Steering. Review the 1,143 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 323 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Power Train. Review the 99 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

97 crash reports12 fire reports57 injury reports

Equipment complaints

34 reports

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40,000 miles · Apr 17, 2011

EquipmentSteering

POWER STEERING ASSEMBLY WAS "REPLACED" UNDER THE RECALL, BUT STILL CONTINUALLY GOES OUT OFF AND ON. VERY UNSAFE!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10396590

73,900 miles · Feb 14, 2011

EquipmentSteering

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POWER STEERING LIGHT COMES ON, POWER STEERING GOES OUT, ALL DISPLAY LIGHTS BEGIN GOING OFF AND ON, SPEEDOMETER NEEDLES GO CRAZY, CLICKING NOISE IN DASH, CAR SPUTTERS WHEN STOPPING AND JERKS REAL HARD WHEN BEGINNING TO RESUME DRIVING AFTER STOPPING. ALL OF THESE THINGS HAPPEN AT THE SAME TIME, NOT ALWAYS JUST OFF AND ON, NEVER KNOW WHEN ITS GOING TO HAPPEN. HAD RECALL ON POWER STEERING ASSIST MOTOR, HAD THAT REPLACED AT 70,558 MILES, STARTING HAVING SAME PROBLEMS AGAIN. HAD STEERING COLUMN, SHAFT AND LINK REPLACED AT 73,117 MILES. CAR SEEMED OK FOR ABOUT A MONTH AND THEN AGAIN AT 73,900 MILES SAME PROBLEMS ARE HAPPENING AGAIN. CONTACTED GM, WAS TOLD THE RECALL WAS DONE SO ANYTHING ELSE THAT HAPPENS NOW IS MY RESPONSIBILITY. HAVE SEEN 100'S OF OTHER COMMENTS FROM COBALT OWNERS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE AND GM. THERE IS OBVIOUSLY MORE OF A PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES THAN JUST THE POWER STEERING ASSIST MOTOR. SOMETHING MORE SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO AND DONE WITH THIS ISSUE. IT IS AND OR CAN BE A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM WHEN OCCURRING (STEERING GOING OUT AT ANYTIME) LIKE I'VE SEEN ON MANY COMMENTS FROM OTHERS, DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO DIE BEFORE SOMETHING IS DONE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM? GM STATES THAT THIS VEHICLE HAS A 5 STAR SAFETY RATING BUT YET THEY DON'T WANT TO FIX A PROBLEM AS SERIOUS AS THIS. I LIKE MANY OTHERS CAN'T AFFORD TO KEEP FIXING THIS PROBLEM JUST TO KEEP HAVING IT RE-OCCUR. I HAD TO PAY OUT $950 A MONTH AGO AND LIKE I SAID BEFORE AM NOW HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS. I HAD TO BORROW MONEY TO HAVE THE FIRST REPAIRS DONE AND HAVE NO WAY TO HAVE IT DONE THIS TIME (CAN'T AFFORD IT) SO NOW AGAIN LIKE I'VE SEEN MANY OTHERS COMMENT I HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO DRIVE AROUND IN A VEHICLE THAT'S STEERING COULD AND WILL GO OUT AT ANYTIME. IF THERE IS ANYTHING I CAN DO TO FIND OUT OR HAVE DONE TO FIX THIS PROBLEM, PLEASE LET ME KNOW. A VERY CONCERNED AND SCARED DRIVER. THANK YOU! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10382518

