RoadVitals

2007 Chevrolet Cobalt Exterior lighting Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the exterior lighting system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Exterior lighting 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.
14
Latest Aug 31, 2020
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.
<1%
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.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting. 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. 14 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 exterior lighting

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Driver assistanceElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Aug 31, 2020

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 ID
11352307
Incident
Mar 1, 2020
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Nov 15, 2019

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). *TR

NHTSA ID
11280418
Incident
Nov 15, 2019
Mileage
50,000 mi
AirbagsExterior lighting
Filed Jun 26, 2019

AIRBAG LIGHT ON,TURNS LIGHTS NOT WORKING

NHTSA ID
11222608
Incident
Jun 20, 2019
Fuel systemExterior lightingSteering
Filed Apr 28, 2016

FIRST I EXPERIENCED FULE EXCEL RATION. CALLED MANUFACTURE TOLD ME I WAS EXPERIENCING A KNOWN PROBLEM BUT MY VIN WAS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST. TOOK IT IN FOR IGNITION RECALL SHORTLY AFTER MY HEAD LIGHTS DIM OR ONE GOES OUT THEN IT COMES BACK ON THEN THE OTHER ONE WILL GO OUT OR DIM TOOK IT TO MACHANIC THEY FIXED IT BUT IT IS NOW DOING THE SAME THING THEN THE POWER STEERING SUNDENLY WENT OUT ALMOST HAD A COLLISON LIGHT NEVER CAME ON. RESTARTED THE CAR EVERYTHING WORKED THEN POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON TOOK IT TO MACHCANIC TURNED THE CAR OFF TO HAVE HIM CHECK IT HE PULLED IT IN TO THE SHOP AND LIGHT WAS NOT ON. SO HE TOLD ME I HAD TO BRING IT BACK WHEN LIGHT CAME ON IN ORDER TO RUN A TEST. LIGHT NEVER CAME BACK ON THEN 5 DAYS AGO LOST POWER STEERING AGAIN ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT. IF I AM AT A COMPLETE STOP IN TRAFFIC OR AT A RED LIGHT THE CAR WILL EXCILERATE WITH OUT ME TOUCHING THE GAS WHEN I BREAK TO KEEP FROM HITTING THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME THE REAR END WILL FISH TAIL. I AM 60 YEARS OLD THIS CAR HAS ALMOST CAUSED ME TO HAVE SEVERAL ACCIDENTS. IT IS UNSAFE THE MANUFACTURER ADMITTED WHEN I TOOK IT IN FOR THE IGNITION SWITCH THAT THERE WERE ISSUES WITH THE PROMLEMS I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING BUT MY VIN WAS ONLY ON THE IGNITION RECALL. THEY TOLD ME THE DEALER WOULD FIX THEM AT MY EXPENCE. I GET 950. DOLLARS A. MONTH AND HAVE CANCER. I HAVE NO MEANS TO PAY FOR THE DEFECTS IN 2012 MY DAUGHTER BOUGHT ME THE CAR AND PAID 10,000.00 FOR IT. I HAVE NO OTHER MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION TO MY DOCTORS ECT. PLEASE HELP ME. WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT MY HEAD LIGHT WILL DIM OR ONE WILL COMPLETELY GO OUT. CAUSING ME TO ALMOST MISS THE EXIT AND RUN OFF AN EMBANKMENT.

NHTSA ID
10861926
Incident
Apr 7, 2016
Mileage
135,000 mi
Driver assistanceExterior lightingPowertrain (other)
Filed Mar 13, 2015

I FEW YEARS BACK, MY CAR HEADLIGHTS STARTED TO STAY ON EVEN AFTER CUTTING THE CAR OFF. I STARTED TAKING THE FUSES OUT IN ORDER FOR MY LIGHTS TO CUT OFF. THIS PROBLEM STILL EXISTS, THE LIGHTS MAY WORK CORRECTLY AND CUT OFF AUTOMATICALLY FOR ABOUT 3 MONTHS, BUT IN STILL HAVE TO RESORT TO TAKING MY FUSES IN AND OUT FOR MY LIGHTS TO WORK. I HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE IGNITION ABOUT 3 YEARS AGO, BUT THEY HAD A RECALL FOR THAT. AFTER THEY FIXED MY IGNITION, ABOUT A COUPLE MONTHS LATER I STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR STARTING TO HESITATE AND CUT OFF. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN COMING ON, NOW THERE ARE PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION. *TR

