NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints
133 reportsClear category filterMileage unknown · Jul 13, 2011
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
THE COBALT BRAKES HAVE ALWAYS MADE A SCREECHING SOUND, WHICH GM HAS ADDRESSED AS BEING NORMAL. CHEVROLET #08-05-22-004: INFORMATION ON BRAKE SQUEAL/SQUEAK NOISE - (JUL 15, 2008)] HOWEVER, I HAD TO PREMATURELY REPLACE THE REAR BRAKES AND HAVE THE ROTORS CUT AFTER ONLY 27,039 MILES, WHILE THE FRONT BRAKES STILL HAD 50% LIFE LEFT…
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THE COBALT BRAKES HAVE ALWAYS MADE A SCREECHING SOUND, WHICH GM HAS ADDRESSED AS BEING NORMAL. CHEVROLET #08-05-22-004: INFORMATION ON BRAKE SQUEAL/SQUEAK NOISE - (JUL 15, 2008)] HOWEVER, I HAD TO PREMATURELY REPLACE THE REAR BRAKES AND HAVE THE ROTORS CUT AFTER ONLY 27,039 MILES, WHILE THE FRONT BRAKES STILL HAD 50% LIFE LEFT. THIS IS NOT A NORMAL OCCURRENCE, SINCE THE FRONT BRAKES SHOULD HAVE WORN OUT BEFORE THE REAR ONES. WHILE I WAS ABLE TO GET 27,039 MILES OF WEAR, THE FACT THAT THERE IS DEFINITELY A DEFECT IN THE SYSTEM MEANS THERE IS NO GUARANTEE THAT THE CONDITION WILL NOT WORSEN IN TIME. THERE IS ALSO THE CHANCE THAT THE SYSTEM COULD FAIL COMPLETELY CAUSING A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. FINALLY, THE SCREECHING SOUND IS GETTING WORSE. THIS SOUND, ALONG WITH THE BRAKE WEAR, WILL VIRTUALLY REDUCE THE VALUE OF THE CAR CONSIDERABLY, MAKING IT NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO TRADE OR SELL, UNLESS GM CORRECTS THIS ISSUE.
NHTSA ODI #10412820
20,000 miles · Apr 28, 2011
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
MY CAR HAS GROOVES BECAUSE OF SUB PAR BRAKE PADS IN REAR AND MY ROTORS WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED DUE TO CHEAP PADS CHEWING DEEP GROOVES ON A 09 COBALT SS WITH 20K. FRONTS HAVE CERAMIC PADS SO NO WEAR AT ALL. MECHANIC SAID THEY USED EXPENSIVE CERAMIC UP FRONT AND CHEAP SEMI METALLIC IN BACK AND NOW THE ONLY FIX IS NEW CERAMIC PADS…
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MY CAR HAS GROOVES BECAUSE OF SUB PAR BRAKE PADS IN REAR AND MY ROTORS WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED DUE TO CHEAP PADS CHEWING DEEP GROOVES ON A 09 COBALT SS WITH 20K. FRONTS HAVE CERAMIC PADS SO NO WEAR AT ALL. MECHANIC SAID THEY USED EXPENSIVE CERAMIC UP FRONT AND CHEAP SEMI METALLIC IN BACK AND NOW THE ONLY FIX IS NEW CERAMIC PADS BUT THE ROTORS ARE TO FAR GONE TO BE RESURFACED. CHEAP GM FACTORY FLAW WHICH SHOULD REQUIRE A RECALL TO REPLACE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10398079
15,000 miles · Mar 23, 2011
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
REAR BRAKES AND ROTORS BAD , SEVERE GROVES IN ROTORS . *TR
NHTSA ODI #10392567
11,000 miles · Feb 14, 2011
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
BRAKES STARTED SQUEALING A FEW MONTHS AFTER BUYING THE CAR BRAND NEW. NOW, ABOUT 1.5 YEARS LATER, THEY ARE GRINDING AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT AND THEIR PERFORMANCE HAS EXTREMELY DECREASED. I FEAR I WILL HAVE TO CHANGE ENTIRE ROTORS AND PADS TO FIX THIS PROBLEM OUT OF MY OWN POCKET WITHIN THE NEXT MONTH ON GOOD AFTERMARKET PARTS SINC…
