repaired · 2016 Q2
Electrical system: ignition
Risk. 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…
2005 Chevrolet CobaltProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 1,649 owner complaints about the 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt, most often about the steering. It is covered by 5 safety recalls, and for recall 14V-171 the manufacturer reports only 72% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through February 12, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: Elise240SX, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt has problems
1,649 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
1,143Steering56 crash/fire/injury
323Electrical system16 crash/fire/injury
99Power train
71Air bags
69Engine
51Engine and engine cooling
47Suspension
46Structure
40Vehicle speed control
28820 other systems29 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Steering | 1143 | 56 |
| Electrical system | 323 | 16 |
| Power train | 99 | 1 |
| Air bags | 71 | 42 |
| Engine | 69 | 5 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 51 | 3 |
| Suspension | 47 | 1 |
| Structure | 46 | 10 |
| Vehicle speed control | 40 | 3 |
| 20 other systems | 288 | 29 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
5 recalls
2005 Chevrolet Cobalt recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2016 Q2
Air bags
Risk. 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.
no report yet
Steering: electric power assist system
Risk. IF POWER STEERING ASSIST IS LOST, IT WOULD REQUIRE GREATER DRIVER EFFORT AT LOW VEHICLE SPEEDS, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
no report yet
Structure
Risk. IN A CRASH, HEAD IMPACT PROTECTION MAY BE INADEQUATE.
Show 1 more recall
no report yet
Exterior lighting: headlights
Risk. THE BULB SHIELD CAN LOOSEN OR BREAK BECAUSE OF VIBRATION.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Chevrolet.
Mileage at failure
When do steering problems start?
61kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 1,018 steering complaints. 83% were reported before 100,000 miles.
109under 30k miles843under 100k miles175100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs
What owners say repairs cost
Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.
Steering
137 owners mentioned a cost$950median
Middle half: $732 – $1,200
If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.
Best & worst years
2005 vs. every other Cobalt year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Cobalt median. How we score
'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'16'17
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2005 Chevrolet Cobalt safety ratings
2005 Chevrolet Cobalt 4-DR (Later release) in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
Frontal crashNot rated
Side barrierNot rated
- Stability control: No
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: No
1 investigation
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt, and the recalls they led to.
- Electric Power Steering FailureLed to recall 10V-073
In owners' words
What Cobalt owners report
Recent steering complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel failed to turn in the desired direction. The contact stated the power steering warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or…
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated while driving at approximately 65 MPH, the power steering assist warning illuminated. The contact stated that the steering wheel was difficult to turn to the left or the right. The contact was able to pull off the roadway, turned off, and…
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated while driving approximately 65 MPH and making a turn, the steering wheel seized and created a loss of the power steering functionality. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was…
Own a 2005 Cobalt?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.