243 of the
10,115 complaints filed about the Chevrolet Cobalt
are about the braking system —
2% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2007.
The contact owns a 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated that while driving approximately 35 MPH, the power steering warning light illuminated, and the contact had to manually steer the vehicle. The contact continued to drive the vehicle without power steering functionality. The contact stated that additional electrical failures had occurred. The contact also stated that the ABS activated and deactivated independently, and the traction control became inoperable. The instrument panel also became inoperable, and the contact was unable to see the speedometer and fuel gauge functions on the instrument panel. The dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was unknown. The VIN was not available.
NHTSA complaint #11656377 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated while driving 55 MPH, the power steering and brakes became inoperable. The driver was able to coast to the side of the road. The check engine warning light was illuminated after the failure. The vehicle was towed to her parent's residence. The vehicle was serviced by an independent mechanic, who stated that the failure was due to the ignition switch. The local dealer was contacted, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and stated that the vehicle was not covered under the recall. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V171000 (Electrical System). The failure mileage was approximately 260,000.
NHTSA complaint #11569973 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
While driving the car, it will suddenly stall w the engine running but won’t react the use of the brakes, steering or gear shifter. It’ll suddenly jerk and the following lights will appear on dash :ABS, Power steering, no brake fluid warning, low fuel warning and check engine. All of the areas have been check and have all their fluids so this doesn’t make sense. We bought this car for our 16 year old daughter and the first time she drive it, a truck almost wrecked into her
NHTSA complaint #11533628 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated while driving 25-35 MPH, the RPM’s continuously fluctuated, and the vehicle lost power steering functionality. The ABS warning light was illuminated and the message "Power Steering Failure" was displayed. The contact was able to veer to the side of the road by using physical force to turn the steering wheel. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle; however, the failure persisted. The contact was able to drive the vehicle to the residence. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 10V073000 (Steering); however, the VIN was not included. The failure mileage was approximately 191,000.
NHTSA complaint #11519058 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
i own a 5-speed manual transmission which should roll freely while in neutral. after starting engine while on a slight incline in a parking lot, the vehicle would not roll in neutral, as if all brakes were being applied. i thought that by driving the vehicle on the road the brakes would free up, but they did not. i shut the engine off and on a few times but that did not make a difference. i could only move forward at 5-10 mph in first gear to get the vehicle home, which fortunately was just 5 blocks away. something smelled terrible like burning wires or brake pads. even after letting the vehicle sit in my driveway for a few hours it would not free up the brakes which were being applied. then i read a tip on an internet users forum: remove a fuse labeled "ABS2" and voila! it freed up the brakes! i can drive the vehicle normally but obviously without ABS capability. now my 19 yr old grandson, who turned the vehicle over to me because of this issue, states this happened to him on two different occasions *while driving on the road!* imagine having your brakes applied while at full speed: THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE WHICH COULD RESULT IN INJURY OR DEATH
NHTSA complaint #11462858 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNDISCLOSED SPEED, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE STARTED TO JERK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. JEFF DRENNEN CADILLAC CHEVROLET BUICK GMC (3625 MAPLE AVE, ZANESVILLE, OH 43701, (740) 452-3611) WAS CONTACT AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,000.
NHTSA complaint #11331094 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
"TAKATA RECALL" THE CAR CUTS OFF AS I'M DRIVING, OR SLOWING DOWN, THE IGNITION SWITCH DOESN'T WORK TOO WELL, IT ALSO STALLS, GOES LONG PERIODS OF TIME WHERE IT WON'T START OR EVEN TURN OVER. MY POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT COMES NEARLY EVERYTIME I DRIVE BUT ALL MY FLUIDS IN THE CAR ARE FULL, SO IT MAKES DRIVING KINDA SCARY. IT JUST FEELS UNSAFE AND I WASN'T AWARE OF THESE PROBLEMS AND SITUATIONS WHEN I HAD GOTTEN THE 2006 COBALT. PLEASE HELP.
NHTSA complaint #11244379 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WAS AT WORK AND PARKED MY CAR LIKE NORMAL, SOMEONE CAME AND ASKED ME IF THAT WAS MY CAR THAT WAS PARKED CRAZY. I LOOKED OUT AND IT WAS. MY CAR ROLLED OUT OF THE PARKING SPOT WITH THE E-BRAKE ON. ANOTHER TIME I STARTED IT TO WARM IT UP IN THE MORNING, I CAME BACK OUT, IT ROLLED OUT OF MY SPOT AND HIT THE CURB. I LOOKED TO SEE IF THERE WAS A RECALL, BUT THERE IS NOT. I DID FIND MANY OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME ISSUES!!!
