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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
35 / 4
Injuries / Deaths:
23 / 5
Average Mileage:
65,808 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

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.

2008 Chevrolet Cobalt steering problems

steering problem

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2008 Chevrolet Cobalt Owner Comments (Page 1 of 15)

problem #294

Sep 052023

Cobalt

  • 171,117 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated while starting the vehicle, the message "Steering Locked" was displayed. The contact stated that the steering wheel was significantly difficult to turn; however, he drove the vehicle to the residence. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle the following day, the steering wheel operated as needed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the steering column needed to be taken apart to install an unknown switch. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 10V073000 (Steering); however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 171,117.

- Wiota, IA, USA

problem #293

Jul 312023

Cobalt

  • miles
My speedometer jumps and shows a message of POWER STEERING. It makes my fuel line jump as well. I've recently gotten my starter fixed because my car wouldn't start. My tire warning stays on and my tires are new and set at the right PSI. My ABS comes and goes ALL THE TIME and nothing needs to be fixed. My car jerks really hard when all of this is going on.

- Midvale, UT, USA

problem #292

Feb 012023

Cobalt

  • 125,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated while driving out of a parking space, the steering wheel became firm, and the power steering warning light illuminated. The contact was able to drive home. The vehicle was not diagnosed. The dealer was contacted and stated that there was no recall for the failure. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 125,000.

- Kansas City, MO, USA

problem #291

Oct 302022

Cobalt

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

My Power Steering failed. I was trying to turn into my drive way and I couldn-??t turn my steering wheel. Mine and my children's safety were at risk because It could have caused an accident. There are other Chevy cobalts that are recalled for the same problem as mine but for some reason my VIN is showing that my cobalt isn-??t recalled for it. There were no warnings other than the dash saying -??POWER STEERING-?? as my steering wheel stopped turning.

- Lehighton, PA, USA

problem #290

Aug 172022

Cobalt

  • miles
I was drivein on high way in my car got hard to turn so i stoped and let my uncle drive cause he is more stronger then from that point it got harder to trun it amost locked up on me who know what would have happen but i was almost to my house so we were ablue to get it here then i called my car lot and i hade to drive it there it was so impossible to do but with the help of my uncle he got it there and im in school and stuck with out a car intell its fixed and i have to pay laber wait on part to come in thay say etc its just alot and thank god i was not alone

- Oklahomacity, OK, USA

problem #289

Jul 062022

Cobalt

  • miles
Power steering is locking up while driving. Windows won-??t go down.

- Altavista , VA, USA

problem #288

Jun 052022

Cobalt

  • 91,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle the vehicle experienced power steering failure. The contact drove the vehicle to her destination at approximately 30 MPH without a power steering assist. The contact stated that when she returned and started the vehicle the power steering had regained functionality. The contact stated that the failure had recurred twice in the past three months. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact had not taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic or dealer. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 91,000.

- Crawfordsville, IN, USA

problem #287

May 162022

Cobalt

  • miles
Power steering assist goes out randomly. Looked up VIN and said does not affect this vehicle, however, it is malfunctioning.

- Cadillac, MI, USA

problem #286

Sep 032021

Cobalt

  • 76,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH, the power steering suddenly malfunctioned and the steering wheel became difficult to turn in either direction. The cause of the failure was not determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure. The contact was informed that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 10V073000 (Steering). The contact indicated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 76,000.

- Washington, DC, USA

problem #285

Apr 012021

Cobalt

  • 162,000 miles
Steering was good and had no problems turning either direction and now it is hard steering and turn either direction and sometimes it feels like it's turning free when turning a corner or turning around

- Muscatine, IA, USA

problem #284

Apr 262021

Cobalt

  • 170,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated while driving approximately 60 mph, the power steering suddenly malfunctioned, causing the steering wheel to become very difficult to turn in either direction. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and the manufacturer were not yet made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 170,000.