NHTSA ID
10694060
Incident
Mar 14, 2012
BrakesElectricalExterior lighting+1 more
Filed Mar 11, 2015

MY HEAD LIGHTS WILL NOT GO OFF UNLESS I UNPLUG MY BATTERY, AND MY SIGNAL LIGHT WON'T GO OFF THE CHAVY DEALER CLAIMS NOT TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON WITH IT UNLESS I PAY THEM $200 ,FIRST. ITS BEEN ABOUT 30 DAYS NOW THAT THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON. *TR

NHTSA ID
10693575
Incident
Feb 12, 2015
Exterior lighting
Filed Jul 23, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DAYTIME RUNNING LAMPS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS A SHORT IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LAMPS WERE OPERATING NORMALLY BEFORE THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V047000 (AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,936.

NHTSA ID
10615655
Incident
Jul 2, 2014
Mileage
46,936 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed May 5, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER DEACTIVATING THE HIGH BEAMS, THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE HIGH BEAMS STILL FUNCTIONED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE BODY COMPUTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 78,530. UPDATED 06/27/14*LJ

NHTSA ID
10586590
Incident
Dec 18, 2013
Mileage
77,000 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Feb 27, 2014

THERE ARE A LOT OF RECALLS ON THESE VEHICLES RIGHT NOW, EVERYTIME I CALL TO SEE IF MINE IS RECALLED FOR IGNITION TROUBLE THEY SAY NO. I WANT MINE REPLACED, AT GM'S EXPENSE. WE JUST HAD THE BLINKER SWITCH REPLACED AND THERE ARE TIMES THE IGNITION SEEMS STUCK. HOW CAN WE KNOW IF THERE IS A RECALL WHEN WE PURCHASED USED? *TR

NHTSA ID
10566237
Incident
Feb 27, 2014
Mileage
95,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Feb 13, 2014

HEADLIGHTS PERIODICALLY REMAIN ON, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER I TRY TO MANUALLY TURN THEM ON OR OFF. IN ADDITION, SOMETIMES WHEN I USE THE HIGH BEAMS AND TRY TO TURN THEM OFF, THE LOW BEAMS WILL NOT COME BACK ON. AFTER TURNING THE CAR ON AND OFF, TAPPING ON THE FUSE BOX, SWITCHING IN AND OUT OF GEARS AND TURNING THE LIGHTS ON AND OFF REPETITIVELY, EVERYTHING GENERALLY WILL START WORKING PROPERLY AGAIN AFTER 15 OR 20 MINUTES. THIS HAS CAUSED MY BATTERY TO DIE SEVERAL TIMES AND I CAN NO LONGER WALK AWAY FROM MY CAR WITHOUT CONFIRMING THE LIGHTS HAVE TURNED OFF. MECHANICS THOUGHT THE PROBLEM WAS IN THE IGNITION SWITCH, BUT REPLACEMENT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. SEVERAL WEEKS AGO I NOTED THAT THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL CAR HAD THE SAME ISSUE OUTSIDE OF MY WORKPLACE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10564215
Incident
Feb 1, 2012
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Apr 5, 2013

