Suspension complaints by model year
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (struts, shocks, control arms, ball joints, springs).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
Steering wheel has excessive play while driving on city streets. Loud grinding sound with alarm. Almost unable to control. When stationary steering play excessive in both directions. Airbag light states airbag is off. Control arms replaced 2 week before incident. Warning light has been on since repairing of control arms. Dealing contacted more than twice regarding problems.
I got my Cobalt in ending 2010-2011 and never received a single recall on my Cobalt ,and now a friend told me of this sight there is so many recalls that need to be done on my car and beginning with the transmission ,it runs grate it just doesn't know what gear it is in. Also my door locks unlock by them self its like I have a spirit in the car (very un safe).not to mention when the car was in drive it would slip into neutral on its own, same with if your in reverse it will slip into neutral. Please notify me non of the past recalls was ever done on my car, I want to have a list and put my car into a Chevy shop and have all recalls fixed, I was never notifityed >and ive lived in the same house that I own for 10+ years>it will not reconize what gear it is in>period.
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated that there was no safety pre-inspection sticker when the vehicle was purchased from del Chevrolet (1644 lancaster ave, paoli, pa 19301, [phone]). As a result, the vehicle failed inspection. The inspection shop informed the contact that the battery needed replacement, the vehicle needed an alignment, four new tires, and a new lower control arm and ball joint. In addition, the vehicle stalled on more than once occasion. The vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign numbers: 14V171000 (electrical system, 14e021000 (electrical system), and 14V047000 (air bags, electrical system). The manufacturer was notified of the failures. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 115,000.
My drivers door would not open from the inside for 3 days about May 15th-18th. I tried all the "tricks" and nothing worked. I finally am able to open it but the door hamdle broke off shortly after. And now today 6/6/19 my driver door wont latch every time I close it even after degreasing ane regreasing the latch. Also my torsion bars and steering bar have been replaced but they once again have come loose. The doors happen in park inna driveway amd the car swaying issue I feel while driving down the highway.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt. While driving 40 MPH and attempting to brake, the steering wheel became extremely loose and shook independently. The contact heard a sound of plastic breaking coming from the dashboard. The failure recurred multiple times. The contact replaced the axle, but the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the front struts, front mounts, rear shocks, and rear springs failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired at the dealer, but the contact replaced the front shocks himself. The failure recurred. The contact spoke to the manufacturer who stated that they could not assist because the contact refused the repairs. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact believed that the stub axle was the cause of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 130,507.
On my way home from work in heavy traffic in indianapolis, someone in front of me hit their brakes hard. As a result, I also had to slam on my brakes. When I did so, my rear end spun out. I lost power steering. I crashed head first into the concrete median. However, the airbag did not deploy. Luckily, I escaped severe injury; although the wreck, the resulting loss of power steering, and the fact that the airbag did not deploy were directly due to the negligence of general motors.
The engine turned off all by itself while I was driving around a corner, causing the car to go off the road. I was going about 35 MPH, and applied the brakes as fast as I could, but the car went up and over the curb, across the sidewalk, and both front tires went down off the steep edge of the sidewalk's far side into the mud. The part of the car body immediately behind the front tires was almost touching (way less than 1 inch above) the edge of the top / edge of the sidewalk. I couldn't reverse back up and over the sidewalk edge. A tow truck was called, and pulled the car straight back and up/over the edge of the sidewalk and onto the road. Some sort of dust cover thing from up inside the passenger-side wheel well had been torn loose during the crash off the sidewalk edge and was still laying in the mud. …
Brought 2007 Cobalt on 7/09/14. Reported the problem of the vehicle shutting- off on me and no inspection sticker was on the car 7/10/14. They wrote a work order out. Brought the vehicle to archer auto to get work performed and for a inspection sticker. Archer auto kept my 2007 Cobalt for 3 months. Until I called bbb business and filed a complaint. Archer auto said they fix my vehicle but didn't. Archer auto put a illegal inspection sticker on it to pass the emission test. Archer auto returned my vehicle. Then the power steering went out. Brought it to Firestone to get fix. Then later found out there was a recall on the power steering. The 2007 Cobalt was shutting-off on me and losing all power..then I took it back because their was another recall on the vehicle. Then on 9/13/14 the engine shut-off on me. Losing all power , locking the brakes and power steering also. …
Frequently asked questions
Which Chevrolet Cobalt years have suspension problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2007 (75), 2006 (51), 2005 (47), 2008 (27) and 2009 (11) model years. Suspension complaints make up 5% of all complaints for the 2007.
Is there a recall for Chevrolet Cobalt suspension problems?
No. NHTSA lists no suspension recall for any Chevrolet Cobalt model year. A widespread problem may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin, so ask a dealer.
At what mileage do Chevrolet Cobalt suspension problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 47,000 miles; 52% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the front (59 mentions), followed by the rear (10).
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.