NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
190 reports41,000 miles · Sep 28, 2011
Electrical System
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET COBALT SS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE SHUT OFF AND THE KEYS WOULD NOT REMOVE FROM THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE ARE NO RECALLS OR WARRANTIES ADDRESSING THIS FAI…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET COBALT SS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE SHUT OFF AND THE KEYS WOULD NOT REMOVE FROM THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE ARE NO RECALLS OR WARRANTIES ADDRESSING THIS FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,000.
NHTSA ODI #10427712
3,800 miles · Sep 26, 2011
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
I BOUGHT A USED 2009 COBALT SS. THE CAR HAD 3200 MILES ON IT. AFTER BRING THE CAR HOME I FOUND SOME PITTING IN THE REAR ROTORS. AFTER DRIVING THE CAR TO 3800 MILES IT HAD GOTTEN BEYOND THE POINT WHERE THE ROTORS COULD BE TURNED. I TOOK IT IN TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THIS IS NORMAL EVERYTHING IS FINE. NOT BEING BORN YESTERDAY I…
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I BOUGHT A USED 2009 COBALT SS. THE CAR HAD 3200 MILES ON IT. AFTER BRING THE CAR HOME I FOUND SOME PITTING IN THE REAR ROTORS. AFTER DRIVING THE CAR TO 3800 MILES IT HAD GOTTEN BEYOND THE POINT WHERE THE ROTORS COULD BE TURNED. I TOOK IT IN TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THIS IS NORMAL EVERYTHING IS FINE. NOT BEING BORN YESTERDAY I KNOW THIS IS NOT THE CASE. AFTER FIGHTING WITH THE DEALER FOR OVER AN HOUR I LEFT MAD AND WITH NO FIX FOR THE PROBLEM. I HAVE SINCE REPLACED THE ROTORS WITH DRILLED AND SLOTTED ROTORS, AND CERAMIC PADS BUT NOW IT SEEM AS IF THE REAR CALIPERS ARE NOT RELEASING ALL THE WAY WHICH IS CAUSING THE CAR TO MAKE RATHER LOUD NOISES WHILE DRIVE. ONCE AGAIN NO HELP FROM THE DEALERSHIP AS THEY CLAIM EVERYTHING IS NORMAL AND EVERYTHING WILL BE FINE. THIS NEEDS TO BE FIXED AS I KNOW OF AT LEAST A DOZEN PEOPLE IN MY AREA WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I FEAR THAT IF THIS IS NOT CORRECTED QUICKLY SOME ONE MAY GET HURT, OR WORSE YET KILLED TO PARTS FAILURE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10427143
25,000 miles · Sep 16, 2011
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
THE REAR BRAKES FAILED ON MY VEHICLE. AFTER TAKING IT TO A MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION THE REAR BRAKE CALIPERS DID NOT HAVE LUBRICATION ON THE SLIDING PINS WHICH RESULTED IN THE ROTORS FAILING AND THE BRAKE PADS BEING DESTROYED. MY REAR BREAKS NO LONGER WORK. AFTER RESEARCHING ONLINE THIS IS A DEFECT ON ALL 2008-2009 CHEVY COBALT…
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THE REAR BRAKES FAILED ON MY VEHICLE. AFTER TAKING IT TO A MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION THE REAR BRAKE CALIPERS DID NOT HAVE LUBRICATION ON THE SLIDING PINS WHICH RESULTED IN THE ROTORS FAILING AND THE BRAKE PADS BEING DESTROYED. MY REAR BREAKS NO LONGER WORK. AFTER RESEARCHING ONLINE THIS IS A DEFECT ON ALL 2008-2009 CHEVY COBALT SS MODELS. *TT
NHTSA ODI #10425755
20,000 miles · Sep 16, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling
THE FRONT INTERCOOLER ON THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED BELOW THE GROUND EFFECTS OF THE FRONT BUMPER. THE INTERCOOLER HAS CRACKED 3 TO 4 TIMES AND IS NOT REPAIRABLE. THIS IS A FLAW ON ALL 2008-2009 CHEVY COBALT SS MODELS. THE RESULT WAS A BROKE DOWN VEHICLE. THE AIR SYSTEM ON THE CAR FAILED. THE DEALERSHIP NEGLECTED TO COVER THIS…
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THE FRONT INTERCOOLER ON THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED BELOW THE GROUND EFFECTS OF THE FRONT BUMPER. THE INTERCOOLER HAS CRACKED 3 TO 4 TIMES AND IS NOT REPAIRABLE. THIS IS A FLAW ON ALL 2008-2009 CHEVY COBALT SS MODELS. THE RESULT WAS A BROKE DOWN VEHICLE. THE AIR SYSTEM ON THE CAR FAILED. THE DEALERSHIP NEGLECTED TO COVER THIS UNDER WARRANTY EVEN THOUGH IT IS A MANUFACTURE DEFECT. *TT
NHTSA ODI #10425752
26,000 miles · Jul 29, 2011
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
