CarComplaints.com Notes: The Cobalt was introduced to replace two of Chevy’s smaller cars, the Cavalier and Prizm. But the compact’s fresh start that Chevy was hoping for was riddled with issues, most notably widespread power steering failure.
This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
Bought a used 2005 Chevy Cobalt for my son when he graduated from high school. It had less than 30,000 miles on it but no warranty because of the year. A couple of weeks later he started having problems with the power steering. In researching the problem I have found that it is a major issue with the 2005 and 2006 Cobalt. The dealership is well aware of the problem but their hands are tied because no recall has been issued. When you spend the money to replace the rack and pinion and the power steering motor it is a new design so Chevy is obviously aware of the problem because they redesigned the faulty part. I will pay the $2,000 to get my son's car repaired because his safety is a priority. What I don't understand is with the number of complaints how has Chevy gotten away with not issuing a recall. The power steering comes and goes randomly and if you are pulling on a steering wheel with no power and suddenly the power steering comes back you are likely to lose control and hit something or someone. My guess is that someone will have to be killed before it becomes an issue and I don't understand why it has to get to that point before they are forced to do something.
My dad bought me a used 2005 Cobalt as my first car on May 2009 and power steering started to flash 2 days after I got the car. It went away, but it would come back on when it did, I felt the car some how pull or it felt heavy. I was driving out of my driveway when power steer flashed and the steering wheel was rock solid I couldn't turn, I freaked and left the car outside I called my dad, went back out and barely drove it in. My dad came home from work, I took him out to show him, but the car seemed normal. It felt like I was pulling a million pounds. I'm scared of driving it, that it's just parked in the driveway we got it used with 8,000 miles on it, so we have no warranty, and I certainly don't have $2,000 to fix' it we need a recall. Now I'm driving it only to go 2 miles around my house!!! I often have to stop on the side of the road and re-start the car to unlock the steering wheel. By using this car, I am putting my life, and others in danger. Chevrolet has to do something about this, I thought that it was a simple fix, but when I found out how much it cost I can't do it. I don't think it's fare to us as customers to have a car we cant even drive. Now, the power steering dosn't work, the needle that tells you the speed doesn't work!!! we really need a recall from Chevy!! my dad bought the car with light transmission noise problems.the transmission was replaced. I don't have trans problems but the power steer has been there 2 days from getting it.
Bought 2005 Chevy Cobalt new. At about 40K miles of normal driving the power steering began to fail. After restarting the car, the power steering would be fine for up to a month, then up to a week, and finally it would fail after the 1st turn I made after starting the car. I am not a wild driver & I only drive about 5 miles per day on side streets. I had to pay Chevy $48 to check the car, and then $800 to a local mechanic to have the problem fixed after I found that my car was not recalled for this problem. I was told that Chevy wouldn't sell just the one piece that needed to be replaced (some kind of control module) so there was no other choice but to have the entire steering column replaced. The old part is not available. I have seen hundreds of complaints about this specific problem online. All it takes is for this problem to happen to a 16 year old girl on the road and we now have a death on our hands.
Vehicle description: 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt power steering the power steering fails at random times, occurring during driving while the vehicle is in motion. It occurs at any given vehicle speed. This occurs sometimes one time during a particular driving period. Sometimes, will occur many times during a driving period. To temporarily fix the problem, the vehicle has to be stopped, turned off for a few seconds, and then started back up. This seems to reset the error code within the computer. But the problem will return at random. Research online suggests that many Cobalt owners experience the same issue. Many owners have had steering columns replaced, steering modules replaced, with no resolution to the immediate problem of continual power steering failure occurring at random.
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact was driving approximately 35 mph on normal road conditions; proceeding to make a right turn when the "power steering" warning light indicator illuminated on the instrument panel. The steering wheel locked, begin pulling in one direction, and it became difficult to control the steering wheel. Immediately, the engine was turned off and restarted. The contact was able to continue driving normally. The warning indicator remained illuminated until the engine was turned off. The failure continued to occur whenever the vehicle was in operation. The vehicle is in the process of being inspected by an authorized dealer. The contact had concerns of the safety risk involved. The failure and current mileages were 47,950.
- West Chester, PA, USA
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I have a 2005 Chevy Cobalt with less than 50,000 miles on in and the steering has locked up on it several times while driving. Luckily no damage or injury has occurred. I took it into a auto shop and they ran diagnostic on it and the codes came back as a faulty steering column and steering motor. After I got this news I googled this and to my surprise Chevy has never issued a recall on this serious defect. Hundreds if not thousands of people has had the same problem. Seems to me Chevy doesn't care about the well being of their customer.
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt ls. While driving the "power steering" warning light illuminated on the instrument panel, and then there was a loss of power steering. The vehicle was restarted to reset the error code, and to resume normal vehicle operation. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing, but because he could not duplicate the failure he could not provide a remedy. No repairs were made. The failure mileage was 4,000. The current mileage was 5,277.
1. taking a left turn, my car dashboard flashed a "power steering" warning and my power steering went out. 2. the power steering goes out at least 2-3 times day making it very dangerous to drive. 3. I will be taking the car to the dealership to be repaired. I've been told it could be the power steering motor or the steering column. I cannot afford to replace the column and if that is what is wrong I will be forced to continue to drive the vehicle in its current condition.
On way to work on 10/26/2009 and power steering goes out. Second time in less than one year. First failure occurred on 11/24/208 and dealership corrected problem by replacing BCM and steering column. Also, said no communication with PCM causing check engine light to come on. Car is currently at dealership waiting to hear from them on second. Occurrence. The problems the second time were identical to first occurrence.
I drive an 05 Chevy Cobalt and the steering component/transmission went bad. Just bought the car a few weeks ago. Last night I was simply driving to the library when all of a sudden the power steering flash on the dash board, the steering got really tight, the check engine light came on, other lights sporadically flashes, the speedometer goes berserk, the rm's same issue, even one point the gas meter was going out of control. And the car will shake badly. The car was working just fine the few hours I drove before. Luckily I was able to get it home without hurting anyone. I've read that many people have suffered the same problem and that Chevy should have a recall. I have not taken it to a dealer yet because I don't have the money for repairs.
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt. While turning into a parking lot the power steering warning light illuminated on the instrument control panel, and then there was a loss of power steering. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and a technician concluded that the power steering motor needed to be replaced. The current and failure mileages were 45681.
Vehicle was operating normally while driving on the interstate. Power steering alert came up on the dash and power steering instantly went out. Fortunately I was on a straight stretch of highway and managed to make it home safely. Power steering has not worked since. I am still looking for a reasonably priced remedy.
I have 2005 Chevy Cobalt. At first the power steering went out with less than 50000 miles on the car. When I restarted the car, the power steering comes back on. However, the car does it all the time now. Sometimes in the middle of turning. I switch the ignition key back and then forward to make it come back on but sometimes the car stalls. I do not have the money to fix right now considering I am still making payments on the car.
I own a 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt. The power steering intermittently goes out causing the steering to be almost impossible. I am sure you realize what a serious problem this is. I have found that this is a defect from the factory but that GM refused to make it a recall item. I feel that GM should have to fix the defect at no charge to us owners. 8tr
I own a 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt ls and twice the power steering has failed while I was driving, once on the freeway and once while turning. The dashboard read "power steering."
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Broken Arrow, OK, USA