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
EVERY TIME I DRIVE MY 2005 CHEVY COBALT, BEFORE I CAN GET ROLLING GOOD, THE POWER STEERING FAILS. THIS MAKES TURNS DIFFICULT AND DANGEROUS. WE HAVE CONTACTED OUR LOCAL DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES FOR REPAIRS BUT ARE TOLD WE WOULD HAVE TO PAY OVER $1,000 OUT OF POCKET TO GET THE STEERING COLUMN REPLACED. THIS IS CRAZY!!! THIS IS A MAJOR, MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN. WE WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER CHEVY, THE CAR IS DANGEROUS AND THE CUSTOMER SERVICE IS HORRIBLE. *TR
IN THE SUMMER OF '08 THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT IN MY CAR AS I WAS ATTEMPTING TO PARK. I ALOMOST HIT THE CAR NEXT TO ME BECAUSE IT CAUSES THE CAR TO BE VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. SINCE THEN THE PROBLEM HAS GOTTEN INCREASINGLY WORSE TO THE POINT THAT EVERY TIME I DRIVE THE CAR, THE POWER STEERING GOES OUT AFTER ABOUT 1 MINUTE OF DRIVING. I RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM ONLINE TO SEE IF IT WAS A SIMPLE FIX, BUT FOUND THAT NOT ONLY IS IT A DIFFICULT PROBLEM TO FIX, BUT PRETTY EXPENSIVE AS WELL. I DO NOT HAVE THE MOENY TO TAKE MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP, SO NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM.
LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHING NEED TO BE REPLACED AT 28,000 MILES AT A COST OF $250. VEHICLE IS JUST 4 MONTHS OUT OF WARRANTY. SAME PROBLEM WITH FRIEND'S COBALT AS WELL. *TR
POWER STEERING LIGHT WARNING LIGHT COMES ON CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON, SECURITY ANTI THEFT LIGHT COMES ON ALL GAUGES FAIL, SPEED, GAS,TACK THE CAR WILL RUN ROUGH AND STALL CAR WILL NOT SHIFT MULTIPLE COMPUTER ERROR CODES DEALER REPLACED A COMPUTER COMPONENT DIDN'T FIX PROBLEM. THE CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE WHEN PROBLEMS OCCUR. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH THE POWER STEERING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE BODY CONTROL MODULE (BCM). THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOR THE MALFUNCTION. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION AFTER THE SERVICE REPAIR WAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE. THE PRIOR REPAIR WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE REIMBURSEMENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEFECT WAS RELATED TO COMPUTER FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING ASST. COMPLETE FAILURE POWER STEER RETURNS AFTER KEY CYCLE DATA INDICATOR FLASHER (POWER STEERING) IMMEDIATELY AFTER MANUAL STEERING ALMOST LOCK UP ONLY SMALL CORRECTIONS CAN BE MADE IN STEERING AT THAT TIME THIS IS A LIFE THREATENING PROBLEM!! FOR ME OR SOMEONE ELSE. CAR HOPPED CURB CAUSING SMALL AMOUNT OF DAMAGE TO RIMS DEALER SUGGESTED A REPAIR OF 831.45$ +TAX CAUSED BY DTC CO475 ELEC. STEERING MOTOR CIRCUIT. THEY DID NOT INDICATE WHAT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE IN THE CIRCUIT! *TR
I WAS DRIVING MY 2005 CHEVY COBALT THROUGH A WINDING MOUNTAIN ROAD AND MY ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING WENT OUT AND ALMOST CAUSED ME TO CRASH THAT COULD POSSIBLY CAUSE INJURY OR DEATH OF ME OR MY DAUGHTER WHO WAS WITH ME. *TR
HORRIBLE RATTLING NOISES IN THE ENTIRE VEHICLE. I HEAR RATTLING FROM EVERY DIRECTION. IT IS A VERY BUMPY AND NOISY RIDE. NOT WORTH THE MONEY I PAID. *TR