93,000 miles · Oct 6, 2010

EquipmentSteering

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CHEVY TODAY SAID THAT THEIR IS NOTHING WRONG WITH MY PWR STEERING YET BOTH MYSELF AND MY BROTHER TEST DROVE IT. NOW IN AUG I HAD THE RECALL AND THEY FIXED IT SO THEY CLAIMED IN AUG BUT YET IT IS DOING THE SAME THING ONLY WORSE THIS PAST WK. AMAZING HOW CHEVY WILL TRY TO USE THE EXCUSE THAT IT IS SOMETHING ELSE OTHER THEN THE PWR STEERING WHEN THE INSTRUMENT LIGHT CHIMING PWR STEERING WAS A [XXX] GOOD INDICATION THAT IT WAS THE STEERING. NOT TO MENTION I COULD NOT TURN MY STEERING WHEEL AND WHEN I TRY TO ACCELERATE THE CAR WOULD JOLT LIKE IT WAS NOT GOING INTO GEAR. LET ME NOT FORGET TO MENTION THE CLICKING NOISE I GET UNDERNEATH THE DASH NEAR THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE CLICKING IN THE SHIFTER. SAME PROBLEM NEW DAY AND THEY TELL ME IT'S FINE. I GUESS I HAVE TO KILL SOMEONE ON THE RD FOR THEM TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE CAR. YOU GUYS NEED TO STEP IN BECAUSE I AM 2 STEPS AWAY FROM CALLING A LAWYER AND SUING EVERYONE THAT IS INVOLVED WITH KNOWING AND NOT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I SURELY DO NOT FEEL LIKE BEING SCRAPED OFF THE DARN HWY OR THE GUILT OF KILLING SOMEONE OVER SOMETHING THAT YOU GUYS SHOULD HAVE TAKEN CARE OF BACK IN 2005 WHEN ALL THIS STARTED HAPPENING. WE NEED TO RECALL ALL CARS FROM 05 TO 09 AND GET THEM OFF THE STREET AND HAVE CHEVY REIMBURSE US OR GIVE US A SAFER CAR. I KNOW IT MAY SEEM LIKE A LOT OF MONEY BUT 1 LIFE BEING SAVED MAKES A DIFFERENCE. I KNOW CAR DEALERS HAVE WHAT THEY CALL A BEAN COUNTER AND THEY DON'T CARE IF 1 OR A 12 PEOPLE DIE FROM FAULTY EQUIPMENT AND YOU GUYS CAN LIVE WITH THAT. BUT TO ME THAT IS HORRIBLE AND NEEDS TO BE STOPPED IMMEDIATELY....NOW MEANS NOW!!!!!!!!! THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME NOT SO HAPPY WITH HOW YOU GUYS MANAGE SAFETY AND THE RESPONSE TIME. IGNORE THE PARTS SECTION OR EQUIPMENT SECTION BECAUSE I DID NOT KNOW THE MANUFACTURER OF THE PWR MOTOR REPLACED. I TRULY DO NOT FEEL THEY EVEN REPLACED IT. I THINK AMERICA HAS BEEN HAD ONCE AGAIN BY THE CAR INDUSTRY. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10359439

Mileage unknown · Sep 17, 2010

EquipmentSteeringCrashInjury

I OWN A 2005 CHEVY COLBALT LS THAT I PURCHASED TWO MONTHS AGO. THERE WAS A RECALL #20110023. I TOOK IT TO A CHEVY DEALER AND THEY "FIXED" THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING MOTOR. ABOUT A MONTH LATER, I WAS DRIVING ON BEVERLY RD IN PITTSBURGH, 35MPH OR LESS, I TURNED THE WHEEL TO THE RIGHT AND TRIED TO TURN IT BACK TO CENTER BUT IT WOU…

