON A HILL. FEELING THE CAR ROLLING BACK AND NOT BEING ABLE TO BRAKE WOULD SURELY BE CONSIDERED A SAFETY ISSUE. ON A SIDE NOTE I DID HAVE MY CAR EXAMINED FOR THE RECALL I WAS GIVEN NOTICE ABOUT. THIS WAS COMPLETED LAST YEAR. NOTHING ABNORMAL WAS REPORTED.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE ENGINE POWER REDUCED LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE THEN DECELERATED TO 10 MPH AND BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. THE CONTACT SAFELY STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND UPON RESTARTING, THE VEHICLE OPERATED AS NORMAL. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY AND THE VEHICLE ALSO STALLED ON A FEW OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND SEVERAL MECHANICS WHERE THE IGNITION COIL PACK, SPARK PLUGS AND THE AIR MASS FLOW SENSOR WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE GAUGES ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ALSO DISPLAYED INACCURATE READINGS WHENEVER THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE HAD TO WAIT LONG PERIODS OF TIME BEFORE THE STEERING WHEEL RETURNED TO NORMAL FUNCTIONING ABILITY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS COMMON FOR THE MAKE AND MODEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT PRIOR TO THE FAILURES, THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 10V073000 (STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE BOTTOM FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED SOME ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE AND DETERMINED THAT THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM WAS DEFECTIVE. THE DEALER REPLACED TWO CONTROL ARMS BUT ONE THE FAILURE RECURRED ON ONE CONTROL ARM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 77,000.

I EXPERIENCED "CATASTROPHIC" BRAKE FAILURE WHILE DRIVING MY 2005 CHEVY COBALT LT SEDAN W/AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ON THE HIGHWAY. I WAS FORCED TO MAKE A SUDDEN EMERGENCY STOP FROM APPROX 45MPH TO 0. THE ABS SYSTEM WORKED PERFECTLY AS THE ROADS WERE WET AND I DID NOT LOSE CONTROL RESULTING FROM MY SUDDEN STOP, WITH THE ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL INSTRUMENT LITES ILLUMINATING. HOWEVER UPON QUICKLY TRYING TO RESUME TRAVEL (SINCE I WAS STRADDLING 2 LANES ON THE HIGHWAY) THE BRAKES WOULD NOT "RELEASE" AND FEARING A REAR END COLLISION FROM APPROACHING TRAFFIC, I SHIFTED INTO 1ST GEAR AND SIMPLY DROVE 15' TO THE SHOULDER, FIGHTING AGAINST THE "GRIP" OF THE BRAKES. ON THE SHOULDER, WITH THE ABS & TC LITES STILL ON, I WAS SAFELY ABLE TO REPEATEDLY SHIFT IN AND OUT OF PARK AND REPEATEDLY PUMPED THE BRAKE PEDAL UNTIL FINALLY AFTER APPROX 1MIN THEY RELEASED THEIR GRIP AND THE ABS & TC LITES TURNED OFF ALLOWING ME TO RESUME TRAVEL. I TRAVELED FOR APPROX 10 MIN AT 65MPH W/CRUISE CONTROL, WHEN SUDDENLY AN ALARM SOUNDED WITH THE ABS & TC LITES ILLUMINATING AGAIN. I TRAVELED APPROX 1MI BEFORE EXITING THE HIGHWAY TO INVESTIGATE THE ALARMS AND THEIR MEANING. I ENTERED THE OFF RAMP AT APPROX 60MPH AND ATTEMPTED TO SLOW THE VEHICLE BUT THE BRAKE PEDAL SIMPLY WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR WITH NO PRESSURE! I QUICKLY REPEATED THE ACTION WITH THE SAME RESULT. FEARING A HYDRAULIC LOSS, I BEGAN PUMPING THE BRAKES WITH NO SUCCESS. SIMULTANEOUSLY I DOWNSHIFTED TO 2ND HOWEVER DUE TO THE NEAR 60MPH SPEED THIS HAD NO EFFECT AS THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WILL NOT DOWNSHIFT UNTIL REACHING A SAFE RPM LEVEL FOR THAT GEAR. MY FINAL RESORT WAS USING THE PARKING BRAKE WHICH ONLY SLOWED THE CAR TO APPROX 25MPH UNTIL THEY ALSO BECAME INOPERATIVE WITH SMOKE BILLOWING FROM THE REAR WHEELS. I RAN THROUGH THE INTERSECTION, FINALLY STOPPING 1/2 WAY UP THE OPPOSING ON-RAMP, THANKFULLY DUE TO THE SLIGHT INCLINE. *TR

ON JANUARY 10TH, 2010 OUR DAUGHTER [XXX] 21 YRS. OLD WAS KILLED IN A CAR ACCIDENT. WE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FROM GM IN APRIL 2010 ON THE CAR A 2005 CHEVY COBALT FOR POWER STEERING FAILURE. THE RECALL INVOLVES REMOVING ENTIRE POWER STEERING MECHANISM BUILT BY A PARTIALLY OWNED TOYOTA FACTORY. I KNEW THE MINUTE I GOT THE NEWS THAT MY DAUGHTER WAS KILLED SO VIOLENTLY AND THAT IT DID NOT INVOLVE ANOTHER CAR THAT IT HAD TO BE MECHANICAL FAILURE. IT WAS TOO LATE TO SAVE OUR DAUGHTER [XXX] BUT NOT TOO LATE TO SAVE OTHERS, I CONTACTED GM WHO SENT THREE REPRESENTATIVES TO THE COPARTS SCRAP YARD IN DURYEA WHERE THE COBALT WAS STORED IN JULY TO INVESTIGATE THE CAR ACCIDENT. A PHOTOGRAPHER, AN ACCIDENT RECONSTRUCTIONIST AND A MECHANICAL ENGINEER THAT FLEW IN FROM DETROIT, THE OBJECTIVE WAS TO REMOVE THE BLACK BOX, COMPUTER FROM THE CAR AND ANALYZE THE DATA. WE WENT TO THE SCRAP YARD AND FOR THE FIRST TIME SAW THE WRECKAGE THAT WAS ONCE A BEAUTIFUL RED SPORTS CAR. ALL THE WINDOWS INCLUDING THE SUN ROOF WERE BLOWN OUT, THE COBALT HAD FLIPPED, ROLLED, EJECTING[XXX] ON TO THE HIGHWAY WHERE SHE WAS RUN OVER. WE ARE NOT SURE IF [XXX] WAS KILLED ON IMPACT. THE COBALT BURST INTO FLAMES MELTING THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, SHIFT, UPHOLSTERY. AT THE COPARTS SCRAP YARD IN DURYEA, MYSELF AND MY HUSBAND [XXX] FATHER SAW THE CAR FOR THE FIRST TIME THE COBALT TOLD THE STORY OF AN EXTREMELY VIOLENT WRECK. I WAS TOLD BY [XXX] THAT I WOULD KNOW THE RESULTS FROM THE BLACK BOX DATA THE NEXT DAY. WHEN I TRIED TO CONTACT GM THROUGH [XXX]THAT THEY WOULD NOT COMMUNICATE WITH OUR FAMILY. GM HAS MY PROPERTY AND THEY WILL NOT RELEASE THE DATA WITHOUT US PROVIDING PROOF THAT THE CAR WAS DEFECTIVE. THIS IS NOT POSSIBLE SINCE THEY TOOK THE MOST VALUABLE PIECE OF INFORMATION FROM THE CAR. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR