Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (service brakes, ABS, rotors and pads, parking brake).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
My wife was involved in a crash in our 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt on 23 February 2018. Car lost power to power steering motor, ABS brakes, and air bags did not deploy after hitting a tree due to loss of steering and braking ability. I drove the car the morning before the crash and noticed the gauges and speedometer fluctuating moving all around, power steering light flashing on dash, I pulled over and turned the car ignition off and restarted car it then went away. My wife then drove the car going to her work and she called me about 5 minutes after leaving our house saying she has lost control of the car with no power steering or brakes, she was scared and hysterical and said she had crashed under a tree with in 1 mile of our house. The air bags did not deploy upon impacting the tree. …
Brake failure/brake pedal went down when applied and vehicle accelerated at a high rate of speed,traveled 20-25 feet struck truck in front of me causing over $4,000 in damage to my 2005 Chevy Cobalt since the June 13th 2007 accident the brakes failed 2 more times the last time the brake pedal collapsed to the floor with no brakes(bushing &clip missing from brakes, I think this was done at the factory). I had to stop it using the emergency brake. I refused to drive it again. My wife had it do this to her, with the brakes failing and accelerating at a fast pace, luckily no cars were near her at the time,because I traded the Cobalt general motors refuses to do anything about the problem reference number 71-562139648 talked to several people one was jake ext 22795.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt. While driving approximately 30 MPH to make a turn into an intersection, there was a sudden loss of power steering, braking, and the power steering warning light flashed. The contact was able to coast the vehicle over to the side of the road. When the vehicle was turned off and restarted, the failure code reset. The vehicle was driven to the contacts residence and, upon parking, there was a sudden loss of power steering and the brakes were slow to respond. The vehicle was not included in NHTSA action number: pe10005 (steering) and NHTSA campaign number: 10V073000 (steering). The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 135,345.
After driving for 30 minutes at a speed of 55-60 MPH on the interstate, I was on the off ramp merging from one interstate to another, when the cars ahead of me starting slowing down. I applied a sudden pressure to the brakes to slow down also; however, the brake pedal went soft and then it seemed like the brakes locked, but did not slow down. The car made a sudden jolt to the right bringing me into the on coming traffic in the next lane. This resulted in a collision with another car. Resulting in a total loss to the Cobalt. The air bags did not deploy eventhough the front end of the car was destroyed.
I have a 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt 4 dr sedan. While traveling down the service road on I-35 I started to cough, I blacked out for a split second. After coming to I realized there was a sharp turn in the road. I hit the brakes hard, the ABS did not work. I went through a sign, it tore up the front drivers side of the car then hit a concrete barrier on the passenger side of the front end.I hit my head on the steering wheel and the air bags did not deploy on either side of the car. With the ABS locking up it caused the car to skid approx 300 feet, without safely slowing down. None of the airbags deployed.
1) months prior to the accident at high way speed (65 to 75 MPH) after several hour (from 1 to 4) with the cruise control engaged, when disengaging the cruise control, the car would vibrate violently. GM claims they can not duplicate the problem. 2) brakes failed - applied brakes in traffic, pedal was soft and then went hard like the power brakes was not working, but the car did not slow down, causing the impact in the rear of a pick-up truck. 3) according to the air bag report the car was traveling over 30 MPH, but the air bags did not deploy on the frontal crash.
Takata recall while I am driving my power steering light comes on and my car will lose power steering. My gear shift starts making a clicking noise, when I press on gas when it goes to change gears it jumps into the next gear, when I try to stop it won't let me the engine feels like it is trying to go faster when I'm trying to stop. I have had fhe car for about 2 years and it's a ongoing problem.
Was heading to work when the Chevy Cobalt suddenly shut off, causing me to lose power brakes, power steering, and causing the air bags not to deploy when I went straight threw a stop sign impacting into a snow bank.
My 2005 Chevy Cobalt has had problems with the steering starting when the car was less than a year old. Had taken the car in to fix the emergency brake that had snapped and spoke to advisor about the steering problem but at that time it had occurred intermittently, they checked and found no problem at that time. Following another broken emergency brake (that still does not hold) I again explained the steering problem that was happening more frequently and at that time I was told that the repair would cost about 1200.00 and that there were no recalls or warranty left (car had 36,000). There is no explanation of why it happens, it can occur at any time and May remain out for days. There is no way to prevent it that I have found. …
In aug 2006 purchased a 2005 Chevy Cobalt ls 4 door sedan. After having for 6 months, needed new front brakes, had replaced and was informed that the rotors were warped; had to replace two other times. Finally got another manufacturers installed. Since getting this car have also had the key stuck in the ignition whereas I couldn't get it out dealership can not reproduce (and it is out of warranty). Am still having this problem to date, more so now because of having to replace the steering column. (see below) in mar 2010 because of recall had steering replaced. In July 2011 it was replaced again, and again (9/13/2013). I lost control of the car while making a turn almost hitting a parked car. Mechanic was able to reproduce this. …
Brake complaints in other Cobalt years
Frequently asked questions
How common are brake problems on the 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt?
NHTSA has 49 complaints about the brakes of the 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt, 3% of the model year's 1,649 complaints. The component named most often is antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (5 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt brake problems?
No. NHTSA lists no brakes recall for the 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt, though it has 5 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt brake problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 59,000 miles, and 24% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 10 crashes, 1 fire and 3 injuries and 1 death to brakes problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.