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Chevrolet Cobalt Steering Problems

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Comments

  • steve333steve333 Member Posts: 201
    I also think I need another new steering column
    GM needs to increase the warranty on all steering and suspension components for Cobalt owners otherwise they will lose thousands of customers for the Cruze when it comes out.
    5 years and no improved steering columns or bushings? Come on, GM.
  • steve333steve333 Member Posts: 201
    edited July 2010
    I just spoke to a GM Rep. I just have to go in to the old Dealer who originally installed the shaft and they will give me the $260 back.
    So, GM took care of me. Took a lot of prodding but at least I am back to square one.
    I am going to my independent mechanic and have him check out the front end and strut mounts to see if they can fix the rest of my issues (thumping and really harsh ride). They will be less expensive than the Dealer.

    I also suggested they increase the warranty for Cobalt owners for steering and front end components but I think that's not likely. The steering columns should have been part of the recall, I still think mine is defective.
  • gmcustsvcgmcustsvc Member Posts: 4,252
    Hello Steve333,
    I am glad that everything did get squared away for you. :)
    -Mariah GM Customer Service
  • steve333steve333 Member Posts: 201
    Thank you.
    My front end still sucks though. Going to get it checked by my independent mechanic.
  • steve333steve333 Member Posts: 201
    I am getting vibrations in my steering wheel over bumps, potholes and speed bumps. I'm sure it's my steering column because i had these symptoms before and mine got replaced before and it stopped.
    This is the next thing that should be recalled (they should have been recalled along with the power steering motor, IMO). Class action lawsuit, anyone?
  • dispencer2dispencer2 Member Posts: 299
    I've already had the top part of the seat replaced at around 9,000 miles because of premature wear. I just had the bottom replaced the other day. So far the car gets good mileage and other than the two steering columns and the recall for the PS motor the car drives OK and gas mileage is fine. I'll definately get the protection plan though and dump the car at 60,000 miles. I'll be in the market for either a Malibu or something by Ford or Nissan -whatever rides better. I won't consider a Cruze because of the reliability of the Cobalt and the fact that it isn't a sharp looking coupe. Luckily my GM dealer in Clovis NM is great and everything has been taken care of immediately under warranty.
  • steve333steve333 Member Posts: 201
    2 Steering columns, I should be on my second if they would admit it's an issue. How GM got away without having to recall them for this also is beyond me. Our warranty should be extended automatically.
  • jenndollins23jenndollins23 Member Posts: 3
    2008 Chevy Cobalt 73,000 miles

    Does or has any one else experienced these problems?

    Previous problems that I have had resolved already:
    1.Front passenger window sounded like it was letting air in and made a whistling sound while driving down the road. Well, after going into the shop 3 times the issue was finally fixed.
    2.Key kept getting stuck in the ignition. Took it in and they had to replace the gearbox. Took one time to figure out the issue and get it fixed.

    Current problems:
    1.Info button on steering wheel does not work when my headlights are on.
    2.When I am turning the volume up or down on the steering wheel sometimes it will change the radio channel.
    3.Unlocks and locks it self while being turned off and parked.
    4.At a steady speed driving down the road it while just down shift.
    5.Both mirrors on my sun visor the clips broke. I was not over using them either.
    6.Transmission jerks when shifting between 30-55 mph.
    7.No for sure, how long this issue has been happening just made aware of it today. When I pulled up to park at work a bunch of employees were setting at the break tables in front of me. I got out of my car and they said, “There is something wrong with your car, when you turn it off it let out a big cloud of smoke!” I was in shock it was not over heating nor is any of my fluids low.

    I suppose I need to take it in the shop but it is so frustrating trying to find a vehicle to borrow to drive while mine is in the shop. In addition, they always say uhhh we could not get it to do any of those things. Now after reading all of these posts and doing research this scares me.
  • wreinawreina Member Posts: 1
    My warranty will expire in a few weeks, where do yo purchase the extended warranty.
  • imidazol97imidazol97 Member Posts: 27,132
    http://gmoutlet.com/gmpp.htm

    Send an email like they say. The automated system sends you back a link to the pages with the pricing setup.
    Be sure you are not over mileage or time on your 3 years 36000 miles. They have an 800 number. You fax them a form and pay by credit card or send them form and payment. Note that the warranty purchased starts the date of purchase for the new time and mileage. It does not start back at the date of inservice for the car. Verify that with them by phone.

