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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.

The power steering failed so often that GM was forced to issue a recall in March, 2010. Great, but what about other problems like the key getting stuck in the ignition or all the other electrical demons this car possesses?

And, oh yes — then there’s the terribly dangerous issue where the Cobalt randomly shuts off while driving. As it turns out, that problem is related to GM’s massive 2014 recall for a dangerous ignition switch defect. A recall that eventually ballooned to 2.6 million vehicles in one of the automotive industry’s biggest scandals.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 1
Average Mileage:
47,498 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

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.

2005 Chevrolet Cobalt steering problems

steering problem

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2005 Chevrolet Cobalt Owner Comments (Page 1 of 3)

problem #52

Jun 012014

Cobalt

  • 114,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated that while traveling 70 mph, the power steering failed and the power steering warning light illuminated. There was also a buzzing chime that sounded throughout the vehicle. The vehicle was turned off and once restarted, the power steering resumed normally. The failure recurred four times. The manufacturer was notified and of the failure. The vehicle was not inspected or repaired. The failure and the current mileage was 114,000.

- Copejil Dueo, MO, USA

problem #51

Jul 302013

Cobalt 4-cyl

  • miles
2005 Chevrolet Cobalt. Consumer requests reimbursement for power steering motor recall repairs. The consumer stated the power steering went out on the vehicle. If she turned the vehicle off and back on, the steering would resume normal operation momentarily. The power steering light did illuminate and there was an alert sound. A diagnosis revealed the electronic power steering motor failed. The consumer contacted the dealer, who originally performed the recall, in 2010. They informed her they were no longer required to replace the power steering motor again. The consumer went to another establishment and had the steering motor replaced at a cost of $ $633.11.

- Pittsburg, CA, USA

problem #50

Aug 082012

Cobalt 4-cyl

  • 86,000 miles
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.

- Arlington, TX, USA

problem #49

Apr 022012

Cobalt 4-cyl

  • 110,900 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

When maneuvering the vehicle my steering wheel seizes up over and over again while making a turn. Consequently it must be turned hard to overcome this resistance. Often this causes the driver to over steer. It does this repeatedly even when going through the same turn. Correcting the over steer is also plagued by these same spots of hard resistance. If you turn the steering wheel while the car is not moving you can feel the same problem. Had the front end of the car inspected and those components are in good shape. You can hear a sound coming from the steering column when resistance is felt. The car had safety recall # 10023 repair done on 6/14/2010 at dutch Chevrolet in belfast, Maine (repair order 25485). I called Chevy and they said that the recall repair was warranted for 12 months or miles which ever came first. I have an appointment today 5/1/12 to have it looked at by the same dealer. The representative from Chevy said they will follow up on this however they did not offer to cover the cost of the repair. Bad enough that the problem is chronic, a real safety concern, but worse yet Chevy won't even take responsibility for a lifetime warranty on a recall repair. This is unconscionable. The consumer stated he went to the local dealer to have the steering problem diagnosed. It turned out the problem was not directly related to the original repair of the electric steering assist unit after all. Rather, the intermediate steering shaft U-joint needed to be replaced. The charge was slightly under $250. After discussing the problem with the warranty division, the consumer was given a discount of $150. The consumer no longer wished to pursue his complaint. Updated IVOQ 06/15/12

- Prospect, ME, USA

problem #48

Nov 012010

Cobalt 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 48,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt. While driving approximately 70 mph, the power steering warning light illuminated with the alert of the warning chime. The power steering suddenly failed and the steering wheel became difficult to maneuver. The contact stopped and shut off the vehicle. Once restarted, the vehicle regained power steering. The vehicle was included in the recall under NHTSA campaign id number: 10V073000 (steering:electric power assist system) and was repaired. The failure recurred twice after repairs. The vehicle was not further repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 48,000. Updated 12/22/11 the consumer stated since the recall replacement of the steering motor, there has been constant steering alerts on the dash/info center with a chime. Upon power steering alert, the vehicle is turned off and when restarted again, there is a rough idle. The shift was so rough, the vehicle can not be driven. Several cycles are need to correct the problem. Updated 01/20/12

- Front Royal, VA, USA

problem #47

Oct 102011

Cobalt 4-cyl

  • 41,022 miles
I own a 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt, the power steering and traction control lights illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle then began to jerk and become difficult to drive. The vehicle had to be towed to an authorized dealer and repaired under NHTSA campaign id number 10V073000 (steering:electric power assist system); but the dealer told me that there no recall for my vehicle, apparently they was base on the vehicle VIN # instead of model/made/year of the car. The dealer told me I need to replace steering column which will cost me close to $1000 w/part, labor & taxes. Pickup my car on the same day late afternoon, was able to drive home with no incident. However, the failure recurred the next day, again towed the car back to the dealership, the manufacturer was aware of the failure. The vehicle was awaiting further inspection at the dealership, in the meantime I'm driving the rental that was provided by the dealership. This is mfg defected problem, I should not have to paid to fix the steering column.