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NHTSA ODI #10356159

47,000 miles · May 3, 2010

EquipmentSteering

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MARCH 26, 2010- 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT STARTED BEEPING. "POWER STEERING" WARNING APPEARED. CAR BECAME HARD TO STEER. CAR SPUTTERED AND STALLED OUT. AFTER TURNING THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON, CAR FUNCTIONED NORMALLY ENOUGH TO BE DRIVEN TO FAIRWAY MOTORS IN HAZLETON. POWER STEERING WAS FOUND TO BE BROKEN AND WAS FIXED UNDER THE RECALL. APRIL 1ST, 2010- CAR STARTED BEEPING. "POWER STEERING" WARNING APPEARED. CAR SPUTTERED AND STALLED OUT AS I PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT. THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN AT ALL, IT WAS STUCK IN PLACE. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO ARMEN CHEVROLET IN ARDMORE. THE POWER STEERING WAS ONCE AGAIN FOUND TO BE FAULTY AND WAS FIXED. APRIL 23RD, 2010- ONCE AGAIN THE CAR STARTED BEEPING. "POWER STEERING" WARNING APPEARED AND THE CAR SPUTTERED AND STALLED OUT ON US 30 IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. TURNED THE CAR OFF AND ON AGAIN AND WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR TO ARMEN CHEVROLET AGAIN. ARMEN CHEVROLET CAN NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. DIAGNOSTICS ARE NEGATIVE, NO RECORD OF THE INCIDENT IN THE CARS MEMORY, 130 MILE TEST SO FAR HAS NOT REPLICATED THE PROBLEM. I CONTACTED THE DISTRICT SPECIALIST FOR CHEVROLET, NICK CHRISTENSEN,WHO CLAIMED TO BE KEEPING IN CONTACT WITH ARMEN CHEVROLET, STATED TO ME TODAY (MONDAY, MAY 3, 2010) THAT THE DEALER HAD DRIVEN MY CAR 240 MILES, DID NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG, AND NICK ADVISED ME TO GO PICK UP MY CAR. THE DEALER INFORMED ME THAT IN FACT, THEY HAVE ONLY DRIVEN THE CAR 130 MILES, FOUND A FAULTY SHIFTER (WHICH IS NOT RELATED TO THE CAR STALLING OUT, BUT STILL NEEDS TO BE FIXED BEFORE I TAKE THE CAR), AND THAT THEY STILL NEED TO CONTINUE DRIVING THE CAR UNTIL THEY REACH 240 MILES. NICK ALSO STATED THAT AFTER THE DEALER HAS DRIVEN THE CAR 240 MILES, IF ARMEN CHEVROLET CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR THAT THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING FURTHER AND THAT I BASICALLY HAVE TO TAKE MY CHANCES WITH THE CAR STALLING OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC AGAIN (FOR THE 4TH TIME) AND I SHOULD HAVE IT TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP AT THAT TIME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10328639

67,101 miles · Mar 24, 2010

EquipmentSteering

POWER STEERING FAILURE

NHTSA ODI #10321766

75,090 miles · Feb 27, 2010

EquipmentLatches/locks/linkagesPower Train

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I AM NOT ABLE TO GET MY KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION OF MY 2005 CHEVY COBALT LS. THIS HAS BEEN A PERSISTENT PROBLEM SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR IN 2006 (WAS A RENTAL). UP UNTIL TODAY (2/27/10) I'VE ALWAYS BEEN ABLE TO GET IT OUT EVENTUALLY. NOW HOWEVER, MY CAR WILL NOT START - IT JUST CLICKS, AND MY SHIFTER WON'T MOVE. THE CAR DOESN'T RECOGNIZE THAT IT'S IN PARK. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH ONLINE, IT APPEARS MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM. THE CONCLUSION IS THAT THERE IS A DEFECT IN THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT CABLE. PLEASE SEE THIS LINK: HTTP://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=GFB6Y7_ZKX0 THIS IS NOT THE ONLY PROBLEM I'VE HAD WITH THIS CAR: POWER STEERING FAILURE AFTER ABOUT 45,000 BAD WHEEL BEARING AFTER ABOUT 50,000 CD PLAYER REPLACED BECAUSE IT WOULDN'T EJECT CDS (THIS IS STILL A PROBLEM EVEN THOUGH THE DEALER REPLACED IT WITH THE SAME MANUFACTURER'S MODEL) FAULTY GLOVE COMPARTMENT. I FEEL THIS MODEL OF CAR IS DANGEROUS AND SHOULD BE RECALLED AFTER ALL THE PROBLEMS PEOPLE ARE EXPERIENCING WITH IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10314827

75,300 miles · Feb 24, 2010

EquipmentSteering

I HAVE A 2005 CHEVORLET COBALT WITH APPROXIMATELY 76,000 MILES. WHILE DRIVING THE MESSAGE DISPLAY ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FLASHES " POWER STEERING" AND THE CAR BECOMES VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. THE STEERING IS EXTREMELY TIGHT. IF I CYCLE POWER THE PROBLEM RESETS BUT RECURS ALMOST IMMEDIATELY. THIS PROBLEM CONTINUES TO HAPPEN EV…

