2010 Chevrolet COBALT problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
574 owner complaints analyzed
5 distinct recall campaigns
64,438 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2010 model year. Data snapshot: . 454 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Steering is the most frequently named component, appearing in 235 of 574 complaints (40.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 248 | 43.2% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 66 | 11.5% |
| Braking behavior | 48 | 8.4% |
| Fuel system concerns | 42 | 7.3% |
| Engine operation | 41 | 7.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 20 | 3.5% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Steering | 235 |
| Electrical System | 113 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 101 |
| Air Bags | 77 |
| Engine | 38 |
| Power Train | 29 |
| Unknown Or Other | 28 |
| Service Brakes | 14 |
Steering: 235; Electrical System: 113; Fuel/Propulsion System: 101; Air Bags: 77; Engine: 38; Power Train: 29; Unknown Or Other: 28; Service Brakes: 14
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 55 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 88 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 135 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 79 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 73 |
| 150,000 and above | 24 |
Under 25,000: 55; 25,000 to 49,999: 88; 50,000 to 74,999: 135; 75,000 to 99,999: 79; 100,000 to 149,999: 73; 150,000 and above: 24
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (135). 120 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 25 |
| 2011 | 21 |
| 2012 | 35 |
| 2013 | 81 |
| 2014 | 137 |
| 2015 | 38 |
| 2016 | 36 |
| 2017 | 24 |
| 2018 | 20 |
| 2019 | 37 |
| 2020 | 51 |
| 2021 | 30 |
| 2022 | 17 |
| 2023 | 9 |
| 2024 | 5 |
| 2025 | 7 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2010: 25; 2011: 21; 2012: 35; 2013: 81; 2014: 137; 2015: 38; 2016: 36; 2017: 24; 2018: 20; 2019: 37; 2020: 51; 2021: 30; 2022: 17; 2023: 9; 2024: 5; 2025: 7; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Steering leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 248 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 66 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 48 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 10305810 · 2010-02-04 (February 4, 2010)
2006 COBALT STEERING PROBLEM VIBRATES AND SHAKES. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 66,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10305810 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10315552 · 2010-03-02 (March 2, 2010)
FEB 03, 2010 PURCHASED A 2010 CHEVROLET COBALT FROM PAPE CHEV. S. PORTLAND , MAINE. CAN HEAR POWER STEERING RUBBING NOISE UPON TURNING AT LOW SPEEDS. MILEAGE ONLY 660. NOW I HEAR THERE IS A PENDING RECALL FOR THIS VEHICLE? DOES THE DEALER HAVE TO EXCHANGE FOR ANOTHER MODEL.. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 210 miles reported. Look up ODI 10315552 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10335112 · 2010-06-07 (June 7, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET COBALT. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30-40 MPH, THE LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE CONTACT PUSHED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND HAD IT TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP. THE DEALER REPLACED THE BATTERY AND THE ALTERNATOR. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, THE ANTENNA FELL OFF WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ALSO BECAME WARPED AND HAD A GAP. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE CUP HOLDER BROKE OFF AND SHE WAS AFRAID THAT HER CHILD WOULD PUT HER…
Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10335112 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10365521 · 2010-11-12 (November 12, 2010)
2010 CHEVY COBALT PULLED INTO A PARKING SPOT AND PUT MY CAR INTO NEUTRAL AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE UP AND WENT TO TURN THE KEY TO THE OFF POSITION AND IT WOULD NOT TURN. I CHECKED TO SEE IF THERE WAS A LOCKING MECHANISM ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND IF I HADN'T FULLY PUT IT INTO NEUTRAL AND NEITHER WAS THE ISSUE. TRIED TO GET IT OUT A COUPLE TIMES THEN EVENTUALLY CALLED ONSTAR AND THEY TOLD ME THE TOW GUY WOULD BE ABLE TO GET THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION. THEY SENT A TOW TRUCK BUT WHEN THE TOW TRUCK CAME HE COULDN'T GET IT OFF I SPOKE TO HIM AND TOLD …
Owner-reported narrative. 19,865 miles reported. Look up ODI 10365521 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10324804 · 2010-04-10 (April 10, 2010)
UNEVEN BRAKE PAD WEAR IN REAR AT 20 000 KMS. THE INNER BRAKE PAD IS ALMOST COMPLETELY WORN COMPARED TO THE OUTSIDE BAD. THE CALIPER IS ALMOST TOUCHING THE ROTOR. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10324804 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10329030 · 2010-05-05 (May 5, 2010)
EVERY 7K MILES, I NEED TO REPLACE REAR BRAKES PADS AND GET THEM RESURFACED BY THE DEALER UNTIL IT WILL GO OUT OF WARRANTY. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 7,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10329030 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10576721 · 2014-04-02 (April 2, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE VALVE KIT HAD MELTED AND THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,837 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 62,867.
Owner-reported narrative. 62,837 miles reported. Look up ODI 10576721 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10577431 · 2014-04-04 (April 4, 2014)
MY CAR WOULD NOT START SO I HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I WAS TOLD THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I LATER RECEIVED A CALL ADVISING THAT THE VALUE AROUND THE FUEL PUMP HAD MELTED AND THEY DID NOT KNOW WHY EXCEPT SOMETHING MUST HAVE GOTTEN TO HOT UNDER THE ENGINE. PROBLEM IS THIS IS CONNECTED WITH THE FUEL PUMP. I CALL IN REPORT AND WAS TOLD EVENTUALLY ENGINEERS WOULD INVESTIGATE BUT THERE WAS THERE MAY OR MAY NOT BE A RECALL ISSUED. IF PART MELTING UNDER THE HOOD THAT ARE CONNECTED WITH FUEL PUMP DOESN'T DEMAND A RECALL WHAT W…
Owner-reported narrative. 62,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10577431 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10507465 · 2013-04-08 (April 8, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HAD TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND RESTART THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE THEN FUNCTIONED PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THEY STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 72,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10507465 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10520766 · 2013-06-19 (June 19, 2013)
ARRIVED AT MY DESTINATION AND THE KEY WAS STUCK IN THE ON POSITION. I HAVE A MANUAL TRANSMISSION AND HAD TO DROP THE CLUTCH AND STALL IT TO KILL THE ENGINE. CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY BY 1 MONTH FOR BUMPER TO BUMPER. TALKED WITH MY LOCAL DEALER AND AFTER DISCUSSING IT WITH GM SAID THEY WOULD COVER THE $300-$400 REPAIR WITH $100 DEDUCTIBLE. I ORDERED AN AFTERMARKET IGNITION CYLINDER FOR $42 AND REPLACED IT MYSELF. I FOUND THE SPRING FOR ONE OF THE TUMBLERS POPPED OUT OF PLACE WHEN I REMOVED THE ORIGINAL. POOR DESIGN. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 33,197 miles reported. Look up ODI 10520766 at NHTSA ↗