Cobalt being investigated for sudden power steering failures.
02-02-2010, 08:55 AM
#1
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Location: Ohio
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Cobalt being investigated for sudden power steering failures.
http://www.wkbn.com/content/news/loc...tWOgztszA.cspx
Could this come at a worse time? If this blows up... there goes any momentum they might have gained from Toyota's troubles... and will probably take a lot of the focus away from Toyota and have it dropped on GM.
The Chevy Cobalt is under investigation because of reports of a sudden loss of power steering.
The investigation was spurred by consumer complaints, including about 750 in the last six months. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says that number includes 11 crashes with one injury.
The inquiry covers Cobalts made from 2005 to 2009. The agency estimates as many as 950,000 vehicles could be involved.
Check back here or tune into newscasts throughout the day for more on this developing story.
Could this come at a worse time? If this blows up... there goes any momentum they might have gained from Toyota's troubles... and will probably take a lot of the focus away from Toyota and have it dropped on GM.
The Chevy Cobalt is under investigation because of reports of a sudden loss of power steering.
The investigation was spurred by consumer complaints, including about 750 in the last six months. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says that number includes 11 crashes with one injury.
The inquiry covers Cobalts made from 2005 to 2009. The agency estimates as many as 950,000 vehicles could be involved.
Check back here or tune into newscasts throughout the day for more on this developing story.
02-02-2010, 09:49 AM
#4
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Location: Toronto, ON Canada
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Yes, it is
Just did some looking around, yes, it is the electric power steering.
Can someone tell me why we are moving away from hydraulic power steering (which has worked very well so far) to something new, and electric?
Can someone tell me why we are moving away from hydraulic power steering (which has worked very well so far) to something new, and electric?
02-02-2010, 09:50 AM
#5
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02-02-2010, 10:32 AM
#7
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better fuel economy, better to use with hybrids, probably easier to tie-in with stability control, easier to change steering feel, easier to use same rack across multiple lines, blahblah.
Kinda like electronic throttles nowadays. Kinda meh on the whole thing.
Kinda like electronic throttles nowadays. Kinda meh on the whole thing.
02-02-2010, 10:36 AM
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02-02-2010, 10:45 AM
#10
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May be lighter, but energy isn't free; although I will agree that it more then likely uses LESS power then a hydraulic system as it only needs to power up when there is actual steering involved.
Although I don't know what type of pump power steering systems use, pressure comp vane???
Although I don't know what type of pump power steering systems use, pressure comp vane???
02-02-2010, 10:49 AM
#13
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I was kind of wondering that too, there is still physically a connection from the steering wheel to the box/suspensions, and while is it MUCH HARDER to steer, it's not impossible, and actually, the faster you're going, the easier it is to steer with smaller movements. I could imagine the accidents being from low speed turns where people freak out and can't turn the wheel fast enough??? If it fails on the highway, you should easily be able to slow the vehicle and get off the road.
02-02-2010, 10:53 AM
#14
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May be lighter, but energy isn't free; although I will agree that it more then likely uses LESS power then a hydraulic system as it only needs to power up when there is actual steering involved.
Although I don't know what type of pump power steering systems use, pressure comp vane???
Although I don't know what type of pump power steering systems use, pressure comp vane???
If it's the same system they use on other GM cars, my neighbour's 2005 Malibu has been in the shop three times for power steering issues. It would just suddenly stop assisting in one direction or sometimes both. Not a huge deal when moving, but it happened to her in a parking lot and she literally did not have the strength to steer the car (and had to get it towed). So I'm pretty sure this is a known problem within GM.
02-02-2010, 11:04 AM
#15
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It happened to my sister's car while she was on one of those circle entrance ramps to the interstate. She was about half way through the circle when it went out and the car started to go straight towards the retaining wall. 
She had to turn the wheel about 3 rotations to get the car to turn. Then everything went back to normal. I was in the car when this happened and told her to trade the car in for something else. Something like that is just too unpredictable to be living with.
She had to turn the wheel about 3 rotations to get the car to turn. Then everything went back to normal. I was in the car when this happened and told her to trade the car in for something else. Something like that is just too unpredictable to be living with.