NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026
POWER STEERING FAILED IN NOVEMBER 2009. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE POWER STEERING FAILED TO WORK AND THE WORDS "POWER STEERING" APPEARED ON THE CONSOLE DISPLAY. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO BE VERY HARD TO STEER AND CONTROL ESPECIALLY AT LOW SPEEDS. THE POWER STEERING HAS FAILED WHILE NEGOTIATING CURVES ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AND ON AT LEAST ONE OCCASION I WAS UNABLE TO CONTINUE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE CURVE AS I WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL BECAUSE IT WAS TOO HARD TO TURN. WHILE NEGOTIATING THIS CURVE I ALMOST STRUCK ANOTHER VEHICLE. CONTACTED LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP AND ADVISED THEM OF THIS PROBLEM. I WAS ADVISED THAT THERE WAS NOT A RECALL AND THAT THIS WAS NOT A "PROBLEM" BEING ADDRESSED BY CHEVROLET. I WAS ADVISED BY MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP THAT IF I RESEARCHED THIS MATTER ON THE INTERNET I WOULD FIND HUNDREDS OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS BUT THAT AGAIN CHEVROLET WAS NOT ADDRESSING THIS AS A DEALER PROBLEM AND THAT THE CONSUMERS WOULD BE REQUIRED TO FIX THE PROBLEM ON THEIR OWN. I ADVISED THE SERVICE EMPLOYEE THAT THE STEERING WAS TOO STIFF / HARD FOR ME TO TURN THE WHEEL, ESPECIALLY AT LOW SPEEDS, AND WAS AGAIN ADVISED THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS MYSELF. I QUESTIONED THE SERVICE EMPLOYEE AS TO HOW CHEVROLET WAS NOT HANDLING THIS AS A RECALL AS IT WAS APPARENT THAT IT WAS NOT ISOLATED TO ONLY ONE TYPE OF VEHICLE AND INCLUDED HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF CONSUMERS AND WAS AGAIN ADVISED THAT I WOULD HAVE TO FIX THE PROBLEM MYSELF. *TR
1).NOTHING JUST DRIVING AND THE POWER STEERING WHEN OUT HAD TO STOP TURN THE CAR OFF AND START THE CAR AGAIN 2)POWER STEERING START THURSDAY 10-29/UNTIL 11-2 I TOOK THE CAR TO THE SHOP,WOULD GO OUT AND COULDN'T TURN THE CAR WITHOUT BOTH HANDS AND IT WAS HARD. NO CONSEQUENCES THANKS GOODNESS I HAD TO SMALL KIDS IN THE CAR BUT WAS ABLE TO STOP AND TURN THE CAR OFF 3) HAD TO TAKE TO THE CAR TO THE SHOP AND IT GOING TO COST UP TO 1300 TO GET IT FIX. PART NEEDED WAS TO REPLACE THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING COLUMN ASSEMBLY AND PROGRAM. WHICH THEY DON'T HAVE SO THEY HAVE TO SHIP OVERNIGHT FOR 30 EXTRA. *TR
1. TAKING A LEFT TURN, MY CAR DASHBOARD FLASHED A "POWER STEERING" WARNING AND MY POWER STEERING WENT OUT. 2. THE POWER STEERING GOES OUT AT LEAST 2-3 TIMES DAY MAKING IT VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. 3. I WILL BE TAKING THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP TO BE REPAIRED. I'VE BEEN TOLD IT COULD BE THE POWER STEERING MOTOR OR THE STEERING COLUMN. I CANNOT AFFORD TO REPLACE THE COLUMN AND IF THAT IS WHAT IS WRONG I WILL BE FORCED TO CONTINUE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE IN ITS CURRENT CONDITION. *TR
POWER STEERING HAS GONE OUT IN CHEVY AND IM NOT THE ONLY ONE THERE IS A WHOLE SITE DEDICATED TO THIS . IT HAS NEARLY KILLED ME , THE STEERING WHEEL STOPS WORKING ALL TOGETHER AND I HAVE ALREADY REPLACED MY POWER STEERING MODULE. PLEASE TAKE THE TIME TO LOOK AT THIS SITE AND IT SPEAKS FOR ITSELF HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/CHEVROLET/COBALT/2005/STEERING/POWER_STEERING_FAILURE.SHTML. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED. SHE THEN NOTICED THE FAILURE ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST; THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE POWER STEERING WAS DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 66,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,485.
