2009 Chevrolet Cobalt Steering Problems

NHTSA component category: STEERING · data through 07/12/2026

194Steering complaints

27.3%Of all 710 complaints

#2Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How steering ranks on this vehicle

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM226 · 31.8%

STEERING194 · 27.3%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM131 · 18.5%

AIR BAGS69 · 9.7%

ENGINE39 · 5.5%

Share of the 710 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt overview page.

What owners report

“THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. AS…”NHTSA complaint 10479397 — filed 10/09/2012

“WE WENT TO EAT, CAME OUT TO GO HOME STARTED CAR AND LOST COMPLETE STEERING, COULD NOT GET IT TO STEER CORRECTLY. HAD TO DRIVE…”NHTSA complaint 10478922 — filed 10/07/2012

“THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL HAD BECOME EXTREMELY HARD TO MANEUVER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN…”NHTSA complaint 10477334 — filed 09/27/2012

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Steering complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt have steering problems?

Steering is the #2 most-reported problem area on the 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt: 194 of 710 complaints on file (27.3%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt have in total?

710 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Across all categories, 59 involved a crash, 7 involved a fire, 41 reported injuries, and 5 reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's steering category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the STEERING category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/12/2026.