I HAVE A 2009 CHEVY COBALT SS AND MY REAR BRAKES HAVE FAILED- AT 15000 I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID ITS STILL WITHIN FACTORY SPEC- AT 26000 MY REAR BRAKES ARE COMPLETELY SHOT AND WORN DOWN TO THE METAL AND I HAD TO REPLACE MY CALIPERS AS THEY WERE STICKING- CURRENTLY IN THE SHOP TO GET FIXED, WILL SEE IF THI…
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I HAVE A 2009 CHEVY COBALT SS AND MY REAR BRAKES HAVE FAILED- AT 15000 I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID ITS STILL WITHIN FACTORY SPEC- AT 26000 MY REAR BRAKES ARE COMPLETELY SHOT AND WORN DOWN TO THE METAL AND I HAD TO REPLACE MY CALIPERS AS THEY WERE STICKING- CURRENTLY IN THE SHOP TO GET FIXED, WILL SEE IF THIS HAPPENS AGAIN. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10416297
Mileage 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
21,000 miles · Jun 9, 2011
Parking Brake
I BROUGHT MY 2009 COBALT SS INTO THE DEALER FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, 20K MILEAGE CHECK. IT HAS A 5-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION. THEY INFORMED ME THAT MY REAR ROTORS WERE SCORED BADLY POSSIBLY FROM THE EMERGENCY BRAKE BEING ON WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALER INFORMED ME THE SURFACE WAS TOO FAR GONE TO TURN THEM. I'M THE ONLY PERSON THAT …
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I BROUGHT MY 2009 COBALT SS INTO THE DEALER FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, 20K MILEAGE CHECK. IT HAS A 5-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION. THEY INFORMED ME THAT MY REAR ROTORS WERE SCORED BADLY POSSIBLY FROM THE EMERGENCY BRAKE BEING ON WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALER INFORMED ME THE SURFACE WAS TOO FAR GONE TO TURN THEM. I'M THE ONLY PERSON THAT DRIVES THE CAR AND I KNOW I DON'T DRIVE WITH THE E-BRAKE ON, NOT EVEN ONCE. HOWEVER, I DO PULL THE E-BRAKE WHEN I PARK MY CAR WITH THE TRANS IN GEAR. LET ME SAY ALSO I DO NOT DRIVE THE CAR HARD LIKE RACING OR DRIFTING. I DID PULL THE TIRE AND ROTOR FROM THE LEFT REAR TO FIND THAT THE INNER ROTOR SURFACE WAS INDEED SCORED BADLY WITHIN 3/4-INCH OF THE OUTER ROTOR DIAMETER. THE OUTER ROTOR SURFACE WAS CLEAN AND SMOOTH. THE OUTER BRAKE PAD LOOKED LIKE IT HAD 2X THE MATERIAL LEFT VERSUS THE INNER PAD. I DID NOT PULL THE RIGHT SIDE ROTOR YET. (MY NEW BRAKE ROTOR ORDER GOT FOULED UP. STILL WAITING.) LIKE MANY OF THE OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE COMPLAINED, MY CAR HAS SLIGHTLY OVER 21K MILES ON IT SO WHY SHOULD IT NEED REAR BRAKES SO QUICKLY? MOST OF THE WEAR SHOULD BE ON THE FRONT BRAKES DUE TO WEIGHT AND MOMENTUM DURING BRAKING. SOMETHING DOESN'T ADD UP. WILL IT HAPPEN AGAIN WITH THE NEW ROTORS? *TR
NHTSA ODI #10405788
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
23,254 miles · Apr 26, 2011
Parking Brake
REAR BRAKES WEAR DOWN TO QUICKLY.. I HAVE HAD ONLY 20,000 KM ON IT AND ONE DAY I WAS GOING TO BRING MY KID INTO DAY CARE WITH IT.. PUT ON THE ON HAND BRAKE.. AND THEN MY CAR STARTED TO ROLL BACK WITH MY KID IN IT... ALMOST BRAND NEW CAR.. WHO WOULD OF THOUGHT MY BRAKES WOULD HAVE BEEN ALREADY WORN OUT.. MY KID ALMOST GOTTEN TO A…
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REAR BRAKES WEAR DOWN TO QUICKLY.. I HAVE HAD ONLY 20,000 KM ON IT AND ONE DAY I WAS GOING TO BRING MY KID INTO DAY CARE WITH IT.. PUT ON THE ON HAND BRAKE.. AND THEN MY CAR STARTED TO ROLL BACK WITH MY KID IN IT... ALMOST BRAND NEW CAR.. WHO WOULD OF THOUGHT MY BRAKES WOULD HAVE BEEN ALREADY WORN OUT.. MY KID ALMOST GOTTEN TO AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THIS... NOW AN OTHER THING.. WE HAVE TO PAY NEW PADS EVERY 20,000 KM? THAT IS JUST INSANE.. AGAIN.. I SEE REPETITIVE POST ON HERE WITH COMMENTS THEY HAVE THE INSIDE PAD WORN OUT TO THE METAL AND THE OUTSIDE ONE TO 70%.. I HAVE NEVER CHANGED THE FRONT ONES ONCE YET.. AND THEY ARE STILL AT 65%.. NOW WHERE IS THE LOGIC IN ALL THIS??? FRONT ONES SHOULD BE MORE BADLY HURT THEN THAT.. ALSO THE BACK BRAKES EATS MY ROTORS LIKE CRAZY TOO.. GUESS WHAT MORE MONEY... ARRRGGG.. THIS IS REALLY A SAFETY ISSUE AND I THINK A RECALL SHOULD BE MADE ON THIS.. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10397466
15,000 miles · Mar 23, 2011
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
REAR BRAKES AND ROTORS BAD , SEVERE GROVES IN ROTORS . *TR
NHTSA ODI #10392567
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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