U.S. public vehicle records

2009 Chevrolet COBALT SS problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

190 owner complaints analyzed

0 distinct recall campaigns

11,900 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2009 model year. Data snapshot: 2026-09-12 (September 12, 2026). 174 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Service Brakes, Hydraulic is the most frequently named component, appearing in 133 of 190 complaints (70.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Braking behavior	156	82.1%
Transmission and shifting	4	2.1%
Fuel system concerns	4	2.1%
Electrical and battery issues	2	1.1%
Steering behavior	2	1.1%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

133

Parking Brake

Service Brakes

Air Bags

Electrical System

Fuel/Propulsion System

Service Brakes, Electric

Steering

Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 133; Parking Brake: 18; Service Brakes: 13; Air Bags: 8; Electrical System: 7; Fuel/Propulsion System: 6; Service Brakes, Electric: 6; Steering: 4

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000

133

25,000 to 49,999

50,000 to 74,999

75,000 to 99,999

100,000 to 149,999

150,000 and above

Under 25,000: 133; 25,000 to 49,999: 23; 50,000 to 74,999: 9; 75,000 to 99,999: 6; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 1

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (133). 16 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2009: 58; 2010: 76; 2011: 20; 2012: 10; 2013: 2; 2014: 8; 2015: 6; 2016: 2; 2017: 2; 2018: 5; 2019: 1

Pattern summary

Service Brakes, Hydraulic leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 156 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 4 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 4 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10263782 · 2009-03-31 (March 31, 2009)

ON MY 09 CHEVY COBALT SS THE REAR BRAKES GOT VERY LOUD. THE FAILURE WAS THE INNER REAR BRAKE PADS WENT METAL TO METAL BY 8000 MILES FROM NEW. THE OUTER PADS WERE LIKE NEW. DEALERSHIP RESURFACED THE ROTORS AND REPLACED THE PADS. THEY HAD THE CAR 5 DAYS AND GAVE ME A RENTAL. 2000 MILES LATER AND THE BRAKES ARE GETTING LOUD AGAIN. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 8,104 miles reported. Look up ODI 10263782 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10266359 · 2009-04-22 (April 22, 2009)

MY ORIGINAL COMPLAINT IS 10263782. I NOW HAVE TO HAVE THE REAR BRAKE PADS REPLACED AGAIN. WENT FROM NEW TO 3/32 IN LESS THAN 4000 MILES. IN LESS THAN 12,000 MILES THE REAR INNER PADS HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE AND THE ROTORS RESURFACED ONCE. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 11,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10266359 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10292027 · 2009-11-13 (November 13, 2009)

SHIFTING I THREW THE GEARS QUICKLY TO GET UP TO SPEED OF TRAFFIC. THE SHIFT LINKAGE BREAKS AND CAR IS EITHER STUCK IN GEAR OR NEUTRAL WITH NO ACCELERATION CAUSING TRAFFIC TO BREAK HEAVY OR ACCIDENT BEHIND VEHICLE. REPLACE UNDER WARRANTY WITH SIMILAR PARTS BUT STILL SAME PLASTIC ENDS AND CLIPS SHOULD ME METAL ON DRIVE LINE PARTS. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10292027 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10405788 · 2011-06-09 (June 9, 2011)

I BROUGHT MY 2009 COBALT SS INTO THE DEALER FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, 20K MILEAGE CHECK. IT HAS A 5-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION. THEY INFORMED ME THAT MY REAR ROTORS WERE SCORED BADLY POSSIBLY FROM THE EMERGENCY BRAKE BEING ON WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALER INFORMED ME THE SURFACE WAS TOO FAR GONE TO TURN THEM. I'M THE ONLY PERSON THAT DRIVES THE CAR AND I KNOW I DON'T DRIVE WITH THE E-BRAKE ON, NOT EVEN ONCE. HOWEVER, I DO PULL THE E-BRAKE WHEN I PARK MY CAR WITH THE TRANS IN GEAR. LET ME SAY ALSO I DO NOT DRIVE THE CAR HARD LIKE RACING OR DRIFTING. I…