ON WAY TO WORK ON 10/26/2009 AND POWER STEERING GOES OUT. SECOND TIME IN LESS THAN ONE YEAR. FIRST FAILURE OCCURRED ON 11/24/208 AND DEALERSHIP CORRECTED PROBLEM BY REPLACING BCM AND STEERING COLUMN. ALSO, SAID NO COMMUNICATION WITH PCM CAUSING CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO COME ON. CAR IS CURRENTLY AT DEALERSHIP WAITING TO HEAR FROM THEM ON SECOND. OCCURRENCE. THE PROBLEMS THE SECOND TIME WERE IDENTICAL TO FIRST OCCURRENCE. *TR
2005 CHEVY COBALT POWER STEERING WENT OUT WHILE I WAS DRIVING, AND WAS FORCED TO MANUALLY STEER. AS I TRIED TO PULL-OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD A CYCLIST DARTED OUT IN FRONT OF ME AND ALMOST HIT THE PERSON BECAUSE I WAS UNABLE TO STEER THAT QUICKLY. LUCKILY THE BICYCLIST WAS QUICK ENOUGH TO GET OUT OF THE WAY. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE IN MY CAR BECAUSE I NEVER KNOW WHEN THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS; PROCEEDING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN WHEN THE "POWER STEERING" WARNING LIGHT INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED, BEGIN PULLING IN ONE DIRECTION, AND IT BECAME DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE STEERING WHEEL. IMMEDIATELY, THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE DRIVING NORMALLY. THE WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION. THE VEHICLE IS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING INSPECTED BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE CONTACT HAD CONCERNS OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 47,950.
WHEN WE FIRST PURCHASED OUR CHEVROLET COBALT I NOTICED THAT WHEN TURNING THERE WAS AN UNUSUAL CLICKING NOISE WHEN I WOULD TURN. I TOOK IT INTO THE DEALER TWICE TO HAVE THEM IDENTIFY AND FIX THE PROBLEM WHICH THEY DID NOT DO. AT APPROXIMATELY 55,000 MILES THE POWER STEERING IN OUR 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT STARTED FAILING. A MESSAGE APPEARED ON THE DASH WHICH SAID, "POWER STEERING" AND OUR STEERING WHEEL WOULD TIGHTEN SO IT WAS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO MAKE TURNS. HOWEVER AT FIRST WE COULD SHUT OFF OUR CAR AND THE PROBLEM WOULD NOT COME BACK FOR A FEW DAYS. NOW, HOWEVER IT HAS ALMOST COMPLETELY FAILED. WHEN WE START OUR CAR IT IS A LESS THAN A MINUTE BEFORE THE MESSAGE APPEARS AND THE POWER STEERING GOES OUT. IT IS VERY UNSAFE AND NOT TO MENTION DIFFICULT TO DRIVE IT. WE DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO FIX IT. *TR
WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT, AFTER THE LIGHT CHANGED I PROCEEDED TO GO AND CAR STALLED GOING ABOUT 15 MPH. NO WARNING LIGHTS WERE ON DASH, THE CAR HAD NO POWER, NO LIGHTS, NOTHING. I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO SIDE OF ROAD, PUT CAR IN PARK, WAITED A MINUTE AND STARTED UP. DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO LOCATE A PROBLEM WITH CAR, MILES ON CAR WHEN PROBLEM STARTED, 34K. *TR
POWER STEERING MESSAGE APPEARS ON MY DAUGHTER'S 2005 CHEVY COBALT AND THE POWER STEERING FAILS. *TR
I DRIVE AN 05 CHEVY COBALT AND THE STEERING COMPONENT/TRANSMISSION WENT BAD. JUST BOUGHT THE CAR A FEW WEEKS AGO. LAST NIGHT I WAS SIMPLY DRIVING TO THE LIBRARY WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE POWER STEERING FLASH ON THE DASH BOARD, THE STEERING GOT REALLY TIGHT, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, OTHER LIGHTS SPORADICALLY FLASHES, THE SPEEDOMETER GOES BERSERK, THE RM'S SAME ISSUE, EVEN ONE POINT THE GAS METER WAS GOING OUT OF CONTROL. AND THE CAR WILL SHAKE BADLY. THE CAR WAS WORKING JUST FINE THE FEW HOURS I DROVE BEFORE. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO GET IT HOME WITHOUT HURTING ANYONE. I'VE READ THAT MANY PEOPLE HAVE SUFFERED THE SAME PROBLEM AND THAT CHEVY SHOULD HAVE A RECALL. I HAVE NOT TAKEN IT TO A DEALER YET BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE THE MONEY FOR REPAIRS. *TR
