The 2007 Cobalt SS with the 2.0L supercharged Ecotec (LSJ) is a fun platform that suffers primarily from oiling system weaknesses under boost and hard driving, plus aging transmission issues. Most catastrophic failures trace back to oil starvation during aggressive cornering or sustained high-RPM use.
Connecting Rod Bearing Failure / Spun Bearings
Common · high severity
Typical onset: 60,000-120,000 mi
Symptoms: Metallic knocking or ticking that increases with RPM, Low oil pressure warning, Sudden loss of power, Engine seizure in worst cases
Fix: Root cause is the factory oil pump struggling to maintain pressure under lateral G-loads and high RPM, starving rod bearings. Fix requires complete engine teardown, bearing replacement, crank inspection/polishing, and ideally an upgraded oil pump. 16-24 labor hours for full lower-end rebuild depending on crank condition.
Estimated cost: $3,500-6,500
Piston Ring Land Failure / Cracked Ringlands
Occasional · high severity
Typical onset: 70,000-100,000 mi
Symptoms: Excessive blue smoke on startup or under boost, Loss of compression in one or more cylinders, Misfires under load, Increased oil consumption
Fix: Typically happens on tuned or heavily boosted cars, but stock examples see it too from carbon buildup and detonation. Requires complete disassembly, new pistons and rings, honing, and head work. 20-28 labor hours for full rebuild with machine work.
Estimated cost: $4,000-7,000
Transmission Oil Cooler Line Leaks
Common · medium severity
Typical onset: 80,000-130,000 mi
Symptoms: Transmission fluid spots under vehicle, Burnt transmission smell, Slipping gears or delayed engagement, Low fluid level on dipstick
Fix: Steel lines rust through where they connect to the radiator-mounted cooler. Lines need replacement, often with upgraded stainless or braided units. Flush and refill required. 2-3 labor hours.
Estimated cost: $400-800
Transmission Mount Collapse
Common · low severity
Typical onset: 60,000-100,000 mi
Symptoms: Excessive drivetrain movement during shifts, Clunking when engaging reverse or drive, Vibration at idle, Difficulty getting into gear
Fix: Hydraulic mount fails from age and aggressive launches. Replacement is straightforward but requires supporting the transmission. Aftermarket solid or upgraded mounts recommended for performance driving. 1.5-2 labor hours.
Estimated cost: $250-500
Supercharger Coupler Failure
Occasional · medium severity
Typical onset: 90,000-150,000 mi
Symptoms: Sudden loss of boost pressure, Supercharger whine disappears, Check engine light with underboost codes, Rubber debris in intake or oil
Fix: The rubber coupler between the supercharger and the input shaft deteriorates and shreds, leaving the blower spinning freely. Requires removal of supercharger, coupler replacement (upgrade to upgraded billet unit advised), and inspection for debris. 4-6 labor hours.
Estimated cost: $600-1,200
Timing Chain Stretch / Tensioner Failure
Occasional · high severity
Typical onset: 100,000-140,000 mi
Symptoms: Rattling on cold start that quiets after warmup, Check engine light with cam/crank correlation codes, Rough idle, Loss of power
Fix: Ecotec timing chains stretch over time, especially if oil changes were neglected. Tensioner can also fail. Requires front cover removal, new chain, guides, tensioners, and timing reset. 8-12 labor hours.
Estimated cost: $1,500-2,500
Power Steering Pump Whine / Failure
Common · low severity
Typical onset: 70,000-110,000 mi
Symptoms: Whining noise when turning, especially when cold, Hard steering at low speeds, Groaning during lock-to-lock turns, Fluid leaks from pump
Fix: Factory pump is undersized for the weight and steering ratio. Fails from wear and fluid contamination. Replacement pump and system flush required. 2-3 labor hours.
Estimated cost: $400-700
Owner tips
Change oil every 3,000-4,000 miles with quality synthetic and always use AC-Delco PF47 or equivalent filter—the oiling system is marginal by design
Inspect oil level before every spirited drive; top off if below full mark to prevent starvation in corners
Install an oil pressure gauge to monitor bearing health; anything below 20 psi hot idle or 40 psi at 3,000 RPM is trouble
If modding for power, upgrade the oil pump and consider baffled oil pan before tuning—insurance against bearing death
Check transmission fluid condition every 30,000 miles and replace lines preemptively around 80,000 miles
Buy it if you're handy and understand the oiling weaknesses—budget $2,000-3,000 for preventive lower-end work or accept the engine-out risk on high-mileage examples.
AI-assisted summary drawn from NHTSA recall data, our labor-times database, and platform knowledge. Not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on a specific vehicle.
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UCI-FRAM Group is recalling certain LS1328 ignition Switches sold as Wells LS1328, Duralast LS1328, Airtex 1S6097, and Carquest 53-27479, and LS1497 Ignition Switches sold as Wells LS1497, Duralast LS1497, Airtex 1S10961, and Carquest 53-27967, for use on various General Motors model and model year vehicles during repair and replacement of the original ignition switch. The weight on the key ring and/or road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the affected ignition switches to move out of the run position, turning off the engine and disabling the air bags.
Consequence: If the ignition switch moves from the run position to accessory, the car would stall and the air bags will not deploy in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of personal injury to the occupants.
Remedy: UCI-FRAM Group has notified its purchasers to quarantine and return all inventory. Any switches already installed in vehicles will be replaced by GM dealers as part of NHTSA recall 14V-047, free of charge. UCI-Fram's purchasers should contact UCI-FRAM Group at 1-800-890-2075. GM vehicle owners requiring additional information on that recall campaign should contact GM at 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), 1-800-762-2737 (Pontiac) or 1-800-553-6000 (Saturn).
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION · 14V171000
2014-04-10
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.
Consequence: If the key can be removed from the ignition when the ignition is not in the "off" position, the vehicle could roll away: (a) for an automatic transmission, if the transmission is not in the "Park" position; or (b) for a manual transmission, if the parking brake is not engaged and the transmission is not in the "Reverse" position. This potential for rollaway increases the risk for a crash and occupant or pedestrian injuries.
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 ignition cylinder and cut and, if necessary, re-learn two ignition/door keys for each vehicle. For vehicles that were built with the redesigned ignition cylinder or had the ignition cylinder replaced with the redesigned part, dealers will cut and, if necessary, re-learn two ignition/door keys for each vehicle. The recall began on April 18, 2014. Chevrolet owners may contact General Motors at 1-800-222-1020, Pontiac owners at 1-800-762-2737, and Saturn owners at 1-800-553-6000. General Motors' number for this recall is 14113 for the ignition lock cylinder and key replacement, and 14133 for only key replacements. Note: Until a vehicle has been remedied, owners and operators are advised that when exiting, to be sure that the vehicle is in "Park," or in the case of a manual transmission, that the vehicle is in the "Reverse" position and the parking brake is engaged.
AIR BAGS · 14V047000
2014-02-10
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 recalling 619,122 model year 2005-2007 Chevrolet Cobalt, and 2007 Pontiac G5 vehicles. On February 25, 2014, GM increased the recall to include an additional 748,024 model year 2006-2007 Chevrolet HHR and Pontiac Solstice vehicles and 2003-2007 Saturn Ion vehicles and 2007 Saturn Sky vehicles. In these models, the weight on the key ring and/or road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine.
On March 27, 2014, GM notified the agency that the defective ignition switches may have been used as service replacement parts on other vehicles, and as a result GM will be recalling certain model year 2008-2010 Chevrolet Cobalt, Saturn Sky, and Pontiac G5 and Solstice, and 2008-2011 Chevrolet HHR vehicles. The part numbers for the service parts are 10392423 (a/k/a ACDelco D1461F), 10392737, 15857948, 15854953, 15896640, and 25846762. This expansion represents an additional 823,788 vehicles.
