Chevrolet Cobalt 2005–2010
1st (only) generation · GM Delta (GMX001)
NHTSA data through 13 August 202610,105 complaints, 8,138 with mileageMethod
- Reports with mileage
- 8,138
- Median of reported failures
- 68,000 mi
- Most-reported system
- Steering (38.8%)
- Recalls
- 6
Before-you-buy checklist ↓Check this VIN — NHTSA ↗
On this generation, failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 43,000 and 100,000 miles.
Figure 1 · Chevrolet Cobalt 2005–2010 · 8,138 reports with mileage
Mileage at failure
Complaints per 5,000-mile bin, 0 to 200,000 miles, equal bins on a linear scale. Tallest bar = 510 complaints.
- Rest of the range
- Median
- 200,000+ — 117 complaints (1.4%), plotted separately
- 10%
- 20,500
- 25%
- 43,000
- Median
- 67,500
- 75%
- 100,000
- 90%
- 138,000
Show the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 0–5,000 | 305 | 3.7% |
| 5,000–10,000 | 144 | 1.8% |
| 10,000–15,000 | 166 | 2.0% |
| 15,000–20,000 | 155 | 1.9% |
| 20,000–25,000 | 180 | 2.2% |
| 25,000–30,000 | 187 | 2.3% |
| 30,000–35,000 | 254 | 3.1% |
| 35,000–40,000 | 317 | 3.9% |
| 40,000–45,000 | 421 | 5.2% |
| 45,000–50,000 | 453 | 5.6% |
| 50,000–55,000 | 510 | 6.3% |
| 55,000–60,000 | 331 | 4.1% |
| 60,000–65,000 | 440 | 5.4% |
| 65,000–70,000 | 356 | 4.4% |
| 70,000–75,000 | 358 | 4.4% |
| 75,000–80,000 | 314 | 3.9% |
| 80,000–85,000 | 353 | 4.3% |
| 85,000–90,000 | 274 | 3.4% |
| 90,000–95,000 | 247 | 3.0% |
| 95,000–100,000 | 244 | 3.0% |
| 100,000–105,000 | 301 | 3.7% |
| 105,000–110,000 | 170 | 2.1% |
| 110,000–115,000 | 167 | 2.1% |
| 115,000–120,000 | 174 | 2.1% |
| 120,000–125,000 | 163 | 2.0% |
| 125,000–130,000 | 123 | 1.5% |
| 130,000–135,000 | 147 | 1.8% |
| 135,000–140,000 | 101 | 1.2% |
| 140,000–145,000 | 115 | 1.4% |
| 145,000–150,000 | 64 | 0.8% |
| 150,000–155,000 | 117 | 1.4% |
| 155,000–160,000 | 57 | 0.7% |
| 160,000–165,000 | 66 | 0.8% |
| 165,000–170,000 | 29 | 0.4% |
| 170,000–175,000 | 68 | 0.8% |
| 175,000–180,000 | 32 | 0.4% |
| 180,000–185,000 | 54 | 0.7% |
| 185,000–190,000 | 29 | 0.4% |
| 190,000–195,000 | 14 | 0.2% |
| 195,000–200,000 | 21 | 0.3% |
| 200,000+ | 117 | 1.4% |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain. Complaint counts reflect what owners reported and are not a measure of failure rate per vehicle sold.
What this can and cannot tell you: these are complaints owners chose to file, not a failure rate. Popular models accumulate more of them simply by being common. How this is built.
Owners filed 10,105 complaints with NHTSA about the 2005–2010 Chevrolet Cobalt, and 8,138 of them record the mileage at which the failure happened. That is enough to show not just what fails, but when.
Failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 43,000 and 100,000 miles. The median is 67,500 miles.
The most-reported areas are the steering (38.8% of complaints, typically around 60,000 miles), the electrical system (14.8% of complaints, typically around 68,000 miles), the fuel and propulsion system (10.9% of complaints, typically around 100,000 miles).
6 recall campaigns cover this generation.
If you arrived asking “is it reliable?” — this page answers the version of that question the data can support: which problems owners reported, and at what mileage.
How many miles does a 2005–2010 Chevrolet Cobalt last?
