POWER STEERING ISSUE WAS OBSERVED AT LOW SPEEDS BUT ALSO PRESENTED EXTREME LURCHING OF THE VEHICLE. THE POWER STEERING AND TRACTION CONTROL WARNINGS WERE PRESENT AT THE TIME THE CAR BEGAN LURCHING. VERY DANGEROUS IN TRAFFIC. *TR
2005 Chevrolet Cobalt
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Cobalt years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
1,407 reports with mileage · 242 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.
- 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.
Steering complaints
1,143 reportsI WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ONE EVENING AND THE POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON, NOTHING HAPPENED. THEN LATER THAT EVENING MY HUSBAND AND SON DROVE TO THE GROCERY STORE AND ON THE WAY HOME THE POWER STEERING WENT ON AND OFF LIKE 4 TIMES. THE TOTAL DRIVE FROM THE STORE IS APPROXIMATELY 2 MILES FROM OUR HOME. AND THE SPEED HE WAS…
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I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ONE EVENING AND THE POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON, NOTHING HAPPENED. THEN LATER THAT EVENING MY HUSBAND AND SON DROVE TO THE GROCERY STORE AND ON THE WAY HOME THE POWER STEERING WENT ON AND OFF LIKE 4 TIMES. THE TOTAL DRIVE FROM THE STORE IS APPROXIMATELY 2 MILES FROM OUR HOME. AND THE SPEED HE WAS DRIVING IS A 45 MPH HIGHWAY. DUE TO LACK OF FUNDS WE HAVE BEEN ONLY DRIVING WHEN WE ABSOLUTELY HAD TO. WE HAVE NOTICED THAT AS THE WEATHER HAS BEEN COLDER THE POWER STEERING DOESN'T GO OUT AS OFTEN. BUT IT STILL CONTINUES TO GO ON AND OFF. BUT WE NOW HAVE OUR CAR IN A SHOP TO GET FIXED THIS WEEK. HOPEFULLY THIS WILL RESOLVE ALL ISSUES. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED AS HE WAS DRIVING 55MPH THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AS HE WAS MAKING A RIGHT TURN AND THE VEHICLE WAS VERY UNCONTROLLABLE WHILE TRYING TO PULL INTO THE DRIVEWAY. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER AT THE TIME OF THE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED AS HE WAS DRIVING 55MPH THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AS HE WAS MAKING A RIGHT TURN AND THE VEHICLE WAS VERY UNCONTROLLABLE WHILE TRYING TO PULL INTO THE DRIVEWAY. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT.THE GM MANUFACTURER WAS CALLED. PREVIOUSLY, THE VEHICLE HAD ONLY BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE BEFORE THIS FAILURE OCCURRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,437.
2005 CHEVY COBALT - POWER STEERING FAILS DAILY AFTER DRIVING FOR APPROXIMATELY 10 MILES. RANDOM, LOOSE ABILITY TO STEER AND CONTROL THE VEHICLE AND I HAVE TO SHUT IT OFF AND RESET IT. THIS IS MY TEENAGE CHILD'S CAR AND THIS IS A DANGER TO HIS SAFETY. HE CANNOT EVEN DRIVE THE CAR BECAUSE IT IS SUCH A SAFETY CONCERN, I NOW DRIV…
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2005 CHEVY COBALT - POWER STEERING FAILS DAILY AFTER DRIVING FOR APPROXIMATELY 10 MILES. RANDOM, LOOSE ABILITY TO STEER AND CONTROL THE VEHICLE AND I HAVE TO SHUT IT OFF AND RESET IT. THIS IS MY TEENAGE CHILD'S CAR AND THIS IS A DANGER TO HIS SAFETY. HE CANNOT EVEN DRIVE THE CAR BECAUSE IT IS SUCH A SAFETY CONCERN, I NOW DRIVE IT TO WORK 40 MILES ONE WAY AND DEAL WITH IT SO HE CAN BE SAFE. *TR
