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Chevrolet Cobalt headlights problems

85 of the 7,681 owner complaints about the Chevrolet Cobalt describe headlights failing or too dim, most of them for the 2005 model year.

owner complaints
85
worst model year
2005
typical repair cost reported
$500
typical mileage
67,000
Is there a fix? There is 1 recall for this area of the car. See below

By model year

What owners say

Filed Apr 7, 2025 · Airbags, Electrical · 259,000 miles · OR

Our vehicle has had zero accidents the airbag light showed up on dashboard stating check airbags. Then as far as electrical the headlights seem to turn on there own at times. We feel this perhaps is a recall not known yet.

Filed Dec 21, 2024 · Airbags, Electrical · IL · crash

The air bag never deployed I bought car in 2018 from original owner with car only having 33,000 miles on it and still under warranty til car had 100,000 miles and I hit a deer head on 2 months after getting car which bought in may of 2018 hit the deer in July 2018 . The deer was hit with the front passenger side it broke my headlight n messed my hood up and smashed in the grill little and my air bags never deployed I hit deer at 50 mph , after that had happened I took it in to Chevy dealership and had them look at car cause I told them I hit that deer and air bag never deployed and that my air bag light came on once in awhile and said service air bag . The dealership said they do that sometimes and did something to make light go off that was it my air vag light still comes on and says service air bag . Also ignition switch and fuel smell foul coming from car a lot and is as I speak . My reduce engine power light comes on a lot and have no power to gas pedal n car won’t stay running . I have try to get two recalls fixed back in 2-21 I was having problems with my car back then too special reach called me in Jan of 2021 and told me that there were two recalls on my car ignition switch and fuel module so I informed dealership when I took my car in That next month in feb 21 told them I was informed on 2 active recalls on my car . When they were done with my car later that day I asked them if they fixed the recalls they said no cause it was map sensor so I then made an appt to get recalls fixed when I got there for the recalls to be fixed one of the technicians told me it shows that they were done . I called Chevy and complained about the issue I just had and never had recalls fixed but they must of put it in computer they fixed them So I’ve been really upset that I been trying to get past recalls fixed that are on my car and I get run around and told there isn’t any I know about a past recall on shift selnoid low circuit too that was a past recal

Filed May 28, 2024 · Lights · MS

OEM headlights had become dim and one could no longer be aimed, so I ordered these replacements through Amazon. I paid $92 to have them installed, and the mechanic let me know that the high beams could not be activated, except by holding the turn signal, making it dangerous to steer. In addition, when the headlights are on they create so much RF, the radio no longer gets most AM or FM stations. The mechanic confirmed, they are wired incorrectly, but did not wish to attempt to rewire them.

Filed Dec 22, 2023 · NC

Bright LED lights when driving at night, specifically of other SUV or truck vehicles. This has affected my driving at night by blinding and giving me headaches. How can we prevent a safer road? Why is this approved? Why do headlights need to be so bright, that they are blinding to other vehicles? This is a huge safety concern and needs to be addressed. I drive a smaller car, but i shouldnt have to be punished because i drive a smaller vehicle. This isnt about specifically the make and model of the car, but solely on the bright LED headlights that are dangerous while i am driving at night.

Filed Oct 28, 2021 · Body, Electrical · LA

My headlight an blinker quit working new bulbs an all new wiring it it still will not work My trunk button also just stopped working an the fuse is not blown. I even replaced it just to make sure still nothing. Door panel clips won’t stay in bought new ones same thing so now my handle is coming apart an my door doesn’t want to shut bc it thinks I’m still holding the handle.. Fuel everytime I get gas I have to crank my car a few times and press on the gas before I can get it to go otherwise it just dies on me I’ve had it looked at they said it was something about how my car does not know when to stop releasing air I think. My blinkers don’t turn off unless I do it manually. The seals on my door is no good anytime it rains it’s coming inside of my car an since the door panel won’t stay on it’s coming straight into my car

