2005 Chevrolet Cobalt Problems

High Complaint Volume

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt.

20022006
Complaints
2,231
Crashes
150
Fires
17
Injuries
115
Fatalities
16
Recalls
3

Worst 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#11,063 complaints

Steering Defects

Avg mileage:73,274 mi
Crash-related:49
Fires:5
#2265 complaints

Electrical Faults

Avg mileage:77,870 mi
Crash-related:12
Fires:2
#369 complaints

Engine Problems

Avg mileage:108,569 mi
Crash-related:5
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt.

Steering Defects
1,063
complaints
Crashes
49
Fires
5
Avg Miles
73,274
Electrical Faults
265
complaints
Crashes
12
Fires
2
Avg Miles
77,870
Engine Problems
69
complaints
Crashes
5
Fires
Avg Miles
108,569
Airbags
65
complaints
Crashes
34
Fires
Avg Miles
116,128
Transmission / Drivetrain
55
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
90,507
Steering:Electric Power Assist System
52
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Avg Miles
56,134
Fuel System
38
complaints
Crashes
Fires
2
Avg Miles
105,417
Unintended Acceleration
34
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
108,354
Latches / Locks
32
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
69,049
Engine & Cooling
31
complaints
Crashes
Fires
3
Avg Miles
59,631
Electronic Stability Control
27
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
88,740
Electrical System:Ignition
26
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
43,968
Automatic Transmission
26
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
58,074
Body Structure
23
complaints
Crashes
9
Fires
Avg Miles
162,766
Suspension Failures
23
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
52,987
Other Equipment
21
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
Avg Miles
54,358
Hydraulic Brakes
19
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
Avg Miles
58,949
Steering:Column
19
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
36,141
Traction Control System
18
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
65,657
Suspension:Front
17
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
51,700
Brakes
16
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
1
Avg Miles
122,003
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch
14
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
40,808
Headlight/Taillight Failures
14
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
76,075
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
13
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
37,336
Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System
13
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
1
Avg Miles
34,165
Gasoline Fuel System
12
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
73,336
Structural Problems
12
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
41,228
Instrument Cluster
11
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
41,164
Tire Defects
7
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Avg Miles
35,928

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.

14V171000Electrical System:ignition
~2,191,014 affected

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.

14V047000Airbags · Electrical System:ignition:switch
~2,190,934 affected

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.

10V073000Steering:electric Power Assist System
~1,050,889 affected

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?
Verdict: High Complaint Volume. The 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt has 2,231 NHTSA complaints, 150 crash-related, and 3 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Steering Defects with 1,063 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt?
Top reported problems: Steering Defects (1,063 complaints, avg 73,274 mi); Electrical Faults (265 complaints, avg 77,870 mi); Engine Problems (69 complaints, avg 108,569 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 76,082 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt?
NHTSA complaints for the 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt include 150 crash-related reports, 17 fire reports, 115 injuries, and 16 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt have any recalls?
Yes — 3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 5,432,837 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt?
This year has a higher-than-normal complaint volume. It's not an automatic no, but focus inspection on the top reported issue (steering defects) and verify open recalls have been addressed.

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.

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