← New search

2009 Chevrolet Cobalt Ss

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

174 reports with mileage · 16 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 133 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Parking Brake. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

8 crash reports2 fire reports3 injury reports

Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints

133 reports
Clear category filter
15,000 miles · Jun 17, 2010
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

MY VEHICLE IS A 2009 CHEVROLET COBALT SS COUPE PURCHASED NEW IN MARCH OF 2009. AFTER 15,000 MILES (ABOUT A YEAR'S WORTH OF DRIVING), THE REAR BRAKE ROTORS WERE PITTED AND SCORED, AND WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED A METAL-ON-METAL GRINDING NOISE WOULD OCCUR. ALSO, AFTER GETTING WET FROM DRIVING IN THE RAIN, THEN ALLOWING TO VEHI…

Read full complaint

MY VEHICLE IS A 2009 CHEVROLET COBALT SS COUPE PURCHASED NEW IN MARCH OF 2009. AFTER 15,000 MILES (ABOUT A YEAR'S WORTH OF DRIVING), THE REAR BRAKE ROTORS WERE PITTED AND SCORED, AND WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED A METAL-ON-METAL GRINDING NOISE WOULD OCCUR. ALSO, AFTER GETTING WET FROM DRIVING IN THE RAIN, THEN ALLOWING TO VEHICLE TO REST FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME, ENOUGH RUST WOULD BUILD UP ON THE REAR BRAKES THAT A COPIOUS AMOUNT OF THROTTLE WOULD BE NEEDED TO BREAK FREE THE PADS FROM THE ROTORS TO MOVE THE VEHICLE FORWARD. AFTER TAKING THE CAR TO THE SELLING DEALER FOR INSPECTION/REPAIR, I WAS TOLD THIS PART WAS A WEARABLE ITEM AND NOT COVERED UNDER MY MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY. I EXPLAINED THAT MOST ALL OWNERS OF COBALT SS MODELS BETWEEN THE 2008 - 2010 MODEL YEARS WERE EXPERIENCING SIMILAR REAR BRAKE ISSUES, BUT WAS TOLD THAT DID NOT MATTER. THE PARTS WERE NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, AND IF I WOULD LIKE THEM REPAIRED/REPLACED, I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE PARTS AND LABOR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10336743

9,500 miles · Jun 1, 2010
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

PURCHASED CAR BRAND NEW, HAVE APPROX 10K MILES ON IT. REAR BRAKE CALIPERS SEEM TO NOT RELEASE FULLY- CAN BE HEARD GRINDING WHEN REVERSING AND SCREECHING WHEN GENTLY BRAKING WHILE MOVING FORWARD. REAR BRAKE PADS ARE WEARING UNEVENLY SO THAT THE OUTSIDE PAD IS SCORING THE ROTOR AND WEARING MUCH FASTER THAN THE INSIDE. POSSIBLE …

Read full complaint

PURCHASED CAR BRAND NEW, HAVE APPROX 10K MILES ON IT. REAR BRAKE CALIPERS SEEM TO NOT RELEASE FULLY- CAN BE HEARD GRINDING WHEN REVERSING AND SCREECHING WHEN GENTLY BRAKING WHILE MOVING FORWARD. REAR BRAKE PADS ARE WEARING UNEVENLY SO THAT THE OUTSIDE PAD IS SCORING THE ROTOR AND WEARING MUCH FASTER THAN THE INSIDE. POSSIBLE THAT THE SLIDER PINS ON THE CALIPER ARE NOT LUBRICATED? I'VE HAD MY LOCAL CHEVY DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE LOOK AT IT, THEY WROTE IT OFF AS BRAKES BEING A "WEAR&TEAR" ITEM. REAR BRAKES ONLY ACCOUNT FOR 20% OR LESS OF THE FULL BRAKING OF THE VEHICLE. WHY IS IT THAT MY FRONT BRAKES ARE FINE AND MY REARS ALMOST NEED TO BE REPLACED ALREADY? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10334019

11,700 miles · May 24, 2010
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