- San Jose, CA, USA

problem #46

Jun 192011

Cobalt 4-cyl

  • 86,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated that the power steering warning light would illuminate and the steering wheel would seize while driving at various speeds. The vehicle was taken to an independent repair shop and the contact was informed that the electronic power steering motor needed to be repaired. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 86,000. Updated 10/04/11 the consumer referenced recall # 10V073000. Updated 11/02/11

- Ellicott City, MD, USA

problem #45

Jul 142010

Cobalt

  • miles
I bought the Chevy Cobalt (2005) in the fall of 2009. The next summer I was notified of the recall on the power steering. I have since brought my car in twice because the electric power steering has shut off while driving. Today, for the third time since the car was supposedly fixed by Chevy the power steering shut off again while I was driving in heavy traffic. This is a serious safety concern and it seems like Chevy is just replacing with the same defective parts. The whole system needs to be replaced or a different motor needs to be used for the electric power steering.

- Hull, MA, USA

problem #44

Jan 012008

Cobalt 4-cyl

  • 65,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated that the power steering and traction control lights illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle then began to jerk and become difficult to drive. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer and repaired under NHTSA campaign id number 10V073000 (steering:electric power assist system); however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was aware of the failure. The vehicle was awaiting further inspection. The approximate failure mileage was 65,000 and the current mileage was 73,000. Updated 09/21/11 updated 09/30/11

- Blackwood, NJ, USA

problem #43

May 032011

Cobalt 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 65,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt. While accelerating from a stop the contact heard a loud banging noise in the steering column. The contact stopped the vehicle and began to turn the steering wheel and heard a popping noise. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The manufacturer was notified and the contact was informed that the vehicle was not included in the recall associated with NHTSA campaign id number 10V073000 (steering:electric power assist system). The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileages were 65,000. Updated 12/19/11

- Cincinnati , OH, USA

problem #42

Feb 152011

Cobalt 4-cyl

  • 70,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The car was taken in on 6/3/10 as a part of the recall of the electric power motor. Prior to that time there had been two incidents where all of a sudden the steering column would lock, the car would shut off and after stopping, and restarting the car would start. We thought the problem was solved. The week of February 15, 2011 two incidents happened with my daughter 21 years old in the car. The first was after she hit a small pot hole, the steering column locked she pulled over restarted the car. The same week she was driving on I-94 at 60 miles per hour the steering column locked, she was able to get to side of the road, and restart the car. On February 22 or 23, 2011 we took the car in to george matick Chevrolet to ask them to check the recall work because it was the same problem. The representatives there said that we had to pay $95 for an inspection. They indicated that there was no problem with the recall work that they did, and more then likely it was an ignition switch that would have to be replaced and the cost for that would be approximately $500 I would not pay for an inspection because this is exactly the same problem that we had previously and this is extremely dangerous as you can not tell when or how it will happen. The inspection of the recall work that they did was simply sitting behind the wheel of the car and attesting that there was no problem. I took the car to my normal mechanic who did a diagnostic and he could find nothing wrong and said we would have to wait until it failed again. The problem is that someone can get killed with this. This recall did not solve this problem or the motor I received in the car is still defective. I would like a definitive answer to this problem before someone gets hurt. The consumer stated her daughter hit a pot hole and the steering went out. She was able to pull over and restart the vehicle. The consumer stated it appeared the recall issued by G.M was not effective. Updated 06/23/11

- Detroit, MI, USA

problem #41

Feb 152011

Cobalt

  • 103,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact received recall notice in reference to NHTSA campaign id number 10V073000 (steering:electric power assist system). After taking the vehicle in for the repairs, a few weeks later the power steering failed and it was taken back to the dealer. The vehicle was inspected by a dealer and they advised her that the actual failure was the ECM and that it needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 103,000.