THE POWER STEERING ON THE 2005 AND LATER COBALTS QUITS EITHER INTERMITTENTLY OR CONTINUOUSLY. IN MY CASE, THE PS ONLY WORKS FOR 2/10 OF A MILE BEFORE QUITTING. AFTER THAT POINT IT IS ONLY MANUAL DRIVE. THERE ARE WEBSITES AND BLOGS THAT ARE DEDICATED JUST TO THIS PROBLEM INCLUDING HTTP://WWW.TOPIX.COM/FORUM/AUTOS/CHEVROLET-COBALT/T8FMSUQB7V2DTH5JH. THIS SITE HAS 335 INSTANCES OF THIS PROBLEM AS OF TODAY. GM HAS FAILED TO STEP UP AND FIX THIS. IN FACT, THEY INSIST THAT THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN MUST BE REPLACED. HOWEVER, THIS SITE HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/CHEVROLET/COBALT/2005/STEERING/POWER_STEERING_FAILURE.SHTML SHOWS THAT IT IS USUALLY ONLY ONE COMPONENT BUT THAT COMPONENT CANNOT BE PURCHASED SEPARATELY. THE ENTIRE COLUMN REPLACEMENT RUNS FROM $800 TO $2000 WHEREAS THE COMPONENT ALONE HAS TO BE MUCH CHEAPER AND IS ACTUALLY SIMPLE TO REPLACE. I TRIED THE REMEDY LISTED BY WAYNE FROM ZION IL #318 ON THE FIRST WEBSITE LISTED HERE AND WHILE IT DIDN'T WORK FOR ME, THERE WAS SO MUCH BLACK POWDER COMING OUT OF IT I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT. NO WONDER IT DOESN'T WORK! THIS PART IS BASICALLY SEALED SO IT MUST BE MADE IN UNCLEAN CONDITIONS. I BELIEVE IT IS MADE IN JAPAN (ONE OF THE POSTS MENTIONS IT). I BELIEVE THAT POWER STEERING ISSUES ARE A MAJOR DEFECT AND WHY NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE BY THIS ORGANIZATION OR GM IS BEYOND ME. WHILE IT MAY BE SAFE TO DRIVE IN MANUAL STEERING, HAVING IT CHANGE IN THE MIDDLE OF A TURN (AS IS REPORTED IN THE POSTS) IS NOT SAFE! ANOTHER PROBLEM THAT SEEMS TO BE RELATED IS THE KEY NOT COMING OUT OF THE IGNITION. I SAY RELATED BECAUSE MOST CARS WITH THE FIRST ISSUE SEEM TO HAVE THE SECOND ISSUE TOO. LASTLY, THESE CARS ALSO HAVE THE A/C LEAK DIRECTLY INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT CAUSING MOLD AND MILDEW AND THEREFORE UNSAFE BREATHING CONDITIONS IN THE CAR. CHECK THE POSTS, DEALERS "CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG" WITH THEM. HOW DO I FORCE YOUR ORGANIZATION TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS AS I KNOW I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE TO COMPLAIN? *TR
1. 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT WAS WORKING FINE UNTIL LOSS OF POWER STEERING. 2. THE FAILURE IS LOSS OF POWER STEERING DUE TO THE USE OF ELECTRIC POWER STEERING INSTEAD OF USING HYDRAULICS. CHEVY HAS NOT PERFECTED THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING BUT PUT IT IN EVERY CHEVROLET COBALT IF I AM NOT MISTAKEN. IT MAY HAVE ONLY BEEN INSTALLED FOR THE 2005 AND 2006 MODELS. YOU MAY START YOUR VEHICLE AND HAVE EVERYTHING RUNNING OKAY UNTIL YOU DRIVE IT FOR A LITTLE WHY, THUS LEADING UP TO LOSS OF POWER STEERING. I PROMISE YOU THAT ANYONE THAT HAS BOUGHT A CHEVROLET COBALT BETWEEN 2005 AND 2006 FOR SURE HAVE HAD THIS EXACT SAME PROBLEM. EVERY PERSON! THE PROBLEM IS CONSISTENTLY GETTING WORSE AND IS HIGHLY UNSAFE. THIS CAN NOT BE DELT WITH BY TAKING IT INTO A GARAGE AND HOPING IT WILL GET FIXED. 3. I HAVE TAKEN MY COBALT INTO THE GARAGE NUMEROUS TIMES WITH NOTHING FIXED. IF THIS IS NOT TAKEN CARE OF SOON, PEOPLE MAY DIE FROM LOSS OF STEERING. RECALL NOW! *TR
STEERING LOCKS CAR SHAKES WHILE DRIVING CAN BE A BIG PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES DEALER CAN NOT FIND THE PROBLEM BUT SEE MANY COMPLAINTS ON WED SITES. WAS IN FLORIDA TO GEORGE MOORE DEALER IN JACKSONVILLE ON AUGUST 20 2007 PROBLEM STILL HAPPENING WHAT NEXT? *TR
