2010 Chevrolet Cobalt SS Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt SS, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Electrical321.4%
- Steering321.4%
- Brakes214.3%
- Airbags214.3%
- Seat belts214.3%
- Engine17.1%
- Body & structure17.1%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
"SERVICE AIR BAG" MESSAGE SHOWS IN THE DRIVER INFORMATION CENTER. THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS REPORTS OF PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. THE MESSAGE WILL DISPLAY AT ANY RANDOM TIME, WHETHER THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY OR IN MOTION. ACCORDING TO GENERAL MOTORS BULLETIN NO.: 09-09-40-003A, "THE WIRE ON THE BELT TENSION SENSOR (BTS), THAT IS PART OF THE RETRACTOR ASSEMBLY, MAY BECOME OPEN OR ACQUIRE A GROUND NEAR THE SENSOR. IF THE BTS IS ROTATED TOWARD THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE, ADDED STRESS IS APPLIED TO THE WIRE BUNDLE THAT MAY CAUSE AN OPEN OR A GROUND PATH." GENERAL MOTORS BULLETIN NO.: 09-09-40-003A STATES THAT THE FOLLOWING VEHICLES ARE AFFECTED: 2006-2008 CHEVROLET COBALT COUPE 2008-2010 CHEVROLET COBALT SS COUPE 2006 PONTIAC PURSUIT COUPE (CANADA ONLY) 2007-2010 PONTIAC G5 COUPE THIS CONCERN MAY CAUSE AIRBAGS TO NOT DEPLOY WHEN NEEDED, WHICH IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN. HOWEVER, GENERAL MOTORS HAS NOT ISSUED A SAFETY RECALL FOR THE AFFECTED VEHICLES.
VECHICAL STARTED MAKING A LOUD NOISE AND ALL OF A SUDDEN IT BLEW UP IN FLAMES. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE POWER STEERING THING COMES ON THINKING IT NEEDED FLUID I STOPPED TO CHECK THERE WAS NONE AND IT WAS HARD TO DRIVE I MADE IT BACK HOME CHECKING THE INTERNET I FOUND THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE CAR I WAS DRIVING SO I FOUND THIS SITE THAT'S WHY AM COMPLAINING. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 8 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. A DEALER WAS CALLED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO REMOVE THE FUSE AND THEN REINSERT IT. THE CONTACT DID AS SUCH HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED WITHIN FIVE MINUTES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 51,900.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
DESPITE LOW MILEAGE ON VEHICLE. EXCESSIVE WEAR ON REAR PADS AND SEVERELY SCORED. FRONT ROTORS ALSO SCORED. THIS IS A MATERIAL FAILURE OR DEFECT AS I HAVE NEVER OWNED ANY OTHER VEHICLE THAT REQUIRED ROTOR REPLACEMENT AT SUCH LOW MILEAGE. *TR
I BROUGHT MY CAR (2010 CHEVROLET COBALT SS) TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP NEAR ME IN MASSACHUSETTS, AND I WAS TOLD THAT MY REAR BRAKES WERE WORN TO THE POINT JUST BEFORE A SENSOR GOING OFF. THE CAR ONLY HAS 30,000 MILES ON IT AND REAR BRAKES ARE SUPPOSED TO BE THE ONES THAT LAST LONGER THAN FRONT ONES BUT MY FRONT ARE FINE. THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO FIX THE BRAKES UNDER THE 3 YEAR 36,000 [I]UNLIMITED[/I] WARRANTY OR THE 2 YEAR 20,000 MILE MAINTENANCE WARRANTY. I HAVE BEEN READING MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE REAR BRAKES ON WEBSITES ABOUT THE REAR BRAKES ON MY MODEL CAR AND THEY NEED TO HAVE SOMETHING DONE ABOUT IT, BECAUSE IF THIS MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM, THEN ITS NOT A USER PROBLEM ITS A PART PROBLEM. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
