Chevrolet Cobalt reliability and problems by year
Owners have filed 579 complaints about the Chevrolet Cobalt with NHTSA since 2010, most often about steering and electrical system. Chevrolet has filed 7 warranty extensions and 4 service campaigns for it, and there are 5 safety recalls on file.
From NHTSA's public data files, downloaded 2026-10-10.
How reliable is the Chevrolet Cobalt? What NHTSA's records show
We don't give the Cobalt a reliability score. NHTSA publishes complaint counts but no sales figures, so complaints can't be turned into a rate or compared between models. Here is what's on file for model years 2010 on.
- Owner complaints
- 579
- Filed with NHTSA, all model years
- Warranty extensions
- 7
- Filed by Chevrolet
- Service campaigns
- 4
- Filed by Chevrolet
- Safety recalls
- 5
- Each covers part of the model
Every model year compared
Complaints rise with how many were sold and how long they've been on the road, so a newer or rarer year will show fewer. Compare years of the Cobalt with each other.
| Year | Complaints | Most named | Recalls | Warranty / campaigns |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 1 | Steering (100%) | 0 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 | Fuel and propulsion (100%) | 0 | 1 |
| 2015 | 0 | — | 0 | 2 |
| 2014 | 0 | — | 0 | 1 |
| 2013 | 0 | — | 0 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 | Other or unspecified (100%) | 0 | 1 |
| 2011 | 2 | Steering (100%) | 0 | 1 |
| 2010 | 574 | Steering (42%) | 5 | 10 |
Look up one model year, or a VIN
See the complaints, recalls and warranty extensions for a single Cobalt model year, with the typical mileage when owners reported each problem.
Acknowledged by Chevrolet
Warranty extensions and service campaigns Chevrolet filed with NHTSA for the Cobalt, in its own words. A warranty extension means Chevrolet pays for the repair beyond the normal warranty.
- Warranty extensionNov 2016· Electrical system· model years 2010
14632C Special Coverage. On some vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission, the vehicle's transmission shifter may not properly transmit an electrical signal that allows the ignition key to be turned counter clockwise past the accessory mode to the "LOCK" position after…
- Warranty extensionSep 2016· Transmission and drivetrain· model years 2010
14519 - Special Coverage. On some vehicles, the mechanical flag used by the automatic transmission shift assembly to display the selected gear may break off from the flag carrier.
- Warranty extensionMar 2015· Transmission and drivetrain· model years 2010
14632B - special coverage (revised part information). On some vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission, the vehicles transmission shifter may not properly transmit an electrical signal that allows the ignition key to be turned counter clockwise past the accessory mode…
- Warranty extensionFeb 2015· Electrical system· model years 2010
14632A - Special Coverage (part name revised). On some vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission, the vehicle?s transmission shifter may not properly transmit an electrical signal that allows the ignition key to be turned counter clockwise past the accessory mode to the…
- Warranty extensionDec 2014· Equipment and accessories· model years 2010
14632 - special coverage (q&a). On december 11, 2014, general motors released special coverage adjustment 14632.
- Warranty extensionDec 2014· Electrical system· model years 2010
14632 - special coverage. On some vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission, the vehicles transmission shifter may not properly transmit an electrical signal that allows the ignition key to be turned counter clockwise past the accessory mode to the lock position after…
- Warranty extensionDec 2014· Electrical system· model years 2010
Special Coverage Adjustment ? Unable to Remove Ignition Key
- Service campaignAug 2024· Electrical system· model years 2010–2017
Vehicle Wide Programming (VWP) is a new process to update software on GM Vehicles.
- Service campaignJun 2017· Electrical system· model years 2015
15086A - Customer Satisfaction Program. On certain passenger cars and light duty trucks, equipped with Gen 10 OnStar®, the embedded phone flash memory chip may become corrupted, causing the OnStar® system to become inoperative.
- Service campaignMar 2016· Electrical system· model years 2010
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have a Diagnostic Trouble Code B101D stored in Telematics Communication Interface Control Module.
- Service campaignJan 2010· Brakes· model years 2010
Front brake line contact; inspect brake line and adjust, if necessary.
What owners report most
The parts of the car owners named in their complaints, across every Cobalt model year. Unverified, and not a failure rate.
- Steering242 (42%)
- Electrical system125 (22%)
- Fuel and propulsion102 (18%)
- Airbags77 (13%)
- Engine38 (7%)
- Transmission and drivetrain31 (5%)
- Other or unspecified29 (5%)
- Fuel system21 (4%)
Safety recalls
5 recalls cover at least one Cobalt model year. Each covers a range of VINs, not every car. Check one car at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
The affected vehicles may be equipped with an improperly routed Side-Impact Sensor (SIS) wiring harness in the driver side front door.
In the affected vehicles, the key can be removed from the ignition when the ignition is not in the "Off" position.
In the affected vehicles, there may be a sudden loss of electric power steering (EPS) assist that could occur at any time while driving.
This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system.
General motors is recalling certain model year 2005-2010 Chevrolet cobalt and model year 2007-2010 Pontiac G5 vehicles equipped with electric power steering.
NHTSA investigations
Defect investigations NHTSA opened. Many close without a recall.
- PE20011Preliminary evaluation· opened Jul 2020, closed Aug 2023· Fuel and propulsion· model years 2010
Fuel Line Leak
NHTSA's own page for the 2017 Chevrolet Cobalt has the complaint text and every document.
Common questions
Is the Chevrolet Cobalt reliable?
We don't score reliability: NHTSA publishes complaint counts but no sales figures, so complaints can't be turned into a rate or compared between models. What's on file for model years 2010 on: 579 owner complaints, 7 warranty extensions and 4 service campaigns Chevrolet filed, and 5 safety recalls. The model years with the most complaints are 2010 (574), 2011 (2), 2012 (1). Whether a known problem was fixed on one car is what its service records show.
What are the most common problems with the Chevrolet Cobalt?
Across every model year since 2010, owners' complaints to NHTSA most often name steering (42%), electrical system (22%), fuel and propulsion (18%). Chevrolet has filed 7 warranty extensions covering the Cobalt, listed on this page.
Which Cobalt model years have the most complaints?
2010 (574), 2011 (2), 2012 (1). Complaint counts rise with how many were sold and how long they've been on the road, so compare years of the Cobalt with each other rather than with other models.
Has Chevrolet extended the warranty on the Cobalt?
Yes: electrical system (model years 2010); transmission and drivetrain (model years 2010); transmission and drivetrain (model years 2010), and 4 more. A dealer does a covered repair for free within the extended time or mileage.
How do I check recalls on a Cobalt?
Enter the car's 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. That answers for one vehicle; the 5 recalls listed here are for the model, and each covers only part of it.