I COULD HAVE DIED. I WAS DRIVING AROUND A TURN THREE DUMP TRUCKS WERE COMING TOWARD ME AND MY POWER STEERING WENT OUT. I LUCKILY SWERVED OFF THE ROAD CAUSING FRONT END DAMAGE TO MY CAR. I PAID OUT OF POCKET SOME WHERE CLOSE TO $800.00 FOR REPAIRS FOR THE CRASH. THE POWER STEERING WAS WORKING FINE FOR AWHILE TILL A LITTLE AFTER SEPTEMBER 26 WHEN IT WENT TOTALLY OUT AGAIN MAKING IT WHERE I WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE WHEEL AND IT NO LONGER SAFE TO DRIVE. I WAS TOLD TODAY THAT THEY ARE OFFERING ME $5,000.00 FOR MY 05 CHEVY COBALT. THE POWER STEERING WENT TOTALLY OUT A FEW DAYS AFTER SEPTEMBER 26 AND HAD CAUSED AN ACCIDENT EARLIER ON IN THE YEAR. THEY ARE NOW HOLDING MY CAR AT A PALM CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP IN OCALA FL. WHEN GOING TO RETRIEVE MY CAR THEY SAID GM WOULDN'T BE ABLE RELEASE MY CAR DO TO THE POWER STEERING RENDERING IT UNSAFE TO DRIVE. WHEN I FIRST TALKED TO GM THEY SOUNDED AS THOUGH IT WOULD BE NO PROBLEM THEY WOULD FIX THE CAR AND ALL THE REPAIRS NEEDED FROM THE ACCIDENT. NOW THEY WANT NOTHING TO DO WITH THE REPAIRS. IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR A MONTH AND OUT OF SERVICE SINCE SEPTEMBER. I DON'T THINK I WAS BORN YESTERDAY. THE REPAIRS FOR POWER STEERING IS $1,400. LESS THAN THE $5,000 THAT THEY WANT TO PAY ME SO THEY CAN FIX THE CAR AND RESELL IT LEAVING ME TO DRIVE A PIECE OF JUNK THAT RUNS IF I COULD FIND IT THAT CHEAP. I PAID A LITTLE OVER $18,000 FOR A STOCK MODEL CAR. I PUT $800.00 IN TO IT FROM THE ACCIDENT LEAVING ONLY BODY WORK TO BE DONE. I'M TRYING TO RAISE MY TEN MONTH OLD SON. WITHOUT A CAR IT HAS MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO GO TO COLLEGE OR GET A JOB. NOT TO MENTION HAVING TO PAY OVER $1,000 ON INSURANCE FOR A CAR I CAN'T USE. I WANT MY CAR AND I WANT IT FIXED. CAN YOU PLEASE HELP? *TR
WE HAVE A CHEVY 2005 COBALT. THE FRONT END MAKE A REALLY BAD RIDDLING NOISE AND SOMETIMES THE STEERING IS HARD. I CALL AND TOOK IT TO A DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY WAS NO RECALLS. I SAID I HEARD IT ON TV AND ALSO THE PAPERS. MY DAUGHTER IS THE ONE THAT DRIVES THIS CAR MOST OF THE TIME. I WANT TO KNOW IS SHE GOING TO BE SAFE. PLEASE LET ME KNOW ASAP. I DON'T WANT ANYTHING TO HAPPEN TO HER. ITS ASKING FOR A DATE OF INCIDENT I'M NOT SURE. GUESS? THE NOISE IS MOSTLY ON ROUGH ROADS. THE STEERING IS ABOUT ONE TIME EVERY ?? THANK YOU PLEASE LET ME KNOW. *TR
WHEN IT RAINS, MY CAR DOORS DO NOT OPEN. I TOOK MY CAR IN TO GET THE DOOR LOCKS REPLACED AFTER BEING TRAPPED IN MY CAR AFTER THE BATTERY DIED AND I WAS TRAPPED FOR AN HOUR OR SO WAITING FOR SOMEONE TO JUMPSTARTED MY CAR. DUE TO THE BATTERY BEING DEAD, I WASN'T EVEN ABLE TO CLIMB OUT A WINDOW. *TR
STARTED OUT WITH THE MODULATOR GOING OUT ONE WEEK AFTER I HAD MY CAR. NOW EVERY WEEK MY WIPERS QUIT WORKING AND THE FUSES HAVE TO BE REPLACED. I HAVE SEEN SPARKS COME FROM THE FUSE PANEL AND I AM WORRIED ABOUT A FIRE. I AM TO TAKE IT TO THE SHOP ON MONDAY. THAT'S AS SOON AS I CAN GET IN. THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING. THIS WAS MY FIRST NEW CAR AND I HAVE HEARD NOTHING BUT HORROR STORIES SINCE I BOUGHT IT. I HAVEN'T MET A HAPPY COBALT OWNER. AND I CAN'T WAIT TO GET RID OF IT. THE INCIDENT DATE IS NOT ACCURATE BECAUSE IT IS HAPPENING EVERY WEEK. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 65 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHIFT OUT FOURTH GEAR. THE CONTACT STATED PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE LOW FUEL SENSOR ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY WITH THE TRACTION CONTROL AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING SENSORS ENGAGED. THE BRAKE AND ANTI LOCK SENSORS ILLUMINATED BUT DID NOT REMAIN ON CONSISTENTLY. THE ODOMETER ALSO BEGAN TO FLUCTUATE ON THE CONTROL PANEL. THE FAILURE WAS CORRECTED TEMPORARILY WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THE BODY CONNECTOR MODULE GEAR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 178,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT BELT RETRACTORS WERE LOCKED. HE ALSO STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL. HE REFUSED TO HAVE THE DEALER INSPECT THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THEY WANTED TO CHARGE HIM $100. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. HE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY REFERRED HIM BACK TO THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,000. UPDATED 5/19/08 *CN UPDATED 05/19/08
POWER STEERING PROBLEM WITH MY 2005 CHEVY COBALT. THREE ATTEMPTS BY GM DEALER TO FIX A PROBLEM, THE PROBLEM IS STILL THERE. THIS SHOULD LEAD TO SAFETY RECALL. DURING THE DRIVING POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT COMES ON, THE CAR STARTS TO SHAKE AND IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. I FILLED COMPLAINT WITH BBB, CHEVY, BUT THEY SAID THAT THE SAFETY RECALL MUST COME FROM NHTSA. LOOKS LIKE THOUSANDS OF POWER STEERING COLUMNS HAVE BEEN REPLACED ON TWO OR THREE YR OLD CARD, WHICH IS UNACCEPTABLE. THIS IS NOT NORMAL WEAR-AN-TEAR PART, AND SOMEONE SHOULD RUN STATISTICS ON THIS PART WITH GM, AND CONSIDER THE SAFETY OF CUSTOMERS/DRIVERS. THIS IS A TYPICAL HIGHSCHOOL/COLLEGE STUDENTS CAR, INEXPERIENCED DRIVERS IN TOTALLY UNSAFE CARS... DO NOT WAIT UNTIL SOMEONE GETS KILLED TO HAVE RECALL ON CHEVY COBALTS POWER STEERING ISSUES. THANK YOU! *TR
05 CHEVY COBALT WITH POWER STEERING LIGHT GOING ON RANDOMLY. THE DEALERSHIP CAN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. IT IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. THE CAR STARTS TO SHAKE AND I AM LOSING CONTROL OVER IT!!! *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AND TRYING TO SWITCH LANES, HE NOTICED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILED. IT WAS EXTREMELY HARD TO MANEUVER TO ANOTHER LANE SO HE TRIED TO PULL OVER. WHEN HE PULLED OVER, HE TURNED OFF THE IGNITION AND RE-STARTED THE VEHICLE; THE FAILURE SEEMED TO CORRECT ITSELF AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS RE-STARTED. THE CONTACT NOTICED THE FAILURE ON A DAILY BASIS. IN JUNE 2009, WHILE DRIVING UP A HILL, THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND HE HIT A PARKED VEHICLE. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE DEALER TOLD HIM THAT IT WAS A POSSIBLE SHORT IN THE POWER STEERING MOTOR. THE DEALER ADVISED HIM TO REPLACE THE POWER STEERING MOTOR. HE PURCHASED A MOTOR AT A JUNKYARD AND HAD A REPAIR SHOP REPLACE IT. HOWEVER, AFTER A MONTH, THE ISSUE RESURFACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED TO-DATE. HE HAD NOT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 91,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 50,000.
THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING SENSOR FAILS WHILE DRIVING AND SHUTS OFF THE POWER STEERING WITHOUT WARNING, OR A CHANCE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. IF I MAKE IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT BEING HIT, I CAN RESTART MY CAR AND THE POWER STEERING COMES BACK ON. BY DEFAULT THE COMPUTER SHUTS OFF THE POWER STEERING TO PREVENT DAMAGE TO THE CAR. GM HAS MADE THE DECISION THAT A $900 POWER STEERING SENSOR IS WORTH MORE THAN MY LIFE. *TR
I HAVE A 2005 CHEVY COBALT. ABOUT MARCH OF 2008, I WAS LEAVING WORK & MY CAR BEEPED & SHOWED "POWER STEERING" IN MY NOTIFICATIONS. MY WHEEL LOCKED UP. SINCE THEN I CANNOT DRIVE MORE THEN ABOUT 15 FEET WITHOUT THE POWER STEERING SHUTTING OFF. IT HAS GOTTEN MUCH WORSE IN THE 2 YEAR PERIOD. I HAVE CALLED THE DEALER MANY TIMES & THEY TELL ME IT IS $1000 TO FIX IT. I DO NOT HAVE THIS KIND OF MONEY TO FIX A CAR I BOUGHT BRAND NEW. IT WENT OUT RIGHT AFTER I REACHED 50,000 MILES & THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT MY EXTENDED WARRANTY WAS FOR, UP TO 50,000 MILES. A FRIEND OF MINE BOUGHT THE SAME CAR AS MINE ABOUT A MONTH AFTER ME & HER POWER STEERING WENT OUT RIGHT AFTER 50,000 MILES AS WELL. SHE PAID $1100.00 TO FIX IT WITH THE DEALER. NOW THAT I HAVE SEEN THIS ON THE NEWS LAST NIGHT AS IT HAS CAUSED 1100 ACCIDENTS, I THINK IT SHOULD BE RECALLED. *TR
I AM FILING THIS COMPLAINT ON BEHALF OF MY BROTHER HE IS IN THE MILITARY SNF I HAVE HIS CAR WHILE HE IS GONE. I GUESS I DIDN'T THINK TO REPORT THIS WHEN IT HAPPENED THE FIRST TIME ON A 2005 CHEVY COBALT, UNTIL I READ A ARTICLE ONLINE ABOUT THE STEERING ASSIST MOTORS GOING BAD. BUT 2 YEARS THE MOTOR WENT OUT , TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC GOT A NEW ONE PUT IN AND JUST 2 WEEKS AGO IT WENT BAD AGAIN AND IS IN THE SHOP AGAIN. I KNOW I DIDN'T INCLUDE EVERYTHING BUT WHEN IT WENT OUT THE FIRST TIME MY BROTHER WAS COMING HOME FROM IOWA CITY WHEN THE STEERING WENT OUT AND WENT INTO THE MEDIAN NO DAMAGE TO THE CAR WAS DONE BUT THE CAR WAS PARKED CAUSE 2 DAYS LATER HE LEFT FOR IRAQ. THE CAR SAT FOR ALMOST 8 MONTHS BEFORE I PAID TO HAVE IT FIXED AND I STARTED DRIVING IT AND THEN 2 WEEKS AGO IT WENT BAD AGAIN. *TR
IGNITION KEY CANNOT BE REMOVED WITHOUT USING THE RELEASE BUTTON IN THE HOLE UNDER THE COLUMN. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY THREE TIMES WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THE POWER STEERING WILL NEED TO BE REPROGRAMMED AT A 50% OFF DISCOUNT. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 59,950 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,322.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE CONTACT BEGAN HEARING A NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE NOISE INTENSIFIED AS THE SPEED INCREASED. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE TWO FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS WERE FAULTY AND THE RIMS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WERE BENT. THE FACTORY PAID FOR ONE OF THE WHEEL BEARINGS AND THE SECOND ONE WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 42,000.
POWER STEERING IS FAILING CONSTANTLY WHEN DRIVING. THE POWER STEERING WORDS COME UP ON THE DASH AND THEN IT QUITS--VERY DANGEROUS IF IT HAPPENS SUDDENLY DURING A TURN. SO FAR, I'M FORTUNATE THAT IT HAPPENS ONLY WHEN DRIVING STRAIGHT. WHEN I TURN CAR OFF AND RESTART IT'S O.K. FOR 5 OR 10 MINUTES. I HAVE 53,000 MILES ON CAR. FROM WHAT I'VE READ ONLINE, THEY WILL TELL ME IT NEEDS A NEW STEERING COLUMN AND IT WILL COST BETWEEN $1200 AND $2,000 TO REPAIR! VERY UNHAPPY, VERY CONCERNED FOR SAFETY AND NOW, OUT OF WARRANTY, WILL HAVE TO PAY THAT MUCH FOR SOMETHING THAT SURE SOUNDS LIKE A MAJOR SAFETY DEFECT? *TR
KEY LOCKED IN IGNITION - UNABLE TO REMOVE. CAR WOULD START BUT WAS IN LIMP MODE. *TR
I BOUGHT MY 2005 COBALT IN JUNE OF '05. HAD NUMBEROUS PROBLEMS WITH IT BUT THE ONE I'D LIKE TO KNOW MORE ABOUT IS THE LOWER CONTROL ARM REAR BUSHINGS. I REPLACED 'BAD' ONES IN JUNE OF 2007 AND HAVE TO REPLACE THEM AGAIN. I DO NOT FEEL AS THOUGH THIS SHOULD BE NECESSARY. ANY INFORMATION ON THESE? *TR
