I own a 2006 chevrolet cobalt sedan that has approximately 45k miles on it, mostly local driving. In the last two weeks, twice under similar driving conditions, the power steering indicator light came on in the dash and the power steering failed while driving. After shutting off the engine and restarting the vehicle, the power steering resumed normal functioning. After examination by my mechanic, there is a known issue with this make and model requiring a complete replacement of the steering column to correct the problem. Chevrolet has published a technical service bulletin on the problem. Fortunately, I have not had any automobile accidents either time that the power steering failed. The first incident occurred approximately two weeks ago on or about 10/9/09 and the second time it occurred on or about 10/14/09. The vehicle is currently with the mechanic awaiting a repair estimate.
2006 Chevrolet Cobalt steering complaints
Page 35 of 44: complaints 1,001 to 1,030 of 1,299, newest first, as owners wrote them.
I have a 2006 chevrolet cobalt and the power steering continues to go out and the check engine light comes on. This can be very dangerous. The odd thing is I can be at a stoplight and turn the car off and back on and the power steering works fine but then down the road it does it again.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 chevrolet cobalt. While driving the power steering warning light illuminated on the instrument control panel, and then the power steering failed. The dealer was contacted and she was advised that the entire power steering needed to be replaced at an expense of $2000.00. He then added that the repair may not completely repair the power steering assembly. The failure mileage 48,804.
Tl*the contact owns a 2006 chevrolet cobalt. While driving approximately 35 MPH, the vehicle began moving from one side of the road to the other. The power steering failed and it became difficult to control the steering wheel. The engine also shut off; however, the contact was able to restart the vehicle and the system would reset itself. This has occurred several times while driving. There are no related recalls or warranties on the vehicle. The failure mileage was 56,000. Updated 11/03/09
2006 chevy cobalt with about 48000 miles. Started having power steering failures. Have not had it repaired yet but have read of all of the other consumers with similar issues. No idea what causes the failure. When the car is turned off and restarted the power steering works. My chevy dealer said the car was outside warranty and it may cost $900 or more to repair. Since this is such a widespread problem and it really catches a driver by surprise, I believe that gm should recall the vehicles to have them repaired for free. Someone could get killed or injured. I have heard many vehicles have been involved in accidents and ps failure was a contributing cause.
The contact owns a 2006 chevrolet cobalt. The contact was driving approximately 70 MPH on normal road conditions with an unexpected loss of power steering. There was extreme difficulty to turn the steering wheel. The driver exerted greater effort to turn the steering wheel. The vehicle was pulled over to the side of the road with caution. The engine was turned off. The vehicle restarted and resumed normal operation. The vehicle is in the process of being taken to an authorized dealer for diagnostic testing. The contact had concern of the safety risk involved. The failure mileage was 50,700. The current mileage was unavailable. Js
Power steering goes out while driving down the road. Very dangerous because, some people aren't strong enough to handle their car in that situation. This will result in a wreck. The power steering just goes out without any warning. So in that case if your turning and the steering goes out, what are you supposed to do just put someone else's life in danger?
My 2006 chevrolet cobalt lt sedan car has a power steering malfunction. When I start my car the power steering is fine for about 100 yards and then I receive a message in my dash stating "power steering" and then my steering wheel is hard, almost impossible to turn. This happened while traveling on the interstate and almost caused me to crash. This malfunction is very dangerous because it always happens spontaneously. I have also had issues with my keys getting stuck in the ignition, sometimes for twenty minutes or more.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 chevrolet cobalt. When making a turn the power steering warning light illuminated on the instrument control panel, and then there was a loss of power steering. After restarting the vehicle, she was able to resume normal vehicle operation. She contacted the dealer and was in the process of having the vehicle inspected. The failure and current mileage were 71774.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 chevrolet cobalt. While attempting to enter a highway she lost power steering. Usually she can restart the vehicle to temporally remedy the failure. The vehicle has not been inspected by the dealer. The current and failure mileages were 28000.
Im having so much trouble in my electric power steering in my 2006 chevy cobalt it jus quit on me all of a sudden an I ran into a ditch no warning lights had came on till after I was pulled out of the ditch I found it hard to turn and everyone I take it to cant find the codes to tell what's wrong with the car but the only place that did was the dealer ship n they said that as soon as I told them about it they did one check after that and confirmed it.
My daughter was driving her 2006 chevrolet cobalt last night and the power steering light on the dash came on and the power steering went totally dead. She was turning into a parking lot and almost didn't make it. After shutting the engine off and then restarting, the power steering started to work again but a few minutes later she was back to no power steering. I checked in the internet and found hundreds of such incidents reported on 2005 and 2006 cobalt vehicles. I called the dealer today and the service department indicated they have serviced a few of these problems. Expected remedy is to replace the steering column for about $1200. This car has been on the road for 39 months and has 26,000 miles on it. This situation poses a serious safety hazard and a recall for this defect needs to be initiated.
I own a 2006 chevy cobalt lt and recently while I am driving the t/c, security, and power steering lights come on and my power steering goes out and my car starts bucking and jumping like crazy. The last time it happened while I was driving 70 down the interstate and I almost crashed into the divider wall trying to pull over. It has been brought into the dealership 3 times and they have no idea what is causing it. I have already paid for a new transmission module which was not the problem. It seems to reset after the car is turned off for a while but if it happens it could cause serious crashes. There are already thousands of reports on the same incident with this particular car.
