Chevrolet Cobalt reliability - how does it compare?
#26
New Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: 02-05-07
Location: Michigan
Posts: 90
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Just wrote a blog entry on the bias issue:
http://www.truedelta.com/blog/?p=54
Those of you who have joined, thanks. Still looking for more cars.
http://www.truedelta.com/blog/?p=54
Those of you who have joined, thanks. Still looking for more cars.
#28
Senior Member
07 bought in sept of 06....3 for sunroof (replaced motor already and again in the shop as im typeing this for the switch cause its still not working right)...once for alignment (they told me my tires were just fat which is a load of ****)....once for rattleing in engine bay guy said it was normal..o and gauges went irratic so that was being checked out with the alignment as well...only 3,000..........KM!
#31
New Member
Join Date: 06-10-06
Location: Magnolia, Arkansas
Posts: 140
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
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.
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.
2006 black Cobalt SS
i'm having problems with the fabric on the door and paint also. i know what u're talking about when it comes to the key coming out of the ignition too. i had the same problem and got it fixed. it was a faulty wire harness in my transmission. because of the faulty wire harness, the car didnt recognize that it was in park and therefore, wouldnt let me take the key out of the ignition. also, im having places in my car where either plastic or metallic sounds are being made in the passenger compartment when i hit bumps or just going down the road. the metallic sound annoys me the most because its the loudest
#32
New Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: 02-05-07
Location: Michigan
Posts: 90
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
However, for people who want to post their repair histories there is a second survey.
As a reminder: while this thread is informative, I cannot use data from it in my analyses.
#33
Senior Member
Join Date: 12-02-06
Location: Hopatcong
Posts: 806
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
2007 Cobalt SS/SC
Bought first week December 2006
times in shop: 3
1,I bought the car all in one day and at 7pm they did not have the shift pattern for the top of my shift knob(why it was off the car? Not sure)
they installed that for me free of charge(damn better have been free of charge)
2, maybe a week after that, 500miles on the car for my stage 2 upgrade...dealer ripped me off there 6 hours of work for like 400$
3, oil change, 2500miles 70$
Note: nothing has failed or broke on my car
2/27/2007-running strong
in conclusion I will be doing my own oil changing and modding this summer, screw the warrenty
Bought first week December 2006
times in shop: 3
1,I bought the car all in one day and at 7pm they did not have the shift pattern for the top of my shift knob(why it was off the car? Not sure)
they installed that for me free of charge(damn better have been free of charge)
2, maybe a week after that, 500miles on the car for my stage 2 upgrade...dealer ripped me off there 6 hours of work for like 400$
3, oil change, 2500miles 70$
Note: nothing has failed or broke on my car
2/27/2007-running strong
in conclusion I will be doing my own oil changing and modding this summer, screw the warrenty
#35
My problems off the top of my head...
1) Sun visor loose and dangly...fixed by screwing in tighter.
2) Brakes squeal forever, they still do after 4-5 dealer visits...
3) Occasional tough starts...it'll fire up and lug at 500rpm for 2-5 seconds before kicking up to 1300rpm.
4) Various rattles, squeaks, horrible squealing from the sunroof when its cold
5) Loose plastic panel in the backseat; unfixable says the dealer.
That's just the stuff I remember...don't feel like getting the receipts out from my 7-8 dealer visits since I got it in August...
1) Sun visor loose and dangly...fixed by screwing in tighter.
2) Brakes squeal forever, they still do after 4-5 dealer visits...
3) Occasional tough starts...it'll fire up and lug at 500rpm for 2-5 seconds before kicking up to 1300rpm.
4) Various rattles, squeaks, horrible squealing from the sunroof when its cold
5) Loose plastic panel in the backseat; unfixable says the dealer.
That's just the stuff I remember...don't feel like getting the receipts out from my 7-8 dealer visits since I got it in August...
#36
06 Cobalt SS 2.4L Sedan Automatic (i dont feel like adding to the site)
But its been in the shop...a few times.
Once for my sunroof (a little clip broke which wasnt letting my sunroof close)
Then for my accident (but that doesnt count)
Then for my Throttle Body/TPS. (which still isnt fixed, but atleast it wont kill my car anymore )
Oh, Ive owned it since 3/31/06..and i have 26k miles on it.
But its been in the shop...a few times.
Once for my sunroof (a little clip broke which wasnt letting my sunroof close)
Then for my accident (but that doesnt count)
Then for my Throttle Body/TPS. (which still isnt fixed, but atleast it wont kill my car anymore )
Oh, Ive owned it since 3/31/06..and i have 26k miles on it.
Last edited by TCarter; 03-24-2007 at 12:17 PM. Reason: Automerged Doublepost
#39
New Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: 02-05-07
Location: Michigan
Posts: 90
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I haven't decided what I'm going to do with data on warped rotors. I didn't initially collect any info on rotors and pads, because too many external factors are involved. But people kept asking me to collect and report brake job information, so I've started doing so. I won't be including brake jobs in the regular repair rate results, but will provide this information separately once I have sufficient data.