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BRAKES STARTED SQUEALING A FEW MONTHS AFTER BUYING THE CAR BRAND NEW. NOW, ABOUT 1.5 YEARS LATER, THEY ARE GRINDING AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT AND THEIR PERFORMANCE HAS EXTREMELY DECREASED. I FEAR I WILL HAVE TO CHANGE ENTIRE ROTORS AND PADS TO FIX THIS PROBLEM OUT OF MY OWN POCKET WITHIN THE NEXT MONTH ON GOOD AFTERMARKET PARTS SINCE THE FACTORY CAN'T PRODUCE GOOD QUALITY OEM PARTS AND GENERAL MOTORS DOESN'T GIVE A FLYING ****. I INFORMED MY LOCAL DEALER OF THE PROBLEM AND THEY SHRUGGED ME OFF, BUT ONLY AFTER WANTING TO CHARGE ME $60 TO JUST LOOK AT THEM. I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY FOR THEM TO INSPECT BRAKES THAT ARE FAULTY IN UNDER 2 YEARS, AND 20,000 MILES; AND I ALSO HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT I PAID FOR. APPARENTLY, IT'S JUST MAINLY THE REAR BRAKES THAT ARE THE ISSUE WITH THESE CARS, BUT EVERY OWNER I KNOW, WHO HASN'T ALREADY REPLACED THE BRAKES WITH AFTERMARKET PERFORMANCE PARTS, HAVE THE EXACT SAME ISSUE, AND IN SOME CASES, MUCH WORSE. IF THE BRAKES FAIL WITHIN THE NEXT MONTH OR TWO AND AN ACCIDENT HAPPENS(QUITE POSSIBLE SINCE RUST IS APPEARING ON ONE OF MY REAR RIMS DUE TO THE ROTORS BEING SCOURED SO EXCESSIVELY, I FEAR ONE OF THEM MAY LET GO AND SNAP COMPLETELY OFF)BEFORE EITHER A RECALL, OR I PUT AFTERMARKET PRODUCTS ON, GM WILL BE FACING A LAWSUIT BY YOURS TRULY; ESPECIALLY IF SERIOUS INJURY OCCURS.
NHTSA ODI #10383630
Mileage unknown · Feb 5, 2011
Service Brakes, HydraulicCrashFire
REAR BRAKES ON MY 2009 CHEVY COBALT SS ARE [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
NHTSA ODI #10380858
3,500 miles · Feb 1, 2011
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET COBALT SS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN TRYING TO DECELERATE HE NOTICED THAT THE BRAKES WOULD MAKE A LOUD SCRAPING NOISE. HE THEN INSPECTED HIS VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE REAR ROTORS WERE MAKING THE NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 3500.
NHTSA ODI #10379843
16,000 miles · Jan 31, 2011
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
FULL REAR BRAKE REPLACEMENT AT 17K. WARRANTY ONLY COVERED CALIPER REPLACEMENT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10379765
29,170 miles · Dec 18, 2010
Parking BrakeService Brakes, Hydraulic
I LAST CHECKED MY BRAKES WHEN I TOOK OFF MY SNOW TIRES IN MARCH WITH 18,000 MILES ON MY CAR. EVERYTHING LOOKED FINE, FRONT AND REAR PADS LOOKED ALMOST NEW WITH PLENTY OF MEAT ON THEM. IN JULY, I NOTICED THAT THE REAR BRAKES WERE STARTING TO GROOVE, SO I MENTIONED THIS TO THE DEALER WHEN I WENT IN FOR A RECALL AND THEY RESURFAC…
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I LAST CHECKED MY BRAKES WHEN I TOOK OFF MY SNOW TIRES IN MARCH WITH 18,000 MILES ON MY CAR. EVERYTHING LOOKED FINE, FRONT AND REAR PADS LOOKED ALMOST NEW WITH PLENTY OF MEAT ON THEM. IN JULY, I NOTICED THAT THE REAR BRAKES WERE STARTING TO GROOVE, SO I MENTIONED THIS TO THE DEALER WHEN I WENT IN FOR A RECALL AND THEY RESURFACED THEM FOR ME (22,885 MILES). I ASKED ABOUT THE PADS AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY HAD LOOKED AT THEM AND THEY WERE FINE AND EVERYTHING LOOKED NORMAL. IN OCTOBER, I NOTICED THE GROOVING COMING BACK. