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2005 Chevrolet Cobalt

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2005 Cobalt.

Body PASSENGER CAR

The 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt is a passenger car, with routine engine service specified as 5 quarts of 5W-30 API oil. This model year drew 1,649 owner complaints, led by steering issues, and carries six recalls. Within the 1996–2017 complaint history, the 2005 Cobalt sits below the 2006 peak of 2,330 reports but well above the 1996 low of one, marking it as one of the more frequently reported years in the model's run.

Model year2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity5 qtOEM · verified

Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified

Lug nut torque100 ft-lbsOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 90 · 600 CCA battery, OE oil filter 12580255. Note the factory fuel filter is now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 90 · 600 CCAOEM · verified

Tire sizeTOURING P195/60R15; PERFORMANCE P215/45R18OEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter	12580255 alt 12605566
Engine air filter	21999324 alt 15239447
Fuel filter	22734980 discontinued
Spark plug	12681661 alt 12680075
Battery	88866263
Front wiper blades	20918023 alt 20918022
Serpentine belt	12634322 alt 12634320
Thermostat	12622410 alt 24422922
Cabin air filter	52493319

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	180.3 in
Overall width	68.1 in
Overall height	57.1 in
Wheelbase	103.1 in
Curb weight	2868 lb
Track (front / rear)	58.7 / 58.3 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)	59/41

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Cobalt of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

5.9–8.4 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 5.90 sec — 2005 SS Supercharged Coupe

Year	Trim / engine	0–60	¼ mile	HP	Drivetrain
2005	SS Supercharged Coupe 2.0L Supercharger I-4	5.90 sec	14.40 sec	205 hp	FWD
2005	SS Supercharged Coupe 2.0L Supercharger I-4	6.00 sec	14.50 sec	205 hp	FWD
2005	SS Supercharged Coupe 2.0L Supercharger I-4	6.10 sec	14.40 sec	205 hp	FWD
2005	SS Supercharged Coupe 2.0L Supercharger I-4	6.10 sec	14.70 sec	205 hp	FWD
2005	LS Sedan 2.2L I-4	8.40 sec	16.60 sec	145 hp	FWD
2005	LS Sedan 2.2L I-4	8.40 sec	16.20 sec	145 hp	FWD
2006	SS Sedan 2.4L I-4	7.10 sec	15.60 sec	171 hp	FWD
2007	SS Supercharged Coupe 2.0L Supercharger I-4	6.10 sec	14.60 sec	205 hp	FWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 5 qt of 5W-30 API engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 100 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 18.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-3-4-2. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission Fluid	ATF
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity	6.9
Brake Fluid	DOT 3
Engine Coolant	DEX-COOL OR EQUIVALENT
Engine Oil	5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	5 qt
Engine Oil	5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	6 qt

Engine torques

Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts	4 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts	10 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts	7.4 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts	10 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug	18.0 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug	18.0 ft-lbs
Engine Valve Cover Bolts	7.4 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts	100 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub	155 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order	1-3-4-2
Spark Plug Manufacturer	AC Delco
Spark Plug Type	GM part number 12787099
Spark Plug Gap	0.040 in
Spark Plug Torque	15.0 ft-lbs
Spark Plug Manufacturer	AC Delco
Spark Plug Type	AC 41-981
Spark Plug Gap	0.042 in

Battery & A/C

Refrigerant	R134a
Refrigerant Capacity	.90 lbs
Oil Group	PAG
Oil Type	46
Oil Capacity	4.00 oz
Standard BCI Group Number	90
Standard BCI Cranking Performance	600 cca
Standard BCI Group Number	90

Service checks

Pressure Test	15, Pressure should not exceed 20 psi.
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief	15 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature	185-205 °F
Fuel Pump Pressure Minimum	60 psi
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)	50-60
RPM	40-59 @ Idle rpm
Fuel Pump Pressure Minimum	60.0 psi
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)	50-60

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket	25 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle	85 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad Thickness	0.039
Minimum Shoe Thickness	0.020
Rotor Max Parallel Variation	0.001 in
Rotor Runout Limit	0.002 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From	0.933 in / 1.023 in / 0.783 in / 0.551 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To	0.933 in / 1.023 in / 0.783 in / 0.551 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

74 ft. lbs., step 2: 75

74 ft. lbs

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 2 stages

1	22 ft. lbs.	22 ft. lbs
2	155 degrees	155 degrees
1	26

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 2 stages

Prep Do not reuse old bolts.

1	22.0 ft. lbs.	22 ft. lbs
2	190 degrees	190 degrees

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the spark plugs every 100,000 mi; coolant at 150,000 mi. The big-interval services (at 150,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 25,000 mi	Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Fuel System (inspect)
Every 50,000 mi	Engine Air Filter Element (replace)
Every 100,000 mi	Spark Plugs (replace) · Transmission Fluid & Filter (replace)
At 150,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

Prior to 2005, the Cobalt had minimal federal activity, with complaints of 1‑2 per year, zero recalls and investigations, and TSB counts ranging from 2 to 64. In 2005 complaints jumped to 1,649, recalls rose to six, investigations to one, and TSBs reached 646, marking the start of a pronounced increase. The trend continued upward in 2006 (2,330 complaints, six recalls, one investigation, 796 TSBs) before gradually declining through 2010, when complaints fell to 582 while recalls remained at six and investigations dropped to one. After 2010 complaints fell to single‑digit levels and recalls and investigations returned to zero, while TSBs remained elevated but showed a slow decline. Because 2005 sits at the onset of the high‑complaint, high‑recall phase of the generation, it represents a less favorable year to purchase compared with later models that show markedly lower federal activity.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

646

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

1,649

Owner complaints

97 involved a crash · 12 a fire

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’96 ’00 ’02’05’06 ’07 ’08 ’09 ’10 ’11 ’12 ’16 ’17

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 1,649 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Steering899

Electrical System112

Steering,Electrical System57

Fuel/Propulsion System30

Engine & Engine Cooling28

Power Train25

Suspension21

Steering,Equipment19

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 6 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

14V171000Electrical System:IgnitionReported 10/04/2014

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… 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…

14V047000Air BagsReported 10/02/2014

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… 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…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 646 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
PIP5601C	2025-07-18	Unknown Or Other	This PI communicates the requirement to provide a pico file to receive diagnostic…
PIT5074R	2025-05-30	Unknown Or Other	This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about…
PIT5074R	2025-05-30	Unknown Or Other	This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about…
PIT5074R	2025-05-30	Unknown Or Other	This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about…
PIP5358D	2025-02-19	Unknown Or Other	This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420

Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1

P0300

Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected

P0171

System too lean — Bank 1

P0455

Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak

P0128

Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature

P0442

Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN

Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Cobalt. OEM

Build data

Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.

Recalls

Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Group 90 battery Vehicles taking 5 qt Engine oil filter 12580255 Engine air filter 21999324 Fuel filter 22734980 Spark plug 12681661

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBs OBD-II trouble codes Torque specifications Maintenance schedules Fluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2005 Cobalt take?

5 qt of 5W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 2005 Cobalt have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 6 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.