I HAVE A PROBLEM THAT I WOULD LIKE TO ISSUE THAT HAS TO DO WITH SAFETY. I BOUGHT A 2005 CHEVY COBALT BACK IN JULY OF 05. THE POWER STEERING ON THE COBALT'S IS AN EPS SYSTEM (ELECTRICAL POWER STEERING). THE POWER STEERING HAS BEEN GOING OFF AND ON WHEN I AM DRIVING (I HAVE ONLY 68,000 MILES). IT STARTED ON FRIDAY WHEN I WAS DRIVING INTO TOWN IT WENT OUT AND I HAD TO PULL OVER, TURN THE CAR OFF THEN BACK ON. AFTER DOING THIS THE CAR WAS FINE THEN A FEW MINUTES LATER THE POWER STEERING WENT OFF AGAIN! EVER SINCE THEN THE POWER STEERING HAS BEEN GOING OUT, EVEN ON THE HIGHWAY GOING 55 IT GOES OUT WHICH CAUSES IT TO BE VERY HARD TO TURN OR STEER MY CAR. I WENT ON THE INTERNET AND LOOKED UP 'ISSUES WITH POWER STEERING ON 2005 CHEVY COBALT'S' AND I CAME ACROSS HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE POWER STEERING GOING OUT ON PEOPLE THAT OWN A COBALT OR A MALIBU WHICH ALSO HAS A EPS SYSTEM. I'M NOT SURE WHY GM HAS NOT RECALLED THIS ISSUE WHEN IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE! TO FIX THIS PROBLEM THE PART ITS SELF IS $500 NOT INCLUDING LABOR. AS I DID MY RESEARCH PEOPLE HAVE BEEN PAYING ABOUT $1,200 TO FIX THE EPS SYSTEM. I REALLY THINK IT IS VERY IRRESPONSIBLE OF GM TO NOT HAVE A RECALL ON THIS PART DUE TO THE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS I HAVE SEEN! SOMEONE PLEASE HELP ME ON GETTING GM TO WAKE UP AND SEE THAT WHEN THE POWER STEERING GOES OUT WHILE YOU'RE DRIVING 55+MPH ON THE HIGHWAY ITS NOT EASY NOR SAFE FOR ANYONE IN THE CAR AND THAT THEY NEED TO DO A RECALL TO FIX ALL OF THE PROBLEMS ON THE EPS SYSTEM
2005 Chevrolet Cobalt complaints
Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2005 record →
I'VE JUST BOUGHT A 2005 CHEVY COBALT 23 DAYS AGO. THIS PAST WEEKEND THE POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON. UPON RESEARCH I HAVE FOUND THAT THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING ON THIS AND OTHER MODELS IS AN ONGOING ISSUE. I, AS OF THIS MORNING, HAVE NO POWER STEERING NOW. I HAVE FOUND MANY DISCUSSIONS ONLINE CONCERNING THIS MATTER, YET NO INFO. FROM GM/CHEVROLET. ACCORDING TO DISCUSSIONS, IT WILL COST BETWEEN $600.00 AND $2,000.00 TO FIX AND THEN SOME OF THESE PEOPLE HAD IT HAPPEN AGAIN ANYWAY. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY IT HAS NOT BEEN ADDRESSED. I, AT THIS POINT, DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO GET IT FIXED, AS I HAD SCRIMPED TO BUY IT IN THE FIRST PLACE JUST 23 DAYS AGO. *TR
I HAVE A PROBLEM THAT I WOULD LIKE TO ISSUE THAT HAS TO DO WITH SAFETY. I BOUGHT A 2005 CHEVY COBALT BACK IN JULY OF 05. THE POWER STEERING ON THE COBALT'S IS A EPS SYSTEM (ELECTRICAL POWER STEERING). THE POWER STEERING HAS BEEN GOING OFF AND ON WHEN I AM DRIVING (I HAVE ONLY 68,000 MILES). IT STARTED ON FRIDAY WHEN I WAS DRIVING INTO TOWN IT WENT OUT AND I HAD TO PULL OVER, TURN THE CAR OFF THEN BACK ON. AFTER DOING THIS THE CAR WAS FINE THEN A FEW MINUTES LATER THE POWER STEERING WENT OFF AGAIN! EVER SINCE THEN THE POWER STEERING HAS BEEN GOING OUT, EVEN ON THE HIGHWAY GOING 55 IT GOES OUT WHICH CAUSES IT TO BE VERY HARD TO TURN OR STEER MY CAR. I WENT ON THE INTERNET AND LOOKED UP 'ISSUES WITH POWER STEERING ON 2005 CHEVY COBALT'S' AND I CAME ACROSS HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE POWER STEERING GOING OUT ON PEOPLE THAT OWN A COBALT OR A MALIBU WHICH ALSO HAS A EPS SYSTEM. I'M NOT SURE WHY GM HAS NOT RECALLED THIS ISSUE WHEN IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE! TO FIX THIS PROBLEM THE PART ITS SELF IS $500 NOT INCLUDING LABOR. AS I DID MY RESEARCH PEOPLE HAVE BEEN PAYING ABOUT $1,200 TO FIX THE EPS SYSTEM. I REALLY THINK IT IS VERY IRRESPONSIBLE OF GM TO NOT HAVE A RECALL ON THIS PART DUE TO THE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS I HAVE SEEN! SOMEONE PLEASE HELP ME ON GETTING GM TO WAKE UP AND SEE THAT WHEN THE POWER STEERING GOES OUT WHILE YOU'RE DRIVING 55+MPH ON THE HIGHWAY ITS NOT EASY NOR SAFE FOR ANYONE IN THE CAR AND THAT THEY NEED TO DO A RECALL TO FIX ALL OF THE PROBLEMS ON THE EPS SYSTEM.