    2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,

  • sugarbear0523sugarbear0523 Member Posts: 3
    My Car was a brand new 2006 and I have had all these problems listed below. My question is after some of you got the current recall fixed the Steering Motor replaced are you still having the problem that you were having with it? I am having problems turning my wheel at low speeds. I have taken it back to the dealership and they have told me it was from my tire pressure which they put more air in my tires and it still does it, then it was I needed a tune up, and then it was my A/C causing pressure on the motor. I mean its just one thing after another. I took it to another dealership where they said that it could be the steering coloumn. Which would not surprise me with all the problems I have had out of this car. If you have had the same problems please email me at Crossfamilyof3@gmail.com

    My problems are

    1. Locks going up and down as well ( they fixed that had the replace i think some kind of module)
    2. Gas issues are the same ( they had a recall on the fuel injectors not sure if you know that or not) they fixed that back in 2007 and then now I am having fuel smell coming into the car again so i don't know what is going on
    3. Had the key problem but I don't have a button under my steering column but they fixed the problem it was my car was not going into park all the way.
    4. Water leaking as well but they fixed my problem something about they had to clean something out.
    5. ABS module has been replaced 4 times and is in need of it being replaced again. ( Does your ABS/Traction and Control and Emergency break light come on out of now where or while you are riding down the road?)
    6.Steering wheel popping was another issue had the steering coloum replaced, some kind of module replaced.
    7. They have had to replaced the geer shifter twice (once because of key getting stuck)
    8. Sunroof messed up 6 months after I got the car
    9. They have had to replace my cd player because it would try to keep my cd's
    10. They have to replace the window module once or twice because some of my windows would not go down.
  • steve333steve333 Member Posts: 201
    Luckily I haven't had those issues but after my steering motor was replaced the intermediate shaft broke and had to be replaced, which I got GM ro reimburse. However the car still rides like crap and I am going to replace the lower control arms with the FE5 ones (I have a LT with FE1 which suck) in the hopes that it improves the ride. Of course the dealer says it doesnt need it but I can't think of any other reason the car rides so poorly. This will cost me $600+ on a 4 year old car with 55,000 miles on it.
    Good luck getting me into a Cruze, GM.
  • eisheschayileisheschayil Member Posts: 2
    I purchased my 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt from Vandergriff Chevrolet March 2008. Happy of my very 1st major purchase and my very 1st brand new car!! After 6 months of driving the vehicle, may car starts to give me hesitation and stalling with jumping RPMs. Since then I would go to service at every oil change and report problem. They could never duplicate the problem. A service manager, Mr. Scheroder, even drove around with me and at the time the car didnt stall. Over the course of these 3 years, it took me until this year to THINK!! Just video tape it! i did, and finally... WE SEE THE PROBLEM!! hmmm? now you see it? 1st it was the torque converter.. replaced. Problem is still there, took it back, NOW its the transmission chip or something.. replaced.. problem is still here. I picked my vehicle up today 5/6/2011 and less than 5 mins the problem is still there. I have cantacted GM and I get their call center that is obviously no located in the USA then i have been assigned 3 different "district specialist" Kevin, Deongela, and now Victoria.. There was one more that I have yet to speak with about my Power Steering failing on me which caused me to wreck and get hit by an 18 wheeler but thats a whole different topic. I hate talking about b/c i'm still in fear when i drive just thinking about the hit. what if my kids where in the car? Back to vanderfgriff.. Overall, i will never buy from them again. I am the only person in my family that went to Vandergriff and we have 6 GM made vehicles. None but my death trap Cobalt has had issues. Back and forth back and forth. If they worked on my vehicle today.. why was my car so scorching hot on the inside of it? felt like its been sitting outside for the past 3 days it was there. I'm not stupid. I flagged down a local sheriff on my way home, asked his advice and he kindly witnessed the hesitation. I just mailed in my Lemon Law complaint and will make sure I am not going to have to deal with this Car and its issues AGAIN! I have to pay another certified mechanic just to inspect the work Vandergriff supposedly performed for me. ready for this to be over

    ...and to think, i was made famous by this car back in december 3, 2010.. headline news.. MANSFIELD SUPER MOM DELIVERS BABY IN HER CAR!! When i was on Fox news I wanted to blast GM and Vandergriff so bad but I said no kea.. dont cause trouble but NOW!! I'm determined. I will win if I don't quit and I'M NOT A QUITTER
  • kelseymlodkelseymlod Member Posts: 1
    Steve, I have had similar problems with my 08 cobalt. Not only did I have the recall done on my power steering, but I had my steering column completely replaced.
  • steve333steve333 Member Posts: 201
    They should be replaced on all of them, including the lower control arms, which GM knows are faulty. My car rides like [non-permissible content removed] but the dealer will never acknowledge that something is wrong because they don't want to deal with GM. Car is out of warranty right now so I'm staying away from dealers.
    I should now buy a Cruze why? Not going to happen
  • maltese2maltese2 Member Posts: 1
    I had my 06 cobalt serviced last year for the steering recall and now the same thing is happening again has anyone experienced the same problem
  • steve333steve333 Member Posts: 201
    I brought my 2006 Cobalt back to the mechanic who replaced my struts because my car is wandering and has been pulling to the left, also feels loose.
    They tested everything, disconnected steering linkage components to check for binding, checked alignment and tires etc.
    They tried to check the steering position sensor but they said their scope was blocked from reading the info.
    Their conclusion was that the steering rack needs to be replaced. Damn it! My car really started acting up after the power steering motor recall and the intermediate shaft had to be replaced for the second time. Now this.
    These problems should not be cropping up continually and GM should have extended our warranties because they know all about the faulty steering and front end components in our cars.
    This is a $700 job.If GM wants me to keep buying their products they really need to step up and help us out.
  • sad_stepmothersad_stepmother Member Posts: 2
    NEWS ENTRY FROM THE DEADLY ACCIDENT:

    S. Idaho crash kills two, including Nampa woman

    Posted on December 22, 2012 by IPT (Idaho Press-Tribune) Newsroom

    GOODING COUNTY — A Nampa woman died after a car accident in Gooding County Friday, according to Idaho State Police.