MY DAD BOUGHT ME A USED 2005 COBALT AS MY FIRST CAR ON MAY 2009 AND POWER STEERING STARTED TO FLASH 2 DAYS AFTER I GOT THE CAR. IT WENT AWAY, BUT IT WOULD COME BACK ON WHEN IT DID, I FELT THE CAR SOME HOW PULL OR IT FELT HEAVY. I WAS DRIVING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY WHEN POWER STEER FLASHED AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS ROCK SOLID I COULDN'T TURN, I FREAKED AND LEFT THE CAR OUTSIDE I CALLED MY DAD, WENT BACK OUT AND BARELY DROVE IT IN. MY DAD CAME HOME FROM WORK, I TOOK HIM OUT TO SHOW HIM, BUT THE CAR SEEMED NORMAL. IT FELT LIKE I WAS PULLING A MILLION POUNDS. I'M SCARED OF DRIVING IT, THAT IT'S JUST PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY WE GOT IT USED WITH 8,000 MILES ON IT, SO WE HAVE NO WARRANTY, AND I CERTAINLY DON'T HAVE $2,000 TO FIX' IT WE NEED A RECALL. NOW I'M DRIVING IT ONLY TO GO 2 MILES AROUND MY HOUSE!!! I OFTEN HAVE TO STOP ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND RE-START THE CAR TO UNLOCK THE STEERING WHEEL. BY USING THIS CAR, I AM PUTTING MY LIFE, AND OTHERS IN DANGER. CHEVROLET HAS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS, I THOUGHT THAT IT WAS A SIMPLE FIX, BUT WHEN I FOUND OUT HOW MUCH IT COST I CAN'T DO IT. I DON'T THINK IT'S FARE TO US AS CUSTOMERS TO HAVE A CAR WE CANT EVEN DRIVE. NOW, THE POWER STEERING DOSN'T WORK, THE NEEDLE THAT TELLS YOU THE SPEED DOESN'T WORK!!! WE REALLY NEED A RECALL FROM CHEVY!! MY DAD BOUGHT THE CAR WITH LIGHT TRANSMISSION NOISE PROBLEMS.THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED . I DON'T HAVE TRANS PROBLEMS BUT THE POWER STEER HAS BEEN THERE 2 DAYS FROM GETTING IT. *TR
2005 CHEVY COBALT. THE POWER STEERING GOES OUT OFTEN AND AS THE AGE INCREASES IT GETS WORSE. ALSO THE POWER DOOR LOCKS ACTIVATE ON THEIR OWN AS I AM DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. THIS CAR IS UN SAFE TO OPERATE ON THE HIGHWAY. *TR
HAVE A CHEVY COBALT 2005 THAT THE POWER STEERING GOES OUT RANDOMLY. HAVE TO SHUT THE CAR OFF AND THEN BACK ON TO GET IT TO WORK AGAIN. *TR
MY 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT WITH 47,000 MILES. WHILE DRIVING, I WAS STEERING INTO A SHARP TURN AND THE POWER STEERING QUIT WORKING. I FOUGHT IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD NEARLY HITTING A TREE. ONCE STOPPED I SHUT THE CAR OFF. LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD AND FOUND NO LEAKS OR VISIBLE DAMAGE. I STARTED THE CAR AND I HAD POWER STEERING AGAIN. THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED A WEEK LATER DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. AGAIN PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND NOTHING VISIBLE SEEM TO BE WRONG. STARTED THE VEHICLE AGAIN AND AGAIN I HAVE POWER STEERING. JUST A FEW DAYS PASSED AND MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE CAR TAKING OUR SON TO PRE-SCHOOL. STARTED TO TURN RIGHT OFF OUR ROAD AND THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT AND WAS NEARLY HIT BY AN ONCOMING CAR BECAUSE SHE COULD NOT CONTINUE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. NOW THE POWER STEERING IS ALWAYS OUT / NOT WORKING. THE DEALERSHIP IS SAYING THAT GM WANTS THEM TO REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN. $940.00 PLUS TAX. THIS DOES NOT ALWAYS FIX THE PROBLEM HE SAYS. HE ALSO TOLD ME THAT GM DOES NOT NO EXACTLY WHAT THE PROBLEM IS AND THAT THEY WERE SUPPOSEDLY RESEARCHING. I HAVE DONE SOME INTERNET RESEARCH MYSELF AND FOUND THAT THOUSANDS ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM FROM MODEL YEARS 2005 THROUGH 2009 TO INCLUDE THE HHR AND ION. PLEASE HELP. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT. WHILE TURNING INTO A PARKING LOT THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL, AND THEN THERE WAS A LOSS OF POWER STEERING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND A TECHNICIAN CONCLUDED THAT THE POWER STEERING MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 45681.
