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 steering wheel is automatically turning on it's own, and it is very hard to move. I'm concerned about the safety of my life. What if one day I start driving and the wheel starts turning and I crash? I'm afraid to drive my Cobalt now, and hoping it can be fixed so I won't have any crashes in the future.
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact received a notification of NHTSA campaign number: 14V153000 (steering) however, the part to do the repair was not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The vehicle had not experienced a failure.
After having GM replace my power steering motor in March 2013, the power steering failed again as I was driving on the freeway. Luckily I managed to maintain control of the vehicle and drive to safety. Dealership then diagnosed the problem as being the transmission control module, costing me $607 to fix. A year and 6 months later, my power steering is failing yet again. I call the dealership and they say I can drive it into the dealership as soon as possible. It seems the Chevrolet does not understand that this problem has killed people. After expressing my concern for my personal safety (as well as others on the road) the dealership said I could get it towed at my own expense. I'm sorry, this is the second time General Motors will "attempt" to fix my cars problem and it is at my expense? I beg the national highway traffic administration to have GM take these vehicles off the road and compensate owners. I am truly afraid for my safety every time I get into my car. Had I been able to afford a new one, I would have - but not everyone has that privilege. Please, too many people have already lost their lives.
While driving my Cobalt from anywhere between 10mph to 50mph multiple "ding" noises occur. Then any number of alert lights come on including; traction control, air bag, check engine, etc... there is a strange clicking noise that comes from somewhere in the dash. Also, along with these symptoms the transmission (auto trans) begins to shift very hard both up and down, car shudders as if it is going to stall when it comes to a near stop. The scariest and most dangerous part is that the car has experienced loss of power steering at speed and loss of braking control. Sometimes I have spent 5 minutes trying to get my key out of the ignition as well, and must forcefully move the transmission shift knob back and forth until the key turns free. This car is a danger, and despite having multiple recalls it is still unsafe to drive.
He traction control light came on, the car started jerking really bad. The check engine light came on, and the "power steering" started flashing on my dashboard. My power steering went out, happens randomly.
- Norwich, NY, USA
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The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt. While driving approximately 40 mph, the power steering seized and the vehicle stalled without warning. The failure recurred numerous times. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing and the power steering module was replaced. The failure recurred. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number:14V047000 (air bags, electrical system); however, the parts were unavailable for repair. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 95,000.
Had no issues all day until all of sudden we were leaving a parking lot. I'm at the stop sign when I went to press the gas to go, I hear a chime - no indication lights come on- car acts like it's going to stall (it doesn't), steering is very hard and a clicking noise is coming from the gear shift area. Do not feel safe driving it all, although it's movable but very rough/bogging out. Recently had the ignition recall recently, had a few issues pop up since then but nothing as serious as this. Had to get it towed to my mechanic, he replaced a few sensors, but clicking noise still remains and is undriveable.
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt. While driving approximately 25 mph, the power steering warning light illuminated and the power steering seized. The vehicle was maneuvered to the side of the road where it was restarted and driven home. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 65,000.
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt. While making a right turn, the steering wheel seized intermittently. The contact mentioned that extreme force was required in order to control the vehicle. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 180,000.
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated that while driving at an unknown speed, the power steering failed and excessive force was required to maneuver the vehicle. The contact mentioned that the engine light illuminated after the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 125,586.
I got into my car and when I turned on the car it said "power steering" and the check engine light was on I tried to drive home and the steering wheel was stiff and hard to turn. The odometer would not move from 0 to show me the speed I was going and the car was making some clicking sounds as I was driving.
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 10 mph, the steering wheel became difficult to turn as the power steering warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 57,063.
While traveling at about 70 mph on rural interstate expressway, came upon a curve, tapped brakes to slow down and tried to steer right into the curve and couldn't get the steering wheel to move at all. Put more force on steering wheel and it jerked the car to extreme right. Tried to compensate and car went into 180 degree spin across the interstate, hit and flattened two road signs, went down an embankment, then went airborne while rolling and hit a stand of pines trees. Car slid down a tree and came to rest on passenger side. Through the grace of god the injuries were only cuts and bruises. X-rays were taken and there were no broken bones. The vehicle was totaled. Was taken out of the vehicle through the rear window that had blown out in the impact as no other doors were able to be opened.
I was driving around 55 mph in traffic. I heard a chime and the display on the dash said power steering disabled, the orange indicator for traction control disabled illuminated, the tachometer jumped around and the transmission shifted extremely hard into gear. I struggled to pull over to the shoulder and the car slammed into park. I shut the car off and back on. It still shifted hard so I let it stay off for five minute. After that the car was fine. As an experienced mechanic it felt like the car lost communication with one of the computers. No dtcs were stored. There are a lot of complaints about this online as well.
I have had problems with traction control light coming on and when it does the car won't shift properly (automatic), jumps and stutters and dies. Also lose power steering. This has been happening off and on ever since I got the car 5+ years ago. I have had it back to the dealership I bought it at (Dodge dealer) at least twice who took it to a Chevy dealer and have had it to local Chevy dealers multiple times and no one can capture any codes or fix it. Now it thinks the key is in the ignition all the time and locks don't work properly even tho I had switch replaced on recall. Searched internet and see many others have had this same problem and some said it was ABS issue. Why has there been no recall?
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact received a recall notification for NHTSA campaign number: 14V153000 (steering); however, the part needed to repair the vehicle was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified. The contact had not experienced a failure.
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact received recall notifications for NHTSA campaign number: 14V047000 (electrical system), NHTSA campaign number: 14V171000 (electrical system), and NHTSA campaign number: 14V153000 (steering). The parts needed to repair the vehicle were unavailable. The dealer was unable to provide a specific date for when the parts would become available. The manufacturer was notified. The contact had not experienced a failure.
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt. While driving various speeds, the steering wheel became difficult to turn and the warning indicator illuminated. The failure occurred twice. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified. The approximate failure mileage was 160,000.
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact received a recall notification for NHTSA campaign number: 10V073000 (steering). The vehicle was repaired according to the recall. After the repair, the power indicator remained illuminated when the vehicle was started. The vehicle became difficult to stop and excessive force had to be used to steer. The failure occurred five times and was previously repaired. The vehicle was waiting to be diagnosed by the dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 137,714.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Houston, TX, USA