Worst 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
Steering Defects
Electrical Faults
Engine Problems
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steering Defects | 1,063 | 49 | 5 | 73,274 mi | |
| Electrical Faults | 265 | 12 | 2 | 77,870 mi | |
| Engine Problems | 69 | 5 | — | 108,569 mi | |
| Airbags | 65 | 34 | — | 116,128 mi | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 55 | 1 | — | 90,507 mi | |
| Steering:Electric Power Assist System | 52 | 1 | 1 | 56,134 mi | |
| Fuel System | 38 | — | 2 | 105,417 mi | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 34 | 2 | — | 108,354 mi | |
| Latches / Locks | 32 | 1 | — | 69,049 mi | |
| Engine & Cooling | 31 | — | 3 | 59,631 mi | |
| Electronic Stability Control | 27 | 1 | — | 88,740 mi | |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 26 | — | — | 43,968 mi | |
| Automatic Transmission | 26 | — | — | 58,074 mi | |
| Body Structure | 23 | 9 | — | 162,766 mi | |
| Suspension Failures | 23 | — | — | 52,987 mi | |
| Other Equipment | 21 | 3 | — | 54,358 mi | |
| Hydraulic Brakes | 19 | 3 | — | 58,949 mi | |
| Steering:Column | 19 | — | — | 36,141 mi | |
| Traction Control System | 18 | — | — | 65,657 mi | |
| Suspension:Front | 17 | — | — | 51,700 mi | |
| Brakes | 16 | 3 | 1 | 122,003 mi | |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 14 | — | — | 40,808 mi | |
| Headlight/Taillight Failures | 14 | 2 | — | 76,075 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 13 | — | — | 37,336 mi | |
| Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System | 13 | 2 | 1 | 34,165 mi | |
| Gasoline Fuel System | 12 | — | 1 | 73,336 mi | |
| Structural Problems | 12 | 1 | — | 41,228 mi | |
| Instrument Cluster | 11 | 1 | — | 41,164 mi | |
| Tire Defects | 7 | 1 | 1 | 35,928 mi |
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Recalls for 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt
3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~5,432,837 vehicles.
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.
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.
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.
Other Chevrolet Cobalt Years
2005 Chevrolet Cobalt — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt reliable?
What are common problems with the 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt?
At what mileage do problems start on the 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt?
How safe is the 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt?
Does the 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt have any recalls?
Should I buy a 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt?
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Chevrolet Cobalt reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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