← New search

2005 Chevrolet Cobalt

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

1,407 reports with mileage · 242 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Steering. Review the 1,143 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 323 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 99 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

97 crash reports12 fire reports57 injury reports

Electronic Stability Control (esc) complaints

27 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Apr 1, 2010
Electronic Stability Control (esc)

POWER STEERING STOP WORKING ALL THE TIME.

NHTSA ODI #10323382

50,000 miles · Feb 16, 2010
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Steering

POWER STEERING KEEPS GOING IN AND OUT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10311065

Mileage unknown · Feb 16, 2010
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Steering

I WAS DRIVING ALONG I-20 WHEN THE POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON AND THE POWER STEERING JUST GAVE OUT. THANK GOD I WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE SIDE, TURNED THE CAR OFF STARTED IT UP, THE LIGHT WENT OUT. NOW AS SOON AS I TURN THE CAR ON IT AUTOMATICALLY COMES ON AND THE POWER STEERING IS TERRIBLE. THE CAR IS, OF COURSE, OUT OF WARR…

Read full complaint

I WAS DRIVING ALONG I-20 WHEN THE POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON AND THE POWER STEERING JUST GAVE OUT. THANK GOD I WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE SIDE, TURNED THE CAR OFF STARTED IT UP, THE LIGHT WENT OUT. NOW AS SOON AS I TURN THE CAR ON IT AUTOMATICALLY COMES ON AND THE POWER STEERING IS TERRIBLE. THE CAR IS, OF COURSE, OUT OF WARRANTY. TALKED TO DEALER AND WAS TOLD THEY ONLY HAD 1 CAR BROUGHT IN WITH THIS PROBLEM AND IT WAS COSTLY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10310806

40,000 miles · Feb 15, 2010
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Power TrainSteering

WE PURCHASED A USED 2005 COBALT AND HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE WITH THE POWER STEERING GOING OUT ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. EACH TIME THE CAR WAS TAKEN IN THEY WOULD SAY THEY COULDN'T FIND THE PROBLEM AND WOULD RETURN THE CAR TO US UNREPAIRED AS IT WOULD DO THE SAME THING AGAIN AND AGAIN AND ON ONE OCCASION IT ALMOST RESULTED IN A SEVERE …

Read full complaint

WE PURCHASED A USED 2005 COBALT AND HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE WITH THE POWER STEERING GOING OUT ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. EACH TIME THE CAR WAS TAKEN IN THEY WOULD SAY THEY COULDN'T FIND THE PROBLEM AND WOULD RETURN THE CAR TO US UNREPAIRED AS IT WOULD DO THE SAME THING AGAIN AND AGAIN AND ON ONE OCCASION IT ALMOST RESULTED IN A SEVERE ACCIDENT WHILE MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER WERE TURNING THROUGH AN INTERSECTION AND THE STEERING WENT OUT. THANK GOD THE OTHER DRIVERS WERE ALERT AND A NEAR AND POSSIBLY FATAL ACCIDENT WAS AVOIDED. THEY TELL US IT CAN BE FIXED BUT NOW THAT IT'S OUT OF FACTORY AND SOMEHOW EVEN EXTENDED WARRANTY THEY HAD US PURCHASE THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO LAST UNTIL WE PAID IT OFF HAVE EXPIRED THEY WANT US TO NOW PAY FOR THE REPAIRS AND EVEN $100 TO EVEN LOOK AT THE CAR. WE GOT A REPORT THAT THIS CAR HAD ISSUES FROM DAY ONE AND WERE NEVER TOLD BUT RECEIVED IT LATER FROM GM INDICATING THE CAR HAD A SOME PROBLEMS AND WAS SOLD TO OUR DEALERSHIP AT A GM AUCTION. WE FEEL STUCK WITH THIS CAR AND TRUSTING IN GOD EACH DAY THAT THE PROBLEM WON'T OCCUR AND CAUSE LOSS OF LIFE TO ANYONE. PLEASE MAKE GM RECALL AND REPAIR THESE COBALTS SO THAT LOSS OF LIFE OR LIMB ISN'T A RESULT AT ANYTIME. THIS OCCURS QUIT OFTEN AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10310420

59,000 miles · Feb 9, 2010
Electronic Stability Control (esc)SteeringCrash

I OWN A 2005 CHEVY COBALT 2.2 ENGINE. IT STARTED SEPT 8TH 2009 MY POWER STEERING IN MY CAR FAILED CAUSING ME TO STRAIN TO TURN THE WHEEL. I MADE IT WITH MILD DAMAGE TO MY CAR. I REPLACED MY STEERING COLUMN BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. THE CAR JUMPS LIKE IT DOESN'T KNOW WHAT GEAR TO SHIFT INTO CAUSING THE CAR TO JUMP AND BE ALMO…

