There are 50 owner-reported electrical system complaints for the 2005 Chevrolet Cobaltin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
.Engine wire harness/yes . Could of started a fire/ cause multiple safty problems .no professionals confirmed .multiple problems with the new trans solenoids (new) problems with gas, tcm, I fixed the wire for the speed sensor and more
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.
ABS light lit, Traction light lit, power steering light lit, car jerking, not shifting. Stalling.
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
CAR SHUTS OFF AND LOSES POWER WHILE DRIVING AND THE KEY KEEPS GETTING STUCK IN THE IGNITION AND THE DOORS KEEP LOCKING AND UNLOCKING CONSTANTLY UNTIL IT LOSES POWER AGAIN AFTER CHANGING THE BATTERY
I KNOW ABOUT THE RECALL FOR 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT, MY CAN HAS TURNED OFF WHILE DRIVING & I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS STARTING MY VEHICLE., THE STEERING WHEEL IGNITION SYSTEM 'IS THE PROBLEM' MY VEHICLE DOES NOT START ANYMORE AT ALL !! PLEASE SCHEDUAL AN APPOINTMENT AT THE NEAREST DEALER THAT CAN REPAIR THE RECALLED PARTS? NEAR 95838 SACRAMENTO, CA. I BELIEVE THAT MY LIFE HAS BEEN ENDANGERED SEVERAL TIMES BECAUSE OF THE DEFECTIVE RECALLED PARTS !! " YES" I AM VERY UPSET" !! MY VEHICLE HAS STOPPED RUNNING ON BOTH CITY & FREEWAYS.
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.
TAKATA RECALL THE PROBLEMS I'M HAVING WITH MY CAR IS THAT THE LOCKS KEEP UNLOCKING AND LOCKING AND WON'T LET MY CAR STARTUP. IT LOCKS ME OUT AND WHEN I PUT THE KEY IN THE SWITCH IT WON'T CRANK AND THE ONLY WAY THAT I'M ABLE TO GET THE KEY OUT OF THE SWITCH IS IF I JUMP IT OFF. I WAS AT HOME WHEN IT HAPPENED PARKED.
4/14/17 VEHICLE SVC-IGNITION RECALL 14113 LOCK CYLINDER & KEY 13454 IGNITION SWITCH THE VEHICLE WAS PERFORMING WELL PRIOR TO THE RECALL SERVICE BUT NOW IT APPEARED THAT THE IGNITION WAS "STIFF' TO OPERATE FOLLOWING THE REPAIR & THE KEY SEEMED TO PERIODICALLY HANG UP WHEN INSERTED. THERE WAS A RANDOM HESITATION WHEN MAKING A U TURN-AS IF THE CAR BRIEFLY STALLED OUT- NO POWER, UPON TURNING THE WHEEL. EVE OF 4/21/17, AFTER BEING DRIVEN & PARKED ON A CITY STREET FOR ABOUT AN HR, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START ALTHOUGH THERE WAS FULL BATTERY POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS SECURED & LEFT TO SIT. MORN OF 4/22/17 SVC CTR WAS NOTIFIED. VEHICLE STILL WOULDN'T START, BUT, UPON INSERTION OF THE KEY & INITIAL CRANK, THE CAR BEGAN EXPERIENCING SUDDEN RANDOM CLICKS OF THE IGNITION SWITCH, DOOR LOCKS ENGAGING, DASHBOARD PANEL FLASHING. UPON REMOVING THE KEY & REINSERTING IT, THE KEY APPEARED TO HAVE DEPROGRAMMED & THE ANTI THEFT LIGHT WAS ACTIVATED. THE KEY WAS REMOVED & THE CAR SECURED. LATER, ATTEMPT TO ENGAGE THE IGNITION USING THE SECOND NEW KEY & WAS UNSUCCESSFUL-THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN TO OFF POSITION BUT LOCKED IN ACC MODE POSITION. LATER, THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED PER DEALER AUTH. THE TOW TRUCK OPERATOR NOTED THAT THE CAR BATTERY APPEARED TO HAVE DRAINED BY THEIR ARRIVAL, THE KEY WOULD NOT DISENGAGE FROM THE