101 of the
10,115 complaints filed about the Chevrolet Cobalt
are about the lighting —
1% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2005.
OEM headlights had become dim and one could no longer be aimed, so I ordered these replacements through Amazon. I paid $92 to have them installed, and the mechanic let me know that the high beams could not be activated, except by holding the turn signal, making it dangerous to steer. In addition, when the headlights are on they create so much RF, the radio no longer gets most AM or FM stations. The mechanic confirmed, they are wired incorrectly, but did not wish to attempt to rewire them.
NHTSA complaint #11591166 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL QUIT WORKING. I HAVE TO TURN IT ON AND WHEN I HAVE MADE MY TURN I HAVE TO FLIP IT OFF MYSELF OR IT DOES NOT GO OFF. I BELIEVE THIS FAILS TO COMPLY WITH FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NUMBER 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVISES AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT. IF THE TURN-SIGNALS DO NOT AUTOMATICALLY DEACTIVATE, THE DRIVER MAY FAIL TO TURN THEM OFF MANUALLY. AN ERRONEOUS ACTIVE TURN-SIGNAL MAY MISLEAD PEDESTRIANS AND OTHER DRIVERS, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH. OF COURSE THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE CAR IS IN MOTION. I DO NOT KNOW THE CAUSE OF THE SAFETY RISK. I GLANCE THROUGH THE SAFETY ISSUE RECALLS AND SAW THAT A 2019 GM AUTOMOBILE WAS RECALLED WITH THIS ISSUE STATING THE FMVSS SAFETY STANDARD; THEREFORE, I AM SUBMITTING THIS SAME ISSUE. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V117000.
NHTSA complaint #11363699 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TURN SIGNALS TOTALLY UNCONTROLLABLE AND/OR INOPERABLE BEFORE, DURING AND AFTER TURNING, ENGINE LIGHT ON CONTINUOUS AND NOT ABLE TO DETECT REASONS, DEALERSHIP REJECTED REQUEST TO IDENTIFY CAUSE AND EFFECT OF ENGINE LIGHT, CAR MAKING POPING SOUNDS, IGNITION SWITCH RECALL NOT ADDRESSED. THE ONLY KNOWN RECALL REPAIR AND OR RECORD OF REPAIR IS FOR FUEL LEAKAGE. ALL "IN MOTION" RELATED PROBLEMS. PROBLEMS COME OUT OF NO WHERE AND ONGOING.
NHTSA complaint #11352307 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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)
NHTSA complaint #11318090 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #11291429 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE AUTOMATIC HEADLIGHTS ON THE CAR DO SHUT OFF INTERMITTENTLY. THEY ALSO TURN ON BY THEMSELVES SOMETIMES WHEN THE CAR IS PARKED AND OFF. WE HAVE BEEN STRANDED WITH A DEAD BATTERY WHEN THIS HAPPENS. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2007 AND NEWER COBALTS. TYPICALLY CARS HAD A PHYSICAL RELAY TO CONTROL THE HEADLIGHTS. IN THESE CARS THE RELAY CIRCUIT IS BUILT IN THE UNDERSIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT FUSE BOX. THE BOX IS NOT SEAL PROPERLY AND MOISTURE GETS INTO THE BOX, CAUSING A FAILURE ON THE CIRCUIT BOARD. THIS CAR FIRST STARTED DOING THIS BACK IN 2009 WHEN MY DAUGHTER HAD IT. I RECENTLY TOOK THE CAR BACK AND IT WAS STILL BEHAVING IN THIS MANNER. THE WORK AROUND THAT SEEMED TO WORK FOR A LONG TIME WAS TO MANUALLY TURN THE AUTO LIGHTS OFF USING THE MULTIFUNCTION LEVER ON THE STEERING WHEEL. TODAY, THE LIGHTS STARTED COMING ON BY THEMSELVES WHEN THE CAR WAS PARKED. ALSO, TURNING THE AUTO LIGHTS OFF MANUALLY HAS STOPPED BEING EFFECTIVE. WE ARE NOW FEARFUL, WILL THE LIGHTS SHUT OFF WHILE WE ARE DRIVING, AND