#41
Senior Member
this survey is IMPORTANT !!!
here is my thought.... I personally think the majority of cobalts are problem free or have minimal problems. We need to get on the data collection site and post not only the bad, but the good!!!!
my idea is that if there is enough positive feedback that shows are cobalts are reliable, demand goes up, resale value goes up and we don't have to get raped when selling or trading in our balts.
does that sound like a good reason????
BTW... 17,000 miles in 9 months and not one problem.... and I do track my car!!!
my idea is that if there is enough positive feedback that shows are cobalts are reliable, demand goes up, resale value goes up and we don't have to get raped when selling or trading in our balts.
does that sound like a good reason????
BTW... 17,000 miles in 9 months and not one problem.... and I do track my car!!!
Last edited by suburbanrobot; 04-09-2007 at 01:50 PM. Reason: missing info
#42
New Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: 02-05-07
Location: Michigan
Posts: 90
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Here's the theory behind what I'm doing:
You can honestly report every problem you have repaired on your Cobalt without fearing that this will hurt the rep of the car. I say this because TrueDelta posts the actual repair rates, not relative ratings. Even if the Cobalt has one of the worst repair rates, it'll probably still be about one trip to the shop per year for the average car. The average is around 0.6.
What this will make obvious is that in many cases the differences are just a few tenths of a repair trip per year. Right now, with CR's relative ratings--everything is simply compared to the average--many people overestimate the size of these differences.
This is especially crazy with CR, since teh differences between different dot ratings for a 2006 model in CR is about 0.03 problems per car. No, that's not a typo. They really are making a big deal about one extra problem for every 30 or so cars.
So please do participate, and honestly report your repair experiences.
You can honestly report every problem you have repaired on your Cobalt without fearing that this will hurt the rep of the car. I say this because TrueDelta posts the actual repair rates, not relative ratings. Even if the Cobalt has one of the worst repair rates, it'll probably still be about one trip to the shop per year for the average car. The average is around 0.6.
What this will make obvious is that in many cases the differences are just a few tenths of a repair trip per year. Right now, with CR's relative ratings--everything is simply compared to the average--many people overestimate the size of these differences.
This is especially crazy with CR, since teh differences between different dot ratings for a 2006 model in CR is about 0.03 problems per car. No, that's not a typo. They really are making a big deal about one extra problem for every 30 or so cars.
So please do participate, and honestly report your repair experiences.
#43
Senior Member
Join Date: 01-25-06
Location: Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota (from Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania)
Posts: 4,309
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I'll definitely join in on this once I get back to the states. Truedelta hasn't been categorized by the network here so it's blocked per the policy here. My Cobalt has been reliable for me. Only thing it has been in the shop for is oil changes and my parking brake handle breaking. It did just go in the shop for a dead battery, but that was my wife's doing by leaving my parking lights on.
Do you collect data for Hyundai vehicles also? I'm sure I could also contribute info on my wife's Tucson.
Do you collect data for Hyundai vehicles also? I'm sure I could also contribute info on my wife's Tucson.
#44
New Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: 02-05-07
Location: Michigan
Posts: 90
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I collect data on anything I can get at least 25 of. I've had good participation for the Tucson pretty much since I started, but can always use another. You can't have too large of a sample, and mine are still small.
#45
Senior Member
Join Date: 03-23-07
Location: Michigan
Posts: 14,118
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I have had my car for a year and a half no problems besides recalls but this is a new model GM came out with so you have to expect some problems i mean no body can make a car that never has any problems especially a sports car......
#46
Senior Member
Join Date: 01-25-06
Location: Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota (from Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania)
Posts: 4,309
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Well when I get back to the states I'll sign up and start contributing info on my Cobalt and my wife's Tucson.
#47
Had mine since 8-06 and mine has been in the shop twice. Once had a brcket on the sunroof break and the other just got it out today the PCM went bad. Was reading a lean fuel mixture and had a bad cicuit in the PCM. They replaced the PCM and gave me the latest engine calibration for the stock motor. No upgrades as of yet. Give me a couple more weeks and I'll have the stage 2, exhuast, and intake all at the same time.
#48
Senior Member
Join Date: 07-01-05
Location: Northeastern New York
Posts: 1,847
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I haven't decided what I'm going to do with data on warped rotors. I didn't initially collect any info on rotors and pads, because too many external factors are involved. But people kept asking me to collect and report brake job information, so I've started doing so. I won't be including brake jobs in the regular repair rate results, but will provide this information separately once I have sufficient data.
this car gets driven hard routinely.
Scott
#50
Senior Member
Join Date: 11-23-06
Location: Texas boy stuck in an Iowa Cornfield
Posts: 2,855
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I haven't decided what I'm going to do with data on warped rotors. I didn't initially collect any info on rotors and pads, because too many external factors are involved. But people kept asking me to collect and report brake job information, so I've started doing so. I won't be including brake jobs in the regular repair rate results, but will provide this information separately once I have sufficient data.
I have been told that I have an aggressive driving style though.