    A Burley man also died in the the two-vehicle crash, which took place around 6:45 p.m. on Interstate 84 about 35 miles outside Mountain Home. Three others from Burley were injured.

    Chelsea Sorensen, 22, of Nampa, was driving west on the interstate in a Chevrolet Cobalt. Authorities aren't sure why she lost control of the vehicle. She drove into the median and overturned. Her vehicle continued into the eastbound lanes of travel, colliding with a Nissan Maxima driven by 23- year-old Ryan Bowen of Burley.

    Bowen died at the scene of the crash.

    Sorensen was transported by air ambulance to a Boise hospital, where she later died.

    Franklin Bowen, 52, Nedra Bowen, 50, and Loralee Bowen, 17, all of Burley, were passengers in Bowen's vehicle. They were taken by air ambulance to a Boise hospital.

    All drivers and passengers were wearing seatbelts.

    Both eastbound lanes of I-84 were blocked for more than four hours. The crash investigation is continuing. >>>Source: http://www.idahopress.com/news/s-idaho-crash-kills-two-including-nampa-woman/art- - icle_7e5ce650-4c9a-11e2-8d7f-001a4bcf887a.html
  • Kirstie_HKirstie_H Administrator Posts: 11,145
    Sad story, but doesn't appear to have anything to do with the Cobalt apart from the fact that it was the vehicle being driven. Story doesn't indicate that the vehicle malfunctioned or played any part in the accident, and unless I'm missing something, this could have occurred in any vehicle.

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  • sad_stepmothersad_stepmother Member Posts: 2
    Not appropriate to provide all the details at this time.
  • imidazol97imidazol97 Member Posts: 27,132
    edited August 2013
    >Not appropriate to provide all the details at this time.

    Then we should not be posting anything which seems to have of some kind of innuendo that the car is at fault?

    Are we going to start posting accidents from other brands here as well?

    2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,

  • dapena13dapena13 Member Posts: 1
    Yesterday I was driving home from work and I was so close to home and I had just got off the expressway and was turning into the street I live on. While I was turning, the steering wheel lost control and my car made a 180 degree turn and I got in front of a car and they crashed into me. Luckily we were both going at a low speed so both of us were okay, but not our cars. I was trying to figure what had happened. I was considering that maybe it was the rain from the expressway that made the car loss control, however, it wasn't raining or the road wasn't wet in the area so that's out the question. And then I thought maybe it was the tires, but I just bought new ones this past weekend and an oil change. Now that I have read these comments, it had to be the steering wheel. Everyone will tell me that my Cobalt isn't a good car and was dangerous. But I would disagree because I never had problems before with my car or the car I had before was also Cobalt. So I don't know what to do? I think I need to contact GM because I am now carless and it wasn't my fault the car lost control.
  • gmcustsvcgmcustsvc Member Posts: 4,252
    dapena13 said:

    Yesterday I was driving home from work and I was so close to home and I had just got off the expressway and was turning into the street I live on. While I was turning, the steering wheel lost control and my car made a 180 degree turn and I got in front of a car and they crashed into me. Luckily we were both going at a low speed so both of us were okay, but not our cars. I was trying to figure what had happened. I was considering that maybe it was the rain from the expressway that made the car loss control, however, it wasn't raining or the road wasn't wet in the area so that's out the question. And then I thought maybe it was the tires, but I just bought new ones this past weekend and an oil change. Now that I have read these comments, it had to be the steering wheel. Everyone will tell me that my Cobalt isn't a good car and was dangerous. But I would disagree because I never had problems before with my car or the car I had before was also Cobalt. So I don't know what to do? I think I need to contact GM because I am now carless and it wasn't my fault the car lost control.

    We truly regret to learn about your experience, dapena13! Did you end up having Chevrolet Roadside tow your vehicle to the local Chevrolet dealership? We'd like the opportunity to look further into this matter on your behalf. Please private message us with your VIN, mileage and full contact information, or contact us via email at socialmedia@gm.com.

    Amber N.
    GM Customer Care
  • igot7kidsigot7kids Member Posts: 1
    My son owns a 06 Cobalt and his went haywire last fall now he has no heater, & no ac, but the fan blows? No airbags, no windshield wipers, and he has tried changing every fuse, and relay.... Oh and the worse of all is He has No Power Steering at all.... he is driving it still but it is VERY DIFFICULT! But he has to get to work... He has not taken it in for the recall on the ignition thing yet, but will soon. We have tried everything to get his heat, steering & wipers going but no joy.... I am thinking computer??? or faulty wiring??? we looked at wiring but i just dont know..... hate this for him..... this car seems haunted! It cuts off sometimes while sitting at the stoplight and dont want to start up, strange car.... He has got to get it looked at by a mechanic very soon! Its dangerous....
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