Owner-reported narrative. 21,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10405788 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10552628 · 2013-11-17 (November 17, 2013)

AFTER DRIVING ABOUT 4 MILES AND THEN BACK 4 MILES PARKED CAR. NOTICED GASOLINE DRIPPING IN THE DRIVEWAY. CALLED SERVICE GARAGE AND THEY SAID GET A TOW TRUCK,DANGEROUS TO EVEN TRY AND START CAR, ONE SPARK AND IT COULD EXPLODE. FOUND PROBLEM WITH FUEL TANK AND FUEL PUMP. HAD ONLY HAD CAR A FEW MONTHS. GARAGE REPLACED FUEL PUMP AND REPLACEMENT WAS DEFECTIVE ALSO. REPLACED IT AND PUT ON A NEW FUEL TANK. SEPT GOT A GM RECALL #12190 NOTICE. TO TAKE IT IN FOR FREE REPAIR TO A DEALER AROUND 40 MILES FROM MY HOUSE. HAD ALREADY PAID ALMOST $800 TO G…

Owner-reported narrative. 66,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10552628 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10643229 · 2014-10-08 (October 8, 2014)

WANTED TO CHANGE OIL; HAD SMELLED GASOLINE FROM TIME TO TIME; CLOSER INSPECTION SHOWED LEAK AT FUEL TANK AREA. COULD NOT DRIVE DUE TO RISK OF INJURY TO FAMILY, INCLUDING TWO-YEAR-OLD CHILD. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 65,666 miles reported. Look up ODI 10643229 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10560586 · 2014-01-19 (January 19, 2014)

I WAS TRYING TO START MY CAR AND TURNED THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND MY CAR WAS COMPLETELY DEAD. I THOUGHT IT WAS THE BATTERY AND TRIED TO TAKE THE KEY OUT, BUT IT WAS STUCK AND WOULDN'T COME OUT. I GOOGLED HOW TO TAKE IT OUT AND THAT WORKED, WE JUMPED THE CAR THINKING IT WAS THE BATTERY, BUT WITHOUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, THE LIGHTS AND ELECTRICAL ALLTURNED ON. THIS TELLS ME THAT THE CAR'S IGNITOR/SHIFTER WAS STUCK IN THE "ON" POSITION. IT COULD HAVE BEEN A DANGEROUS SITUATION IF I WERE ANYWHERE BUT HOME. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 66,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10560586 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10705282 · 2015-04-13 (April 13, 2015)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET COBALT SS. THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO INFORMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: (AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,000. UPDATED 5/18/15 CN UPDATED 10/05/2017*CN

Owner-reported narrative. 51,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10705282 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10365442 · 2010-11-12 (November 12, 2010)

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET COBALT SS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKES PULSATED WHEN THEY WERE DEPRESSED AND THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 16,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 16,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10365442 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10566235 · 2014-02-27 (February 27, 2014)

VEHICLE'S AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS BEGAN TO ENGAGE AND DISENGAGE ON THEIR OWN, POSSIBLY LOCKING THE STEERING COLUMN AS VEHICLE ENTERED INTO A CURVE. CAUSED DRIVER TO LOOSE CONTROL GO INTO DITCH, BOUNCE OUT OF DITCH AND LOG ROLL THE VEHICLE. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DOOR LOCKS WERE STILL GOING UP AND DOWN SEVERAL HOURS LATER AT THE VEHICLE IMPOUND YARD AND WAS OBSERVED BY THE POLICE OFFICER AND NOTED IN HIS REPORT. ADDITIONAL. THIS PROBLEM IS MUCH BIGGER THAN BELIEVED! I HAVE A 2011 HHR AND HAVE HAD THE IGNITION SWITCH TURN OFF WHEN I HAVE…

Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10566235 at NHTSA ↗