CarComplaints.com Notes: The Cobalt was introduced to replace two of Chevy’s smaller cars, the Cavalier and Prizm. But the compact’s fresh start that Chevy was hoping for was riddled with issues, most notably widespread power steering failure.
This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
My 2005 Chevy Cobalt begins to shake while driving on the freeway. I can feel the vibration starting through the floor board and eventually the whole front end begins to shake. The steering wheel violently shakes from front to back(versus side to side) and the vehicle is hard to control. I always have to pull over or get off the freeway. It feels like the whole front end is going to fall apart. After coming to a complete stop I can continue to drive without any problems. This began almost 6 months ago. I have had my car looked at several times and each time I take it and someone test drives it they cannot find a problem. They have done inspections of brakes, tires ( rebalance and rotate, checked front end alignment, checked steerage and linkage and they find nothing wrong. They also tell me that my car is in great condition. But it continues to shake all the time. Sometimes it won't happen for a week or two, sometimes it happens two or three times a week..
I was almost killed in this car when my steering froze up on the highway. I couldn't turn my wheel. Thank god I was able to make it to the side of the road, but was very dangerous & scary. Long story short I had it checked out and was told it needs a new steering assist motor which was recalled back in 2010. My dealership claims they fixed it back in 2010 when the recall was issued. They claim to have the paperwork (actually only 1/2 of the paper work). If it was fixed it isn't working now and I was almost killed. This was a recall and I don't think I should have to pay $500. To get it fixed. I have complained to GM & spoke to [xxx] at your company and got nowhere! in fact [xxx] sided with the dealership. I would like this fixed at no expense to myself. If his issue is not resolved I am going to my local tv show and also to my state senator ron blumenfeld who will indeed resolve this issue if you are at all familiar with channel 8 and mr blumenfeld. I can't believe you would jeopardize someone's safety over the almighty dollar! I should not have to pay $115. Just to get it looked at and then another $500 to replaced the motor....yet again!! I look forward to hearing back from you. I am copying this letter to [xxx] as well as my attorney. Also, terryville Chevy, where I bought the car has been totally unhelpful and refusing to help me without money. It is a 2005 Chevy Cobalt. [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated that both the traction control and power steering warning indicators illuminated until the engine was turned off. There was also a complete loss of power steering and the transmission began to down shift independently. The contact was able to continue to drive with excessive force being applied to the steering wheel. The failures would recur sporadically. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer and repaired under NHTSA campaign id number 10V073000 (steering). The failure recurred one year after the recall remedy was performed. The vehicle was not repaired for the most recent failure. The manufacturer was not notified of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was 45,000. The VIN was unavailable.
When starting up the vehicle, the check engine and traction lights are lit up. The gauges fluctuate, as well as the temperture reading blinks. Loud clicking sounds can be heard coming from the shift selector. The steering wheel will not turn due to loss of power steering. After shutting off vehicle, the ignition will not release keys for about 15-20 seconds. Have also lost power steering on freeway at speeds of 70 mph. Have attempted to have GM and the dealership resolve the issue, first by having the recalled parts replaced. Problem is recurring for third time, after being "handled" by the dealership the last two times. A very dangerous and potentially life-threatening problem.
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated the steering wheel seized while parking. The vehicle was shut down and restarted then functioned properly. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The manufacturer was not notified. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 111,944.
- Willingboro, NJ, USA
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The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated that the power steering assist failed. The contact stated that he had the vehicle towed to the dealer for inspection where they stated that the power steering motor needed to be repaired. The vehicle was repaired under NHTSA campaign id number: 10V073000 (steering:electric power assist system), but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was not notified of the issue. The failure mileage was 43,643.
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated that while driving 10 mph, the power steering warning lamp illuminated as the vehicle stalled. The contact mentioned that once she was able to restart the vehicle it hesitated and started shaking violently. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 117,600 and the current mileage was 117,631.
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated that while driving 65 mph, the power steering assist failed and the contact lost control of the vehicle, crashing into a ditch. There were no injuries. The vehicle had been previously repaired for the power steering assist under recall NHTSA campaign id number: 10V073000 (steering:electric power assist system). The vehicle was not taken to the dealer after the crash. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 174,000.
After having taken my car into the Chevrolet dealer for a power steering failure the car acted up again. They replaced the power steering motor however after about 1 hour of driving the cruise control disengaged and the power steering message came on the display. The gauges started going crazy and the check engine light would flash on and off as well as the parking brake light. At lower speeds there was a clicking sound from under the automatic transmission box and the car jerked when changing gears. This is extremely dangerous as driving on the free way at those speeds can lead to fatalities. I am extremely thankful nothing happened. General Motors needs to get this right as clearly replacing the power steering motor is not the solution to the problem!
While backing car up steering went out. Steering wheel would spin around. Found out that the lower shaft in steering column and the gear coming out of steering rack separated. Had to change steering rack / lower shaft / clock spring. Cost $1200 if this had happened while driving @ 65 mph with no control things would have been a lot more serious. I have my 24 month old baby in the car most of the time. Checked recalls and there seems to be none for this year car, but there is a recall for 2006 with similar problems.
The 2005 Chevy Cobalt, as well as possibly every other model year Cobalt has more problems than just the power steering motor failures. The speedometer no longer works in my vehicle, the low-fuel warning pops up no matter how much gas is in the car, the engine warning light illuminates, as well as the anti-theft light, battery light (the battery is brand new) and just about every light on the dashboard. Though this isn't a big problem, the radio locks itself and cannot be used until the car is turned off and turned back on. The car struggles to get out of first gear and has stalled repeatedly at red lights and on ramps to the highway. I have had the power steering recall repair done twice and when I took the car back to the dealership in may because the power steering warning had popped up again and the power steering stopped working, they said it was not the power steering and they sent me home in my stalling, jumping car with no power steering. Speaking to a Chevy customer service representative, they told me to go have the car diagnosed (they did run a scan at the dealership and came up with codes U2107, U2100 and U2105) and that I should be responsible for the cost. I asked why they didn't suggest this at the dealership, and was never given an answer other than a repeated I should be held responsible and it's probably a bad ECM or BCM. The car is out of warranty and Chevy offered 50% of the repair cost, but how is this a problem that I caused and should be responsible for at all? this car is incredibly unsafe to drive and I have read a number of similar complaints for this vehicle online. GM must be held responsible for their faulty vehicles. The power steering recall did not take care of everyone's problems and the customers should not be held responsible for the manufacturer's failure.
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact started the ignition, and a sudden loss in the power steering assist occurred. The vehicle was restarted numerous times before operating normally. In June 2012, the vehicle was repaired for the defect under NHTSA campaign id number: 10V073000 (steering: Electric power assist system). The manufacturer was not notified of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was 22,162. Updated 02/20/13 the consumer stated the power assist fails while driving. No P.S. warning lights except when driving. The dealer stated no warranty on recall repairs. Updated 2/20/2013
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated that the tachometer, speedometer, fuel gauge and several warning lights illuminated intermittently. The contact stated that while driving, power steering failed. As a result, the steering became hard to maneuver. The vehicle was not taken to a repair shop or dealer for inspection or repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure who stated that the vehicle should be taken for diagnostic. The failure mileage was 103,000 and the current mileage was 153,000.
The power steering message was on and the car ran like a dog and shifted roughly and traction control light was luminated and had no power is similar to all other accounts on this year and model" I need to know if GM is going to fix it and if it happens again am I going to loose control of the car? I understand it has a recall on it but considering the miles I have on it are they going to honor the recall? I don't have money to fix it so I don't know what to do if it happens again" I never seen or had anything like this before and I have always had GM products form Oldsmobile, Pontiac and mostly Chevy I need reliable transporting on my job please tell me GM make this right by me [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
In the first incident, the power steering on my 2005 Cobalt suddenly failed while accelerating up to highway speeds making it very difficult to turn. The power steering failure lasted until the vehicle was shut off after reaching my destination. The next day the power steering failed suddenly again twice and the failure would last until the vehicle was shut off. It's the same problem listed in recall #10V073000, but according to Chevy, my vehicle isn't one included in the recall.
My car was in the recall for power steering and I had the dealership replace the parts. I believe the recall was in 2010. Within the last year I had the power steering motor replaced because it was doing the same thing it was doing before the recall. I lose power steering and the car jerks intermittently. There is no warning and it happens at all speeds. I was told to pull off to the side of the road, turn the car off and it should fix itself. Unfortunately, the car started doing the same thing tonight. I am horrified that this is still happening and feel like the car is a death trap. I don't feel safe driving it and especially not with my children in the car. I plan on taking this issue up with Chevrolet again, in the hopes that they should pay for it. Please contact me for further information, I feel very strongly that this car should be recalled again for this issue.
After having been repaired several times under the power steering recall, the problems have become worse. The car stalls, lights flicker, the low fuel message will flash despite there being gas in the car, the power steering is completely inoperable, the speedometer rests on zero at all times, various warning lights are always illuminated and the car struggles to get out of second gear (it is an automatic.) the dealership service center gave diagnostic codes indicating possible issues with the body control module and electronic control module and stated that it wasn't covered under the recall, but that the power steering motor had again gone out, but they would not fix it. The car has stalled numerous times on -ramps to highways and in intersections and has become too dangerous to drive, but Chevrolet has refused to acknowledge the problem and only technical service bulletins exist, though they will now acknowledge them when asked, as though the problem is not a dangerous one. The entire electrical system of the car is faulty and should be recalled as it is a major safety concern.
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated that while driving approximately 34 mph, the power steering warning light illuminated, the speed decreased to zero and the tachometer increased to 4,000 rpms. The locks on the door started going up and down and the vehicle became difficult to steer. The contact stopped and turned the vehicle off. After the vehicle was started, the failure was resolved. The failure recurred six times. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who determined that the vehicle had too many fault codes to be diagnosed properly. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure however, did not offer any assistance. The VIN was unavailable. The current and failure mileage was 136,000.
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to the dealer for repairs under NHTSA campaign id number: 10V073000 (steering: Electronic power assist system) in may of 2010. The contact stated that the repaired failed and the power steering assist failed, causing the steering wheel to become extremely difficult to turn. The vehicle was not further repaired. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 70,000 and the current mileage was 120,000.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Newark, DE, USA