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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Mileage unknown · Feb 5, 2010

Steering

THE POWER STEERING ON MY 2005 COBALT RARELY WORKS. IT WORKS WHEN THE CAR IS INITIALLY TURNED ON BUT TURNS OFF SOON AFTERWARDS. THIS BEGAN ~1 YEAR AGO. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10306404

52,000 miles · Feb 5, 2010

Steering

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I HAVE A 2005 CHEVY COBALT AND ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO MY POWER STEERING WENT OUT. I WAS DRIVING ONE DAY AND THE ROAD STARTED TO CURVE TO THE RIGHT AND AS SOON AS I STARTED TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL, THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. I PULLED OVER AND TURNED THE CAR OFF AND THEN BACK ON AND I HAD POWER STEERING AGAIN. AS WEEKS WENT BY IT JUST KEPT TURNING OFF ON ME AND EVENTUALLY NEVER CAME BACK ON. NOW WHEN I START THE CAR AND AS SOON AS I TURN THE STEERING WHEEL, THE WORDS"POWER STEERING" COMES ON. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR 2 YEARS WITHOUT POWER STEERING AND I REFUSE TO PAY GM TO FIX THIS WHEN I SEE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE COMPLAINING ONLINE ABOUT THE SAME THING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10306370

24,849 miles · Feb 5, 2010

Steering

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD AND SHE LOST POWER STEERING CAPABILITIES. SHE WAS ABLE TO DRIVE ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE, TURN OFF THE IGNITION AND RESTART THE VEHICLE. AFTER BEING RESTARTED, THE VEHICLE PERFORMED NORMALLY SINCE THE POWER STEERING RESET ITSELF. THE FOLLOWING WEEK, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THREE DAYS LATER, WHILE DRIVING TO 2.5 MILES TO A REPAIR SHOP, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING TWICE. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE STEERING MOTOR AND CONTROL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE REPAIRS WERE MADE AND THE FAILURE HAS NOT RECURRED. SHE HAS NOT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 27,699. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 24,849. UPDATED 03/12/10

NHTSA ODI #10306363

88,000 miles · Feb 4, 2010

Steering

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I WAS DRIVING DOWN A VERY BUSY ROAD WHEN SUDDENLY THE READER SUDDENLY SAID POWER STEERING. THEN THE POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING. I COULDN'T TURN THE WHEEL WITH OUT A VERY HARD TURN WITH BOTH HANDS. I FINALLY GOT TO SAFE SPOT AND CALLED FOR HELP. WHEN HELP CAME IT WAS WORKING . THEN WHEN THE CAR GOT TO ABOUT 40 MILES PER HOUR IT SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING AGAIN & DIDN'T BEGIN WORKING AGAIN. I CALLED THE DEALER. THEY WERE GOING TO CHARGE $100 JUST TO CHECK IT. SO I TOOK IT TO A CAR SHOP THAT SAID IT WAS THE MOTOR IN THE POWER STEERING. HE SAID IT WOULD COST BETWEEN $500 TO $1000 DOLLARS TO FIX. I WENT AHEAD AND GOT HIM TO ORDER THE NEW POWER STEERING MOTOR. IT ENDED UP COSTING AROUND $600 TO FIX. THEN I SAW ON THE NEWS THAT IT MAY BE BEING RECALLED & ALOT OF OTHER PEOPLE WHERE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS CAR IS ONLY 5 YEARS OLD & ONLY HAS LIKE 80,000 MILES ON IT. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10306173

112,000 miles · Feb 4, 2010

Steering

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I WAS DRIVING MY 2005 CHEVY COBALT HOME AND WITHOUT NOTICE OR WARNING MY POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED. I WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE CORNER IMMEDIATELY AFTER THIS INCIDENT. I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TURNED THE CAR OFF. I HAD MY HUSBAND MEET ME AND HE ASSUMED IT WAS THE POWER STEERING BELT. UPON INSPECTING THE CAR, HE DETERMINED IT WASN'T THE BELT AND NOTHING SEEMED OUT OF THE ORDINARY. WE DROVE THE CAR HOME AND IT SAT FOR APPROXIMATELY 1 WEEK. I DROVE THE CAR LESS THAN 10 MILES AND IT THE SAME THING HAPPENED. I AGAIN PULLED OVER AND TURNED THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTED IT. THE POWER STEERING WAS FINE AND I CONTINUED TO DRIVE IT HOME. I WENT APPROXIMATELY ANOTHER 5 MILES AND THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT AGAIN. EACH TIME THE STEERING FAILS, I IMMEDIATELY TURN THE CAR OFF AND RE-START IT. I ALSO HEAR A "CLICK" SOUND IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO THE POWER STEERING GOING OUT. I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO HAVE THIS CAR FIXED DUE TO THE FINANCIAL SITUATION AND I DO NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE SELLING THE CAR TO SOMEONE ELSE. THE CAR HAS 112,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10306150

