Here Are The Chevy Cobalt Years To Avoid
Chevy has made plenty of hits and a couple of misses. However, it’s rare for a car manufacturer to make a vehicle that barely made an impact on the industry. There are many cars that you can instantly pick out while on the road, while some excel in performance despite unremarkable styling – the Chevrolet Cobalt is none of those.
For critics and customers alike, the Chevy Cobalt was shockingly average. It was never a best seller, so it was discontinued after only six years.
Is it a good idea to buy a used Chevy Cobalt?
If you’re looking to buy a used model, you should know the Chevy Cobalt years to avoid. For today’s post, we’ll walk you through the Cobalt model years you should avoid buying and the ones that should be safe for your wallet.
Which Chevy Cobalt Years to Avoid?
To save you time, here’s a quick list of the worst Cobalt model years to avoid:
- 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt
- 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt
- 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt
- 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt
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2005 Chevrolet Cobalt
The debut of the Chevy Cobalt wasn’t so hot. This compact car was supposed to be a replacement for the smaller Prizm and Cavalier, but the Cobalt wasn’t the fresh start Chevy was hoping for due to many issues. According to CarComplaints, the 2005 Cobalt had over 1,000 complaints, 6 recalls, and the notorious “Avoid Like the Plague” designation.
Its most prominent issue is with its electrical power steering system. According to numerous reports, drivers have lost the car’s power steering, which can be a scary experience. In some cases, the steering becomes stiff and won’t turn in any direction. It’s such a widespread issue that GM sent a recall notice for the 2005-2010 Chevy Cobalt due to a faulty power steering motor.
Another source of frustration for 2005 Cobalt owners is the key getting stuck in the ignition. When putting the car in park, the key sometimes wouldn’t come out of the ignition. The common fix was to press the gear shifter and wiggle the wheel a little bit. It’s not as bad as the power steering issue, but it’s certainly annoying.
2006 Chevrolet Cobalt
Unfortunately, the following year wasn’t better for the Cobalt, as the 2006 model year was still plagued with widespread issues. Once again, the 2006 Cobalt received the “Avoid Like the Plague” seal by CarComplaints, with over 3,000 complaints and six recalls.
The most-reported problem with the 2006 model is the key stuck in the ignition. According to the owners, the keys would get stuck in the ignition after parking the car. Most people had to start the engine again and hope the key became unstuck. Apparently, this was an issue with a faulty automatic transmission shifter in the floor console.
Furthermore, the 2006 model year also inherited the power steering issues. Most of the reports claimed that the power steering went off at random times. This led to dangerous scenarios where the steering wheel locked or loss of power. The 2006 model was part of the electric power steering recall by GM.
2007 Chevrolet Cobalt
The 2007 model was better, but it’s still one of the worst Chevy Cobalt years to avoid because it inherited most of the problems from 2005 and 2006. CarComplaints logged over 2,000 NHTSA complaints and 6 recalls and gave the 2007 Cobalt the “Beware of the Clunker” badge.
The 2007 Cobalt was also included with GM’s recall notice for the electrical power steering system. Most complaints detailed how the power steering ultimately failed, and it was not just a one-time thing. Many reports indicated that they lost power steering while driving on the highway. Some reports even claimed the recall failed to fix the power steering issues.
As if that wasn’t bad enough, Cobalt owners also had to deal with engine issues. Frustrated owners reported that their vehicle simply lost power and, often without warning – there were no flashing indicator lights. One user said the possible culprit is the faulty PCM which may cost up to $800 to repair.
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2008 Chevrolet Cobalt
For its 2008 model year, the Cobalt was finally free from the shackles of common issues that plagued the previous years. According to CarComplaints, the 2008 Chevy Cobalt had over 1,000 complaints, and 5 recalls.
However, the Cobalt remained quite a problematic sedan, and the most common complaint is the grinding transmission when shifting. Several causes of the transmission grinds include low fluid transmission, contaminated transmission fluid, cracked or chipped gear, and faulty synchronizer. According to the reports, the issue happens at low mileage too.
Moreover, the key stuck in the ignition issue was also present with the 2008 Cobalt. However, there’s also a related issue that’s been the subject of another GM recall. According to the recall notice, the key can be removed from the ignition even when in the OFF position. This puts the vehicle at risk of rolling away if the parking brake isn’t engaged.
Which Chevy Cobalt Years are Safe to Buy Used?
That wraps up the list of the worst Chevy Cobalt years to avoid. Now, we’re left with two more Cobalt models before the unfortunate discontinuation. Fortunately, these remaining Cobalt model years have good reliability ratings.
2009 Chevrolet Cobalt
The 2009 model was known for its smooth ride and abundant power. The SS trim was praised for its agile handling and good acceleration. Although its exterior and interior were rather dull, it made up for its above-average performance for a compact sedan or coupe.
The 2009 Cobalt had a couple of reliability issues like synchro failure and malfunctioning clutch. However, it’s not comparable to the severity of the problems found in the previous years.
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2010 Chevrolet Cobalt
The 2010 Cobalt tells a similar story of having a smooth ride, excellent fuel economy, and good performance. Also, it had a more stylish interior and quiet cabin. Plus, the SS trim also offered a turbo engine and a fun-to-drive experience.
However, it generally lacked pizzazz and just wasn’t very popular with customers, hence its eventual discontinuation.
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