2005 Chevrolet Cobalt Brakes Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED AND FAILED TO FUNCTION PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE ROTORS, BRAKES, MASTER CYLINDER AND THE ABS SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN.

ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS THE SPRING MECHANISM IN THE REAR DRUM BRAKES OF MY CHEVROLET COBALT HAVE BROKEN CAUSING THE REAR DRUM BRAKE TO LOCK UP THE WHEEL WHILE IN MOTION, MEANING THE BRAKE BECOMES FULLY ENGAGED AND THE WHEEL STOPS ROTATING DRAGGING THE TIRE DOWN THE ROAD. ON THE MOST RECENT OCCURRENCE 6/25/2014 THE BROKEN SPRING CAUSED OVER $300 IN DAMAGE TO THE BRAKING SYSTEM. GM HAS BEEN NOTIFIED BUT REFUSED TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR MECHANICALLY DEFECTIVE SUBPAR SPRING MECHANISM. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY AND WOULD HESITATE SPORADICALLY. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT SHE ATTEMPTED TO ENGAGE THE BRAKES BUT THE PEDAL ABNORMALLY TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD, ACCOMPANIED BY AN ABNORMALLY LOUD NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER HOWEVER, THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 122,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 125,458. *TR

I EXPERIENCED "CATASTROPHIC" BRAKE FAILURE WHILE DRIVING MY 2005 CHEVY COBALT LT SEDAN W/AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ON THE HIGHWAY. I WAS FORCED TO MAKE A SUDDEN EMERGENCY STOP FROM APPROX 45MPH TO 0. THE ABS SYSTEM WORKED PERFECTLY AS THE ROADS WERE WET AND I DID NOT LOSE CONTROL RESULTING FROM MY SUDDEN STOP, WITH THE ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL INSTRUMENT LITES ILLUMINATING. HOWEVER UPON QUICKLY TRYING TO RESUME TRAVEL (SINCE I WAS STRADDLING 2 LANES ON THE HIGHWAY) THE BRAKES WOULD NOT "RELEASE" AND FEARING A REAR END COLLISION FROM APPROACHING TRAFFIC, I SHIFTED INTO 1ST GEAR AND SIMPLY DROVE 15' TO THE SHOULDER, FIGHTING AGAINST THE "GRIP" OF THE BRAKES. ON THE SHOULDER, WITH THE ABS & TC LITES STILL ON, I WAS SAFELY ABLE TO REPEATEDLY SHIFT IN AND OUT OF PARK AND REPEATEDLY PUMPED THE BRAKE PEDAL UNTIL FINALLY AFTER APPROX 1MIN THEY RELEASED THEIR GRIP AND THE ABS & TC LITES TURNED OFF ALLOWING ME TO RESUME TRAVEL. I TRAVELED FOR APPROX 10 MIN AT 65MPH W/CRUISE CONTROL, WHEN SUDDENLY AN ALARM SOUNDED WITH THE ABS & TC LITES ILLUMINATING AGAIN. I TRAVELED APPROX 1MI BEFORE EXITING THE HIGHWAY TO INVESTIGATE THE ALARMS AND THEIR MEANING. I ENTERED THE OFF RAMP AT APPROX 60MPH AND ATTEMPTED TO SLOW THE VEHICLE BUT THE BRAKE PEDAL SIMPLY WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR WITH NO PRESSURE! I QUICKLY REPEATED THE ACTION WITH THE SAME RESULT. FEARING A HYDRAULIC LOSS, I BEGAN PUMPING THE BRAKES WITH NO SUCCESS. SIMULTANEOUSLY I DOWNSHIFTED TO 2ND HOWEVER DUE TO THE NEAR 60MPH SPEED THIS HAD NO EFFECT AS THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WILL NOT DOWNSHIFT UNTIL REACHING A SAFE RPM LEVEL FOR THAT GEAR. MY FINAL RESORT WAS USING THE PARKING BRAKE WHICH ONLY SLOWED THE CAR TO APPROX 25MPH UNTIL THEY ALSO BECAME INOPERATIVE WITH SMOKE BILLOWING FROM THE REAR WHEELS. I RAN THROUGH THE INTERSECTION, FINALLY STOPPING 1/2 WAY UP THE OPPOSING ON-RAMP, THANKFULLY DUE TO THE SLIGHT INCLINE. *TR

