Complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | vs. typical* | Recalls | Top problem | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 583 | −66% | 5 | Steering | Good |
| 2009 | 900 | −47% | 5 | Fuel System | Good |
| 2008 | 940 | −45% | 4 | Steering | Good |
| 2007 | 1,564 | 1.8× | 5 | Steering | Caution |
| 2006 | 2,330 | 2.7× | 5 | Steering | Avoid |
| 2005 | 1,649 | 1.9× | 5 | Steering | Caution |
* Complaints compared with the median Cobalt year at the same age, so new and old years are judged fairly. How this works.
Most common Chevrolet Cobalt problems
Latest Chevrolet Cobalt recalls
Air bags › Side/window
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt vehicles manufactured January 4, 2010, to June 23, 2010. The affected vehicles may be equipped with an improperly routed Side-Impact Sensor (SIS) wiring harness in the driver side front door.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the sensor's wiring in the driver's door and make repairs as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on September 8, 2015.
Electrical system › Ignition
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.
Remedy: General Motors will notify owners, and for vehicles that were built with the defective ignition cylinder and have not previously had the ignition cylinder replaced with the redesigned part, dealers will replace the…
Steering › Electric power assist system
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2004-2006 and 2008-2009 Chevrolet Malibu, 2004-2006 Malibu Maxx, 2009-2010 HHR (non-turbo), 2010 Cobalt, 2008-2009 Saturn Aura and 2004-2007 Ion, and 2005-2009 Pontiac G6.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will perform one of four bulletins. Parts are not currently available. GM expects to send an interim notification around May 28, 2014.
Air bags
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.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ignition switch, free of charge. An interim notification was issued to owners of 2007 and earlier models on March 10, 2014, informing them of the safety defect.
Fuel system, gasoline › Delivery › Fuel pump
General Motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2007 Chevrolet Equinox and Pontiac Torrent vehicles originally sold or currently registered in Arizona, California, Nevada, and Texas; model year 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt, Pontiac G5, and Saturn ION vehicles originally sold, or currently registered in, Arizona, California,…
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. Notification to owners began on on November 21, 2012.
Frequently asked questions
What years of the Chevrolet Cobalt should you avoid?
2006, 2005 and 2007 — these years have the most complaints relative to other Cobalt years at the same age, led by steering problems in the 2006.
What is the best year for the Chevrolet Cobalt?
2010 has the fewest complaints compared with other Cobalt years at the same age, followed by 2009 and 2008. Newer years can look better simply because fewer complaints have come in yet, so we compare like with like.
What are the most common Chevrolet Cobalt problems?
Across all years, owners report the most problems with the steering (3,894), fuel & propulsion system (1,593) and electrical system (1,474). Steering complaints peak in the 2006 model year.
How many recalls has the Chevrolet Cobalt had?
10 recalls across 2005–2010. The model year with the most is 2005. See all Chevrolet Cobalt recalls by year.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.