(12/31/09) I have not had powersteering since april on my 2005 Chevy cobalt something needs to be done there are hundreds of complaints online about this problem I don't understand why there is not a recall on it. When it first started it would happen every couple of days, within a month the powersteering would only last a few seconds someone is going to get seriously injured if not killed if…
2005 Chevrolet Cobalt steering problems
critical 1,137 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $700 · see steering across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
1,137
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
52crashes
7fires
34injuries
6fatalities
When does it fail?
Of the 1,137 steering complaints filed for the 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 50,000-75,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
How fast does it fail?
Cumulative share of the 11 mileage-bearing steering complaints filed against the 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt by each odometer reading. Median failure: 70,000 mi.
10% have failed by33,000 mi
Half the fleet by70,000 mi
90% have failed by111,000 mi
Curve based on owner-reported odometer mileage at the time of complaint. Reflects when owners filed, not when symptoms first appeared. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve.
What stands out
Steering accounts for 69% of every owner complaint on file for this vehicle — the dominant problem area across 12 categories tracked.
Owners have filed 1,137 steering complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: The 2005 Chevy Cobalt has a severe, widespread power steering defect affecting hundreds or thousands of vehicles. The electric power steering system fails suddenly and without warning, leaving drivers unable to steer at speeds from 10 to 70 mph—a genuine crash risk, especially on highways or in curves. Even after the recall repair, failures continue to recur.
The 2005 Chevy Cobalt's electric power steering system cuts out without warning, sometimes multiple times per drive, making the steering wheel extremely hard or impossible to turn. The warning light appears on the dash and a chime sounds, but by then the driver has already lost steering assist—which is dangerous whether you're doing 20 mph in town or 60 mph on the highway. Turning the car off and back on temporarily restores steering, but the failure happens again later, sometimes within minutes.
Many owners report this problem started early in the vehicle's life—as early as 3,000 miles—and has persisted or recurred for years. When power steering fails, it often triggers a cascade of electrical faults: the traction control light, check engine light, and transmission warning lights all come on; the engine stalls; the speedometer and gauges go haywire; door locks cycle on and off. Some owners lost all electrical power and had to coast to a stop.
Dealers typically replace the entire steering column ($800–$2,200). GM issued Recall 10023 around 2010 to replace the EPS motor for free, but owners report the same failures happening again weeks or months after the recall service was completed. When they return to the dealer, they are told the recall is finished and further repairs are their responsibility. Multiple owners have paid for repairs twice, three times, or more with no resolution.
The problem is not new to GM or Chevrolet dealers—service technicians acknowledged it as a "very common" defect and a known design flaw—yet the recall was delayed years, and even after the recall, it did not fix the underlying issue for many owners.
Same Chevrolet Cobalt steering reports on nearby years: 2006 · 2007 · 2008
Failure modes owners describe
Intermittent power steering failure—loss of EPS assist during driving
The electric power steering (EPS) system disengages without warning at any speed, leaving the driver with manual steering effort that becomes extremely difficult or impossible at highway speeds. Typically occurs after a second or two of operation, sometimes multiple times per drive. Turning the ignition off and back on usually restores function temporarily.
When: Starts early in vehicle life (as early as 3,000 miles/August 2005 on some vehicles) and can persist or recur for years. Reported between 2005–2018; complaints cluster around 2008–2010 when recall was issued.
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden loss of power steering assist with dashboard warning light and chime; Steering wheel becomes very hard to turn or locks up completely; Loss of steering can occur at any speed (10–70 mph reported); Failure is intermittent and unpredictable; no clear trigger; Turning off and restarting car temporarily restores steering; Sometimes does not recur for days or weeks; other times occurs multiple times per day
Codes mentioned: U2100, U2105, U2107
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers typically replace the entire steering column or steering column motor (cost reported $450–$2,200 out of pocket before recall; part cost alone cited as $500+). Recall 10023 involved replacement of EPS motor. Many owners report the problem recurring or worsening even after repair or recall service.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: GM issued Safety Recall 10023 (approximately 2010) for EPS motor replacement. A "Special Coverage Adjustment" (dated 12/03/2007) was issued for 2005 Malibu and 2005 Pontiac G6 for similar EPS failure (7 years/70,000 miles coverage), but no comparable coverage was applied to Cobalts initially. Many owners report that after recall work, the same problem recurred or new electrical symptoms emerged.
