2009 Chevrolet Cobalt Brakes Problems

COMING OUT OF A ROUNDABOUT IN RUSH HOUR WHEN A CAR AHEAD OF HER SUDDENLY STOPPED. SHE HAD ABOUT ONE AND HALF TO TWO CAR LENGTHS AND HER SPEED WAS ABOUT 35 MPH. SHE APPLIED HER BRAKES AND THEY DID NOT RESPOND. HER CAR REAR ENDED ANOTHER CAR. THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED. SHE HAS A SPRAINED NECK AND BACK. SHE HAS BEEN OFF FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS PER DOCTOR'S REQUEST. MAJOR DAMAGE TO THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF THE CAR.

NHTSA ID

11162623

Incident

Dec 5, 2018

Mileage

46,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2009 CHEVROLET COBALT. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO COME TO A STOP, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT FAILED TO RESPOND. THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOORBOARD INDEPENDENTLY. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP AND CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITH EXCESSIVE FORCE. THE CONTACT HAD TO PUNCTURE THE AIR BAG TO AVOID SUFFOCATION, WHICH CAUSED THE AIR BAG TO EXPLODE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BACK, NECK, AND EAR INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOWING YARD AND WAS DEEMED DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10914209

Incident

Dec 12, 2012

Mileage

48,000 mi

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS ISSUE HAS HAPPENED. THE ISSUE IS WHEN TURNING ON AN ON-RAMP THAT HAS SHARP TURNING RADIUS THE CAR ABS SYSTEM TURNS ON AND YOU LOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR. THIS ALSO HAPPENS WHEN YOU ARE ALREADY ON A FREEWAY THAT HAS A SWEEPING ON RAMP TO ANOTHER FREEWAY THE ABS STARTS TO BRAKE IN THE TURN. I HAVE REPORTED THIS ISSUE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY HAVE NOT ADDRESSED IT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10713339

Incident

Apr 28, 2015

Mileage

38,000 mi

ON THURSDAY OCTOBER 9TH, 2014 I WAS DRIVING EAST ON RT 70. IT BEGAN TO RAIN HEAVILY AT APPROXIMATELY 4:50PM AND I ATTEMPTED TO USE THE BRAKES ON MY VEHICLE. THE BRAKES WERE SUDDENLY VERY STIFF. I DIDN'T THINK THEY WERE WORKING. I WAS IN THE LEFT LANE WHEN THIS OCCURRED AND IMMEDIATELY PUT ON MY EMERGENCY LIGHTS AND TRIED TO MOVE TO THE MIDDLE LANE, TO THE RIGHT LANE SO I COULD GO TO THE SHOULDER. WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO SWITCH THE LANES, THE POWER STEERING WASN'T WORKING. I MANAGED TO MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL SLIGHTLY SO THAT I COULD SWITCH LANES. THERE WAS ONCOMING TRAFFIC BEFORE AN AVAILABLE SHOULDER SO I TRIED TO SPEED UP. I WAS UNABLE TO INCREASE MY SPEED. I WAS ABLE TO SLOW DOWN NATURALLY BUT I WASN'T ABLE TO COMPLETELY STOP UNTIL I GOT TO THE SHOULDER AND PUSHED EXTREMELY HARD ON THE BREAKS AND HELD DOWN ON THE BREAK FOR SEVERAL SECONDS. THE RADIO WAS STILL WORKING AND THE HEATER WAS BLOWING COLD AIR. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE WORKING AGAIN BY TURNING THE IGNITION TO THE OFF POSITION AND TURNING THE IGNITION BACK ON. I THINK MY VEHICLE'S ENGINE TURNED OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I HAVE ONSTAR ON THE VEHICLE AND IMMEDIATELY PUSHED THE BUTTON WHEN I WAS UNABLE TO BREAK PROPERLY WITH MY VEHICLE. THE LADY I SPOKE WITH SAID THAT SHE WAS SEEING SOME PROBLEM WITH MY BREAKS BUT I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP THE SAME DAY AND THEY FOUND NO CODES FOR MY VEHICLE. THE NEXT DAY THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT THEY FIXED THE IGNITION RECALL ON MY VEHICLE AND THAT MIGHT HAVE FIXED THE ISSUE. ON TWO OTHER OCCASIONS BEFORE THE RECALL WAS ANNOUNCED, I HAD A SIMILAR ISSUE AND BROUGHT IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. THIS EXPERIENCE WAS TERRIFYING AND I'M JUST GLAD THAT I WASN'T KILLED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10644667