63,000 miles · Feb 4, 2010

Steering

THERE WERE NO EVENTS LEADING TO THE FAILURE OF THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM. I WAS DRIVING THE CAR UNDER MY EVERYDAY COMMUTE AND THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM WENT OUT AND THE MESSAGE CENTER FLASHED POWER STEERING. SINCE THE INITIAL FAILURE THERE HAS BEEN NO POWER STEERING IN MY VEHICLE. THE SYSTEM APPEARS TO FUNCTION PROPERLY UNTIL DR…

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NHTSA ODI #10306127

97,000 miles · Feb 4, 2010

Steering

POWER STEERING GOES IN AND OUT. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10306099

51,561 miles · Feb 4, 2010

Steering

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT WHICH WAS PURCHASED ON OCTOBER 8, 2009. WHILE STARTING HER VEHICLE AND ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE, THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE WARNING PANEL AND THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT RESPOND. THERE WERE ALSO SEVERAL INSTANCES WHERE SHE WAS ALMOST REAR-ENDED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH DUE TO THE STEERING WHEEL NOT RESPONDING WHEN SHE ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN. THE FAILURES OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER; HOWEVER, THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR AND THE DEALER ADVISED HER TO REPLACE THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND STEERING COLUMN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,561. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNDER 51,682. UPDATED 3/10/10 *CN THE DEALER REPLACED THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT. UPDATED 06/18/10.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10306016

50,000 miles · Feb 4, 2010

Steering

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WE WERE DRIVING OUR 2005 CHEVY COBALT ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY AND THE WORDS "POWER STEERING" CAME ON THE DASH DISPLAY. MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING AND SAID HE DIDN'T HAVE ANY POWER STEERING. LUCKILY HE WAS DRIVING BECAUSE I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CONTROL IT TO GET IT BACK HOME ALMOST 2 HOURS AWAY. WE HAD TO SPEND 450-500 FOR THE NEW POWER STEERING UNIT THEN PAY SOMEONE TO PUT IT IN. WE HAD JUST BOUGHT THIS IN AUGUST 2009. THIS HAPPENED IN DECEMBER 2009. WE BOUGHT THIS FOR OUR 16 YEAR OLD SON WHO HAD JUST GOT HIS DRIVERS LICENSE AND NOW WE ARE AFRAID TO LET HIM DRIVE IT. THERE WOULDN'T BE ENOUGH MONEY IN THE WORLD TO SUE FOR IF SOMETHING HAPPENED TO ONE OF MY KIDS IN THIS CAR. I HOPE GM FIXES THIS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10305962

54,000 miles · Feb 4, 2010

Electrical SystemSteeringTraction Control System

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MY 2005 CHEVY COBALT HAS POWER STEERING ISSUES SINCE I BOUGHT IT (11/09). THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT COMES ON AND POWER STEERING COMES ON THE MESSAGE BOARD. WHEN THIS HAPPENS AND I AM DRIVING IT, IT IS VERY HARD TO CONTROL MY STEERING AND JERKS WHEN I ACCELERATE AND/OR CHANGE GEARS. IT ALSO BECOMES A LITTLE HARDER TO COME TO A COMPETE STOP. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY GREASED THE WIRES THINKING THAT IT WAS A CONNECTION PROBLEM. IT WORKED ALRIGHT FOR ABOUT A MONTH AND A HALF BUT THEN THE LIGHT FLASHED ON AGAIN ABOUT 2 WEEKS AGO AND HAS FLASHED ON RANDOMLY EVER SINCE. THIS SEEMS TO BE AN ONGOING PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10305897

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.