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER, AND THEY CHARGED ME TO REPLACE THE REAR DISKS AND PADS AT 29,170 MILES (THEY DID THROW IN THE ROTORS FOR FREE DUE TO THE ABNORMAL WEAR). AFTER THE SERVICE, THEY GAVE ME THE OLD REAR PADS AS PER MY REQUEST. UPON RECEIVING THEM, I COULDN'T HELP BUT NOTICE THAT THE INNER REAR PAD, WHICH HAD BEEN WEARING IDENTICALLY TO THE OUTER REAR PADS WHEN I CHECKED AT 18,000 MILES, WERE WORN ALMOST TO THE BACKING PLATE! THE OUTER PADS STILL HAD 1/4" MATERIAL LEFT, SO IT SEEMED CLEAR THAT SOMETHING WAS NOT RIGHT. THE DEALER COULD FIND NO REASON FOR THIS WEAR AND STATED THAT EVERYTHING WAS NORMAL BESIDES THE BRAKE WEAR. IT SEEMS INCREDIBLE THAT A FRONT-HEAVY, FRONT-DRIVE CAR WOULD WEAR THROUGH ITS INNER REAR BRAKE PADS WHILE ITS FRONT PADS (WHICH DO MOST OF THE BRAKING) AND OUTER REAR PADS STILL HAVE PLENTY OF LIFE LEFT WITHOUT THERE BEING SOME KIND OF PROBLEM. I STILL HAVE THE PADS AND ALSO HAVE PICTURES. I AM CONCERNED THAT IF THESE PADS WEAR DOWN SO QUICKLY, I COULD BE PUT IN A SITUATION WHERE I UNEXPECTEDLY HAVE NO E-BRAKE AND COMPROMISED BRAKING ABILITY DESPITE FREQUENT INSPECTIONS. I AM ALSO CONCERNED THAT GM IS MORE INTERESTED IN SELLING ME PARTS THAN IN DIAGNOSING AND CORRECTING THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM. I HAVE HEARD FROM THE BOTH CHEVY DEALERS AND OTHER OWNERS THAT THIS IS A SOMEWHAT COMMON PROBLEM WITH MY CAR, AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT RESOLVED. THANK YOU. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10371150
15,000 miles · Dec 18, 2010
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
REAR BRAKES ON A 2009 COBALT SS TURBO SCORE AND GRIND WITHIN 10,000 MILES. YOU HAVE TO PUT AFTER MARKET BRAKES ON THE CAR. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10371149
38,257 miles · Dec 2, 2010
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
I PURCHASED MY 2009 CHEVY COBALT SS/TC IN EARLY JUNE OF 2010. IT WAS A GM CERTIFIED USED CAR. WHEN I INSPECTED THE CAR BEFORE PURCHASING I NOTICED THAT THE BRAKES WERE HEAVILY WORN AND I LET THE SALESMEN KNOW ABOUT IT. HE TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS ALMOST 70% LEFT ON THE PADS AND EVERYTHING CHECKED OUT FINE . SO I DID THE DUMBEST TH…
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I PURCHASED MY 2009 CHEVY COBALT SS/TC IN EARLY JUNE OF 2010. IT WAS A GM CERTIFIED USED CAR. WHEN I INSPECTED THE CAR BEFORE PURCHASING I NOTICED THAT THE BRAKES WERE HEAVILY WORN AND I LET THE SALESMEN KNOW ABOUT IT. HE TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS ALMOST 70% LEFT ON THE PADS AND EVERYTHING CHECKED OUT FINE . SO I DID THE DUMBEST THING I COULD DO AND TOOK HIS WORD FOR IT. AFTER ABOUT 5 MONTHS AND 4000 MILES LATER MY REAR BRAKES START MAKING A SCRAPING NOISE WHILE IN REVERSE AND WHILE LIGHT BRAKING AROUND CORNERS MOSTLY OUT OF THE PASSENGER SIDE.. I TOOK IT IN FOR MAINTENANCE EXPECTING SOME KIND OF MANUFACTURER DEFECT BUT INSTEAD I'M ACCUSED OF BAD DRIVING AND LETTING MY E-BRAKE DRAG. THE ISSUE WAS THAT THE REAR CALIPERS WERE STICKING AND NOT RETRACTING PROPERLY AND THE PISTONS INSIDE WERE BENT CAUSING UNEVEN PAD WEAR. BOTH SIDES MOISTURE BOOTS ON THE PISTONS LOOKED LIKE THEY WERE PINCHED AND BROKEN DURING THE FACTORY INSTALLATION. SO NOW HERE I AM WITH A BILL FOR ALMOST $1000 DOLLARS FOR REAR PADS, ROTORS AND CALIPERS AND ON A CAR THAT IS JUST OVER 2 YEARS OLD WITH ALMOST 2 YEARS ON A FACTORY BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY. I'M SORRY BUT THE CALIPERS TO ME ARE A MECHANICAL DEFECTED PART AND SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10368623
