Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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.
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.
I noticed that there was no turn signal sound indicating the turn signal was in use. At the same time I also noticed that all of the warning indicator sounds were also not working (set belt, door open with key in, low tire pressure, ect) none of the warning sounds are now working. It seems that the left front speaker is used for the transmitting of the warning sounds thus there is no sound from the left speaker. None the less I feel that with the warning sounds not working this is a safety issue. Everytime I start my car the svc light stays on all the time , my tires are always wobbly while slowing down and driving. Same as I have heard from others. Got in a hit and run if I have side air bags they didnt geploy
My boyfriend and I were on our way home from chicago (on I-80/90) when we hit a bit of lake effect snow and ice. The snow caused our car to lose traction which in turn caused us to hit a guard rail head on while going roughly 50-55 MPH. Our airbags did not go off even though we hit the guard rail head on. We ended up being perpendicular in the right hand lane and was hit by a semi truck on the passenger side door. Again, our air bags did not go off which would make for a total of 4 airbags that were affected. I was unaware of affected air bags - I only knew about my ignition switch which was fixed months prior to the accident. Unacceptable.
I took evasive action by swerving to avoid collision with other vehicle that abruptly changed lane and collided with my vehicle. A results, my vehicle struck a concrete barrier wall of the roadway, then burst into flames upon impact. My vehicle was completely burnt out at a total loss before fire rescue responded. The airbag never deployed. Prior to accident I was having numerous ignition related problems with my Chevy Cobalt.
In December 2015, I pulled into a parking space and put my car in park, then turned my key back to leave the radio on but everything seemed to completely shut down. I tried to remove the key from the ignition but couldn't get it out. I tried to restart the car, but it wouldn't start. My key was stuck in the ignition. I googled the problem and read that the gearshift May appear to be in park, but is really in gear, locking the key. I couldn't move the gear forward any further but noticed the "reverse" gear was highlighted on the panel instead of "park". I saw that it was a recalled issue so I called the dealer and was told that tap hat issue had able easy been "fixed" in June 2014. I explained that my key was stuck and my gearshift appeared to be off kilter, and that it was listed as a different issue. …
I have owned a 2010 Chevy Cobalt since 2012. Shortly after purchasing, the check engine light turned on. The power locks erratically lock and unlock. The windows will become jammed and suddenly will not roll back up. Cruise control will randomly stop working. I had issues with the transmission which cost me over $3,000 to fix. Then, there was the ignition switch recall which the dealer fixed at no cost. But now I am having problems with the power steering. I have to turn my ignition off and on for the power steering warning message to turn off but then it turns back on a few minutes later. I am aware that there was a recall for the power steering but yet the dealer refuses to address this issue with my car because they say that recall was performed by a previous owner. The NHTSA website states bulletin 14115 regarding power steering recall began July 17, 2014. …
My Cobalt illuminates the check engine light as well as the theft light and displays engine power reduced happens multiple times first time it started was in 12/2017. The car was purchased in 2011 always serviced and repaired by dealer ship. The car stalls at stop signs lights or when you pull into a parking lot. Engine light comes and goes. Lights dim and flicker the gauges jump up and down in the dash. After you shut the car off the gauges in the instrument cluster jump adn make ticking noise. When there is no engine light present the car idles rough and acts like its going to die till you start driving then its fine. The issue with the brakes are when you to press them the pedal will depress all the way but its like it dont meet with the pad, this problem is intermittent as well. Obd2 codes have been p0641 p0017 p0651 p0573 current codes stored are p0340 p0300 p0341. …
Once car warms up, while driving, the automatic transmission does not shift past second (2nd) gear, and will allow red lining without shifting up a gear. When trying to park, the shifter will not allow shifting into park, and the vehicle will pull away under the power of its own idle if the parking brake is not applied, making leaving the vehicle unattended very dangerous. When trying to shift out of park shifter will become stuck in the parking gear. The light illuminating and indicating the gear in which the shifter is in position of goes out, making it very difficult to know if the vehicle is actually in park or reverse especially coupled with the shifter not going fully into the parking gear. …
On the morning of February 20th, I was driving back to my boyfriends house from work. I got off around 7:30 am so it was around 8 am when I reached the exit for his house. I slowed the car to take the exit ramp to 40 MPH with my foot still on the brake. The car then veered hard to the right and I tried to straighten out the wheel as I let off the brakes. Instead the car veered to the left and I started to hydroplane. I lost complete control of the car and began to spin. My steering wheel then locked up. As I was spinning, the right side of my car struck a light reflector pole and shattered my back passenger window in the pain and dented the car and removed paint. It also messed up my back alignment. For the first few minutes my car would not even start back up and the brakes were locked in place. I then had the car towed to my home dealership to be inspected. …
Related recalls
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…
Electrical complaints in other Cobalt years
Frequently asked questions
How common are electrical problems on the 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt?
NHTSA has 128 complaints about the electrical system of the 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt, 22% of the model year's 583 complaints. The component named most often is ignition (8 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt electrical problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 14V-171 (ignition, Apr 10, 2014). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt electrical problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 57,000 miles, and 17% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 9 crashes, 3 fires and 4 injuries to electrical system problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.