Timing chain came right threw the valve cover
- NHTSA ID
- 11576571
- Incident
- Jan 5, 2024
Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 80 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 80, in the owner's own words
Timing chain came right threw the valve cover
The contact owns a 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the Service Air Bag message was intermittently displayed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but informed the contact that there was no recall associated with the VIN. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.
The contact owns a 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated that on multiple occasions while driving at unknown speeds, he heard an abnormal beeping sound, and the vehicle went into LIMP Mode. An unknown warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 177,000.
I was driving down the road and I used my blinker then my car shut off while driving, its turned back on in seconds then when I came to a complete stop the car shut off while on drive and it lost communication to the Tcm and it was displaying messages such as “low fuel” and the rpms was at zero
WILL NOT START- IGNITION BAD - RELAY BAD.
POWER STEERING MESSAGE CAME ON WHILE THE CAR AT HIGH SPEED DRIVING AND CAR SHUT OFF/ENGINE SHUT OFF COMPLETELY, THANKS GOD WAS ON A RURAL ROAD AND THERE WAS NOT MUCH TRAFFIC. TRY TO START CAR THE SECURITY LOCK CAME ON. SECURITY LOCK COMES ON THE CAR VERY OFTEN LEAVING ME STRANDED. THE CAR HAS 54000 MILES.
I WENT TO TURN THE CAR ON AND IT WOULDN'T START. AS I TRIED TO TAKE THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION IT LOCKED ITSELF IN AND HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO REMOVE IT.I WAS GOING TO ATTEMPT THE CAR JUMP BUT I COULDN'T PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL TO MOVE IT TO A POSITION TO GET A JUMP BECAUSE THE GEAR SHIFT IS ALSO LOCKED. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO MOVE THIS CAR AS IS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HER DAUGHTER WAS UNABLE TO START THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN FAILED AND DAMAGED THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE CREATED A HOLE IN PISTON. THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 141,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE FAILED TO TURN OVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO TURNER CHEVROLET LOCATED AT 1005 E. MAIN ST, PARK HILLS, MO 63601, TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN FAILED AND DAMAGED THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 175,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME FIRM WITH THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT LINKED THE FAILURE TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10V073000 (STEERING) HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,000.
I WAS DRIVING AND CAME TO A STOP LIGHT WHILE I NOTICED TGE HOOD WAS SMOKING WHEN I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE AND POPPED MY HOOD I REALIZED MY ENGINE WAS ON FIRE VERY SMALL BY COOLENT THERMOSTAT WHEN LOOKING UNDER THE CAR I REALISED THERE WAS A PUDDLE OF OIL
MY DAUGHTER'S 2007 COBALT SHUTS DOWN WHILE DRIVING TO AND FROM SCHOOL. SHE WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER OUT OF TRAFFIC AND PARK ON THE SHOULDER. IT HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES FOR TWO CONSECUTIVE DAYS. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START THE CAR, IT SEEMS AS IF THE ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS DEAD. THE CAR WILL NOT START, THE KEY IS STUCK IN THE IGNITION AND THE STEERING WHEEL IS LOCKED.
TWICE NOW I'VE LOST ALL POWER TO MY CAR DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. I CAN NOT REMOVE THE KEY, THERE IS NO POWER TO ANYTHING. I REPLACED THE BATTERY AFTER THE 1ST TIME. EXACT SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 CHEVROLET COBALT. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED A LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE LEAK WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE CONTACT CALLED A LOCAL DEALER (MICHAEL CHEVROLET, 5735 BLACKSTONE AVE, FRESNO, CA 93710) WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD A SALVAGED TITLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED PER AN UNKNOWN RECALL, THERE WAS NO WARRANTY, AND THE VEHICLE HAD A SALVAGED TITLE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 153,000. *BF*JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LOSING FUEL WHILE BEING DRIVEN. WHILE IN MOTION, FUEL ODORS WERE EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE TURN SIGNALS STOPPED WORKING AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO PREMIER CHEVROLET BUICK GMC (401 S. LOOP HWY 59, LIVINGSTON, TX 77351 (936) 587-9398) WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. AFTER THE REPAIR, THE TURN SIGNAL FAILED AND FUEL STARTED LEAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AGAIN AND A TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS REPAIRED, AND NOTHING COULD BE DONE BECAUSE IT WAS NO LONGER COVERED UNDER THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 300.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 CHEVROLET COBALT. WHILE DRIVING ANY SPEED, THE STEERING LOST POWER AND THE POWER STEERING WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED. ALSO, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING BECAUSE THE CONTACT WAS UNAWARE OF A RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS REFERRED TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 CHEVROLET COBALT. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WERE NOT AVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EMITTED A FUEL ODOR. A CERTIFIED MECHANIC STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING FUEL ONTO THE EXHAUST PIPE. THE CERTIFIED MECHANIC ALSO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE AXLE FUEL LINES HAD SEVERE CORROSION. IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AXLE FUEL LINES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.
LOW COMPRESSION IN ONE CYLINDER (74LBS) CAUSING INSPECTION FAILURE. FOUR IGNITION SPARK COILS FAILED AND CHANGED PREVIOUS TO ENGINE FAIL. LUCKILY THE ENGINE HAS NOT BLOWN OUT, NO ONE HURT. OTHER OWNERS HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. MY VEHICLE IS 9YRS OLD, UNDER 79,000 MILES, OIL AND FILTER (WHICH IS TERMED AS "SPECIAL"-IT'S A CORRUGATED "PAPER" FILTER AT AN ADDITIONAL $12+ EVERY CHANGE) CHANGED EVERY 3000 MILES. CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE IS NOT "NORMAL" FOR A VEHICLE OF THIS AGE WITH NO HISTORY OF OVERHEATING OR ANY OTHER ISSUE UP TO THIS POINT! HOPEFULLY NO ONE HAS BEEN OR WILL BE INJURED DUE TO ENGINE SEIZURE OR FAILURE WHILE DRIVING. JUST INFORMING OF POSSIBILITIES, THESE VEHICLES SHOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN SOLD! MY VEHICLE IS STATIONARY SINCE THE END OF APRIL UNTIL I CAN HAVE IT REPAIRED.