- Portwentworth, GA, USA

problem #40

Nov 112010

Cobalt 4-cyl

  • 124,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated that while exiting a residential driveway at 1 mph, the vehicle lost all power steering capabilities. The vehicle was shut off and upon restart, the failure persisted. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously repaired under NHTSA campaign id number: 10V073000 (steering: Electric power assist system) seven months prior to the failure. The vehicle was towed to an authorized dealer. The dealer advised the contact that they could not duplicate the failure. The vehicle was released to the contact November 12, 2010. The contact stated that the power steering warning alarm sounded and the warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where the contact was awaiting repairs. The manufacturer would not provide any assistance. The failure and current mileage was approximately 124,000. Updated 04/12/11 the consumer also stated the brakes locked up on a consistent basis. Also, the defroster worked intermittently.

- Elma, WA, USA

problem #39

May 082010

Cobalt

  • miles
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt. He referenced NHTSA recall campaign number 10V073000, steering electric power assist system and stated that the recall work was performed in April 2010. The failure recurred again within three weeks. While driving approximately 10-12 mph the power steering became difficult to control. He also stated that after the recall work was performed the temperature indicator no longer functioned properly and the fuel sensor no longer made a beeping sound. When he opened the door, the outside temperature was displayed, then the mileage and now the service air bag light was illuminated. The dealer asked him to bring the vehicle back but the contact had not taken the vehicle back. The failure mileage was unknown. The current mileage was 96,309.

- Irving, TX, USA

problem #38

Apr 072010

Cobalt 4-cyl

  • 25,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated the vehicle was included in NHTSA campaign id number: 10V073000 (steering: Electric power assists system). The contact stated he inquired with the dealer five times over a period of four months as to when he would be able to have the vehicle repaired. The dealer advised that the parts needed to make repairs were not yet available. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 25,000 and the current mileage was 26,000. Updated 10/13/10 the consumer stated after five months of waiting, the part finally arrived at the dealership and the vehicle was repaired under the recall. Updated 10/14/10

- Santa Ana, CA, USA

problem #37

Apr 172010

Cobalt

  • 66,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated while driving at an unknown speed, the steering wheel became extremely stiff and was difficult to turn. The power steering would malfunction intermittently while the contact was driving. The failure became progressively worse until the vehicle lost all power steering capabilities. The dealer advised repairs could not be made under NHTSA campaign id number: 10V073000 (steering: Electric power assist system) because the parts needed to make repairs were not available. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 66,000 and the current mileage was approximately 70,280.

- Kingman, AZ, USA

problem #36

May 272010

Cobalt

  • miles
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact received NHTSA recall id number: 10V073000, steering, electric power assist system; however, an authorized dealer advised her that the parts were not available. The dealer also stated that the repairs would be made based on the vehicle owners that previously experienced the failure. The manufacturer confirmed what the dealer stated about the repairs being made. There are no failures at this time. The current mileage was 117,100.

- Dawson Spring, KY, USA

problem #35

Jun 072010

Cobalt

  • 46,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt. While driving at 25 mph, the power steering light illuminated and the power steering failed. The contact coasted the vehicle to the side of the road. The vehicle was difficult to steer but the contact managed to drive home. The contact then received a recall notice for recall 10V073000 (steering: Electric power assist system). When she took the vehicle to the local dealership, she was informed that the parts were unavailable at that time but that the vehicle was safe to drive until they arrived. However, the failure occurred again. The failure mileage was approximately 46,000. The current mileage was 46,515.

- Atlanta, GA, USA

problem #34

Feb 202010

Cobalt

  • 113,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated the power steering would intermittently fail at various speeds. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where repairs were made to the power steering motor under NHTSA recall campaign id number: 10V073000 (steering: Electric power assists system) yet the failure recurred. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 113,000 and the current mileage was 114,000.

- Baltimore, MD, USA

problem #33

Jan 102010

Cobalt 4-cyl

  • 50,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated her daughter perished in a violent car crash on January 10, 2010 and believed the crash was a result of a defective power steering module. The police officer who handled the crash stated the driver was traveling at a high rate of speed, the vehicle flipped several times and the driver was ejected from the vehicle and run over. A police report was filed accordingly. On April 10, 2010, the contact received notification that the vehicle was recalled (NHTSA campaign id number: 10V073000: Steering: Electric power assist) due to a defect in the steering module. The vehicle was totaled. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure and current mileages were 50,000... updated 08-07-12 the consumer also stated the vehicle burst into flames, melting the instrument panel and other components.

- Scranton , PA, USA

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