This service bulletin provides a vibration analysis worksheet the technician can use in conjunction with the appropriate Vibration Analysis-Road testing procedure when diagnosing vibration concerns.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2007 Chevrolet Cobalt steering problems
critical 687 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $700 · see steering across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
687
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
61crashes
4fires
55injuries
3fatalities
When does it fail?
Of the 687 steering complaints filed for the 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 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.
What stands out
Steering accounts for 44% of every owner complaint on file for this vehicle — the dominant problem area across 12 categories tracked.
Owners have filed 687 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.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering steering on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
This service bulletin provides technicians with updated information to help identify the differences between what is considered a fluid leak, and what is considered fluid seepage.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This service bulletin provides technicians with updated information to help identify the differences between what is considered a fluid leak, and what is considered fluid seepage.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This technical bulletin provides a procedure to eliminate a power steering noise due to extremely low temperatures.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This preliminary information bulletin provides information for diagnosing a power steering fluid leak at the fluid reservoir.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Power steering failure dominates this complaint set. Owners describe the electric power steering system shutting down intermittently or completely, turning the steering wheel to concrete hardness without warning. The failure happens at low speeds during turns, on highways, or sitting at red lights. Restarting the engine temporarily brings steering back; it fails again minutes later. Dealers quote $350 to $2,500 to replace the motor or entire steering column. Many owners report paying for repairs only to have power steering fail again within weeks or months, even after GM's 2010 recall replacement.
Steering column looseness and noise parallel these failures. Owners hear knocking from the bottom of the steering column when turning the wheel slightly. The steering wheel exhibits excessive play—turning it an inch or more without the wheels responding, or tires staying straight while the wheel is turned. Some vehicles were taken to six different mechanics before diagnosis. Front suspension control arm bushings wear out and require replacement multiple times.
Electrical system cascades add another layer. Dashboard gauges swing wildly, jumping from zero to maximum. Fuel gauge contradicts the actual tank level. Anti-theft and power steering lights illuminate together, often while the car loses power entirely or stalls during acceleration. Owners report these electrical storms hitting all at once, sometimes tied to improper remote starter disconnection or module communication faults that an independent shop finally identified.
A few owners describe complete steering loss during operation—the wheel locks or becomes unmovable at highway speeds, the car veers off the road, or collides with structures. One 22-year-old lost control at high speed and was hospitalized; another's steering locked hard right after a jump-start, with the key stuck in the ignition. These incidents are rare in the complaint set but catastrophic.
Same Chevrolet Cobalt steering reports on nearby years: 2005 · 2006 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010
Failure modes owners describe
Power Steering Failure—Intermittent Loss of Assist
Electric power steering assist fails intermittently or completely. The steering wheel becomes hard to turn, requiring excessive force. Failure often occurs at low speeds, during turns, or in traffic. Restarting the engine typically restores power steering temporarily, though failures recur.
When: Typically occurs between 35,000–62,000 miles; some failures reported as early as 41,500 miles and as late as 75,500 miles. Failures more frequent in warm weather or during extended driving.
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel becomes very hard to turn; Power steering warning light appears on dashboard or warning chime sounds; Inability to steer vehicle at highway speeds; Burning smell reported when power steering fails; Steering assist lost without warning during turns or on straightaways; Restarting vehicle temporarily restores power steering
Codes mentioned: Power steering motor failure, Power steering control module failure
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers quote $350–$2,500 to replace power steering motor and/or entire steering column. Some owners report failures recur within weeks of repair. 2007–2010 model years known to dealerships to have this problem. Power steering unit replaced under 2010 recall has failed again in multiple vehicles within months to years of recall repair.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: 2010 recall (recall number 10V073000 mentioned) for power steering motor replacement. Later 2014 recall for ignition switch also conducted but power steering issues persisted. Dealers stated they replaced only specific parts per recall notice. GM refused warranty coverage on replacement units that failed again, citing mileage or age of vehicle. Some owners reported GM stating the 2010 recall 'fixed the issue' and refused further repairs.
Steering Column Noise and Looseness—Knocking and Rattling
Steering column produces knocking, rattling, or creaking sounds, particularly when turning the wheel or driving over bumps. Steering wheel exhibits excessive play—can be turned more than normal without wheels responding, or wheels respond independently of wheel position. Steering wheel positioning does not match tire direction.
When: Appears around 35,000–60,000 miles. Continuous throughout ownership once manifested.
