2009 Chevrolet COBALT: complaints, problems and recalls

MY WIFE HAS AN DEFRIBULATOR PACEMAKER. WE NEED THE AIR BAG DISENGAGED. WE HAVE BEEN HAGGLING WITH THE DEALER FOR ALMOST 2 WEEKS. THEY ARE DRAGGING THEIR FEET ON THIS MATTER. THE HEART HOSPITAL SAYS IF THE AIR BAG CAME OUT AND HIT MY WIFE, IT COULD KILL HER. THIS IS THE THIRD NEW VEHICLE I HAVE BOUGHT FROM DOBRINSKI'S IN OKEENE. I NEED SOMETHING DONE. I DO NOT HAVE TO BUY CHEVY'S. I MIGHT HAVE TO CHANGE DEALERS. THANK YOU, RUSTY FERRELL *TR

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10243221 at NHTSA ↗

AT TIME OF PURCHASE OF A NEW 2008 CHEVROLET COBALT, IT WAS NOTICED THE DRIVER SIDE REAR VIEW MIRROR HAD LIMITED ADJUSTMENT RANGE AND COULD NOT BE ADJUSTED FOR A CLEAR REAR VIEW BEFORE THE ADJUSTMENT LEVER REACHED THE END OF ITS RANGE. THE DEALERSHIP REPORTED THAT MANY CUSTOMERS COMPLAIN OF THE SAME DEFECT BUT AS YET THE FACTORY HAS PROVIDED NO SOLUTION. I BELIEVE THIS FACTORY DEFECT HAS POTENTIAL TO CAUSE SERIOUS ACCIDENTS OR MISHAPS. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 1 miles reported. Look up ODI 10243596 at NHTSA ↗

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 DI…

Owner-reported narrative. 16,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10275873 at NHTSA ↗

NO INCIDENT HAS OCCURRED AT THIS POINT, HOWEVER, I SEE THIS AS A POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD. I HAVE A 2009 CHEVY COBALT WITH BATTERY INSTALLED IN THE TRUNK. THE BATTERY VENT TUBE IS CONNECTED TO THE TOP OF THE BATTERY BY A PLASTIC ELBOW, A PLASTIC VENT TUBE IS CONNECTED TO THE MALE NIPPLE ON THE ELBOW. THE PLASTIC VENT TUBE INSIDE DIAMETER APPEARS TO BE TOO SMALL INSIDE DIAMETER FOR THE MALE NIPPLE. THE PLASTIC VENT TUBE IS SPLIT WHERE IT ATTACHES TO MY BATTERY WHERE IT IS PUSHED ONTO THE MALE NIPPLE WHICH WILL ALLOW THE VENTED HYDROGEN GAS TO …

Owner-reported narrative. 4,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10279060 at NHTSA ↗

AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY IN A 2009 CHEVROLET COBALT CRASH THAT CAUSED $7,200 IN DAMAGE AND ON STAR DID NOT CALL OR REPORT THE CRASH. WHEN I ASKED WHY, I WAS TOLD "BECAUSE THE "BRAINS" OF ONSTAR WAS "KNOCKED OUT" IN THE CRASH, THAT SHUT DOWN THE AIR BAG SYSTEM AND OTHER SAFETY MEASURES." FORTUNATELY, THIS CRASH DID NOT CAUSE ANY BODILY HARM TO THE PERSON INVOLVED, BUT THE WHOLE FRONT END OF THE CAR WAS PUSHED IN, RADIATOR WAS PUSHED BACK, WITH LOTS OF OTHER DAMAGE. THE PERSON IN THE CAR WAS FINE, BUT IF THE ENGINE WOULD HAVE BEEN PUSHED IN FUR…

Owner-reported narrative. 2,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10283773 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET COBALT. WHILE DRIVING THE CONTACT LOSS CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHEEL AND WAS FORCED SHUT THE ENGINE OFF SO THAT IT COULD RESET ITSELF. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 650.