"SERVICE AIR BAG" MESSAGE SHOWS IN THE DRIVER INFORMATION CENTER. THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS REPORTS OF PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. THE MESSAGE WILL DISPLAY AT ANY RANDOM TIME, WHETHER THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY OR IN MOTION. ACCORDING TO GENERAL MOTORS BULLETIN NO.: 09-09-40-003A, "THE WIRE ON THE BELT TENSION SENSOR (BTS), THAT IS PART OF THE RETRACTOR ASSEMBLY, MAY BECOME OPEN OR ACQUIRE A GROUND NEAR THE SENSOR. IF THE BTS IS ROTATED TOWARD THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE, ADDED STRESS IS APPLIED TO THE WIRE BUNDLE THAT MAY CAUSE AN OPEN OR A GROUND PATH." GENERAL MOTORS BULLETIN NO.: 09-09-40-003A STATES THAT THE FOLLOWING VEHICLES ARE AFFECTED: 2006-2008 CHEVROLET COBALT COUPE 2008-2010 CHEVROLET COBALT SS COUPE 2006 PONTIAC PURSUIT COUPE (CANADA ONLY) 2007-2010 PONTIAC G5 COUPE THIS CONCERN MAY CAUSE AIRBAGS TO NOT DEPLOY WHEN NEEDED, WHICH IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN. HOWEVER, GENERAL MOTORS HAS NOT ISSUED A SAFETY RECALL FOR THE AFFECTED VEHICLES.
MY CAR HAS APPROXIMATELY 3000 MILES ON IT. IT IS ALWAY GARAGE (ENCLOSED). DURING ITS 3000 MILES, IT HAS ONLY HAD ONE PASSENGER FOR ABOUT A 100 MILE TRIP. NO ONE HAS RIDEN IN THE BACKSEAT NOR HAS THE REAR SEAT BEEN USED FOR TRANSPORTING ITEMS. THE INTERIOR HAS NOT BEEN CLEANED (NOT NEEDED). IT IS A COLLECTOR CAR AND USED AS SUCH FOR OCCASIONAL TRIPS. LAST WEEK, THE SIR INSTRUMENT LIGHT SUDDENLY ILLUMINATED (SERVICE AIRBAG) WHILE ON A TRIP TO EXERCISE THE CAR (CAR WAS STATIONARY AND THE SIR ILLUMINATED WHEN THE AUTOMOBILE WAS STARTED). SEE GM SERVICE BULLETIN 09-09-40-003A ISSUED AUGUST 2010. WHEN SIR IS ILLUMINATED, THE AIRBAGS ARE NON-FUNCTIONAL, BUT THE CAR IS DRIVEABLE. SEEMS GM HAS A LATENT DEFECT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT RETRACTOR AND ITS WIRING BUNDLE. GM DEALER CHARGE ~$500 TO REPLACE THE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR AND ITS DEFECTIVE WIRING BUNDLE. THEY ALSO LOOSEN THE WIRE BUNDLE LEADING TO THE RETRACTOR TO GIVE IT MORE PLAY AND ALTER THE SEAT BELT SLEEVE TO ALLEVIATE BINDING OF THE WIRING BUNDLE. THIS PROBLEM IS GENERIC TO THE WHOLE COBALT LINE AND ITS PONTIAC COUSIN THE G%. SINCE THE FIX IS COSTLY, MOST FOLKS CONTINUE TO DRIVE THE AUTOMOBILE AND DON'T REALIZE THE AIRBAGS ARE NONFUNCTIONAL. THIS PRESENTS A REAL SAFETY HAZARD TO THE OWNERS AND PASSENGERS OF COBALT AUTOMOBILES. THIS SHOULD BE AN IMMEDIATE MANDATORY RECALL FOR GM!!!