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING SHUTS DOWN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WARNING LIGHT BLINKS TWICE AND THEN THE POWER STEERING FAILS AND BECOMES DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000. UPDATED 10/16/08 *BF UPDATED 10/21/08. *JB
ON 9/3/08 MY HUSBAND AND I WERE DRIVING OUR 2005 CHEVY COBALT WITH 45,700 MILES ON IT GOING 35 MPH, WE CAME TO A CURVE IN THE ROAD AND THE WARNING LIGHT IN OUR CAR WENT OFF AND IT READ, "POWER STEERING", WE THEN LOST ALL POWER STEERING. MY HUSBAND VEERED OFF THE ROAD BECAUSE IT WAS HARD TO STEER, WE THEN TURNED THE CAR OFF HOPING IT WOULD CLEAR THE ERROR. WE STARTED THE CAR AND IT THEN DROVE FINE. WHEN WE GOT TO WHERE WE WERE GOING WE DECIDED TO CHECK THE POWER STEERING FLUID BUT COULDN'T FIND WHERE IT WAS. WE LOOKED IN OUR OWNER'S MANUAL AND IT STATED THAT IT WAS ELECTRICAL AND THERE WAS NO FLUID. THE NEXT DAY ON THE INTERSTATE AT 60 MPH DRIVING TO WORK THE WARNING LIGHT WENT OFF AND IT READ, "POWER STEERING", MY HUSBAND MAINTAINED CONTROL AND IT NEVER REGAINED POWER STEERING. FROM THAT INCIDENT ON EVERY TIME WE DROVE IT KEPT HAPPENING AND WE WOULD NEVER REGAIN POWER STEERING UNTIL WE TURNED THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTED IT. FIRST THING MONDAY MORNING 9/8/08 WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY TOLD US THERE WAS AN INTERNAL FAULT IN THE STEERING COLUMN MOTOR AND THEY NEEDED TO REPLACE THE ELECTRONIC COLUMN. I ASKED IF THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL BECAUSE I FOUND HUNDREDS OF INCIDENTS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM WITH OUR SAME VEHICLE, MAKE AND YEAR ON THE INTERNET. THE DEALERSHIP CLAIMED THIS IS THE FIRST THEY HAD HEARD OF. I TOLD THE DEALERSHIP THAT WHEN THEY REPLACED MY MOTOR I WANTED THE FAULTY ONE BACK. THEY GOT AN ATTITUDE QUICKLY AND TOLD ME THAT I COULDN'T HAVE THE OLD PART BECAUSE IT
2005 COBOLT POWER STEERING BLEW FUSES. NOW LIGHT COMES ON CAR JUMPS TRIES TO DIE ON ME. POWER STEERING LIGHT COMES ON. *TR
2005 COBALT, 40K MILES. ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST STEERING SYSTEM GOING OUT. LIGHT COMES ON SOMETIMES AND POWER STEERING WILL GO OUT. WILL STOP CAR, AND SOMETIMES THIS STOPS. MOSTLY BAD ON HOT DAYS. OUT OF WARRANTY, RESEARCHING WILL COST ME 1,200 TO 2,000. UNDERSTAND THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE. WHY ISN'T THERE A RECALL. I HAVE A 3 YEAR OLD AND BRAND NEW BABY GRAND DAUGHTER. I SHUDDER TO THINK WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF THIS GOES OUT WHILE THEY ARE IN MY CAR. THEY LIVE WITH ME. THIS IS HORRIBLY DANGEROUS. THEY WONT RECALL IT, BUT MAKE THE PART SO EXPENSIVE YOU CANT AFFORD IT. NO OTHER PART EVER COST THAT MUCH IN MY LIFE UNLESS I WAS REPLACING AN ENGINE. I AM ASKING THAT THEY RECALL THIS PART ASAP BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED. YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN IT WILL JUST STOP WORKING, AND LOOSE POWER AND OR CONTROL OF YOUR CAR. I PRAY THAT MYSELF OR MY GRANDCHILDREN CAN LIVE THROUGH THIS LONG ENOUGH TO SAVE THE MONEY TO MAKE THIS RIDICULOUSLY EXPENSIVE REPAIR. I CANT JUST NOT DRIVE IT. IT IS OUR ONLY CAR. PLEASE PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS PART IN THE COBALT AND FROM WHAT I HEAR A FEW OTHER CAR MAKES. IT IS THE SCARIEST THING IN THE WORLD TO LOOSE POWER WHILE DRIVING. AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. THANK YOU *TR
