Problems · NHTSA complaints

2009 Chevrolet Cobalt problems

Owners filed 900 complaints about the 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt with NHTSA between Sep 2008 and Mar 2026. The most-cited component is fuel/propulsion system (232).

Complaints
900
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
67
Reported by owners
Fires
9
Reported by owners
Injuries
44
People reported injured
Deaths
5
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Fuel/propulsion system232
  2. Steering210
  3. Electrical system158
  4. Service brakes, hydraulic143
  5. Air bags80
  6. Engine42
  7. Fuel system, gasoline37
  8. Power train32
  9. Service brakes22
  10. Parking brake19
  11. Structure16
  12. Vehicle speed control15
  13. Wheels15
  14. Engine and engine cooling13

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
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20082
200970
2010123
201161
201256
201342
2014136
201562
201649
201746
201876
201944
202060
202133
202220
202311
20246
20252
20261

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.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Fuel/propulsion system

232 reports2 crashes4 fires
“The air bag never deployed I bought car in 2018 from original owner with car only having 33,000 miles on it and still under warranty til car had 100,000 miles and I hit a deer head on 2 months after getting car which bought in may of 2018 hit the deer in July 2018 . The deer was hit with the front passenger side it broke my headlight n messed my hood up and smashed in the grill little and my air bags never deployed I hit deer at 50 mph , after that had happened I took it in to Chevy dealership and had them look at car cause I told them I hit that deer and air bag never deployed and that my air bag light came on once in awhile and said service air bag . The dealership said they do that sometimes and did something to make light go off that was it my air vag light still comes on and says service air bag . Also ignition switch and fuel smell foul coming from car a lot and is as I speak . My reduce engine power light comes on a lot and have no power to gas pedal n car won’t stay running . I have try to get two recalls fixed back in 2-21 I was having problems with my car back then too special reach called me in Jan of 2021 and told me that there were two recalls on…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 21, 2024Electrical system, Air bags, Fuel/propulsion systemCrash reportedODI 11631947

Steering

210 reports30 crashes1 fire1 related recall
“The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel failed to turn in the intended direction. In addition, the power steering failure warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was turned off. The contact stated that while attempting to restart the vehicle, the vehicle was started, and the power steering failure warning light was off. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact referenced an unknown recall with a similar failure description; however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 154,824.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 21, 2025SteeringODI 11694845

Electrical system

158 reports9 crashes2 related recalls
“The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated while attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle failed to start and was jumpstarted; however, the auto theft warning light illuminated, and the key could not be removed from the ignition. The contact was able to drive the vehicle however, the locks failed to lock the doors, and there was a clicking sound when the windows failed to roll up or down. The contact stated that after refueling the vehicle, the vehicle was consuming an excessive amount of fuel. The contact stated that the tank was full however, the next day the fuel tank was empty. The dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 161,595.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 25, 2024Fuel system, gasoline, Electrical systemODI 11585314

Service brakes, hydraulic

143 reports10 crashes3 fires
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET COBALT. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STOPPED ACCELERATING AND WOULD NOT RESPOND WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE BEGAN VIBRATING AND THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD WHINING NOISE COMING FROM THE UNDERCARRIAGE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE TO THE DEALER AFTER KEEPING THE VEHICLE PARKED FOR APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES. IN ADDITION, ONCE THE AIR CONDITIONING WAS ACTIVATED TO LEVEL THREE OR HIGHER, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL. IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THE MASTER CYLINDER ON THE BRAKES WAS FAULTY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,000. UPDATED 10/23/2014*LJ UPDATED 4/21/2015 *JS”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 8, 2014Service brakes, hydraulic, Power trainODI 10631427

Air bags

80 reports26 crashes1 related recall
“The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated that while driving 55 MPH, the contact struck a deer. The air bags did not deploy. Additionally, while driving at slow speeds, the vehicle lost motive power. The contact restarted the vehicle. There was an abnormal sulfur and fuel odor detected. The air bag warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the MAP sensor needed to be reset. The mechanic reset the air bag light. The mechanic was unable to determine the cause of the air bag failure. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 33,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 4, 2024Air bags, Vehicle speed controlCrash reportedODI 11628768

Engine

42 reports5 crashes1 fire
“My car turned off while I was driving and almost caused me to crash into an 18 wheeler. Thank God I turned on my emergency signal and the truck swerved!. I would of died. I was stuck in the middle of the road and luckily some passersby helped me push it into a commercial parking area. I tried to start it again and it wouldn't start. But, when I turn my key into the off position, my car tried starting by itself. It was scary. It was checked by a mechanic, prior to this happening, because the car was hard to start. The mechanic told me to find out if there is a recall. However, I did some research and there was a recall on the ignition switch and fuel pump. The ignition switch was faulty causing the car to turn off while moving and two people died as a result. I entered the VIN # and it didn't show any recalls.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 20, 2023Steering, EngineODI 11555972
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.