2010 Chevrolet Cobalt Engine Problems

My car had a fuel pump go, then within MONTHS, another. We then dealt with the SAME problem symptomatically, and was told it was the fuel pump sensor. Within the last few weeks, I am having all the same issues-including the car intermittently not starting, gasoline leaking from the vehicle, both noticably missing from the gauge (i.e 1/8 tank less than night prior), odor of gas in the car, stalling out while driving and trying to start it, but also now dripping gas from the car. A new issue popped up, which is the dash light coming up saying "check gas cap". This past Thursday, my car wouldn't start again, and has not started since. It's concerning that the Chevy Cobalt has had recalls for the same exact problems, literally thousands of complaints that mirror mine- for every model year EXCEPT the 2010. It's also interesting that they also stopped producing the Cobalt entirely in 2010 too, but considering the amount of faults and issues I've seen documented in every year model it's not a shock. I'm concerned that despite the amount of complaints that include 2010 models, they were excluded from the recall and seeing that my situation is another one that won't be covered, fixed, or made right by GM is something that doesn't make sense. I have also seen, that in 2021 an investigation was launched specifically into this exact issue with the 2010, as well. I'm carless right now, with no answers from Chevy other than that it's not part of the recall, yet it's part of the problem. Something is VERY wrong here. It's shocking they wouldn't recall a vehicle knowing it's dripping gas, pooling gas, it's such a hazard for not only anyone driving them, but anyone driving near us or even PARKED near us. Please help do something! Also I have videos of my car dripping, 2 days prior to it not starting, if there is somewhere I could send those as well.

NHTSA ID

11522342

Incident

May 11, 2023

The contact owns a 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated that fuel was leaking from the fuel lines near the rear wheel well. There was an abnormal odor of fuel detected. There was no warning light illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure however, no further assistance was provided. The contact mentioned NHTSA Action Number: PE20011 (FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER). The failure mileage was approximately 166,000.

NHTSA ID

11441557

Incident

Nov 24, 2020

Mileage

166,000 mi

The contact owns a 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated that his son called and stated he detected an abnormal odor of fuel inside the vehicle. The driver looked around the vehicle and noticed liquid emerging near the driver’s side rear tire. The driver stated that the vehicle was hard to start. The contact inspected the vehicle and noticed the fuel lines were rusted. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where two sections of rusted fuel lines were replaced. The contact called the local dealer however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 85,933.

NHTSA ID

11440645

Incident

Nov 12, 2021

Mileage

85,933 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER REFUELING, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START-UP ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS THE VEHICLE STARTED BUT FAILED TO ENGAGE WHEN SHIFTED TO DRIVE WITH THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A FUEL ODOR PRESENT AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REFUELED. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000.

NHTSA ID

11361598

Incident

Sep 21, 2020

Mileage

36,000 mi

I PURCHASED A 2010 CHEVROLET COBALT FROM A USED CAR DEALERSHIP IN JULY OF 2019. 3 MONTHS INTO HAVING THE CAR, AS I , MY MOTHER AND 6YO DAUGHTER WERE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 60MPH , THE CAR STARTED TO JERK AND SLOW DOWN. THE 'ENGINE REDUCED POWER ' MESSAGE CAME ACROSS MY DASH . WE WE'RE ALMOST SIDE SWIPED AND REAR ENDED. ONLY FOR THE FACT THAT A FELLOW MOTORIST STOPPED BEHIND ME TO HELP MERGE TRAFFIC TO KEEP US FROM GETTING HIT , IS WHAT KEPT US FROM BEING IN AN ACCIDENT AND PULLING OVER TO THE SHOULDER. THIS IS SO DANGEROUS AND I CAN'T IMAGINE AS A MOTHER HOW LOSING HER LIFE, OR THE LIFE OF HER CHILD WOULD HAVE BEEN DEVISTATING BECAUSE OF A MANUFACTURER'S ERROR!

NHTSA ID

11323164

Incident

May 3, 2020

Mileage

72,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE CHECK ENGINE, POWER STEERING OFF, AND CHANGE OIL WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. ADDITIONALLY, THE INSTRUMENT GAUGES FLUCTUATED. THE OWNER CONNECTED A DIAGNOSTIC READER TO THE VEHICLE WHICH INDICATED THAT THE CONTROL MODULE WAS DEFECTIVE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 187,701.

NHTSA ID

11315660

Incident

Mar 2, 2020

Mileage

187,701 mi

I JUST BOUGHT THIS CAR..2010 CHEVY COBALT WITH 176,000 MILES TWO WEEKS AGO WITH ALL OF THE MONEY THAT I HAD. I NOTICED THAT IT HAD A DEALERS TAG, BUT HE WANTED TO MEET ME AT A STORE AND CLAIMED THAT THE CAR WAS PERFECT.DAY TWO IT STALLED & HAS CONTINUED TO RANDOMLY STALL & WOULDN'T START TIL THE 3RD TRY. I TRIED, BUT IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTACT THE SELLER. AUTOZONE SAID IT HAD 17 CODES, BUT COULD JUST BE THE C20? SENSOR. THEN LAST NIGHT IT WOULD START, ACCELERATING TO ABOUT 5 MPH,THEN STALL & I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED HOME FROM A BUSY AREA, AND NOW IT WON'T TURN OVER OR START AT ALL. IM A GRANDMOTHER ON MY OWN WITH A PART TIME JOB AND HAVE NO MONEY LEFT FOR REPAIRS OR TO START ALL OVER. I'M HOPING THERE'S A RECALL THAT COULD HELP.I DON'T KNOW HOW TO FIND THIS MAN AS THE TITLE HAD ANOTHER PERSONS NAME ON IT, NOT THAT IT WOULD DO ANY GOOD.

NHTSA ID

11282976

Incident

Nov 28, 2019

Mileage

177,000 mi

I GOT MY COBALT IN ENDING 2010-2011 AND NEVER RECEIVED A SINGLE RECALL ON MY COBALT ,AND NOW A FRIEND TOLD ME OF THIS SIGHT THERE IS SO MANY RECALLS THAT NEED TO BE DONE ON MY CAR AND BEGINNING WITH THE TRANSMISSION ,IT RUNS GRATE IT JUST DOESN'T KNOW WHAT GEAR IT IS IN. ALSO MY DOOR LOCKS UNLOCK BY THEM SELF ITS LIKE I HAVE A SPIRIT IN THE CAR (VERY UN SAFE).NOT TO MENTION WHEN THE CAR WAS IN DRIVE IT WOULD SLIP INTO NEUTRAL ON ITS OWN, SAME WITH IF YOUR IN REVERSE IT WILL SLIP INTO NEUTRAL. PLEASE NOTIFY ME NON OF THE PAST RECALLS WAS EVER DONE ON MY CAR, I WANT TO HAVE A LIST AND PUT MY CAR INTO A CHEVY SHOP AND HAVE ALL RECALLS FIXED, I WAS NEVER NOTIFITYED >AND IVE LIVED IN THE SAME HOUSE THAT I OWN FOR 10+ YEARS>IT WILL NOT RECONIZE WHAT GEAR IT IS IN>PERIOD.

NHTSA ID

11280558

Incident

Aug 15, 2019

TRACTION, ENGINE AND WHEELS SENSOR LIGHT ON. HARD SHIFTING. CAR SHAKES WHEN BRAKING. ENGINE RUNS ROUGH AND SKIPS WHEN IDLING. I'VE HAD BRAKES REPLACED AND SPARK PLUGS. HAVE HAD ALL RECALLS REPAIRED.

NHTSA ID

11270197

Incident

Oct 21, 2019

Mileage

140,000 mi

AS I WAS DRIVING IN THE HIGHWAY 70 MPH CAR ABRUPTLY LOSS ENGINE POWER TO ALMOST A COMPLETE STOP CAR WOULD NOT GO OVER 10 MPH CAR KEEPS HAVING SAME SAFETY PROBLEM I NUMEROUS TIMES ENGINE LOSSES POWER WHILE IM DRIVING I REPLACED 02 SENSORS BATTERY AND OTHERS CAR STILL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM IT IS A RECURRENT PROBLEM IN THIS CAR THAT NO ONE SEEMS TO FIX PUTS THE DRIVER IN A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION WHEN YOU ARE IN THE HIGH WAY AND DANGEROUSLY THE CAR LOSSES ENGINE POWER ALL OF THE SUDDEN.

NHTSA ID

11251995

Incident

Aug 22, 2019

Mileage

65,000 mi

THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS, THEN JERKS INTO GEAR VIOLENTLY.

NHTSA ID

11119257

Incident

Jul 21, 2018

Mileage

134,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET COBALT. WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE, IT BEGAN TO SHAKE AND A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED BEFORE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE DEALER (WETZEL CHEVROLET, 4700 NATIONAL RD E, RICHMOND, IN 47374) WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,000.

NHTSA ID

11074276

Incident

Jan 4, 2017

Mileage

81,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET COBALT. WHILE INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE EXTERIOR LIGHTING AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE ACTIVATED. WHEN THE CONTACT ENTERED THE VEHICLE, SHE NOTICED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR WAS ILLUMINATED WHILE THE KEY WAS IN THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO WETZEL CHEVROLET (4700 NATIONAL RD E, RICHMOND, IN 47374), BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V171000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) IN NOVEMBER OF 2017. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000.