NHTSA complaint #11186184 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED(~6 MONTHS APART). WHEN I'M GOING AROUND 50-60 MPH AND NEED TO HIT THE BRAKES TO SLOW THE CAR QUICKLY (NOT SLAM THE BRAKES), THEY LOCK UP. I HIT THE BRAKES AND TURNED TO THE LEFT THE FIRST TIME AND TURNED TO THE RIGHT THE SECOND. BOTH TIMES THE FRONT BRAKES LOCKED UP, I WENT FISHTAILING ACROSS 3 LANES AND ENDING UP FACING ONCOMING TRAFFIC BOTH TIMES. I'VE BEEN LUCKY BOTH TIMES AND NOT BEEN HIT BY ANYONE ELSE BUT I'M SURE MY LUCK WILL RUN OUT ONE DAY. ADDITIONAL NOTE: THE CAR TURNED OFF THE FIRST TIME. AND THE 2ND TIME, THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR TIRE WAS SHREDDED.--2007 COBALT- 125K MILES. BRAKE JOB DONE 2016. THIS ENTRY IS 2/27/19.
NHTSA complaint #11182710 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
COMING OUT OF A ROUNDABOUT IN RUSH HOUR WHEN A CAR AHEAD OF HER SUDDENLY STOPPED. SHE HAD ABOUT ONE AND HALF TO TWO CAR LENGTHS AND HER SPEED WAS ABOUT 35 MPH. SHE APPLIED HER BRAKES AND THEY DID NOT RESPOND. HER CAR REAR ENDED ANOTHER CAR. THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED. SHE HAS A SPRAINED NECK AND BACK. SHE HAS BEEN OFF FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS PER DOCTOR'S REQUEST. MAJOR DAMAGE TO THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF THE CAR.
NHTSA complaint #11162623 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY COBALT ILLUMINATES THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AS WELL AS THE THEFT LIGHT AND DISPLAYS ENGINE POWER REDUCED HAPPENS MULTIPLE TIMES FIRST TIME IT STARTED WAS IN 12/2017. THE CAR WAS PURCHASED IN 2011 ALWAYS SERVICED AND REPAIRED BY DEALER SHIP. THE CAR STALLS AT STOP SIGNS LIGHTS OR WHEN YOU PULL INTO A PARKING LOT. ENGINE LIGHT COMES AND GOES. LIGHTS DIM AND FLICKER THE GAUGES JUMP UP AND DOWN IN THE DASH. AFTER YOU SHUT THE CAR OFF THE GAUGES IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER JUMP ADN MAKE TICKING NOISE. WHEN THERE IS NO ENGINE LIGHT PRESENT THE CAR IDLES ROUGH AND ACTS LIKE ITS GOING TO DIE TILL YOU START DRIVING THEN ITS FINE. THE ISSUE WITH THE BRAKES ARE WHEN YOU TO PRESS THEM THE PEDAL WILL DEPRESS ALL THE WAY BUT ITS LIKE IT DONT MEET WITH THE PAD, THIS PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT AS WELL. OBD2 CODES HAVE BEEN P0641 P0017 P0651 P0573 CURRENT CODES STORED ARE P0340 P0300 P0341. I'VE HAD THIS CAR AT THE DEALER AND MULTIPLE SHOPS ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS NOW WITHOUT RESOLUTION. IT'S BECOMING MORE OF A PROBLEM THAN ANYTHING ESPECIALLY WHEN YOUR ON THE INTERSTATE AND IT DIES OR COMING UP TO A STOP LIGHT/ SIGN, A CAR PULLS OUT OR AN ANIMAL AND YOUR BRAKES FAIL TO STOP YOU! IT IS A VERY SCARY SITUATION. THE CAR DOES HAVE HIGH MILES BUT I HAVE NOT HAD ANY PROBLEMS TILL DECEMBER OF 2017 MILEAGE IS 203,602 ALL MAINTENANCE IS PERFORMED UNDER RECOMMENDED MILEAGE.
NHTSA complaint #11139374 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY WIFE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH IN OUR 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT ON 23 FEBRUARY 2018. CAR LOST POWER TO POWER STEERING MOTOR, ABS BRAKES, AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AFTER HITTING A TREE DUE TO LOSS OF STEERING AND BRAKING ABILITY. I DROVE THE CAR THE MORNING BEFORE THE CRASH AND NOTICED THE GAUGES AND SPEEDOMETER FLUCTUATING MOVING ALL AROUND, POWER STEERING LIGHT FLASHING ON DASH, I PULLED OVER AND TURNED THE CAR IGNITION OFF AND RESTARTED CAR IT THEN WENT AWAY. MY WIFE THEN DROVE THE CAR GOING TO HER WORK AND SHE CALLED ME ABOUT 5 MINUTES AFTER LEAVING OUR HOUSE SAYING SHE HAS LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR WITH NO POWER STEERING OR BRAKES, SHE WAS SCARED AND HYSTERICAL AND SAID SHE HAD CRASHED UNDER A TREE WITH IN 1 MILE OF OUR HOUSE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY UPON IMPACTING THE TREE. I WENT TO HELP HER, I MISSED SEEING THE CAR ON THE FIRST PASS BY, BECAUSE IT WAS IN A BRIAR PATCH UNDER A TREE AS YOU CAN SEE IN THE PICTURES AND THE AMOUNT OF DAMAGE DONE. SHE IS VERY LUCKY THAT SHE WAS NOT INJURED. THIS CAR HAS BEEN IN FOR RECALLS FOR POWER STEERING MOTOR(2) AND IGNITION SWITCH (1). IT WAS NOT RAINING THE DAY OF THE CRASH, SHE CRASHED APPROXIMATELY 10:20 AM. I PULLED THE CAR OUT OF THE BRIAR PATCH AND DROVE IT BACK TO OUR HOUSE. I FEEL THAT THIS CRASH WAS DUE TO THE CAR LOSING POWER TO STEERING, BRAKING AND AIR BAGS. MY WIFE SAID THERE WAS A ON COMING CAR, THAT SHE WAS TRYING TO AVOID HITTING, WHEN THE CAR ENTERED THE GRASS ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD THE SOFT GROUND PULLED THE CAR OFF THE ROAD INTO THE FIELD AND CAME TO A STOP AFTER HITTING A BRIAR PATCH AND TREE. IT COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE MY WIFE OR SOMEONE ELSE COULD BE DEAD BECAUSE OF THE PROBLEMS THE CHEVROLET COBALT HAS HAD. I FILED A CLAIM WITH OUR INSURANCE COMPANY WITH $500 DEDUCTIBLE, SO WE WILL PROBABLY BE WITHOUT A CAR BECAUSE OF THIS ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF DEFECTIVE PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR.
