Walked out to the car and the side air bags deployed and now it won't start. No power No accident. Drove it to the driveway and parked it. Now it won't start.
Chevrolet Cobalt won't start problems
133 of the 7,681 owner complaints about the Chevrolet Cobalt describe won't start, most of them for the 2006 model year.
- owner complaints
- 133
- worst model year
- 2006
- typical repair cost reported
- $595
- typical mileage
- 76,000
Is there a fix? No recall or service bulletin covers this area of the car yet.
By model year
Often reported together
Stalling 23Fuel pump 16Check engine light 11Loss of power 8Fuel leak 8Fuel smell 7Power steering loss 5Jerking 5
Trouble codes mentioned
U2105 1U0101 1U0073 1P1682 1P0606 1P0604 1
What owners say
My car turned off while I was driving and almost caused me to crash into an 18 wheeler. Thank God I turned on my emergency signal and the truck swerved!. I would of died. I was stuck in the middle of the road and luckily some passersby helped me push it into a commercial parking area. I tried to start it again and it wouldn't start. But, when I turn my key into the off position, my car tried starting by itself. It was scary. It was checked by a mechanic, prior to this happening, because the car was hard to start. The mechanic told me to find out if there is a recall. However, I did some research and there was a recall on the ignition switch and fuel pump. The ignition switch was faulty causing the car to turn off while moving and two people died as a result. I entered the VIN # and it didn't show any recalls.
My speedometer jumps and shows a message of POWER STEERING. It makes my fuel line jump as well. I've recently gotten my starter fixed because my car wouldn't start. My tire warning stays on and my tires are new and set at the right PSI. My ABS comes and goes ALL THE TIME and nothing needs to be fixed. My car jerks really hard when all of this is going on.
My car had a fuel pump go, then within MONTHS, another. We then dealt with the SAME problem symptomatically, and was told it was the fuel pump sensor. Within the last few weeks, I am having all the same issues-including the car intermittently not starting, gasoline leaking from the vehicle, both noticably missing from the gauge (i.e 1/8 tank less than night prior), odor of gas in the car, stalling out while driving and trying to start it, but also now dripping gas from the car. A new issue popped up, which is the dash light coming up saying "check gas cap". This past Thursday, my car wouldn't start again, and has not started since. It's concerning that the Chevy Cobalt has had recalls for the same exact problems, literally thousands of complaints that mirror mine- for every model year EXCEPT the 2010. It's also interesting that they also stopped producing the Cobalt entirely in 2010 too, but considering the amount of faults and issues I've seen documented in every year model it's not a shock. I'm concerned that despite the amount of complaints that include 2010 models, they were excluded from the recall and seeing that my situation is another one that won't be covered, fixed, or made right by GM is something that doesn't make sense. I have also seen, that in 2021 an investigation was launched specifically into this exact issue with the 2010, as well. I'm carless right now, with no answers from Chevy other than that it's not part of the recall, yet it's part of the problem. Something is VERY wrong here. It's shocking they wouldn't recall a vehicle knowing it's dripping gas, pooling gas, it's such a hazard for not only anyone driving them, but anyone driving near us or even PARKED near us. Please help do something! Also I have videos of my car dripping, 2 days prior to it not starting, if there is somewhere I could send those as well.
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request: Noticed a gas smell in my garage for the past couple weeks and the car has been slow to start when sitting overnight. Was able to verify today a gas leak near the driver side rear wheel. Car would not start until I hit the gas pedal and got fuel to the engine, and the leak started again (was able to see drips on pavement) Car is available for inspection How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? Leaking fuel, fire hazard, fumes Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center: No Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others: No Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear: No lights or messages, but the gas smell in the garage has been going for a couple weeks.
The problem that sent it to a different mechanic than the chevy dealer where it came from after a month and 900.00 bill for 550.00 ecm and diagnostic test they did without my permission, there labor for the test and ecm was a total of 900.00. Plus claimed it was throwing a code for a peddle that it needed. We just put a brand new peddle and brand new throttle body on it, it was idled to high, so reason for them getting it was to get the old ecm and new throttle sinked up to reduce the idle , at the time of it leaving me it started and ran just idle to high. Throwing no codes. They got it, claim it wouldn't start so did a diagnostic claimed it needed a new peddle. I said I'm coming to get it, they didn't tell me at any time I couldn't drive it home. I left there lot and pulled about 150 feet off the side of road because it wouldn't shift. Called them , botched did no good. Called same tow truck to tow it home. Got here it was idled normal but was throwing a different codes, I turned the car off it wouldn't stop running for about 3 to 4 minutes, then it died. I had it towed to different mechanic for the ignition to be replaced. He said it was throwing a couple codes still ignition not fixed yet, and it ran for about 15 minutes after shutting off the key. At no time here or at the new place did it throw a code for a defective peddle. So now it's be gone for 2 months , new ecm , new throttle body ,new peddle, idle is fixed and car runs but won't shift. Codes its throwing is now are just needing coil on #4 checked and throttle position sensor adjusted. So far that's it. 2 months later. Still not ready for pick up.
Problems with ignition had a recall on ignition got it replaced still is messing up had to buy another car cause it won't start. It cut off while going down the road
On 6/28/2021, my wife & I took our 2010 Chevy Cobalt Sedan 4 door into down to get some dinner. When we went out to the garage we smelled strong gas fumes which we thought was odd as our garage never smelled of strong gas fumes in the past. We got in the Cobalt & turned the key & it didn't start right away, it took a little bit for it to turn over which I thought was odd as we haven't experienced that before. We put the windows down as the inside of the car had a strong gas smell. There was no warning lights on the dashboard & no prior warning before this issue. Returned home parked car in garage, went back into garage & noticed even stronger smell of gas, looked under the car & noticed liquid under back driver side door which was gas dripping down onto the garage floor, I was nervous of the fumes collecting in the garage & potential fire hazard I put the car outside & placed a bucket under the car to catch the gas to stop it from dripping on the driveway. Also noticed the silver heat shield material was spongy feeling had liquid feel to it which I assume is gas as it was dripping right next to it? Looked on Google noticed other consumers having the same issue of gas dripping from the fuel line. Going to call a Chevy dealer to see what options are as I don't feel safe driving the car knowing its dripping gas & potentially collecting in the silver heat shield material. Chevy should issue a recall to repair the issue & prevent future safety hazard waiting to happen.
key got stuck in ignition ,now wont start car , now airbag light is on
Puddles of fuel leaking from car. Pungent fuel smell on back seats and coming through vents. Clothes are smelling like gasoline when I step out of the car. Doesn't crank right away. 100s maybe even thousands of people have had the same problem with this car
Related recalls
No recalls on record for this model year.
Questions about the Chevrolet Cobalt won't start
Which Chevrolet Cobalt years have won't start problems?
The model years with the most reports are 2006 (34 complaints), 2008 (24 complaints) and 2005 (23 complaints).
How much does it cost to fix won't start on the Chevrolet Cobalt?
Owners who mentioned a price put the repair at about $595 (median of 10 complaints that include a dollar amount). Costs vary with mileage, warranty and where the work is done.
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