OFF COURSE WILL WE BE STRANDED WITH A DEAD BATTERY WHEN PARKING THE CAR. THE SOLUTION SEEMS TO BE TO REPLACE THE FUSE BOX IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT A $200 PART PLUS A FEW LABOR HOURS. THEN YOU HAVE TO RIG UP A SOLUTION TO MAKE THE DEFECTIVE BOX SEAL, SUCH AS ADDING WEATHERSTRIPPING. I FEEL THIS SHOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL FOR GM TO FIX AT NO COST TO CUSTOMER. [XXX] *PM INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA complaint #11280418 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #11253591 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE FRONT RIGHT SIDE HEADLIGHT HAD MOISTURE BUILDUP INSIDE THE FIXTURE .PLUS THE FIXTURE HAD DISCOLORED AND FADED AND WAS NOT CLEAR. APPARENTLY THE SEALANT AROUND THE HEADLIGHT FIXTURE DID NOT MAKE A PERMANENT TIGHT SEAL THEREFORE WATER ENTERED INSIDE. AS A RESULT THE DAYTIME LIGHT WENT OFF AND ON AND THE SIGNAL LIGHT DID THE SAME. THE SAFETY ISSUE WAS WHILE IN MOTION ON A CITY STREET TURNING THE DRIVER FACING ME DID NOT KNOW I WAS SIGNALING AND THE DRIVER BEHIND ME SAW FAST SIGNAL LIGHTS FLASHING FROM MY CHEVY COBALT. I HAD MY COMPLETE HEADLIGHT LIGHT ASSEMBLY REPLACED BY A BODY SHOP AND THIS CORRECTED THE WHOLE PROBLEM. IT COST ME $173.52
NHTSA complaint #11172338 — 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.
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.
NHTSA complaint #11120583 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
HEADLIGHTS FAILING WITHIN 6 MONTHS OF REPLACEMENT. BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE. LOW BEAM. I HAVE REPLACED BOTH SIDE AT LEAST 3 TIMES IN LAST 75,000 MILES.
NHTSA complaint #11119552 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TAKATA RECALL THE PROBLEMS I'M HAVING WITH MY CAR IS THAT THE LOCKS KEEP UNLOCKING AND LOCKING AND WON'T LET MY CAR STARTUP. IT LOCKS ME OUT AND WHEN I PUT THE KEY IN THE SWITCH IT WON'T CRANK AND THE ONLY WAY THAT I'M ABLE TO GET THE KEY OUT OF THE SWITCH IS IF I JUMP IT OFF. I WAS AT HOME WHEN IT HAPPENED PARKED.
NHTSA complaint #11115262 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I ALREADY HAD A RECALL ON THE FUEL PUMP OR MODULAR AND THEN ON THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS ALWAYS BEEN ON. THEY COULDN'T GET IT TO GO OFF EVEN WHEN THEY DID THOSE REPAIRS, THEN ONE DAY THE TURN SIGNALS STOPPED TURNING OFF AFTER MAKING A TURN. THE NEWEST PROBLEM AND THE SCARIEST ONE TO ME IS NOW A GAS LEAK. I WENT OUT AND STARTED MY CAR, STARTED TO REVERSE AND THEN SMELLED A STRONG ODOR OF GAS. I STOPPED AND NOTICED MY GAS GAUGE ACTUALLY GOING DOWN. SO I SHUT THE CAR OFF HURRIED UP AND GOT MY KIDS OUT AND THEN SAW THE GAS POURING ON THE ROAD FROM UNDER MY CAR. I CAN'T BELIEVE THE PROBLEMS THAT I'VE HAD WITH THIS CAR. CHEVY NEEDS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THESE PROBLEMS. IT'S THEIR CHEAP MISTAKES. THE ONLY REASON I HAVE CONTINUED TO KEEP THE CAR IS BECAUSE IT BELONGED TO MY LITTLE BROTHER WHO DIED IN A TRAGIC CAR CASH WITH HIS PREGNANT FIANC AND MY FATHER. SO I HAVEN'T WANTED TO PART WITH IT. I HAVE SEEN THAT OTHERS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS AND APPARENTLY THERE WAS RECALLS FOR SOME OF THESE PROBLEMS ON OTHERS BUT NOT FOR MY VIN. HOW IS THAT RIGHT? THEY NEED TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR FIXING THIS AND THEY NEED TO FIX EVERYTHING CORRECTLY THIS TIME. I NEED HELP WITH THIS PROBLEM, I'M NOT SURE WHERE ELSE TO TURN AT THIS POINT.
