NHTSA Complaint #10315910 — 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT. WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 55 MPH THE POWER STEERING ALARM FLASHED ON THE DASHBOARD AND TRIGGERED THE ALARM. IMMEDIATELY, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING AND PROCEEDED TO DRIFT TO THE LEFT INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THE CONTACT HAD TO UTILIZE EXTREME BODILY FORCE IN ORDER TO AVOID CRASHING WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHEEL. SHE WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE OFF THE HIGHWAY AND SHUT OFF THE ENGINE. WHEN STARTING THE IGNITION, THE POWER STEERING RESET ITSELF AND WAS OPERATING NORMALLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWO ADDITIONAL TIMES AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE HE REPLACED THE ENTIRE POWER STEERING COLUMN AND ASSEMBLY. THERE WERE NO FAILURES AFTER THE REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,726 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WAS 82,000. UPDATED 4/7/2010 *CN THE POWER STEERING ASSIST MODULE WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 05/12/10.*JB