Incident

Oct 9, 2014

Mileage

91,200 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET COBALT. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STOPPED ACCELERATING AND WOULD NOT RESPOND WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE BEGAN VIBRATING AND THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD WHINING NOISE COMING FROM THE UNDERCARRIAGE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE TO THE DEALER AFTER KEEPING THE VEHICLE PARKED FOR APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES. IN ADDITION, ONCE THE AIR CONDITIONING WAS ACTIVATED TO LEVEL THREE OR HIGHER, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL. IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THE MASTER CYLINDER ON THE BRAKES WAS FAULTY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,000. UPDATED 10/23/2014*LJ UPDATED 4/21/2015 *JS

NHTSA ID

10631427

Incident

Aug 31, 2014

Mileage

69,000 mi

WE WERE COMING BACK TO MARYLAND FROM A BIRTHDAY PARTY IN SPRINGFIELD, OHIO. WHILE COMING DOWN THE MOUNTAINIST AREA OF I-69, THE FRONT END STARTED TO WOBBLE WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED. WE TOOK IT TO THE CHEVROLET DEALER IN LAUREL, MD WHEN WE GOT HOME. INSTEAD OF REPLACING THE DEFECTIVE PART. THEY TURN THE ROTOR. I HAD TO GO THE AND INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND HAVE THE FRONT BRAKES AND FRONT ROTORS REPLACED TO COMPLETELY CORRECT THE PROBLEM THAT THE CERTIFIED MECHANICS AT CHEVROLET COULD NOT CORRECT. *JS

NHTSA ID

10579633

Incident

Sep 14, 2009

Mileage

4,000 mi

I WAS TRAVELING AT ABOUT 25 - 30 MPH WHEN WITH OUT WARNING MY 2009 CHEVY COBALT BEGAN TO SPIN IN THE MOST VIOLENT SPIN I HAVE EVER BEEN IN A VEHICLE. THE BRAKES WERE NOT STOPPING ME THE REAR OF THE CAR THEN SLID AROUND AND SLAMMED MY CAR INTO A POST OR CHAIN LINK FENCE HITTING IT HARD.THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR WAS CREASED DOWN THE WHOLE SIDE, THE FRONT QUARTER PANEL WAS ALL RIPPED UP AND THE FRONT PASSENGER HEADLIGHT WAS COMPLETELY SMASHED AND BROKEN. WHEN THE CAR FINALLY STOPPED MY HAND WAS TWISTED IN THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE THE CAR WAS SPINNING AND THE FORCE OF THE CAR HITTING SPRAINED MY BACK. NO AIR BAGS WERE SET OFF AND I WAS BROUGHT TO THE ER BY AMBULANCE. I HAVE BEGUN TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH MY IGNITION SINCE THIS ACCIDENT. MY KEY GETS STUCK IN THE ACCS POSITION AND I CAN NOT MOVE IT EITHER WAY. I HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THE CAR SITS FOR A WHILE SOMETIMES HOURS BEFORE IT WILL UNLOCK. VERY SCARED TO DRIVE IN THIS CAR NOW. *TR