NHTSA investigations
2PE20011 · Fuel Line Leak
Opened Jul 5, 2020 · Closed Aug 17, 2023
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Fuel System, Gasoline; Fuel System, Other:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings; Fuel/propulsion System
On July 5, 2020, the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) opened PE20-011 to investigate instances of metal fuel lines under the vehicle corroding and leaking fuel in model year (MY) 2008 through 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt and 2008 through 2009 Chevrolet HHR passenger cars manufactured by General Motors (GM). The metal fuel lines are corroding and leaking fuel in the area between the front and rear wheels on the driver's side of the vehicle before the muffler. Most consumers allege a fuel odor and/or an observable fuel leak that alerts them to the condition.The subject metal fuel lines have a protective AGE coating and, in the vicinity of the left rear wheel, are further wrapped in a foil heat shield. The AGE coating consists of an annealed zinc aluminum alloy metal coating with extended corrosion protection paint. Under certain conditions, water and corrosive road deicing agents may enter a crevice between the heat shield and the AGE coating. With extended environmental exposure in high corrosive environments, the AGE coating can degrade. If it degrades enough, the base metal lines may begin to corrode beneath the heat shield.Corrosion to the fuel lines may eventually cause a perforation to develop in the line, allowing fuel vapors to escape from between the line and the heat shield, emitting a fuel odor that will be detectable to the vehicle operator. If the corrosion progresses, fuel may begin to weep from the line. Further metal degradation due to corrosion could create a drip or a mist of fuel. If this occurs, vehicle owners may see drips, spots, or puddles on the ground near the rear portion of the vehicle, primarily along the driver's side rear wheel.The majority of allegations (85%) were reported for vehicles that are operated in the salt belt region of the United States. This area includes states in the Northeast, mid-Atlantic, and Midwest regions. Additionally, the average failure mileage in the subject vehicles is approximately 111,000 across all data sources.Considering the low manufacturer complaint/warranty rates of fuel line replacement, the fact that the majority of failures are concentrated in salt belt states, high failure mileages, as well as the field exposure time for the subject vehicles, and the highly detectable and progressive nature of this failure over time, the potential safety consequences of this issue are very low. To date, there have been no reported crashes, injuries, or fatalities related to this issue. There are two reported fires in ODI data and no reported fires in GM data. Both ODI reported fires were minor, occurred after the vehicle was parked, and were extinguished utilizing fire extinguishers.In view of the progressive failure occurring at high mileages, the age of the subject vehicles, the high detectability of the leak, and the majority of failures occurred in salt belt states, this Preliminary Evaluation is closed. The agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by new circumstances.Review the ODI reports cited above at nhtsa.gov under the attached identification numbers.