Filed Dec 27, 2019 · Driver assistance, Fuel system · NN

Increasingly the vehicle is not operating properly. The lighting is not consistent and the smallest addition of extra features requiring power (ex: using one or more window controls, heater and or defogger, lighting in dash at full capacity, musical performance, radio and bass, etc) will cause the power of existing devices to flutter or surge for example the headlights will dim out when turning the windows down or the vehicle will begin to vibrate and shake even more almost as though it is overpowering and wanting to shut down or quit. Also the rpms will feel like they are hiccuping or bouncing down and up more than usual and at random times and speeds at times seems like its going to red line even if you take your foot off the gas. This is also a bit of the same type of issue but it is the opposite when you push the gas it hesitates or something like that glitches or jolts and gains power very slowly and has a hard time accelerating and gaining speed (seems gutless?) . And at stop lights and whenever parked its rumbles and shakes all together let alone if you are using the radio or heat etc it's loud enough to have to get the people in vehicle to almost yell when talking over it or if you are in a drive through the person can't hear you and either have to stut off the engine or speak to them in person at the next window. Also when you are slowing down to stop it almost seems the engine will be faster than the body or something like that (I know sounds crazy but I don't know how to explain it any other way) . I've come to the conclusion that it will be fuel and or electricity related or both. Its also randomly showing a few different codes and then suddenly they go away all to do with fuel pressure or syster or evap type thing. Without clearing them they resolve themselves without any work or anything witch also seems very oddto me. Thankyou in advance for reading.

Filed Nov 15, 2019 · Electrical, Lights · 50,000 miles · MD

The automatic headlights on the car do shut off intermittently. They also turn on by themselves sometimes when the car is parked and off. We have been stranded with a dead battery when this happens. This seems to be a common problem with the 2007 and newer cobalts. Typically cars had a physical relay to control the headlights. In these cars the relay circuit is built in the underside of the engine compartment fuse box. The box is not seal properly and moisture gets into the box, causing a failure on the circuit board. This car first started doing this back in 2009 when my daughter had it. I recently took the car back and it was still behaving in this manner. The work around that seemed to work for a long time was to manually turn the auto lights off using the multifunction lever on the steering wheel. Today, the lights started coming on by themselves when the car was parked. Also, turning the auto lights off manually has stopped being effective. We are now fearful, will the lights shut off while we are driving, and off course will we be stranded with a dead battery when parking the car. The solution seems to be to replace the fuse box in the engine compartment a $200 part plus a few labor hours. Then you have to rig up a solution to make the defective box seal, such as adding weatherstripping. I feel this should be a safety recall for gm to fix at no cost to customer. [xxx] *pm information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

Filed Jan 27, 2019 · Lights · 92,300 miles · FL

The front right side headlight had moisture buildup inside the fixture .plus the fixture had discolored and faded and was not clear. Apparently the sealant around the headlight fixture did not make a permanent tight seal therefore water entered inside. As a result the daytime light went off and on and the signal light did the same. The safety issue was while in motion on a city street turning the driver facing me did not know I was signaling and the driver behind me saw fast signal lights flashing from my chevy cobalt. I had my complete headlight light assembly replaced by a body shop and this corrected the whole problem. It cost me $173.52

Filed Aug 13, 2018 · Lights · 137,000 miles · MA

Headlights failing within 6 months of replacement. Both driver and passenger side. Low beam. I have replaced both side at least 3 times in last 75,000 miles.

Filed Jul 15, 2018 · Driver assistance, Electrical · 79,631 miles · PA

When im driving to work and car is in motion all lights dim, all 4 lock flicker off and on while im driving and car is in motion on highway. Sometimes the lock open other times they don't work with the car remote. The headlights will come on by them self even after I shut the car off. The car will unlock even after I lock it either wilth remote or manually. Chevy dealership had a recall on this car and I did take it for updates. I realize this is a 2010, but this has happened to my car since 2011. Once they fixed the problem it was ok, but here we go again. I tell me husband im afraid to get into christine. I would like the dealership to fix this at their expense. I don't think I will buy another chevy when I see how many electrical problems are written online.

Related recalls

Exterior lighting: headlightsReported November 22, 2004 · 1,378 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Certain passenger vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." the bulb shields inside of the headlamps can loosen due to vibration.
Risk
The bulb shield can loosen or break because of vibration. If this occurred on a headlamp installed in a vehicle, oncoming drivers may notice additional glare, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will install two new headlamp assemblies. The recall began on november 17, 2004. Owners should contact chevrolet at 1‑800‑630‑2438.

Recall number 04V560000 · Recall details

Questions about the Chevrolet Cobalt headlights

Which Chevrolet Cobalt years have headlights failing or too dim problems?

The model years with the most reports are 2005 (28 complaints), 2006 (18 complaints) and 2007 (17 complaints).

How much does it cost to fix headlights failing or too dim on the Chevrolet Cobalt?

Owners who mentioned a price put the repair at about $500 (median of 13 complaints that include a dollar amount). Costs vary with mileage, warranty and where the work is done.

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