Consequence: If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
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. Owners of 2008 and later vehicles will be mailed an interim letter on April 21, 2014. All affected owners will receive another letter once parts are available. The recall began on April 18, 2014. Owners may contact Chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020, Pontiac at 1-800-762-2737 or Saturn at 1-800-553-6000. GM's number for the initial recall is 13454 and 14063 for the expansion. GMs recall number for the vehicles that may have received the replacement parts is 14092. Note: Until the recall repairs have been performed, it is very important that customers remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the vehicle key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. Always wear your seatbelt.
General Motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2007 Chevrolet Equinox and Pontiac Torrent vehicles originally sold or currently registered in Arizona, California, Nevada, and Texas; model year 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt, Pontiac G5, and Saturn ION vehicles originally sold, or currently registered in, Arizona, California, Florida, Nevada, or Texas; model year 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt and Pontiac G5 vehicles originally sold, or currently registered in, Arizona; and model year 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt and Pontiac G5 vehicles originally sold, or currently registered in, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Nevada, Oklahoma, or Texas. Some of these vehicles have a condition in which the plastic supply or return port on the fuel pump module may crack, which could cause a fuel leak.
Consequence: Fuel leakage in the presence of an ignition source may result in a fire.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. Notification to owners began on on November 21, 2012. Owners were instructed to not bring their vehicles in for repair until January 2013. Owners may contact General Motors at 1-800-521-7300.
STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM · 10V073000
2010-03-03 · PE10005
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.
Consequence: IF POWER STEERING ASSIST IS LOST, IT WOULD REQUIRE GREATER DRIVER EFFORT AT LOW VEHICLE SPEEDS, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
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. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 AND PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668 OR AT THE OWNER CENTER AT WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.
GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006 CHEVROLET COBALT AND SATURN ION VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF ARIZONA AND NEVADA; AND MODEL YEAR 2007 CHEVROLET COBALT, PONTIAC G5 AND SATURN ION VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF ARIZONA, CALIFORNIA, FLORIDA, NEVADA AND TEXAS. THE PLASTIC SUPPLY OR RETURN PORT ON THE MODULAR RESERVOIR ASSEMBLY MAY CRACK. IF EITHER OF THESE PORTS DEVELOPS A CRACK, FUEL WILL LEAK FROM THE AREA. IF THE CRACK BECOMES LARGE ENOUGH, FUEL MAY BE OBSERVED DRIPPING ONTO THE GROUND AND VEHICLE PERFORMANCE MAY BE AFFECTED.
Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP MODULE FREE OF CHARGE. A SPECIAL COVERAGE WILL BE IMPLEMENTED IN THE SAME TIME FRAME FOR MODEL YEAR 2006 VEHICLES REGISTERED IN ALABAMA, ARKANSAS, CALIFORNIA, FLORIDA, GEORGIA, HAWAII, LOUISIANA, MISSISSIPPI, NORTH CAROLINA, NEW MEXICO, OKLAHOMA, SOUTH CAROLINA, TENNESSEE AND TEXAS AND MODEL YEAR 2007 VEHICLES REGISTERED IN: ALABAMA, ARKANSAS, GEORGIA, HAWAII, LOUISIANA, MISSISSIPPI, NORTH CAROLINA, NEW MEXICO, OKLAHOMA, SOUTH CAROLINA AND TENNESSEE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR BEFORE FEBRUARY 4, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, SATURN AT 1-800-972-8876 AND PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668 OR AT THE OWNER CENTER AT WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.
Performance
Horsepower
205hp
Torque
200lb-ft
0–60 mph
6.5sec
Quarter mile
15.0sec
Top speed
143mph
Capability & size
Curb weight
2,860lb
Fuel economy figures are EPA data via fueleconomy.gov (median across matching trims). Performance figures are compiled estimates for the 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt SS 2.0L I4 Supercharged and can vary by trim.
🔧 Database maintained under the daily editorial review of Chris Hackleman · Master Technician · 20+ years and Jeff Moore · Master Lexus & Toyota Mechanic · 20+ years.