Half of the failure reports on the 2005–2010 Chevrolet Cobalt were filed by 68,000 miles and 90% by 138,000 miles — figures drawn from 8,138 NHTSA complaints that record an odometer reading, so they time reported failures, not the cars whose owners never filed one.
117 reports (1.4%) came in past 200,000 miles — each one proof a Cobalt reached that mileage, not that it died there.
Before you buy a 2005–2010 Cobalt: the 3-minute check
Generated from 8,138 mileage-tagged complaints, 6 recall campaigns, 3 documented problem areas. Print this page — the checklist survives print.
- Run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. 6 campaigns cover this generation; an open recall is a free repair you can make the seller's problem.
- Check ignition switch on 2005–2010 cars. The ignition switch detent plunger and spring provide insufficient torque to hold the key in RUN. Knee contact with the key ring, a heavy key fob, or a rough road can rotate the key to ACCESSORY or OFF, shutting off the…
- Check steering on 2005–2010 cars. Electric power steering (EPS) motor and torque sensor failure causing sudden total loss of steering assist at any speed, with steering effort spiking without warning. NHTSA recall 10V-073 (2010), expanded under 14V-153…
- Check engine on 2008–2010 (2.4L LE5 and 2.2L LAP) cars. Ecotec timing chain stretch on the 2.2L and 2.4L, announced by a cold-start rattle and setting cam/crank correlation codes; often driven by excessive oil consumption and PCV-system oil carryover that lets the chain run…
- Complaint reports are not spread evenly across model years here — see the by-model-year table below before you settle on a year.
- End with a pre-purchase inspection of this car. Aggregate data describes the population; the example in front of you has its own history.
For a buyer, failures on this generation are spread rather than concentrated: the middle half falls between 43,000 and 100,000 miles, with a median of 68,000. There is no single mileage threshold to watch, which means condition and maintenance records are more informative than the odometer.
On inspection, the steering and the electrical system are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. The steering in particular shows a median failure mileage of 60,000, which gives a concrete number to compare against the odometer of any car you are considering.
None of this is a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on the individual car. Aggregate patterns describe a population; the example in front of you has its own history.
What fails, and when
Figure 2 · Chevrolet Cobalt 2005–2010
When each system fails
Bar spans the middle half of reports; the notch inside each bar is the median. Miles at failure on a proportional scale — equal distances are equal ratios, not equal miles.
- Steering3,920 reports60,00042,000–88,000Steering: 3,920 reports, median 60,000 miles, middle half 42,000 to 88,000 miles.
- Electrical system1,491 reports68,00041,000–100,000Electrical system: 1,491 reports, median 68,000 miles, middle half 41,000 to 100,000 miles.
- Transmission and driveline372 reports68,00040,000–99,000Transmission and driveline: 372 reports, median 68,000 miles, middle half 40,000 to 99,000 miles.
- Airbag system613 reports70,00041,000–100,000Airbag system: 613 reports, median 70,000 miles, middle half 41,000 to 100,000 miles.
- Fuel system503 reports75,00052,000–101,000Fuel system: 503 reports, median 75,000 miles, middle half 52,000 to 101,000 miles.
- Fuel and propulsion system1,105 reports100,00074,000–127,000Fuel and propulsion system: 1,105 reports, median 100,000 miles, middle half 74,000 to 127,000 miles.
- Engine331 reports100,00070,000–130,000Engine: 331 reports, median 100,000 miles, middle half 70,000 to 130,000 miles.
- Your odometer — appears after you enter it in “Where your car sits”
Ordered by median mileage, earliest first. The first 12,000 miles are shaded: that is the boundary this site uses between a manufacturing defect and ordinary wear, not a property of the world.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain.
| System | Complaints | Share | Median | 25–75% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steering | 3,920 | 38.8% | 60,000 | 42,000–88,000 |
| Electrical system | 1,491 | 14.8% | 68,000 | 41,000–100,000 |
| Fuel and propulsion system | 1,105 | 10.9% | 100,000 | 74,000–127,000 |
| Airbag system | 613 | 6.1% | 70,000 | 41,000–100,000 |
| Fuel system | 503 | 5.0% | 75,000 | 52,000–101,000 |
| Transmission and driveline | 372 | 3.7% | 68,000 | 40,000–99,000 |
| Engine | 331 | 3.3% | 100,000 | 70,000–130,000 |
| Suspension | 222 | 2.2% | 47,000 | 26,000–69,000 |
| Problems owners could not categorise | 161 | 1.6% | 83,000 | 46,000–131,000 |
| Body structure | 159 | 1.6% | 62,000 | 29,000–100,000 |
Where your car sits
Failure reports by the odometer reading they were filed at. Pick the anchor nearest your car — or type the exact mileage: your marker lands on this curve and on the timing chart above.
