NHTSA vehicle safety data

2003 Chevrolet Cobalt Recalls & Complaints

We couldn't confirm the NHTSA recall list for the 2003 Chevrolet Cobalt right now, so this page doesn't state a recall count — check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls for current campaigns. 6 owner complaints are on file.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2003 Chevrolet Cobalt.

2003 Chevrolet Cobalt owner complaints

Owners have filed 6 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 Chevrolet Cobalt, describing incidents dated October 18, 2006 to March 15, 2011.

Most-cited components

Equipment 6 complaints
Steering 6 complaints
Tires 1 complaint

Newest complaints

ODI #10393923 · Filed April 1, 2011
I WAS DRIVING HOME AND LOST POWER TO THE STEERING WHEEL AND I WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL LEFT OR RIGHT. VERY STIFF AND PULLED OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE TO COME GET ME, AFTER WAITING 20 MINUTES, I TURNED IT BACK ON AND THE WHEEL WAS FREE TO MOVE AGAIN. THIS…
ODI #10339092 · Filed June 18, 2010
I PURCHASED A 2007 CHEVROLET COBALT IN 2006 , THEY SOLD ME THE VEHICLE THAT THEY USED FOR TEST DRIVING, WHICH I TOLD THEM WAS OUT OF LINE AND THEY STILL MADE ME PURCHASE IT. I BOUGHT IT BACK A WEEK LATER AND THEY HAD TO LINE IT UP BECAUSE IT WAS ALL OVER THE ROAD. A MONTH LATER, THE STEERING WHEEL…
ODI #10319373 · Filed March 12, 2010
WE HAVE TAKEN OUR DAUGHTERS COBALT TO THE DEALER 3 TIMES BECAUSE THE POWER STEERING KEEPS GOING OUT. IT IS PLACING OUR DAUGHTER IS SERIOUS DANGER. WE HAVE SPENT CLOSE TO $1000.00 ON THIS ISSUE. IT WENT OUT IN DECEMBER AND WE TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH IT. IT WENT…

Read all 6 complaints

We couldn't confirm the NHTSA recall list for the 2003 Chevrolet Cobalt right now — this is not a confirmed "no recalls". Check the VIN at NHTSA.gov/recalls for the official status.

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 2003 Chevrolet Cobalt. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

6 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2003 Chevrolet Cobalt.

Steering; Equipment

ODI #10393923

Incident: March 15, 2011 · Filed: April 1, 2011

I WAS DRIVING HOME AND LOST POWER TO THE STEERING WHEEL AND I WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL LEFT OR RIGHT. VERY STIFF AND PULLED OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE TO COME GET ME, AFTER WAITING 20 MINUTES, I TURNED IT BACK ON AND THE WHEEL WAS FREE TO MOVE AGAIN. THIS OCCURED A SECOND TIME LAST WEEK WHEN I STARTED MY CAR IN THE MORNING. I TURNED IT OFF AND ON SEVERAL TIMES AND FINALLY IT WORKED. THE CAR IS VERY UNSAFE AND I WAS AFRAID TO DRIVE IT AS IT MAY HAPPEN AGAIN GOING A FASTER SPEED. CURRENTLY THE CAR IS NOW AT THE SHOP LOOKING AT THE POWER STEERING MECHANISM THAT IS BAD. IT IS A RECALL AND ALREADY REPLACED AND IS BAD AGAIN. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WHERE THE CAR CAN STOP WORKING AT ANYTIME WHICH GIVES YOU NO CONTROL OVER THE VEHICLE. *TR

Steering; Tires; Equipment

ODI #10339092

Incident: October 18, 2006 · Filed: June 18, 2010

I PURCHASED A 2007 CHEVROLET COBALT IN 2006 , THEY SOLD ME THE VEHICLE THAT THEY USED FOR TEST DRIVING, WHICH I TOLD THEM WAS OUT OF LINE AND THEY STILL MADE ME PURCHASE IT. I BOUGHT IT BACK A WEEK LATER AND THEY HAD TO LINE IT UP BECAUSE IT WAS ALL OVER THE ROAD. A MONTH LATER, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN, THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TOLD ME I HAD TO PAY $1200.00 TO GET IT FIXED UNTIL I NOTIFIED THE DISTRICT MANAGER AND HE MADE THEM FIX IT.THEN THE SECURITY AIR BAG LIGHT STAYED ON AND IT WOULD NOT PASS INSPECTION AND THEY TRIED TO MAKE ME PAY FOR THAT. I HAVE BEEN SPENDING MONEY ON TIRES ALL THE TIME, SPEND MONEY ON BRAKES ALL THE TIME, HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE ELECTRICAL UNITS TO THE RADIO KEEPS GOING OUT, BEARINGS IN THE WHEEL IS GONE, AND IT KEEPS CUTTING OFF. I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS SINCE I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE. I GOT A LETTER FOR THE RECALL FOR THE POWER STEERING AND WHEN I GOT MY CAR BACK, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON, THEY MESSED UP MY BOOT AND NOW TELLING ME I NEED TO FIX IT WHEN THEY HAD SOMEONE TO DRIVE MY CAR FOR 12 MILES. NOW ALL I GET IS A LOT OF DISRESPECT FROMTHEM AND THEY DON'T WANT TO REPAIR WHAT THEY MESSED UP. I ALSO WANTED TO PURCHASE ANOTHER CAR LAST MONTH FOR MY SON WHO GRADUATED FROM COLLEGE AND I HAD TO LOOK THROUGH THE WINDOWS TO SEE VEHICLES INSTEAD OF THE SALESMAN OPENING THE DOOR AND LETTING ME LOOK IN THE INSIDE. MIND YOU I BOUGHT A 16,000.00 CAR FROM THEY AND THAT'S HOW THEY APPRECIATE MY BUSINESS. I AM HEART BROKEN BECAUSE I FEEL AS IF I WAS ROBBED OF MY MONEY. I SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN GIVEN A CAR THAT THEY USE FOR TEST DRIVING. ALSO THE SECURITY AIRBAG LIGHT WOULD NOT GO OFF AND THEY WOULD NOT LET IT PASS INSPECTION. *TR