(2( BOLTS THAT HOLD THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BROKE OR CAME LOOSE AND FELL OUT CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING. *TR
ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING FAILURE. STARTED 2 YEARS AGO. CHEVROLET COBALT 2005 LS. THE POWER STEERING USUALLY GOES OUT WITHIN 5 MINUTES OF DRIVING EVERY TIME. IT IS A VERY IRRITATING PROBLEM. I WOULD FIX, BUT IT COSTS A COUPLE THOUSAND DOLLARS. I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR A RECALL, AND THANK GOD THERE IS FINALLY AN INVESTIGATION. I KNOW OF SEVERAL PEOPLE WITH THIS SAME ISSUE WHO OWN COBALTS. CHEVROLET NEEDS TO CLEAN UP THEIR MESS. *TR
POWER STEERING FAILURE DURING MOUNTAIN DRIVING. *TR
2005 CHEVROLET COBALT NEAR 50,000 ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING FAILED. DEALER DENIES EVEN KNOWING SUCH A PROBLEM EXISTS DESPITE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS FOUND BY OTHER DRIVERS OF THE SAME MAKE/MODEL ON THE INTERNET. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE ON A VERY CURVY AND DANGEROUS ROAD. LUCKILY, NO ACCIDENT OCCURRED. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED ON THREE OCCASIONS THAT THE FRONT CONTROL ARMS FRACTURED. AFTER THE FIRST FAILURE THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE IT WAS REPAIRED. AFTER THE SECOND AND THIRD FAILURES THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 26,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 84,000.
TL* 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*LJ UPDATED 09/30/11
THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON SO I TOOK THE VEHICLE STRAIGHT TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY SAID IT WAS A HISTORY CODE AND NOT A BIG DEAL, SO THEY RESET IT. AFTER LEAVING THE DEALERSHIP IT CAME BACK ON SO I WENT TO A DIFFERENT DEALERSHIP. THEY SAID THE SAME THING AND SAID THEY DON'T KNOW WHY IT IS COMING BACK ON. *TR
THE POWER STEERING CONTINUES TO FAIL WHILE DRIVING ON A 2005 CHEVY COBALT, THERE HAVE BEEN MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS VEHICLE AND POWER STEERING. IT IS VERY UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL OF THIS COMPONENT. *TR
I WAS GOING TO WORK EARLY IN THE MORNING. A TRAIN WAS IN THE DISTANCE WHICH SCARED A HUGE BUCK DEER. THE BUCK DEER WITH HUGE ANTLERS RAN STRAIGHT INTO MY CAR HEAD ON. I WAS NOT ABLE TO STEER AWAY FROM THE DEER AND MY CAR SEEMED TO SHUT DOWN. THE HUGE BUCK DEER HIT ME HEAD ON. THE LIGHTS WERE TOTALLY SMASHED. THE HOOD OF THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY DAMAGED. THE WINDSHIELD WAS TOTALLY SMASHED. THE ROOF WAS DAMAGED AND THE CAR WAS LOPSIDED. THE BUCK DEER ANTLERS WENT THRU THE WINDSHIELD JUST INCHES AWAY FROM ME.THE AIR BAGS DID NOT WORK EVEN THOUGH IT WAS A HEAD ON COLLISION WITH GREAT FORCE. MY CAR SEEMED TO SHUT OFF AND I COULD NOT STEER AWAY FROM THE DEER. I WAS CUT WITH GLASS ON MY FACE, ARMS AND HANDS. MY NECK AND BACK WAS HURT. I HAD MY SEAT BELT ON BUT MY STOMACH HURT FROM THE DRAMATIC IMPACT. I COMPLAINED THAT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT WORK AND THAT MY CAR ACTED STRANGELY IN WHICH IT SEEMED THE IGNITION SWITCH SHUT EVERYTHING DOWN AND I COULD NOT CONTROL THE CAR BUT I WAS TOTALLY IGNORED. *TR
ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILS WITHOUT WARNING CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL.I CALLED THE DEALER I BOUGHT THE CAR AT AND WAS ADVISED THIS WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY AND I WOULD HAVE TO PAY $1200.00 TO HAVE IT REPAIRED.I THEN CALLED GENERAL MOTORS TO REPORT THIS AS A SAFETY ISSUE AND ASKED FOR A FIELD REP AND WAS REFUSED INFORMATION TO CONTACT A FIELD REP. *CN
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE POWER STEERING INTERMITTENTLY SHUTS OFF. THE FAILURE HAS PROGRESSIVELY WORSENED OVER TIME. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT THE COST OF $2,000. THE VIN, ENGINE SIZE, AND PURCHASE DATE WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 55,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,000.
