NHTSA complaint: 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT — STEERING
THERE WAS NOTHING UNUSUAL LEADING UP TO THE INCIDENT. EARLY MARCH 2009 POWERSTEERING WENT OUT ON MY 2005 CHEVY COBALT. WHEN STARTING THE CAR, POWERSTEERING WOULD ONLY STAY ON FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES. TO REGAIN IT I WOULD HAVE TO SHUT DOWN THE VEHICLE AND RESTART IT. THIS LASTED ABOUT THREE MONTHS. IT WAS TAKEN TO TWO DIFFERENT SHOPS, SEARS AND A CAR DEALERSHIP AND BOTH RAN DIAGNOSTICS WHICH FOUND NOTHING WRONG. THEY COULD NOT TELL ME WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS FOR SURE EXCEPT TO SAY PERHAPS PUTTING IN A WHOLE NEW POWER STEERING SYSTEM WOULD HELP. THOUGH THEY DID NOT KNOW FOR SURE. WHEN I CALLED THE CHEVY DEALERSHIP THEMSELVES THEY STATED THEY DID NOT HAVE ANY PREVIOUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE POWERSTEERING IN THAT YEAR AND MODEL AND WANTED TO RUN THEIR OWN DIAGNOSTICS, THAT I HAD TO PAY FOR. I REFUSED SINCE THE SECOND DEALER I TOOK THE CAR TO WAS A CHEVY DEALER AND WAS TOLD BY THE COMPANY I HAD TO PAY FOR ANOTHER DIAGNOSTIC CHECK. THE PROBLEM DISAPPEARED IN JULY OF 09 ONLY TO COME BACK NOW DEC 09. THE CARS POWERSTEERING IS OFF WITHIN A MINUTE OF ENGINE START. WITH THE SNOWY WEATHER THIS IS A HAZARD TO ME AND ANYONE ELSE WITH SIMILAR ISSUES; AND I HAVE CHRONIC BACK PROBLEMS AS WELL. THE PULLING OF THE STEERING WHEEL JUST TO TURN THE CAR HAS HAD ME IN BEDREST TWICE NOW. *TR
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation