RoadVitals

2009 Chevrolet Cobalt Exterior lighting Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the exterior lighting system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Exterior lighting reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
9
Latest May 28, 2024
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
1%
of 710 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 9 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming exterior lighting

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Exterior lighting
Filed May 28, 2024

OEM headlights had become dim and one could no longer be aimed, so I ordered these replacements through Amazon. I paid $92 to have them installed, and the mechanic let me know that the high beams could not be activated, except by holding the turn signal, making it dangerous to steer. In addition, when the headlights are on they create so much RF, the radio no longer gets most AM or FM stations. The mechanic confirmed, they are wired incorrectly, but did not wish to attempt to rewire them.

NHTSA ID
11591166
Incident
May 28, 2024
Exterior lighting
Filed Aug 13, 2018

HEADLIGHTS FAILING WITHIN 6 MONTHS OF REPLACEMENT. BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE. LOW BEAM. I HAVE REPLACED BOTH SIDE AT LEAST 3 TIMES IN LAST 75,000 MILES.

NHTSA ID
11119552
Incident
Jul 25, 2018
Mileage
137,000 mi
AirbagsExterior lighting
Filed Jan 5, 2016

THE AIRBAG INDICATOR LIGHT FLASHES INTERMITTENTLY.

NHTSA ID
10818019
Incident
Dec 1, 2015
Mileage
125,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Apr 23, 2015

TURN SIGNAL WILL NOT CUT OFF AFTER TURNING.

NHTSA ID
10716895
Incident
Apr 21, 2015
Mileage
72,120 mi
Heating & air conditioningElectricalExterior lighting+1 more
Filed Feb 9, 2015

2009 CHEVROLET COBALT. CONSUMER HAD CAR TAKEN IN REPAIR SHOP TO FIX POWER STEERING PROBLEM IGNITION SWITCH AND THE DEALER KEPT THE VEHICLE FOR THREE MONTHS. *TA EACH TIME THE CONSUMER CALLED TO INQUIRE ABOUT THE VEHICLE, SHE WAS INFORMED THEY WERE WAITING ON THE PARTS. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE CONSUMER, THE TURN SIGNALS AND AIR CONDITION WERE NOT WORKING PROPERLY.*JB

NHTSA ID
10663883
Incident
May 23, 2014
AirbagsBody & structureElectrical+1 more
Filed May 26, 2014
Crash reported

DEER HIT CAR WAS VERY DARK 7 AM WITNESS CALLED 911 JACKSON TWP POLICE CAME CAR HAD TO BE TOWED FRONT END OF CAR ALL SMASHED AIR BAG DID NOT GO OFF I WAS HYSTERICAL GOD SENT ME AN ANGEL THAT MORNING WITNESS STAYED WITH ME UNTIL POLICE CAME POLICE CALLED FOR TOW TRUCK & MADE REPORT TOTAL COST OF REPAIRS OVER $6,000 THOUGHT CAR WOULD BE TOTALED I HAVE COPY OF ALL REPAIRS DONE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10594118
Incident
Nov 3, 2012
Mileage
52,685 mi
EngineExterior lighting
Filed Jan 23, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH WHEN SHE WAS ADVISED BY ANOTHER DRIVER THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE TAIL LIGHT FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT THE TAIL LAMP ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ALSO, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT SEVERAL DAYS LATER, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 25,000.

NHTSA ID
10494419
Incident
Oct 15, 2012
Mileage
24,000 mi
Body & structureElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Nov 12, 2012

MY TAILLIGHT ASSEMBLY IS 1/3 FILLED WITH WATER, DUE TO A BROKEN SEAL (WHICH IS ALLOWING WATER TO ENTER). DUE TO THE BROKEN SEAL, THE WATER DAMAGED THE ENTIRE L/R TAILLIGHT ASSEMBLY, REAR TURN SIGNAL (DRIVERS REAR), THE LAMPS, BULBS, FLASHER, AND SWITCH. SEVERAL MECHANICS SAID THAT THE BROKEN SEAL IN MY 2009 CHEVY COBALT, APPEARS TO BE A CHEVROLET MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10484071
Incident
Oct 24, 2011
Mileage
24,000 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Mar 19, 2012

HEADLIGHTS SIDE MARKER COVER CAME OFF ON BOTH HEADLAMPS NOT AT THE SAME TIME SHORT TIME AFTER THE FIRST ONE THEN THE RIGHT SIDE CAME OFF CAUSES GLARE. POWER LOCKS DO NOT FUNCTION ANY MORE WITH BUTTONS ONLY FUNCTION WITH GEAR SHIFTER SOMETIMES LOCKS WILL GO LOCK TO UNLOCK BY THEMSELVES MULTIPLE TIMES WITH OR WITH NOT DRIVING THE CAR. CONTACTED GM AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE HEADLIGHTS ARE NOT RECALLED ON MY YEAR BUT THEY ARE FOR THE 2005'S. OBVIOUSLY THEY DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM FROM THEN. I WILL NOT BY ANOTHER GM PRODUCT EVER. *JS

NHTSA ID
10452315
Incident
Sep 1, 2010
Mileage
55,000 mi

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .