Cobalt Clutch Reliability
 

Hey guys,
I'm a newbie here so if this isn't in the right section please forgive me.
I actually posted this question on the GM Inside News forum and one of the guys there suggested I ask the question here. So here it is...
I'm looking to buy a Cobalt with a manual transmission. I actually saw one at my local dealer last week and went back to test drive it a couple days ago, but it had already sold. They didn't have any manuals left, but they had a Cobalt 2LT with an automatic in stock so I test drove that instead. It was a fun car, handled decently, and was comfortable. So, I definitely want to get a Cobalt(but with a manual).
I was just looking at some reviews for the Cobalt and stumbled across one that the guy said the clutch keeps going out every 10,000 to 15,000 km. I Googled the problem to see what I could find and low and behold there were some threads with lots of people complaining about this problem (apparently GM hasn't recalled any, and it doesn't seem to be driver error). Not sure what to think of this but it has me reconsidering getting the manual (I love driving stick). So, my question is how many of you that have a Cobalt with a manual transmission (or know someone who does) have had problems with it? Is this a widespread problem?
Also, here's the link to one of the forums I found discussing the problem: http://www.topix.com/forum/autos/che...BNLRVUK7I8807T
Any thoughts on this?
Thanks for any help you guys can give me! :)

im not sure about the lt cobalt but from what i have heard on the site the ss clutch can take a lot of abuse. you have to worry about glazing the clutch on the ss though.

yeah it seems like for the ss is pretty strong for stock i tried to launch my car this past monday and i burned it pretty bad i let the car cool off for like an hour or so and it was fine

and the smell was gone by midday tuesday
did some playing around last nite and engagement was normal

i have a cobalt sport 5spd and got alittle over 70000km out of it but thats delivery driving.

I have an 07 SS I just started feeling a slight bit of clutch slip the other day so I know am gonna have to change it by next summer.....buuut I'm about to hit 100k and believe me I drive my car

I beat the piss out of my car for the 31,000+ miles and I just replaced my stock clutch because I had the motor out anyway and was going to be putting down too much power for it when the motor went back in. After inspecting it, my stock clutch and flywheel looked great.

If you know how to drive a manual, you'll be just fine...

thanks guys... I guess I'll still get the manual then :twothumbs
I definitely know how to drive stick and I'm extremely careful with the clutch. I let the clutch out smoothly, I never ride the clutch or hold it down at stops, I always double clutch before downshifting, I always have my foot on the dead pedal unless I'm shifting, and I'm learning heel and toe as well. But anyways as long as the clutch holds up I'll be happy... I'm just trying to get a reliable car for college.
Thanks for the replies!

why you double clutching a modern transmission lol

I've got 40k on my SS/TC and still have the original clutch.

People that repeatedly wear out something like a clutch so quickly are usually the cause of the problem. Either they ride it or did something the car isn't made for.

I'm at 82,000 on stock clutch and its completely fine. And I had to learn how to drive stick in this car.

i have a stock clutch still on my 06 ss/sc and i have a 103,000 miles on it and it holds just fine.

haha I like to be overcareful... plus it's kinda fun

All modern transmissions have synchromesh. Do not downshift. There is no need and you're just going to wear things out quicker...

haha thanks for telling us how you drive XD

380whp ss/sc
109k miles
factory issue oem clutch.

learn how to drive.

^
Exactly why I'm using the GM upgraded clutch on my turbo built car. Properly driven, the majority of this platform's components can handle double what the car comes with stock and then some...

dude, I don't even know what 380 whp is. I'm not into modding cars or any of the stuff you guys are... I'm just trying to get a reliable car for college. I heard some talk about the clutches in the cobalt being a problem spot and I assumed it was driver error, but I thought I'd ask to make sure being someone suggested I ask here.
I know how to drive and I've never worn a clutch out.


Everyone else: thanks for the replies/advice. I plan on getting a cobalt soon...

If my clutch doesn't last the life of the car, there's something really wrong.

My commute is 80-90 miles a day (depending on the specific route I take), and the vast majority of it is cruising on the freeway. Simply put, it's not getting shifted often.

The stock clutch in my old Focus was good to 202,000 with a similar commute, and I beat on that Focus more than I ever will with the Cobalt.

I've noticed that the response from SS owners is significantly better than that of non-SS owners, regarding the clutch longevity. It seems that the non-SS's clutch longevity has been poor for several (many?) non-SS owners.

In my case, I have the Chevy Cobalt cousin....the Pontiac G5 GT. It has the 2.4L 171Hp engine. I assume that my G5 has the same clutch as the non-SS Cobalts. At 38k miles, my clutch is now slipping when I accelerate with the clutch fully engaged. I drive like a Grandpa, but I purchased the vehicle with 29k miles, so the previous owner may have been tough on the clutch. Nonetheless, I've read posts on other forums from other non-SS (Cobalt) and Pontiac G5 owners that have had clutches wearout prematurely. Based on my experience, as well as the feedback from other G5 owners, my belief is that the G5/non-SS Cobalt clutch is not as robustly designed as clutches in many other vehicles.

If you purchase a non-SS Cobalt, I would make the purchase with the expectation that the clutch will need to be replaced sooner than the typical 100k mile expectation (100k miles may not be everyone's expectation for clutch wearout, but it is my expectation). Also, be aware that the clutch replacement cost on a Pontiac G5 (I'd expect that it would be a similar cost on the Cobalt) is higher than the typical on other Domestic 4-cylinder vehicles.....that is, the parts are $325 (minimum) and labor is another $700-$1,200 (based on information from other G5 owners on other forums).

Consider this information if you purchase a non-SS Cobalt.

with that said im pretty sure my stock clutch is going out after 11k miles on my SS/TC... then again my clutch in my mustang only lasted 15k miles and then a spec stage 1 went in and it had 40k miles of abuse on drag radials no problem... i HATE how stock clutches slip alllllllll the way up... I'm considering a Exedy Hyper Twin for that reason...

well over 300whp stock clutch 80k miles