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NHTSA ODI #10313556

80,000 miles · Dec 21, 2009

EquipmentSteering

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PURCHASED A 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT IN AUGUST 2008 BY EARLY SPRING OF 2009 I WAS DRIVING TO WORK WHEN SUDDENLY I HEARD A BEEPING NOISE AND ON THE SCREEN IT SAID POWER STEERING I HAD NO CONTROL OVER THE STEERING I AM A VERY SMALL 100 POUND GIRL AND HAD TO USE ALL MY STRENGTH TO PULL MY CAR OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND CALL FOR HELP. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE CAR TO A GM DEALER WHO THEN TOLD ME THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE COBALT AND THAT IT WOULD COST ME OVER 800 TO FIX AND THAT IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY . I COULD NOT AFFORD TO PAY THEM THAT AMOUNT OF MONEY AFTER JUST PURCHASING THE VEHICLE AND BEING A STUDENT IN SCHOOL . I THEN FOUND A MECHANIC THAT PUT THE PART IN FOR A CHEAPER PRICE BUT STILL ENDED UP COSTING ME 450.00. I WAS RELIEVED TO HAVE THE PROBLEM FIXED WHEN I WAS DRIVING MY CAR TODAY NOT EVEN 6 MONTHS LATER ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN I HEARD THE SAME BEEPING NOISE AND ON MY SCREEN IT CAME UP POWER STEERING!!!!!!!!!!!! THIS TIME I COULD NOT SAFELY PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD I HAD TO KEEP DRIVING TO THE NEAREST EXIT AND MYSELF AND MY GIRLFRIEND USED ALL OF OUR STRENGTH JUST TO TURN THE WHEEL TO GET OFF THE HIGHWAY EXIT...THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND VERY COSTLY I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IN HOPES TO BE ABLE TO DRIVE A FAIR DISTANCE BACK AND FORTH TO SCHOOL WITHOUT HAVING TO WORRY ABOUT SAFETY PROBLEMS SUCH AS THIS. IM AFRAID THIS IS GOING TO CONTINUE T HAPPEN EVERY 6 MONTHS AND ONE OF THESE TIMES IM NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO STOP SAFELY. IF I HADN'T HAD MY FRIEND IN THE CAR I NEVER WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO TURN THE WHEEL IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE FOR A SMALL GIRL MY SIZE . NOW THAT IT IS WINTER IM WORRIED ABOUT THIS HAPPENING IN SNOW AND ICE I WILL HAVE NO CONTROL OVER MY VEHICLE IM VERY CONCERNED FOR MYSELF AND THE SAFETY OF ALL OTHERS ..I HAVE BEEN RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM ONLINE AND SEEN HUNDREDS OF SIMILAR SITUATIONS. IF I HAD OF KNOWN THIS I WOULD HAVE NEVER PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10296518

70,000 miles · Jul 30, 2009

EquipmentSuspension

LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS WEAR OUT AND CAUSE BAD STEERING AND CONTROL REPLACED BOTH SIDES WITHIN TWO MONTHS CAR ONLY HAS 70000 MILES ON IT LIVE ON BLACKTOP ROAD DEALER WAS VERY RUDE HAD 15 ON BACK ORDER THEY KNOW THERE IS A PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10278817

Official recalls

14V171000 · Electrical System:ignition

Apr 10, 2014

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2005-2010 Chevrolet Cobalt, 2006-2011 Chevrolet HHR, 2007-2010 Pontiac G5, 2006-2010 Pontiac Solstice, 2003-2007 Saturn Ion, and 2007-2010 Saturn Sky vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the key can be removed from the ignition when the ignition is not in the "Off" position.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the key can be removed from the ignition when the ignition is not in the "off" position, the vehicle could roll away: (a) for an automatic transmission, if the transmission is not in the "Park" position; or (b) for a manual transmission, if the parking brake is not engaged and the transmission is not in the "Reverse" position. This potential for rollaway increases the risk for a crash and occupant or pedestrian injuries.

Remedy: General Motors will notify owners, and for vehicles that were built with the defective ignition cylinder and have not previously had the ignition cylinder replaced with the redesigned part, dealers will replace the ignition cylinder and cut and, if necessary, re-learn two ignition/door keys for each vehicle. For vehicles that were built with the redesigned ignition cylinder or had the ignition cylinder replaced with the redesigned part, dealers will cut and, if necessary, re-learn two ignition/door keys for each vehicle. The recall began on April 18, 2014. Chevrolet owners may contact General Motors at 1-800-222-1020, Pontiac owners at 1-800-762-2737, and Saturn owners at 1-800-553-6000. General Motors' number for this recall is 14113 for the ignition lock cylinder and key replacement, and 14133 for only key replacements. Note: Until a vehicle has been remedied, owners and operators are advised that when exiting, to be sure that the vehicle is in "Park," or in the case of a manual transmission, that the vehicle is in the "Reverse" position and the parking brake is engaged.

