NHTSA Complaint #10456996 — 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT

WHEN MANEUVERING THE VEHICLE MY STEERING WHEEL SEIZES UP OVER AND OVER AGAIN WHILE MAKING A TURN. CONSEQUENTLY IT MUST BE TURNED HARD TO OVERCOME THIS RESISTANCE. OFTEN THIS CAUSES THE DRIVER TO OVER STEER. IT DOES THIS REPEATEDLY EVEN WHEN GOING THROUGH THE SAME TURN. CORRECTING THE OVER STEER IS ALSO PLAGUED BY THESE SAME SPOTS OF HARD RESISTANCE. IF YOU TURN THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE THE CAR IS NOT MOVING YOU CAN FEEL THE SAME PROBLEM. HAD THE FRONT END OF THE CAR INSPECTED AND THOSE COMPONENTS ARE IN GOOD SHAPE. YOU CAN HEAR A SOUND COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN WHEN RESISTANCE IS FELT. THE CAR HAD SAFETY RECALL # 10023 REPAIR DONE ON 6/14/2010 AT DUTCH CHEVROLET IN BELFAST, MAINE (REPAIR ORDER 25485). I CALLED CHEVY AND THEY SAID THAT THE RECALL REPAIR WAS WARRANTED FOR 12 MONTHS OR MILES WHICH EVER CAME FIRST. I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT TODAY 5/1/12 TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT BY THE SAME DEALER. THE REPRESENTATIVE FROM CHEVY SAID THEY WILL FOLLOW UP ON THIS HOWEVER THEY DID NOT OFFER TO COVER THE COST OF THE REPAIR. BAD ENOUGH THAT THE PROBLEM IS CHRONIC, A REAL SAFETY CONCERN, BUT WORSE YET CHEVY WON'T EVEN TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR A LIFETIME WARRANTY ON A RECALL REPAIR. THIS IS UNCONSCIONABLE. *JS THE CONSUMER STATED HE WENT TO THE LOCAL DEALER TO HAVE THE STEERING PROBLEM DIAGNOSED. IT TURNED OUT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE ORIGINAL REPAIR OF THE ELECTRIC STEERING ASSIST UNIT AFTER ALL. RATHER, THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT U-JOINT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CHARGE WAS SLIGHTLY UNDER $250. AFTER DISCUSSING THE PROBLEM WITH THE WARRANTY DIVISION, THE CONSUMER WAS GIVEN A DISCOUNT OF $150.00. THE CONSUMER NO LONGER WISHED TO PURSUE HIS COMPLAINT. UPDATED IVOQ 06/15/12