2005 CHEVROLET COBALT. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO REIMBURSEMENT FOR IGNITION SWITCH RECALL. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED HER DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING, WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. *JB
VEHICLE WAS OPERATING NORMALLY WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE. POWER STEERING ALERT CAME UP ON THE DASH AND POWER STEERING INSTANTLY WENT OUT. FORTUNATELY I WAS ON A STRAIGHT STRETCH OF HIGHWAY AND MANAGED TO MAKE IT HOME SAFELY. POWER STEERING HAS NOT WORKED SINCE. I AM STILL LOOKING FOR A REASONABLY PRICED REMEDY. *TR
RANDOMLY WHEN I'M DRIVING A WARNING COMES UP STATING SOMETHING ABOUT THE POWERING STEERING & THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS & I CAN'T MOVE RIGHT OR LEFT. THIS HAS HAPPENED AROUND 6 TIMES TO ME SO FAR, ALL ON THE INTERSTATE OR A MAIN ROAD. LUCKILY THERE HAVE BEEN NO INJURIES & I WAS ABLE TO SAY IN MY LANE & STRUGGLE TO PULL OVER. I HAVE TO USUALLY STOP THE CAR COMPLETELY & POWER IT OFF TO UNLOCK THE STEERING. ALSO, TWICE BEFORE WHILE I'M ACTUALLY DRIVING THE KEYS HAVE FALLEN OUT COMPLETELY. THE KEY ALSO GETS STUCK WHEN I'M TRYING TO TURN THE CAR OFF. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY BETWEEN 15-20 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS. A CHIME SOUNDED INSIDE THE VEHICLE; FOLLOWED BY THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT INDICATOR ILLUMINATION. IMMEDIATELY, THERE WAS A LOSS OF POWER STEERING. THE DRIVER PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESUME NORMAL OPERATION FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF FIVE SECONDS. IN ADDITION, THE FRONT DRIVER DOOR CAUSED AN EXTREMELY INTENSE ELECTRICAL SHOCK WHENEVER ACCESSING THE DOOR. THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILED TO FUNCTION. THE FAILURE OCCURRENCES WERE WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN REFUSED TO PERFORM A DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WITHOUT A SERVICE CHARGE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED FOR THE FAILURE OR REPAIRED AT THIS TIME. THE CONTACT HAD CONCERN OF THE POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,882.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN MAKING A GRINDING NOISE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER AND THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 53000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 A CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS. THE "POWER STEERING" WARNING LIGHT INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. IMMEDIATELY, THERE WAS A LOSS OF POWER STEERING. THE DRIVER PULLED OVER TO SIDE OF THE ROAD WHICH REQUIRED HIGHER EFFORT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AND RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT BUT HAS BECOME CONSISTENT. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED FOR THE MALFUNCTIONS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000. UPDATED 03/30/10 *BF UPDATED 07/13/10
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN INTO A PARKING LOT THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL, AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED. SHE WAS ABLE TO SAFELY RESTART THE VEHICLE TO RESUME NORMAL VEHICLE OPERATION. SHE NOTIFIED THE DEALER, AND A TECHNICIAN ADVISED HER THAT SHE WOULD HAVE TO PAY A DIAGNOSTIC FEE OF $1000.00 TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 43,000.
