Steering. Review the 1,299 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 412 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Fuel/propulsion System. Review the 255 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

164 crash reports14 fire reports81 injury reports

Electronic Stability Control (esc) complaints

29 reports

Clear category filter

161,000 miles · Sep 10, 2020

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Steering

CONSTANT POWER STEERING, TRACTION CONTROL AND OTHER MISCELLANEOUS ENGINE LIGHT MESSAGES. POWER STEERING LOSS CAUSING CAR TO BE UNDRIVEABLE. THIS HAPPENS DURING CAR START UP AND WHILE DRIVING BOTH ON THE ROAD AND FREEWAY.

NHTSA ODI #11354099

200,000 miles · Jul 12, 2020

Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Steering

Read full complaint

YESTERDAY WAS ON WAY HOME FROM WORK AND CAR JUST DIED ON CITY STREET WITH NO WARNING. I SOMEHOW MANAGED TO GET THE CAR TO A PARKING LOT AND OUT OF TRAFFIC. I TRIED TO START THE CAR AND NO THE CAR WONT START BACK UP SO I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED HOME. LAST WEEK I LOST POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING ON A RURAL ROAD AND THEN CAR STARTED ACTING LIKE IT WAS GOING TO DIE. I STOPPED AND WHEN I STOPPED THE CAR JERKED INTO A FORWARD POSITION. I SHUT THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTED THE CAR AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS SHIFTING REALLY HARD GOING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR WHEN GETTING READY TO SLOW DOWN IT SEEMED LIKE THE CAR WAS A MANUAL AND I HAD IT IN 5TH GEAR BECAUSE IT WAS SEEMING LIKE IT WAS GOING TO STALL OUT BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION WAS IDLING IN THE WRONG GEAR AS I WAS SLOWING DOWN. SOMETIME THE KEY WILL GET STUCK IN THE IGNITION AND I HAVE THE STEERING COLUMN COVER OFF SO I CAN PUSH THE WHITE BUTTON TO RELEASE THE KEY. WHEN THE KEYS ARE NOT IN THE IGNITION THE SPEEDOMETER AND THE RPM AND EVERYTHING ELECTRICAL IN THE CAR JUMPS BACK AND FORTH LIKE THE CAR WAS ON.

NHTSA ODI #11338886

140,640 miles · Feb 28, 2020

Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT APPEARS THE CAR IDLES AND SHIFTS HARD TRIES TO SHIFT OFF. THE LOCKS UNLOCK AND RELOCK IN A FAST PACE. THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT FLASHES. IT DOES NOT MATTER MY SPEED OF THE VEHICLE IT HAPPENS EVEN WHEN DRIVING 10 MILES AN HOUR. IT IS VERY SCARY. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS CAR. WHEN TURNING THE STEERI…

Read full complaint

NHTSA ODI #11311998

140,000 miles · Nov 5, 2019

Electronic Stability Control (esc)CrashInjury

T/C LIGHT CAME ON WHILE IN MOTION TRAVELING ON INTERSTATE, DRIVER BRAKED AND LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE RESULTING IN 3 CAR ACCIDENT.THE CAR WAS TOTALED

NHTSA ODI #11278210

100,000 miles · Jul 31, 2018

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Exterior LightingFuel/propulsion System