Figure 3 · Chevrolet Cobalt 2005–2010 · 8,138 reports with mileage
Share of reports below each mileage
Share of mileage-tagged reports filed at or below each odometer reading. Steps rise only at bin edges, by exact counted shares.
- 60,000 mi — 42% of reports below
- 90,000 mi — 68% of reports below
- 120,000 mi — 84% of reports below
- Median — the staircase crosses the 50% line here
- Your odometer — appears after you enter it below
The staircase tops out at 99%: the remaining 1.4% of reports (117) came above 200,000 miles.
Nothing is smoothed or interpolated. Linear axis, same as Figure 1.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain.
At 60,000 miles
42% of the failure reports on this generation came below this mileage. That describes reports, not your odds.
In the reporting window
- Steering — middle half 42,000–88,000 mi
- Electrical system — middle half 41,000–100,000 mi
- Airbag system — middle half 41,000–100,000 mi
- Fuel system — middle half 52,000–101,000 mi
- Transmission and driveline — middle half 40,000–99,000 mi
Mostly reported later
- Fuel and propulsion system — middle half 74,000–127,000 mi
- Engine — middle half 70,000–130,000 mi
At 90,000 miles
68% of the failure reports on this generation came below this mileage. That describes reports, not your odds.
Reported earlier than this mileage — ask for repair records
- Steering — median 60,000 mi
In the reporting window
- Electrical system — middle half 41,000–100,000 mi
- Fuel and propulsion system — middle half 74,000–127,000 mi
- Airbag system — middle half 41,000–100,000 mi
- Fuel system — middle half 52,000–101,000 mi
- Transmission and driveline — middle half 40,000–99,000 mi
- Engine — middle half 70,000–130,000 mi
At 120,000 miles
84% of the failure reports on this generation came below this mileage. That describes reports, not your odds.
Reported earlier than this mileage — ask for repair records
- Steering — median 60,000 mi
- Electrical system — median 68,000 mi
- Airbag system — median 70,000 mi
- Fuel system — median 75,000 mi
- Transmission and driveline — median 68,000 mi
In the reporting window
- Fuel and propulsion system — middle half 74,000–127,000 mi
- Engine — middle half 70,000–130,000 mi
Which systems, and when
Complaints about this generation are not spread evenly across the vehicle, and the systems that generate the most of them do not all fail at the same point in a car's life. The median failure across all systems here is 67,500 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.
The steering accounts for 38.8% of complaints (3,920 reports, 3,415 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 60,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 42,000 and 88,000 miles.
A single system taking 38.8% of all complaints is a concentration worth noting. It means that for this generation, most of what owners reported came back to one area of the car rather than being distributed across many small faults.
The electrical system accounts for 14.8% of complaints (1,491 reports, 1,069 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 68,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 41,000 and 100,000 miles.
The fuel and propulsion system accounts for 10.9% of complaints (1,105 reports, 855 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails late — a median of 100,000 miles, considerably beyond the vehicle's overall median. That pattern is consistent with normal service life rather than a defect, though it matters for anyone buying an example already near that mileage. The middle half of these reports falls between 74,000 and 127,000 miles.
The airbag system accounts for 6.1% of complaints (613 reports, 408 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 70,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 41,000 and 100,000 miles.
The fuel system accounts for 5.0% of complaints (503 reports, 414 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 75,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 52,000 and 101,000 miles.
The transmission and driveline accounts for 3.7% of complaints (372 reports, 320 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 68,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 40,000 and 99,000 miles.