POWER STEERING LIGHT COMES ON DASH AND CAR LOSES POWER STEERING IMMEDIATELY. MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN WHILE DRIVING. IT IS HAPPENING OFTEN. USUALLY 1-2 TIMES A MONTH. I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON WHO HAS THIS PROBLEM. UPON LOOKING IT UP ONLINE AND SEEING THAT THERE'S HUNDREDS OF OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, IT CAUSED ME TO FILE THIS COMPLAINT. IT OBVIOUSLY IS A WIDE SPREAD ISSUE. I CONTACTED GM THROUGH E-MAIL AND THEY HAVE YET TO RESPOND. IT HAS BEEN ABOUT 2 MONTHS. ALSO THE KEY GETS STUCK INTO THE IGNITION, I DO NOT KNOW IF IT IS RELEVANT TO THE STEERING ISSUE BUT EVERYONE WHO HAS THE STEERING ISSUE ALSO HAS THE KEY/IGNITION PROBLEMS. WHEN I EXPERIENCE POWER STEERING FAILURE, I FEEL OUT OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. LUCKILY FOR ME, IT HAS NOT CAUSED A CRASH, BUT I CAN CERTAINLY SEE HOW IT COULD. I FEEL LIKE GM SHOULD STEP UP, TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS, AND FIX THE PROBLEM INSTEAD OF LETTING IT BE, AND LETTING THEIR CUSTOMERS DRIVE UNSAFE VEHICLES. I FEEL UNSAFE. *TR
WHILE DRIVING THE POWER STEERING GOES OUT WITH NO WARNING AND MAKES IT VERY HAZARDOUS TO DRIVE. THIS HAS OCCURRED ON OPEN HIGHWAY, ON FREEWAYS, AND EVEN IN THE CITY DRIVING CONDITIONS. WEATHER DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE A FACTOR AS I HAVE SEEN THIS HAPPEN IN SNOW, RAIN, AND SUNNY CALM WEATHER. THE MOST DANGEROUS TIME WAS AFTER WAITING AT A STOP LIGHT, I STARTED TO TURN WHEN LIGHT BECAME GREEN, AND 1/2 WAY IN THE INTERSECTION THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT AND MY VEHICLE MADE IT VERY HARD TO STEER IT AND ALMOST HIT TRAFFIC THAT WAS WAITING. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 65-70 MPH, THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN WITHOUT WARNING. ALSO, THE POWER STEERING SHUTS OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE POWER STEERING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN DIAGNOSED. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 25,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,000.
I HAVE HAD MY CHEVROLET COBALT SINCE APRIL 2005 AND IT WAS BOUGHT BRAND NEW FROM THE DEALERSHIP .. UP TIL THE BEGINNING OF THIS YEAR IT HAS WORKED FINE .. BUT IN 2007 I HAVE TO GET A NEW GEAR SHIFT , KEYS MADE, THEN TO TOP IT OFF I HAVE HAD THE POWER STEERING LIGHT COME ON THE INFORMATION BOARD AND IT GO OUT 8 TIMES IN 2 WEEKS .. SO FAR KNOCK ON WOOD IT HAS WORKED FINE .. THE DAY I MADE THE APPOINTMENT IT WENT OUT 3X WITHIN A 30 MINUTE SPAN .. *TR
2005 COBALT, POWER STEERING GOES OUT EVERYTIME IT MOVES. THE POWER STEERING IN MY CAR HAS BEEN OUT FOR ABOUT 7 MONTHS NOW. I JUST READ SEVERAL OTHER COMPLAINTS OF THE EXACT SAME THING SO IT IS NOTHING I HAVE DONE AND IS COMMON WITH THE COBALTS. GM TAKES NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS DEFECT AND HAS LEFT THE $1,000.00 REPAIR UP TO THE OWNERS TO PAY OUT. THIS IS A BIG SAFETY ISSUE, WILL IT TAKE SOMEONE BEING KILLED BEFORE THIS IS ADDRESSED? IT SEEMS THERE SHOULD BE SOMEONE OUT THERE FORCING THESE MANUFACTURES TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR PRODUCTS. *TR
