Problems · by component

2010 Chevrolet Cobalt electrical system problems

128 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt cite electrical system, 22% of all 583 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 2 recalls on this component.

Complaints
128
22% of all complaints
Crashes
9
Reported by owners
Fires
3
Reported by owners
Injuries
4
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the electrical system

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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
“UNKNOWN. My traction and ABS light keeps coming on. My steering is off some. My turning right or left is making ruff popping sounds in the steering. My ABS and Traction lite keeps coming on.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 7, 2023Steering, Electrical systemODI 11543273
“The contact owns a 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 MPH the fuel indicator began to drop rapidly. The contact stated that he did not notice any warning lights. The contact drove the vehicle to his residence and smelled the odor of fuel and noticed a long streak of fuel, and a puddle of fuel underneath the driver’s side door by the rear driver’s side tire. The contact observed that the fuel line located under the driver’s side of the vehicle had ruptured. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer or independent mechanic. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 14, 2022Fuel system, gasoline, Electrical systemODI 11460767
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE CHECK ENGINE, POWER STEERING OFF, AND CHANGE OIL WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. ADDITIONALLY, THE INSTRUMENT GAUGES FLUCTUATED. THE OWNER CONNECTED A DIAGNOSTIC READER TO THE VEHICLE WHICH INDICATED THAT THE CONTROL MODULE WAS DEFECTIVE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 187,701.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 2, 2020Steering, Electrical system, EngineODI 11315660
“AS I WAS DRIVING IN THE HIGHWAY 70 MPH CAR ABRUPTLY LOSS ENGINE POWER TO ALMOST A COMPLETE STOP CAR WOULD NOT GO OVER 10 MPH CAR KEEPS HAVING SAME SAFETY PROBLEM I NUMEROUS TIMES ENGINE LOSSES POWER WHILE IM DRIVING I REPLACED 02 SENSORS BATTERY AND OTHERS CAR STILL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM IT IS A RECURRENT PROBLEM IN THIS CAR THAT NO ONE SEEMS TO FIX PUTS THE DRIVER IN A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION WHEN YOU ARE IN THE HIGH WAY AND DANGEROUSLY THE CAR LOSSES ENGINE POWER ALL OF THE SUDDEN.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 28, 2019Electrical system, EngineODI 11251995
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING VARIOUS ELECTRICAL FAILURES. THE CHECK ENGINE, POWER STEERING, AND TRACTION WARNING INDICATORS WERE ILLUMINATED AND THE RPM GAUGE INCREASED ERRATICALLY EVEN WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. IN ADDITION, THE POWER STEERING SEIZED AT ANY GIVEN MOMENT. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, THE FAILURES WENT AWAY; HOWEVER, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED HARSHLY WHEN CHANGING GEARS. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE ALWAYS DISPLAYED AS EMPTY EVEN THOUGH FUEL WAS PRESENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 154,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 16, 2019Steering, Power train, Electrical system, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11244523

Showing 6 of 128 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 9, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

2 recalls on this component

Electrical system: switch

Free remedy

UCI-FRAM Group is recalling certain LS1328 ignition Switches sold as Wells LS1328, Duralast LS1328, Airtex 1S6097, and Carquest 53-27479, and LS1497 Ignition Switches sold as Wells LS1497, Duralast LS1497, Airtex 1S10961, and Carquest 53-27967, for use on various General Motors model and model year vehicles during repair and replacement of the original ignition switch. The weight on the key ring and/or road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the affected ignition switches to move out of the run position, turning off the engine and disabling the air bags.

Electrical systemReported Apr 30, 2014NHTSA 14E021000

Electrical system: ignition

Free remedy

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2005-2010 Chevrolet Cobalt, 2006-2011 Chevrolet HHR, 2007-2010 Pontiac G5, 2006-2010 Pontiac Solstice, 2003-2007 Saturn Ion, and 2007-2010 Saturn Sky vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the key can be removed from the ignition when the ignition is not in the "Off" position.

Electrical systemReported Apr 10, 2014NHTSA 14V171000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 9, 2026

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