Steering column electrical fault with cascading electrical failure
When power steering fails, it is often accompanied by loss of other critical electrical functions—traction control, ABS brakes, engine power, transmission, dash gauges, door locks, and airbag systems. The vehicle may stall, lose all dash power, or go into limp mode.
When: Most prominent 2008–2014, but reported as early as 2006 and as late as 2018.
Symptoms owners cite: Power steering light illuminates and steering fails; Traction control light and check engine light come on simultaneously; Dashboard lights flashing or going dark; gauges fluctuate wildly; Transmission goes into limp mode or shifts hard/jerks; Engine stalls or cuts out completely mid-drive; Clicking or grinding noise in shifter area; Door locks cycle on and off randomly; Speedometer/odometer needle jumps or freezes
Codes mentioned: U2100, U2105, U2107
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers often reset computer or replace steering column, transmission computer module, or individual components (shifter, ignition switch, BCM/ECM). Cost reported $500–$1,400+. Repairs frequently fail to resolve the root cause or problem recurs within weeks.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall 10023 replaced EPS motor; Recall 14113 addressed ignition switch (though some owners report ignition switch recall performed in 2014 did not prevent subsequent failures). Dealers often claim inability to replicate the problem during diagnostic testing. GM corporate response frequently states "no known issue" despite hundreds of complaints.
Steering column motor electrical short or internal fault
The EPS motor itself fails internally, most commonly detected as lack of continuity or power delivery. May be related to unclean manufacturing (described by one owner as covered in black powder) or inherent design weakness in the electric column motor.
When: As early as 2005 (first oil change at ~3,000 miles) through 2014 and beyond.
Symptoms owners cite: Power steering warning light illuminates; Sudden complete loss of power steering; Steering wheel becomes immovable or extremely difficult to turn; Car jerks or lurches when power steering fails
Codes mentioned: Internal motor fault (as stated by service technicians)
Repairs/costs cited: Replacement of entire steering column assembly typically required ($800–$2,200). Recall 10023 (Motor Kit 19257875) provided free replacement for qualifying vehicles. However, many owners report that replacement motors failed again within months or years, or that replacement was ineffective.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: GM issued Recall 10023 for EPS motor replacement. Some service notes indicate GM changed vendors for the steering column motor after discovering defects in the original manufacturer's design. Despite changes, recurring failures were reported even after recall service.
Ignition switch cutoff during driving (secondary effect of broader electrical failure)
The ignition switch moves out of the 'Run' position while the vehicle is in motion, causing the engine and all electrical systems (including power steering and ABS) to shut down. This can occur independent of, or concurrent with, power steering failure.
When: Reported 2006–2018, with clusters around 2009–2014.
Symptoms owners cite: Engine shuts off mid-drive without warning; All dashboard lights and gauges go dark; Power steering and ABS lost simultaneously; Car stalls abruptly while driving; Cannot restart immediately; takes minutes to restart; Crash risk due to loss of steering and braking at highway speeds
Codes mentioned:
Repairs/costs cited: Recall 14113 (Ignition Switch) was issued to replace the ignition cylinder and reprogram keys. Owners paid diagnostic fees ($95+) or were refused warranty coverage if problem recurred after recall. Some owners report ignition switch failed again within 2 years of recall repair.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall 14113 (2014) replaced ignition switches. However, many owners report the problem continued after this recall, and GM refused to provide additional coverage, claiming recall is "one-and-done."
Recurring power steering failure after recall repair
Even after recall service (Recall 10023 EPS motor replacement or Recall 14113 ignition switch replacement), owners report identical or worse power steering loss, electrical failures, or steering lockup within weeks to years of repair.