14V047000 · Air Bags; Electrical System:ignition:switch

Feb 10, 2014

This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on February 10, 2014 that they are recalling 619,122 model year 2005-2007 Chevrolet Cobalt, and 2007 Pontiac G5 vehicles. On February 25, 2014, GM increased the recall to include an additional 748,024 model year 2006-2007 Chevrolet HHR and Pontiac Solstice vehicles and 2003-2007 Saturn Ion vehicles and 2007 Saturn Sky vehicles. In these models, the weight on the key ring and/or road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine. On March 27, 2014, GM notified the agency that the defective ignition switches may have been used as service replacement parts on other vehicles, and as a result GM will be recalling certain model year 2008-2010 Chevrolet Cobalt, Saturn Sky, and Pontiac G5 and Solstice, and 2008-2011 Chevrolet HHR vehicles. The part numbers for the service parts are 10392423 (a/k/a ACDelco D1461F), 10392737, 15857948, 15854953, 15896640, and 25846762. This expansion represents an additional 823,788 vehicles.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ignition switch, free of charge. An interim notification was issued to owners of 2007 and earlier models on March 10, 2014, informing them of the safety defect. Owners of 2008 and later vehicles will be mailed an interim letter on April 21, 2014. All affected owners will receive another letter once parts are available. The recall began on April 18, 2014. Owners may contact Chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020, Pontiac at 1-800-762-2737 or Saturn at 1-800-553-6000. GM's number for the initial recall is 13454 and 14063 for the expansion. GMs recall number for the vehicles that may have received the replacement parts is 14092. Note: Until the recall repairs have been performed, it is very important that customers remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the vehicle key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. Always wear your seatbelt.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Air Bags

Consequence: If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ignition switch, free of charge. An interim notification was issued to owners of 2007 and earlier models on March 10, 2014, informing them of the safety defect. Owners of 2008 and later vehicles will be mailed an interim letter on April 21, 2014. All affected owners will receive another letter once parts are available. The recall began on April 18, 2014. Owners may contact Chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020, Pontiac at 1-800-762-2737 or Saturn at 1-800-553-6000. GM's number for the initial recall is 13454 and 14063 for the expansion. GMs recall number for the vehicles that may have received the replacement parts is 14092. Note: Until the recall repairs have been performed, it is very important that customers remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the vehicle key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. Always wear your seatbelt.

Electrical System:ignition:switch

Consequence: If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

10V073000 · Steering:electric Power Assist System

Mar 3, 2010

GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2010 CHEVROLET COBALT AND MODEL YEAR 2007-2010 PONTIAC G5 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ELECTRIC POWER STEERING. THE DRIVER MAY EXPERIENCE A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST THAT COULD OCCUR AT ANY TIME WHILE DRIVING.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF POWER STEERING ASSIST IS LOST, IT WOULD REQUIRE GREATER DRIVER EFFORT AT LOW VEHICLE SPEEDS, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING MOTOR FREE OF CHARGE. OWNERS ARE BEING NOTIFIED ON A ROLLING BASIS BETWEEN MARCH 29 THROUGH NOVEMBER 2010. A COPY OF THE MAILING SCHEDULE IS LOCATED IN THE RECALL FILE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 AND PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668 OR AT THE OWNER CENTER AT WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.

07V014000 · Structure

Jan 18, 2007

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES NOT EQUIPPED WITH OPTIONAL ROOF-MOUNTED SIDE IMPACT AIR BAGS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 201, 'OCCUPANT PROTECTION IN INTERIOR IMPACT.'

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IN A CRASH, HEAD IMPACT PROTECTION MAY BE INADEQUATE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL ENERGY ABSORBING PLASTIC TO THE HEADLINER TRIM TO REDUCE THE SEVERITY OF HEAD IMPACTS IN A CRASH. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 21, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438.

04V560000 · Exterior Lighting:headlights

Nov 22, 2004

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THE BULB SHIELDS INSIDE OF THE HEADLAMPS CAN LOOSEN DUE TO VIBRATION.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE BULB SHIELD CAN LOOSEN OR BREAK BECAUSE OF VIBRATION. IF THIS OCCURRED ON A HEADLAMP INSTALLED IN A VEHICLE, ONCOMING DRIVERS MAY NOTICE ADDITIONAL GLARE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL TWO NEW HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 17, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438.

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

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.