Problems · NHTSA complaints

2010 Chevrolet Cobalt problems

Owners filed 583 complaints about the 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt with NHTSA between Feb 2010 and Aug 2026. The most-cited component is steering (242).

Complaints
583
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
46
Reported by owners
Fires
8
Reported by owners
Injuries
45
People reported injured
Deaths
5
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Steering242
  2. Electrical system128
  3. Fuel/propulsion system101
  4. Air bags79
  5. Engine39
  6. Power train31
  7. Fuel system, gasoline21
  8. Service brakes, hydraulic16
  9. Structure14
  10. Service brakes14
  11. Vehicle speed control14
  12. Seat belts13
  13. Electronic stability control (esc)11
  14. Exterior lighting10

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 9, 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
201025
201122
201236
201383
2014139
201539
201637
201724
201821
201937
202051
202130
202217
20239
20245
20257
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

Steering

242 reports17 crashes1 fire2 related recalls
“The contact's daughter owns a 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the power steering assist failed to operate as needed. There was no warning light illuminated. Due to the failure, extra effort was needed to steer the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or inspected for the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that there were no recalls related to the failure for the VIN. Upon investigation, the contact linked the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V153000 (Steering). The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 54,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 24, 2025SteeringODI 11689350

Electrical system

128 reports9 crashes3 fires2 related recalls
“The contact owns a 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated while driving 55 MPH, the power steering and brakes became inoperable. The driver was able to coast to the side of the road. The check engine warning light was illuminated after the failure. The vehicle was towed to her parent's residence. The vehicle was serviced by an independent mechanic, who stated that the failure was due to the ignition switch. The local dealer was contacted, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and stated that the vehicle was not covered under the recall. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V171000 (Electrical System). The failure mileage was approximately 260,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 5, 2024Steering, Electrical system, Service brakesODI 11569973

Fuel/propulsion system

101 reports1 crash4 fires
“I FOUND OUT ABOUT THE RECALL ON THE 2007-2009 ON THE CORROSION OF THE GAS LINES ON DRIVERS SIDE REAR WHEEL WHEN I TOOK MY CAR TO A CHEVY DEALER AND THEY SAID ITS THE SAME THING THATS HAPPENING TO MY CAR.AND THAT THEY ONLY DID THE RECALL ON 2007-2009 COLBALT MODELS .THE LAST COLBALT'S MADE WAS THE 2010 MODELS.WHY DIDNT THEY RECALL THEM ALSO.I TOOK IT TO ANOTHER CHEVY DEALER IN AMELIA AND THEY SAID THE SAME THING.THIS NEEDS TO BE RECALLED ASAP.ITS A SAFETY RELATED DEFECT FROM GM AND THEY KNOW IT.IF I HAVE TO I WILL GET A LAWYER AND SUE G.M. PERIOD.I CANT AFFORD TO FIX GM'S MISTAKES.THEY NEED TO COME CLEAN AND FIX THEM.IT LEAKS OUT GAS AND COULD START A FIRE OR EXPLODE WHILE I AM IN THE CAR.I DEMAND THIS TAKEN CAR OF BY GM AND STOP KICKING THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD.I WILL NOT STOP OR GIVE UP ON THIS .SENCE I WAS TOLD BY 2 DIFFRENT CHEVY DEALERSHIPS.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 8, 2024Fuel/propulsion systemFire reportedODI 11600169

Air bags

79 reports26 crashes1 fire2 related recalls
“Walked out to the car and the side air bags deployed and now it won't start. No power No accident. Drove it to the driveway and parked it. Now it won't start.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 15, 2026Air bagsODI 11757142

Engine

39 reports1 crash1 fire
“My car had a fuel pump go, then within MONTHS, another. We then dealt with the SAME problem symptomatically, and was told it was the fuel pump sensor. Within the last few weeks, I am having all the same issues-including the car intermittently not starting, gasoline leaking from the vehicle, both noticably missing from the gauge (i.e 1/8 tank less than night prior), odor of gas in the car, stalling out while driving and trying to start it, but also now dripping gas from the car. A new issue popped up, which is the dash light coming up saying "check gas cap". This past Thursday, my car wouldn't start again, and has not started since. It's concerning that the Chevy Cobalt has had recalls for the same exact problems, literally thousands of complaints that mirror mine- for every model year EXCEPT the 2010. It's also interesting that they also stopped producing the Cobalt entirely in 2010 too, but considering the amount of faults and issues I've seen documented in every year model it's not a shock. I'm concerned that despite the amount of complaints that include 2010 models, they were excluded from the recall and seeing that my situation is another one that won't be…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 16, 2023Engine, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11522342

Power train

31 reports1 crash1 fire
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT TIRE REPAIR SHOP, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED OF A FUEL LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THE FUEL LINES WERE RUSTED AND LEAKING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INFORMED OF A TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAK. THE FUEL LINES AND TRANSMISSION FLUID LINES WERE ALSO REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,381.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 8, 2020Fuel system, gasoline, Power trainODI 11338223
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 9, 2026

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