MY 05 CHEVY COBALT POWER STEERING KEEPS GOING OUT I HEAR A "DING DING" THEN THE WORDS POWER STEERING FLASHES ON AND THE T/C LIGHT COMES ON THE CAR WILL SLOW DOWN AND MPH AND RPM GAUGES FLUCTUATE BACK AND FORTH AND STEERING IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE IT FIRST WENT OUT AT AROUND 54000 MILES I REPLACED THE POWER STEERING MOTOR BUT AT AROUND 55000 THE POWERING STEERING WENT OUT AGAIN SO I REPLACED THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN BUT THE POWERING STEERING HAS GONE OUT TWICE SINCE THEN ALWAYS AT RANDOM TIMES ALL THE OLD PARTS ARE AVAILABLE. *TR
I OWN A 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE POWER STEERING INTERMITTENTLY GOES OUT CAUSING THE STEERING TO BE ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE. I AM SURE YOU REALIZE WHAT A SERIOUS PROBLEM THIS IS. I HAVE FOUND THAT THIS IS A DEFECT FROM THE FACTORY BUT THAT GM REFUSED TO MAKE IT A RECALL ITEM. I FEEL THAT GM SHOULD HAVE TO FIX THE DEFECT AT NO CHARGE TO US OWNERS. 8TR
THE POWER STEERING ON MY 2005 CHEVY COBALT FAILED WHILE MAKING A TURN ON A BUSY STREET. THE SUDDEN FAILURE CAUSED ME TO VEER INTO 2 LANES OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC. WAS ABLE TO STOP AND NO ACCIDENTS OCCURRED. I HAD 3 OF MY CHILDREN IN THE CAR WITH ME, COULD'VE BEEN TRAGIC!!!! *TR
WE PURCHASED A USED 2005 COBALT AND HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE WITH THE POWER STEERING GOING OUT ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. EACH TIME THE CAR WAS TAKEN IN THEY WOULD SAY THEY COULDN'T FIND THE PROBLEM AND WOULD RETURN THE CAR TO US UNREPAIRED AS IT WOULD DO THE SAME THING AGAIN AND AGAIN AND ON ONE OCCASION IT ALMOST RESULTED IN A SEVERE ACCIDENT WHILE MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER WERE TURNING THROUGH AN INTERSECTION AND THE STEERING WENT OUT. THANK GOD THE OTHER DRIVERS WERE ALERT AND A NEAR AND POSSIBLY FATAL ACCIDENT WAS AVOIDED. THEY TELL US IT CAN BE FIXED BUT NOW THAT IT'S OUT OF FACTORY AND SOMEHOW EVEN EXTENDED WARRANTY THEY HAD US PURCHASE THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO LAST UNTIL WE PAID IT OFF HAVE EXPIRED THEY WANT US TO NOW PAY FOR THE REPAIRS AND EVEN $100 TO EVEN LOOK AT THE CAR. WE GOT A REPORT THAT THIS CAR HAD ISSUES FROM DAY ONE AND WERE NEVER TOLD BUT RECEIVED IT LATER FROM GM INDICATING THE CAR HAD A SOME PROBLEMS AND WAS SOLD TO OUR DEALERSHIP AT A GM AUCTION. WE FEEL STUCK WITH THIS CAR AND TRUSTING IN GOD EACH DAY THAT THE PROBLEM WON'T OCCUR AND CAUSE LOSS OF LIFE TO ANYONE. PLEASE MAKE GM RECALL AND REPAIR THESE COBALTS SO THAT LOSS OF LIFE OR LIMB ISN'T A RESULT AT ANYTIME. THIS OCCURS QUIT OFTEN AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED. *TR
MY 2005 CHEVY COBALTS POWER STEERING FAILS FREQUENTLY. THIS HAPPENS AT ALL SPEEDS AND TERRAINS MAKING YOU RAPIDLY ADJUST TO THE CHANGE IN STEERING CAPABILITY. THIS IS EXCEPTIONALLY TERRIFYING WHILE DRIVING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER. *TR
WHILE DRIVING THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE POWER STEERING MOTOR WAS REPLACED AND THE POWER STEERING COLUMN. *TR
