This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have an unusual noise and is difficult to identify, isolate or pinpoint. Technician should get record a sound clip or take a video of the noise for assessment by engineering. Technician will need to call General Motors Technical Assistance Center for further assistance.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2007 Chevrolet Cobalt body problems
severe 10 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,500 · see body across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
10
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,500
1crash
1injury
What stands out
Among the 6 model years of Chevrolet Cobalt in our records for body problems, this one ranks #3 by owner-complaint volume.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering body 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.
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have an unusual noise and is difficult to identify, isolate or pinpoint. Technician should get record a sound clip or take a video of the noise for assessment by engineering. Technician will need to call General Motors Technical Assistance Center for further assistance.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This warranty bulletin provides labor operation numbers for customer concerns that cant be duplicated.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have a loud tick or rattle noise under the hood at all operating conditions. Technician will need to check the lower and oil pressure to the upper end oil pressure. Technician will need to inspect the oil feed orifice in the cylinder head. Technician will clean out and debris found in the orifice.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗THIS PRELIMINARY INFORMATION COMMUNICATION ADVISES THE TECHNICIAN THE STEPS ON DIAGNOSING THE CONCERN. VEHICLE'S SUNROOF OPERATION INTERMITTENT, BIND, NOISE, AUTO-REVERSE, AND/OR WATER LEAKS.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Ten complaints center on body and access defects. Most serious are door failures: driver and passenger doors opening unexpectedly while the vehicle moves, sometimes trapping the occupant inside. One door required a private mechanic's diagnosis of a fractured latch at 59,000 miles; another owner reports both door latches detaching entirely around 99,000 miles. Door handles fail to operate from inside or outside, creating entrapment hazards, and chrome plating deteriorates sharply enough to injure hands.
A sunroof leaks repeatedly despite four dealer repair attempts; the dealer told the owner it cannot be fixed permanently and advised against parking outdoors. The owner reports the vehicle smelled and continued leaking after sitting under a carport all winter—at just 21,000 miles.
One complaint alleges steering freeze-up during a turn that caused a collision. The owner claims the dealer said recall work was already done, but the failure still occurred, leaving the teenage driver with whiplash and ongoing chiropractic treatment.
Manufacturer responses are minimal: GM Executive Office offered no solution beyond repeated dealer visits; some complaints describe the manufacturer as "aware" but unresponsive.
Same Chevrolet Cobalt body reports on nearby years: 2005 · 2006
Failure modes owners describe
Sunroof leak
Water enters the cabin through the sunroof despite multiple dealer repair attempts, causing odors and internal dampness.
When: 21,000 miles; persists across seasons
Symptoms owners cite: Water leaking into cabin after rain; Vehicle odor; Recurring leak after dealer repair
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer repairs attempted 4 times; drain lines cleared; dealer stated leak cannot be fixed permanently
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: GM Executive Office advised repeated dealer visits; no permanent fix offered
Driver-side door opens unexpectedly while driving
Door swings open during operation at various speeds without driver input, then becomes stuck shut, trapping occupant.
When: 35,000 miles; failure at various speeds
Symptoms owners cite: Door opens unexpectedly while driving; Door cannot be opened after closing; No warning before opening
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle not repaired
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer aware but offered no assistance; no recall issued
Passenger-side door opens unexpectedly while driving
Door swings open at low speed without warning and cannot be closed; private mechanic diagnosed a fractured latch.
When: 59,000 miles; occurred at 25 mph
Symptoms owners cite: Door opens without warning; Door cannot be closed after opening
Repairs/costs cited: Private mechanic diagnosed fractured latch
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer aware; repair scheduled
Door latch detachment
Both driver and passenger door latches separated from the vehicle, rendering doors inoperable.
When: 99,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Both door latches detached from vehicle
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle not repaired
Chrome door handle deterioration
Chrome coating peels away from door handles, creating sharp edges that caused injury to owner's hand.
When: Unspecified mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Chrome plating separates from handle; Sharp edges expose underlying metal; Handle becomes unsafe
Repairs/costs cited: Handle caused laceration requiring treatment
Driver-side door handle failure (interior and exterior)
Interior and exterior door handles become inoperable periodically or permanently, trapping driver inside vehicle.
When: Recurring over multiple years; one instance at unspecified mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Door handle does not operate from inside or outside; Door cannot be opened; Exterior handle comes off in hand; Entrapment hazard
Repairs/costs cited: Exterior handle separated from door when pulled
Steering freeze-up
Steering wheel locked while turning, causing loss of vehicle control and collision with fixed object. Owner claims recall was already completed but problem persists.
When: Unspecified mileage; failure during low-speed curve
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel froze mid-turn; Unable to turn wheel; Loss of vehicle control
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle taken to Chevy dealer; no repair documented
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer stated recall work already completed; no further action
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 body trouble with your 2007 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 body problem on the 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt?
It's a meaningful issue. 10 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $1,500.
At what mileage does the body typically fail?
Across the 9 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most body failures cluster between 35,000 and 75,000 miles, with the median around 59,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 35,000; a quarter make it past 75,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $1,500 for body 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 body?
No active recalls currently cover body 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/2007/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.