FRONT & REAR ROTORS SCORED SEVERELY WITH DEEP GROOVES THROUGHOUT. THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 12,000 MILES. BRAKING IS SEVERELY HINDERED DURING WET CONDITIONS AND PERIODICALLY THE BRAKES ARE NOISING MAKING "SCREECHING" SOUNDS AS THOUGH METAL TO METAL IS TOUCHING DURING BRAKING. PROBLEM IS MOST LIKELY DUE TO BRAKE PADS BEING FAR TO …

Read full complaint

FRONT & REAR ROTORS SCORED SEVERELY WITH DEEP GROOVES THROUGHOUT. THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 12,000 MILES. BRAKING IS SEVERELY HINDERED DURING WET CONDITIONS AND PERIODICALLY THE BRAKES ARE NOISING MAKING "SCREECHING" SOUNDS AS THOUGH METAL TO METAL IS TOUCHING DURING BRAKING. PROBLEM IS MOST LIKELY DUE TO BRAKE PADS BEING FAR TO HARD OF A MATERIAL CAUSING EXCESSIVE WEAR ON THE ROTORS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10332003

10,000 miles · May 23, 2010
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

I PURCHASED A NEW 2009 CHEVROLET COBALT SS SEDAN. THE CAR HAS BARELY BROKEN 10K MILES. THE BRAKES ARE WEARING ABNORMALLY FAST. I AM VERY GENTLE WITH THEM ALWAYS, AND THEY ARE VERY WORN ALREADY. PULLING UP TO STOP SIGNS OR TRAFFIC LIGHTS IS RIDICULOUS. THE SCREECHING FROM THE BRAKES IS LOUD. I HAVE NEVER HAD BRAKES GO OUT T…

Read full complaint

I PURCHASED A NEW 2009 CHEVROLET COBALT SS SEDAN. THE CAR HAS BARELY BROKEN 10K MILES. THE BRAKES ARE WEARING ABNORMALLY FAST. I AM VERY GENTLE WITH THEM ALWAYS, AND THEY ARE VERY WORN ALREADY. PULLING UP TO STOP SIGNS OR TRAFFIC LIGHTS IS RIDICULOUS. THE SCREECHING FROM THE BRAKES IS LOUD. I HAVE NEVER HAD BRAKES GO OUT THIS EARLY ON ANY OF MY OTHER VEHICLES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10331817

11,000 miles · May 23, 2010
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

HAD TO REPLACE REAR BRAKES ON 2009 COBALT SS AFTER ~ 12000 MILES. ROTORS HAD TO BE REPLACED. MADE VERY NOTICEABLE SCREECHING AND GRINDING SOUNDS. BRAKE PERFORMANCE HAD DECREASED VERY MUCH EVEN BEFORE THEY WERE REPLACED, DECREASE IN PERFORMANCE OF BRAKES AT ABOUT ~7000-8000 MILES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10331808

4,000 miles · May 9, 2010
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

I HAVE A 2009 COBALT SS THAT I BOUGHT NEW AND BEFORE I HAD THE FIRST OIL CHANGE AT 5000 MILES I WAS HAVING BRAKE SQUEALING THE DEALER LOOKED AT IT AND SAID ITS NORMAL IV HAD IT AT 2 DIFFERENT DEALERS SEVERAL TIMES AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE, I NOW HAVE 26000 MILE AND NO BACK BRAKES ROTORS ARE BADLY SCORN, SOMETHING HAS TOO BE DON…

Read full complaint

I HAVE A 2009 COBALT SS THAT I BOUGHT NEW AND BEFORE I HAD THE FIRST OIL CHANGE AT 5000 MILES I WAS HAVING BRAKE SQUEALING THE DEALER LOOKED AT IT AND SAID ITS NORMAL IV HAD IT AT 2 DIFFERENT DEALERS SEVERAL TIMES AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE, I NOW HAVE 26000 MILE AND NO BACK BRAKES ROTORS ARE BADLY SCORN, SOMETHING HAS TOO BE DONE WITH THIS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10329446