Read full complaint

I ALREADY HAD A RECALL ON THE FUEL PUMP OR MODULAR AND THEN ON THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS ALWAYS BEEN ON. THEY COULDN'T GET IT TO GO OFF EVEN WHEN THEY DID THOSE REPAIRS, THEN ONE DAY THE TURN SIGNALS STOPPED TURNING OFF AFTER MAKING A TURN. THE NEWEST PROBLEM AND THE SCARIEST ONE TO ME IS NOW A GAS LEAK. I WENT OUT AND STARTED MY CAR, STARTED TO REVERSE AND THEN SMELLED A STRONG ODOR OF GAS. I STOPPED AND NOTICED MY GAS GAUGE ACTUALLY GOING DOWN. SO I SHUT THE CAR OFF HURRIED UP AND GOT MY KIDS OUT AND THEN SAW THE GAS POURING ON THE ROAD FROM UNDER MY CAR. I CAN'T BELIEVE THE PROBLEMS THAT I'VE HAD WITH THIS CAR. CHEVY NEEDS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THESE PROBLEMS. IT'S THEIR CHEAP MISTAKES. THE ONLY REASON I HAVE CONTINUED TO KEEP THE CAR IS BECAUSE IT BELONGED TO MY LITTLE BROTHER WHO DIED IN A TRAGIC CAR CASH WITH HIS PREGNANT FIANC AND MY FATHER. SO I HAVEN'T WANTED TO PART WITH IT. I HAVE SEEN THAT OTHERS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS AND APPARENTLY THERE WAS RECALLS FOR SOME OF THESE PROBLEMS ON OTHERS BUT NOT FOR MY VIN. HOW IS THAT RIGHT? THEY NEED TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR FIXING THIS AND THEY NEED TO FIX EVERYTHING CORRECTLY THIS TIME. I NEED HELP WITH THIS PROBLEM, I'M NOT SURE WHERE ELSE TO TURN AT THIS POINT.

NHTSA ODI #11114703

95,000 miles · Apr 15, 2017

Air BagsElectronic Stability Control (esc)Unknown Or OtherCrash

CAR SMELLS LIKE BURNING WIRE, LOCKS UNLOCK ALL DAY AND ALL NIGHT, SOME ELECTRICAL PROBLEM DRAINS BATTERY OVER NIGHT. I AM TERRIFIED. GMC WILL NOT CONTACT ME.

NHTSA ODI #10978644

180,000 miles · Mar 31, 2017

Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Steering

IGNITION LOCK - CAR GETS STUCK IN THE IGNITION AND WON'T RELEASE. LOCKS ON DOOR MOVE UP AND DOWN ON THEIR OWN AND EVENTUALLY RUN BATTERY DOWN GEAR SHIFT TRIES TO SHIFT ON ITS OWN AND CLICKS FREQUENTLY

NHTSA ODI #10969730

119,870 miles · Sep 18, 2016

Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Steering

Read full complaint

HAD IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED FOR RECALL ABOUT A YR AGO. WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE CAR SHOWED POWER STEERING IN INFO LINE. THEN ODOMETER , SPEED, INFO NUMBERS ALL STOPPED WORKING. PULLED IN GAS STATION, CAR WON'T START, KEY WON'T COME OUT OF IGNITION. AFTER A FEW MINS, CAR STARTED BACK UP AND NOW ANTI-THEFT LIGHT IS ON. MANAGED TO DRIVE THA CAR 100 MI. BACK HOME BUT NOISE LIKE LAWNMOWER COMING FROM FRONT AND FELT LIKE TRANSMISSION STUCK OR SLIPPING. WAS TERRIFIED THAT CAR WAS GONNA BLOW UP OR JUST STOP AND GET HIT BY SEMI. THE CAR HAS ALSO JUST STOPPED A COUPLE OF TIMES AFTER HAVING THE IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED. I HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH THIS UNTIL IT WAS REPLACED. I DID HAVE THE FUEL LEAK HAPPEN AND THE ELECTRICAL LIGHTS STOP WORKING AND DIM OR GET BRIGHTER WITH BRAKING. THIS CAR IS SO DANGEROUS TO THE DRIVERS AS WELL AS PUBLIC, IT SHOULD NOT BE IN THE ROAD AND CONSUMERS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO SPEND MONEY THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO FIX A MANUFACTURERS SCREW-UP.