Differences between model years
Within this generation, complaint volume is not constant across model years. The 2006 model year drew the most — 3,056 complaints — while 2010 drew the fewest at 794. The median year sits at 1,554.
Recalls and what they cover
NHTSA records 6 recall campaigns covering vehicles in this generation. A recall means the manufacturer or the regulator concluded there was a safety defect or a standard was not met, and that a free remedy is owed to owners — including second and later owners.
The campaigns cluster around the airbag system (2), the steering (2), the electrical system (1). Repeated recalls against the same area of the car generally mean the first remedy did not fully resolve the underlying problem.
Recall status is specific to the individual vehicle, not the model. Checking a VIN against NHTSA's lookup is free and takes under a minute, and it is the only way to know whether a particular car has had the work done.
Reported severity
What owners reported alongside the failure itself, out of 10,105 complaints against this generation:
- Crashes
- 884 (8.7%)
- Fires
- 101
- Injury reports
- 485
- Fatality reports
- 69
These flags are self-reported by complainants and unverified by NHTSA; one report can carry several flags, so the counts overlap and do not sum to a total. They are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. No chart is drawn here on purpose: overlapping counts spanning very different magnitudes cannot be honestly encoded as lengths.
Documented problems
Ignition Switch 2005–2010
The ignition switch detent plunger and spring provide insufficient torque to hold the key in RUN. Knee contact with the key ring, a heavy key fob, or a rough road can rotate the key to ACCESSORY or OFF, shutting off the engine and with it power steering and power brake assist, and — critically — disabling the airbag system so it will not deploy in the ensuing crash. GM recall 14V-047 (February 2014) covered 2005-2010 Cobalt; NHTSA fined GM $35 million for concealing the defect for roughly a decade. Thirteen deaths were initially acknowledged; the victim compensation fund ultimately recognized 124.
Steering 2005–2010
Electric power steering (EPS) motor and torque sensor failure causing sudden total loss of steering assist at any speed, with steering effort spiking without warning. NHTSA recall 10V-073 (2010), expanded under 14V-153, covering roughly 1.3 million Cobalt and Pontiac G5 vehicles.
Engine 2008–2010 (2.4L LE5 and 2.2L LAP)
Ecotec timing chain stretch on the 2.2L and 2.4L, announced by a cold-start rattle and setting cam/crank correlation codes; often driven by excessive oil consumption and PCV-system oil carryover that lets the chain run dry.
By model year
| Year | Complaints | With mileage |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 2,231 | 1,877 |
| 2006 | 3,056 | 2,469 |
| 2007 | 2,004 | 1,596 |
| 2008 | 1,104 | 857 |
| 2009 | 916 | 724 |
| 2010 | 794 | 615 |
Recalls (6) — is your car included?
Sep 2015 · 2010 · Air BagsA disabled driver side roof-rail air bag will not deploy in the event of a crash necessitating deployment of…
The defect. 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. The misrouted wiring harness could cause an electrical short that disables the driver side curtain air bag.
What can happen. A disabled driver side roof-rail air bag will not deploy in the event of a crash necessitating deployment of that air bag, increasing the risk of injury to the driver.
The free fix. 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. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 15075.
Jul 2014 · 2010 · SteeringIf power steering assist is lost, greater driver effort would be required to steer the vehicle at low speeds…
The defect. 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. In the affected vehicles, there may be a sudden loss of electric power steering (EPS) assist that could occur at any time while driving.
What can happen. If power steering assist is lost, greater driver effort would be required to steer the vehicle at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.
The free fix. 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. When parts are available, owners will be mailed a second letter to come in to have the applicable bulletin applied. Bulletin 14115 covers model year 2004-2007 Saturn Ion, 2009-2010 Chevrolet HHR and 2010 Chevrolet Cobalts. Dealers will replace the EPS motor. Bulletin 14116 covers model year 2004-2006 Chevrolet Malibu and Malibu Maxx, 2005-2006 Pontiac G6 and 2008-2009 Chevrolet Malibu, Pontiac G6 and Saturn Aura built fr
Apr 2014 · 2005–2010 · Electrical SystemIf the key can be removed from the ignition when the ignition is not in the "off" position, the vehicle could…
The defect. 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.
