2005 Chevrolet Cobalt Engine Problems

The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated that the key was stuck in the ignition. The contact had to use the key release to remove the key manually. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic; however, no cause for the failure was found, and the failure persisted. The contact stated that on a separate occasion, while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal, and the vehicle stalled. The contact was unable to coast to the side of the road. The steering locked up after the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was restarted; however, the failure persisted while driving a short distance. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic; however, no cause for the failure was found, and the failure persisted. The check engine warning light has been illuminated since the vehicle was purchased. The exhaust system, fuel lines, brake lines, and the engine had been replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHSTA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.

NHTSA ID

11717536

Incident

Nov 12, 2014

Mileage

90,000 mi

The tcm in my 5 cobalt is not working properly I've tested and replaced everything els and had the tcm reprogrammed still getting problems aiming back to the tcm it wasn't looked at by a business

NHTSA ID

11553855

Incident

May 15, 2021

Ignition switch had a previous recall, but now the ignition switch won’t turn the car on on the first 5-10 switches with any keys, or spare keys. Steering wheel shakes/wobbles when exceeding over 50mph.

NHTSA ID

11522383

Incident

Feb 13, 2023

WHEN I GOT THE CAR IN JUNE 2020 I GOT THE KEY I WAS TOLD TO TURN KEY TO ACC WAIT UNTIL LOCK ICON GO OFF MY CAR ALARMS WILL SOUND ANTI THEFT SYSTEM TOOK TO CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP,AND THEY CHARGED $$$ SAID THEY REPLACED SEVERAL PART'S AND STILL IT'S STALLS,AND LOOSE POWDER STEERING,IT SAYS I HAVE NO FUEL IN CAR BRAKE LIGHT ON DO NOT CHIMES WHEN I GET IN CAR IT MAKES IT LIKE I STEALING THE CAR AND IT SHUTDOWN EVERYTHING BEEN DOING IT SENSE JULY CAN'T DRIVE OUT NO WHERE STALLS WHEN I DID TRY DRIVING IT ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON THEN MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP

NHTSA ID

11373607

Incident

Jul 9, 2020

Mileage

89,590 mi

I GOT THE CAR A FEW YEARS AGO ONLY DROVE IT FOR 5 MONTHS FOUND OUT ABOUT THE RECALL. I HAD TO PAY FOR THE CAR TO GO NASSAU BAHAMAS. THEY NEVER SHIP IT FOR ME .THEY PAID THE IGNITION REPAIRS NEVER GAVE ME A RENTAL CAR. THEN I CALLED BACK A FEW MONTHS ABOUT A WARRANTY SAY 60,000 MILES OR 5 YEAR THEY TELL ANOTHER RECALL FOR THE SAME THING. SO I STARTED CHECKING COME TO FIND ALL KINDA LAW SUIT ON THAT TYPE MODEL. THEY WANT THE CAR OFF THE ROAD. I ASKED THEM TO PAY OUT THE CAR. CAN'T GET A RESPONSE. THEY OPEN BUT THE BAHAMAS OFFICE CLOSED FROM COVID-19. STILL HAVE TO WAIT ON A RESPONSE.*DT*JB *TR

NHTSA ID

11320527

Incident

Sep 10, 2019

Mileage

15,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS THE VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING ASSIST WHICH CAUSED THE STEERING WHEEL TO BECOME VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN IN EITHER DIRECTION. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. RODGERS AUTO GROUP LOCATED AT (2720 S. MICHIGAN AVE CHICAGO, IL) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 10V073000 (STEERING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000.

NHTSA ID

11316968

Incident

Mar 1, 2018

Mileage

35,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED. AS A RESULT, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN IN EITHER DIRECTION. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 190,000.

NHTSA ID

11277103

Incident

Apr 1, 2019

Mileage

190,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE MALFUNCTIONED AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH SEVERAL DEALERS, INCLUDING GRAY CHEVROLET (1245 N 9TH ST, STROUDSBURG, PA 18360, (866) 505-3058), RAY PRICE MT POCONO CHEVROLET (2969 PA-940, MT POCONO, PA 18344, (570) 839-0810), AND ABELOFF BUICK GMC (1167 N 9TH ST, STROUDSBURG, PA 18360, (877) 816-1775) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS WERE DISCONTINUED AND NO LONGER AVAILABLE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE PART HAD BEEN DISCONTINUED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80,000.