Read full complaint

I OWN A 2005 CHEVY COBALT 2.2 ENGINE. IT STARTED SEPT 8TH 2009 MY POWER STEERING IN MY CAR FAILED CAUSING ME TO STRAIN TO TURN THE WHEEL. I MADE IT WITH MILD DAMAGE TO MY CAR. I REPLACED MY STEERING COLUMN BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. THE CAR JUMPS LIKE IT DOESN'T KNOW WHAT GEAR TO SHIFT INTO CAUSING THE CAR TO JUMP AND BE ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10308076

62,000 miles · Dec 1, 2009
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Power TrainSteering

IN THE BEGINNING OF OCTOBER I WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND A WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND POWER STEERING WAS ON MY MESSAGE DISPLAY. MY CAR THEN BEGAN TO BUCK EVERYTIME IT WAS TO SHIFT FROM ONE GEAR TO ANOTHER AND WHEN WOULD SLOW DOWN TO STOP IT WOULD ACT LIKE IT WAS GOING TO STALL OUT. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER THEY SAID IT WAS THE…

Read full complaint

IN THE BEGINNING OF OCTOBER I WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND A WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND POWER STEERING WAS ON MY MESSAGE DISPLAY. MY CAR THEN BEGAN TO BUCK EVERYTIME IT WAS TO SHIFT FROM ONE GEAR TO ANOTHER AND WHEN WOULD SLOW DOWN TO STOP IT WOULD ACT LIKE IT WAS GOING TO STALL OUT. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER THEY SAID IT WAS THE BODY CONTROL MODULE AND FIXED THE PROBLEM. NOT EVEN A MONTH LATER THE SAME THING HAPPENED. I TOOK IT IN TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. 2 WEEKS LATER IT HAPPENED AGAIN. I DROVE IT RIGHT TO THE DEALER AND KEPT THE CAR RUNNING AND HAD A MECHANIC DRIVE THE CAR TO SHOW THEM THE PROBLEM. IT IS NOW IN THE SHOP TODAY 12/1/09. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10294124

60,800 miles · Jun 17, 2009
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Steering

POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING ALONG WITH THOUSANDS OF OTHER COBALT OWNERS. I HAVEN'T REPLACED IT YET. AFTER READING OTHER FORUMS THE CAR IS DOOMED TO DO IT AGAIN. I HAVE HAD THE STANDARDS FACTORY CD PLAYER REPLACED 4 TIMES. FIRST AT 12K MILES, FINALLY LAST TIME AT 60K. THE KEY BECOMES LOCKED IN THE IGNITION DAILY. I HAVE TO RE…

Read full complaint

POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING ALONG WITH THOUSANDS OF OTHER COBALT OWNERS. I HAVEN'T REPLACED IT YET. AFTER READING OTHER FORUMS THE CAR IS DOOMED TO DO IT AGAIN. I HAVE HAD THE STANDARDS FACTORY CD PLAYER REPLACED 4 TIMES. FIRST AT 12K MILES, FINALLY LAST TIME AT 60K. THE KEY BECOMES LOCKED IN THE IGNITION DAILY. I HAVE TO REACH A FINGER IN THE WHOLE UNDERNEATH THE STEERING COLUMN TO HIT THE KEY RELEASE BUTTON. JUST A POORLY MADE CAR AND EVERYTHING GOES OUT RIGHT AFTER THE WARRANTY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10274163

Official recalls

5

14V171000 · Electrical System:ignition

Apr 10, 2014

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2005-2010 Chevrolet Cobalt, 2006-2011 Chevrolet HHR, 2007-2010 Pontiac G5, 2006-2010 Pontiac Solstice, 2003-2007 Saturn Ion, and 2007-2010 Saturn Sky vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the key can be removed from the ignition when the ignition is not in the "Off" position.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the key can be removed from the ignition when the ignition is not in the "off" position, the vehicle could roll away: (a) for an automatic transmission, if the transmission is not in the "Park" position; or (b) for a manual transmission, if the parking brake is not engaged and the transmission is not in the "Reverse" position. This potential for rollaway increases the risk for a crash and occupant or pedestrian injuries.

