2005 Chevrolet Cobalt: harsh or hard shifting

Filed Jul 12, 2018 · Transmission · 117,000 miles · IN

Traction control warning light came on after starting vehicle. Shifted from p to r and the shift was hard. Shifted to d and a clunk occurred. Vehicle did not drive correctly. Shut off vehicle and started it again. Problem went away. This could be very dangerous if it happens while driving at speed.

Filed Sep 27, 2017 · Steering, Transmission · 99,000 miles · FL

Power steering alarm appears on dashboard. Power steering stops working and transmission begins very hard shifting, causing car to 'buck' each time it shifts. The problem has occured both when stationary and when in motion. It was intermittent, but now occurs daily.

Filed Sep 14, 2017 · Steering · 180,000 miles · MI

I had recall 10v073000 performed by the dealer due to noticing my steering was getting tight then sloppy. The dealer replaced the motor and said the slop in the steering was a bad intermediate steering shaft. So I bought that and had it installed, not at the dealer because they where ridiculous in price, and it fixed nothing. There was still slop and wandering while driving. After a while, making left turns I would head a clunk and it would still be difficult to turn. Then while making a slow left turn it was really tight and then a loud clunk then the steering became really loose and the vehicle lost steering until I turned the wheel more and it finally grabbed. It happens more frequently now. I was told the rack is now damaged. The intermediate shaft that was recommended by the dealer was an incorrect diagnosis when I had the recall performed. The failure of the motor put excess stress on the rack which caused the gears to wear is what an independent shop told me. Gm is telling me that I have to spend more money to get a "proper diagnosis" from the dealer when at the time the recall was performed they had diagnosed it incorrectly.

Filed Aug 5, 2017 · Driver assistance, Engine · 173,450 miles · CA

The traction control system light on my chevrolet cobalt 2005 stays on and does not turn off until I shut off the engine. The check engine light also stays on as well at the same time the traction control system light is on, so not sure if these two issues are related. I also notice that the vehicle jerks periodically when I am on the road and there is rough shifting of gears.

Filed Nov 8, 2016 · Electrical, Steering · IL

Our 2005 chevrolet cobalt has had ongoing intermittent electrical problems that cause the vehicle to slam into gears going when accelerating and slowing down. This is accompanied by the vehicle shaking. While this is going on, the speedometer fluctuates and we get a power steering warning. My son has lost the power steering assist occasionally and one time it almost caused and accident. If we shut the vehicle off, the problem seems to go away but only temporarily.

Filed Jun 30, 2014 · Electrical, Steering · 120,000 miles · MI

Not sure exactly when it happened, but it has been occurring for years now. I have spent thousands of dollars in diagnostics, parts, and labor trying to fix the mystery problem! I'm fed up! It seems to happen randomly and fix itself randomly. Sometimes it lasts a couple days and sometimes longer than a couple weeks. The problem: my car will lose power steering, it starts shifting really hard and the gauges inside get all screwed. Occasionally when it happens it just won't shift at all. It will stay in first gear. The inside gauges: the speedometer will bounce all over the place, never staying still. The radio will also get loud and quiet by itself. The power locks would frantically go up and down themselves, until I took out the spark plug for those. It is very difficult to drive when the power steering goes out, not like cars that were built without it in the first place. The very hard shifting cannot be good for the car and is dangerous when I am driving during winter months or rainy weather. I live in michigan and it snows a lot. Even the chevy dealership can't tell me what is wrong and I have paid to have numerous parts replaced that have not fixed the problem. I've read other boards online with people having the same issue. I just cannot afford to keep paying to not get the problem fixed. I hate driving such an unreliable car with two young children, four years and 10 months. It happened multiple times when my little one was a newborn. Felt like I was giving the poor baby whiplash when the car switched gears. It's an automatic so there is nothing I can do about it.

Filed Aug 13, 2013 · Steering · 120,000 miles · FL

Vehicle has a rattle and vibration at highways speeds from 50-80. Steering is very loose and rattling sound is loud. Also, at slow speeds and going over bumps there is a clunking sound in the steering column and rattling noise from wheel.

Filed Jul 30, 2013 · Electrical · 65,500 miles · IA

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 chevrolet cobalt. The contact stated that while driving at unknown speeds, the fuel gauge and tachometer fluctuated erratically. The contact also stated that the power steering failed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was found that there was low battery voltage. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 65,500. Updated 08/27/13*lj when the consumer stated the vehicle, there was a high idle and a hard shift into reverse. The ignition shift lock release solenoid malfunctioned. When the key was held in acc mode, the brake lock release solenoid malfunctioned. The tachometer and fuel gauge fluctuated erratically. Updated 08/27/13

Filed Oct 10, 2012 · Suspension · 89,000 miles · CA

The vehicle front passenger side makes a clunking noise through the bottom metal frame of the car when turning to an uneven road or driveway.

Filed Apr 5, 2012 · Suspension · OH

Took my car to dealer because of bad clunking in front end. They replaced the bushings (while under warranty). Now (58000 mi) I am having the same problem and the clunking is much worse?! Seems to be an ongoing problem with these cobalts. Seems there should be some kind of recall with all these complaints before there is a horrific accident!!!! Also (I have the 2 door) there is a constant problem with the doors not working! All the sudden you try to get in and the handle moves but does not open! I would have to enter/exit on passenger side! I have had parts to this replaced several times now. This too could also be very dangerous if in an accident! I am still happy with my car but not with the same ongoing issues that could lead to potential disaster!

Filed Aug 31, 2011 · Electrical · 105,000 miles · NH

Randomly, chimes sound, gauges on instrument panel cycle to zero and back, power steering warning light, fuel low warning show, sometimes theft light comes on as does check engine light. Electrical assist to automatic transmission is lost resulting in hard shifts. Must manually shift into 1st gear when stopping to avoid engine stalling. Parking car seems to fix/allow car to reset. Has happened many times over past two years. Had mechanic look at it first time. Said every computer on the car had to be reset to the tune of $100. Recurred two days later. Fixed itself before taking it back in. Now I just live with the problem because I don't have the money to let these guys trouble shoot and fix things that are not the problem. Am having the power steering recall done tomorrow hoping that it would solve the problem but apparently it doesn't. Problem occurrence is totally random. Sometimes there is 6 months between episodes, sometimes weeks, days. It is really acting up after the heavy rains of irene.

Filed Aug 24, 2011 · Body, Suspension · 68,902 miles · 00

I have a 2005 cobalt that has less then 70,000km on it and have recently been hearing a loud clunking coming from the front end of the car. I have just had a licensed mechanic look at the car and was informed that my front rear control arm bushings are completely gone and the car is now a hazard to drive till it can be fixed. With such low kms the mechanic had no reason or idea as to why they would be so far gone. I was advised that if the car was driven any further, the tires could fall of and the car would crash.