NHTSA complaint #11075082 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TAKATA RECALL WHILE I AM DRIVING MY POWER STEERING LIGHT COMES ON AND MY CAR WILL LOSE POWER STEERING. MY GEAR SHIFT STARTS MAKING A CLICKING NOISE, WHEN I PRESS ON GAS WHEN IT GOES TO CHANGE GEARS IT JUMPS INTO THE NEXT GEAR, WHEN I TRY TO STOP IT WON'T LET ME THE ENGINE FEELS LIKE IT IS TRYING TO GO FASTER WHEN I'M TRYING TO STOP. I HAVE HAD FHE CAR FOR ABOUT 2 YEARS AND IT'S A ONGOING PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #11052868 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2008 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HER SON WAS DRIVING AND HIS COUSIN IN THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT AT 78 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HER SON WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE, LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, HIT A FIRE HYDRANT AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. IT WAS UNKNOWN THE ORIGIN OF THE FIRE. THE DRIVER WAS INJURED WHICH RESULTED WITH LACERATION ON THE ANTERIOR RIGHT SIDE, THERE WERE BILATERAL WRIST FRACTURE, FRACTURE TO THE RIGHT FEMUR AND LEFT KNEE. THERE WAS AN AORTIC LACERATION AND MULTIPLE BILATERAL LUNG LACERATIONS AND CARDIAC CONTUSIONS, AUTOPSY ALSO REVELED FIRST TO FORTH DEGREE FIRMS BURNS WITH CHARRING ON APPROXIMATELY 70% OF THE BODY SURFACE AREA, THERE WERE THERMAL FRACTURES TO THE SKULL AND BOTH THE HANDS. THE DRIVER WAS REPORTED DEAD AT THE SCENE AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SUSTAINED A HEAD INJURY THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
NHTSA complaint #10967486 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHEVROLET COBALT. WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE VEHICLE DID NO SLOW DOWN. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE PLACED IN NEUTRAL TO SLOW THE VEHICLE TO A SAFE SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 145,000.
NHTSA complaint #10958526 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET COBALT. UPON MERGING TO ENTER THE HIGHWAY, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK AND THE BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT HAD TO SWITCH LANES, PLACE THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL, AND COAST OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE STALLED AND WAS TOWED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 249,900.
NHTSA complaint #10940111 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WAS DRIVING HOME THIS MORNING AND A DEER JUMPED OUT IN FRONT OF ME. I SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES AND THE ENGINE SHUTOFF. MAKING THE POWER BRAKES AND STEERING SHUTOFF. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS NOT TO MENTION IF THERE IS NO POWER MOST LIKELY THE AIRBAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY. A SERIOUS ISSUE FOR A CAR THAT IS LESS THAN 6 YEARS OLD WITH AROUND 80,000 MILES ON IT. JUST A DISCLAIMER IT IS AN AUTOMATIC SO THERE IS NO CLUTCH.
NHTSA complaint #10919062 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 CHEVROLET COBALT. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE BRAKES ENGAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE BRAKES HAD TO BE RECALIBRATED. THE BRAKES WERE REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 206,686.
NHTSA complaint #10914486 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2009 CHEVROLET COBALT. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO COME TO A STOP, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT FAILED TO RESPOND. THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOORBOARD INDEPENDENTLY. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP AND CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITH EXCESSIVE FORCE. THE CONTACT HAD TO PUNCTURE THE AIR BAG TO AVOID SUFFOCATION, WHICH CAUSED THE AIR BAG TO EXPLODE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BACK, NECK, AND EAR INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOWING YARD AND WAS DEEMED DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10914209 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE POWER STEERING LIGHT COMES ON, STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP, GEAR SHIFT STARTS CLICKING, STALLING OUT DURING DRIVING AT SPEED. I HAVE RAN OFF ROAD SEVERAL TIMES AND HAVE TO USE BOTH HANDS TO TURN A CURVE BECAUSE OF STEERING LOCKED.
NHTSA complaint #10910102 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.