NHTSA complaint #11114703 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEN IM DRIVING TO WORK AND CAR IS IN MOTION ALL LIGHTS DIM, ALL 4 LOCK FLICKER OFF AND ON WHILE IM DRIVING AND CAR IS IN MOTION ON HIGHWAY. SOMETIMES THE LOCK OPEN OTHER TIMES THEY DON'T WORK WITH THE CAR REMOTE. THE HEADLIGHTS WILL COME ON BY THEM SELF EVEN AFTER I SHUT THE CAR OFF. THE CAR WILL UNLOCK EVEN AFTER I LOCK IT EITHER WILTH REMOTE OR MANUALLY. CHEVY DEALERSHIP HAD A RECALL ON THIS CAR AND I DID TAKE IT FOR UPDATES. I REALIZE THIS IS A 2010, BUT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO MY CAR SINCE 2011. ONCE THEY FIXED THE PROBLEM IT WAS OK, BUT HERE WE GO AGAIN. I TELL ME HUSBAND IM AFRAID TO GET INTO CHRISTINE. I WOULD LIKE THE DEALERSHIP TO FIX THIS AT THEIR EXPENSE. I DON'T THINK I WILL BUY ANOTHER CHEVY WHEN I SEE HOW MANY ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS ARE WRITTEN ONLINE.
NHTSA complaint #11111387 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE BRAKE LIGHTS REMAIN ON EVERYTIME I DRIVE. THEY ARE INTERMITTENT. THEY WILL STAY ON FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME AND THEN THEY WILL TURN OFF ONLY TO COME BACK AGAIN. I HAVE GONE TO CHEVY DEALERS, PEPBOYS, AND LOCAL MECHANICS AND NO ONE HAS BEEN ABLE TO FIX OR SOLVE THE ISSUE PERMANENTLY. THEY HAVE "FIXED" THE BRAKE SENSORS, REPROGRAMMED THE CAR, AND HAVE DONE SOME OTHER THINGS, YET NO ONE CAN FIX THE ISSUE. WHAT A HORRIBLE COMPANY THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR OVER 3 1/2 YEARS
NHTSA complaint #11104676 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH, THAT HAS A PLASTIC FINISH, BROKE AND CRACKED AT THE POINT THAT MEETS THE STEERING COLUMN. MY RIGHT SIDE HEADLIGHT WENT OUT, WHILE I WAS DRIVING IN THE DARK GOING TO WORK WHICH IS 10 MILES ON CITY STREETS . THE NEXT DAY I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE CHEVROLET DEALER WHO I FREQUENTLY BRING FOR REPAIRS. THE SERVICE ADVISOR TOLD ME THE THAT THIS IS FLORIDA AND HEAT DOES TERRIBLE THINGS. MY CAR LIGHTS MAY HAVE ALL GONE OFF AND CREATE A SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM. MY CAR IS NOW AT THE CHEVROLET DEALER FOR REPAIR IT WILL TAKE ABOUT 4 DAYS THEY ARE ORDERING A NEW PART. PLUS LABOR , ESTIMATED COST $400.00 MILEAGE ON MY CAR IS 88,694.
NHTSA complaint #11092040 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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
NHTSA complaint #11041291 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO CHANGE THE HEADLAMP BULB BECAUSE THE BULB SHIELD FELL OFF. THE CONTACT HAD NOT NOTICED THE SHIELD WAS MISSING UNTIL HE NOTICED A GLARE IN THE BULB. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WERE TWO LIGHT BULBS AFFECTED DUE TO THE REFLECTOR FAILING WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT PURCHASED A REPAIR MANUAL AND NOTICED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V560000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE GLARE COULD AFFECT AN ONCOMING MOTORIST, RESULTING IN A CRASH. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,400.
NHTSA complaint #11012025 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SIGNAL SHOWING AIRBAG NEEDS SERVICING GOES ON AND OFF WHILE DRIVING. HEADLIGHTS, LOW BEAM (BOTH OF THEM) JUST STOPPED WORKING. NEW BULBS AND NEW FUSES ARE NOT THE PROBLEM. NOW, I CAN'T EVEN KEEP MY HIGH BEAMS IN "ON" POSITION. ONLY IF I HOLD THE SWITCH. I'VE HAD THIS CAR FOR UNDER 3 MONTHS. DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR LOCK SOMETIMES WORKS, SOMETIMES DOESN'T. I HAVE TO UNLOCK THE DOOR MANUALLY (SOMETIMES). I FIND THAT ODD. MY LARGEST PROBLEM IS OBVIOUSLY HEADLIGHTS. I HAVE 2 CHILDREN AND CAN'T DRIVE AT NIGHT, EVEN IN AN EMERGENCY.
NHTSA complaint #10992126 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.