NHTSA ID

10577437

Incident

Dec 17, 2013

Mileage

73,000 mi

AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET TO TURN INTO MY PARKING LOT I STARTED TURNING THE WHEEL LEFT WHEN I TURNED MY STEERING WHEEL AND BRAKES LOCKED UP AND DROVE OVER THE CURB OF MY APARTMENT COMPLEX CAUSING MY WHOLE RIGHT SIDE OF MY CAR $1300.00 WORTH OF DAMAGE THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME FIRST TIME NO DAMAGE WAS DONE THAT WAS BACK IN OCTOBER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10569070

Incident

Feb 26, 2014

Mileage

111,766 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ENGAGED AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT SUFFERED AN INJURY TO HIS NECK. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED DAMAGE TO THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE BUMPER AND WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000. UPDATED 12/23/13*LJ

NHTSA ID

10545474

Incident

May 13, 2013

Mileage

85,000 mi

PREMATURE REAR BRAKE WEAR, NOISE STARTED AT 17500 MILES, COMPLETE FAILURE AT 23500 MILES, THIS CAR HAS BEEN PAMPERED AND NEVER DRIVEN IN SNOW AND ONLY DRIVEN BY ONE DRIVER. ROTORS ARE BADLY SCORED, PADS GONE, UNHEARD OF WEAR FOR THIS KIND OF MILEAGE! *TR

NHTSA ID

10508244

Incident

Apr 15, 2013

Mileage

20,500 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO DECELERATE AND A LOUD SQUEAKY NOISE EMITTED OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHENEVER COMING TO A STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE FRONT BRAKE PADS WERE REPLACED. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE CERAMIC BRAKES PERFORMED AS DESIGNED. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWO WEEKS AFTER THE REPAIR WAS PERFORMED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED FOR THE MOST RECENT DEFECT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33,000.

NHTSA ID

10500090

Incident

Dec 5, 2012

Mileage

33,000 mi

MY SON WAS DRIVING TO WORK, HE WAS HEADING DOWN A LONG WINDING ROAD WHEN HE APPLIED THE BRAKES, AND DISCOVERED THAT THE BRAKES HAD SUDDENLY FAILED. THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD NOT GO TO THE FLOOR; IT WAS STUCK AND UNABLE TO MOVE. HE DESCRIBED THAT THE CAR SEEMED TO STALL AND CONTINUE TO DRIFT DOWN THE HILL WITH NO ABILITY TO STOP, GRADUALLY PICKING UP SPEED. HE GOT IN THE CURB LANE AND CONTINUED STEERING THE VEHICLE WHILE SEARCHING FOR THE SAFEST PLACE TO CRASH, AS THIS WAS HIS ONLY OPTION BECAUSE HE WAS UNABLE TO SLOW TO A STOP. IN THE MIDDLE OF MORNING RUSH HOUR, HE WAS ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY CROSS OPPOSING LANES OF TRAFFIC AND CRASH HEAD-ON INTO A HILLSIDE IN A PARKING LOT AT ABOUT 45 MPH. THE UNDERSIDE OF THE VEHICLE WAS SMASHED IN, DAMAGING THE FRAME BEYOND REPAIR. THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED, WHICH RESULTED IN BRUISING OF THE CHEST. HE DID NOT LOSE CONSCIOUSNESS, AND DID NOT ACQUIRE ANY CUTS OR SCRATCHES. HE DID REQUIRE TRANSPORTATION TO THE HOSPITAL BY AMBULANCE, AND WAS STRAPPED TO A BACKBOARD AND PUT IN A NECKBRACE. AT THE HOSPITAL, HE WAS GIVEN A CHEST X-RAY AND AN EXAMINATION, WHICH DETERMINED THAT NOTHING WAS BROKEN OR FRACTURED. HE DID SUFFER MICRO TEARS IN THE MUSCLES OF HIS BACK DUE TO THE IMPACT OF THE CRASH, AND A BRUISED CHEST AS A RESULT OF THE SEATBELT AND AIRBAG. NEEDLESS TO SAY, HE MISSED WORK THAT DAY AND THE NEXT THREE WEEKS OF WORK WHILE RECOVERING. THE CAR WAS TOTALED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10459978