TOOK MY CAR TO DEALER BECAUSE OF BAD CLUNKING IN FRONT END. THEY REPLACED THE BUSHINGS (WHILE UNDER WARRANTY). NOW (58000 MI) I AM HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AND THE CLUNKING IS MUCH WORSE?! SEEMS TO BE AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THESE COBALTS. SEEMS THERE SHOULD BE SOME KIND OF RECALL WITH ALL THESE COMPLAINTS BEFORE THERE IS A HORRIFIC ACCIDENT!!!! ALSO (I HAVE THE 2 DOOR) THERE IS A CONSTANT PROBLEM WITH THE DOORS NOT WORKING! ALL THE SUDDEN YOU TRY TO GET IN AND THE HANDLE MOVES BUT DOES NOT OPEN! I WOULD HAVE TO ENTER/EXIT ON PASSENGER SIDE! I HAVE HAD PARTS TO THIS REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES NOW. THIS TOO COULD ALSO BE VERY DANGEROUS IF IN AN ACCIDENT! I AM STILL HAPPY WITH MY CAR BUT NOT WITH THE SAME ONGOING ISSUES THAT COULD LEAD TO POTENTIAL DISASTER! *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT. AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT HEARD A RATTLING NOISE. THE RATTLING SOUND GREW LOUDER AND MORE SEVERE WHEN DRIVING BETWEEN 55-60 MPH. HE TOOK HIS VEHICLE TO A TIRE SHOP FOR INSPECTION AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE RATTLING WAS COMING FROM THE RACK AND PINION STEERING. THEY ALSO STATED THAT THE STRUTS WERE LEAKING. THE DEALER WANTED TO CHARGE $70 TO DIAGNOSE THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT DID NOT WANT TO PAY THE FEE BECAUSE IT HAD ALREADY BEEN DIAGNOSED. THE REPAIR HAS NOT YET BEEN MADE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 47,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS DO NOT ILLUMINATE AT ALL. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED IN THAT MANNER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 14,160. UPDATED 1/15/09 *CN ON RAINY OR FOGGY OR OVERCAST DAYS, THE INSTUMENT PANEL LIGHT DOES NOT COME ON. THE VEHICLE HAS BLACK FACED GAUGES WHICH CAN NOT BE READ UNDER THOSE CONDITIONS. UPDATED 01/21/09. *JB
ON THE DATE LISTED, MY WIFE WAS DRIVING AT APP. 40MPH. AT WHICH POINT SHE RAN INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT WAS STOPPED. UPON IMPACT THE SEAT BELT FAILED TO KEEP HER IN THE DRIVER SEAT. THERE WAS ALSO NO AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. UPON IMPACT SHE FLEW UPWARDS AND FORWARD, HITTING HER FACE ON THE VISOR. SHE WENT TO THE HOSPITAL WHERE THEY DID SCANS AND FOUND NO BLEEDING ON THE BRAIN, HOWEVER SHE WAS INJURED IN THE FACE TO WHICH SHE STILL HAS A BUMP ON THE BRIDGE OF HER NOSE AND STILL GETS HEADACHES. ALSO, SHORTLY AFTER THE ACCIDENT SHE HAD TWO BLACK EYES AND A CONCUSSION. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THERE WAS NO INDICATION THAT ANYTHING WAS DONE WITH THE AIRBAG SYSTEM OR THE SEAT BELT, BY THE AUTO BODY SHOP. WE CONTACTED GM A DAY OR TWO AFTER THE ACCIDENT. THEY SENT AN ENGINEER OUT TO GATHER READINGS FROM THE CAR A FEW WEEKS LATER. IT WASN'T UNTIL THIS WEEK THAT WE HEARD SOMETHING BACK FROM GM. THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING FOR THEM TO DO AND THEY LEFT IT AT THAT. WE ARE STILL DRIVING THE SAME CAR AND ARE VERY WEARY OF WHAT COULD HAPPEN IF WE ARE INVOLVED IN ANOTHER ACCIDENT. I THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL DONE AND THE MANUFACTURE HELD LIABLE FOR THE EQUIPMENT FAILURE. *TR
I WAS DRIVING OUR COBALT 2005 AT A SPEED OF ABOUT 25-30 MPH WHEN THE STEERING FAILED WITHOUT ANY WARNING ON A SUBURBAN STREET. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS COMPLETELY LOOSE AND DID NOT CONTROL THE CAR. THE VEHICLE SLID INTO A CURB, JUMPED IT AND ENDED UP ON SOMEONE'S LAWN. THERE WAS SEVERE DAMAGE TO CAR'S UNDERSIDE. WHEELS AND TIRES (OVER $ 5,700). I WAS TOLD THAT THE "STEERING KNUCKLE" BROKE (WHY???). CAR WAS DECLARED "REPAIRABLE" BUT EVERYTHING IS IN LIMBO BECAUSE OF CONCERNS ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE. I REQUESTED AN INVESTIGATION BY CHEVROLET IN DETROIT . NO REPAIRS WILL BE DONE UNTIL CHEVROLET HAS FINISHED THE INVESTIGATION, WHICH IS TO BEGIN 2-6 DAYS AFTER THE REQUEST. *TR