TWO WEEKS AGO MY 2005 COBALT LS SEDAN SUDDENLY STARTING HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE POWER STEERING. WHILE DRIVING MY WARNING LIGHT DISPLAYED "POWER STEERING" AND I NOTICED THAT TRYING TO STEER THE WHEEL WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT. I DROVE TO A SAFE PLACE AND TURNED THE CAR OFF AND THEN RESTARTED IT AND THE POWER STEERING WAS WORKING FINE. I AM NOTICING THAT THE TIME THE POWER STEERING IS WORKING CORRECTLY IS GETTING TO BE LESS AND LESS. THIS PROBLEM IS VERY DANGEROUS AND SOMEONE COULD GET SERIOUSLY HURT OR KILLED IF CHEVROLET CONTINUES TO IGNORE THE PROBLEM. *TR
MY FAMILY WERE DRIVING IN OUR 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT. AS WE MADE A TURN OFF THE HIGHWAY THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. MY CAR CAREENED OFF THE ROAD AND OFF INTO THE MEDIAN. MY ONE CHILD HAD A SMALL HEAD INJURY FROM THE ACCIDENT. LUCKILY WE WERE NOT TURNING INTO TRAFFIC AT THE TIME, SOME ONE WOULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE I HAVE FOUND THE POWER STEERING ON THE CHEVROLET COBALT HAVE A HIGH RATE OF FAILURE. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE TO BE SERIOUSLY INJURED BEFORE THIS ISSUE IS RESOLVED THROUGH A RECALL OF THE VEHICLES TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *TR
2005 CHEVROLET COBALT - POWER STEERING WARNING MESSAGE COMES ON AND EVENTUALLY CAUSED THE CAR TO STALL OR SHAKE. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE CHEVROLET DEALER FOR MAINTENANCE. WHILE REPAIRING THE VEHICLE, A MECHANIC LEFT A RAG ON TOP OF THE ENGINE UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. AFTER THE CONTACT RETRIEVED THE VEHICLE, IT CAUGHT FIRE DUE TO THE RAG BEING LEFT ON THE ENGINE. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE VEHICLE, BUT THE CONTACT DOES NOT FEEL THAT IT IS SAFE TO DRIVE BECAUSE IT CONTINUES TO BREAK DOWN. IN ADDITION, THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT CONTINUES TO ILLUMINATE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY COULD ONLY REPAIR THE VEHICLE TO ITS ORIGINAL STATE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,059 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,083.
CLUTCH PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR. COULD NOT SHIFT GEARS. LUCKILY THIS HAPPENED WHILE PULLING AWAY FROM A TRAFFIC LIGHT AT LOW SPEED. IF IT HAPPENED PULLING ON TO A HIGH SPEED MERGE ONTO AN INTERSTATE, I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. CAR IS DEAD IN THE WATER AND INOPERABLE. THIS IS AN EVENT THAT SHOULD NEVER HAPPEN. DEALER SAID CLUTCH IS HYDRAULICALLY ACTIVATED AND HAS A SEALED UNIT. *TR
AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON CONTINUOUSLY AND NOW THE POWER STEERING LIGHT GOES ON AND YOU LOOSE STEERING AS YOU ARE DRIVING. THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS FIXED 1 TIME BY DEALER AND NOW IT IS ON AGAIN AND THEY SAY THEY WILL NOT FIX IT BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN TAMPERED WITH BUT THEY ARE THE ONLY ONE'S TO WORK ON IT I HAVE MY REPAIR INVOICE. THE POWER STEERING LIGHT JUST STARTED COMING ON AND NOW YOU LOOSE STEERING AS SOON AS IT GOES ON. IT ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED BECAUSE I WAS GOING AROUND A CURVE AND A CAR WAS COMING THE OTHER WAY AND I LOST MY STEERING. LUCKILY I DIDN'T HIT THE OTHER CAR BUT I THINK THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD. *TR
ON SATURDAY, AUGUST 16TH, 2008 I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY GOING ABOUT 55-60 MPH AND AS I WAS SLOWING DOWN TO APPROACH A LEFT TURN, A CHIME NOISE SOUNDED AND THE "POWER STEERING" MESSAGE CAME ON AND AS I WAS IN MY LEFT TURN, THE POWER STEERING COMPLETELY WENT OUT AND MADE MY CAR ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN THE WHEEL. I PULLED INTO A SERVICE/GAS STATION RIGHT DOWN THE ROAD AND TRIED TURNING OFF MY CAR TO SEE IF THAT WOULD HELP. ONCE I RESTARTED MY CAR THE POWER STEERING MESSAGE WAS NO LONGER ON AND THE STEERING WHEEL WENT BACK TO NORMAL. THIS SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED ONCE THE NEXT DAY. AS THE DAYS WENT ON, THE PROBLEM GOT MORE AND MORE FREQUENT TO THE EXTENT OF NOW IT HAPPENS LIKE FOUR OR FIVE TIMES A DAY. TO GET THE POWER STEERING TO WORK ONCE IT GOES OUT, I HAVE TO EITHER RESTART MY CAR AT REDLIGHTS, STOP SIGNS, OR SOMETIMES EVEN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY GM. I TOOK MY CAR TO A GM DEALERSHIP LAST FRIDAY AND I WAS TOLD MY STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE, AND I SEE IT IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH GM. I HAVE NOTIFIED THE CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT GM AND AM AWAITING A CALL BACK FROM THEM TO SEE HOW THEY CAN ACCOMMODATE ME WITH THIS SITUATION. *TR
MY 2005 COBALT HAS HAD ELECTRICAL AND POWER STEERING PROBLEMS EVER SINCE I LEASED IT. INTERMITTENTLY, WHILE DRIVING, THE INSTRUMENT MESSAGES START FLASHING (USUALLY "POWER STEERING"). THE CAR THEN BECOMES VERY HARD TO STEER AND BRAKE, THE ENGINE SURGES UP AND DOWN. ON AUG 3RD THE CAR WAS INVOLVED IN A MINOR ACCIDENT WHEN IT WAS STEERED INTO A CURB, POSSIBLY CAUSED BY ANOTHER EQUIPMENT FAILURE. I TOOK THE CAR IN TO A CHEVROLET DEALER AGAIN, WHEN IT FAILED AGAIN TWO MORE TIMES AFTER THE ACCIDENT. BOTH TIMES THE DEALER FOUND ERROR CODES. HOWEVER, THEY SAID THEY HAD A "TSB" ON THIS PROBLEM, FROM CHEVROLET WHICH SAYS TO JUST CLEAR THE LOGS, GIVE THE CAR BACK TO THE CUSTOMER AND TO "PERFORM NO WORK". THEY ARE PUTTING LIVES IN DANGER BY FOLLOWING THIS PROCEDURE. I HAVE COPIES OF THE SERVICE ORDERS TO CONFIRM MY STATEMENT. *TR
WHEN I TURN THE STEERING WHEEL I HEAR METAL CLUNKING KIND OF LIKE A BALL JOINT COMING OUT. *TR
THE TIME THE INCIDENT OCCURRED WAS WHEN WE WERE ON OUR WAY (MY WIFE AND I) TO CANADA FOR A WEDDING, WE GOT TO OUR DESTINATION AND THE ALL OF THE SUDDEN THE CAR LITERALLY STARTS HOPING DOWN THE ROAD, THEN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD IT COMPLETELY STALLED. THE POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON THE DASHBOARD AND THEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. WE LOOKED IN THE MANUAL, BECAUSE WE HAVE ONLY HAD THE CAR FOR A MONTH AND FOUND THE POWER STEERING PIECE TO CONTACT GMC. WELL BEING IN THE CITY AND ALL DEALERSHIPS CLOSED WE COULDN'T DO ANYTHING. WE SHUT THE VEHICLE DOWN AND TRIED TO RESTART, THE SAME THING OCCURRED- WE WERE ABLE TO DRIVE IT TO A MECHANIC NEAR BY (WHEN FINALLY IT WAS WORKING) AND THEY HAD NO IDEA WHAT TO DO BECAUSE OF THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING. WE GAVE UP AND FINALLY WENT HOME TO MY MOTHER IN LAWS HOUSE. I RESEARCHED ON THE INTERNET AND THEN I CAME ONTO NOT ONE BUT MANY WEBSITES VIA GOOGLE ON HOW MUCH TROUBLE PEOPLE ARE HAVING WITH THEIR COBALTS. WE ARE VERY UNFORTUNATE AND DO NOT HAVE WARRANTY LEFT OVER. SO WHEN IT COMERS TO REPLACING THE 2000.00 PART WE CAN NOT. I REALLY NEED MY CAR TO RUN PROPERLY -MY WIFE AND I LIVE IN THE UNITED STATES AND ITS A LONG WAY HOME!!! I REALLY HOPE WE DO NOT GET INTO A VEHICLE ACCIDENT ALONG THE WAY DUE TO THE POWER STEERING MALFUNCTION, OTHERWISE OUR LAWYER AND GMC WILL BE TALKING. AT THIS TIME I WANT A RESOLUTION FROM SOMEONE! HOW CAN GMC PRODUCE A VEHICLE WITH MULTIPLE KNOWN ISSUES AND CONTINUE TO SELL IT WITHOUT NOTIFYING PEOPLE HOW DEA