NHTSA ODI #10907440

181,000 miles · Jul 10, 2016

Electronic Stability Control (esc)SteeringVehicle Speed Control

Read full complaint

I WAS DRIVING THE CAR ON THE HIGHWAY, GOING ABOUT 38 MPH AND THE POWER STEERING WARNING BEEPED AND DISPLAYED ON MY DASH. THE STEERING TIGHTENED UP A BIT, AND THE CAR SLOWED DOWN, AS I WAS DRIVING (I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE CAR SLOWED DOWN TO BECAUSE THE SPEEDOMETER THEN DROPPED TO ZERO, BUT THE TACHOMETER CONTINUED TO REV (I WANT TO SAY) BETWEEN 2 & 3 RPM, WHILE THE CAR WAS STILL IN MOTION. THE LOCKS WERE CLICKING UP AND DOWN TOO WHILE THIS WAS ALL HAPPENING. THEN THE CAR BUCKED AND THE SPEEDOMETER BEGAN WORKING. THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT REMAINED LIT DURING THE WHOLE TIME. I WAS ABLE TO PULL INTO A PARKING LOT FOR SAFETY. THIS WAS CLEARLY A DRIVING SAFETY ISSUE DUE TO THE VEHICLE SLOWING DOWN WHEN THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. THERE WERE OTHER AFFECTED PARTS, BUT I WAS NOT ABLE TO SELECT THE BOXES: ELECTRICAL; OTHER (SPEEDOMETER) THIS ALSO HAPPENED TODAY: 07/10/16, PROMPTING ANOTHER COMPLAINT TO BE FILED.

NHTSA ODI #10883860

168,372 miles · Jun 17, 2016

Electronic Stability Control (esc)

Read full complaint

IT DOESN'T MATTER OF I'M DRIVING AT JUST SITTING AT THE TRAFFIC LIGHT BUT THE T/C, ENGINE LIGHTS COME ON N MAKE MY CAR JERK LIKE IT'S THE TRANSMISSION KICKING BACK SO IN MARCH 2016 IT GOT SO BAD TO THE POINT I COULD NO LONGER EVEN PUT MY CAR IN REVERSE SO I HAD TO HAVE A BRAND NEW TRANSMISSION WHICH COST ME $1500 THEN THE SAME DAY I GOT IT BACK ALL THE LIGHTS CAME RIGHT BACK AND I'VE TAKEN IT SEVERAL TIMES TO THE MECHANIC AND IT GIVES HIM A P1174, P0014 CODE. I'M AFRAID ONE DAY WHILE I'M DRIVING MY CAR IS JUST GOING TO FALL APART WITH HOW BADLY IT JERKS BUT ONCE THE T/C LIGHT DOES GO OFF IT STOPS JERKING AND WILL DRIVE SMOOTH BUT THE ENGINE LIGHT MAY OR NOT STILL COME ON AND MAKES MY CAR DRIVE SLUGGISH N THE RPM GUAGES GO CRAZY LIKE I CAN ACCELERATE BUT THE CAR DOESN'T SEEM TO BE ACCELERATING.

NHTSA ODI #10874954

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.

09V419000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump

Oct 29, 2009

GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006 CHEVROLET COBALT AND SATURN ION VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF ARIZONA AND NEVADA; AND MODEL YEAR 2007 CHEVROLET COBALT, PONTIAC G5 AND SATURN ION VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF ARIZONA, CALIFORNIA, FLORIDA, NEVADA AND TEXAS. THE PLASTIC SUPPLY OR RETURN PORT ON THE MODULAR RESERVOIR ASSEMBLY MAY CRACK. IF EITHER OF THESE PORTS DEVELOPS A CRACK, FUEL WILL LEAK FROM THE AREA. IF THE CRACK BECOMES LARGE ENOUGH, FUEL MAY BE OBSERVED DRIPPING ONTO THE GROUND AND VEHICLE PERFORMANCE MAY BE AFFECTED.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP MODULE FREE OF CHARGE. A SPECIAL COVERAGE WILL BE IMPLEMENTED IN THE SAME TIME FRAME FOR MODEL YEAR 2006 VEHICLES REGISTERED IN ALABAMA, ARKANSAS, CALIFORNIA, FLORIDA, GEORGIA, HAWAII, LOUISIANA, MISSISSIPPI, NORTH CAROLINA, NEW MEXICO, OKLAHOMA, SOUTH CAROLINA, TENNESSEE AND TEXAS AND MODEL YEAR 2007 VEHICLES REGISTERED IN: ALABAMA, ARKANSAS, GEORGIA, HAWAII, LOUISIANA, MISSISSIPPI, NORTH CAROLINA, NEW MEXICO, OKLAHOMA, SOUTH CAROLINA AND TENNESSEE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR BEFORE FEBRUARY 4, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, SATURN AT 1-800-972-8876 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.

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.