Additional source detail variants (3)
Fuel/propulsion System
On July 5, 2020, the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) opened PE20-011 to investigate instances of metal fuel lines under the vehicle corroding and leaking fuel in model year (MY) 2008 through 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt and 2008 through 2009 Chevrolet HHR passenger cars manufactured by General Motors (GM). The metal fuel lines are corroding and leaking fuel in the area between the front and rear wheels on the driver's side of the vehicle before the muffler. Most consumers allege a fuel odor and/or an observable fuel leak that alerts them to the condition.The subject metal fuel lines have a protective AGE coating and, in the vicinity of the left rear wheel, are further wrapped in a foil heat shield. The AGE coating consists of an annealed zinc aluminum alloy metal coating with extended corrosion protection paint. Under certain conditions, water and corrosive road deicing agents may enter a crevice between the heat shield and the AGE coating. With extended environmental exposure in high corrosive environments, the AGE coating can degrade. If it degrades enough, the base metal lines may begin to corrode beneath the heat shield.Corrosion to the fuel lines may eventually cause a perforation to develop in the line, allowing fuel vapors to escape from between the line and the heat shield, emitting a fuel odor that will be detectable to the vehicle operator. If the corrosion progresses, fuel may begin to weep from the line. Further metal degradation due to corrosion could create a drip or a mist of fuel. If this occurs, vehicle owners may see drips, spots, or puddles on the ground near the rear portion of the vehicle, primarily along the driver's side rear wheel.The majority of allegations (85%) were reported for vehicles that are operated in the salt belt region of the United States. This area includes states in the Northeast, mid-Atlantic, and Midwest regions. Additionally, the average failure mileage in the subject vehicles is approximately 111,000 across all data sources.Considering the low manufacturer complaint/warranty rates of fuel line replacement, the fact that the majority of failures are concentrated in salt belt states, high failure mileages, as well as the field exposure time for the subject vehicles, and the highly detectable and progressive nature of this failure over time, the potential safety consequences of this issue are very low. To date, there have been no reported crashes, injuries, or fatalities related to this issue. There are two reported fires in ODI data and no reported fires in GM data. Both ODI reported fires were minor, occurred after the vehicle was parked, and were extinguished utilizing fire extinguishers.In view of the progressive failure occurring at high mileages, the age of the subject vehicles, the high detectability of the leak, and the majority of failures occurred in salt belt states, this Preliminary Evaluation is closed. The agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by new circumstances.Review the ODI reports cited above at nhtsa.gov under the attached identification numbers.
Fuel System, Gasoline
On July 5, 2020, the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) opened PE20-011 to investigate instances of metal fuel lines under the vehicle corroding and leaking fuel in model year (MY) 2008 through 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt and 2008 through 2009 Chevrolet HHR passenger cars manufactured by General Motors (GM). The metal fuel lines are corroding and leaking fuel in the area between the front and rear wheels on the driver's side of the vehicle before the muffler. Most consumers allege a fuel odor and/or an observable fuel leak that alerts them to the condition.The subject metal fuel lines have a protective AGE coating and, in the vicinity of the left rear wheel, are further wrapped in a foil heat shield. The AGE coating consists of an annealed zinc aluminum alloy metal coating with extended corrosion protection paint. Under certain conditions, water and corrosive road deicing agents may enter a crevice between the heat shield and the AGE coating. With extended environmental exposure in high corrosive environments, the AGE coating can degrade. If it degrades enough, the base metal lines may begin to corrode beneath the heat shield.Corrosion to the fuel lines may eventually cause a perforation to develop in the line, allowing fuel vapors to escape from between the line and the heat shield, emitting a fuel odor that will be detectable to the vehicle operator. If the corrosion progresses, fuel may begin to weep from the line. Further metal degradation due to corrosion could create a drip or a mist of fuel. If this occurs, vehicle owners may see drips, spots, or puddles on the ground near the rear portion of the vehicle, primarily along the driver's side rear wheel.The majority of allegations (85%) were reported for vehicles that are operated in the salt belt region of the United States. This area includes states in the Northeast, mid-Atlantic, and Midwest regions. Additionally, the average failure mileage in the subject vehicles is approximately 111,000 across all data sources.Considering the low manufacturer complaint/warranty rates of fuel line replacement, the fact that the majority of failures are concentrated in salt belt states, high failure mileages, as well as the field exposure time for the subject vehicles, and the highly detectable and progressive nature of this failure over time, the potential safety consequences of this issue are very low. To date, there have been no reported crashes, injuries, or fatalities related to this issue. There are two reported fires in ODI data and no reported fires in GM data. Both ODI reported fires were minor, occurred after the vehicle was parked, and were extinguished utilizing fire extinguishers.In view of the progressive failure occurring at high mileages, the age of the subject vehicles, the high detectability of the leak, and the majority of failures occurred in salt belt states, this Preliminary Evaluation is closed. The agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by new circumstances.Review the ODI reports cited above at nhtsa.gov under the attached identification numbers.
