Problems · by component

2009 Chevrolet Cobalt power train problems

32 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt cite power train, 4% of all 900 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

Complaints
32
4% of all complaints
Crashes
3
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the power train

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“THE VEHICLE ANTI THEFT LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON. WHEN THIS OCCURS THE VEHICLE JERKS IN DRIVE, HARD TO STOP, WHEEL WILL LOSE POWER STEERING IN DRIVE, AND ALL NEEDLES WILL MOVE. THE RPM, MPH, AND GAS NEEDLE CONTINUES TO FLUCTUATE. THE GAS NEEDLE WILL INDICATE LOW FUEL WHEN FUEL IS PRESENT. I CAN NEVER KNOW WHAT SPEED I'M DOING. THE VEHICLE FLASHES POWER STEERING DIGITALLY. THE CAR WILL SHUT OFF IN MID DRIVE! TAKEN TO MANY MECHANICS INCLUDING DAVE GILL CHEVROLET AND NO ONE FULLY DIAGNOSED THE ISSUE!”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 8, 2019Steering, Power train, Electrical systemODI 11267137
“MY VEHICLE TRANSMISSION WAS STUCK IN PARK, IT WOULDN'T START AND WOULD STILL ROLL WHEN IN PARK. WE HAVE COME TO THE CONCLUSION IT WAS A FAULTY TRANSMISSION CABLE CLIP OR INSTALLED IMPROPERLY. I HAVE CONTACTED GM ABOUT A RECALL AND SAID IT WAS CLOSED DUE TO A DEALERS INSPECTION IN 2012. I HAVE SINCE TAKEN IT IN TO GET FIXED AND IT APPEARS IT IS A PROBLEM WITH THE RECALLED PART. GM STILL REFUSES TO COVER IT. I AM ENCLOSING BELOW MY EMAIL TO GM BELOW WITH ATTACHMENTS AND LINKS. ANY HELP WITH THIS IS APPRECIATED [XXX] TO:[email protected] CC:[XXX] MAR 16 AT 10:54 AM THANK YOU FOR THE INFORMATION. I HAD TAKEN THE CAR IN ON MARCH 14TH TO HAVE THE PROBLEM DIAGNOSED AND OFFER THE INVOICE OF WHAT THEY FOUND AND FIXED FOR YOUR REVIEW. THEY SAID THE CLIP WAS FULLY ENGAGED BUT THE CABLE WAS STILL SLIPPING. I ASKED THAT THEY GIVE ME THE OLD PART BACK FOR MY INSPECTION. I ALSO OFFER A VIDEO OF MY REVIEW OF THE CABLE, PLEASE SEE LINK BELOW. THE THIRD ATTACHMENT IS THE 1ST PAGE OF THE INVOICE MY RECEIPT OF PAYMENT. HTTPS://DRIVE.GOOGLE.COM/FILE/D/1RRTBJHVTPIPNH3LZTHGBUIWJ-AUX190O/VIEW?USP=DRIVESDK I AM ASKING THAT GM REIMBURSE ME THE COST OF 210.24 DOLLARS FOR…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 16, 2018Power trainODI 11079803
“ECM PROBLEM. LOST STEERING AND ALL DASHBOARD INFORMATION. VECHILE DOES NOT START.DEALER TELLS ME IT IS A BAD ECM AND IT IS $841.00 TO REPAIR IT. INCLUDING A $250.00 CHARGERE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM THAN I FIND OUT THERE WAS A HUGE RECALL ON THESE ECMS BUT FOR SOME REASON MINE WAS NOT INCLUDED. GM SHOULD MAKE GOOD ON THIS AND REPLAVCE IT AT NO CHARGE SINCE THEY KNOW THEY HAVE HAD HUGE ISSUYES WITH THIS”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 20, 2017Steering, Power train, EngineODI 11024560
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET COBALT. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE MOVED VERY SLOWLY. IN ADDITION, WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN REVERSE, IT ACCELERATED FORWARD INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64,000. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 26, 2016Power train, Vehicle speed controlODI 10888780
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET COBALT. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE, THE GEAR SHIFTER SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG AND CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED RANDOMLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO OVERHEAT RANDOMLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 77,000. UPDATED 01/11/2017*CT *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 18, 2016Power train, Air bags, EngineODI 10850381
“BETWEEN APPROX 45 AND 60 MPH VEHICLE SOUNDS AS IF DRIVING OVER RUMBLE STRIPS. WILL STOP VIBRATING INTERMITTENTLY ABOVE 60 MPH. VIBRATION IS FELT FROM FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. THE STEERING WHEEL DOES NOT SWAY. NO TROUBLE SHIFTING. BETWEEN 3 MECHANICS HAVE BEEN GIVEN 3 DIFFERENT ANSWERS: LOOSE BODY PART VIBRATING IN WIND, SUSPENSION, TRANSMISSION. HAD BALANCE AND ALIGNMENT CHECKED WITH NO ISSUES. CONTACTED GM DEALER TO CHECK RECALLS AND OTHER KNOWN ISSUES, NONE FOUND. NO PREVIOUS SYMPTOMS, VEHICLE DROVE NORMALLY UNTIL 6/18. DO NOT CURRENTLY DRIVE VEHICLE OUT OF FEAR OF SOMETHING BREAKING OR FALLING APART. AM STILL TRYING TO GET DIAGNOSED. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 12, 2014Suspension, Power trainODI 10632632

Showing 6 of 32 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

Power train: column shift

Free remedy

GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING 276,729 MY 2009 BUICK ENCLAVE, CHEVROLET COBALT, HHR, MALIBU, TRAVERSE, GMC ACADIA, PONTIAC G5, G6 AND SATURN AURA AND OUTLOOK PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLES SAFETY STANDARD 102, "TRANSMISSION SHIFT POSITION SEQUENCE, STARTER INTERLOCK, AND TRANSMISSION BRAKING EFFECT", AND FMVSS 114, "THEFT PROTECTION AND ROLLAWAY PREVENTION". ON SOME OF THESE VEHICLES, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT CABLE ADJUSTMENT CLIP MAY NOT BE FULLY ENGAGED. IF THE CLIP IS NOT FULLY ENGAGED, THE SHIFT LEVER AND THE ACTUAL POSITION OF THE TRANSMISSION GEAR MAY NOT MATCH. WITH THIS CONDITION, THE DRIVE COULD MOVE THE SHIFTER TO "PARK" AND REMOVE THE IGNITION KEY, BUT THE TRANSMISSION GEAR MAY NOT BE IN "PARK".

Power trainReported Mar 6, 2009NHTSA 09V073000
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.