Chevrolet Cobalt Chevrolet Cobalt

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Expensive Chevrolet Cobalt repairs by problem area

Engine (36%)

Transmission and Drivetrain (17%)

Brakes and Traction Control (3%)

Suspension and Steering (33%)

Electrical and Air Conditioning (6%)

Paint, Rust, Leaks, Rattles, and Trim (3%)

Other (3%)

Chart based on 36 repairs.
See TSBs and recalls for the Chevrolet Cobalt.

Chevrolet Cobalt repair cost distribution

$2500+ (27%)

$1000 - $2499 (73%)

$500 - $999 (0%)

$100 - $499 (0%)

< $100 (0%)

Worried about potential repair costs? An extended warranty can provide peace of mind.

Chart based on 26 repair trips. The repair cost chart excludes repairs made under warranty, do-it-yourself repairs, and repair trips that include maintenance.

2010 Chevrolet Cobalt 4dr Sedan

155-horsepower 2.2L I4 4-speed automatic FWD

18000 mi

US $2000
Check engine light came on. Dealer did a valve job at 18000 miles. 
80000 mi

US $2800
Valve job done at dealer, under warranty. 
83000 mi

US $2300
Replaced head. 
110000 mi

US $1300
Expansion pipe off the engine cracked, needed replacement. 

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2009 Chevrolet Cobalt 4dr Sedan

turbocharged 260hp 2.0L I4 5-speed manual FWD

30300 mi

US $100
CV boot on right axle failed, leading to ultimately require the axle to also be replaced. 
48000 mi

US $450
Replaced calipers Mass air flow sensor went bad, causing CEL to eliminate 
49000 mi

US $400
Part of intake housing cracked, limiting boost pressure. 

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2009 Chevrolet Cobalt 4dr Sedan

155-horsepower 2.2L I4 4-speed automatic FWD

30000 mi

US $300
turn signal not returning to off position 
50100 mi

US $269
cam position actuator replacement 
72300 mi

US $1000
Transmission shift solenoids replaced/ 

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2009 Chevrolet Cobalt 2dr Coupe

turbocharged 260hp 2.0L I4 5-speed manual FWD

30000 mi

US $1200
Sunroof would chatter and try to stick when closing. 
48000 mi

US $5000
Fuel system Fuel pump was bad and pumping fuel into the oil Low Coolant light keeps illuminating, no sign of leaks anywhere. Had vehicle up on hoist and no sign. No coolant residue in tailpipe. WTF Replaced engine due to extremely thick oil. Only thing we could find was a problem with the original engine having hairline cracks in the head and block that allowed small amounts of antifreeze into the oil, turning it to sludge. 
30380 mi

C $4300
Weak valve springs happened twice.. 1st time under warranty, 2nd time was on my own bill but I upgraded to an entirely new upgraded head, so the problem will NOT return. 
43400 mi

C $8000
Engine was leaking coolant into oil pan gradually worsening until 1gal was lost in 5 minutes of runtime. Condition known as "porous block" GM refuses to acknowledge problem. Repairing on my own. Head gasket attempt-failed. Car down for 3yrs 

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2009 Chevrolet Cobalt 2dr Coupe

155-horsepower 2.2L I4 5-speed manual FWD

48000 mi

US $1600
Failed clutch, something mechanical. 
50000 mi

US $530
VVT solenoids replaced Tires rotated 
65000 mi

US $1600
Replace shocks and struts due to normal wear. 

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2009 Chevrolet Cobalt 2dr Coupe

155-horsepower 2.2L I4 4-speed automatic FWD

137300 mi

US $1200
The two sensors in the transmission were burnt to a crisp. The sensor to the cam shaft had blown also. 

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2008 Chevrolet Cobalt

Engine not specified

116800 mi

US $1300
right front wheel bearing, struts and shocks, front rotors and pads, sway bar links. 

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2008 Chevrolet Cobalt 2dr Coupe

148-horsepower 2.2L I4 5-speed manual FWD

108000 mi

US $2000
Head gasket replacement and head work 

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2007 Chevrolet Cobalt 4dr Sedan

148-horsepower 2.2L I4 4-speed automatic FWD

117000 mi

US $3000
Engine replacement 

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2007 Chevrolet Cobalt 2dr Coupe

supercharged 205hp 2.0L I4 5-speed manual FWD

247000 mi

US $280
Replaced broken axle due to abuse. Occasional wheel hop in 1st gear with aggressive throttle. The issue should be prevented with revised OEM engine and transmission mounts. 
255000 mi

US $200
The control arm bushings were replaced. This was to stop a clunk. It is better, but not gone. 
263000 mi

US $230
Driver side head light leaked condensation. Driver and passenger side headlamps were replaced with Depo aftermarket units with projector housings. I also replaced the low beam bulbs with IntenseHID 6000K units. 
268000 mi

US $1500
The clutch, flywheel, pressure plate, simply worn out after so many miles. tie rod ends, and sway bar end links were replaced. 
300000 mi

US $700
Replaced transmission, intermediate shaft bearing, clutch line Replaced control arms with aftermarket 
310000 mi

US $200
Brake squealer was heard. Replaced all brake pads. 
316000 mi

US $180
Wheel bearing hub assy. was replaced on fr driver and passenger. 
150000 mi

US $1500
abs light, check engine light, still on I've taken it to two ASE certified mechanics. Have an appointment to take it to an auto electrical repair shop Sept.9th. 