I OWN A 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT LS AND TWICE THE POWER STEERING HAS FAILED WHILE I WAS DRIVING, ONCE ON THE FREEWAY AND ONCE WHILE TURNING. THE DASHBOARD READ "POWER STEERING." *TR
POWER STEERING IN MY 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT CONSTANTLY GOES ON AND OFF. CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS AT TIMES. MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM, WITH AN ESTIMATED COST OF $2,000. *TR
THIS COBALT WAS MY SECOND CAR AND I WORK REALLY HARD KEEPING IT IN GREAT CONDITION BY CONSTANTLY GETTING THE OIL CHANGED, TUNE-UPS, YOU NAME IT. ON TUESDAY WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 65 MILES PER HOUR ALL OF THE SUDDEN MY CAR RANG "DING DING" AND ON THE DIGITAL READING DASH SAID "POWER STEERING". MY STEERING WENT COMPLETELY OUT WITHOUT WARNING ALMOST CAUSING A SEVERE ACCIDENT ON THE HIGHWAY. LUCKILY, I WAS STRONG ENOUGH TO GET THE CAR OVER! TURNS OUT THE FIX RANGES ANYWHERE FROM $900-$1500 IN PARTS ALONE, SO IN LABOR IT WILL BE SEVERAL HUNDRED MORE. I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT WITH ALL THESE COMPLAINTS ON HERE CHEVY HAS YET TO ISSUE A RECALL. LIVES WERE PUT IN DIRECT RISK. I AM A STUDENT STUDYING AT A MAJOR UNIVERSITY WITH A MINIMUM WAGE PAYING JOB SO RAKING UP THAT AMOUNT OF MONEY WILL BE NEAR IMPOSSIBLE IN A TIMELY MANNER. IN THE MEAN TIME I WILL BE FORCED AT THE MERCY OF MY FRIENDS FOR RIDES TO SCHOOL, WORK AND ERRANDS. THIS IS ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS! *TR
I HAVE A 2005 CHEVY COBALT WITH LESS THAN 50,000 MILES ON IN AND THE STEERING HAS LOCKED UP ON IT SEVERAL TIMES WHILE DRIVING. LUCKILY NO DAMAGE OR INJURY HAS OCCURRED. I TOOK IT INTO A AUTO SHOP AND THEY RAN DIAGNOSTIC ON IT AND THE CODES CAME BACK AS A FAULTY STEERING COLUMN AND STEERING MOTOR. AFTER I GOT THIS NEWS I GOOGLED THIS AND TO MY SURPRISE CHEVY HAS NEVER ISSUED A RECALL ON THIS SERIOUS DEFECT. HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HAS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. SEEMS TO ME CHEVY DOESN'T CARE ABOUT THE WELL BEING OF THEIR CUSTOMER. *TR
NEARLY CRASHED AS POWER STEERING CUT OUT WHILE ON HIGHWAY. IT HAS CUT OUT SEVERAL TIMES. IT HAPPENS UNEXPECTEDLY AND RANDOMLY. IF THE CAR IS TURNED OFF AND ON AGAIN IT SEEMS TO RESET MAKING YOU FEEL IT IS FIXED BUT ONLY CUTS OUT AGAIN UNEXPECTEDLY. THE CAR IS FAIRLY NEW. IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO DRIVE WHEN THIS HAPPENS. IT IS MY DAUGHTER'S CAR. THIS IS CRIMINALLY DANGEROUS AND PEOPLE WILL BE KILLED OR INJURED IF IT IS NOT RECALLED. YOUNG WOMEN AND THE ELDERLY ARE PARTICULARLY VULNERABLE. IT IS JUST A MATTER OF TIME. THIS SHOULD NOT BE UNFAMILIAR TO YOU. LOSS OF CONTROL OF A VEHICLE OF ANY SORT IS POTENTIALLY CATASTROPHIC. *TR
WHILE DRIVING THERE IS 3 DINGS AND POWER STEERING COMES ON THE COMMAND CENTER FOLLOWED IMMEDIATELY BY COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER STEERING SHUTTING CAR OFF AND RESTARTING RESETS AND POWER STEERING RETURNS TEMPORARILY UNTIL REPEATING THE PROCESS SHORTLY WAS INTERMITTENT NOW BECOMING MORE AND MORE FREQUENT VERY UNSAFE AND VERY HARD TO STEER. *TR
