2010 Chevrolet COBALT
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2010 Chevrolet COBALT has 794 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 9.9x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is steering problems (31% of all complaints), specifically: 2006 cobalt steering problem vibrates and shakes. *tr. ⚠️ 9 fire reports filed.
794
Total Complaints
0
Recalls Issued
—/5
Safety Stars
9.9x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems
STEERING
243 complaints- • 2006 COBALT STEERING PROBLEM VIBRATES AND SHAKES. *TR
- • 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
- • ON 3/5/10 AT ABOUT 4PM I WAS TRAVELING EAST BOUND ON ROUTE 280 NEAR NEWARK EXIT. I WAS IN THE FAST LANE OF A 3 LANE HIGHWAY. THE MIDDLE LANE WAS EMPTY SO I PULLED INTO MIDDLE LANE. A RED PICK UP TRUCK IN THE FAR RIGHT LANE (SLOW LANE) PULLED INTO THE MIDDLE LANE. I ASSUME I MAY HAVE BEEN IN HIS
“2006 COBALT STEERING PROBLEM VIBRATES AND SHAKES. *TR”
— NHTSA complaint filing
ELECTRICAL
128 complaints- • TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET COBALT. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30-40 MPH, THE LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE CONTACT PUSHED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND HAD IT TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP. THE DEALER REPLACED THE BATTERY
- • ELECTRONIC DEVICES ENGAGING PASSENGER AIRBAG AND SEATBELT NOTIFICATION. WHEN I PUT AN AC ADAPTOR (LIGHTWEIGHT), OR MOST ELECTRONIC DEVICES, SOMETIMES EVEN JUST MY IPOD, ON MY PASSENGER SEAT IT THINKS A PERSON IS SITTING THERE. IF I WERE TO CRASH THIS WOULD BE A BIG PROBLEM AIRBAGS ARE EXPENSIVE, P
- • 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
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET COBALT. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30-40 MPH, THE LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE CONTACT PUSHED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND HAD IT TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP. THE DEALER REPLACED THE BATTERY”
— NHTSA complaint filing
FUEL SYSTEM
123 complaints- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE VALVE KIT HAD MELTED AND THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS
- • MY CAR WOULD NOT START SO I HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I WAS TOLD THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I LATER RECEIVED A CALL ADVISING THAT THE VALUE AROUND THE FUEL PUMP HAD MELTED AND THEY DID NOT KNOW WHY EXCEPT SOMETHING MUST HAVE GOTTEN TO HOT UNDER THE ENGINE. PROBLEM IS THIS IS C
- • MY CAR IS LEAKING GAS SOMEWHERE, SMELLS ARE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE CAR & BACKSEAT AREA. FUEL IS BEING USED UP FASTER THAN NORMAL. *TR
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE VALVE KIT HAD MELTED AND THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS”
— NHTSA complaint filing
AIR BAGS
76 complaints- • ELECTRONIC DEVICES ENGAGING PASSENGER AIRBAG AND SEATBELT NOTIFICATION. WHEN I PUT AN AC ADAPTOR (LIGHTWEIGHT), OR MOST ELECTRONIC DEVICES, SOMETIMES EVEN JUST MY IPOD, ON MY PASSENGER SEAT IT THINKS A PERSON IS SITTING THERE. IF I WERE TO CRASH THIS WOULD BE A BIG PROBLEM AIRBAGS ARE EXPENSIVE, P
- • AIR BAG SERVICE INDICATOR COMES ON AND AIR BAGS BECOME INOPERABLE. THIS HAS OCCURED MULTIPLE TIMES IN BETWEEN 3 TRIPS TO DEALER FOR REPAIR. FIRST TIME AT DEALER: DEALER CLAIMED TO ORDER PARTS BUT NEVER DID. SECOND TIME AT DEALER: DEALER CLAIMED TO HAVE REPLACED PASSENGER AIR BAG SENSOR AND MODULE
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO AN AUCTION HOUSE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED AND THE F
“ELECTRONIC DEVICES ENGAGING PASSENGER AIRBAG AND SEATBELT NOTIFICATION. WHEN I PUT AN AC ADAPTOR (LIGHTWEIGHT), OR MOST ELECTRONIC DEVICES, SOMETIMES EVEN JUST MY IPOD, ON MY PASSENGER SEAT IT THINKS A PERSON IS SITTING THERE. IF I WERE TO CRASH THIS WOULD BE A BIG PROBLEM AIRBAGS ARE EXPENSIVE, P”
— NHTSA complaint filing
ENGINE
42 complaints- • DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 10 -15 MPH, THE CAR COMPLETELY LOST POWER AND STOPPED AFTER MAKING A LEFT TURN. A WARNING CHIME STARTED AND THE INFORMATION DISPLAY SHOWED "POWER STEERING". CAR WAS PUT BACK IN PARK AND RESTARTED. DROVE ABOUT TWO MILES HOME AND TOOK IT TO THE DEALER THE NEXT MORNING. *KB
- • POWER STEERING GAVE OUT ON A U-TURN. SHUT OFF THE ENGINE AND IT WORKED AGAIN. LOOKED IT UP ON LINE AND FOUND OUT THERE WAS A RECALL. I BROUGHT IT TO ROTOLO CHEVROLET IN FONTANA,CA (THE PLACE WHERE I BOUGHT IT). THEY TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS A RECALL AND THEY REPLACED MY MOTOR ALREADY. THEY CHARGED ME
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKING, THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE IGNITION SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER BUT THE TECHNICIAN COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. APPROXIM
“DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 10 -15 MPH, THE CAR COMPLETELY LOST POWER AND STOPPED AFTER MAKING A LEFT TURN. A WARNING CHIME STARTED AND THE INFORMATION DISPLAY SHOWED "POWER STEERING". CAR WAS PUT BACK IN PARK AND RESTARTED. DROVE ABOUT TWO MILES HOME AND TOOK IT TO THE DEALER THE NEXT MORNING. *KB ”
— NHTSA complaint filing
Estimated Repair Costs
Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.
🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
Based on 794 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:
- ☐STEERING: 2006 COBALT STEERING PROBLEM VIBRATES AND SHAKES. *TR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ELECTRICAL: TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET COBALT. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30-40 MPH, THE LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE CONTACT PUSHED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND HAD IT TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP. THE DEALER REPLACED THE BATTERY
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐FUEL SYSTEM: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE VALVE KIT HAD MELTED AND THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐AIR BAGS: ELECTRONIC DEVICES ENGAGING PASSENGER AIRBAG AND SEATBELT NOTIFICATION. WHEN I PUT AN AC ADAPTOR (LIGHTWEIGHT), OR MOST ELECTRONIC DEVICES, SOMETIMES EVEN JUST MY IPOD, ON MY PASSENGER SEAT IT THINKS A PERSON IS SITTING THERE. IF I WERE TO CRASH THIS WOULD BE A BIG PROBLEM AIRBAGS ARE EXPENSIVE, P
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)
Chevrolet COBALT — Year Comparison
How does 2010 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.
Full years-to-avoid analysis →NHTSA Safety Rating
No NHTSA safety rating available
At a Glance
- Complaints
- 794
- Recalls
- 0
- Fire reports
- 9
- Crash reports
- 63
- Injury reports
- 58
- Segment avg
- 80
Check a Specific VIN
See recalls for YOUR 2010 Chevrolet COBALT