- Birmingham, AL, USA

problem #283

Mar 022021

Cobalt

  • 84,000 miles
Power steering keeps going out and I have never received a recall on this car. It was sitting still when I crank it and I could barely turn steering wheel. I could be killed if it goes out while driving. It's a manufacturing default and need to be recalled

- Brookneal, VA, USA

problem #282

Dec 242020

Cobalt

  • 89,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated that the steering wheel became hard to turn while parallel parking. The power steering warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that first the transmission control module, the traction control, ignition and power steering warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the gear shifter was not shifting to first gear and that the speedometer was not functioning as designed. The contact stated that after the tcm was grounded to the chassis, the gear shifter shifted as designed. The contact also stated that shortly after the failure, the power steering became hard to turn. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing. The contact referenced NHTSA campaign number: 10V073000 (steering) and stated that the vehicle had experienced the same failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 89,000.

- Franklin, NJ, USA

problem #281

Jan 252021

Cobalt

  • 90,000 miles
Steering gets stiff on and off afraid it's going to lock up and get into accident just purchased from local used car dealer in town mid December 2020 for a christmas gift for granddaughters 1st car within first 50 miles tcm failed couldnt shift past second gear power steering light came on grounded wire and helped with transmission now power steering problem hard steering on and off trying learn how to parallel park for her drivers test

- East Stroudsburg, PA, USA

problem #280

Feb 012021

Cobalt

  • 248,000 miles
I have had the power steering pump recall fixed twice now on my car. Last time was October of 2020, and finally in January of 2021 it started acting up again. Normally I can drive it to wherever without too much issue, but that was not the case yesterday. I started my car before leaving for work, got in to leave and the power steering light was on. I attempted to drive it, as it is my only form of transportation, and did not get far. It jerked around violently, would not accelerate and then became hard to steer. After I let it sit all day and tried again, it still was acting up and the steering wheel would not move without excessive pressure, eventually would not even start after that try. I am at a loss and am furious as this is still an issue after being fixed twice.

- Mulhall, OK, USA

problem #279

Jan 272021

Cobalt

  • 174,061 miles
Power steering stopped working while driving. Stopped the car and shut it off, then restarted car and the power steering worked again. I was lucky, I was driving slow on a back street when this happened. If I had been on a highway it could had gone very bad. I found no recalls for my car.

- Melbourne, FL, USA

problem #278

Nov 112020

Cobalt

  • 83,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated that while driving approximately 35 mph, the vehicle loss power steering assist without warning, and became very difficult to steer. The vehicle was not taken to be diagnosed nor repaired. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer were notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 83,000.

- Lima, OH, USA

problem #277

Sep 152020

Cobalt

  • 75,000 miles
I had recalls fixed in 2015. And then suddenly power steering turns on and off. Never before they touched it was there an issue. It happens here and there and stops. This year is happening every day and won't go away. My power steering turns off in middle of driving. Dash board lights go off and car starts cranking. Goes super slow. I'm scared ita going to explode. I can't drive on freeway. And now besides the lock on screen coming on my engine light stays on now. Not sure what to do with it. Car shops can't help. When I 1st had the issue I called the dealer because they fixed the recall and they said nothing could be done because they had already fixed the recall

- Gardena, CA, USA

problem #276

Jul 022020

Cobalt

  • 146,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated that while reversing from a parking space, the vehicle loss power steering. The power steering assist warning light illuminated. The vehicle became difficult to steer. The contact contacted david hoffman auto mall (198 buffalo rd, rochester, NY 14611; (585) 527-9500) and was informed that the vehicle was no longer under warranty. The contact took the vehicle to get an oil change and was informed that underneath the vehicle was severely rusted. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 146,000.

- Rochester, NY, USA

problem #275

Dec 012019

Cobalt

  • 212,000 miles
While driving all the light on instrument panel will all light up then the transmission will shift hard. The car will not crank at times and when this happens its a guarantee the transmission will shift hard. The evap sensor is faulting because when I put fuel in the vehicle seems like it does not want to crank. The evap problem does not seem to be related to a possible computer malfunction. We have had the fuel pump replaced by a local licensed mechanic.

- Delhi, LA, USA

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