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

Steering complaints

1,143 reports

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53,000 miles · Jul 30, 2008

Electrical SystemSteeringCrashInjury

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY MAKING A TURN AND MY POWER STEERING WENT OUT IT BEEPED AT ME AND THE DASH DISPLAYED "POWER STEERING". WHEN I RESTART MY CAR ITS FINE FOR A WILE BUT THEN IT DOSE IT AGAIN AND FROM WHAT I CAN TELL SPEED, TURNING,RPMS, TEMPERATURE DISTANCE HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH IT. I WAS RAN OFF THE ROAD DUE TO THI…

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NHTSA ODI #10236354

56,900 miles · Jul 29, 2008

Steering

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I OWN A CHEVY COBALT 2005. WHILE DRIVING THE POWER STEERING LIGHT COMES ON AND THEN THE STEERING LOCKS. I ALMOST CRASHED, THANK GOD THERE WAS NO CARS BEHIND ME. THIS IS HAPPENING FREQUENTLY NOW. I DON'T HAVE A GUARANTEE ANYMORE. I TOOK THE CAR TO A MECHANIC HE SAID THAT IT IS A ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. HE HAS NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THAT IN HIS 20 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE BEING A MECHANIC. NOW EVERYTIME I START MY CAR THE LIGHT COMES ON AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECOMES SO HARD TO TURN OR CONTROL. I WENT ON THIS WEBSITE AND THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE THIS PROBLEM. HTTP://WWW.TOPIX.COM/FORUM/AUTOS/CHEVROLET-COBALT/T8FMSUQB7V2DTH5JH/P6 I ONLY HAVE 57000 MILES ON MY CAR. PLEASE HELP!!!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10236301

16,000 miles · Jul 29, 2008

Steering

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RE: MY SON'S CAR, A 2005 CHEVY COBALT 16,XXX MILES PURCHASED USED ON MAY 19, 2008 AT 14,869 MILES AT A LOCAL FORD DEALER. TWICE IN THE LAST WEEK, WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ON THE INTERSTATE DOING APPROX 60 MPH, WARNING CHIMES SOUNDED AND SECONDS LATER A "POWER STEERING" AND "LOW TRACTION" LIGHTS APPEARED. STEERING BECAME ALL BUT INOPERABLE, CAR BECAME EXTREMELY HARD TO HANDLE AND CAR "SHOOK". UPON STOPPING AND RESTARTING THE CAR, THINGS WENT BACK TO NORMAL. HIS COMMENT WAS THAT IF SOME "OLD FEEBLE PERSON" WAS DRIVING, THEY WOULD HAVE HAD AN ACCIDENT. LOOKING AT COMPLAINTS ON VARIOUS WEBSITES, THIS IS A VERY WELL KNOWN PROBLEM TO CHEVROLET (GENERAL MOTORS) IN THAT THE NEW "ELECTRIC POWER STEERING" IS PRONE TO FAILURE. DOZENS (HUNDREDS) OF PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT NUMEROUS ACCIDENTS AND CHEVROLET'S RESPONSE HAS BEEN THAT IF THEY CAN'T FIND A "CODE" TO POINT TO A STEERING FAILURE, THEN THERE MUST NOT BE A PROBLEM. CURRENTLY THE CAR HAS BEEN WITH BOEMLER CHEVROLET IN ARNOLD, MISSOURI MONDAY 7/28 AND TODAY TUESDAY 7/29. MONDAY AFTERNOON THEY CALLED AND SAID THEY WOULD LIKE TO KEEP IT ANOTHER DAY SINCE THEY COULD NOT GET IT TO FAIL AND COULDN'T GET A "CODE" TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. MULTIPLE TIMES IN THE WEBSITES, CUSTOMERS HAVE SAID THAT THE STEERING COLUMN HAD TO BE REPLACED TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THIS PROBLEM HAS CAUSED OTHER CUSTOMERS TO HAVE ACCIDENTS ACCORDING TO THE COMPLAINTS I HAVE READ. I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'VE BEEN SMART ENOUGH TO READ THEIR OWNER'S MANUAL TO GET THE PROPER PEOPLE TO COMPLAIN TO. I REALIZE THAT COMPLAINING ON SOME WEBSITE IS NOT GOING TO GET ANYTHING DONE, AND THAT IT MUST BE DONE THROUGH PROPER CHANNELS. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT MUST BE ADDRESSED BY CHEVROLET (GM) BEFORE MORE PEOPLE GET HURT OR WORSE. I THINK A VOLUNTARY RECALL ON THEIR PART WOULD LOOK A LOT BETTER THAN HAVING A "CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT" FILED AGAINST THEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10236260