Incident

May 2, 2012

Mileage

42,500 mi

AT ABOUT 5000 MILES I NOTICED GROOVES DEVELOPING IN THE REAR BRAKE DISCS. AT 10,000 MILES I HAVE ONLY 35% LEFT IN THE REAR BRAKES AS THE GROOVES HAVE DEEPENED AND NOW DAMAGE THE PADS EVERY TIME THEY ARE ENGAGED. AT THIS RATE THE BRAKES WILL FAIL AT BEFORE 16,000 MILES OF USE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10424018

Incident

Sep 6, 2011

THE REAR BRAKES STARTED MAKING SOME NOISE AT 15,000 MILES. LOOKED AT THEM AND DIDN'T SEE ANY UNUSUAL WEAR. CHECKED AGAIN AT 18,000 MILES AND THE REAR ROTORS ON BOTH THE DRIVERS SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE ARE SCORED TERRIBLY, WAS GOING TO GET THEM RESURFACED BUT THE METAL IS BEYOND REPAIR. I CHECKED ONLINE FOR A POSSIBLE FIX WHEN I CAME ACROSS A FORUM SITE SPECIFICALLY FOR MY CAR THAT HAS LISTED MULTIPLE INCIDENTS IN THIS SAME NATURE WITH THE SAME CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10423776

Incident

Aug 4, 2011

Mileage

15,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED THE REAR BRAKES WOULD SQUEAK WHEN APPLIED WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD VIBRATE WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE REAR ROTORS WERE WARPED AND THE BRAKE PADS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED THREE TIMES AND WAS REPAIRED TWICE BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WAS 36,000.

NHTSA ID

10405734

Incident

Jan 1, 2010

Mileage

100 mi

CAR WAS ACTING NORMAL, JUST TOOK A 200 MILE ROUND TRIP, THE NEXT MORNING THE ROADS HAD SOME SNOW AND A BIT OF ICE. I BACKED OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AND DROVE ON THE SIDE STREETS (2 BLOCKS) TO THE HIGHWAY, AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY I BEGAN TO FEEL A DRAG, I SHUT OFF MY RADIO AND LISTENED SOON MY TIRE GAGE CAME ON SO I LOOKED IN MY MIRROR AND SEEN SPARKS FLYING, I PULLED OVER IMMEDIATELY AT AN AVAILABLE SAFE LOCATION ONLY TO FIND MY REAR DRIVERS SIDE TIRE WAS SHREDDED. I CHANGED THE TIRE AND BEGAN TO DRIVE AGAIN, ONCE I HIT DRY PAVEMENT I HEARD A SCREECHING NOISE. CALLED FOR A TOW TRUCK. THE GM DEALER CALLED ME TODAY AND SAID MY PARKING BRAKE WAS LOCKED UP. MY CAR IS AN AUTOMATIC AND I HAVE NEVER ENGAGED THE PARKING BRAKE (HAVE OWNED THE CAR OVER A YEAR). THE DEALER IS NOW TELLING ME THE PARKING BRAKE LINE WAS OFF AND SHREDDED . THEY ALSO STATED THE TIRE WAS NOT GOING TO BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND THE BRAKES MAY NOT BE EITHER SINCE THE LINE THAT APPARENTLY LOCKED ONE SIDE OF PARKING BRAKES UP COULD HAVE JUST FALLEN OFF AND LOCKED ONE SET OF PARKING BRAKES UP WHICH HAVE NEVER BEEN USED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10370832