Remedy: General Motors will notify owners, and for vehicles that were built with the defective ignition cylinder and have not previously had the ignition cylinder replaced with the redesigned part, dealers will replace the ignition cylinder and cut and, if necessary, re-learn two ignition/door keys for each vehicle. For vehicles that were built with the redesigned ignition cylinder or had the ignition cylinder replaced with the redesigned part, dealers will cut and, if necessary, re-learn two ignition/door keys for each vehicle. The recall began on April 18, 2014. Chevrolet owners may contact General Motors at 1-800-222-1020, Pontiac owners at 1-800-762-2737, and Saturn owners at 1-800-553-6000. General Motors' number for this recall is 14113 for the ignition lock cylinder and key replacement, and 14133 for only key replacements. Note: Until a vehicle has been remedied, owners and operators are advised that when exiting, to be sure that the vehicle is in "Park," or in the case of a manual transmission, that the vehicle is in the "Reverse" position and the parking brake is engaged.

14V047000 · Air Bags; Electrical System:ignition:switch

Feb 10, 2014

This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on February 10, 2014 that they are recalling 619,122 model year 2005-2007 Chevrolet Cobalt, and 2007 Pontiac G5 vehicles. On February 25, 2014, GM increased the recall to include an additional 748,024 model year 2006-2007 Chevrolet HHR and Pontiac Solstice vehicles and 2003-2007 Saturn Ion vehicles and 2007 Saturn Sky vehicles. In these models, the weight on the key ring and/or road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine. On March 27, 2014, GM notified the agency that the defective ignition switches may have been used as service replacement parts on other vehicles, and as a result GM will be recalling certain model year 2008-2010 Chevrolet Cobalt, Saturn Sky, and Pontiac G5 and Solstice, and 2008-2011 Chevrolet HHR vehicles. The part numbers for the service parts are 10392423 (a/k/a ACDelco D1461F), 10392737, 15857948, 15854953, 15896640, and 25846762. This expansion represents an additional 823,788 vehicles.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ignition switch, free of charge. An interim notification was issued to owners of 2007 and earlier models on March 10, 2014, informing them of the safety defect. Owners of 2008 and later vehicles will be mailed an interim letter on April 21, 2014. All affected owners will receive another letter once parts are available. The recall began on April 18, 2014. Owners may contact Chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020, Pontiac at 1-800-762-2737 or Saturn at 1-800-553-6000. GM's number for the initial recall is 13454 and 14063 for the expansion. GM’s recall number for the vehicles that may have received the replacement parts is 14092. Note: Until the recall repairs have been performed, it is very important that customers remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the vehicle key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. Always wear your seatbelt.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Air Bags

This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on February 10, 2014 that they are recalling 619,122 model year 2005-2007 Chevrolet Cobalt, and 2007 Pontiac G5 vehicles. On February 25, 2014, GM increased the recall to include an additional 748,024 model year 2006-2007 Chevrolet HHR and Pontiac Solstice vehicles and 2003-2007 Saturn Ion vehicles and 2007 Saturn Sky vehicles. In these models, the weight on the key ring and/or road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine. On March 27, 2014, GM notified the agency that the defective ignition switches may have been used as service replacement parts on other vehicles, and as a result GM will be recalling certain model year 2008-2010 Chevrolet Cobalt, Saturn Sky, and Pontiac G5 and Solstice, and 2008-2011 Chevrolet HHR vehicles. The part numbers for the service parts are 10392423 (a/k/a ACDelco D1461F), 10392737, 15857948, 15854953, 15896640, and 25846762. This expansion represents an additional 823,788 vehicles.

Consequence: If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ignition switch, free of charge. An interim notification was issued to owners of 2007 and earlier models on March 10, 2014, informing them of the safety defect. Owners of 2008 and later vehicles will be mailed an interim letter on April 21, 2014. All affected owners will receive another letter once parts are available. The recall began on April 18, 2014. Owners may contact Chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020, Pontiac at 1-800-762-2737 or Saturn at 1-800-553-6000. GM's number for the initial recall is 13454 and 14063 for the expansion. GM’s recall number for the vehicles that may have received the replacement parts is 14092. Note: Until the recall repairs have been performed, it is very important that customers remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the vehicle key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. Always wear your seatbelt.

Electrical System:ignition:switch

This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on February 10, 2014 that they are recalling 619,122 model year 2005-2007 Chevrolet Cobalt, and 2007 Pontiac G5 vehicles. On February 25, 2014, GM increased the recall to include an additional 748,024 model year 2006-2007 Chevrolet HHR and Pontiac Solstice vehicles and 2003-2007 Saturn Ion vehicles and 2007 Saturn Sky vehicles. In these models, the weight on the key ring and/or road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine. On March 27, 2014, GM notified the agency that the defective ignition switches may have been used as service replacement parts on other vehicles, and as a result GM will be recalling certain model year 2008-2010 Chevrolet Cobalt, Saturn Sky, and Pontiac G5 and Solstice, and 2008-2011 Chevrolet HHR vehicles. The part numbers for the service parts are 10392423 (a/k/a ACDelco D1461F), 10392737, 15857948, 15854953, 15896640, and 25846762. This expansion represents an additional 823,788 vehicles.