NHTSA ID

11270173

Incident

Oct 20, 2019

Mileage

80,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION WAS LOOSE AND THE VEHICLE COULD ROLL AWAY IF THE KEY WERE REMOVED. ALSO, THE CHECK ENGINE AND BRAKE INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE OVERHEATED. ANOTHER MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS DAMAGED. THE CONTACT PLANNED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO RICKY HENDRICKS CITY CHEVROLET (5101 E INDEPENDENCE BLVD, CHARLOTTE, NC 28212, (980) 242-5621) FOR ADDITIONAL DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V171000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000.

NHTSA ID

11164519

Incident

Dec 28, 2018

Mileage

135,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S DOORS CONSTANTLY LOCKED INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT HAD TO CRAWL IN AND OUT OF THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE WINDOW. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND THE POWER STEERING AND CHECK ENGINE INDICATORS ILLUMINATED AND REMAINED LIT. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND POWERED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER RESTARTED AND DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT CALLED HARRY GREEN CHEVROLET AT 304-624-6304 (1858 E PIKE ST, CLARKSBURG, WV 26301) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONTACT ABOUT NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 07V014000 (STRUCTURE). THE CONTACT HAD NOT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

NHTSA ID

11079659

Incident

Sep 10, 2013

Mileage

80,000 mi

THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM LIGHT ON MY CHEVROLET COBALT 2005 STAYS ON AND DOES NOT TURN OFF UNTIL I SHUT OFF THE ENGINE. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ALSO STAYS ON AS WELL AT THE SAME TIME THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM LIGHT IS ON, SO NOT SURE IF THESE TWO ISSUES ARE RELATED. I ALSO NOTICE THAT THE VEHICLE JERKS PERIODICALLY WHEN I AM ON THE ROAD AND THERE IS ROUGH SHIFTING OF GEARS.

NHTSA ID

11013021

Incident

Aug 5, 2017

Mileage

173,450 mi

VEHICLE WOULDN'T START. LIKE THE BATTERY WAS DEAD, WOULDN'T EVEN TRY TO TURN OVER. GO TO TURN THE KEY OFF AND POP MY TRUNK WHERE THE BATTERY IS LOCATED AND I CAN NOT GET MY KEY TO TURN ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE OFF POSITION, AS A RESULT I CANNOT REMOVE MY KEY. THE SPEEDOMETER READ 30MPH EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE NEVER STARTED AND WASN'T MOVING. NON OF THE ELECTRONICS WERE WORKING SO I WAS UNABLE TO POP MY TRUNK. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE AND EVENTUALLY THE VEHICLE WILL START AND WHEN IT DOES THE BATTERY LIGHT STAYS ON AND THE DASH READS; ENGINE PERFORMANCE LOW. THE TRANSMISSION WILL SURGE AS I AM DRIVING AND I CANNOT GO FASTER THAN 30MPH. I HAVE EVEN HAD THE CAR SHUT OFF COMPLETLY WHILE I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. AFTER ANYWHERE BETWEEN A FEW HOURS TO A FEW WEEKS THE VEHICLE WILL STOP ACTING UP AND DRIVE NORMAL FOR A WHILE. AGIAN THE NORMAL LASTS ANYWHERE BETWEEN A FEW HOURS TO A FEW MONTHS AS WELL. THE POWER STERING ALSO FLASHES ON THE DASH AND SOMETIMES CUTS COMPLEATLY OUT.

NHTSA ID

11011812

Incident

Jul 29, 2017

Mileage

80,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS UNABLE TO MOVE. THE POWER STEERING WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AFTER THREE MINUTES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 149,769.

NHTSA ID

10918627

Incident

Oct 24, 2016

Mileage

149,769 mi

TIMING CHAIN TENSER BOLT AND GUIDE BRAKES AND DESTROYS THE MOTOR ON CHEVROLET COBALT 2005 CAUSING THE CAR TO NOT START ALSO TURNS ON THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND GOES TO LOW POWER MODE ALSO THE TRANSMISSION HAS PROBLEM TOO

NHTSA ID

10914396

Incident

Oct 1, 2016

Mileage

140,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE IGNITION KEY BECAME STUCK IN THE VEHICLE. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT INTO THE REVERSE GEAR. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START WHEN PROMPTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 158,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10909902

Incident

Sep 25, 2016

Mileage

158,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL POWER AND THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE STALLED, BUT WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED AFTER FIVE TO TEN MINUTES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 184,089.

NHTSA ID

10896101

Incident

May 2, 2016

Mileage

184,089 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED, AND ALL THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,439. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10870573

Incident

May 14, 2016

Mileage

77,439 mi

THIS ISSUE SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2005 COBALT. PLEASE RESEARCH ANY CAR COMPLAINT WEBSITES ABOUT THIS CERTAIN VEHICLE. EVEN THOUGH ALL THE RECALLS HAVE BEEN TAKEN CARE OF, WHILE IN MOTION, AT ANY TIME AND ANY SPEED, THE DASH LIGHTS STARTS FLASHING AND YOU GET THE MESSAGE POWER STEERING ON MESSAGE CENTER, TC LIGHT COMES ON, LIGHT THAT SHOWS PADLOCK SYMBOL COMES ON, RPM NEEDLE JUMPS UP AND DOWN, STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP, MOTOR SURGES AND SHAKES, AND YOU HEAR ALL TYPES OF CLICKING SOUNDS BELOW GEAR SHIFTER. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS THING AND CHEVROLET/GM JUST CANNOT SEEM TO FIX THIS ISSUE OR EVEN FIND ANYTHING WRONG. THE 2005 COBALT NEEDS TO BE RECALLED AND ANY OTHER YEAR OF COBALT HAVING THIS ISSUE. I WILL GIVE YOU BELOW THE LAST DATE THIS HAS HAPPENED, BUT THIS HAS WENT ON SINCE WE GOT THE CAR IN 2008. MY DAUGHTER IS IN SCHOOL IN KANSAS CITY, AND THIS ISSUE HAS HAPPENED QUITE FREQUENTLY LATELY. THE ONLY REMEDY IS TO PULL TO SIDE OF ROAD, SHUT OFF VEHICLE AND RESTART AND HOPE IT DOES NOT ACT UP AGAIN. I JUST WONDER HOW MAY DEATHS HAVE HAPPENED ALREADY BECAUSE OF THIS FAULTY GM PRODUCT AND NO ONE KNEW IT WAS BECAUSE OF WHAT THE COBALT DID, LOCKED UP ON ITS DRIVER.

NHTSA ID

10855444

Incident

Apr 11, 2016

Mileage

51,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED FUEL FUMES EMITTING FROM THE INNER PART OF THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AFTER SOME TIME. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START INTERMITTENTLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE EXHAUST, OXYGEN SENSOR, THERMOSTAT AND OTHER UNKNOWN PARTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED AS THE CONTACT NOTICED FUEL LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

NHTSA ID

10853969

Incident

Apr 4, 2016

Mileage

80,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE, WHEN MY WARNING LIGHT CAME ON, AND SAID "ENGN PWR REDUCED" IT IMMEDIATELY SLOWED FROM 70 MPH, TO 10 MPH AND WOULDN'T REV PAST 2000 RPM'S. THE SOURCE CANNOT BE FOUND AS TO WHY IT HAPPENED AND ALMOST COST ME MY LIFE ON THE INTERSTATE.

NHTSA ID

10820791

Incident

Jan 18, 2016

Mileage

249,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. THE VEHICLE STALLED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ABLE TO RESTART. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,147.

NHTSA ID

10809184

Incident

Dec 9, 2015

Mileage

100,147 mi

I WAS DRIVING THE CAR IN THE CITY STREET WHEN THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I CONTINUE TO DRIVE THE CAR WHEN I START HEARING CLICK SOUND THAN I HEAR BELL SOUND COME FROM THE CAR. THE CAR WOULDN'T GO ANY FASTER THAN 40 MILE HR & THE GAUGES WERE JUMPING ALL OVER THE PLACE. I CONTINUE TO DRIVE THE CAR THEN THE WORDS "POWER STEERING" CAME ON WHERE MY MILEAGE WOULD SHOW. ALL OF THE RECALLS HAVE BEEN REPAIRED AND SOMETHING STILL WRONG WITH THIS CAR. I ASKED GM TO TAKE LOOK AT THE CAR WITHOUT CHARGING(MONEY) TO SEE IF IT IS RELATIVE TO THE RECALL. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THEY COULDN'T TELL IF THEY WOULD CHARGED ME MONEY OR NOT.

NHTSA ID

10789673

Incident

Nov 10, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE ENHANCE TRACTION SYSTEM, CHECK ENGINE, AND POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. IN ADDITION, WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SWITCHED INTO THE REVERSE POSITION, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL SOUND COMING FROM THE GEAR SHIFT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,377. UPDATED 03/11/16*LJ *JS

NHTSA ID

10780599

Incident

Sep 25, 2015

Mileage

10,377 mi

ENGINE WOULD NOT TURN OVER NO ELECTRICAL CONNECTION THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES DURING OWNERSHIP.

NHTSA ID

10717856

Incident

May 1, 2009

Mileage

10,000 mi

3800 CHADWOOD DR

NHTSA ID

10716318

Incident

May 13, 2015