Incident

Dec 13, 2010

Mileage

26,000 mi

CHEVY COBALT 2009. TWO INCIDENTS INVOLVING THE SAME MODEL BUT DIFFERENT CARS. BOTH RENTED FROM ENTERPRISE. DON'T KNOW WHAT CATEGORY TO PUT THE COMPLAINT IN. STEERING? BRAKING? OR SOMETHING ELSE? THIS MODEL HANDLES TERRIBLY ON WET PAVEMENT. DOESN'T BRAKE WELL ON WET PAVEMENT, AND TIRES SPIN WHEN STARTING FROM A STOPPED POSITION. INCIDENT 1. CHANGING LANES ON I270 MD. GOING ABOUT 50 MPH. AND SLOWED DOWN TO MOVE ONE LANE TO THE RIGHT. GOING FROM A LESS USED WETTER LANE TO LANE TO THE RIGHT, WHICH WASN'T QUITE AS WET. CAR SPUN OUT TWICE AND HIT THE JERSEY WALL TWICE. THEN I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE CAR. FAIRLY HEAVY TRAFFIC, AND NO OTHER VEHICLES INVOLVED, THANK GOD. STATE POLICE WERE ON THE SHOULDER FOR TRAFFIC GOING IN THE OTHER DIRECTION ACROSS FROM ME BUT DID NOT COME TO THE CAR. INCIDENT 2. RENTED ANOTHER OF THE SAME MODEL. WHENEVER THE STREET WAS WET, THE CAR DID NOT BRAKE WELL. SEEMED TO BE VERY SHORT PERIODS OF NOT BRAKING. WHEN SLOWLY STARTING FROM A STOPPED POSITION, THE WHEELS SPUN AND THEN TOOK HOLD. COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN ANOTHER SITUATION FOR SPINNING OUT. ENTERPRISE SAID THERE WERE NO RECALLS. INSURANCE COMPANY RAISED MY RATES FROM $103 TO $167 PER MONTH! *TR

NHTSA ID

10341322

Incident

Nov 19, 2009

Mileage

31,509 mi

DRIVER DIED IN A SOLO CAR ACCIDENT INVOLVING A 2009 CHEVROLET COBALT. AFTER SWERVING FROM HIS TO THE NEXT, THE DRIVER COULD NOT SAFELY RETURN TO HIS LANE. HIS CAR JUST WENT OFF THE ROAD AND CRASHED. THE STEERING ON THE CAR JUST DID NOT SEEM TO WORK TOGETHER WITH THE CAR BRAKING SYSTEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10304983

Incident

Sep 5, 2009

2009 COBALT SS. THE INNER REAR BRAKE PADS ARE COMPLETELY GONE WHILE THE OUTER BRAKE PADS STILL HAVE OVER 80% LIFE LEFT ON IT. BROUGHT THE CAR TO RICK HENDRICK CHEVY AND THE DEALERSHIP REFUSE TO FIX IT UNDER WARRANTY. THEY SAID IT WAS NORMAL. THE CAR HAS 23K MILES ON IT, JUST ABOUT ALL OF THAT IS HIGH WAY MILES. I DRIVE THE CAR NORMAL AND DO NO ABUSE IT. ALSO WANT TO STATE THAT THE FRONT BRAKES STILL HAVE OVER 50% LIFE LEFT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10287403

Incident

Sep 23, 2009

Mileage

23,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE DUE TO BRAKE FAILURE. THE SPEED WAS UNKNOWN AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME THAT THE BRAKES FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY DUPLICATED THE FAILURE THE FOLLOWING DAY. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INFORMED OF WHAT CAUSED THE FAILURE. HE WAITED TWO WEEKS FOR A CLAIM PERSON TO CALL HIM BACK. HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE MUST GO THROUGH HIS INSURANCE COMPANY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSURANCE COMPANY DID NOT COVER BRAKE FAILURE. THE DEALER TURNED THE MATTER OVER TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN REPAIRED. IT HAS NOT YET BEEN DECIDED IF THE VEHICLE WILL BE REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY OR THROUGH THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 16,000.

NHTSA ID

10275873

Incident

May 28, 2009

Mileage

16,000 mi