Problems · NHTSA complaints

2005 Chevrolet Cobalt problems

Owners filed 1,649 complaints about the 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt with NHTSA between Jan 2005 and Feb 2026. The most-cited component is steering (1,143).

Complaints
1,649
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
97
Reported by owners
Fires
12
Reported by owners
Injuries
72
People reported injured
Deaths
11
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Steering1,143
  2. Electrical system323
  3. Power train99
  4. Air bags71
  5. Engine69
  6. Engine and engine cooling51
  7. Suspension47
  8. Equipment47
  9. Structure46
  10. Vehicle speed control40
  11. Fuel/propulsion system38
  12. Latches/locks/linkages35
  13. Electronic stability control (esc)27
  14. Service brakes, hydraulic27

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
200546
200652
200738
2008100
2009340
2010477
201178
201243
201351
2014188
201572
201656
201730
201827
201914
202016
20217
20222
20238
20242
20251
20261

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Steering

1,143 reports52 crashes7 fires1 related recall
“The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel failed to turn in the desired direction. The contact stated the power steering warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The contact referenced an unknown recall; however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 4, 2025SteeringODI 11664917

Electrical system

323 reports13 crashes2 fires2 related recalls
“The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated that the key was stuck in the ignition. The contact had to use the key release to remove the key manually. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic; however, no cause for the failure was found, and the failure persisted. The contact stated that on a separate occasion, while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal, and the vehicle stalled. The contact was unable to coast to the side of the road. The steering locked up after the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was restarted; however, the failure persisted while driving a short distance. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic; however, no cause for the failure was found, and the failure persisted. The check engine warning light has been illuminated since the vehicle was purchased. The exhaust system, fuel lines, brake lines, and the engine had been replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHSTA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 12, 2026Electrical system, EngineODI 11717536

Power train

99 reports1 crash
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT POINT FAILED AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SHIFT GEARS INCORRECTLY AND CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO JERK AND STALL. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND CAUSED THE STEERING WHEEL TO BE DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT EXTRA EFFORT WAS NEEDED TO STEER THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SPEEDOMETER FAILED TO OPERATE AS DESIGNED WHILE DRIVING, PROVIDING SPEED READINGS OF 40 MPH, 20 MPH, 50 MPH INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE HOWEVER, THE REPAIR FAILED TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO TAKEN TO SEVERAL DEALERS AND INDEPENDENT MECHANIC HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 19, 2021Steering, Power train, Vehicle speed controlODI 11396948

Air bags

71 reports39 crashes1 related recall
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNDISCLOSED SPEED, THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONTAL AIR BAG DEPLOYED INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BURNS ON THE FOREARM AND TEMPORARY HEARING LOSS DUE TO THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAG. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS SOUGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BY THE INSURANCE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE CLOCK SPRING WIRING HARNESS DETACHED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ADDITIONALLY, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED AND THE MECHANIC DISCONNECTED THE CLOCK SPRING WHICH CAUSED THE HORN AND SEVERAL OTHER ELECTRICAL FUNCTIONS ON THE STEERING WHEEL TO BE INOPERABLE. A LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED OR INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE, CASE NUMBER: XXX. THE CONTACT WAS OFFERED A $2500 COMPENSATION FROM THE MANUFACTURER IN REGARDS TO THE ISSUE WITH THE VEHICLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75000. PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 14, 2020Steering, Electrical system, Air bagsODI 11299227

Engine

69 reports5 crashes
“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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 6, 2023Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, EngineODI 11553855

Engine and engine cooling

51 reports3 fires
“I WOULD LIKE TO START A PETITION FOR AN INVESTIGATION ON THE REPLACEMENT PARTS BEING USED FOR THE IGNITION SWITCH RECALL AND THE SOFTWARE THEY USE TO RE-PROGRAM OR RE-LEARN THE COMPUTER IN THE VEHICLES THAT HAVE BEEN RECALLED. THE REASON I AM REQUESTING THIS IS BECAUSE MY MOMS 2005 CHEVY COBALT WAS TAKEN IN FOR THIS RECALL REPLACEMENT AND WAS RUNNING FINE WHEN WE BROUGHT IT IN. GOT A CALL THAT THE CAR WAS READY TO BE PICKED UP 7 HOURS LATER. A COUPLE DAYS LATER I'M DRIVING THE CAR AROUND IT STARTED TO RUN TERRIBLE. THE CAR IDLED ERRATICALLY AND IT WOULD STALL EVERY TIME I STOPPED. NOW THE CAR STARTS AND DRIVES AWHILE BUT IF I SHUT IT OFF AND THEN START IT AGAIN THE ENGINE LIGHT STARTS BLINKING,IT BOGS DOWN AND HAVE NO POWER WHEN I ACCELERATE. I CAN SMELL GAS BUT THERE ARE NO LEAKS AND I ONLY SMELL THE GAS WHEN THE CAR STARTS TO DO THIS. I HAVE BEEN ON THE GM RECALL UPDATE WEBSITE AND HAVE READ ABOUT SIMILAR STORIES TO MINE SAYING THERE IS A DEFECT IN THE PARTS OR THERE'S A PROBLEM WITH THE RE-PROGRAMING. I THINK ONE OR BOTH OF THESE IS THE CAUSE OF MY PROBLEM. SO COULD YOU PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS ASAP BECAUSE IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD. THANK YOU”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 29, 2014Engine and engine coolingODI 10617536
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.