2005 Chevrolet Cobalt: engine knocking or ticking

Filed Feb 23, 2015 · Steering, Transmission · 199,230 miles · GA

Car was recalled in 2010 for power steering. Previous owner had it fixed. I initially reported back in january 2014 of recurring problem of losing power steering while driving. I was told it was already fixed so I would have to pay out of pocket to fix same problem as the recall. Here it is a year later and I'm still having the same problem with the power steering. The speedometer started flickering back and forth going haywire and there was a weird ticking noise in the area near the gearshift. I had to pull over on the side of the highway and was almost struck by a tractor trailer because the power steering locked up on me and I had my 3 kids in the car. I was told that I needed a new coil pack, it was replaced and it's still doing the same thing. It shakes at red lights and occasionally cuts off. I have to press the pedal to the floor to get it to accelerate which it does but very slowly, and then it just takes off like a rocket and I have no control over it. This is very dangerous!! Also my car can switch gears without having to press the brake or the button in the gearshift. I can just simply push the gearshift back and forth without being in the car. While backing out of my driveway my kneecap bumped my keys and my car turned off. There needs to be another recall of the power steering because apparently the replacement parts are faulty as well. Or it could be the faulty wiring altogether in the system. These chevy cobalts need to be taken off of the streets and owners reimbursed for the car plus all of the trouble and near death experiences that we have to continue to experience on gms behalf. I have read several other complaints about the power steering being fixed and still have the same results as myself. How many people will have to die or another lawsuit presented before there's another recall to have these cars removed permanently off the roads?

Filed Feb 7, 2014 · Electrical, Transmission · 48,000 miles · IL

I had the ignition cylinder replaced about a year ago, due to the key not being able to release. This was a common problem with 2005 model year cobalts. Well, the vehicle is doing this again. The key is not being released from the ignition cylinder. However, this time I believe it is the shifter assembly that has gone bad. There is no reverse lock out. I can freely cycle through the gears without applying the brakes which is a safety hazard. I can put the car in reverse without applying the brakes by simply moving the shift lever. Little to no force is needed, I can accidentally knock the lever into reverse with the littlest of force. I have yet to contact the dealer about the issue since I am sure it will cost a fortune to fix even though it is a documented problem with a few technical service bulletins on the issue.

Filed Feb 28, 2012 · Suspension · 32,000 miles · IL

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 chevrolet cobalt. The contact stated that a loud knocking noise was heard from the bottom front of the vehicle. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and offered some assistance with repairs to the vehicle. The dealer diagnosed the failure and determined that the front lower control arm was defective. The dealer replaced two control arms but one the failure recurred on one control arm. The failure mileage was 32,000 and the current mileage was 77,000.

Filed Mar 16, 2011 · Steering · OH

My 2005 chevy cobalt has been having some issues with a knocking sound while driving. Almost sounds as if something was loose and hitting something else is the only way I know to describe it. People who have drove in my car thought it was bad shocks or struts, but those have been checked and working fine. It makes the noise while driving, hitting normal bumps in the road, etc. I had a mechanic look at it and he replaced some lower arm bushings in the front end. But that did not fix the problem. He looked at a service bulletin and narrowed my problem down to two things. One being the electric motor in the steering column. This part was supposedly replaced by my local dealer when chevy put out a recall on it. The other part was the steering gear that turns the wheel. He said this could cost up to $500 to replace and didn't want to take a chance and that not be it. I did not have the money to replace it any way. He said he did not see a safety issue driving the car as is for now. But I wanted to report the problem in case others with this vehicle are having the same issues so a recall can be done.

Filed Nov 29, 2010 · Steering, Transmission · 60,000 miles · IA

Chevy dealer replaced power steering assist, since the repair, issue has been recurring. Transmission slips and knocks the car forward, power steering error appears, tachometer and speedometer short out.