Steering; Equipment

ODI #10319373

Incident: March 12, 2010 · Filed: March 12, 2010

WE HAVE TAKEN OUR DAUGHTERS COBALT TO THE DEALER 3 TIMES BECAUSE THE POWER STEERING KEEPS GOING OUT. IT IS PLACING OUR DAUGHTER IS SERIOUS DANGER. WE HAVE SPENT CLOSE TO $1000.00 ON THIS ISSUE. IT WENT OUT IN DECEMBER AND WE TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH IT. IT WENT OUT AGAIN TODAY. *TR

Steering; Equipment

ODI #10313556

Incident: February 24, 2010 · Filed: February 24, 2010

I HAVE A 2005 CHEVORLET COBALT WITH APPROXIMATELY 76,000 MILES. WHILE DRIVING THE MESSAGE DISPLAY ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FLASHES " POWER STEERING" AND THE CAR BECOMES VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. THE STEERING IS EXTREMELY TIGHT. IF I CYCLE POWER THE PROBLEM RESETS BUT RECURS ALMOST IMMEDIATELY. THIS PROBLEM CONTINUES TO HAPPEN EVERY TIME THE CAR IS DRIVEN. *TR

Steering; Equipment

ODI #10284018

Incident: September 3, 2009 · Filed: September 15, 2009

MY NAME IS CRYSTAL MARIE TORRES, AND I PURCHASED A 2007 CHEVY COBALT AND IT'S BARELY GOING TO BE 2 YEARS IN DECEMBER THAT I'VE PURCHASED IT! THE POWER STEERING IS ALREADY GOING OUT AND THE LIGHT APPEARS. I DON'T BELIEVE IF I'M PAYING FOR PRACTICALLY A NEW VEHICLE IT SHOULDN'T BE DOING THIS SO SOON. I'VE ALWAYS DONE MY BEST TO TAKE CARE OF MY VEHICLE, SO WHY IS THE POWER STEERING FAILING!!! I GOT ON THE INTERNET TO INVESTIGATE THIS SITUATION WITH OTHER COBALT CUSTOMERS, THEY TOO ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE.... SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE, OTHERWISE THERE WILL BE LAWSUITS GOING INTO ACTION FOR FALSE ADVERTISEMENT ON SUCH A GREAT CAR! NOT FAIR TO THE PUBLIC WHO HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT LOYAL CUSTOMERS!!! HELP RESOLVE THIS ISSUE SOON!!! HERE IS THE SIGHT WHERE OTHERS ARE POSTING THEIR ISSUES WITH THE SAME CONFLICT ON THEIR COBALTS! HTTP://WWW.TOPIX.COM. *TR

Steering; Equipment

ODI #10280249

Incident: August 11, 2009 · Filed: August 12, 2009

I HAVE A 07 CHEVY COBALT AND I WAS DRIVING ON THE EXPRESS WAY WHEN MY POWER STEERING LIGHT CAN ON AND AS I WAS TURNING THE WHEEL IT LOCKED UP. I WAS VERY AFRAID DO TO THE FACT THAT MY CHILD WAS IN THE CAR. I PULLED OVER ON THE SHOULDER AND TURNED THE CAR OFF. I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO BUT I COULDN'T STAY ON THE EWAY. WHEN I STARTED IT BACK UP THE WHEEL LOOSENED UP BUT SURE ENOUGH A COUPLE MILES DOWN THE ROAD IT DID THE SAMETHING. I AM SENDING THIS COMPLAINT BECAUSE I THINK THAT IS VERY DANGEROUS ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU ARE TRYING TO TURN A CORNER OR EVEN SWITCH LANES. IN DOING RESEARCH ABOUT THE PART I LOCATED A SITE "TOPIX CHEVY COBALT STEERING FAILURE" WERE THERE IS OVER FIVE HUNDRED POST ABOUT THE SAME THING. BUT YET RECALL ON THIS CAR. WHEN WILL THEY RECALL IT WHEN SOMEONE IS SERIOUSLY HURT OR EVEN KILLED!!!! *TR

Other Chevrolet Cobalt model years

Check your 2003 Chevrolet Cobalt VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Chevrolet Cobalt at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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