What can happen. If the key can be removed from the ignition when the ignition is not in the "off" position, the vehicle could roll away: (a) for an automatic transmission, if the transmission is not in the "Park" position; or (b) for a manual transmission, if the parking brake is not engaged and the transmission is not in the "Reverse" position. This potential for rollaway increases the risk for a crash and occupant or pedestrian injuries.
The free fix. 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 ignition cylinder and cut and, if necessary, re-learn two ignition/door keys for each vehicle. For vehicles that were built with the redesigned ignition cylinder or had the ignition cylinder replaced with the redesigned part, dealers will cut and, if necessary, re-learn two ignition/door keys for each vehicle. The recall began on April 18, 2014. Chevrolet owners may contact Gener
Apr 2014 · 2005–2010 · Air BagsIf the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash…
The defect. 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. General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on February 10, 2014 that they are recalling 619,122 model year 2005-2007 Chevrolet Cobalt, and 2007 Pontiac G5 vehicles. On February 25, 2014, GM increased the recall to include an additional 748,024 model year 2006-2007 Chevrolet HHR and Pontiac Solstice vehicles and 2003-2007 Saturn Ion vehicle
What can happen. If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The free fix. 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. Owners of 2008 and later vehicles will be mailed an interim letter on April 21, 2014. All affected owners will receive another letter once parts are available. The recall began on April 18, 2014. Owners may contact Chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020, Pontiac at 1-800-762-2737 or Saturn at 1-800-553-6000. GM's number for the initial recall is 13454 and 14063 for the expansion. GMÂ’s re
Jan 2013 · 2007–2009 · Fuel System, GasolineFuel leakage in the presence of an ignition source may result in a fire.
The defect. 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, Florida, Nevada, or Texas; model year 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt and Pontiac G5 vehicles originally sold, or currently registered in, Arizona; and model year 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt and Pontiac G5 vehicles originally sold, or currently registered in, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Ne
What can happen. Fuel leakage in the presence of an ignition source may result in a fire.
The free fix. GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. Notification to owners began on on November 21, 2012. Owners were instructed to not bring their vehicles in for repair until January 2013. Owners may contact General Motors at 1-800-521-7300.
Mar 2010 · 2005–2010 · SteeringIf power steering assist is lost, it would require greater driver effort at low vehicle speeds, increasing…
The defect. General motors is recalling certain model year 2005-2010 Chevrolet Cobalt and model year 2007-2010 Pontiac g5 vehicles equipped with electric power steering. The driver may experience a sudden loss of power steering assist that could occur at any time while driving.
What can happen. If power steering assist is lost, it would require greater driver effort at low vehicle speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Dealers will replace the electric power steering motor free of charge. Owners are being notified on a rolling basis between march 29 through november 2010. A copy of the mailing schedule is located in the recall file. Owners may contact Chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438 and Pontiac at 1-800-620-7668 or at the owner center at www.Gmownercenter.Com.
What owners reported
My 2005 chevy Cobalt begins to shake while driving on the freeway. I can feel the vibration starting through the floor board and eventually the whole front end begins to shake. The steering wheel violently shakes from front to back(versus side to side) and the vehicle is hard to control. I always have to pull over or…
2005 · 5 miles · Tyres
the contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt. The vehicle was included in NHTSA campaign id number: 10v073000 (steering:electric power assist system) and was repaired. After the repairs were performed, the contact stated that the steering wheel tightened while driving approximately 25 MPH and the vehicle became difficult…
2005 · 30 miles · Steering
Two weeks ago my 2005 Cobalt ls sedan suddenly starting having problems with the power steering. While driving my warning light displayed "power steering" and i noticed that trying to steer the wheel was extremely difficult. I drove to a safe place and turned the car off and then restarted it and the power steering…
2005 · 38 miles · Steering
Car purchased 2/21/05. Windshield fluid not in the car. Driving on highway mud was splash on window tried to wash it off, no fluid, mud smeared on window had to pull over on the highway to manually wipe off-2/05. Horn not working or was never put in, had to wait 3 days for replacement-3/05. Brake light coming on…
2005 · 48 miles · Electrical system
Built from 8,138 NHTSA complaints with mileage · snapshot 2026-08-18 · open data · reproduce this page