11,500 miles · May 3, 2010
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

BOUGHT MY 09 COBALT SS WITH LESS THAN 1,000 MILES AND MY REAR BRAKES SQUEAL AND GRIND HORRIBLY WITH ONLY 11,500 MILES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10328692

12,000 miles · Apr 27, 2010
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, DOING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, MY 2009 CHEVROLET COBALT SS SHED IT'S INNER LEFT REAR BRAKE PAD, CAUSING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO SINK TO THE FLOOR, WHEN PRESSED, TO NO AVAIL. LUCKILY, NO ACCIDENT RESULTED. UPON INSPECTION, THE LEFT INNER PAD WAS COMPLETELY GONE, WHILE THE LEFT OUTER, AND BOTH RIGHT REAR …

Read full complaint

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, DOING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, MY 2009 CHEVROLET COBALT SS SHED IT'S INNER LEFT REAR BRAKE PAD, CAUSING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO SINK TO THE FLOOR, WHEN PRESSED, TO NO AVAIL. LUCKILY, NO ACCIDENT RESULTED. UPON INSPECTION, THE LEFT INNER PAD WAS COMPLETELY GONE, WHILE THE LEFT OUTER, AND BOTH RIGHT REAR PADS WERE WELL WITHIN NORMAL LIMITS. THE GM DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO FIX THIS PROBLEM, STATING THAT IT WAS "NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR". A MECHANIC AT THE DEALER WHISPERED TO ME THAT IT WAS A FAILURE THAT WAS LIKELY CAUSED BY THE CALIPER NOT RETRACTING PROPERLY, AND, WHILE IT SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, THERE WAS NOTHING HE COULD DO. THIS FAILURE OCCURRED AT ABOUT 12,000 MILES, WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS ONLY 4 MONTHS OLD. THE REAR BRAKE PADS, AS WELL AS, THE LEFT REAR ROTOR HAD TO BE REPLACED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10327663

4,000 miles · Apr 17, 2010
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

I HAVE A 2009 CHEVY COBALT SS. AT APPROX. 4000 MILES THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL CHEVY DEALER DUE TO THE REAR BRAKE ROTORS DEEPLY GROOVED. THE DEALER TURNED THE ROTORS AND REINSTALLED THE BRAKES. AT APPROX. 7000 MILES THE ROTORS ARE STARTING TO GROVE AGAIN. THE DEALER REPLACED THE ROTORS AFTER A LENGTHY CONVERSATION WITH ALOT…

Read full complaint

I HAVE A 2009 CHEVY COBALT SS. AT APPROX. 4000 MILES THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL CHEVY DEALER DUE TO THE REAR BRAKE ROTORS DEEPLY GROOVED. THE DEALER TURNED THE ROTORS AND REINSTALLED THE BRAKES. AT APPROX. 7000 MILES THE ROTORS ARE STARTING TO GROVE AGAIN. THE DEALER REPLACED THE ROTORS AFTER A LENGTHY CONVERSATION WITH ALOT OF RELUCTANCE. THE DEALER STATES AND HAS A BULLETIN FOR GMC THAT NOISE AND SQUEAL ARE TYPICAL WITH A HIGH PERFORMANCE BRAKE SYSTEM. PLEASE NOTE IT'S NOT THE SQUEAL THAT CONCERNS ME IT'S THE DEEP GROOVING OF THE REAR BRAKE ROTORS. ALTHOUGH IT HASN'T TURNED INTO A SAFETY PROBLEM YET IT IS A CONCERN. I HOPE YOU WILL INVESTIGATE THIS PROBLEM BEFORE IT BECOMES ANOTHER TOYOTA AND PEOPLE ARE HURT OR POSSIBLY KILLED BE CAUSE OF PREMATURELY GROOVING AND WEARING OF THE REAR BRAKES ON THIS CAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10326161

21,700 miles · Apr 15, 2010
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

REAR BRAKES ON 2009 COMPLETELY WORN AFTER ONLY 35,000 KM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10325892

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

2

PE20011 · 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.