Problems · NHTSA complaints
2007 Chevrolet Cobalt problems
Owners filed 1,564 complaints about the 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt with NHTSA between Oct 2006 and Jul 2026. The most-cited component is steering (689).
Complaints
1,564
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
116
Reported by owners
Fires
16
Reported by owners
Injuries
109
People reported injured
Deaths
7
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Steering689
- Fuel/propulsion system283
- Electrical system281
- Fuel system, gasoline150
- Air bags144
- Suspension75
- Engine56
- Power train43
- Service brakes25
- Engine and engine cooling24
- Electronic stability control (esc)22
- Equipment21
- Service brakes, hydraulic19
- Structure19
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
1
19
29
164
333
90
151
96
258
107
73
61
54
33
34
26
14
8
5
4
4
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 19 |
| 2008 | 29 |
| 2009 | 164 |
| 2010 | 333 |
| 2011 | 90 |
| 2012 | 151 |
| 2013 | 96 |
| 2014 | 258 |
| 2015 | 107 |
| 2016 | 73 |
| 2017 | 61 |
| 2018 | 54 |
| 2019 | 33 |
| 2020 | 34 |
| 2021 | 26 |
| 2022 | 14 |
| 2023 | 8 |
| 2024 | 5 |
| 2025 | 4 |
| 2026 | 4 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Steering
689 reports61 crashes4 fires1 related recall
“Fuel Leak it smells and leaks it seems to be coming from the gas tank and sometimes I get random electric failure when I'm driving I lose power steering and My brakes get stiff and hard to push down and my dash will go Off and then go crazy and show that i have no gas”
Fuel/propulsion system
283 reports1 crash1 fire
“I observed my mother’s 2007 Chevy Cobalt was leaking fuel near the rear tire by the fuel tank. I inspected the tank with engine off and it does not leak. Only with engine running. I lowered the tank and observed a small crack on the plastic return line on the fuel pump module. I started looking online and could not find a replacement part that was plastic. I then conducted more research and found the recall. I asked my mother and she stated she never received a recall. The recall was issued on 09-19-12. NHSTA ID#12v459000”
Electrical system
281 reports18 crashes6 fires2 related recalls
“I was in a crash on 9/19/25 and at the incident none of my airbags deployed. My daily driver for my children and I. I was lucky I was the only passenger at the time. I never expected my airbags not to deploy in a head on crash. The car still sits in my driveway and I have and identical one just like it that I drive! I’d like them evaluated.”
Fuel system, gasoline
150 reports1 crash2 fires2 related recalls
“The contact owns a 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated that there was an abnormal fuel odor near the fuel tank. There was fuel leaking from the fuel cap. There were no warning lights illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 09V419000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 105,000.”
Air bags
144 reports48 crashes1 fire1 related recall
“The contact owned a 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated that while the son was driving at approximately 52 MPH, the vehicle crashed head-on into a second vehicle. During the crash, no air bags had deployed, and the driver sustained fatal injuries. Also, during the crash, the ignition key broke off inside the ignition switch, and the vehicle was destroyed. A police report was taken at the scene, and the vehicle was towed to a police inbound lot and later towed to the home. The cause of the failure was not determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.”
Suspension
75 reports3 crashes
“WHEN BRAKING, THE TIRES BOUNCE CAUSING A SERIOUS VIBRATION WHICH MAKES STEERING DIFFICULT WHEN BRAKING HARD. THERE IS NO VISIBLE DAMAGE OR LOSE SUSPENSION PARTS BUT I'M GUESSING IT'S EITHER BAD STRUTS OR CONTROL ARMS? I'M REPLACING THE PARTS TODAY AS A GUESS AND HOPE IT FIXES THE ISSUE. THIS IS MY DAUGHTERS CAR AND SHE'S AFRAID TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE.”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.