IGNITION & THE CAR WOULD NOT COME OUT OF PARK. 4/24/17 SERVICE FOUND CODES P0604 & P0606 CONTROL MODULE RAM FAILURE + INTERNAL CONTROLLER FAILURE- DEALER COURTESY PERFORMED REPROGRAMMING, THEFT RELEARN & CRANK VARIATION LEARN. THE VEHICLE APPEARED TO BE OPERATING NORMAL AFTER REPROGRAMMING & WAS SET FOR CUSTOMER PICKUP. THE DEALER SVC CTR RECOMMENDS REPLACEMENT OF THE ECM IF IT REOCCURS. THERE APPEARS TO BE OTHER VEHICLE OWNERS THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS ECM FAILURE AFTER HAVING RECALL SVC. CONTACTED CHEVY CUST ASSIST CTR & INITIATED A CASE RECORD. CASE PENDING.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED AS THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH THAT WAS REPLACED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14E021000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) FAILED AND WOULD NEED REPLACING A SECOND TIME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
ENGINE SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING. TWICE WHILE STOPPED AND 4 TIMES WHILE CITY DRIVING IN THE PROCESS OF MAKING A TURN. CAR SHUTS DOWN WITH KEY IN THE ON POSITION. I HAVE TO PUT THE CAR IN PARK, TURN THE KEY INTO THE OFF POSITION. I CAN THEN TURN THE KEY AND THE CAR TURNS BACK ON. I WAS ALMOST REAR- ENDED. THIS IS THE SAME THING THAT HAPPENED WHEN MY CAR WAS PART OF THE SAFETY RECALL 13454. I CALLED GENERAL MOTORS AT 1 800 222 1020. I TOLD THE GUY THAT THE SAME THING WAS HAPPENING THAT HAPPENED WHEN THEY HAD THE RECALL FOR THE IGNITION SWITCH. HE TOLD ME THEY WERE HAVING OTHER CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME THING HAPPENING. I ASKED HIM HOW COME THEY WEREN'T HAVING A RECALL ON THE RECALL? IT IS VERY SCARY DRIVING THIS CAR. I WAS TOLD THAT NOTHING WOULD BE COVERED AND I WOULD HAVE TO TAKE IT TO THE LOCAL CHEVY DEALER (WHICH IS 30 MILES AWAY)
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.
WHEN I UNLOCK THE DRIVER DOOR WITH THE FOB, THE DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN. I WAS DRIVING ONE DAY AND THE RELAY ELECTRICAL WIRING STARTED BURNING. WHEN I TOOK IT BACK TO THE CAR DEALER THEY TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. MYSELF AND FOUR OTHER PEOPLE SMELLED THE BURNING. I GAVE THE CAR BACK AND NOTHING WAS DONE TO SATISFY THE SITUATION. I WAS TOLD BY AN AUTO ZONE MECHANIC TO PARK THE CAR BEFORE IT CATCHES ON FIRE.
I'VE PAID OVER $400 DOLLARS INTO THIS CAR FOR BATTERIES IN THE LAST 18 MONTHS BECAUSE OF THE MANUFACTURER DEFAULT. WHEN I GOT THE CAR, THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS A PROBLEM THE FIRST NIGHT, AND WE HAD TO TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP THE NEXT DAY, WHERE ALL THEY DID WAS SPRAY SOME WD-40 IN THE HOLE. THAT WAS BEFORE THE RECALL WAS MADE NEWS. ON SEPT, 11, 2015 I WAS LEAVING A STORE, AND TRIED TURNING ON THE CAR AND IT DIDN'T START. I'VE HAD BATTERY PROBLEMS BEFORE (WITH THIS VEHICLE TOO) AND JUST HAD THE BATTERY REPLACED 18 M AGO, BUT THERE WAS NO CHECK BATTERY WARNING LIGHT EARLIER OR ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE PERFORMANCE. AT THE TIME, I DIDN'T THINK IT WAS THE BATTERY BECAUSE THE RADIO, A/C, ETC HAD NO PROBLEM TURNING