CarComplaints.com Notes: The Cobalt was introduced to replace two of Chevy’s smaller cars, the Cavalier and Prizm. But the compact’s fresh start that Chevy was hoping for was riddled with issues, most notably widespread power steering failure.
On 6/22/14, I was coming home from Philadelphia and while on the Brunswick Highway, my 2005 Chevy Cobalt's dashboard lit up like a Christmas tree and I lost my power steering, traction control, brakes, abs, engine lock, door locks were clicking on and off and I had to pull over 4 times off the highway. My odometer didn't work either. This also made my transmission jerk and slip. It was so bad that when it was switching gears, it was making my entire car shake. I was afraid for my life. I nearly crashed into a semi-truck because my brakes and power steering didn't work. Also, I couldn't go below 65mph on the highway because the transmission was slipping. I made it home but I was still shocked and scared.
The next day I took it to the dealership to get it looked at. I thought it was the recall problem with the ignition but they couldn't find what the main cause was. They said it wasn't ignition but some sort of computer glitch. All they did was reset the computer and recommended me to buy a new car battery. I got the new battery and everything was fine.
Today 7/714, the same issue happened again but worse. It happened while my car was parked and again the dashboard lit up. Everything went off again, I lost my power steering, traction control, brakes, abs, engine lock, door locks were clicking on and off. It took me 6 times restarting the car for the dashboard to be cleared, and then 5 minutes again, the car chimed, and I lost my power steering, traction control, abs and the odometer didn't work again. I nearly crashed again too. I took it again the the dealership and waiting to hear back.
If they can' find the problem again, I might be forced to get a new car. I'm so angry, frustrated about this whole situation. I didn't need this right now. I'm afraid that they again will not find the problem and I won't be able to trade my car in for a new one when it comes to it.
Update from Jul 17, 2014: Well looks like my Cobalt is on its last legs. The electrical problem happened yet again for the third time and it was in park again. So this wasn't related to the ignition recall. The ignition was replaced last week 7/9/14. This time it's not even drivable. I can't get past 10mph before the car starts acting up and the transmission starts jerking the car. I called the dealership and they told me wait over night and sees if the computer resets. Resetting the computer again won't fix the problem. They won't even send a flatbed to pick up my car yet. I'm beyond frustrated now because it's obvious now the dealership knows the problem but doesn't know how to fix it. They also want me to pay for the repairs, even though they looked at it twice and can't figure it out. I called GM care in Detroit for help. I'm in a hard situation right now. I don't know if this car is even worth fixing, if it's fixable, worth putting money into, or even how much money I would get for this car for a trade in in its current state. I'm at a loss right now.
WE bought this Cobalt bran new and GM never fixed it 7 years later it is still an issue the cars t/c light is on the car does not run well the engine light is on the car alarm light now flashes and it stalls slams into gear it is unreliable.....Cheverolet cant fix it in 7yrs of complaint can't won't try does not suggest anything
So I've had my 2005 Chevy Cobalt less than a year now. At 54,000 miles the computer decides to take over my car. All sensor lights flash, it tells me I'm low on fuel when I'm not, service airbag light is on, power steering light is on, T/C light. All my meters go up and down. The car even tried to jerk me into another lane the other day..I had to fight it just to not wreck. It will start jerking me and acting like it is going to stall out. And it ate my Sublime CD and won't give it back or let me use the CD player at all. I've already had the power steering recall taken care of when I first bought the thing. I've replaced every wheel bearing in the car. And it sounds like the bottom of my car is going to fall off. I've taking it in to have the rattle checked out and they can't find anything wrong. Also I have tried to find out what is wrong with the computer. at two places they have only been able to get error reports when they try to read the computer. I have always stood by GM, it runs in my family. I have argued with my husband about GM versus Ford ever since we've been together. Well now I'm gonna trade this peace of crap in for a Ford Ranger..at a serious loss..but I'd rather take the loss and trade now than not have anything to trade later and still be stuck with 15 grand to pay off.
- lfox,
Jackson, MI, US
Search CarComplaints.com for these popular complaint phrases...
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
On 6/22/14, I was coming home from Philadelphia and while on the Brunswick Highway, my 2005 Chevy Cobalt's dashboard lit up like a Christmas tree and I lost my power steering, traction control, brakes, abs, engine lock, door locks were clicking on and off and I had to pull over 4 times off the highway. My odometer didn't work either. This also made my transmission jerk and slip. It was so bad that when it was switching gears, it was making my entire car shake. I was afraid for my life. I nearly crashed into a semi-truck because my brakes and power steering didn't work. Also, I couldn't go below 65mph on the highway because the transmission was slipping. I made it home but I was still shocked and scared.
The next day I took it to the dealership to get it looked at. I thought it was the recall problem with the ignition but they couldn't find what the main cause was. They said it wasn't ignition but some sort of computer glitch. All they did was reset the computer and recommended me to buy a new car battery. I got the new battery and everything was fine.
Today 7/714, the same issue happened again but worse. It happened while my car was parked and again the dashboard lit up. Everything went off again, I lost my power steering, traction control, brakes, abs, engine lock, door locks were clicking on and off. It took me 6 times restarting the car for the dashboard to be cleared, and then 5 minutes again, the car chimed, and I lost my power steering, traction control, abs and the odometer didn't work again. I nearly crashed again too. I took it again the the dealership and waiting to hear back.
If they can' find the problem again, I might be forced to get a new car. I'm so angry, frustrated about this whole situation. I didn't need this right now. I'm afraid that they again will not find the problem and I won't be able to trade my car in for a new one when it comes to it.
Update from Jul 17, 2014: Well looks like my Cobalt is on its last legs. The electrical problem happened yet again for the third time and it was in park again. So this wasn't related to the ignition recall. The ignition was replaced last week 7/9/14. This time it's not even drivable. I can't get past 10mph before the car starts acting up and the transmission starts jerking the car. I called the dealership and they told me wait over night and sees if the computer resets. Resetting the computer again won't fix the problem. They won't even send a flatbed to pick up my car yet. I'm beyond frustrated now because it's obvious now the dealership knows the problem but doesn't know how to fix it. They also want me to pay for the repairs, even though they looked at it twice and can't figure it out. I called GM care in Detroit for help. I'm in a hard situation right now. I don't know if this car is even worth fixing, if it's fixable, worth putting money into, or even how much money I would get for this car for a trade in in its current state. I'm at a loss right now.
- Frank K., Englewood, NJ, US