AFTER PICKING UP THE CHILDREN I TAKE CARE OF, I TOOK THEM HOME AS USUAL. TO MY SURPRISE, AS I TURN ONTO THEIR STREET IN A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD, MY POWER STEERING WENT OUT. I WAS TURNING SLIGHTLY RIGHT AT APPROXIMATELY 5-10 MPH AND THE LIGHT ON MY INSTRUMENT PANEL INDICATED "POWER STEERING." I PUT THE CAR IN PARK, WAIT A FEW MINUTES, PUT IT IN DRIVE AGAIN, AND STILL NO POWER STEERING. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND WHEN I TURNED IT BACK ON AGAIN, THINGS WERE BACK TO NORMAL. AS I LEAVE WORK, POWER STEERING IS BACK TO WORKING, UNTIL I MERGE ONTO THE HIGHWAY AND MY POWER STEERING GOES OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FREEWAY ENTRY WAY. I MANAGED TO HOLD MY CAR STEADY TO GET TO THE EMERGENCY LANE, BUT TO DO SO I HAD TO CROSS ANOTHER LANE OF TRAFFIC. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AGAIN INDICATED "POWER STEERING." I TURNED THE CAR OFF, BACK ON AGAIN AND IT WAS NORMAL. DRIVING A VEHICLE AND HAVING NO INDICATION THAT THE POWER STEERING IS OUT,UNTIL IT'S TOO LATE, IS UNACCEPTABLE. GM IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM, AND YET THEY DO NOTHING ABOUT IT, AND THAT IS ALSO UNACCEPTABLE. *TR
HIGHWAY DRIVING TO VISIT FRIENDS AT THE BEACH. "POWER STEERING" APPEARS ON THE DASH AND THE STEERING WHEEL GOES STIFF. WE MANAGED TO PULL OFF THE HIGHWAY; UPON RESTARTING THE CAR, THE MESSAGE WAS NOT PRESENT. THE SAME MESSAGE AND POWER STEERING FAILURE RECURRED SIX TIMES THAT SAME DAY. THIS IS A CLEAR SAFETY HAZARD AS ANY SUDDEN LOSS OF STEERING IN A CRITICAL MOMENT COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. I HAVE NOT YET TAKEN THE CAR TO BE REPAIRED YET BECAUSE THE DIAGNOSIS SEEMS CLEAR FROM MULTIPLE REPORTS OF THE SAME ISSUE (SEE HTTP://WWW.TOPIX.COM/FORUM/AUTOS/CHEVROLET-COBALT/T8FMSUQB7V2DTH5JH FOR OVER 110 ADDITIONAL COMPLAINTS) THE STANDARD RESPONSE FROM GM APPEARS TO BE TO REPLACE THE ELECTRONIC POWER ASSIST ASSEMBLY AT CUSTOMER COST GREATER THAN $600. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE FOR SUCH A COMMON FAILURE AND FOR SUCH A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. THIS CAR IS ONLY THREE MONTHS OUT OF WARRANTY COVERAGE. ALSO PLEASE NOTE THAT THERE WAS AN NHTSA INVESTIGATION (PE07023) OF THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING UNIT OF THE 2005 PONTIAC G6 WHICH MAY BE THE SAME SYSTEM FAILING IN THE SAME WAY. *TR
SEVERAL TIMES THE IGNITION WOULD NOT TURN OFF WITHOUT CONTINUOUSLY CYCLING IT SEVERAL TIMES. ALSO SEVERAL TIMES THE IGNITION WOULD NOT TURN ON WITHOUT CONTINUOUSLY TAKING THE KEY OUT AND PUTTING IT BACK IN AND RETRYING TO TURN IT SEVERAL TIMES. *TR
2005 CHEVROLET COBALT WITH ONLY 10,000 MILES HAS HAD REPEATED PROBLEMS WITH IGNITION FAILING TO START THE CAR. *TR
2005 COBALT 2.2L 5-SPEED 30,000 MILES I WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY WHEN I RECEIVED A POWER STEERING MESSAGE ON MY CARS DASHBOARD DISPLAY BUT BEING ON A STRAIGHT ROAD DIDN'T REALLY NOTICE THAT THERE WASN'T ACTUALLY ANY POWER STEERING I WANTED TO PULL OFF AT A REST STOP TO LOOK UNDER THE HOOD BUT WHEN I CAME TO THE END OF THE EXIT RAMP FOR THE REST AREA I COULD BARELY STEER THE VEHICLE AND ALMOST HIT A CONCRETE BARRIER NOW THE STEERING CUTS IN AND OUT USUALLY ABOUT 2-10 MIN AFTER STARTING THE CAR I HAVE READ ONLINE THAT THE REPAIR CAN COST ANYWHERE FROM 600-2000 DOLLARS NOT HAVING THAT KIND OF MONEY RIGHT NOW I AM DRIVING W/OUT POWER STEERING AWAITING A RECALL FROM GM. *TR
THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING (EPS) ON MY 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT SHUTS OFF AT RANDOM INTERVALS. IN ORDER TO REGAIN EPS FUNCTION, THE CAR MUST BE TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED. THIS HAPPENS AT LEAST 4-6 TIMES DURING A 30 MINUTE TRIP. CHEVROLET WILL NOT COVER TO SUBSTANTIAL COST TO FIX THE EPS SYSTEM IF IT IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. RESEARCH HAS LED TO ME BELIEVE THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED WITH SEVERAL COBALTS (05-08 ALL MODELS).