Owner-reported narrative. 650 miles reported. Look up ODI 10284026 at NHTSA ↗

I PURCHASED A NEW 2009 CHEVROLET COBALT FROM CLASSIC CHEVROLET IN SUGARLAND, TX ON JUNE 8, 2009. ON JUNE 10, 2009 THE CLUTCH PEDAL FELL OFF AS A RESULT OF A RETAINER NOT BEING SECURED AT THE LORDSTOWN FACTORY. AT 8848 MILES, ON SEPTEMBER 23, 2009 I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR ITS FIRST SERVICE WORK TO THE SAME DEALERSHIP. I INFORMED THEM THAT THE CLUTCH PEDAL HAD BECOME INOPERATIVE AND THAT I HAD SECURED THE LOCKING NUT BUT ASKED THEM TO CHECK IT FURTHER. THE DEALERSHIP FOUND OTHER RETAINERS MISSING FROM THE CLUTCHES MASTER CYLINDER. THE CAR H…

Owner-reported narrative. 118 miles reported. Look up ODI 10285159 at NHTSA ↗

MY CAR WOULD CHIME FOR ME TO LOOK AT INSTRUMENT PANEL TO SEE THAT THE "AIRBAGS NEEDED TO BE SERVICED".IT WOULD GIVE ME THIS MESSAGE EVERY 15 MINS. FOR THE HOUR DRIVE I WAS ON THE ROAD. THE NEXT DAY I CALLED THE DEALER & SET UP AN APPOINTMENT. THAT AFTERNOON WHEN THEY WERE DONE WITH MY CAR I WAS TOLD THAT THE MECHANIC HAD ALREADY SEEN THIS A FEW TIMES & KNEW EXACTLY WHAT IT WAS. MY PRINT OUT FROM SERVICE READS "DIAGNOSTIC CODE #B0012 STORED IN SYSTEM TEST CIRCUIT, MODULE SHORTING OUT UNDER STEERING WHEEL , REPLACED SIR COIL & REPAIR CIRCUIT.* MY…

Owner-reported narrative. 2,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10286931 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2009-03-06 (March 6, 2009)

GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING 276,729 MY 2009 BUICK ENCLAVE, CHEVROLET COBALT, HHR, MALIBU, TRAVERSE, GMC ACADIA, PONTIAC G5, G6 AND SATURN AURA AND OUTLOOK PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLES SAFETY STANDARD 102, "TRANSMISSION SHIFT POSITION SEQUENCE, STARTER INTERLOCK, AND TRANSMISSION BRAKING EFFECT", AND FMVSS 114, "THEFT PROTECTION AND ROLLAWAY PREVENTION". ON SOME OF THESE VEHICLES, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT CABLE ADJUSTMENT CLIP MAY NOT BE FULLY ENGAGED. IF THE CLIP IS NOT FULLY ENGAGED, THE SHIFT LEVER AND THE ACTUAL POSITION OF THE TRANSMISSION GEAR MAY NOT MATCH. WITH THIS CONDITION, THE DRIVE COULD MOVE THE SHIFTER TO "PARK" AND REMOVE THE IGNITION KEY, BUT THE TRANSMISSION GEAR MAY NOT BE IN "PARK".

Consequence: THE DRIVER MAY NOT BE ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE COULD ROLL AWAY AFTER THE DRIVER HAS EXITED THE VEHICLE, RESULTING IN A POSSIBLE CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND ENSURE THAT THE SHIFT CABLE ADJUSTMENT CLIP IS FULLY ENGAGED. IN THE EVENT THAT THE CLIP DOES NOT ENGAGE, THE SHIFT CABLE WILL BE REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR BEFORE MARCH 24, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, GMC AT 1-866-996-9463, PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668 AND SATURN AT 1-800-972-8876 OR AT WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.

Reported: 2010-03-03 (March 3, 2010)

GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2010 CHEVROLET COBALT AND MODEL YEAR 2007-2010 PONTIAC G5 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ELECTRIC POWER STEERING. THE DRIVER MAY EXPERIENCE A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST THAT COULD OCCUR AT ANY TIME WHILE DRIVING.

Consequence: IF POWER STEERING ASSIST IS LOST, IT WOULD REQUIRE GREATER DRIVER EFFORT AT LOW VEHICLE SPEEDS, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING MOTOR FREE OF CHARGE. OWNERS ARE BEING NOTIFIED ON A ROLLING BASIS BETWEEN MARCH 29 THROUGH NOVEMBER 2010. A COPY OF THE MAILING SCHEDULE IS LOCATED IN THE RECALL FILE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 AND PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668 OR AT THE OWNER CENTER AT WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.