THE POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON. I HAD NO MILEAGE OR SPEEDOMETER READING. I TOOK IT TO MR. TIRE WHICH WAS ABOUT 3 MILES AWAY. THEY PUT THE CAR ON A MACHINE AND FOUND MIL CODE U0101. THEY TOLD ME TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER BECAUSE THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS. I CALLED THE DEALER THE NEXT MORNING AND TOOK IT RIGHT OVER TO THEM. THEY HAD THE CAR FOR TWO DAYS AND FINALLY CALLED ME AND TOLD ME THAT THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE TCM AND REPROGRAM IT, CLEAR THE CODES AND RETEST. THIS WAS GOING TO COST $500. I HAD TAKEN THIS CAR TO BOB BELL LAST JUNE WHEN I RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTICE. IT WAS REPAIRED. AFTER A FEW MONTHS I NOTICED THAT THREE OR FOUR TIMES THE SIGNAL CAME ON ABOUT BRAKES BUT THEN DISAPPEARED AND EVERYTHING SEEMED FINE. THEN THIS MONDAY THIS HAPPENED.

I HAVE A 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT 4 DR SEDAN. WHILE TRAVELING DOWN THE SERVICE ROAD ON I-35 I STARTED TO COUGH, I BLACKED OUT FOR A SPLIT SECOND. AFTER COMING TO I REALIZED THERE WAS A SHARP TURN IN THE ROAD. I HIT THE BRAKES HARD, THE ABS DID NOT WORK. I WENT THROUGH A SIGN, IT TORE UP THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE OF THE CAR THEN HIT A CONCRETE BARRIER ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE FRONT END.I HIT MY HEAD ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY ON EITHER SIDE OF THE CAR. WITH THE ABS LOCKING UP IT CAUSED THE CAR TO SKID APPROX 300 FEET, WITHOUT SAFELY SLOWING DOWN. NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE EXITING A RESIDENTIAL DRIVEWAY AT 1 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER STEERING CAPABILITIES. THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF AND UPON RESTART, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 10V073000 (STEERING: ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM) SEVEN MONTHS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS RELEASED TO THE CONTACT NOVEMBER 12, 2010. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING WARNING ALARM SOUNDED AND THE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 124,000. UPDATED 04/12/11*LJ THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE BRAKES LOCKED UP ON A CONSISTENT BASIS. ALSO, THE DEFROSTER WORKED INTERMITTENTLY.

TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHT COMES ON THEN MY DAUGHTERS' CAR JERKS VIOLENTLY AT TIMES AND SHE HAS TROUBLE MAINTAINING CONTROL OF HER CAR , (2005 CHEVY COBALT). THIS PROBLEM ALMOST CAUSED HER TO LOOSE TOTAL CONTROL OF HER CAR THIS PAST SPRING , COMING TOO CLOSE TO CAUSING A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. THIS HAPPENS PERIODICALLY , NO SET TIME SPAN , IT HAS HAPPENED ABOUT 6 OR 8 TIMES SINCE LAST SPRING. OUR GM DEALER SAID SHE SHOULD BRING THE CAR IN WHILE THE WARNING LIGHT IS ON SO THEY CAN PULL THE CODE. UNFORTUNATELY , WHEN THE CAR IS STOPPED AND PUT INTO PARK , THE LIGHT GOES AWAY. AND ALL OF THESE TIMES EXCEPT ONE , THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED AFTER THE DEALERSHIP IS CLOSED OR WELL BEFORE THEY OPEN , OR SHE IS NOWHERE NEAR ANY GM OR CHEVY DEALERSHIP. THIS PROBLEM IS NOT ISOLATED , I HAVE READ OF OTHER COBALT OWNERS EXPERIENCING THE SAME TRACTION CONTROL PROBLEM WITH SOME OF THE SAME RESULTS OR RESULTS THAT ARE DIFFERENT FROM MY DAUGHTERS CAR. THE POINT BEING (AT LEAST IN THIS CASE) I BELIEVE THAT GM OR CHEVY SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR TAKING CARE OF THE PROBLEM , BEFORE THERE IS AN ACCIDENT THAT CAUSES SEVERE INJURY OR DEATH . I READ ABOUT ALL THE OTHERS WITH THIS PROBLEM ON THE "REPAIR PAL" WEBSITE. THE MODEL YEARS SEEM TO BE BETWEEN "04" AND "07". THE ONE TIME MY DAUGHTER WAS ABLE TO GET HER CAR INTO THE GM DEALER WHILE THE LIGHT WAS ON , SHE HAD TO PUT THE CAR IN PARK SO SHE COULD GO IN TO GET SOMEONE TO HOOK UP THEIR COMPUTER AND PULL THE CODE. WHEN THEY CAME BACK OUT , THE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHT WAS OUT , AS I STATED EARLIER ABOUT PUTTING THE VEHICLE IN PARK. THEREFORE THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DO ANYTHING SINCE THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT ERGO , NO CODE TO PULL. *TR