ON BUT THE ENGINE ITSELF WOULDN'T START. AND USUALLY BATTERIES HAVE NO PROBLEM IN SUMMER WEATHER. AFTER A TOW GETTING TO THE AUTO SHOP, THEY HOOKED UP A CHARGER TO THE BATTERY, AND STARTED IT UP, AND SAID I NEEDED A NEW BATTERY! I SAID NO, THAT'S NOT POSSIBLE, I GOT A NEW BATTERY JUST 18 MONTHS AGO. ITS PROBABLY THE IGNITION RECALL THAT IS THE OVERALL PROBLEM BECAUSE UNTIL THIS YEAR (WHEN THE DEALERSHIP FINALLY GOT ME IN) THE IGNITION WAS SLIPPING OUT OF THE OFF POSITION RANDOMLY OVER-NIGHT. OR IT MIGHT BE THE FACT THAT THE MANUFACTURER PUT THE BATTERY IN THE TRUNK WHERE THERE'S NO AIR CIRCULATION! WHAT WAS CHEVY THINKING. IN A RESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENT, I SHOULD BE ENTITLED COMPENSATION FOR THIS, I MEAN $400 FOR THE SAME PART IN A 18 MONTH SPAN BECAUSE THEY PUT A DANGEROUS PART IN THEIR CARS KNOWINGLY! PS. I'M LOOKING INTO CHEVY ISSUING ME COMPENSATION, BECAUSE I KNOW THE AUTO REPARIMAN WON'T REIMBURSE ME ON THE LABOR COSTS, BUT THEY SAY THE LAST DAY TO FILE A GRIEVANCE WAS IN JAN '15 SO IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO CONTACT ME ON WAYS OVER/THROUGH IT I'
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 -20 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND FUNCTIONED AS NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10V073000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 119,356.
MY CAR TURNS OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING. THREE TIMES I HAVE BEEN ON 45 MPH ROADS, AND HAVE 2 SMALL KIDS. THIS ISN'T THE ONLY MAJOR ISSUE MY CAR. BUT FIRST THE DIGITAL DISPLAY READS ENGINE DISABLED OR ENGINE LOSING POWER THEN ENGINE DISABLED AND LOSES ALL FUNCTION. THERE WAS A RECALL OVER A YEAR AGO FOR THIS MODEL SHUTTING OFF WHILE DRIVING SUPPOSEDLY DUE TO WEIGHT ON THE KEY RING. AFTER THE DEALER FIXED IT THE ISSUE STOPPED UNTIL 3 MNTHS AGO. I CAN ONLY GO A BLOCK BEFORE THE ENGINE DISABLES NOW, IT PROGRESSIVELY HAPPENED SOONER AND SOONER. A FRIEND WHO IS OLD BUDDIES WITH A DIAGNOSTICS SPECIALIST INTRODUCED ME AND HE WAS ABLE TO TELL ME EXACTLY WHAT WAS GOING ON TO FINE DETAILS. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP TO SEE ABOUT ANY RECALLS AND RELAYED THE INFO HE'D GIVEN ME AND THEY DOWN PLAYED IT LIKE THEY GUY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT HE WAS TALKING ABOUT. THE DEALER THINKS ITS A THROTTLE OR ENGINE PROBLEM. THE GUY I KNOW SAID THE COMPUTER CHIP IN THE KEY LIKELY GOT MESSED UP POSSIBLY FROM HAVING MY CELL PHONE NEXT TO IT A LOT, THAT THE PART IN THE IGNITION THAT READS THE SIGNAL FROM THE KEY IS GETTING MIXED INFO AND SIGNALS THE ENGINE TO SHUT DOWN . HE ALSO SAID THAT ONCE IT HAPPENS, A LOOP IS CREATED TO WHERE EVERY TIME I TURN THEY KEY IT STARTS THE CYCLE OVER WHERE EVERYTHING IS OKAY IN THE BEGINNING BUT THE INFO GETS MISREAD OVER N OVER WHICH IS WHY HE SAID I SHOULD GET A NEW KEY- AND (I THINK THIS IS WHAT HE SAID) TO REPLACE TO WHOLE IGNITION COLUMN SO ALL PARTS INVOLVED WOULD BE NEW. HE ALSO GETS HIS PARTS WHOLESALE AND IS NOT TRYING TO RIP ME OFF. NEXT PROBLEM CAR BURNS OIL! THE LAST TWO TIMES I HAD OIL CHECKED, NOTHING ON THE DIPSTICK, I GET IT DONE EVERY 3000MILES. WALMART MADE ME SIGN A PAPER STATING THERE WAS NO OIL ON DIPSTICK. GAS LINE CORRODED, SMELL OF GAS THROUGHOUT CAR, HAS WHOLE PIECE REPLACED. THESE ARE SERIOUS WHY IS CHEVROLET DOING NOTHING BAD BUSINESS