POWER STEERING ISSUES WITH MY 2005 COBALT. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING SPORADICALLY SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. THE CONTACT TURNED THE VEHICLE ON AND OFF TO RESET THE VEHICLE WHEN THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED. THE DEALER STATED THAT SINCE IT DOES NOT OCCUR OFTEN THEY WOULD REPLACE THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN. THERE WERE NO RECALLS OR RELATED WARRANTIES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,000. UPDATED 02/13/10 *BF UPDATED 02/16/10
2005 CHEVROLET COBALT POWER STEERING FAILED WHILE DRIVING. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY STOPPED FUNCTIONING WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE SHUT OFF AND RE-STARTED TO CONTINUE DRIVING. HE STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED EACH TIME HE MADE A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. A LOCAL MECHANIC STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING MOTOR AND/OR MODULE WAS DEFECTIVE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 55,746 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 55,710.
IN THE BEGINNING OF OCTOBER I WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND A WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND POWER STEERING WAS ON MY MESSAGE DISPLAY. MY CAR THEN BEGAN TO BUCK EVERYTIME IT WAS TO SHIFT FROM ONE GEAR TO ANOTHER AND WHEN WOULD SLOW DOWN TO STOP IT WOULD ACT LIKE IT WAS GOING TO STALL OUT. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER THEY SAID IT WAS THE BODY CONTROL MODULE AND FIXED THE PROBLEM. NOT EVEN A MONTH LATER THE SAME THING HAPPENED. I TOOK IT IN TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. 2 WEEKS LATER IT HAPPENED AGAIN. I DROVE IT RIGHT TO THE DEALER AND KEPT THE CAR RUNNING AND HAD A MECHANIC DRIVE THE CAR TO SHOW THEM THE PROBLEM. IT IS NOW IN THE SHOP TODAY 12/1/09. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT. WHILE DRIVING A SPAN OF 45 MILES, THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING FAILED AT LEAST 15 TIMES. HE HAD TO UTILIZE EXTREME FORCE TO NAVIGATE THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR INTERMITTENTLY. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION, WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PULL OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, THE STEERING FAILED THREE TIMES. THERE WERE NO RECALLS PERTAINING TO THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,000. THE CURRENT WAS 93,500.
I HAVE A 2005 CHEVY COBALT AND WHEN I'M GOING DOWN THE ROAD A LIGHT COMES ON AND THE COMPUTER SAYING "POWER STEERING" AND I LOSE ALL POWER STEERING. IF I TURN THE CAR OFF AND TURN IT BACK ON IT IS FINE (MAYBE FOR A DAY, MAYBE FOR AN HOUR, OR MAYBE JUST FOR A FEW MINUTES). IT GOES OFF SOME TIMES STAY OFF FOR DAYS. *TR
ELECTRIC POWER STEERING PROBLEM IN MY COBALT KEEPS GOING OUT WHILE DRIVING AND LEAVING ME WITH NO CONTROL TO TURN THE VEHICLE. WILL BE TAKING IT TO DEALER FOR 2ND TIME OVER THIS PROBLEM, AND KEEP BEING TOLD THIS ISN'T A CHEVY ISSUE HOWEVER OVER 20,000 COMPLAINTS OVER THIS DEFECT TO CHEVY.. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE LOSS POWER STEERING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 63,000.
