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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20,100 miles · Feb 2, 2010

Steering

POWER STEERING FAILURE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10303982

47,000 miles · Feb 2, 2010

Steering

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH. THERE WAS A BEEPING NOISE AND THE POWER STEERING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED INDICATING THAT THE POWER STEERING WAS LOST. THE CONTACT SHUT THE ENGINE OFF AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. AFTER RESTARTING THE VEHICLE, WITHIN A FEW MILES, THE POWER STEERING FAILED AGAIN. THE CONTACT HAS NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,000.

NHTSA ODI #10303973

48,000 miles · Feb 2, 2010

Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH AND MAKING A LEFT TURN, THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF TO RESET THE POWER STEERING; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER HAS NOT DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS…

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NHTSA ODI #10303962

42,500 miles · Feb 2, 2010

Steering

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT. WHILE DRIVING THE POWER STEERING FAILED INTERMITTENTLY SINCE MARCH 2009. THE CONTACT HAD TO SHUT THE ENGINE OFF AND RESTART THE VEHICLE TO RESET THE POWER STEERING. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE HAS N…

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NHTSA ODI #10303959

52,000 miles · Feb 2, 2010

Steering

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT. WHILE DRIVING 12 MPH, THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHEEL. HE WAS ABLE TO DRIVE TO HIS RESIDENCE. THE MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER WILL BE NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 52,000. UPDATED 03/04/10. *LJ

NHTSA ODI #10303955

47,285 miles · Feb 2, 2010

Steering

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I WAS DRIVING MY MOTHER'S 2005 CHEVY COBALT IN PHOENIX, AZ ON THE 101 FREEWAY. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MILES PER HOUR THE POWER STEERING DISCONTINUED TO FUNCTION. I AM AN EXPERIENCED DRIVER AND WAS ABLE TO REACT TO THE FAILURE. THE FOLLOWING WEEK THE CAR WENT TO KEMPTON'S CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP, THE ENTIRE STEERING UNIT NEEDED REPLACEMENT. LUCKILY WE HAVE A RELATIVE WHO WORKS FOR GM AND WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM WITH THE COBALTS. GM HELPED WITH THE REPAIR COST, HOWEVER MY MOTHER STILL HAD TO PAY $500. MY MOTHER IS RETIRED AND LIVING ON A FIXED INCOME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10303948

58,000 miles · Feb 2, 2010

Steering

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POWER STEERING: 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT SS SUPERCHARGED (MANUAL TRANSMISSION). I WOULD LIKE TO ADD MY TWO CENTS TO THE COMPLAINTS ON THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM IN MY CAR, MENTIONED ABOVE. IT HAS NOT CAUSED ME AN ACCIDENT BUT HAS CAUSED A FEW CLOSE CALLS. I HAVE NOTICED A FEW THINGS ABOUT THE FAILURE: -THERE IS AN 'OVERALL FREQUENCY' WITH WHICH POWER STEERING OUTAGES OCCUR, DEPENDING ON A NUMBER OF FACTORS I HAVE OBSERVED: -TURNING OFF AND RESTARTING THE IGNITION (EVEN GOING 80MPH ON THE HIGHWAY) WILL IMMEDIATELY FIX THE ISSUE FOR A RANDOM PERIOD OF TIME, BASED IN PART ON THE CURRENT 'OVERALL FREQUENCY'. -TIRE WEAR (RESULTING IN ADDITIONAL SURFACE CONTACT, PRESUMABLY) INCREASES THE FREQUENCY OF THE FAILURE. -WARMER TEMPERATURES SEEM TO MAKE OUTAGES MORE FREQUENT. -'SPIRITED', HIGH-RPM TYPE DRIVING (MY CAR IS THE SUPERCHARGED MODEL) RESULTS IN MORE FREQUENT STEERING SYSTEM OUTAGES...USUALLY WITH THE SYSTEM FAILING JUST AFTER REACHING THE PEAK RPM OF A GIVEN GEAR, AND REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THE CAR IS CURRENTLY TURNING. -THE SYSTEM CAN GO DAYS AND WEEKS WITHOUT FAILING. IT IS USUALLY POSSIBLE TO GUESS HOW SOON THE OUTAGE WILL RETURN BASED ON HOW HARD THE WHEEL IS TO TURN ONCE THE SYSTEM HAS FAILED. IF THE WHEEL IS VERY HARD TO TURN, BASED IN PART ON THE FACTORS ABOVE, THEN RESTARTING THE CAR WILL ONLY CORRECT THE ISSUE FOR A VERY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME (SOMETIMES AS LITTLE AS 15-20 SECONDS). IF THE WHEEL IS EASIER TO TURN WHEN THE STEERING IS OUT, THE SYSTEM STAYS ACTIVE FOR CONSIDERABLY LONGER PERIODS (PERHAPS 1 HOUR) BEFORE FAILING AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10303939

20,000 miles · Feb 2, 2010

Electrical SystemService Brakes, HydraulicSteering

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SEVERAL INCIDENTS INVOLVING STEERING OF 2005 COBALT 2-DOOR. EACH INCIDENT OCCURRED ON THE FREEWAY WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT AT 55 TO 65 MPH. FRONT END OF VEHICLE "JUMPED" SIDE TO SIDE AND STEERING WHEEL RESPONDED ONLY WITH CONSIDERABLE EFFORT. LAST OCCURRENCE WAS WITNESSED BY HIGHWAY PATROL WHO ESCORTED ME FROM THE FREEWAY WITH LIGHTS FLASHING. EVENTUALLY, DEALER DID REPLACE ENTIRE STEERING MECHANISM (2006) AND PROBLEM HAS NOT RECURRED. ALSO HAVE HAD TO HAVE BRAKING SYSTEM REPLACED AS WELL AS COMPONENTS RELATED TO THE COMPUTER SYSTEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10303932

54,000 miles · Feb 2, 2010

Steering

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ELECTRIC POWER STEERING PUMP WENT OUT WHEN MY DAUGHTER WAS COMING HOME FROM SCHOOL SHE COULD CONTROL CAR ON 2/2/09 WE CALLED GMAC TO SEE IF THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL OF THIS PART THEY SAID IT HAD NOT SO WE CALLED THE CAR LOT FROM WE PURCHASED THE CAR AND HAD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET TO GET THE CAR FIXED. I HATE TO THINK WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF SHE HAD NOT REMAINED CALM WHEN THIS HAPPENED AFTER GETTING CAR FIXED SHE WAS AFRAID TO DRIVE IT FOR A WHILE. I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT NO ONE IN THIS BIG COMPANY HAD NO IDEA THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE POWER STEERING FROM READING THE BLOGS IN 2/09 THERE WERE COMPLAINS THEN THE COMPANY NEED TO REIMBURSE ME FOR THE MONEY FIXED TO TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10303914

55,000 miles · Feb 2, 2010

Steering

POWER STEERING FAILURE. STEERING AT FIRST STARTED GOING OUT ONLY DURING U-TURNS OR OTHER SHARP TURNS. THEN, STEERING WOULD GO OUT SUDDENLY AFTER DRIVING FOR 30-60 MINUTES. FINALLY, STEERING WOULD SHUT OFF ABOUT 15 SECONDS AFTER STARTING MY CAR. HAD TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10303872

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.