BRAKE PEDAL LOCKS OR GETS HARD TO PRESS. *TR

REAR BRAKES WEAR OUT TOO QUICK AND THEY ARE STARTING TO GET SUPER NOISY. *TR

ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT IN 2005 COBALT THAT WAS GOING CRAZY WHILE DRIVING MY CAR. ALL THE TESTING AT REPAIR SHOPS COULD NOT DETECT THE PROBLEM BUT WHEN I WOULD DRIVE, RADIO AND FRONT PANEL LIGHTS WOULD GO OFF AND ON; BRAKE PROBLEMS, AND ENGINE WOULD CUT OUT, EVEN AT HIGH RATES OF SPEAD, THEN DIE WHEN CAR SLOWED. REPLACING IGNITION CYLINDER AND REMOVING ALL ELECTRONIC CODES FINALLY RESOLVED THE ISSUE BUT WAS ONLY A GUESS ON PART OF MANY DIFFERENT REPAIR PEOPLE. WHY SHOULD TOYOTA BE THE ONLY ONE TO TAKE THE BLAME FOR AUTO PARTS THAT AREN'T RELIABLE? *TR

WE OWN A 2005 CHEVY. COBALT. THE VEHICLE WENT IN FOR A STANDARD FRONT BRAKE REPAIR, NORMALLY YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO TURN THE ROTORS ONCE , HOWEVER WE WE'RE TOLD THAT THEY WE'RE RUSTED OUT AND COULD NOT BE TURNED UNDER NORMAL INSPECTIONS AND WOULD HAVE TO PURCHASE NEW ONES. THE VEHICLE HAS NORMAL WEAR WITH ODOMETER READING 43,923 MILES ON IT, SO IT WAS NOT DUE TO NOT DRIVING IT. THE DEALER SAID THEY HAD BEEN SEEING A LOT OF THIS LATELY AND DON'T KNOW WHY THEY SHOULD BE RUSTED OUT, I DECIDED TO GET A SECOND OPINION AND TOOK THE VEHICLE ELSEWHERE. THE SERVICE CENTER SAID THE SAME THING AND THINK IT IS A MANUFACTURES DEFECT, AS THEY ALSO SAID THEY SHOULD HAVE AT LEAST BEEN TURNED ONCE IN THE ROTORS, (CARS) LIFE TIME. THEY ALSO SAID THEY HAD BEEN SEEING ALOT OF THIS ON GM PRODUCTS AND HAD ANOTHER VEHICLE IN FOR THE SAME PROBLEM, AS DID THE DEALERSHIP. UNFORTUNATELY, I NEEDED THE BRAKES REPAIRED AND HAD TO BY NEW ROTORS FOR THE CAR. THE SERVICE CENTER CHARGED ME $84.48 PLUS LABOR FOR THE NEW ROTORS INSTALLED. I FEEL THIS IS A MANUFACTURE DEFECT AND NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO AS I AM NOT THE ONLY CONSUMER THAT HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM. I SHOULD ALSO SHOULD BE REIMBURSED FOR THIS DEFECT. I HAVE RETAINED THE ROTORS OF INSPECTION. PLEASE CONTACT ME WITH ANY RESULTS YOU MAY FIND REGARDING THIS PROBLEM. SINCERELY, CONSTANCE E WALLACE *TR