ENGINE WOULD NOT TURN OVER NO ELECTRICAL CONNECTION THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES DURING OWNERSHIP. I HAVE LOST MY JOB DEPENDING ON THIS VEHICLE. I WOULD TRY TO START IT ONE MORNING AND SOME TIMES IT WOULD AND OTHERS IF WOULDN'T. WHEN I HEARD ABOUT THE RECALLS ON THE CARS MY HAPPENS TO BE A 2005 CHEVY COBALT WHEN I LOOKED IT UP THERE WERE 6 RECALLS ON THIS ONE CAR. I UNDERSTAND THINGS HAPPEN AND NOT DONE TO PURPOSELY HURT ANYONE BUT THERE WAS MANY PEOPLE HURT. I'M JUST SCARED AFTER GETTING MY CAR BACK FROM GETTING IT REPAIRED SOME OTHER THINGS GOING TO HAPPEN AND I'M A YOUNG MOTHER WITH 3 SMALL KIDS AND I DON'T WANT TO PUT THEM AT DANGER AT ALL. I KNOW NOT EVERYTHING IS MADE PERFECT BECAUSE WE ARE ONLY HUMAN BUT I WANT TO KNOW THAT MY KIDS ARE SAFE RIDDING WITH ME IN THIS CAR. I'VE THOUGHT ABOUT GETTING A NEW ONE BUT MY CAR HAS BEEN SO GOOD TO ME TELL NOW AND I NO LONGER HAVE A JOB TO GET ANOTHER CAR. I DON'T HAVE A VEHICLE, A JOB, OR A WAY TO PAY BILLS THIS MIGHT OF NOT HURT ME PHYSICALLY BUT EMOTIONALLY AND FINANCIALLY IT HAS. I HOPE THERE IS SOMETHING YOU CAN DO TO MAKE THINGS RIGHT I APPRECIATE UR TIME AND THANK YOU [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE TURN SIGNALS FAILED TO ACTIVATE WHEN ENGAGED UNLESS LIFTED OR PUSHED HEAVILY. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 137,000.
I WAS DRIVING HOME FOR WORK LAST WEEK WHEN THE T/C LIGHT CAME ON, I PULLED OVER AND TURNED OFF THE CAR, WAITED FOR A COUPLE OF MINUTES AND THEN STARTED FINISH DRIVING HOME. ON SATURDAY, APRIL 11, I HAD WENT TO THE STORE, ON MY WAY BACK FROM THE STORE THE T/C LIGHT CAME ON AND SO DID THE BRAKE LIGHT AND ANOTHER LIGHT THEN THE CAR JUST SHUT DOWN BY ITSELF. I WAITED FOR ANOTHER FEW MINUTES AND STARTED THE CAR UP AND WENT HOME. I CALLED A CHEVY DEALERSHIP AND TOLD THEM WHAT HAD HAPPENED, THEY SAID AS LONG AS THE LIGHT COMES ON, I AM STILL OK TO DRIVE THE CAR. I LEFT THE CAR ALONE ON SUNDAY, SO MONDAY MORNING APRIL 13, 2015, I LEFT THE HOUSE EARLY TO HEAD INTO WORK. NOT EVEN 5 MILES FROM MY HOUSE IT HAPPENED AGAIN AND THE CAR SHUT ITSELF DOWN. I HAD TO CALL A TOW TRUCK TO COME AND PICK ME UP AND TAKE MYSELF AND MY CAR TO A MECHANIC. I AM STILL WAITING TO SEE WHAT IS THE PROBLEM AND HOW MUCH IT IS GOING TO COST ME THIS TIME. LAST YEAR, I HAD A PROBLEM WHERE MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR SHUT DOWN ONLY TO FIND THAT THE PISTON THROTTLE WAS CAUSING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO COME ON AND SHUT DOWN. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
2005 CHEVROLET COBALT. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO TRANSMISSION SHIFTER RECALL ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED SHE HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM AS STATED IN THE RECALL. HOWEVER, THE KEY BECAME STUCK IN THE LOCK POSITION AND SHE HAD TO JIGGLE THE KEY TO RELEASE IT. *JB
Showing 1–20 of 50 complaints
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 26, 2026