10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
70 / 4
Injuries / Deaths:
129 / 3
Average Mileage:
64,071 miles

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« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #593

Feb 102010

Cobalt

  • 92,850 miles
Just bought my Cobalt at used dealership and I have issues with the power steering. It feels really hard to turn and it makes noises that just don't sound right. I'm really concerned now reading these other complaints and I think the power steering needs to be recalled before someone does get hurt or killed. This is a serious safety issue!!

- Phoenix, AZ, USA

problem #592

Oct 022009

Cobalt

  • 72,350 miles
I own a 2006 Chevy Cobalt ls that I purchase used from a Chevy dealer with 70,000 miles here in miami. While driving my Chevy Cobalt, I attempted to make a right turn and my power steering stopped working and I almost crash my vehicle into a pole gladly there was nobody standing or other vehicle near the incident. It has now become an repeated incident meaning that is happening frequently. When the temperature out side gets to cold or too hot it stop working. It also makes a bee noise. I check thru the website review other Chevy Cobalt owners problem and they advice to remove the 60 amp fuse and place it back and it temporary correct the problem until it does it again. I took it to the dealer and they says that I have to replace the hold steering unit which over $1000 dollars which I do not have. I find out that the vehicle has a electronic steering gear instead of a hydraulic pump. I have done a research and find out that I am not the only person owning a Chevy Cobalt that is having the same problem. I research thru you website and several people already report the same problem. It is a safety hazard and a Chevy problem. Please I'm requesting that you guys investigate this problem further since is not an isolated problem. If you need to contact me please feel free. Please do not let someone get killed because of this. Thank you.

- Miami, FL, USA

problem #591

Feb 102010

Cobalt

  • 54,956 miles
I have a 2006 Chevy Cobalt and my 18 yr son was driving and the power steering went out and the message inside the car came on. The vehicle became very hard to drive and almost lost control of the car. When I got home I restarted the car but after 2 minutes of driving the same thing happened. It is extremely dangerous for him and I hear can cost up to $2000 to fix. Something needs to be done.

- Bellevue, NE, USA

problem #590

Feb 012010

Cobalt

  • 78,650 miles
I have a 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt ss. Back in January I had an incident where I was driving and the message center on the dash displayed "power steering." Once that appeared and chimed, I lost most manueverability of my vehicle and it became hard to steer. Once I got to my destination, I turned off the vehicle and back on, and noticed that the problem did not replicate. At the time, my Cobalt had approximately 78,650 miles. Since then, I had not had any occurrence until 2/1/10. Since 2/1/10, the problem occurs every day. It seems to occur after approximately 40-50 minutes of driving and then my power steering kicks out. Turning the engine off and back on will correct the problem, but within 5 minutes the "power steering" message reappears. The engine has to cool down for the length of driving time to increase. I drive a 44 mile commute daily one way, and experience this every day; seeing that I am not the only one experiencing this, it poses a serious safety risk especially when most of my commute is highway driving. I've had it kick out when I'm on an expressway exit ramp almost unable to continue my turn around the corner. I have seen that GM stated in rebuttal to this investigation that "if it goes out it requires extra effort." Being a fairly burly male, that extra effort is a lot! it is like you're going against quite a bit of resistance on the power assist components. I used to work for ups and drove their trucks; their package cars don't have power steering and I know how the lack of power steering feels; this is nothing in comparison. Just having a major snow storm here in the midwest, it poses additional safety concerns trying to maneuver on snow covered pavement. Another concern and question that can be posed, is that if it cuts out after approximately 40-50 minutes of driving, that may mean the power assist is overheating. Can that cause a fire in the vehicle? my Cobalt now is close to approaching 80,000 miles.

- Round Lake, IL, USA

problem #589

Jun 022007

Cobalt

  • 15,000 miles
My power steering on my 2006 Chevy Cobalt ss is going out and is very loud and clunky.

- Garden City, UT, USA

problem #588

Jan 242010

Cobalt

  • miles
Without warning the message screen next to the speedometer read "power steering" and the wheel became very difficult to move. Meanwhile, the car was still driving motion, but the direction of the wheels was nearly inalterable. The only remedy is to bring the car to a complete stop, turn off the engine, and restart it. This can be very hazardous in traffic, as well as in areas of limited driving space. This has occurred in my vehicle 18 times in the past 13 days. During one occurrence, nearby police officers took notice of my struggle and came over to find out what was wrong.

- Elmhurst, IL, USA

problem #587

Aug 052009

Cobalt

  • 48,000 miles
Power steering going out on & off at the beginning & now is after one minute of driving, it gets very stiff hard to maneuver I was about to crash so many times.

- Newark , CA, USA

problem #586

Dec 202009

Cobalt

  • 52,136 miles
06 Cobalt power steering.

- Buffalo, NY, USA

problem #585

Dec 162009

Cobalt

  • 49,800 miles
2006 Chevy Cobalt electric power steering failed at 49,800 miles. This happened unexpectedly while my daughter was driving on the highway, luckily she was able to pull over and park without an accident.

- Neche, ND, USA

problem #584

Oct 052009

Cobalt

  • 37,668 miles
I own a 2006 Chevy Cobalt ls in which the power steering went out. Thankfully I was not driving on the highway, I was just going 2-3 mph out of a parking deck when without warning I had absolutely no steering. I had to take it to the nearby Chevy dealership $456 later it was fixed.