RECENTLY, AFTER HITTING THE 30,000 MILE MARK ON MY 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT LS, THE POWER STEERING HAS BEEN FAILING MORE AND MORE FREQUENTLY. I WILL BE DRIVING IN A STRAIGHT LINE OR IN A TURN AND EITHER ONE WILL CAUSE THE FAILURE TO HAPPEN JUST THE SAME. IT HAS BEEN FAILING MORE AND MORE FREQUENTLY, STARTING AT ABOUT TWICE A WEEK TO NOW 4 TO 5 TIMES A DAY AND MAKES DRIVING INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS. I REFUSE TO TAKE THIS CAR THROUGH ANY MOUNTAINOUS AREAS FOR FEAR OF LOSING CONTROL AND HURTING MY LOVED ONES BESIDE ME. THIS ABSOLUTELY NEEDS TO BE DEALT WITH IMMEDIATELY, FOR THE SAFETY OF ALL DRIVERS ON THE ROAD, NOT JUST THOSE IN THE COBALT. PLEASE MAKE THIS HAPPEN, AS I'VE READ MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS ACROSS MANY MESSAGE BOARDS DESCRIBING THE SAME EXACT PROBLEMS WITH THEIR CHEVY COBALTS. STACY. *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
MY DAUGHTER IS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE POWER STEERING GOING OUT ON THE CAR, WHICH IS VERY DANGEROUS. THE PROBLEM IS RANDOM. HER WARRANTY HAS RUN OUT AND THE REPAIR WOULD COST ABOUT $2000. *TR
I WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND MY POWER STEERING WENT OUT AND THEN AS I WAS GOING AROUND A CURVE, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. I WENT INTO THE ONCOMING LANE AND WAS ABLE TO TURN MY CAR OFF AND RESTART IT AGAIN. I DROVE FOR ANOTHER 30 SECONDS OR SO BEFORE THE STEERING WENT OUT AGAIN. THE STEERING CONTINUED TO GO OUT AFTER DRIVING A SHORT DISTANCE AFTER EVERYTIME I STARTED TO DRIVE. THE STEERING COLUMN HAD TO BE REPLACED. *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
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY MAKING A TURN AND MY POWER STEERING WENT OUT IT BEEPED AT ME AND THE DASH DISPLAYED "POWER STEERING". WHEN I RESTART MY CAR ITS FINE FOR A WILE BUT THEN IT DOSE IT AGAIN AND FROM WHAT I CAN TELL SPEED, TURNING,RPMS, TEMPERATURE DISTANCE HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH IT. I WAS RAN OFF THE ROAD DUE TO THIS WITH MY WIFE AND CHILD IN THE CAR MY DAUGHTER SMACKED HER HEAD ON THE WINDOW I TORE SOMETHING IN MY SHOULD JUST TRYING TO STEER. *TR
RE: MY SON'S CAR, A 2005 CHEVY COBALT 16,XXX MILES PURCHASED USED ON MAY 19, 2008 AT 14,869 MILES AT A LOCAL FORD DEALER. TWICE IN THE LAST WEEK, WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ON THE INTERSTATE DOING APPROX 60 MPH, WARNING CHIMES SOUNDED AND SECONDS LATER A "POWER STEERING" AND "LOW TRACTION" LIGHTS APPEARED. STEERING BECAME ALL BUT INOPERABLE, CAR BECAME EXTREMELY HARD TO HANDLE AND CAR "SHOOK". UPON STOPPING AND RESTARTING THE CAR, THINGS WENT BACK TO NORMAL. HIS COMMENT WAS THAT IF SOME "OLD FEEBLE PERSON" WAS DRIVING, THEY WOULD HAVE HAD AN ACCIDENT. LOOKING AT COMPLAINTS ON VARIOUS WEBSITES, THIS IS A VERY WELL KNOWN PROBLEM TO CHEVROLET (GENERAL MOTORS) IN THAT THE NEW "ELECTRIC POWER STEERING" IS PRONE TO FAILURE. DOZENS (HUNDREDS) OF PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT NUMEROUS ACCIDENTS AND CHEVROLET'S RESPONSE HAS BEEN THAT IF THEY CAN'T FIND A "CODE" TO POINT TO A STEERING FAILURE, THEN THERE MUST NOT BE A PROBLEM. CURRENTLY THE CAR HAS BEEN WITH BOEMLER CHEVROLET IN ARNOLD, MISSOURI MONDAY 7/28 AND TODAY TUESDAY 7/29. MONDAY AFTERNOON THEY CALLED AND SAID THEY WOULD LIKE TO KEEP IT ANOTHER DAY SINCE THEY COULD NOT GET IT TO FAIL AND COULDN'T GET A "CODE" TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. MULTIPLE TIMES IN THE WEBSITES, CUSTOMERS HAVE SAID THAT THE STEERING COLUMN HAD TO BE REPLACED TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THIS PROBLEM HAS CAUSED OTHER CUSTOMERS TO HAVE ACCIDENTS ACCORDING TO THE COMPLAINTS I HAVE READ. I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'VE BEEN SMART ENOUGH TO READ THEIR OWNER'S MANUAL TO GET THE P