44,000 miles · Jul 18, 2008

Electrical SystemEquipmentFuel System, Gasoline

POWER STEERING FAILURE SIGNAL COMES ON AFTER ANY LENGTH OF TIME OF DRIVING, AT ANY SPEED AND ON ANY PAVEMENT. THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP AND THE CAR HAS TO BE TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED IN ORDER FOR THE STEERING TO RESET. FUEL INJECTION FAILURE. KEY WON'T TURN IN IGNITION. CD PLAYER PICKS AND CHOOSES WHEN IT WILL WORK. *TR…

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NHTSA ODI #10234801

22,000 miles · Jul 13, 2008

Electrical SystemPower TrainSteering

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2005 COBALT DOOR AUTOMATIC.. SINCE JUNE-JULY OF 2006, THE AUTOMOBILE HAS REPEATEDLY BEEN TAKEN TO 2 DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS FOR REPAIR OR CORRECTION DURING THE WARRANTY PERIOD. THE WOULD ACT AS TO STALL, SHAKY, AND HESITATE WHILE DRIVING. EACH TIME THE DEALER SAID THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND OR DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. NOW, THAT THE WARRANTY IS OUT AND THE CAR HAS DONE THE SAME PROBLEM (JULY 10. 2008) THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THERE IS A PROBLEM AND THEY WILL HAVE TO LOOK FARTHER INTO IT.. I KNEW THIS WAS GOING TO HAPPEN, THE MOMENT ITS OUT OF MANUFACTURE WARRANTY, THEY CAN FIND A PROBLEM WITH IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10234096

30,000 miles · Jun 25, 2008

Steering

I WAS DRIVING MY 2005 COBALT ON THE HIGHWAY AND SUDDENLY THE POWER STEERING LIGHT TURN ON AND COULD NOT MANAGE THE CAR. I HAVE TO STOP THE CAR BUT THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION. NO ONE WAS INJURED BUT WHY WAIT TILL SOMEONE GETS HURT TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10232251

25,000 miles · Jun 24, 2008

Steering

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2005 CHEVY COBALT LS 2 DR COUPE, THE POWER STEERING WILL JUST CUT OUT SOMETIMES UP TO 6 TIMES IN A SINGLE DAY. IF YOU SHUT THE CAR OFF AND RESTART IT CORRECTS TO PROBLEM UNTIL IT HAPPENS AGAIN. THE COMPUTER CODE SHOW U2100, ALSO THE OTHER DAY THE CAR JUST QUIT WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD FOR NO REASON. THIS STEERING ISSUE IS VERY DANGEROUS, I WOULD HOPE THAT SOMEONE LOOKS INTO IT BEFORE SOMEONE DIES FROM IT. I SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND I FOUND MANY COMPLAINTS REGARDING THESE SAME ISSUES. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A KNOW PROBLEM AND ON A 25,000 MILE VEHICLE IT SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10232181

25,000 miles · Jun 19, 2008

Steering

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2005 CHEVROLET COBALT, ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING FAILURE. POWER STEERING LIGHT COMES ON AND I HAVE A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER STEERING. HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS DURING RUSH HOUR DRIVING CONDITIONS TAKEN TO DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES AND THEY "CAN'T" SEEM TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. I BELIEVE THEY ARE ATTEMPTING TO WAIT OUT THE WARRANTY BEFORE THEY REPAIR IT. I SEARCHED THE INTERNET AN APPARENTLY THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH ALOT OF 05,06 COBALT OWNERS. I BELIEVE GM NEEDS TO GET INVOLVED AD RECTIFY THIS PROBLEM BEFORE PEOPLE DIE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10231567

32,000 miles · Jun 16, 2008

Steering

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH OR HIGHER, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS INTERMITTENTLY. IN ADDITION, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS ILLUMINATE AND THE POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONS. THE FAILURE ALSO OCCURS WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT. THE CONTACT HAS NOT TAKEN HER VEHICLE TO…

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NHTSA ODI #10231220

24,500 miles · Jun 13, 2008

Electrical SystemLatches/locks/linkagesSteering

2005 CHEVY COBALT POWER STEERING GOES OUT AT RANDOM, CAR LOCKS YOU INSIDE, YOU HAVE TO GO OUT THE WINDOW, CAR DIES WHILE DRIVING. THESE ARE ALL COMMON PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR. CHEVY DOES NOT MAKE REDESIGNED PARTS TO REPLACE ITS CURRENT STOCK OF BAD PARTS. SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET HURT, IF CHEVY IS NOT FORCED TO TAKE ACTION.…

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NHTSA ODI #10230905

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.