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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43,600 miles · Aug 12, 2009

Steering

I HAVE 2005 CHEVY COBALT, AND THE POWER STEERING INDICATED CAME ON AND ALL OF THE SUDDEN THE CAR STOPS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10280220

64,000 miles · Aug 12, 2009

Steering

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POWER STEERING BEGAN TO FAIL A FEW WEEKS AGO. AS I AM DRIVING THE POWER STEERING NOTICE COMES ON AND I LOSE POWER STEERING IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING. I PULL OVER, TURN OFF THE ACR, AND RESTART IT AND THE POWER STEERING IS BACK. SOME DAYS IT DOESN'T HAPPEN AT ALLA ND OTHERS IT MAY HAPPEN EVERY FEW MILES. IT HAS NOT BEEN FIXED. THE SMALL GARAGE I TOOK IT TO COULD NOT FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS WRONG WITH AND RECOMMENDED WE LOOK INTO RECALLS. AND THEN I FOUND MANY COMPLAINTS ON THIS SAME PROBLEM AND IT COSTS ANYWHERE FROM $600 TO $110- TO FIX. I WILL NOT BE SPENDING THAT KIND OF MONEY. AND GM WILL NOT RECALL IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10280186

61,000 miles · Aug 12, 2009

Steering

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AS FAR AS I KNOW, THERE WERE NO ACCIDENTS LEADING TO THE FAILURE, BUT 2 MONTHS AGO, I STARTED EXPERIENCING POWER STEERING FAILURES IN MY 2005 CHEVROLET LT. AFTER SHUTTING THE CAR OFF, AND BACK ON, THE PROBLEM DISAPPEARED. THEN IT STARTED HAPPENING MORE FREQUENTLY, ONCE, EVEN 8 TIMES IN ONE DAY. I DIDN'T TAKE IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THE FIRST TIME UNTIL 7/21/09 BECAUSE IT WAS GETTING TOO RISKY TO DRIVE. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO GET THE STEERING COLUMN REPLACED BUT THE PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS. THEY HAVE GIVEN ME VARIOUS EXCUSES AS TO WHY THIS PROBLEM KEEPS OCCURRING BUT NONE OF THEM ARE VALID. WHEN THEY TEST DRIVE IT, THEY CLAIM IT NEVER ACTS UP FOR THEM, BUT IT DOES IT RANDOMLY, THERE IS NO PATTERN TO WHY IT ACTS THE WAY IT DOES. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP A TOTAL OF 5 TIMES ALREADY. THEY HAVE THE CAR NOW BECAUSE ON 8/10/09, I NEARLY GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT AND HAD TO JUMP THE CURB IN ORDER TO AVOID GETTING HIT BECAUSE I COULDN'T MAKE A LEFT TURN INTO TRAFFIC. I THEN SUFFERED A SEVERE ANXIETY ATTACK AND NEEDED ASSISTANCE FROM FAMILY MEMBERS TO COME PICK ME UP AND GET THE CAR TOWED BACK UP TO THE DEALERSHIP. I AM ONLY 19 YEARS OLD, & THIS IS MY FIRST CAR. ALL I WANT IS SOMETHING SAFE TO DRIVE SO I CAN GO TO SCHOOL, WORK, AND PERFORM MY OTHER TASKS ALIVE AND IN ONE PIECE, PLEASE HELP THOSE OF US EXPERIENCING THESE PROBLEM TO GET GM TO PROVIDE A RECALL ON THESE CARS. I LOVE THIS CAR, BUT IT IS NOT WORTH LOSING MY LIFE OVER. I HAVE PAID A TOTAL OF $938.00 ON THE STEERING COLUMN & $138.00 FOR TOWING EXPENSES. THIS HAS GOT TO STOP, & I CANNOT AFFORD ANOTHER CAR. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION, ANDREA JOHNSON *TR

NHTSA ODI #10280182

61,000 miles · Aug 11, 2009

Steering

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I PURCHASED MY 2005 CHEVY COBALT, USED IN FEBRUARY 2006. IN FEBRUARY OF 2008 THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING BEGAN TO GO OUT IF YOU MADE SEVERAL SHARP TURNS (I.E. PARKING GARAGES.) AFTER APPRX. SIX MONTHS THE POWER STEERING BEGAN TO GO OUT SPORADICALLY WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY. THIS PROBLEM CONTINUED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. IN THE PAST FOUR MONTHS, THE PROBLEM HAS ESCALATED TO THE POINT THAT I CANNOT EVEN DRIVE 1/4 OF A MILE WITH OUT THE POWER STEERING GOING OUT. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IN ORDER TO RESET THE STEERING IS PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND TURN OFF THE ENGINE. UPON RESTARTING THE CAR THE PROBLEM CORRECTS ITSELF, HOWEVER; IT GOES OUT AGAIN IMMEDIATELY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10280170

45,000 miles · Aug 9, 2009

Steering

POWER STEERING IN A 2005 CHEVY COBALT, WITH 45,000 MILES WILL GO OUT FOR RANDOMLY. IF YOU TURN THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON IT WORKS FINE FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME THEN IT WILL GO OUT AGAIN. IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER AND IS DANGEROUS TO MAKE TURNS QUICKLY WHILE DRIVING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10279859

81,000 miles · Aug 7, 2009

Steering

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2005 CHEVY COBALT WITH 81K MILES ON IT. FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED WAS TODAY. WHILE DRIVING TO THE STORE FROM WORK I HEARD A DING, LOOKED AT THE DASH, AND SAW THE POWER STEERING MESSAGE. I IMMEDIATELY NOTICED THAT MY POWER STEERING WAS OUT. I PULLED OFF INTO A PARKING LOT, RESTARTED THE CAR, AND THINGS WERE FINE AGAIN. AFTER STOPPING AT THE STORE, THE SAME THING HAPPENED TWO MORE TIMES DURING THE DRIVE HOME, EACH TIME REQUIRING THAT I PULL OVER AND RESTART THE CAR IN ORDER TO REGAIN POWER STEERING. EVERYTHING I HAVE FOUND ONLINE SAYS THAT IT WILL COST 1100 DOLLARS TO FIX AS THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10279718

63,000 miles · Aug 7, 2009

Steering

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE POWER STEERING WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. IMMEDIATELY, THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE DRIVER HAD TO EXERT GREATER EFFORT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE ONLY STEERED IN ONE DIRECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER INTO A PARKING LOT AND THE ENGINE TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 63,000. UPDATED 09/18/09. *LJ UPDATED 09/21/09.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10279687

71,932 miles · Aug 6, 2009

Steering

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. MOMENTS LATER, THE POWER STEERING COMPLETELY FAILED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 71,932.

NHTSA ODI #10279595

46,500 miles · Aug 6, 2009

Steering

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND THE VEHICLE ALMOST CRASHED INTO THE DIVIDER. THE FAILURE OCCURRED NUMEROUS TIMES AFTER THE FIRST INCIDENT. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THE LACK OF POWER STEERING COULD CAUSE A CRASH. THE CURRENT MILEAGE …

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NHTSA ODI #10279579

60,000 miles · Aug 5, 2009

Steering

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY BEING DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 60,000.

NHTSA ODI #10279450

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.