Brake complaints by model year
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (service brakes, ABS, rotors and pads, parking brake).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
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.
Starting in 12/15, the traction control light was coming on intermittently, then also the ABS light. Per mechanic advice, I had a wheel bearing replaced. After that, lights were off, then began again several days later. My mechanic said I should replace the opposite bearing to even out the traction sensor. 1/21/16 I was driving down a hill, tapped the brake, felt something lock up in the front end and careened across the road into some trees. I asked my insurance co about this, and notified Chevy too. Nobody seemed interested in pursuing the cause of the accident- totaled the car. Thank god I wasn't hurt badly and nobody else was involved. I know they don't want to bother with me because I am small potatoes. I feel I should at very least be reimbursed for the repairs I had done and pay for my new (used) vehicle for my trouble. …
Tl* the contact owned a 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt. While driving 40 MPH and attempting to come to a stop, the brake pedal was depressed, but failed to respond. The brake pedal depressed all the way to the floorboard independently. As a result, the vehicle failed to stop and crashed into the rear of another vehicle. The air bags deployed with excessive force. The contact had to puncture the air bag to avoid suffocation, which caused the air bag to explode. The contact sustained back, neck, and ear injuries that required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a towing yard and was deemed destroyed. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 48,000. The VIN was unavailable.
Coming out of a roundabout in rush hour when a car ahead of her suddenly stopped. She had about one and half to two car lengths and her speed was about 35 MPH. She applied her brakes and they did not respond. Her car rear ended another car. The airbag deployed. She has a sprained neck and back. She has been off for a couple of days per doctor's request. Major damage to the entire front end of the car.
i own a 5-speed manual transmission which should roll freely while in neutral. after starting engine while on a slight incline in a parking lot, the vehicle would not roll in neutral, as if all brakes were being applied. i thought that by driving the vehicle on the road the brakes would free up, but they did not. i shut the engine off and on a few times but that did not make a difference. i could only move forward at 5-10 mph in first gear to get the vehicle home, which fortunately was just 5 blocks away. something smelled terrible like burning wires or brake pads. even after letting the vehicle sit in my driveway for a few hours it would not free up the brakes which were being applied. then i read a tip on an internet users forum: remove a fuse labeled "ABS2" and voila! it freed up the brakes! i can drive the vehicle normally but obviously without ABS capability. …
Tl* the contact owned a 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated that while her son was driving and his cousin in the passenger side seat at 78 MPH, the brakes failed to respond when the brake pedal was depressed. The contact stated that while her son was driving the vehicle caught on fire, lost control of the vehicle, hit a fire hydrant and crashed into a tree. The air bags did not deploy. It was unknown the origin of the fire. The driver was injured which resulted with laceration on the anterior right side, there were bilateral wrist fracture, fracture to the right femur and left knee. There was an aortic laceration and multiple bilateral lung lacerations and cardiac contusions, autopsy also reveled first to forth degree firms burns with charring on approximately 70% of the body surface area, there were thermal fractures to the skull and both the hands. …
The contact owns a 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated while driving 25-35 MPH, the RPM's continuously fluctuated, and the vehicle lost power steering functionality. The ABS warning light was illuminated and the message "Power Steering Failure" was displayed. The contact was able to veer to the side of the road by using physical force to turn the steering wheel. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle; however, the failure persisted. The contact was able to drive the vehicle to the residence. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 10V073000 (Steering); however, the VIN was not included. The failure mileage was approximately 191,000.
The contact owns a 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated that while driving approximately 35 MPH, the power steering warning light illuminated, and the contact had to manually steer the vehicle. The contact continued to drive the vehicle without power steering functionality. The contact stated that additional electrical failures had occurred. The contact also stated that the ABS activated and deactivated independently, and the traction control became inoperable. The instrument panel also became inoperable, and the contact was unable to see the speedometer and fuel gauge functions on the instrument panel. The dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was unknown. The VIN was not available.
Frequently asked questions
Which Chevrolet Cobalt years have brake problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2009 (183), 2008 (104), 2007 (53), 2006 (51) and 2005 (49) model years. Brake complaints make up 20% of all complaints for the 2009.
Is there a recall for Chevrolet Cobalt brake problems?
No. NHTSA lists no brakes recall for any Chevrolet Cobalt model year. A widespread problem may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin, so ask a dealer.
At what mileage do Chevrolet Cobalt brake problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 29,000 miles; 75% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (10 mentions), followed by the foundation components › disc › rotor (7).
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.