I OWN A CHEVY COBALT 2005. WHILE DRIVING THE POWER STEERING LIGHT COMES ON AND THEN THE STEERING LOCKS. I ALMOST CRASHED, THANK GOD THERE WAS NO CARS BEHIND ME. THIS IS HAPPENING FREQUENTLY NOW. I DON'T HAVE A GUARANTEE ANYMORE. I TOOK THE CAR TO A MECHANIC HE SAID THAT IT IS A ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. HE HAS NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THAT IN HIS 20 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE BEING A MECHANIC. NOW EVERYTIME I START MY CAR THE LIGHT COMES ON AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECOMES SO HARD TO TURN OR CONTROL. I WENT ON THIS WEBSITE AND THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE THIS PROBLEM. HTTP://WWW.TOPIX.COM/FORUM/AUTOS/CHEVROLET-COBALT/T8FMSUQB7V2DTH5JH/P6 I ONLY HAVE 57000 MILES ON MY CAR. PLEASE HELP!!!! *TR
POWER STEERING FAILURE SIGNAL COMES ON AFTER ANY LENGTH OF TIME OF DRIVING, AT ANY SPEED AND ON ANY PAVEMENT. THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP AND THE CAR HAS TO BE TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED IN ORDER FOR THE STEERING TO RESET. FUEL INJECTION FAILURE. KEY WON'T TURN IN IGNITION. CD PLAYER PICKS AND CHOOSES WHEN IT WILL WORK. *TR
2005 COBALT DOOR AUTOMATIC.. SINCE JUNE-JULY OF 2006, THE AUTOMOBILE HAS REPEATEDLY BEEN TAKEN TO 2 DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS FOR REPAIR OR CORRECTION DURING THE WARRANTY PERIOD. THE WOULD ACT AS TO STALL, SHAKY, AND HESITATE WHILE DRIVING. EACH TIME THE DEALER SAID THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND OR DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. NOW, THAT THE WARRANTY IS OUT AND THE CAR HAS DONE THE SAME PROBLEM (JULY 10. 2008) THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THERE IS A PROBLEM AND THEY WILL HAVE TO LOOK FARTHER INTO IT.. I KNEW THIS WAS GOING TO HAPPEN, THE MOMENT ITS OUT OF MANUFACTURE WARRANTY, THEY CAN FIND A PROBLEM WITH IT. *TR
I WAS DRIVING MY 2005 COBALT ON THE HIGHWAY AND SUDDENLY THE POWER STEERING LIGHT TURN ON AND COULD NOT MANAGE THE CAR. I HAVE TO STOP THE CAR BUT THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION. NO ONE WAS INJURED BUT WHY WAIT TILL SOMEONE GETS HURT TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. *TR
2005 CHEVY COBALT LS 2 DR COUPE, THE POWER STEERING WILL JUST CUT OUT SOMETIMES UP TO 6 TIMES IN A SINGLE DAY. IF YOU SHUT THE CAR OFF AND RESTART IT CORRECTS TO PROBLEM UNTIL IT HAPPENS AGAIN. THE COMPUTER CODE SHOW U2100, ALSO THE OTHER DAY THE CAR JUST QUIT WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD FOR NO REASON. THIS STEERING ISSUE IS VERY DANGEROUS, I WOULD HOPE THAT SOMEONE LOOKS INTO IT BEFORE SOMEONE DIES FROM IT. I SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND I FOUND MANY COMPLAINTS REGARDING THESE SAME ISSUES. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A KNOW PROBLEM AND ON A 25,000 MILE VEHICLE IT SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING. *TR
2005 CHEVROLET COBALT, ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING FAILURE. POWER STEERING LIGHT COMES ON AND I HAVE A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER STEERING. HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS DURING RUSH HOUR DRIVING CONDITIONS TAKEN TO DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES AND THEY "CAN'T" SEEM TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. I BELIEVE THEY ARE ATTEMPTING TO WAIT OUT THE WARRANTY BEFORE THEY REPAIR IT. I SEARCHED THE INTERNET AN APPARENTLY THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH ALOT OF 05,06 COBALT OWNERS. I BELIEVE GM NEEDS TO GET INVOLVED AD RECTIFY THIS PROBLEM BEFORE PEOPLE DIE. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH OR HIGHER, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS INTERMITTENTLY. IN ADDITION, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS ILLUMINATE AND THE POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONS. THE FAILURE ALSO OCCURS WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT. THE CONTACT HAS NOT TAKEN HER VEHICLE TO THE DEALER BECAUSE SHE FEELS THAT SHE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,000.
