I have never had a problem with this car until now. I change the oil every 3000 miles, regularly change the air filter, tire rotation, and even do the recommended mileage maintenance from Chevy. Now at 61,000 (of course it's out of warranty) the car has started to knock and then slowly progeressed to a rattle in a weeks time in the right front. After doing some research, it seems Chevy has a problem with this! What a great little car until now. I was quoted $600 by 3 different places to have the rack and pinion replaced. Grrrrr I make my last payment in the next 2 months and I have to already put money into this car above and beyond the regular maintenance...very frustrating!!!

I bought my 2007 Chevy Cobalt LS in September of 2011. I had owned a 2004 Dodge Neon SRT-4 prior to this, and intended to use the Cobalt as a temporary car until I had enough money to buy something new. From the dealership, I noticed that the car had a rattling/squeaking noise underneath the front end. I assumed that this was a heat shield or something like that, and that it would be an easy fix. How could the dealership sell me a car that had something major wrong? Well as it turns out, the knocking became worse, and I took the car in to CarX and they said the front struts were blown, so I had those replaced. After driving away thinking the car was noise-free, I noticed that the squeaking was gone, but the knocking was still prevalent. I then took the car to my local mechanic a few months later and he said that the lower control arm bushings had gone bad. I saw that the control arms had about an inch of play up and down, so those were replaced. I finally thought my car was totally fixed, and there was no noise at first. But after traveling over bumpy, uneven road, I noticed that the rattling was coming from the steering column, and i could feel it in the steering wheel. Well this was the last straw. I sold this piece of crap and bought a new Ford Focus. The steering column was an issue from the start, but so were the control arms, and the struts. The fact that all of these thing went bad on a car with less than 20,000 miles on it is inexcusable. GM should be ashamed of itself, being one of the oldest and most successful and reputable car companies in America. They have sunk to such a low level that I doubt they will pull out of it. Especially if they keep putting crap products on the market like this car.

Well, where do I start? I guess I will start with, at 8000 miles, I got a really loud annoying rattle in the front end of the car. I took it in the first time, and they replaced the steering column. It continued. I took it back, and they replaced the left front strut, the intermediate steering shaft, and the lower control arm bushing. The problem continued. I took it back again, and they literally tore everything apart on the front end of the car, and concluded with "there is nothing wrong with your vehicle, sir." I said ok, left, and it was still doing it. I got GM involved with it around the 4th or 5th time I took it in for the same issue, and they actually send the "Field Manager" down. Now, when I say "Field Manager", it is actually to be interpreted as "Overpaid Jack * with a brand new Cadillac and knows absolutely nothing about either a) cars or b) customer service." Anyways, he drives the car, comes back to the dealership, and gives me the 'I am sorry sir' speech. I tell him to shove it, and then made him ride with me so I could show him. He finally hears the noise (which was not exactly quiet to begin with) and we go back. They then proceed to tear the car apart YET AGAIN! They then come to realize that the Power Steering Rack was bad, and needed replaced. Problem: the nearest one is in Arkansas somewhere. So what do they do? Cannibalize (sp?) a brand new 2009 for the parts necessary for the repair. It finally is fixed 7 times later. And then, I go to leave one morning, and the car will not start. And no, not a 'dead battery' no start. I mean is not getting any fuel and is absolutely useless when you are in a hurry. I take it back to the ** dealership. They get it running, and then told me that there was nothing wrong with it. I say ok, and leave, and on the way home, the car suddenly, without warning, jerks sideways. I end up in the median. I take it back (time number 9) and they tell me once again, nothing wrong. FINE! I get ahold of the Field Manager (see description above) and he tells me that he will give me SIX MONTHS OF PAYMENTS for my trouble. Now, by this point I am talking lemon law attorneys, the better business bureau, and the attorney state general. He will not budge.

Moral of the story: These are the people who are going and asking for money in D.C. right now, meanwhile ADMITTING THAT THEY USE SHOTTY PARTS AND SUB-STANDARD QUALITY AND ENGINEERING! My point, and I hope someone important reads this, is this. Why are they there and asking for billions of dollars? If they built a better car, and actually stood behind their products, they wouldn't be broke. Half of the reason they are going broke is because of the lawsuits that so many people have against them because of their cars breaking on them within the first 20,000 miles! Make a better car, and stand behind it. Your sales will go through the roof. Believe me. I have lost all faith in the General Motors company since my little escapades with them, and the battle lives on!