2005 Chevrolet Cobalt Recalls, Complaints & Specs
5 safety recalls list the 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt, and owners have filed 1,649 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
5 safety recalls for the 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Ignition (electrical system)
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2005-2010 Chevrolet Cobalt, 2006-2011 Chevrolet HHR, 2007-2010 Pontiac G5, 2006-2010 Pontiac Solstice, 2003-2007 Saturn Ion, and 2007-2010 Saturn Sky vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the key can be removed from the ignition when the ignition is not in the "Off" position.
Remedy: General Motors will notify owners, and for vehicles that were built with the defective ignition cylinder and have not previously had the ignition cylinder replaced with the redesigned part, dealers will replace the…
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Air bags and switch (electrical system)
This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on February 10, 2014 that they are…
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ignition switch, free of charge. An interim notification was issued to owners of 2007 and earlier models on March 10, 2014, informing them of the safety defect.…
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Electric power assist system (steering)
General motors is recalling certain model year 2005-2010 chevrolet cobalt and model year 2007-2010 pontiac g5 vehicles equipped with electric power steering. The driver may experience a sudden loss of power steering assist that could occur at any time while driving.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the electric power steering motor free of charge. Owners are being notified on a rolling basis between march 29 through november 2010. A copy of the mailing schedule is located in the recall file.…
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Structure
Certain passenger vehicles not equipped with optional roof-mounted side impact air bags fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 201, 'occupant protection in interior impact.'
Remedy: Dealers will install energy absorbing plastic to the headliner trim to reduce the severity of head impacts in a crash. The recall began on march 21, 2007. Owners may contact chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438.
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Headlights (exterior lighting)
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.
Remedy: Dealers will install two new headlamp assemblies. The recall began on november 17, 2004. Owners should contact chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438.
1,649 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt have filed 1,649 complaints with NHTSA; 97 describe a crash and 12 describe a fire. Reports cite 72 injuries and 11 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 70,420 miles. Complaints peaked in 2010 with 477 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated that the key was stuck in the ignition. The contact had to use the key release to remove the key manually. No warning lights were illuminat”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, February 12, 2026 · Electrical system
“The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel failed to turn in the desired direction. The contact stated the power steering wa”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, June 4, 2025 · Steering
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt. Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 23–25 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 20–22 / 27–31 |
| Fuel | Premium, Regular |
| EPA class | Subcompact Cars |
| Engine | 4 cyl, 2/2.2 L |
| Transmission | Automatic 4-spd; Manual 5-spd |
Compare Chevrolet Cobalt model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Chevrolet Cobalt model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 Chevrolet Cobalt | 0 | 1 |
| 2000 Chevrolet Cobalt | 0 | 1 |
| 2002 Chevrolet Cobalt | 0 | 2 |
| 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt | 5 | 1,649 |
| 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt | 5 | 2,330 |
| 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt | 5 | 1,564 |
| 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt | 4 | 845 |
| 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt | 5 | 710 |
| 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt | 5 | 574 |
| 2011 Chevrolet Cobalt | 0 | 2 |
| 2012 Chevrolet Cobalt | 0 | 1 |
| 2016 Chevrolet Cobalt | 0 | 1 |
| 2017 Chevrolet Cobalt | 0 | 1 |
Checking a specific 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt
How do I know if my 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 5 campaigns currently list the 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Chevrolet dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 04V560000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Chevrolet models
- Malibu19,364 complaints
- Silverado 150018,029 complaints
- Impala10,434 complaints
- Tahoe10,032 complaints
- Equinox9,161 complaints
- Silverado8,799 complaints
- Blazer8,192 complaints
- Suburban8,164 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.