RoadVitals

2007 Chevrolet Cobalt Engine Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Engine reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
80
Latest Mar 11, 2024
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
5%
of 1,564 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
14
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
7

What this page shows

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.

Owner reports naming engine

The 25 most recent of 80, in the owner's own words

Engine
Filed Mar 11, 2024

Timing chain came right threw the valve cover

NHTSA ID
11576571
Incident
Jan 5, 2024
AirbagsEngine
Filed Oct 23, 2023

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.

NHTSA ID
11551348
Incident
Oct 4, 2023
Mileage
120,000 mi
Engine
Filed Nov 29, 2022

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.

NHTSA ID
11495323
Incident
Nov 26, 2022
Mileage
177,000 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Aug 16, 2022

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

NHTSA ID
11479482
Incident
Jul 27, 2022
ElectricalEngine
Filed Feb 10, 2021

WILL NOT START- IGNITION BAD - RELAY BAD.

NHTSA ID
11395651
Incident
Feb 10, 2021
Mileage
134 mi
ElectricalEngineSteering
Filed Oct 19, 2020

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.

NHTSA ID
11365246
Incident
Oct 3, 2020
Mileage
54,000 mi
ElectricalEngineSteering
Filed Sep 6, 2020

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.

NHTSA ID
11353394
Incident
Sep 5, 2020
Mileage
113,000 mi
Engine
Filed Sep 1, 2020

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.

NHTSA ID
11352429
Incident
Aug 1, 2020
Mileage
141,000 mi
Engine
Filed Aug 31, 2020

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.

NHTSA ID
11352285
Incident
Aug 1, 2018
Mileage
175,000 mi
EngineSteering
Filed Jul 1, 2020

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.

NHTSA ID
11331997
Incident
Jun 22, 2020
Mileage
108,000 mi
Engine
Filed Mar 11, 2019
Fire reported

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

NHTSA ID
11185803
Incident
Mar 9, 2019
Mileage
134,000 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Nov 16, 2018

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.

NHTSA ID
11151958
Incident
Nov 15, 2018
ElectricalEngineSteering
Filed May 25, 2018

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.

NHTSA ID
11098026
Incident
May 25, 2018
Mileage
170,000 mi
Engine
Filed Feb 2, 2018

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

NHTSA ID
11066728
Incident
Jan 1, 2018
Mileage
153,000 mi
ElectricalEngineFuel system
Filed Dec 12, 2017

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.

NHTSA ID
11054234
Incident
Dec 8, 2017
Mileage
300 mi
ElectricalEngineSteering
Filed May 30, 2017

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.

NHTSA ID
10992177
Incident
May 16, 2017
Engine
Filed Dec 8, 2016

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.

NHTSA ID
10933993
Incident
Nov 30, 2016
EngineFuel system
Filed Aug 12, 2016

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.

NHTSA ID
10895425
Incident
Aug 11, 2016
Mileage
90,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jul 6, 2016

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.

NHTSA ID
10882977
Incident
Apr 25, 2016
Engine
Filed Jul 5, 2016

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.

NHTSA ID
10882687
Incident
Jun 6, 2016
Mileage
1,300,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jun 23, 2016

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.

NHTSA ID
10876276
Incident
Jun 2, 2016
Mileage
118,000 mi
Engine
Filed Feb 24, 2016

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.

NHTSA ID
10838042
Incident
Feb 24, 2016
Mileage
100,100 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Jan 17, 2016

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.

NHTSA ID
10820712
Incident
Dec 20, 2015
Mileage
108,000 mi
Engine
Filed Nov 17, 2015

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.

NHTSA ID
10794508
Incident
Nov 15, 2015
Mileage
110,000 mi
Engine
Filed Sep 15, 2015

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!

NHTSA ID
10763982
Incident
Aug 13, 2015
Mileage
118,000 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .