2022 A29 major issues

[Rpicolli]

I purchased a brand new 2022 A29 Volvo penta engine and I have nothing but problems last 5 months dealer had to fix it over 10 times and problems still going on.

Took delivery of boat drive it 10 min to slip boat taking on water, dealer tried to fix it 6 diffrent times end up pulling engine to replace y pipe less then 1 hour on boat. Crazy!

The the batteries going dead end up being ground wire issue somewhere in the boat.

Then over heating blown water pump replaced it 4 hours later new water pump sheared off engine again metal housing broke apart. See pictures.
At dealer now again.

Lets not even get into seat issues and hull bubbles, front bow pads keep getting loose 3rd time, it just never ends with this boat and it is only 5 months old.

Colbalt is MIA but my dealer has been excellent they have jump through hoops and even gave me a loaner boat due to all the issues. Colbalt still has not sent the parts after 5 months to fix cosmetic stuff but without a working engine cosmetic stuff is meanless.

I uploaded some photo’s. Have many more and video’s.

Anyone else have problem with new Colbalt boats. This is my 4th Colbalt and i never had any issues with my prior boats.
I feel the brand quality has gone down and there is ZERO customer service from Colbalt

Anyone else having issues with a new Colbalt ?

[Krob1114]

Damn. Sorry to hear about you troubles.

[jhnmdahl]

It's sad to think that those cosmetic issues made it out of the factory. Cobalt has little to do with the engine itself, but it's pretty unusual to have multiple problems like that early on with Volvo engines that aren't caught by Cobalt or the dealer in pre-delivery. Cobalt used to pick dealers based on customer service above numbers, but with that changing too I'm glad your dealer is stepping up to keep things moving.

[AsLan7]

.
So glad you found us Rpicolli.

Sorry to hear about your Cobalt woes.
Blame it on Malibu.

Maybe the saying should be compromise some things.

[ajcampen]

What were your three prior cobalts? Love hearing people’s stories

[kbloom72]

I've read about a few horror stories about the A29. If you check out the FaceBook Cobalt Owners Group, you'll see them well documented. It's a shame as it's a beautiful boat, but this model doesn't appear to pass the smell test.

[Sumgai]

I've read about a few horror stories about the A29. If you check out the FaceBook Cobalt Owners Group, you'll see them well documented. It's a shame as it's a beautiful boat, but this model doesn't appear to pass the smell test.

it is not the friday or monday build warranty issues, it's the phone con from the prez of Cobalt telling the unfortunate owner 'no soup for you!' because he simply documented his issues on the Cobalt owners Facebook forum. Takeaway: Remain anonymous until you get all the Oops! fixed by Cobalt on your boat. This facebook post was from 10 months ago, nov 2022;

[CobaltDeadHead]

I've read about a few horror stories about the A29. If you check out the FaceBook Cobalt Owners Group, you'll see them well documented. It's a shame as it's a beautiful boat, but this model doesn't appear to pass the smell test.

it is not the friday or monday build warranty issues, it's the phone con from the prez of Cobalt telling the unfortunate owner 'no soup for you!' because he simply documented his issues on the Cobalt owners Facebook forum. Takeaway: Remain anonymous until you get all the Oops! fixed by Cobalt on your boat. This facebook post was from 10 months ago, nov 2022;

That's horrible if true. Is that even legal? Restricting warranty services because someone complains publicly?

[Table Rockin]

If true that is absolutely discrimination but because that discrimination is not based on a protected class not sure there is any recourse. Pretty s****y business practice however. Really surprised he even said that.

[dustinm]

I have a few unresolved issues with our '21.. nothing like this. I believe our dealer is 3/4 to blame on our boat.

Sorry to hear of these ridiculous issues on an A29 none the less.

[Rpicolli]

The hits keep on coming, after bringing my boat back on 9/3/2023 to the dealer Cobalt and the dealer agreed to fix all the issue over the fall and winter, fast forward come 5/11/2024 a months later they launch the boat of course the cosmetic issues were not fixed “waiting” on Cobalt to send the parts, and now it gets better drove the boat from the dealers slip and I smell wires burning and smoke coming out of vents. Brought it back to dealer’s slip did not make it very far and service guys jump on boat disconnect batteries and try and to figure out what is burning. I was so disgust with the boat I had ot walk away now its 5/28/2024 and I am still waiting to hear back from Cobalt, dealer says it needs some motor replaced and it is a major job. What is odd no fuse blew or breaker did not trip anyone who knows electrical when there is a short their fuse or breaker should trip to prevent a fire in my case nothing tripped. At this point I was forces to hire a law firm this morning to go after Cobalt and the dealer.

[Luv2HuntAR]

Wow. I hopped on this thread because I'm considering a move from an R5 to an A29. This is the most uncharacteristic thing I've ever read relative to my own personal experience with Cobalt and my Cobalt dealer .... "Cobalt" has always been synonymous with "High Quality" no matter the model. I certainly understand your frustration, and I pray your issue gets worked out to your satisfaction swiftly.

[CobaltDeadHead]

Cobalt WAS synonymous with quality. Malibu is not.

Shareholders / Profit >>>>> Customers

If I find myself in position to upgrade my 24SX, it will be for a pre 2018 Cobalt. If I end up desiring a newer boat than 2018, I'll likely look at Formula. I just think both the QC and designs have all suffered since Malibu bought them.

[Rpicolli]

Update on my A29, we’ll all I can say is Cobalt boats are garbage at best and their customer service people are outright liars. The boat went on fire back in May after they assured me that they spend all winter long fixing all the factory problem only to get on the boat drive 500 yard and smoke was coming out of the helm. Of course, an electrical fire I was on It and it is not something anyone needs to experience. Then the upholstery parts that were “supposed” to be replaced because of factory defect were not because they were on backorder. Keep in mind Aug of 2023 they said it was being shipped ot the deal and May 2024 they still never arrived. Now it is Aug of 2024 and they still have not arrived. I was promised a new boat after the electrical fire but I could not get it for the season, so I was told use the boat until the new one is built of could that was smoke and mirrors, so I hired a law firm to go after Cobalt and the dealer, and right before we going to file Roy from Cobalt says why are you going to do that, we can work it out and we don’t need lawyers. Of course, he said we will build you a new boat this is back in May 2024, since then he has made every excuse under the sun and now, he just ignores my calls. In the last 4 months it had an electrical fire, almost sank due to the exhaust manifold rubber boot coming off pumping water into the engine compartment of course with the wife and kids on the board screaming for dear life. The hydraulic swim platform stopped working, the power steering stopped working, the metal bracket that support the hardtop the weld has broken. The hits keep on coming with Cobalt. This boat is a safety hazard and the best past I have been buying Cobalt boats for 20 years you would think they want to keep me as a customer. I even offered to take new one from the dealer’s stock so I don’t have to put my family as risk on this boat. The problem comes down to Cobalt the dealer is great he has been trying to fix this crappy boat the best he could, but Roy at Cobalt who makes promises and never keeps them does not follow through. At this point I am going to file legal action against Cobalt and I will go to the Miami and NY City boat show and make sure everyone knows how Cobalt treats their longtime customer. I am also going to hire a PR firm to let everyone know worldwide my experience which is well documented and with photo’s. I don’t care what it cost at this point Cobalt is going to regret for making false promises and telling me lies just to avoid legal action with me. All they did is delay it. I feel bad for the dealer who has gone above and beyond trying to help me out I put him on notice that despite all his efforts I have to go after him legally also. EVERYONE DO NOT BUY A COBALT BOAT UNLESS YOU WANT THE SAME HEADACHES THAT I HAVE.
COBALT you will know who I am at the NYC and Miami boat show and I will remind you of this post so you had you fair warnings.

[jhnmdahl]

Yeah, be careful that you can back up anything you post in public with documentation. If you post something publicly out of anger or frustration, you may be liable for what you say. Having a third party represent your interests doesn't sound like a terrible idea at this point, as I don't think you'll get much farther on your own.

That said, you seem to have the worst luck with a new Cobalt I've ever heard of - sorry you're spending your time going through all this instead of on the water.