Fuel System, Other:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
On July 5, 2020, the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) opened PE20-011 to investigate instances of metal fuel lines under the vehicle corroding and leaking fuel in model year (MY) 2008 through 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt and 2008 through 2009 Chevrolet HHR passenger cars manufactured by General Motors (GM). The metal fuel lines are corroding and leaking fuel in the area between the front and rear wheels on the driver's side of the vehicle before the muffler. Most consumers allege a fuel odor and/or an observable fuel leak that alerts them to the condition.The subject metal fuel lines have a protective AGE coating and, in the vicinity of the left rear wheel, are further wrapped in a foil heat shield. The AGE coating consists of an annealed zinc aluminum alloy metal coating with extended corrosion protection paint. Under certain conditions, water and corrosive road deicing agents may enter a crevice between the heat shield and the AGE coating. With extended environmental exposure in high corrosive environments, the AGE coating can degrade. If it degrades enough, the base metal lines may begin to corrode beneath the heat shield.Corrosion to the fuel lines may eventually cause a perforation to develop in the line, allowing fuel vapors to escape from between the line and the heat shield, emitting a fuel odor that will be detectable to the vehicle operator. If the corrosion progresses, fuel may begin to weep from the line. Further metal degradation due to corrosion could create a drip or a mist of fuel. If this occurs, vehicle owners may see drips, spots, or puddles on the ground near the rear portion of the vehicle, primarily along the driver's side rear wheel.The majority of allegations (85%) were reported for vehicles that are operated in the salt belt region of the United States. This area includes states in the Northeast, mid-Atlantic, and Midwest regions. Additionally, the average failure mileage in the subject vehicles is approximately 111,000 across all data sources.Considering the low manufacturer complaint/warranty rates of fuel line replacement, the fact that the majority of failures are concentrated in salt belt states, high failure mileages, as well as the field exposure time for the subject vehicles, and the highly detectable and progressive nature of this failure over time, the potential safety consequences of this issue are very low. To date, there have been no reported crashes, injuries, or fatalities related to this issue. There are two reported fires in ODI data and no reported fires in GM data. Both ODI reported fires were minor, occurred after the vehicle was parked, and were extinguished utilizing fire extinguishers.In view of the progressive failure occurring at high mileages, the age of the subject vehicles, the high detectability of the leak, and the majority of failures occurred in salt belt states, this Preliminary Evaluation is closed. The agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by new circumstances.Review the ODI reports cited above at nhtsa.gov under the attached identification numbers.
PE10005 · Electric Power Steering Failure
Opened Jan 27, 2010 · Closed Jul 19, 2010
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering:electric Power Assist System
In a March 1, 2010 letter, General Motors Corporation (GM) provided a defect information report to NHTSA regarding a problem that could result in sudden loss of power steering assist in certain model year (MY) 2005 through 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt and MY 2007 through 2010 Pontiac G5 vehicles equipped with electric power steering (EPS).The letter indicates that the loss of steering assist could occur at any time while driving and that, once assist is lost, a message is displayed on the Driver Information Center (DIC) and a chime sounds to inform the driver.The letter further states that steering control is maintained in manual mode, but would require greater driver effort at low vehicle speeds.In the next ignition cycle, power assist is typically regained and the DIC message is no longer displayed.GM's letter identifies the root cause of the EPS failure as the EPS motor and indicates that production of a new motor started in December 2009.GM's recall repair procedure instructs dealers to replace the EPS motor in all recalled vehicles. ODI's analysis of all information available related to sudden loss of EPS assist while driving in the MY 2005 through 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt vehicles shows current complaint and warranty rates of 323/100,000 vehicles and 0.4% respectively.In response to ODI's request for information, GM identified 81 complaints where a crash was claimed that may be related to loss of EPS assist.ODI's analysis of all crash claims was based on verifiable factors such as; whether a loss of EPS was indicated at the time of the crash by a chime or malfunction indicator lamp or if a EPS related component malfunction was identified after the crash occurred.With this method ODI identified 36 possible crashes related to EPS failure.GM assessed crash claims based on the available facts and excluded crash claims that indicated that the vehicle was travelling at speeds in the range of 30 mph or greater.GM said that it believes if power assist is lost while a vehicle is moving at speeds in the range of 30 mph or greater there is a small difference in steering efforts perceived in subjective evaluations at those speeds and it is unlikely to lead to loss of vehicle control. Based on GM's safety recall, this investigation is closed.
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