Problems · by component

2009 Chevrolet Cobalt air bags problems

80 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt cite air bags, 9% of all 900 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

Complaints
80
9% of all complaints
Crashes
26
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
18
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the air bags

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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
“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
“Passenger side seat caused a situation where the air bags were turned off and warning lights to come on in dash. This occurs sporadically, it happens if I move the seat or if some one sits in it then gets out of the car. Has happened since I first bought the car used.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 1, 2021Air bagsODI 11442331
“SERVICE AIRBAG MESSAGE COMES ON WITH WARNING LIGHT MOSTLY IN COLDER TEMPERATURES AND WHEN TURNING THE VEHICLE. THIS IS RANDOM AND DOES NOT OCCUR ALL THE TIME. HAPPENS WHEN JUST STARTING THE VEHICLE AND ALSO WHEN IN MOTION AND TURNING. DEALERSHIP IS UNABLE TO FIND AN ISSUE. OCCASIONALLY HAPPENS JUST WHEN DRIVING STRAIGHT. HAS HAPPENED OVER THE LIFETIME OF OWNERSHIP OF THE VEHICLE. UNKOWN IF AIRBAGS WOULD WORK PROPERLY IN A CRASH!”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 25, 2021Air bagsODI 11438010
“SERVICE AIRBAG MESSAGE COMES ON WITH WARNING LIGHT MOSTLY IN COLDER TEMPERATURES AND WHEN TURNING THE VEHICLE. THIS IS RANDOM AND DOES NOT OCCUR ALL THE TIME. HAPPENS WHEN JUST STARTING THE VEHICLE AND ALSO WHEN IN MOTION AND TURNING. DEALERSHIP IS UNABLE TO FIND AN ISSUE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 10, 2021Air bagsODI 11395514
“WHEN TURNING THE CAR ON THERE IS A MESSAGE ON THE DASH SAYING SERVICE AIR BAG. BUT IF YOU TURN IT OFF AND ON IT IS GONE. IT COULD BE A SHORT IN THE SYSTEM OR SOMETHING REALLY WRONG.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 8, 2020Air bagsODI 11297965

Showing 6 of 80 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

1 recall on this component

Air bags

Remedy pending

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 vehicles and 2007 Saturn Sky vehicles. In these models, the weight on the key ring and/or road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine. On March 27, 2014, GM notified the agency that the defective ignition switches may have been used as service replacement parts on other vehicles, and as a result GM will be recalling certain model year 2008-2010 Chevrolet Cobalt, Saturn Sky, and Pontiac G5 and Solstice, and 2008-2011 Chevrolet HHR vehicles. The part numbers for the service parts are 10392423 (a/k/a ACDelco D1461F), 10392737, 15857948, 15854953, 15896640, and 25846762. This expansion represents an additional 823,788 vehicles.

Air bagsReported Feb 10, 2014NHTSA 14V047000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 10, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.