"How reliable is the 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt?"

"Based on 914 NHTSA complaints, the 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt has a median complaint mileage of 74000 miles. The most common issue is FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM."

"What are common problems with the 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt?"

"The most frequently reported component in NHTSA complaints for the 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt is FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, accounting for a significant portion of the 914 total complaints filed."

2009 Chevrolet Cobalt: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 914 complaints

914

Total Complaints

74,000mi

Median Mileage

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

Top Issue

103

Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

42,597 25th Percentile

74,000 Median Mileage

110,000 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

225

STEERING

194

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

131

AIR BAGS

ENGINE

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

POWER TRAIN

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

Severity Assessment

103

Crashes

Fires

Injuries

Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"MY WIFE HAS AN DEFRIBULATOR PACEMAKER. WE NEED THE AIR BAG DISENGAGED. WE HAVE BEEN HAGGLING WITH THE DEALER FOR ALMOST 2 WEEKS. THEY ARE DRAGGING THEIR FEET ON THIS MATTER. THE HEART HOSPITAL SAYS IF THE AIR BAG CAME OUT AND HIT MY WIFE, IT COULD KILL HER. THIS IS THE THIRD NEW VEHICLE I HAVE BOU..."

"AT TIME OF PURCHASE OF A NEW 2008 CHEVROLET COBALT, IT WAS NOTICED THE DRIVER SIDE REAR VIEW MIRROR HAD LIMITED ADJUSTMENT RANGE AND COULD NOT BE ADJUSTED FOR A CLEAR REAR VIEW BEFORE THE ADJUSTMENT LEVER REACHED THE END OF ITS RANGE. THE DEALERSHIP REPORTED THAT MANY CUSTOMERS COMPLAIN OF THE SAME ..."

"TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE DUE TO BRAKE FAILURE. THE SPEED WAS UNKNOWN AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME THAT THE BRAKES FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY DUPLICATED THE FAILURE THE FOL..."

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28