2005 CHEVY COBALT POWER STEERING GAVE OUT MY DAUGHTER RAN OFF THE ROAD BECAUSE SHE COULD NOT STEER HER VEHICLE. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE. ON SEPARATE OCCASIONS THE POWER STEERING MECHANISM "FROZE" THE CAR WOULD NOT STEER LEFT OR RIGHT, THIS OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING MULTIPLE TIMES. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED WHENEVER HE IS DRIVING HIS VEHICLE THE POWER STEERING GOES IN AND OUT. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TURNED ON AND OFF TO BE RESET. AS HE WAS TURNING THE WHEELS IT WAS VERY UNCONTROLLABLE. THE DEALER HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED OR THE VEHICLE TAKEN THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSIS. T…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED WHENEVER HE IS DRIVING HIS VEHICLE THE POWER STEERING GOES IN AND OUT. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TURNED ON AND OFF TO BE RESET. AS HE WAS TURNING THE WHEELS IT WAS VERY UNCONTROLLABLE. THE DEALER HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED OR THE VEHICLE TAKEN THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSIS. THE FAILURE AILEAGE WAS 50,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED AS HE WAS DRIVING 55MPH THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AS HE WAS MAKING A RIGHT TURN AND THE VEHICLE WAS UNCONTROLLABLE WHILE TRYING TO PULL INTO THE DRIVEWAY. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER AT THE TIME OF THE COMP…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED AS HE WAS DRIVING 55MPH THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AS HE WAS MAKING A RIGHT TURN AND THE VEHICLE WAS UNCONTROLLABLE WHILE TRYING TO PULL INTO THE DRIVEWAY. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT.THE GM MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN CALLED. THE VEHICLE HAD ONLY BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE BEFORE THIS FAILURE OCCURRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE IS 99,437.
2 THINGS: 1-THE STEERING COLUMN PROBLEMS IN 2009 CHEVY DEALER REPLACED UNWILLINGLY. 2- ELECTRICAL ISSUE. PANEL LIGHTS GO ON AND OFF AND THE CAR CANT SHIFT UNLESS WE START THE CAR OVER AND OVER AGAIN. *TR
POWER STEERING ON A CHEVROLET COBALT 2005 FAILS AT 75000 MILES. THE ELECTRONIC DEVICE FAILED MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO TURN OR CHANGE LANES. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PRACTICALLY DRIVE THE CAR AND I FEEL VERY UNSAFE WITH THIS VEHICLE. *TR
TWO MONTHS AGO, WHEN I PUT MY CAR IN PARK, I WASN'T ABLE TO GET MY KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION. I'M WORRIED THAT MY CAR IS GOING TO ROLL DOWN A HILL AND HIT SOMETHING OR SOMEONE. ALSO TWO DAYS AGO, MY POWER STEERING WENT OUT WHEN I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE. THANKFULLY I WAS GOING STRAIGHT WHEN THIS HAPPENED. AS SOON AS I TURN…
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TWO MONTHS AGO, WHEN I PUT MY CAR IN PARK, I WASN'T ABLE TO GET MY KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION. I'M WORRIED THAT MY CAR IS GOING TO ROLL DOWN A HILL AND HIT SOMETHING OR SOMEONE. ALSO TWO DAYS AGO, MY POWER STEERING WENT OUT WHEN I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE. THANKFULLY I WAS GOING STRAIGHT WHEN THIS HAPPENED. AS SOON AS I TURN OFF MY CAR AND TURN IT BACK ON, THE POWER STEERING IS FINE, BUT IF I GO A MILE OR TWO, ALL OF A SUDDEN IT GOES OUT. VERY VERY UNSAFE ESPECIALLY SINCE I HAVE A 2 YEAR OLD WITH ME. THIS IS VERY UNSAFE FOR EVERYONE!!! BOTH ISSUES COULD RESOLVE IN A HUGE CRASH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! NOTHING HAS BEEN FIXED BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN READING ON RECALLS AND I HOPE I CAN GET THIS FIXED BEFORE SOMEONE GETS INJURED! *TR
Official recalls
514V171000 · 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
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: 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
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: 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.
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
1PE10005 · 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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