Filed Jul 1, 2010 · Suspension · 25,500 miles · PA

Tl*the contact owns a 2005 chevrolet cobalt. The contact stated that whenever he made a left and right turn or drive over a pot hole there was a constant knocking noise on the front drivers side of the vehicle. When the failure occurred it was as if the wheels were separating from the vehicle. The dealer was contacted and stated that this was a constant problem which required the bushings to be replaced occasionally. The vehicle was not repaired when the complaint was filed. The failure mileage was 25,500 and the current mileage was 41,328.

Filed Apr 5, 2009 · Steering · 52,082 miles · CA

Steering motor was determined defective by gm at 50k miles. Tires wood catch grooves in the road pulling the car unexpectedly. Shuttering of steering wheel while going straight. Knocking/ rattle sounds from steering column on rough/ bumpy roads. This happens all the time. These problems started about 35k, right after my warranty expired. After contacting gm and a chevy dealership, the cost will be $850. And it is a "common problem", design error. At 52k driving normally down the road, power steering shut off, "power steering" displayed, and the steering wheel was excessively hard to turn.

Filed Jan 29, 2009 · Electrical, Transmission · 75,944 miles · NC

More than six months ago I was driving at approx 55mph when my car started to "jump". Reminded me of someone learning to drive a standard. Had car towed to dealership, no codes, did trans service, 1 qt low (approx $500 w/tow). Problem cont randomly, could not afford to take to dealership for them to play guessing game. Finally took in begin of jan for ck engine light, no code, sent home. Few days later started acting up again. Let me elaborate...it will "jump" when shifting especially into 2nd, ck engine light on, t/c light on, speedometer gage goes goofy and "power steering" appears, oh and ticking in shifter. We have also had issues with the power steering going out. On 1/15 it started acting up while on freeway took it straight to the dealer. They pulled code p0742 and decided to replace transmission valve body (approx$2000). Picked up car on 1/19, next day eng light back on. Husband took to dealer told it would go off. Came back on beginning of this week. Last night on way to school & back experienced worse case yet. "jumping", ck engine, t/c an auto-theft lights on, ticking in shifter especially when breaking. When leaving school power steering wouldn't work, turned car off n on 3 times to get it to kick in. I do not feel that my car is safe to drive anymore. And with as many complaints as I have read today I do not understand why chevy/gm has not found a resolution for this yet or done a recall. Will it take a fatality to get them to react???? (1/29/09 sk).

Filed Nov 15, 2007 · Electrical, Steering · 19,253 miles · VA

Car purchased on 3/14/05 from rk chevrolet. Starting sept. 12, 2006 the car electrical system started malfunctioning. Various dash board lights came on, tick noise from the shifter, power steering light and fails, and the gauges began to go crazy! The car also wanted to shut off, and has boosts of energy. The same issue occurred november 2, 2006, june 8, 2007, september 19, 2007(colonial chevrolet), and october 16, 2007 (colonial chevrolet). After we got it back from colonial, the same problem occurred approximately 2 days later. Colonial chevrolet indicated that that could not fix the problem and they were waiting to talk to gm about it! They even suggested initiating a buy back. We have been in contact with gmac in detroit about the issue and no answers have given nor a resolution. Currently we have to drive a very unsafe car that jolts, can't turn, and will not accelerate at times. We have been requesting at least a rental (safe car) until this problem can be addressed and no one has offered this in lue of a resolution. What has been done: PCM replaced: (9/15/07)body, throttle (8/7/07, 11/2/06), replaced: body control (11/2/06); shifter bind & ndash; replace slide, automatic control lever replace, floor shift replace, wiring /connector steering suspension ride control??< control assembly. Floor shift replace (9/12/06).

Filed Nov 9, 2007 · Steering, Transmission · 28,510 miles · MD

I have had my chevrolet cobalt since april 2005 and it was bought brand new from the dealership .. Up til the beginning of this year it has worked fine .. But in 2007 I have to get a new gear shift , keys made, then to top it off I have had the power steering light come on the information board and it go out 8 times in 2 weeks .. So far knock on wood it has worked fine .. The day I made the appointment it went out 3x within a 30 minute span ..