Chevrolet Cobalt reliability - how does it compare?
 

Because existing vehicle reliability information leaves much to be desired, in late 2005 I started conducting my own reliability research. I'm reporting absolute stats like "times in the shop" that will make the differences between cars much clearer. I’ll also be updating results four times a year, so there will be information on new models sooner.

I’ve started collecting data on the 2006 Cobalt. But sample sizes remain small, so more cars would help a great deal. I'd also like to start collecting data on other model years, but need more cars. I appreciate that the admin of this forum has agreed to help out.

To encourage participation, panel members will receive full access to the results free of charge.

Details: Vehicle reliability research

Comments, questions, and suggestions welcome.

NOTE: The results will only be based on people who sign up and participate in the research. I don't collect data from the thread itself.

only things ive been in the shop for were for key fobs not working and my shifter making a cracking noise when i put in drive. which they said was normal.

No probs here. 6 months and going strong

Bout a year here... only problem i had were with the front rotors. they were warping pretty early.

tranny on my half. lol headlight, and poor fuel milage. lol

I can definitely see how this would be very useful information to have - I added my 2005 Cobalt to the list.

Bought Dec. 2005.
Times in shop: 3
Noise from right rear strut that is still not fixed. (One more time and it qualifies for the Lemon law).
Gas gauge inaccurate.
Shifter knob loose.
Fabric pulling away from both front door handle bezels.
Paint peeling on both front door handle bezels.
edit: A/C Compressor overcharged from factory.

Now it needs to go in again because the CD player takes CD's hostage and the ignition won't let go of the key 75 percent of the time when the car is turned off. Once this car is gone I'm probably not getting any more Chevy's.

I've had my car for 7 months and it hasn't been in the shop once.

wow...what a list.....i honestly cant believe it....

Hehe... Well you don't have to believe it if you don't want to, but I didn't post that big list up just to be cool. As far as reliability this is the second to worst car I have ever owned. First worst car was my '67 VW Bug and you can probably guess why.

1 year 3 months and the car hasnt gone to the dealer... i have owned it 3 months

guys...for the record, i think you need to click on the link and apply/enter there on the site...they need info like license plate no. and other crap

Can anyone post the info if any is available since i cant see it cuz i aint gotta cobalt yet?

only problems i had were the continental tires.... there poo poo


.

I've had mine since the beginning of July (yea 0%) and it hasn't even been close to the dealer since. I'll probably hit 10,000 miles tomorrow and it's been perfect, just as I expected it to be.

Had my 07 sedan since September 1st 2006 have over 8000 miles on it and ZERO problems! Only been in the shop once for one oil change, waaaay better then my 04 Cavi was.

I had a 2005 Cobalt base coupe (2.2L/5gear) and the only issues I had with it were the radio crapping out (common and fixed early), the paint peeling (common and addressed).

I purchased my 07 Cobalt SS/SC September 15,2006 and the only issue occured the 2nd or third day I had the car. The lock that holds the clutch linkage in the firewall was not installed properly allowing it to pop free and negative any clutch i may have had... It was repaired inside of 20 minutes.
No other problems inside of the 9500 miles so far.

Scott

Nothing out of the ordinary... When trying to parallel park a lot, the electric steering over heats then gives you just your hand crank to turn the wheel. But that goes away after you begin to drive. Still puuurrrs when it's treated nicely and not abused.

But twice in less than 7 months I ran into problems.

1. Someody backed there truck up and scraped the side of my car (180 miles) luckily he paid for it. $2200

2. Someone breaking into my car (2300 miles luckily nothing stolen) $190

~~Alex

I dont know how 1 and 2 has anything related to the engineering of the car :lol:

Window could have been bullet-proof.

lol this isnt a BMW

I've had mine for about a year with 17k miles and zero problems. It's a daily driver that's been modded, raced at the track and run on the dyno, and it's never been in the shop even once. Great product.

I'm shopping for a car for my wife now - and it's going to be another Chevy.

had mine for 3 months.. went in for bad cat, fouled spark plugs and bad muffler, it was a recall

This isnt really an accurate way to gauge reliability... most people who come to this forum because they have problems they want to fix. Many of them choose to stick around, but in the overall view of things you're bound to get a vast majority who've had problems.

You'd be right if I collected the information posted in this thread. But I don't, for this very reason.

The reliability survey doesn't collect data on past problems. The site has a separate repair history survey for people who want to share their pain or good fortune.

The reliability survey works this way:

--you sign up

--after you sign up you'll get a monthly email; it's the same each month, so after the first time or two you won't really have to read it; if you had a repair (not just maintenance) the previous month, you click on a link in the email (the link signs you in, no need to bother with a login) and fill out a brief survey

--if you have no repairs, just provide an approximate odometer reading at the end of every quarter so we know you're still breathing and everything

That's all there is to it. Most cars these days are in the shop less than once a year, so very little time is required.

In other words, with the exception of the first month the survey only collects data on repairs that happen AFTER someone signs up. No other reliability survey does this. With every other reliability survey, people already know what they're going to report at the time they decide to participate. Upset with the car? Then they're much more likely to participate.

Just one reason TrueDelta is going to have better data.

Sorry for the delay in responding, by the way. Without realizing it I was signed up for weekly notification. Usually I select instant.