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
"SERVICE AIR BAG" MESSAGE SHOWS IN THE DRIVER INFORMATION CENTER. THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS REPORTS OF PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. THE MESSAGE WILL DISPLAY AT ANY RANDOM TIME, WHETHER THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY OR IN MOTION. ACCORDING TO GENERAL MOTORS BULLETIN NO.: 09-09-40-003A, "THE WIRE ON THE BELT TENSION SENSOR (BTS), THAT IS PART OF THE RETRACTOR ASSEMBLY, MAY BECOME OPEN OR ACQUIRE A GROUND NEAR THE SENSOR. IF THE BTS IS ROTATED TOWARD THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE, ADDED STRESS IS APPLIED TO THE WIRE BUNDLE THAT MAY CAUSE AN OPEN OR A GROUND PATH." GENERAL MOTORS BULLETIN NO.: 09-09-40-003A STATES THAT THE FOLLOWING VEHICLES ARE AFFECTED: 2006-2008 CHEVROLET COBALT COUPE 2008-2010 CHEVROLET COBALT SS COUPE 2006 PONTIAC PURSUIT COUPE (CANADA ONLY) 2007-2010 PONTIAC G5 COUPE THIS CONCERN MAY CAUSE AIRBAGS TO NOT DEPLOY WHEN NEEDED, WHICH IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN. HOWEVER, GENERAL MOTORS HAS NOT ISSUED A SAFETY RECALL FOR THE AFFECTED VEHICLES.
MY CAR HAS APPROXIMATELY 3000 MILES ON IT. IT IS ALWAY GARAGE (ENCLOSED). DURING ITS 3000 MILES, IT HAS ONLY HAD ONE PASSENGER FOR ABOUT A 100 MILE TRIP. NO ONE HAS RIDEN IN THE BACKSEAT NOR HAS THE REAR SEAT BEEN USED FOR TRANSPORTING ITEMS. THE INTERIOR HAS NOT BEEN CLEANED (NOT NEEDED). IT IS A COLLECTOR CAR AND USED AS SUCH FOR OCCASIONAL TRIPS. LAST WEEK, THE SIR INSTRUMENT LIGHT SUDDENLY ILLUMINATED (SERVICE AIRBAG) WHILE ON A TRIP TO EXERCISE THE CAR (CAR WAS STATIONARY AND THE SIR ILLUMINATED WHEN THE AUTOMOBILE WAS STARTED). SEE GM SERVICE BULLETIN 09-09-40-003A ISSUED AUGUST 2010. WHEN SIR IS ILLUMINATED, THE AIRBAGS ARE NON-FUNCTIONAL, BUT THE CAR IS DRIVEABLE. SEEMS GM HAS A LATENT DEFECT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT RETRACTOR AND ITS WIRING BUNDLE. GM DEALER CHARGE ~$500 TO REPLACE THE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR AND ITS DEFECTIVE WIRING BUNDLE. THEY ALSO LOOSEN THE WIRE BUNDLE LEADING TO THE RETRACTOR TO GIVE IT MORE PLAY AND ALTER THE SEAT BELT SLEEVE TO ALLEVIATE BINDING OF THE WIRING BUNDLE. THIS PROBLEM IS GENERIC TO THE WHOLE COBALT LINE AND ITS PONTIAC COUSIN THE G%. SINCE THE FIX IS COSTLY, MOST FOLKS CONTINUE TO DRIVE THE AUTOMOBILE AND DON'T REALIZE THE AIRBAGS ARE NONFUNCTIONAL. THIS PRESENTS A REAL SAFETY HAZARD TO THE OWNERS AND PASSENGERS OF COBALT AUTOMOBILES. THIS SHOULD BE AN IMMEDIATE MANDATORY RECALL FOR GM!!!
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
VECHICAL STARTED MAKING A LOUD NOISE AND ALL OF A SUDDEN IT BLEW UP IN FLAMES. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
VECHICAL STARTED MAKING A LOUD NOISE AND ALL OF A SUDDEN IT BLEW UP IN FLAMES. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .