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.
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt. While driving approximately 30 mph to make a turn into an intersection, there was a sudden loss of power steering, braking, and the power steering warning light flashed. The contact was able to coast the vehicle over to the side of the road. When the vehicle was turned off and restarted, the failure code reset. The vehicle was driven to the contacts residence and, upon parking, there was a sudden loss of power steering and the brakes were slow to respond. The vehicle was not included in NHTSA action number: PE10005 (steering) and NHTSA campaign number: 10V073000 (steering). The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 135,345.
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt. When turning the steering wheel in either direction, a clicking noise was present coming from the steering column. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the steering module was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 80,000.
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated that while at a traffic light, the power steering assist warning light illuminated and the power steering failed. The contact stated that the vehicle required greater effort to steer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was previously repaired under NHTSA campaign number: 10V073000 (steering). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 160,500.
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt. While driving approximately 25 mph, the power steering seized. The check engine warning indicator illuminated. The failure recurred twice. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 10V073000 (steering). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt. While driving 10 mph, the steering wheel seized. The vehicle was diagnosed by the contact's husband, a certified mechanic, who could not find a failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 115,444.
- Baltimore, ME, USA
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The lights all over the car intermittently work and not work, the battery drains and have replace the battery 4 times.this has been going on since I got the car withe the lights. The steering thing just started, when you make a turn the steering binds up as if the power steering is going out. Also acts as if the car is going to stall. This only happens when you are in drive position. In park it doesn't do this. The power steering fluid levels are perfect. Also, when this issue starts, the speedometer needle bounces up to 40 mph even though you are at a stop. The radio will suddenly turn full blast sound for about 2 seconds and turn back down. Scares me half to death. There is a major electrical problem in this car for lights to work one time and then next time not. I go through light bulbs like crazy, every couple of months I am changing a different bulb. And the steering issue is unsafe, the car could stall while trying to turn across traffic. Still after having all recalls completed, the car is still not safe.
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated that while making a turn, the steering wheel seized without warning. The failure recurred intermittently. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 146,000. The VIN was not available.
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt. While the vehicle was parked, the steering wheel seized and the power steering warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 97,000.
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 15 mph, the steering wheel failed. The failure recurred numerous times. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 10V073000 (steering). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated that while driving at 40 mph, the steering wheel became difficult to maneuver. The contact also stated that the tachometer gauges would fluctuate whenever the failure occurred. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 10V073000 (steering). The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 160,550.
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt. While driving at approximately 50 mph, the brake pedal was depressed and the steering wheel seized without warning. The failure recurred numerous times. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that the VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 10V073000 (steering). The failure mileage was approximately 110,000. Updated 02/18/16 the consumer stated he had an accident on November 20, 2015. No further details were given. Updated 02/23/16.
While running car displays power steering notification. Dash board lights up, car jerks hard while driving, loses power, brakes make click in sounds and don't workwell. Only driven on city street so far.
I was driving the car in the city street when the engine light came on. I continue to drive the car when I start hearing click sound than I hear bell sound come from the car. The car wouldn't go any faster than 40 mile hr & the gauges were jumping all over the place. I continue to drive the car then the words "power steering" came on where my mileage would show. All of the recalls have been repaired and something still wrong with this car. I asked GM to take look at the car without charging(money) to see if it is relative to the recall. The dealership said they couldn't tell if they would charged me money or not.
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt. While driving approximately 35 mph, the vehicle veered to the right and the steering wheel became difficult to maneuver without warning. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown. The VIN was not available. Updated 07/27/16
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt. After the vehicle was started, the enhance traction system, check engine, and power steering warning light illuminated intermittently. In addition, when the vehicle was switched into the reverse position, there was an abnormal sound coming from the gear shift. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 10,377. Updated 03/11/16
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 65 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning. The failure recurred intermittently. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the power steering needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was not made aware for the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt. While driving approximately 35 mph, the steering wheel became extremely difficult to turn. The vehicle was restarted, but the failure persisted. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 10V073000 (steering). The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unavailable. Updated 11/20/15 updated 11/25/15.
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt. While driving approximately 45 mph, the steering wheel became extremely difficult to turn without warning. The failure recurred on numerous occasions. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unavailable.
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt. While driving approximately 30 mph, the vehicle lost power steering. The failure recurred on one occasion. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the electronic power steering needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The VIN was not available. The approximate failure mileage was 200,000.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Albuquerque, NM, USA