SUPPLEMENT TO 05-06-01-003A - WRONG THROTTLE GASKET PART NUMBER.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2005 Chevrolet Cobalt cruise control problems
critical Owners of the 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt have filed 10 NHTSA complaints about the cruise control at roughly $600 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See cruise control across all vehicles →
Complaints
10
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$600
| Model year | cruise control complaints |
|---|---|
| 2005 Cobalt (this page) | 10 |
| 2006 Cobalt | 9 |
| 2007 Cobalt | 5 |
| 2008 Cobalt | 13 |
| 2009 Cobalt | 6 |
1crash
1fatality
What stands out
Among the 6 model years of Chevrolet Cobalt in our records for cruise control problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering cruise control on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
CRUISE CONTROL INOPERATIVE AND/OR MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP ON WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE P0833 STORED. THE CONDITION MAY NOT BE ABLE TO BE DUPLICATED BY THE DEALER YET THE CONSUMER MAY HAVE A REPEAT CONCERN.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of the 2005 Cobalt describe a dangerous throttle-control pattern. The most serious complaint involves the gas pedal sticking or dropping to the floor during normal acceleration, causing the engine to race uncontrollably. One owner reports the pedal dropping while passing on a highway, the car accelerating past 90 mph while the brakes fought back; only shifting to neutral let him regain control. Another reports two separate incidents in 30 days where the accelerator stuck and the car hit 96 mph. A fatal crash at 1,800 miles was attributed by the owner to sudden unintended acceleration.
A second failure mode is engine stall: vehicles suddenly refuse to accelerate, display "reduced engine power" warnings, and stall entirely. One owner was stranded at 40 mph with kids aboard; another lost power during an interstate on-ramp merge. These stalls often require a restart after waiting several minutes.
One owner reports the oil filter cap assembly exploding from the engine block at a traffic light, with the cap, filter, spring, and internal components ejecting and spilling oil everywhere.
A less severe but irritating problem: the ignition key gets stuck in the switch if the battery dies, trapping it until the battery is recharged.
One early-production vehicle (38 miles) stalled on the original owner's wife, requiring the dealer to swap in an accelerator pedal from another car. Chevrolet issued a voluntary service program for 2005 Cobalts with 2.2L engines and A/C, but dealers frequently say they cannot diagnose the problem unless it happens again.
Same Chevrolet Cobalt cruise control reports on nearby years: 2008
Failure modes owners describe
Gas pedal stuck or fell to floor
Throttle stuck at full or near-full position, causing uncontrolled acceleration. Owners report pedal dropping completely and remaining stuck despite brake application. One owner disputes dealer's floor mat explanation.
When: Occurs during normal acceleration; reported at various speeds and mileages (38 miles to 80,000 miles). One fatal incident at 1,800 miles.
Symptoms owners cite: Gas pedal completely stuck or dropped to floor; RPMs surged (one report: shot to 4,000+); Uncontrolled acceleration to 70–96 mph; Brake pedal difficult to press or ineffective during acceleration event; Vehicle accelerating while braking simultaneously
Codes mentioned: Throttle control issues, TAC module (throttle actuator control) voltage issues
Repairs/costs cited: One owner reports dealer replaced accelerator pedal from donor vehicle. Other repairs not detailed in narratives.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: One owner reports Chevrolet issued a voluntary customer satisfaction program letter for 2.2L engine with A/C. Owner disputes calling it 'voluntary' rather than mandatory recall. Dealer attributed one incident to floor mat; owner disputes this. Dealer unable to diagnose at least one occurrence.
Engine stalling or loss of power
Vehicle suddenly loses ability to accelerate, displays 'reduced engine power' warning, or stalls completely while driving. Vehicle refuses to restart immediately but starts after a few minutes.
When: Reported at 600 miles; also at unspecified mileage in summer 2021. One incident at 20 mph.
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle slowed down and would not accelerate; Reduced engine power warning displayed; Engine stalled while driving; Vehicle refused to start initially; restarted after waiting minutes; Loss of power during highway merge
Codes mentioned: General electrical failure, Throttle control issues, TAC module high and low voltage issues
Repairs/costs cited: No specific repair costs or parts cited. Dealership stated they cannot diagnose unless failure reoccurs.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Chevrolet issued voluntary customer satisfaction program letter for certain 2005 Cobalt 2.2L with A/C.
Oil filter and cap assembly ejection
Oil filter cap assembly, including cap, filter, spring, and internal components, suddenly separated from engine block during light acceleration. Oil spilled. One component showed minor thread damage; internal spring and retention piece failed.
When: Occurred at low speed (under 10 mph) at traffic light.
Symptoms owners cite: Loud pop noise during light acceleration; Oil cap, filter, spring, and black retention piece ejected from engine block; Oil spewed across engine bay
Repairs/costs cited: Replaced oil cap, filter, and oil. Block inspected and not found to be cracked.
Key stuck in ignition after battery discharge
Ignition key becomes mechanically stuck in the switch when battery is dead or severely discharged, trapping the key in the vehicle.
When: Occurred during summer 2021 when battery went dead.
Symptoms owners cite: Key unable to be removed from ignition switch; Key releases only after battery is partially recharged
Repairs/costs cited: No repair documented; issue resolved when battery was recharged.
Synthesized from 10 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had cruise control trouble with your 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the cruise control problem on the 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt?
It's a serious issue. 10 complaints have been filed, including 1 reports involving a crash and 1 fatality(ies). We've classified it as critical based on NHTSA's reported outcomes.
At what mileage does the cruise control typically fail?
Based on the 10 complaints filed, cruise control issues most often appear around 80,134 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $600 for cruise control repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to cruise control?
No active recalls currently cover cruise control issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2005/Chevrolet/Cobalt.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.