The 2010 Cobalt's electric power steering system fails in multiple ways. Most commonly, the steering assist quits suddenly with or without warning, leaving the wheel rock-hard to turn—sometimes while the vehicle is already in a turn at highway speed. Owners describe the steering wheel locking up completely, forcing immediate pullover and engine restart. The warning light (when it appears) comes too late.
Owners report the problem recurs intermittently: power steering works for a few minutes or miles after restart, then quits again. Some vehicles experience this multiple times daily by 2013–2014. The motor itself appears to be the culprit, and dealers have replaced it, sometimes multiple times, with recurring failures.
The real frustration: GM issued recalls (10V073000, 14V153000) for this exact failure, but many owners are told their VIN is not covered, even though they're experiencing the identical symptoms as recalled vehicles. Dealers refused free diagnosis, charged $300–$1,000 for repairs, and some owners paid out-of-pocket only to learn later that a recall should have covered them. A few owners report getting the replacement motor, only to find new problems (excessive steering play) that dealers refused to fix under warranty.
Less common but more severe: steering wheel locks completely while driving, causing loss of control, rollovers, and crashes. One vehicle rolled four times and landed on the driver. The inconsistency in recall coverage—some cars fixed, others identical cars untouched—suggests either incomplete recall data or unreliable record-keeping by GM.
Failure modes owners describe
Complete power steering loss with no warning
Electric power steering assist motor fails suddenly without prior warning message, leaving driver with no power assistance and extremely hard steering. Commonly occurs at highway speeds and during turns.
When: Occurs randomly while driving, often during turns or on highways; some cases after relatively low mileage (under 55k miles) to high mileage (130k-150k+)
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel becomes very hard to turn; Sudden loss of power steering assist with no prior warning light; Vehicle becomes difficult to control, especially at highway speeds; Power steering returns after turning vehicle off and back on; Failure recurs intermittently over weeks or months
Repairs/costs cited: Owners report dealer replacement of electric power steering assist motor; some paid out-of-pocket ($362-$500+), others covered under warranty or extended coverage; rebuilt motors used in some repairs
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 10V073000 (2010 recall); later Campaign 14V153000 (Bulletin 14115, March 31 2014) for replacement of power steering motor; many owners report their VINs not included in recall despite having identical symptoms; dealers initially claimed no recall or refused to diagnose
Power steering warning light with intermittent assist loss
Warning chime and 'POWER STEERING' message on dash appear; steering becomes stiff and difficult to turn. Problem is intermittent and recurs after restarting vehicle, sometimes multiple times per day.
When: As early as 15k km; some cases report daily failures by 2013-2014; problem worsens over time in some vehicles
Symptoms owners cite: Audible warning chime sounds; 'POWER STEERING' message appears on instrument cluster; Steering becomes very stiff and requires excessive effort to turn; Failure recurs within minutes to hours after engine restart; Problem worsens from occasional to frequent/daily
Repairs/costs cited: Owners paid $362-$500 for power steering motor replacement out-of-pocket when not covered by recall; dealerships often claimed recall did not apply to vehicle's VIN; some had motor replaced multiple times with recurring failures
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Campaign 14V153000 (Bulletin 14115); many owners report dealer refusal to cover under warranty if vehicle's VIN not on recall list despite identical failure symptoms
Steering wheel lockup while driving
Steering wheel becomes locked or seized, preventing any steering input while vehicle is moving. Occurs without warning and forces driver to pull over and restart vehicle. May result in loss of vehicle control and crashes.
When: Occurs at varying speeds (15-70 mph); some cases early in ownership, others after significant mileage (36k, 85k, 90k+)
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel becomes completely locked and cannot be turned; Loss of vehicle control; car drifts left or right; Steering only returns after vehicle is powered off and restarted; May occur multiple times on same trip; Steering may lock in both directions unpredictably
Repairs/costs cited: Owners report replacement of steering column (cost ~$1,000) and/or electronic power steering motor; some repairs required after accidents; Service Bulletin 04-03-8-006G referenced for gear mesh issue; parts marked on recall so used parts unavailable
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaigns 10V073000 and 14V153000; some owners denied coverage; dealers stated steering column or motor would not be covered under warranty at cost ~$1,000; Service Bulletin 04-03-8-006G issued for steering column noise/mesh issue
Steering stiffness and poor tracking at highway speeds
After recall repair of electric power steering unit, steering becomes excessively stiff at higher speeds when vehicle enters 'stiff mode' (around 50 mph). Steering has excessive play and does not track straight; requires constant driver input and significant physical effort to maintain lane position.