Reported: 2012-09-19 (September 19, 2012)

General Motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2007 Chevrolet Equinox and Pontiac Torrent vehicles originally sold or currently registered in Arizona, California, Nevada, and Texas; model year 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt, Pontiac G5, and Saturn ION vehicles originally sold, or currently registered in, Arizona, California, Florida, Nevada, or Texas; model year 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt and Pontiac G5 vehicles originally sold, or currently registered in, Arizona; and model year 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt and Pontiac G5 vehicles originally sold, or currently registered in, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Nevada, Oklahoma, or Texas. Some of these vehicles have a condition in which the plastic supply or return port on the fuel pump module may crack, which could cause a fuel leak.

Consequence: Fuel leakage in the presence of an ignition source may result in a fire.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. Notification to owners began on on November 21, 2012. Owners were instructed to not bring their vehicles in for repair until January 2013. Owners may contact General Motors at 1-800-521-7300.

Reported: 2014-02-10 (February 10, 2014)

This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on February 10, 2014 that they are recalling 619,122 model year 2005-2007 Chevrolet Cobalt, and 2007 Pontiac G5 vehicles. On February 25, 2014, GM increased the recall to include an additional 748,024 model year 2006-2007 Chevrolet HHR and Pontiac Solstice vehicles and 2003-2007 Saturn Ion vehicles and 2007 Saturn Sky vehicles. In these models, the weight on the key ring and/or road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine. On March 27, 2014, GM notified the agency that the defective ignition switches may have been used as service replacement parts on other vehicles, and as a result GM will be recalling certain model year 2008-2010 Chevrolet Cobalt, Saturn Sky, and Pontiac G5 and Solstice, and 2008-2011 Chevrolet HHR vehicles. The part numbers for the service parts are 10392423 (a/k/a ACDelco D1461F), 10392737, 15857948, 15854953, 15896640, and 25846762. This expansion represents an additional 823,788 vehicles.

Consequence: If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ignition switch, free of charge. An interim notification was issued to owners of 2007 and earlier models on March 10, 2014, informing them of the safety defect. Owners of 2008 and later vehicles will be mailed an interim letter on April 21, 2014. All affected owners will receive another letter once parts are available. The recall began on April 18, 2014. Owners may contact Chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020, Pontiac at 1-800-762-2737 or Saturn at 1-800-553-6000. GM's number for the initial recall is 13454 and 14063 for the expansion. GM’s recall number for the vehicles that may have received the replacement parts is 14092. Note: Until the recall repairs have been performed, it is very important that customers remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the vehicle key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. Always wear your seatbelt.

Reported: 2014-04-10 (April 10, 2014)

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2005-2010 Chevrolet Cobalt, 2006-2011 Chevrolet HHR, 2007-2010 Pontiac G5, 2006-2010 Pontiac Solstice, 2003-2007 Saturn Ion, and 2007-2010 Saturn Sky vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the key can be removed from the ignition when the ignition is not in the "Off" position.

Consequence: If the key can be removed from the ignition when the ignition is not in the "off" position, the vehicle could roll away: (a) for an automatic transmission, if the transmission is not in the "Park" position; or (b) for a manual transmission, if the parking brake is not engaged and the transmission is not in the "Reverse" position. This potential for rollaway increases the risk for a crash and occupant or pedestrian injuries.

Remedy: General Motors will notify owners, and for vehicles that were built with the defective ignition cylinder and have not previously had the ignition cylinder replaced with the redesigned part, dealers will replace the ignition cylinder and cut and, if necessary, re-learn two ignition/door keys for each vehicle. For vehicles that were built with the redesigned ignition cylinder or had the ignition cylinder replaced with the redesigned part, dealers will cut and, if necessary, re-learn two ignition/door keys for each vehicle. The recall began on April 18, 2014. Chevrolet owners may contact General Motors at 1-800-222-1020, Pontiac owners at 1-800-762-2737, and Saturn owners at 1-800-553-6000. General Motors' number for this recall is 14113 for the ignition lock cylinder and key replacement, and 14133 for only key replacements. Note: Until a vehicle has been remedied, owners and operators are advised that when exiting, to be sure that the vehicle is in "Park," or in the case of a manual transmission, that the vehicle is in the "Reverse" position and the parking brake is engaged.