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2007 Chevrolet Cobalt 2dr Coupe

173-horsepower 2.4L I4 4-speed automatic FWD

68000 mi

US $798
Air Conditioner not functioning properly Car makes a noise that sounds like a bearing going bad. 
76000 mi

US $435
Downpipe had crack. Replaced downpipe. 
77100 mi

US $1884
Hear a humming noise around 35 mph and it would get louder the faster you went. Dealer stated that both front wheel bearings needed to be replaced. The front end would feel like it shifts when taking a sharp corner. Dealer stated that the tie rods were worn and needed to be replaced. The front end would feel like it shifts when taking a sharp corner. Dealer stated that the front sway bars were worn and needed to be replaced. Struts would squeak when going around a turn. Dealer stated that both front struts were leaking and should be replaced. 
92000 mi

US $245
Fuse for front cooling fan kept blowing. Dealer found a shorted wire in the harness and fixed it. CEL was on. Dealer found a cracked air inlet hose. However the light has come back on since getting the vehicle back. 
102000 mi

US $1004
The CEL was lit, the car wouldn't shift gears properly, and the idle was very rough. The issue turned out to be that the fuel injectors were shorted. The dealership replace the fuel injectors and reprogrammed the ECM. 

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2006 Chevrolet Cobalt 4dr Sedan

145-horsepower 2.2L I4 4-speed automatic FWD

65500 mi

US $1370
Crunching sound in front end after collision repair. Dealer reported back to owner that A arm bushings worn on both sides and front struts leaking. But sound disappeared following their inspection. 
95000 mi

US $1700
Lower Control Arm bushings worn, Replaced both control arms, tie bars, and front struts, alignment performed. 

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2006 Chevrolet Cobalt 4-door

4-cylinder automatic 2WD

72000 mi

US $1600
Tie-rod ends, struts, bushings 

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2006 Chevrolet Cobalt 2dr Coupe

145-horsepower 2.2L I4 5-speed manual FWD

58580 mi

C $400
replaced battery (worn down) 
65720 mi

C $300
Steering wheel shaft/bearing needed to be replaced, it was scraping / making a metal on metal noise. 
68200 mi

C $900
Replaced sway bar linkage, and rear shocks/springs. 
72420 mi

C $1600
Replaced struts Vent Solenoid Valve & Wiring Harness Front Control Arm Bushings 
78420 mi

C $720
Had to replace drums for emergency brake, they were seized and inoperational. 
80880 mi

C $885
Replaced Muffler + exhaust piping (rusted out), $454.84. LF wheel bearing, $430.16. 
85560 mi

C $264
Shocks Absorber, Rear - Replace Remove and Replace components as required to access and install materials, and/or perform needed service. Retest and verify repair as required. Perform final road test where applicable. 
57000 mi

US $1903
Clutch completely lost pressure while driving. Could not be driven at all. Had to pull over and have car towed. Entire clutch assembly and master cylinder had to be replaced. $900 in parts and $1000 in labor to repair car and have it be drivable again. 

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2006 Chevrolet Cobalt 2dr Coupe

145-horsepower 2.2L I4 4-speed automatic FWD

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2005 Chevrolet Cobalt 4dr Sedan

145-horsepower 2.2L I4 4-speed automatic FWD

68000 mi

US $1000
AC repaired 
68000 mi

US $500
serpentine belt needed replacing 

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2005 Chevrolet Cobalt 2dr Coupe

supercharged 205hp 2.0L I4 5-speed manual FWD

82700 mi

US $2800
Synchros wore out in transmission, couldn't shift into 2nd Gear w/o grinding. It is a common problem for this tranny with miles. Cost to repair nearly the same as cost to replace. Replaced with new tranny. Also replaced clutch for normal maintainence. 
91000 mi

US $252
Rear Brake Caliper developed a fluid leak. Brake Caliper was replaced. IAT/MAP Sensor plastic was cracked, sensor and vehicle operated normally, replaced sensor anyways. 
111000 mi

US $180
ABS warning light came on. Front passenger side wheel bearing wore out and was replaced. Replaced in 15-20 mins. 
112000 mi

US $1300
Transmission blew up again! 12 months and just under 30k later brand new tranny tore itself apart. Output shaft possibly broke and destroyed gears. Removed tranny, opened case and metal chunks fell out. On to tranny #3, replacing with FORD! 
112000 mi

US $100
Passenger rear brake caliper developed fluid leak causing very long brake pedal and not much braking power. Seal had deteriorated. Replaced brake caliper. 
112000 mi

US $100
Slide pin in driver rear brake caliper seized and wouldn't allow brake to release. Burned up brake pad and did a number on the rotor. Couldn't extract slide pin from bracket, replaced rear driver caliper again. 
128800 mi

US $250
Left front wheel bearing wore out, needed to be replaced. 

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Chevrolet Cobalt Expensive Problems

See our lemon odds and nada odds page to see vehicles with no repairs or vehicles with more than three repairs. To see how frequently Chevrolet Cobalt problems occur, check out our car reliability stats.