When: Occurs when vehicle reaches approximately 50 mph or higher; represents ongoing problem after recall repairs
Symptoms owners cite: Steering becomes extremely stiff and requires much effort, especially at expressway speeds; Excessive play in steering wheel; car continuously drifts left or right; Vehicle does not track straight down highway without constant input; Problem occurs in all conditions including calm weather; Occurs after 'stiff mode' is engaged by computer at higher speeds
Repairs/costs cited: No repair options found; owners were unable to have steering set permanently to full-power assist mode; dealership unable to offer solution
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Owner contacted GM departments including special needs/handicap division; engineering department refused to answer question about adjusting steering assist mode
Intermittent total vehicle shutdown with power steering loss
Vehicle engine cuts out completely while driving, often coinciding with power steering loss. All electrical systems go dark (gauges do not flash). Requires multiple restart attempts. Problem appears related to ignition switch and electrical system issues.
When: Early in ownership; some cases report on-and-off pattern spanning years before recall notices received
Symptoms owners cite: Engine dies suddenly while turning or driving; Complete loss of power to gauges and lights; Loss of power steering during shutdown; Vehicle very difficult to restart; takes multiple attempts; Problem recurs intermittently then resolves temporarily
Repairs/costs cited: Multiple recall repairs to ignition switch and EPS module; owners report confusion over multiple recalls; GM rep stated uncertainty about which Cobalts affected despite earlier confirmation
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Multiple recalls: 10V073000 (EPS), ignition switch recalls (including third and fourth iterations); owners report GM gave conflicting information about which vehicles affected; dealers' systems did not match GM records; some owners never received recall notices by mail
Steering pull and centering issues after recall repair
After electric power steering motor replacement under recall, vehicle pulls to the left. Initial dealer centering reset (via scan tool) does not correct the problem. Requires steering column replacement per service manual.
When: Appears in vehicles built after March 2010 with replacement EPS motors; early in ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle pulls consistently to the left while driving; Scan tool centering reset does not resolve issue; Problem persists after steering column replacement
Repairs/costs cited: Steering column replacement required per service manual; dealer performed centering reset as first procedure
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Service manual directed steering column replacement; done as follow-up to recall EPS motor repair
Excessive play in steering after recall repair
Immediately after dealer replaced power steering assist motor under recall, extreme amount of 'play' develops in steering wheel. Multiple near-collisions within hours of pickup. Dealer refuses to cover under recall, demanding diagnostic fee. Issue resolved by owner through internet research (battery disconnect procedure).
When: Immediately after recall repair completion
Symptoms owners cite: Excessive play in steering wheel after pickup from dealer; Almost caused two collisions within hours; Issue associated with recall repair procedure
Repairs/costs cited: Owner resolved via battery disconnect for ~1 hour; dealer refused to perform this at no charge and demanded $69.95 diagnostic fee; dealer denied association with recall repair
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall repair performed but dealer refused warranty coverage for resultant play issue, claiming no association with recall work
Steering column rattle and poor gear mesh
Steering column rattles on rough roads and during braking. Root cause is poor gear mesh between electronic power steering motor and steering column. Problem persists across replacement attempts.
When: Ongoing issue; owner purchased used car for college-age daughter
Symptoms owners cite: Steering column rattles on rough roads; Noise occurs when braking; Abnormal vibration and rattle feel
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer quoted ~$1,000 for steering column replacement; Service Bulletin 04-03-8-006G (Condition 1) applies to this issue; new steering columns not available in parts stores; used steering columns unavailable because on recall
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Service Bulletin 04-03-8-006G issued; dealer stated part not covered under warranty, offered replacement at ~$1,000 cost; new parts unavailable suggesting known issue
Combined steering and braking failure during emergency situations
During emergency braking or accident avoidance, both power steering assist and brakes become inoperable simultaneously. Steering wheel locks and brakes fail to respond, resulting in loss of vehicle control and crashes.
When: During emergency situations when steering/braking are most critical; one case at 260k miles
Symptoms owners cite: Power steering becomes inoperable during hard braking; Brakes become inoperable (barely respond or fail completely); Check engine warning light illuminates; Steering wheel locks during emergency maneuvers; Complete inability to control vehicle
Repairs/costs cited: Independent mechanic cited ignition switch as cause; dealer refused diagnosis/repair; manufacturer stated not covered under recall
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer stated vehicle not covered under recall despite electrical/ignition system involvement; dealers refused to diagnose
Steering wheel seizure leading to rollover crashes
Steering wheel seizes suddenly while driving at highway speeds with no warning, causing complete loss of vehicle control. Vehicle crashes into ditch, median barrier, or guard cables and rolls multiple times. Air bags do not deploy in some cases.
When: Highway driving at 60-70 mph; early in ownership for some vehicles (36k-85k miles); some cases in first weeks of ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel suddenly seizes without warning; Complete loss of vehicle control; Vehicle veers hard and uncontrollably across lanes; Cannot correct steering input; steering remains locked; Vehicle crosses median or exits roadway uncontrollably
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicles totaled; crash damage extensive; one case: front bumper, hood, roof crushed, windows blown out, vehicle inverted
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Some vehicles included in Campaigns 14V047000 (Air Bags, Electrical System), 14V171000 (Electrical System), 14V153000 (Steering); some owners stated manufacturer not notified; one dealership inspection found no power steering codes despite failure
Synthesized from 241 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer
allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.