Symptoms owners cite: Knocking noise at bottom of steering column when turning wheel slightly; Rattling from steering column when driving over bumps or ripples; Excessive play in steering wheel (can turn 1/2 inch to 1 inch without tire response); Steering wheel turned but tires remain straight or vice versa; Car pulls side-to-side on road unpredictably; Creaking or squeaking from steering column when turning
Codes mentioned: Steering column bushing wear, Steering column coupling defect
Repairs/costs cited: Front lower control arms (replacements cited), lower steering column replacement. One owner paid $900 for replacement of 2 front lower control arms and lower steering column; repair reduced problem by approximately 60% but knocking persisted. Control arm bushings require repeated replacement (one owner replaced twice, then again). Steering column replacement costs cited as $1,000–$1,100. Some owners reported replacing sway bar links twice.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer reimbursed one owner $900 repair cost. TSB 050232005 (issued 11-9-2005) details rattling from front suspension/steering area but no recall issued.
Electrical Gremlins—Gauge Cluster, Warning Lights, and Module Communication Failures
Dashboard gauges swing erratically; warning lights illuminate unexpectedly; electrical modules fail to communicate; vehicle loses power intermittently or stalls. These failures often occur simultaneously with power steering loss or independently. Symptoms resemble electrical short or failing power distribution module. Multiple electrical subsystems affected at once.
When: Reported starting at 8 years of ownership and progressively worsening. Some failures occur at startup; others during driving. Incidence increases over time.
Symptoms owners cite: All dashboard gauges swing up and down erratically (described as 'Christmas tree' of lights); RPM gauge jumps or drops to zero; Fuel gauge swings between full and empty despite actual fuel level; Low-fuel warning lights on with full tank; CHECK ENGINE light stays on; Anti-theft/security system light illuminates; Power steering warning light flashes; Interior lights stop working entirely; Vehicle stalls without warning or loses power during acceleration; Power loss during braking at traffic lights; Vehicle lurches or jerks when changing gears
Codes mentioned: Multiple stored error codes (owners report 'many codes'), Module communication faults, Transmission control module failure suspected in some cases
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers initially unable to diagnose. One owner took vehicle to independent shop where it was diagnosed with 'many codes' but returned to normal temporarily; shop later identified improperly disconnected remote starter causing module communication failure, charged $200–$500. Transmission control module replacement quoted at nearly $500. Dealer indicated dash short estimated over $2,000. In some cases, disconnecting remote starter or replacing serpentine belt temporarily resolved issues.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealers state problem likely computer/module issue. Some owners told by dealers they could not identify problem. When recalls (ignition switch, power steering) were performed, electrical issues either persisted or worsened.
Loss of Steering Control—Complete Steering Failure During Driving
Vehicle suddenly becomes impossible or nearly impossible to steer during operation. Steering either locks up completely or becomes unresponsive despite driver input. Distinct from intermittent power steering loss; steering is completely unavailable or steering system is physically stuck. Occurs without warning and can result in off-road excursions, collisions, or near-misses.
When: First occurrence between 2–10 months of ownership for some; others report after several years. Timing unpredictable; can happen during initial acceleration, on curves, on highways, or on residential streets.
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel will not turn or turns with extreme difficulty; Car continues in direction of prior steering input despite driver attempt to correct; Car pulls unexpectedly left or right without driver input; Steering 'grabs' suddenly, jerking vehicle into new direction; Front-end feels like it is 'falling out' or disconnecting; Vehicle veers toward oncoming traffic or off road; Steering becomes unresponsive to input on curves, particularly when slowing for curves; Vehicle drifts during turns despite steering input; Steering locked in one position with wheels locked in that direction
Codes mentioned: Rack and pinion failure, Steering column mechanical failure, Intermediate steering shaft failure
Repairs/costs cited: Rack and pinion failure reported at 51,000 miles with front driver-side wheel collapsed outward and tire shredded. Dealer found failure but refused liability. Other owners paid $1,000–$1,200+ for steering column or complete steering system replacement. One owner's steering wheel locked to the right after jump-start, with wheels locked in right position; unable to remove key from ignition.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recalls specifically for complete steering failure. Dealer in one case refused to accept liability, claiming owner must have hit something on highway. When reported, dealers typically recommend expensive component replacement at owner expense.
Rack and Pinion Failure
Steering rack and pinion assembly fails, causing sudden loss of steering control and catastrophic mechanical damage. Front wheel can collapse outward and tire shred during failure.
When: Reported at 51,000 miles.
Symptoms owners cite: Loud boom and screeching sound; Vehicle pulls sharply to one side; Steering unresponsive to driver input; Front driver-side wheel collapses outward; Tire shredded during failure
Codes mentioned: Rack and pinion mechanical failure
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer found failure but refused to repair or accept liability at time of complaint; vehicle remains unrepaired.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer stated owner must have hit something on highway and refused warranty coverage.