I BOUGHT MY CAR NEW, EVERY SINCE I HAVE HAD IT THEY HAVE BEEN A PROBLEM. FIRST THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE DIDN'T WORK SO I TOOK IT BACK TO THE SAME PLACE I BOUGHT IT FROM WHICH IS A HOUR DRIVE ONE WAY & THEY SAID THEY REPLACED IT. NEXT THE DOORS STARTED LEAKING AIR SO I TOOK IT BACK TO THE SAME PLACE THEY TOOK ALL DAY BUT SUPPOSE TO HAVE FIXED THAT PROBLEM. NOW THE RUBBER SEALS ON BOTH BACK DOORS KEEPS FALLING OFF FINALLY FIXED THEM. TOTAL UPSET BECAUSE THEY FIXED ONE THING AND MESSED ANOTHER UP. I START TAKING MY CAR TO RAMEYS, WERE THEY FIX THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE WHICH THE OTHER PLACE WAS SUPPOSE TO FIX. AT LESS THAN 35,000MILES THE ROTOR HAD TO BE TURNED. I TAKE IT FOR A OIL CHANGE EXPLAIN THAT THE SPEED AND TACK HAND MOVES ON IT OWN YOU WHEN THE ENGINE IS CUT OFF & THEY SAID THEY DIDN'T SEE IT DO ANYTHING.I TAKE IT BACK TO THE RAMEYS FOR THE NEXT OIL CHANGE AND AT THIS TIME THE RECALL HAD BEEN ISSUED ON THE STEERING & I TOLD THEM THAT SOMETIMES ITS DIFFICULT TO STEER & AGAIN THEY SAY NOTHING IS WRONG WELL AS TIME HAS GONE BY IT IS GETTING WORSE. NOW THE DOORS ARE ALL STICKING. I GOT OUT OF MY VEHICLE & NOTICED MY LIGHT WERE STILL ON, THEY NEVER TURNED OFF UNTIL I TWISTED THE NOB THAT WORKED FOR A LITTLE BIT THEN IT GOT TO WERE THEY WOULDN'T EVEN GO OFF IF YOU TWISTED THE NOB SO MY HUSBAND TOOK OUT THE FUSE OUT NOW I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING BUT BRIGHT LIGHTS. A FEW WEEKS LATER THE SIGNAL LIGHTS STOP MAKE A SOUND I THOUGHT THAT MY BULB WAS BLOWN SO I CHECKED THEM ALL & THEY ALL WORKED BUT THE ODD THING IS SOMETIMES WHEN I AM DRIVING THEY WILL MAKE THE SOUND. AFTER GOING TO RAMEYS& GETTING THE ANSWER NOTHING WRONG, I TOOK IT TO A PRIVATE GARAGE WERE HE THOUGHT IT WAS THE SWITCH ITSELF, HE INSTALLED A NEW ONE & THAT DIDN'T SOLVE THE PROBLEM IS BOARD IN THE FUSE BOX .THE SPEAKER ON THE DRIVERS SIDE DON'T WORK EITHER & THE TRUNK SLAMS DOWN WHEN YOU LET GO OF THE TRUNK DOOR. *TR

NHTSA ID
10507316
Incident
Oct 23, 2007
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Jan 16, 2013

HEADLIGHTS WILL NOT TURN OFF. I HAVE TO UNPLUG FUSES TO PREVENT BATTERY FROM DRAINING. I WAS TOLD BY DEALER THAT THIS WAS A FAILURE OF THE BODY CONTROL MODULAR. UPON FURTHER RESEARCH, THERE ARE MANY OTHER PEOPLE WITH THIS ISSUE AND IT IS APPARENTLY A DESIGN FLAW. WATER IS ABLE TO GET UNDER THE COVER AND FLOOD THE BCM, CAUSING IT TO FAIL. WILL COST OVER $500 TO REPAIR. I AM A BROKE COLLEGE STUDENT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10493267
Incident
Jan 24, 2011
Exterior lighting
Filed Jul 8, 2008

2007 CHEVY COBALT LS, BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH WENT BAD AFTER ONLY HAVING THE CAR 1 YEAR. *TR

NHTSA ID
10233524
Incident
Jul 2, 2008
Exterior lighting
Filed Jun 1, 2008

MY HEADLIGHTS STAY ON AND KILL THE BATTERY ON MY CAR SO I AM UNABLE TO ANYTHING. I HAVE TO GET SOMEONE TO JUMP START MY CAR FOR IT TO START. NOT ONLY THAT MY KEY GETS STICK IN THE IGNITION WHEN I TRY TO START IT AND THE BATTERY IS DEAD SO I AM UNABLE TO DO ANYTHING. *TR

NHTSA ID
10229453
Incident
Apr 23, 2008
Mileage
36,900 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.

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Data sources

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