There was no warning im driving about 55 MPH down highway and all of a sudden I lost my power steering very hard to drive I pulled over turned car off and looked under hood didn't see no problem got back in started car up and power steering was back got it home and parked it I had my mechanic come and look at it put machine on it no problem showed so I took it about 10 miles from home and it did it again shut off car and restarted it and problem was gone for awhile but keeps recurring over and over so afraid im not going to be able to handle this car everytime it decides to do this its got me stunned I did some research and im not the only one experiencing this problem I've seen a least 25 to 40 others whom have same problem its going to cause a accident and I hope its not me but I have complained about this already and I got it recorded where I have complained so it needs to be resolved before someone gets hurt and then there will be lawsuits for chevy cobalt makers to deal with.
The power steering for my 2006 cobalt will stop working at random times. This has happened up to 5 times during a given day including in stopped traffic waiting at a red light and driving at 70 MPH on the interstate. The solution is to turn the car off and turn the car on and it will reset the power steering. This has resulted in me driving at anywhere from 25 to 70 MPH and then having the driving conditions of the car change instantly which is very dangerous. I have called a chevrolet dealer about this issue. They are aware of it and their solution is for the customer to replace the entire steering column which will cost approximately $900. This is a widespread issue from what I have been reading on the internet and demands a recall.
Tl*the contact owns a 2006 chevrolet cobalt. While driving 35 MPH the power steering warning light illuminated on the instrument control panel, and then there was a loss of power steering. The vehicle was restarted and he resumed normal vehicle operation. The dealer stated that the power steering motor should be replaced at the manufacturers expense. The current and failure mileages were 10,313.
I have a 2006 chevy cobalt with power steering that stop working.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 chevrolet cobalt. While driving 55 MPH the power steering warning light illuminated on the instrument control panel, and then there was a loss of power steering. The vehicle has not been diagnosed by the dealership. The current and failure mileages were 20,694. Updaetd 11/13/09.*lj updated 11/16/09
Tl*the contact owns a 2006 chevrolet cobalt. While driving approximately 35 MPH, the power steering warning light illuminated on the instrument control panel, and then there was a loss of power steering. The vehicle has not been diagnosed by the dealer. The current and failure mileages were 110000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 chevrolet cobalt. Intermittently while driving he lost power steering. He had to restart the vehicle to resume normal vehicle operation. The vehicle was taken to a local repair facility and a mechanic concluded that the electric power steering motor needed to be replaced. The failure mileage was 60,000.
I own a 2006 chevy cobalt. I am having a power steering fail. While driving specifically while making a turn the power steering suddenly fails. The information center displays power steering. If you shut off the vehicle it seems to reset the computer and cause the power steering to return. I have had it read by a mechanics computer but they are unable to identify the specific issue. I have seen several hundred other cobalt owners with this exact complaint. Chevy does not care because it is after the warranty. This is a major safety issue. If you lack even a little upper body strength you could crash! I was coming around a corner on the freeway stack! Please help us force chevy to do what's right before someone does get seriously hurt or killed.
In summer, 2009, problems began to arise with steering and cruise control on 2006 chevy. Cobalt. A light in the dash would come on then steering becomes very hard, uncontrollable as if the car had no power assist at all. The power assist failures became more frequent so car was taken to chevy. Dealer on 9/25/09. The service dept. Charged $181.00 and made some corrections but were reluctant to advise the problem had been corrected. On 10/20/09, a collision almost occurred during a right hand turn being made and the power steering failure coinciding.
I have a 2006 chevy cobalt and I am having issues with the steering, it keeps going out on me while driving. When u turn it off and turn it back on it works for a short period of time and goes out again. I took it to the garage and he could not find anything.
My daughter just got a 2006 cobalt and the power steering light came on a she couldn't turn the wheel and she was pulling in the parking lot to cheer at her football game and she had a little accident noone was hurt but she was very scared and didn't understand why it would do that. It is going to the shop monday the 19th and when they put all new parts for the power steering and if it does it again I will have my attorneys in court with general motors. I guess it is going to take someone getting killed or seriously injured before someone will take all of this seriously and recall this.
I was coming down a road about 500 feet before I was to turn off the main road, this light pops up on my dash showing "power steering" and when I slowed to turn right, my power steering was gone! This is crazy! I had some friends look over it and the fuses looked fine. They decided I had to take it to the dealer, because in the owners manual under power steering, if the light comes on, it states, return to dealer. Nothing else. Later when I got in my car to go home, the power steering worked fine. This is crazy. (this is on a saturday evening) sunday evening, I am heading to church, the power steering goes out again!!! The guys at work check it out, they switched up the relay switches, the one for the power steering is dead! They pick a new one at auto zone and replace it. Power steering again, yea!!! I didn't get a half a mile from the church and the power steering goes out again!! And you cannot turn on a dime either!! Very dangerous!!!
2006 chevrolet cobalt, will not start. Power steering comes on dashboard. This occurs at random times, leaving me without a car sometimes for days. Already took it to dealership, said it was a wire, they replaced it, it still continues with the same problems.
The power steering light came on in my 2006 chevy cobalt and then my power steering went out. I could barely keep the car on the road! I pulled over, turned the car off and the light went off but now the power steering goes off randomly all the time. I feel like it will definitely make me have an accident and it is so dangerous.
Powersteering light comes on without warning while driving and then the car gets hard to steer, which is very unsafe because it almost caused me to wreck. Once you shut off the car, it resets and then it will do it again a while later. I checked online and the easiest fix is to replace the whole steering column and this costs just under 1,000$. I've looked online and there are hundreds of people with the same problem. How can this be? It is very dangerous. It should be a recall.
Driving down the road in my 2006 chevy cobalt with only 40,000 miles and the power steering message appears and the power steering went out and caused me to run off the road right after I almost hit another car head on this is very dangerous and could cause someone to be hurt or even killed .
2006 chevy cobalt lt power steering goes out intermittently. Must turn off car and restart to regain power steering.
VIN decoder
See the problems and recalls for an exact car
Buying a used 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt?
Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.
Check its history