Steering Column Physical Deterioration—Cracked Struts, Failing Bushings, Loose Fasteners
Steering column and its mounting hardware deteriorate prematurely. Struts crack, bushings fail, fasteners loosen. Symptoms include clunking under the car on bumps, rattling from steering area, and loss of structural integrity.
When: As early as 35,000 miles; can progress over time.
Symptoms owners cite: Loud rattling or clunking from beneath vehicle when driving over bumps or ripples; Metal-on-metal grinding or clicking noise; Steering wheel feels loose or disconnected; Struts crack (diagnosed by mechanic; owner told struts were cracked but another shop disagreed)
Codes mentioned: Strut failure, Steering column bushing degradation
Repairs/costs cited: Strut replacement quoted at $600 by one shop; another shop stated struts were not the problem. Control arm bushings replaced twice by one owner. TSB 050232005 issued Nov. 9, 2005 documents front-end rattling problem.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recall. Dealer initially stated no technical bulletins issued when contacted, but TSB 050232005 was known to exist since 2005.
Steering Wheel Lock-Up and Key Stuck in Ignition
After jump-start, steering wheel locks in one position (often hard right) with wheels locked in that direction. Key cannot be removed from ignition. Vehicle cannot be started afterward.
When: Reported after battery jump-start.
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel locks hard to right; Wheels lock in right position; Key cannot be removed from ignition; Key cannot turn to start position; Shifter operates freely without button press (separate issue but co-occurring)
Codes mentioned: Ignition lock mechanism failure, Steering column lock failure
Repairs/costs cited: Emergency key release switch located under steering column used to remove key. Suspected shifter cable assembly (plastic) broken, causing failure to register Park position.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: GM recalled certain model years for shifter problems but not 2007 model year. No recall for steering wheel lock.
Synthesized from 687 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 9 most recent
Power steering light pops on and power steering goes out. Car is under three years old. This is a known very common problem with these cars. Completely unacceptable. Happens over and over, once you turn the car off and back on it will work again until the next occurrence which could be two minutes later or fifteen minutes later. I cannot afford to replace this so nothing has been done about it…
Power steering fails on 2007 Chevy cobalt researched to find out what to do to fix, Chevy dealers want $2000.00 to replace as now I find over 275 people on a "how to repair it" website having same problem & wondering when is this going to be recalled, after so many deaths? *tr
Tl* the contact owns a 2007 Chevrolet cobalt. While driving approximately 40 MPH, there was a loss of power steering without warning. The engine was turned off and, after restarting, the vehicle resumed normal operation. The failure recurred on a separate occasion. In 2010, the vehicle was repaired under NHTSA campaign number: 10v073000 (steering); however, the failure recurred recently. The…
2007 Chevrolet cobalt with power steering system failure. The car currently has 67,000 miles and had not had any issues with it until this randomly happened on the street. A "power steering" message came up on the dashboard of the car and seemingly the steering column locked up. This was with my 2 year old nephew in the car. I am glad I was not on the freeway when this happened. After that…
While driving my car , the dash will ding three times, flash "power steering" and then the steering wheel will lock up. I will have to pull over, turn the engine off, and restart the car. Upon restarting the car, it will work fine. This will happen several times in a row. It is a hassle while driving, I've had to stop in the middle of the road to turn my car off at times when there isn't a…
We have a 2007 Chevy cobalt in which while driving the power steering goes out. Really scary and dangerous. Since gm has been aware of this failure since 2005 and nobody has done anything about it is even scarier. If you turn car off and back on power steering will work again only for period of time then shut off again while driving. There are thousands of complaints on-line. Please do something…
Tl* the contact owns a 2007 Chevrolet cobalt. While driving, the power steering warning indicator illuminated and the steering wheel became difficult to steer and seized. When the vehicle was powered off and restarted, it resumed normal operation and was driven to the contact's residence. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or independent mechanic for diagnostic testing. The manufacturer was…
Power steering suddenly went out, nearly causing a collision. Power steering came back after engine was turned off and then back on. *tr
The contact owns a 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated that the vehicle made an abnormal sound while reversing. Additionally, the contact stated that while starting the vehicle, the power steering warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that while attempting to drive the vehicle, the steering wheel was firm. The contact turned around and drove back to the residence. The dealer was…
Had steering trouble with your 2007 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 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt?
It's a serious issue. 687 complaints have been filed, including 61 reports involving a crash and 3 fatality(ies). We've classified it as critical based on NHTSA's reported outcomes.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Across the 581 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most steering failures cluster between 40,000 and 89,000 miles, with the median around 53,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 40,000; a quarter make it past 89,000. 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/2007/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.