2005 Chevrolet Cobalt Steering Problems

Which parts fail

• Electric power assist system
  52
• Column
  19
• Hydraulic power assist system
  13
• Column locking › Anti-theft device
  1
• Gear box › Shaft sector
  1
• Rack and pinion
  1

Components named in complaints (power steering, steering column, rack and pinion).

Mileage when the problem started

• Under 25k
  838%
• 25k–50k
  24324%
• 50k–75k
  35435%
• 75k–100k
  16316%
• 100k–150k
  11912%
• 150k+
  586%

Owner reports

Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).

The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated while driving at approximately 65 MPH, the power steering assist warning illuminated. The contact stated that the steering wheel was difficult to turn to the left or the right. The contact was able to pull off the roadway, turned off, and restart the vehicle. The contact stated that the vehicle regained power steering functionality. The contact stated that the loss of power steering assist became a recurring failure. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a dealer or independent mechanic. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 10V073000 (Steering). The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000.

My mother owned this 2005 chevrolet cobalt 4D (vin # stated above). The power steering seemed to have quit working, as it was very hard to turn the steering wheel. On Dec.28, 2021 she (& my 2 daughters) were turning left & her car was hit by another car on the right front (passenger side), front 1/4 panel. The car was spun around several times. My mother was temporarily knocked unconscience & then came to. Car was totalled out. (Doctor ignored to perform a head scan instead he scanned her back). My mother bled on her brain for 3 months & died. It was very devastating

The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel failed to turn in the desired direction. The contact stated the power steering warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The contact referenced an unknown recall; however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000.

The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated while driving approximately 65 MPH and making a turn, the steering wheel seized and created a loss of the power steering functionality. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 30,000.

For the last several years I have been experiencing loss of the power steering and the electrical just going crazy lights flashing horn blowing. I've had a new computer put in and power steering still going out. I looked online and saw there was a recall for power steering motor in cobalt models 2005 through 2010 but when I put in my Vin number, it says my car has no recall. I need to know if there is a power steering motor recall on my car if someone could help me I would greatly appreciate it.

Tl* the contact owned a 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt. While driving approximately 30 MPH, the steering wheel seized and the power steering warning indicator illuminated. As a result, the driver crashed into a concrete traffic barrier. There were no injuries and a police report was not filed. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or independent mechanic to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was destroyed. The VIN was included in NHTSA campaign number: 14V153000 (steering). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 145,000.

This submission is an addendum to the report that I submitted on aug 15, 2011; reference number 10419491 with the attachments that include the police report, May statement and photos. I submitted my report two days after the accident. Now, after reading the news articles and the GM statements regarding the faulty ignition switch, it is apparent that what I thought was a steering malfunction (per the recalls I received and the statements made to me by GM representatives) was clearly the ignition switch. While driving down the freeway at 60 MPH my dash lights turned on, I immediately lost steering control (I could not turn my steering wheel) and swerved had to the left crashing into the guard rail. The accident report shows my skid marks across three traffic lanes that clearly indicate that my ABS system also was not working. …

I rented this brand new Cobalt 4 months after hurricane katrina from mobile alabama, so as to go back to my home town of san francisco, ca. By the time I made it through los angeles, at around 430 am. I lost control of car due to severe stiffness in the steering. Which LED to the vehicle running off of I-5 heading north bound at a speed of 60 miles per hour. Visibility was good, I veered off the freeway into the median portion of I-5, and I tried to slow down but no response which LED me to roll over few times, end to end and over and over, luckily I was wearing my seat belt and it held very well, suprisingly, no airbags, none of them deployed, and all the windows blew out, and not the reinforced kind including the front wind shield. The ambulance came, and so did the california highway patrol. …

I was stopped in line of traffic and had to move to the right slightly to get out of a firetruck's way (not in a jerking and forceful movement, but normal turning of steering wheel). When I tried to get back into the line of traffic, the steering wheel was extremely difficult to move and I heard electrical motor noises coming from behind the steering wheel. These noises continued for 10-20 seconds and then the power steering message came on the display. This now happens every time I start my car and steering has become very difficult, especially turns at slow speeds. I researched the issue, and was told on the GM hotline that my VIN did not match the recall from 2010 pertaining to the power steering. I took the car to an independent mechanic, who also called GM and was informed about the recall when inquiring about parts. …

This issue seems to be a common problem with the 2005 Cobalt. Please research any car complaint websites about this certain vehicle. Even though all the recalls have been taken care of, while in motion, at any time and any speed, the dash lights starts flashing and you get the message power steering on message center, tc light comes on, light that shows padlock symbol comes on, RPM needle jumps up and down, steering wheel locks up, motor surges and shakes, and you hear all types of clicking sounds below gear shifter. This is a very dangerous thing and Chevrolet/GM just cannot seem to fix this issue or even find anything wrong. The 2005 Cobalt needs to be recalled and any other year of Cobalt having this issue. I will give you below the last date this has happened, but this has went on since we got the car in 2008. …

Related recalls

NHTSA investigations

Steering complaints in other Cobalt years