BRAKE FAILURE/BRAKE PEDAL WENT DOWN WHEN APPLIED AND VEHICLE ACCELERATED AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED,TRAVELED 20-25 FEET STRUCK TRUCK IN FRONT OF ME CAUSING OVER $4,000 IN DAMAGE TO MY 2005 CHEVY COBALT SINCE THE JUNE 13TH 2007 ACCIDENT THE BRAKES FAILED 2 MORE TIMES THE LAST TIME THE BRAKE PEDAL COLLAPSED TO THE FLOOR WITH NO BRAKES(BUSHING &CLIP MISSING FROM BRAKES, I THINK THIS WAS DONE AT THE FACTORY). I HAD TO STOP IT USING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. I REFUSED TO DRIVE IT AGAIN. MY WIFE HAD IT DO THIS TO HER, WITH THE BRAKES FAILING AND ACCELERATING AT A FAST PACE, LUCKILY NO CARS WERE NEAR HER AT THE TIME,BECAUSE I TRADED THE COBALT GENERAL MOTORS REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE PROBLEM REFERENCE NUMBER 71-562139648 TALKED TO SEVERAL PEOPLE ONE WAS JAKE EXT 22795. *TR

AFTER DRIVING FOR 30 MINUTES AT A SPEED OF 55-60 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE, I WAS ON THE OFF RAMP MERGING FROM ONE INTERSTATE TO ANOTHER, WHEN THE CARS AHEAD OF ME STARTING SLOWING DOWN. I APPLIED A SUDDEN PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN ALSO; HOWEVER, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT SOFT AND THEN IT SEEMED LIKE THE BRAKES LOCKED, BUT DID NOT SLOW DOWN. THE CAR MADE A SUDDEN JOLT TO THE RIGHT BRINGING ME INTO THE ON COMING TRAFFIC IN THE NEXT LANE. THIS RESULTED IN A COLLISION WITH ANOTHER CAR. RESULTING IN A TOTAL LOSS TO THE COBALT. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY EVENTHOUGH THE FRONT END OF THE CAR WAS DESTROYED. *NM

1) MONTHS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT AT HIGH WAY SPEED (65 TO 75 MPH) AFTER SEVERAL HOUR (FROM 1 TO 4) WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED, WHEN DISENGAGING THE CRUISE CONTROL, THE CAR WOULD VIBRATE VIOLENTLY. GM CLAIMS THEY CAN NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. 2) BRAKES FAILED - APPLIED BRAKES IN TRAFFIC, PEDAL WAS SOFT AND THEN WENT HARD LIKE THE POWER BRAKES WAS NOT WORKING, BUT THE CAR DID NOT SLOW DOWN, CAUSING THE IMPACT IN THE REAR OF A PICK-UP TRUCK. 3) ACCORDING TO THE AIR BAG REPORT THE CAR WAS TRAVELING OVER 30 MPH, BUT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY ON THE FRONTAL CRASH. *JB