I'VE HAD MY CAR FOR ABOUT 3 YEARS NOW, BEEN VERY DELICATE AND HAVE TAKEN GOOD CARE OF IT. TODAY I LEFT MY APARTMENT AND AS I DROVE DOWN THE HIGHWAY, THE CAR STARTED TO JERK AND SPASM AS I DROVE, AS IF IT WAS HAVING PROBLEMS CHANGING GEARS. THE POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON THE DASHBOARD READOUT SCREEN. I PULLED OVER, TURNED OFF THE CAR AND TURNED IT BACK ON, BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. I'VE READ HUNDREDS OF CLAIMS FROM OTHERS ONLINE WHO ARE SUFFERING FROM PROBLEM STEERING PROBLEMS WITH THE SAME CAR. WHY HASN'T THIS BEEN RECALLED? IT'S DANGEROUS, POTENTIALLY DEADLY, AND EXPENSIVE TO FIX. I'M A COLLEGE STUDENT JUST TRYING TO MAKE ENDS MEET ALREADY, WHERE AM I GOING TO GET THE MONEY FOR THIS? *TR
CHEVY COBALT 2005 TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT WOULD COME ON FOR NO APPARENT REASON STARTING SUMMER OF 2009. ON FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 2009 I WAS 5 BLOCKS AWAY FROM HOME...HEARD "BING BING BING", LOST POWER STEERING, ABS MADE THE CAR BUCK, AND TRACTION LIGHT CAME ON. I DROVE THE CAR 4 BLOCKS TO MY MECHANIC WHO ADVISED ME TO GET THE CAR TOWED TO A CHEVY DEALER WHICH I DID. HAWTHORNE CHEVROLET SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. ON THE INTERNET IF YOU TYPE COBALT 2005 DEFECTS MULTIPLE REPORTS OF THE SAME PROBLEM ARE BEING REPORTED TO GM. GM DENIES A PROBLEM AND WILL NOT COVER THE REPAIR. I AM FRIGHTENED TO DRIVE THIS CAR AS YOU GET NO WARNING OF FAILURE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 15-25 MPH THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL, AND THEN THE VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING. HE WAS ABLE TO SAFELY RESTART THE VEHICLE TO RESUME NORMAL OPERATION. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 60,039.
LEAKING POWER STEERING MOTOR. MANY RECORDED FAILURES OF CHEVY COBALT POWER STEERING MOTOR. *TR
FOR THE PAST 2-3 MONTHS MY 2005 CHEVY COBALT LOSES IT'S POWER STEERING GOING OVER A SMALL BUMP IN THE ROAD (AN UNEVEN SURFACE). IF THE CAR IS RESTARTED THE POWER STEERING COMES BACK UNTIL THE NEXT BUMP IN THE ROAD. I'VE TAKEN MY COMPLAINT TO CHEVROLET AND ALL THEY HAVE DONE IS TOLD ME TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THEIR MECHANIC. I'VE NOTICED THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL CHEVY COBALT OWNERS THAT ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM AS ME. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THE WHOLE POWER STEERING MECHANISM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED FOR THE PROBLEM TO GO AWAY. I HAVE ALSO BEEN TOLD BY MECHANIC FRIENDS OF MINE THAT, GIVEN TIME, THE WHOLE POWER STEERING COULD SEIZE ON ME AND I WOULD HAVE NO WAY TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE BEEN PULLED OVER BY LOCAL PD BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT I WAS DRUNK BECAUSE I COULDN'T STAY IN MY LANE ON A TURN. I CAN'T AFFORD TO BE DRUNK BECAUSE I'M A BUS DRIVER AND I WOULD GET FIRED IF I EVER WAS DRUNK. *TR