2005 CHEVY COBALT POWER STEERING GOES OUT AT RANDOM, CAR LOCKS YOU INSIDE, YOU HAVE TO GO OUT THE WINDOW, CAR DIES WHILE DRIVING. THESE ARE ALL COMMON PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR. CHEVY DOES NOT MAKE REDESIGNED PARTS TO REPLACE ITS CURRENT STOCK OF BAD PARTS. SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET HURT, IF CHEVY IS NOT FORCED TO TAKE ACTION. *TR
FEELS LIKE AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. RATTLING FRONT END NOISE FOR A FEW MONTHS AND WITH MY 60K MI CHECK UP IT'S DISCOVERED THAT I NEED 2 LOWER CONTROL ARMS (THE BUSHINGS ARE GONE) AND NEED TO REPLACE THE FRONT STRUTS AND REAR SHOCKS AS THEY ARE LEAKING. I HAVE ALWAYS OWNED A CHEVROLET AND FIND THIS APPALLING. MY COBALT IS ONLY 3 YRS OLD AND NEEDS TO REPLACE MAJOR EQUIPMENT. I HAD AN OLD CHEVY AND NEVER HAD TO SEE A REPLACEMENT LIKE THIS UNTIL I HAD OVER 100K MI ON THE VEHICLE. I CANNOT FIND ANY RECALLS ON THESE PARTS, BUT SEE MANY COMPLAINTS. EVEN THE DEALERSHIP THOUGHT I SHOULD GET RID OF THE CAR??????? GIVEN THE CURRENT TIMES, WHO COULD AFFORD THAT. SO NOW I AM LOOKING AT AN ESTIMATE OF $1821.40 TO FIX THIS. WHEN IS GM GOING TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND ACKNOWLEDGE THIS PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. *TR
LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHING NEED TO BE REPLACED AT 28,000 MILES AT A COST OF $250. VEHICLE IS JUST 4 MONTHS OUT OF WARRANTY. SAME PROBLEM WITH FRIEND'S COBALT AS WELL. *TR
THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING WILL OCCASIONALLY SHUT OFF DURING DRIVING. THE CAR MUST BE SHUT OFF THEN TURNED BACK ON TO RESTART THIS. THIS IS A REPEATING OCCURRENCE SOMETIMES HAPPENING MORE THAN 10 TIMES A DAY. THE ONLY FIX RIGHT NOW IS REPLACING THE STEERING COLUMN. *TR
DESCRIPTION OF INCIDENT IS THE FRONT LEFT LAMP ASSEMBLY OF MY 2005 CHEVY COBOLT IS THAT IS HAS CONDENSATION IN IT AND GM WILL NOT FIX IT FREE. IT'S A DEFECT IN THE PARTS AND THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL BULLETIN NO 01-08-42-001E HAS BEEN WRITTEN UP. *TR
POWER STEERING LIGHT WARNING LIGHT COMES ON CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON, SECURITY ANTI THEFT LIGHT COMES ON ALL GAUGES FAIL, SPEED, GAS,TACK THE CAR WILL RUN ROUGH AND STALL CAR WILL NOT SHIFT MULTIPLE COMPUTER ERROR CODES DEALER REPLACED A COMPUTER COMPONENT DIDN'T FIX PROBLEM. THE CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE WHEN PROBLEMS OCCUR. *TR
ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING ASST. COMPLETE FAILURE POWER STEER RETURNS AFTER KEY CYCLE DATA INDICATOR FLASHER (POWER STEERING) IMMEDIATELY AFTER MANUAL STEERING ALMOST LOCK UP ONLY SMALL CORRECTIONS CAN BE MADE IN STEERING AT THAT TIME THIS IS A LIFE THREATENING PROBLEM!! FOR ME OR SOMEONE ELSE. CAR HOPPED CURB CAUSING SMALL AMOUNT OF DAMAGE TO RIMS DEALER SUGGESTED A REPAIR OF 831.45$ +TAX CAUSED BY DTC CO475 ELEC. STEERING MOTOR CIRCUIT. THEY DID NOT INDICATE WHAT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE IN THE CIRCUIT! *TR
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
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
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
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING. THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND IT BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT FOR THE CONTACT TO STEER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TO THE DEALER. THE VIN AND POWERTRAIN WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 47,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,000.
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. 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.
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NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
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