What Owners Report NHTSA ODI · 2,175,102 complaints · MY1998–2026

2010 Chevrolet Cobalt

Typical pattern

4.9% of complaints about the 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2010 vehicle — around the middle of the 203 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 4.8 yr in service. The most-reported system is steering (243 complaints), typically at 4.1 yr or about 56,000 miles.

Complaints
795
Median age at failure
4.8 yr
Median mileage
66,300 n=615
Crash / fire / tow
11.3% of reports
Safety recalls
6

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Steering
243 reports · 56,000 mi
4.1 yr
8.2%
Electrical system
128 reports · 56,000 mi
4.6 yr
10.2%
Fuel / propulsion
101 reports · 104,000 mi
10.8 yr
5%
Air bags
77 reports · 67,000 mi
4.8 yr
33.8%
Engine
38 reports · 87,440 mi
7.1 yr
5.3%
Power train
31 reports · 96,000 mi
6.9 yr
3.2%
Other
28 reports · 70,000 mi
6.9 yr
7.1%
Fuel system
21 reports · 111,000 mi
10.8 yr
4.8%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

15V500000 2015-08-10
Air bags:side/window

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt vehicles manufactured January 4, 2010, to June 23, 2010. The affected vehicles may be equipped with an improperly routed Side-Impact Sensor (SIS) wiring harness in the driver side front door. The misrouted wiring harness could cause an electrical short that disables the driver side curtain air bag.

A disabled driver side roof-rail air bag will not deploy in the event of a crash necessitating deployment of that air bag, increasing the risk of injury to the driver.

14E021000 2014-04-30
Electrical system:ignition:switch

UCI-FRAM Group is recalling certain LS1328 ignition Switches sold as Wells LS1328, Duralast LS1328, Airtex 1S6097, and Carquest 53-27479, and LS1497 Ignition Switches sold as Wells LS1497, Duralast LS1497, Airtex 1S10961, and Carquest 53-27967, for use on various General Motors model and model year vehicles during repair and replacement of the original ignition switch. The weight on the key ring and/or road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the affected ignition switches to move out of the run position, turning off the engine and disabling the air bags.

If the ignition switch moves from the run position to accessory, the car would stall and the air bags will not deploy in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of personal injury to the occupants.

14V171000 2014-04-10
Electrical system:ignition

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2005-2010 Chevrolet Cobalt, 2006-2011 Chevrolet HHR, 2007-2010 Pontiac G5, 2006-2010 Pontiac Solstice, 2003-2007 Saturn Ion, and 2007-2010 Saturn Sky vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the key can be removed from the ignition when the ignition is not in the "Off" position.

If the key can be removed from the ignition when the ignition is not in the "off" position, the vehicle could roll away: (a) for an automatic transmission, if the transmission is not in the "Park" position; or (b) for a manual transmission, if the parking brake is not engaged and the transmission is not in the "Reverse" position. This potential for rollaway increases the risk for a crash and occup

14V153000 2014-03-31
Steering:electric power assist system

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2004-2006 and 2008-2009 Chevrolet Malibu, 2004-2006 Malibu Maxx, 2009-2010 HHR (non-turbo), 2010 Cobalt, 2008-2009 Saturn Aura and 2004-2007 Ion, and 2005-2009 Pontiac G6. In the affected vehicles, there may be a sudden loss of electric power steering (EPS) assist that could occur at any time while driving.

If power steering assist is lost, greater driver effort would be required to steer the vehicle at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.

14V047000 2014-02-10
Air bags

This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on February 10, 2014 that they are recalling 619,122 model year 2005-2007 Chevrolet Cobalt, and 2007 Pontiac G5 vehicles. On February 25, 2014, GM increased the recall to include an additional 748,024 model year 2006-2007 Chevrolet HHR and Pontiac Solstice vehicles and 2003-2007 Saturn Ion vehicle

If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

10V073000 2010-03-03
Steering:electric power assist system

GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2010 CHEVROLET COBALT AND MODEL YEAR 2007-2010 PONTIAC G5 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ELECTRIC POWER STEERING. THE DRIVER MAY EXPERIENCE A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST THAT COULD OCCUR AT ANY TIME WHILE DRIVING.

IF POWER STEERING ASSIST IS LOST, IT WOULD REQUIRE GREATER DRIVER EFFORT AT LOW VEHICLE SPEEDS, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

In owners’ own words

Steering 210 mi 5 mo in service
FEB 03, 2010 PURCHASED A 2010 CHEVROLET COBALT FROM PAPE CHEV. S. PORTLAND , MAINE. CAN HEAR POWER STEERING RUBBING NOISE UPON TURNING AT LOW SPEEDS. MILEAGE ONLY 660. NOW I HEAR THERE IS A PENDING RECALL FOR THIS VEHICLE? DOES THE DEALER HAVE TO EXCHANGE FOR ANOTHER MODEL.. *TR
Steering 4,000 mi 1.0 yr in service
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET COBALT. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ILLUMINATED CAUSING THE POWER STEERING FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CALLED WHO STATED THEY WILL CONTACT THE DEALER IN REGARDS TO THE REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE 4,000.
Steering 1,000 mi 11 mo in service
BACK PASS SIDE DOOR LOCK[2X], STEERING LOCKUP,[FACTORY RECALL] FUEL GUAGUE/TACOMENTOR BOUNCEING,DEALER REPLACED BODY CONTROL SENSOR,NOW CRUIZE CONTROL QUIT WORKING. STILL NOT FIXED,[CC]GUAGUES STILL BOUNCING. GM TECH FROM CORP,INVOLVED,TO TRY TO FIX. IN 3X'S. TOTAL IN 6X'S,3 DIRR REPAIRS.NO CAR LOANER/OR RENTAL,KEPT 2-DAYS.HAD EYE SURGERY AT VETERANS HOSP,HAD TO FIND ANOTHER RIDE. *TR
Electrical system 30,493 mi 1.2 yr in service
2009 CHEVY COBALT KEY STUCK IN IGNITION. WENT TO TURN MY CAR OFF YESTERDAY 11/8/2010 AND THE KEY WOULDN'T COME OUT. CURRENTLY WAITING TO SEE EXACTLY WHAT THE PROBLEM IS FROM DEALERSHIP. *TR

Other Cobalt model years

201020092008200720062005

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