THE CAR GOT VERY LOUD DRIVING HOME FROM WORK, GOT HOME SHUT OFF THE ENGINE AND IT WOULD NOT START AGAIN. HAD THE CAR TOWED TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT, THE MECHANIC REPORTED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE WHICH RUINED THE ENGINE.
THE VEHICLE STALLED AFTER I STOPPED THE CAR AT A STOPLIGHT (CITY STREET). BEFORE THAT (10 MINS OR SO) IT WAS LOOSING ITS ACCELERATION POWER AND THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I HAD IT TOWED AND THE REPAIR PLACE SAID IT WAS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO HAVE THE WHOLE ENGINE REPLACED. THERE WAS A FAULTY TIMING CHAIN COMPONENT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 CHEVROLET COBALT. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS UNDETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,100.
THE CAR SHUTS COMPLETELY OFF WHILE DRIVING, IT HAS ONLY HAPPENED AT LOW SPEEDS AND ACTS LIKE IT JUST STALLED. ONCE RESTARTED, THE CAR RUNS FINE. THIS HAPPENS AT RANDOM TIMES BOTH WHEN FIRST STARTING THE CAR AND ALSO AFTER DRIVING LONG PERIODS.
AT ROUGHLY 110,000 ON A GENTLY USED 07 COBALT THE INTERNAL TIMING CHAIN BROKE AND RENDERED THE ENGINE USELESS. THE REPAIR - A TOTAL MOTOR SWAP FOR $5K! AFTER I RAN INTO THIS PROBLEM MY WIFE LOOKED UP OTHER REVIEWS ON THE COBALT AND FOUND OUT NUMEROUS PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS A SUPPER EXPENSIVE ERROR THAT CHEVY HAS OVERLOOKED AND COSTLY FOR THE CONSUMER - US! AS WITH OTHERS, I WENT THROUGH ALL THE OFFICIAL RECALLS SUCH AS THE IGNITION AND POWER STEERING, AND THEN I PAID AN ADDITIONAL $600 FOR THE FUEL SYSTEM TO REPLACE - ANOTHER NOTORIOUS PROBLEM OF THE COBALT, AND NOW THIS!? COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE. IF YOU CANT MAKE A CAR OUT OF QUALITY PARTS, DON'T MAKE ONE AT ALL! ANYWAYS, LUCKILY THIS HAPPENED WHILE WE WERE PARKED BUT OF COURSE IT WAS VERY INCONVENIENT PLUS WE HAD TO PAY FOR THE TOW. IT MIGHT HAVE SHOWED SYMPTOMS OF A PROBLEM TWO WEEKS PRIOR WITH OCCASIONAL DIFFICULTY STARTING THE CAR WITH EITHER PROLONGED CRANKING, OR EVEN A SECOND TRY WAS NEEDED. I DON'T KNOW WHAT EXACTLY IS FAILING WHETHER IT'S THE PLASTIC PARTS OR THE TIMING CHAIN ITSELF, BUT THERE IS SOMETHING HERE THAT SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED AND ULTIMATELY LIFTED TO A RECALL CAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT THERE AFFECTED BY THIS, AND $5K ISN'T SOMETHING THAT ANYBODY SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR A CORPORATION'S INCOMPETENCE.
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, WHEN A WARNING SIGNAL WENT OFF ON MY CAR, A MESSAGE CAME UP THAT SAID "ENGINE POWER REDUCED" AND MY CARS ACCELERATION WAS SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED. I COULD NOT GO OVER 10 MILES AN HOUR AND THE CAR WAS SHAKING VIOLENTLY. I PULLED INTO A GAS STATION THAT I WAS LUCKILY CLOSE TO, AND THE CAR LURCHED FORWARD AS SOON AS I PUT IT IN PARK, ALMOST CAUSING ME TO HIT THE BUILDING DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF MY PARKING SPOT. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND LET IT SIT FOR MINUTE, ONLY TO TURN IT BACK ON AND HAVE IT ACT COMPLETELY NORMAL. I HAVE HAD 3 DIFFERENT MECHANICS LOOK AT IT, AND SEVERAL THINGS REPLACED AND THE PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS. MY CAR CANNOT GO MORE THAN 10 MINUTES WITHOUT HAVING THIS ISSUE, AND THE NEXT TIME IT HAPPENED I WAS ON THE FREEWAY AND IT ALMOST KILLED ME AND THE PERSON BEHIND ME. I HAVE READ THE CHEVY FORUMS AND COMPLAINS AND I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON HAVING THIS ISSUE. THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE, IN MY POSITION WHO CANNOT AFFORD NEW CARS, WHO BOUGHT CHEVY'S BC OF THE AMERICAN NAME TO ONLY BE SCREWED BY THE CORPORATION. I HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO DRIVE THE CAR AS I HAVE TO GET TO AND FROM WORK IN ORDER TO LIVE, WHILE THIS CONTINUES TO HAPPEN EVERY TIME I DRIVE THE CAR. SOMEONE. NEEDS TO MAKE CHEVY ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR TERRIBLE CARS!
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