- Cuyahoga Falls, OH, USA

problem #583

Feb 032010

Cobalt

  • 57,588 miles
My 2006 Chevy Cobalt, near 58,000 miles, recently had the power steering go out on it. While driving, the power steering suddenly became tight and difficult to turn. I looked down and saw "power steering" displayed on the display. I was able to steer it home and immediately began my online research. I read that often times turning the car off and then back on will "reset" it. I went out and tried it and it worked. Unfortunately, it only lasted about 10 minutes before I got the message again and the power steering clicked off. Luckily there is a bit of a warning right before it goes out, you can hear a click and then 3 dings and then it locks up. It has been a week now since I first started having the issue and it has progressively gotten worse with each day of driving, going from lasting 10 minutes before failure, to lasting only 15-30 seconds. After the 3rd day I finally gave up on it and began driving my older much more reliable, dependable Chevy cavalier. Today I am taking the Cobalt to the dealership for repairs. I was quoted a price between $450-$600 to repair. I filed a complaint with GM as well. The mechanic at the dealership informed me that they were well aware of the issue and he sees at least one in per month with the same issue. This is not very safe and is obviously a major issue. I am lucky to be able to handle the car when the steering goes out, but what about those with disabilities or the ones who lack the upper body strength? this issue needs to be resolved with GM before they have a much more fatal issue on their hands. The Chevy Cobalt is by far the worse vehicle I have ever owned with all it's issues and I have lost complete faith in the Chevy name because of it.

- Dallas, TX, USA

problem #582

Feb 032010

Cobalt

  • miles
I was driving home from work when I exited the freeway my power steering went out and did not come back until I turned off my car and restarted it. This problem has happened many times now sometimes 2 times while driving to work. It just recently started. It was cold and I had my heater on when it first started to happen.

- Pasadena , TX, USA

problem #581

Jan 202010

Cobalt

  • 58,000 miles
I have an 2006 Cobalt & the power steering has went out it is very difficult for me to drive... when the car is turn off it goes away for a short time & comes right back... very concerned for my safety.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #580

Sep 262009

Cobalt

  • 70,000 miles
Electric power steering.

- Bryan, TX, USA

problem #579

Feb 082010

Cobalt

  • 49,000 miles
During normal driving alert tone sounds, dic says "power steering" and power assist is lost. Vehicle becomes very difficult to control. If I pull over, turn engine off then restart, the problem clears up, however, it will re-occur within a few minutes. Problem happening with greater frequency during last two weeks, now happens every ten minutes or less. I drive mostly on city streets. Problem has occurred too many times to count in the past two weeks, at least 30 times in 5 hours of driving. Yesterday problem occurred 5 times in 15 minutes. Very dangerous.

- Waterford, MI, USA

problem #578

Nov 102009

Cobalt

  • 75,000 miles
The power steering in my 2006 Chevy Cobalt gave out after three years of ownership without warning. Since it is an electronic power steering system, there was no warning, just a sudden total loss of power steering while I was driving. The vehicle became extremely difficult to turn and this created an extremely hazardous situation. I took the car to my mechanic and he replaced the power steering motor which then fixed the problem.

- Austin, TX, USA

problem #577

Jan 292010

Cobalt

  • 45,000 miles
I had just turned on the on ramp to get O the highway and my power steering failed at 25 mph. I later took to dealer to have them check it out and they said I will need a new power steering column and electric motor. Dealer said it will be a $1100 fix. I think GM should pay for this, seeing how so many other Cobalt owners are complaining about this problem.

- Flagstaff, AZ, USA

problem #576

Aug 202008

Cobalt

  • 36,000 miles
I have a 2006 Chevy Cobalt ls coupe. I have a problem with the power steering, as do many other Cobalt onwers. The power steering motor will turn off unexpectedly while driving. I've never been in an accident or had any other serious problems with the car. This makes the car very difficult to drive while at low speeds.

- Bastrop, TX, USA

problem #575

Sep 012008

Cobalt

  • 45,000 miles
2006 Chevrolet Cobalt-power steering failure. I have no power steering in this car now. The electrical unit that powers the power steering has gone out-failed. I took the car to a Chevy dealership and was told it would cost at the very least $800 to fix. I cannot afford to have this repaired. My son uses this car daily (now with no power steering) to and from work and to school. His commute is 1 hour on the interstate one way. My son follows a website for Cobalt owners and tells me that almost all of the emails on the website are regarding the failure of the electrical unit for the power steering. We have also had to replace the fuel tank and fuel injectors on this car. Will there be any recall for the Chevy Cobalt? there should be!!!L

- Gretna, LA, USA

problem #574

Sep 012006

Cobalt

  • miles
I bought a 2006 Chevy Cobalt brand new and immediatly questioned why the sterring wheel shook whenever I braked. I was told by the dealer and another independent mechanic that because the vehicle was a small plastic gas saver that it was to be expected. The shaking of the sterring wheel gets very severe when going downhill and in incidences of quick stops. I was so sure this car was an accident waiting to happen I did not allow my 17 year old driver to drive it. Now, I am hearing about other cevy Cobalts that have steering failure and I no longer accept the answers that I have received from the so called professionals. I hope the government will force GM into a recall before my steering fails and I find myself in the hospital because my steering has failed

- Stafford Springs, CT, USA

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