When: Post-recall symptoms reported 2010–2018, with many cases documented within 6 months to 2 years after recall completion.
Symptoms owners cite: Power steering light returns and steering fails again; Same electrical cascade failures (traction control, ABS, engine stall) recur; Steering becomes intermittently difficult or locks without warning; Dash lights and gauges fail again; Problem may worsen or become more frequent than before repair
Codes mentioned: U2100, U2105, U2107
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers and GM customer service claim recall work is complete and refuse further warranty coverage or diagnosis. Some owners have paid out-of-pocket a second or third time ($450–$1,400+ per repair) with no resolution. One owner reports replacing steering column, shaft, and link at 73,117 miles, then same problems recurring at 73,900 miles.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: GM states recall is "complete" and "one-and-done"; further repairs are owner's responsibility. District specialists and dealers refuse to investigate further or provide extended warranty coverage. No second recall issued despite widespread reports of recurring failure.
Synthesized from 1,137 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 14 most recent
1. Driving at speeds of 45-55 MPH. 2. 2005 Chevy cobalt electronic power steering problem. My car out of no where will constantly feels like the car is going to die, jerks like I was driving over huge potholes and rumbles. So far it has happened 4 times but I haven't driving the car much since I just delivered my first child in november. I'm afraid to drive my newborn in my car! 3.…
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet cobalt. While driving the power steering warning indicator illuminated on the instrument control panel, and then the power steering failed. He contacted the dealer, and the technician stated that the power steering column needed to be replaced at an expense of $900. The failure and current mileages were 89,000. The VIN was unavailable. Updated 2/17/10 *cn…
For the past 2-3 months my 2005 Chevy cobalt loses it's power steering going over a small bump in the road (an uneven surface). If the car is restarted the power steering comes back until the next bump in the road. I've taken my complaint to Chevrolet and all they have done is told me to make an appointment with their mechanic. I've noticed that there are several Chevy cobalt owners that are…
2005 Chevy cobalt sudden power steering failure while driving on freeway in dallas, tx. There was no warning or problems prior to power steering going out, and we were in heavy traffic in an area with several curves in the road. This was very frightening and extremely dangerous. After turning vehicle off and back on, ps worked for a few minutes then went out again and continued like this for…
#1 I brought it back because steering wheel always was to the left even though I was going straight. Dealer said it was fine, I complained to customer service and then dealer said they fixed it. When going straight the steering still looks left. #2 air conditioning not working, #3 liquid coming out of vents #4 cricket noises out of passenger side dash area. I was told air conditioning was…
*please note...the incident date is approximate. We have a 2005 Chevrolet cobalt sedan that was involved in the recall for the power steering motor intermittent power steering failure. We had never had a problem with the steering prior to the recall being performed. After the recall was performed, we began having trouble with intermittent power steering failure - plus additional failures.…
The car engine would not shut off, the steering wheel would not lock, the ignition key was stuck and was unable to remove the ignition key even though the car was in "park." *tr
Power steering failed without warning while driving,almost resulting in crash. The vehicle beeps and displays "power steering" on the screen in the dash when it fails.turning the vehicle off then on restores power steering,but after approx. A quarter mile of driving it fails again. There are hundreds of similar complaints listed online from other owners of the same vehicle. *tr
The steering wheel is automatically turning on it's own, and it is very hard to move. I'm concerned about the safety of my life. What if one day I start driving and the wheel starts turning and I crash? I'm afraid to drive my cobalt now, and hoping it can be fixed so I won't have any crashes in the future. *tr
Had steering trouble with your 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the steering problem on the 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt?
It's a serious issue. 1137 complaints have been filed, including 52 reports involving a crash and 6 fatality(ies). We've classified it as critical based on NHTSA's reported outcomes.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Across the 1004 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most steering failures cluster between 45,000 and 86,135 miles, with the median around 61,305. A quarter of owners report trouble before 45,000; a quarter make it past 86,135. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $700 for steering repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to steering?
No active recalls currently cover steering issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2005/Chevrolet/Cobalt.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.