Consequence: If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ignition switch, free of charge. An interim notification was issued to owners of 2007 and earlier models on March 10, 2014, informing them of the safety defect. Owners of 2008 and later vehicles will be mailed an interim letter on April 21, 2014. All affected owners will receive another letter once parts are available. The recall began on April 18, 2014. Owners may contact Chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020, Pontiac at 1-800-762-2737 or Saturn at 1-800-553-6000. GM's number for the initial recall is 13454 and 14063 for the expansion. GM’s recall number for the vehicles that may have received the replacement parts is 14092. Note: Until the recall repairs have been performed, it is very important that customers remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the vehicle key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. Always wear your seatbelt.

10V073000 · Steering:electric Power Assist System

Mar 3, 2010

GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2010 CHEVROLET COBALT AND MODEL YEAR 2007-2010 PONTIAC G5 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ELECTRIC POWER STEERING. THE DRIVER MAY EXPERIENCE A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST THAT COULD OCCUR AT ANY TIME WHILE DRIVING.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF POWER STEERING ASSIST IS LOST, IT WOULD REQUIRE GREATER DRIVER EFFORT AT LOW VEHICLE SPEEDS, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING MOTOR FREE OF CHARGE. OWNERS ARE BEING NOTIFIED ON A ROLLING BASIS BETWEEN MARCH 29 THROUGH NOVEMBER 2010. A COPY OF THE MAILING SCHEDULE IS LOCATED IN THE RECALL FILE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 AND PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668 OR AT THE OWNER CENTER AT WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.

07V014000 · Structure

Jan 18, 2007

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES NOT EQUIPPED WITH OPTIONAL ROOF-MOUNTED SIDE IMPACT AIR BAGS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 201, 'OCCUPANT PROTECTION IN INTERIOR IMPACT.'

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IN A CRASH, HEAD IMPACT PROTECTION MAY BE INADEQUATE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL ENERGY ABSORBING PLASTIC TO THE HEADLINER TRIM TO REDUCE THE SEVERITY OF HEAD IMPACTS IN A CRASH. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 21, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438.

04V560000 · Exterior Lighting:headlights

Nov 22, 2004

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THE BULB SHIELDS INSIDE OF THE HEADLAMPS CAN LOOSEN DUE TO VIBRATION.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE BULB SHIELD CAN LOOSEN OR BREAK BECAUSE OF VIBRATION. IF THIS OCCURRED ON A HEADLAMP INSTALLED IN A VEHICLE, ONCOMING DRIVERS MAY NOTICE ADDITIONAL GLARE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL TWO NEW HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 17, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

1

PE10005 · Electric Power Steering Failure

Opened Jan 27, 2010 · Closed Jul 19, 2010

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering:electric Power Assist System

In a March 1, 2010 letter, General Motors Corporation (GM) provided a defect information report to NHTSA regarding a problem that could result in sudden loss of power steering assist in certain model year (MY) 2005 through 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt and MY 2007 through 2010 Pontiac G5 vehicles equipped with electric power steering (EPS).The letter indicates that the loss of steering assist could occur at any time while driving and that, once assist is lost, a message is displayed on the Driver Information Center (DIC) and a chime sounds to inform the driver.The letter further states that steering control is maintained in manual mode, but would require greater driver effort at low vehicle speeds.In the next ignition cycle, power assist is typically regained and the DIC message is no longer displayed.GM's letter identifies the root cause of the EPS failure as the EPS motor and indicates that production of a new motor started in December 2009.GM's recall repair procedure instructs dealers to replace the EPS motor in all recalled vehicles. ODI's analysis of all information available related to sudden loss of EPS assist while driving in the MY 2005 through 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt vehicles shows current complaint and warranty rates of 323/100,000 vehicles and 0.4% respectively.In response to ODI's request for information, GM identified 81 complaints where a crash was claimed that may be related to loss of EPS assist.ODI's analysis of all crash claims was based on verifiable factors such as; whether a loss of EPS was indicated at the time of the crash by a chime or malfunction indicator lamp or if a EPS related component malfunction was identified after the crash occurred.With this method ODI identified 36 possible crashes related to EPS failure.GM assessed crash claims based on the available facts and excluded crash claims that indicated that the vehicle was travelling at speeds in the range of 30 mph or greater.GM said that it believes if power assist is lost while a vehicle is moving at speeds in the range of 30 mph or greater there is a small difference in steering efforts perceived in subjective evaluations at those speeds and it is unlikely to lead to loss of vehicle control. Based on GM's safety recall, this investigation is closed.