THE 2005 CHEVY COBALT WE PURCHASED FOR MY DAUGHTER HAS A VIOLENT VIBRATION THAT IS INTERMITTENT. THE VIBRATION USUALLY HAPPENS ON LONG TRIPS, WHEN THE CAR IS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS OF OVER 65 MPH FOR 45 MINUTES OR LONGER WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ON. THEN WHEN COMING UP ON SLOWER TRAFFIC, YOU TOUCH THE BRAKES TO DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL, A VIOLENT VIBRATION PROCEEDS. IF YOU APPLY MORE BRAKES THE VIBRATION GETS WORSE. THIS VIBRATION REQUIRES THE DRIVER TO MAINTAIN BOTH HANDS ON THE WHEEL TO CONTROL THE CAR. THIS VIBRATION WILL LAST FROM A FEW MINUTES TO 15 MILES. USUALLY WHEN THE VIBRATION STOPS THE CRUISE CONTROL WILL NOT WORK FOR A MINUTE OF 30 MINUTES AND UP TO 3 DAYS. WE HAVE TAKE THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIPS 5 TIMES. 2 DEALERSHIPS IN OR AROUND TAMPA FLORIDA AND THE DEALER WE PURCHASED IT FROM IN JONESBORO GEORGIA. EACH TIME THEY DIRVE THE CAR A FEW MILES AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS OVER 60 MPH AND DECLARE NOTHING IS WRONG. AS WE STATED ABOVE AND TO THE DEALERSHIPS, IT TAKES A MINIMUM OF 45 MINUTES OR LONGER AT SPEEDS OVER 65 MPH FOR THIS VIBRATION TO HAPPEN, AND SOMETIMES IT WILL NOT HAPPEN. WE HAVE STARTED THE LEMON LAW PROCESS IN GEORGIA AND HAVE ASKED FOR A REPLACEMENT CAR OR PURCHASE BACK BY GM. WE ARE AWAITING THERE ACTIONS. SINCE THE MANUFACTURER'S LAST ATTEMPT TO FIX THE CAR, IN WHICH MY DAUGHTER DROVE 2 HOURS AND THE VIBRATION STARTED AS THEY WERE EXISTING THE EXPRESS WAY TO THE DEALERSHIP, SHE OVER HEARD THE SERVICE MANAGER ACKNOWLEGED "THE PROBLEM IS IN THE BRAKES' THEY CONTACTED THE GM REP IN ATALANTA AREA, AND DECIDED TO DO NOTHING TO FIXE THE CAR. NOW YESTERDAY, WHEN MY DAUGHTER WAS ABOUT TO SLOW DOWN ON THE CONNECTOR IN ATLANTA, DUE TO SLOWER TRAFFIC, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT SOFT AND THEN "HARD AS A BRICK" CAUSING THE CAR NOT TO STOP AND HITTING THE PICKUP TRUCK IN FRONT OF HER. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND SHE NOW HAS A "MILD CONCUSION". SHE HAD TO MISS WORK YESTERDAY AND TODAY. WHAT CAN BE DONE TO FORCE GM TO FIX THIS BRAKE PROBLEM OR REPLACE THE CAR?*JB

DT: THE CONTACT HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH A VEHICLE HE PREVIOUSLY OWNED. THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION. THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE KEY CHAIN WAS TOO LONG AND TOUCHED HIS KNEE. THE SECOND PROBLEM CONCERNED THE BRAKE LIGHT COMING ON MOMENTARILY. THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE THIRD PROBLEM WAS THAT THE DOOR HANDLE STUCK ONE EIGHTH OF AN INCH FROM THE DOOR. AS A RESULT, HE RETURNED THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP.*AK THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED TO HOLD THE CONSUMERS HEAVY KEY CHAIN. UPDATED 01/19/06. *JB

WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKE PEDAL REAR BRAKES LOCKED UP. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND PULLED OVER. THE CAUSE HAD NOT BEEN DETERMINED. DRIVER WILL CONTACT THE DEALER IN THE NEAR FUTURE. THIS INFORMATION WAS PROVIDED BY OLESHA'S BOY FRIEND BILLY.*AK

2005 CHEVROLET COBALT DEVELOPED PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKE LIGHT EQUIPMENT.*MR TWO DAYS AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH. THE CONSUEMR CONTACTED THE DEALER BUT THEY EXPLAINED THAT THERE WAS NOT A PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN BACK AND FORTH TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM. THE DEALER HAS HAD THE VEHICLE SINCE APRIL 23, 2005. THE A/C WOULD NOT WORK DUE TO A SHORT IN THE A/C PRESSURE SENSOR.

2005 CHEVY COBALT WITH BRAKE FAILURE CUSTOMER STATES THAT HER BRAKES DIDN'T WORK WHEN APPLIED AFTER TRAVELING 30+ MINUTES A SPEED OF 55+ MILES WHICH RESULTED IN TOTALING HER CAR AND THE CAR SHE HIT**CC *JB