NHTSA ID

11074270

Incident

Feb 21, 2018

Mileage

83,000 mi

WAS DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE AT 75 MPH WHEN ALL POWER TO VEHICLE WAS LOST AND WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO SIDE OF ROAD. VEHICLE WOULD NOT START ENGINE WOULD CRANK BUT NOT START. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO MECHANIC, MECHANIC CHECKED FOR PROBLEMS COULD NOT LOCATE PROBLEM AFTER 6 HOURS WORKING ON IT VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE TOWED TO DEALER. DEALER SAID TIMING CHAIN FAILED AND CAUSED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO VEHICLE AND ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN AND CAUSED HAVE CAUSED AN CRASH WITH THE SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER

NHTSA ID

11041780

Incident

Oct 29, 2017

Mileage

73,000 mi

MY CAR WILL NOT GO AND REVERSE I GET MY OIL CHANGE FAITHFUL AND NOW I HAVE TO GET A NEW TRANSMISSION! THIS IS A 2010 THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS. WHEN I COME TO A COMPLETE STOP THE CAR SPEED IS REALLY LOW THEN IT PICKS UP. IT WILL NOT REVERSE

NHTSA ID

10956192

Incident

Jan 1, 2017

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT WAS NOT EXPERIENCING ANY FAILURES UNTIL THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED BY A DEALER FOR A MANUFACTURER RECALL CONCERNING THE AIR BAGS. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE WARNING INDICATOR FLASHED FOR LOW POWER. THE VEHICLE REDUCED SPEED AND STALLED SEVERAL TIMES. THE SERVICE ENGINE INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS UNCERTAIN IF A DEALER WOULD PROVIDE A SOLUTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10945070

Incident

Dec 5, 2016

VEHICLE IS A 2010 CHEVY COBALT 2.2 ECOTECH (BASE MODEL). ON START UP CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARS WITH MESSAGE ENGINE POWER REDUCED. CHECK ENGINE CODE IS P0641. REPLACED MULTIPLE SENSORS, THROTTLE BODY, CHECKED FOR WIRE ISSUES ETC. DEALER REPLACED ECM AND STILL HAVING ISSUES. CAN NOT DRIVE OVER 40MPH OR ENGINE WITH DISABLE. CAR HESITATES AND BUCKS WHILE DRIVING IN ENGINE REDUCED MODE.CAR HAS 68,789 MILES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10935073

Incident

Oct 16, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET COBALT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED AFTER THE CHECK ENGINE AND ENGINE POWER REDUCED WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CONTACT WAS ONLY ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AFTER HAVING A BATTERY JUMP. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

NHTSA ID

10934236

Incident

Nov 30, 2016

Mileage

120,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING HOME THIS MORNING AND A DEER JUMPED OUT IN FRONT OF ME. I SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES AND THE ENGINE SHUTOFF. MAKING THE POWER BRAKES AND STEERING SHUTOFF. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS NOT TO MENTION IF THERE IS NO POWER MOST LIKELY THE AIRBAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY. A SERIOUS ISSUE FOR A CAR THAT IS LESS THAN 6 YEARS OLD WITH AROUND 80,000 MILES ON IT. JUST A DISCLAIMER IT IS AN AUTOMATIC SO THERE IS NO CLUTCH. *TR

NHTSA ID

10919062

Incident

Oct 26, 2016

Mileage

80,000 mi

AFTER STARTING THE CAR THE TRANSMISSION BUCKS ROUGH CAUSING THE FRONT WHEELS TO SLIP AND CAUSING THE STABILITY LIGHT TO COME ON. SOMETIMES THE VEHICLE BUCKS SO HARD AND SO MANY TIMES IT WILL STALL OUT CREATING A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION... MY SON'S CO-WORKER AND FRIEND HAS THE SAME CAR AND THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM... I FEEL IT IS AN ISSUE WITH THE TRANSMISSINON

NHTSA ID

10918114

Incident

Oct 21, 2016

Mileage

100,464 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET COBALT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART MINUTES LATER. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT WAS UNABLE TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ID

10875291

Incident

Dec 15, 2015

Mileage

100,000 mi

REAR BRAKES MAKING LOTS OF NOISE, AND ARE CRAP. THIS CAR SHOULD HAVE ALOT MORE RECALLS. STOP LETTING GM SCREW US HARD WORKING PEOPLE! MY CAR IS MOVING WHEN I HEAR THE NOISES, MY BRAKE PADS ARE NEW SO THIS IS NOT THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID

10850909

Incident

Mar 2, 2016

WHILE DRIVING ON NYS I-90, MY 2010 CHEVROLET COBALT LS 2010 WENT INTO "ENGINE POWER REDUCED" AND I WAS NOT ABLE TO DRIVE OVER 40 MPH. I PULLED OFF TO THE SHOULDER AND WAITED FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES. I STARTED BACK UP, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINED ON AND CAR STAYS IN LIMP MODE. THE VEHICLE NOW IDLES ROUGH, ACCELERATES SLOW WHEN AT RED LIGHTS AND STOP SIGNS AND BUCKS WHEN SHIFTING GEARS. FIRST AT 10 MPH (HARD BUCK) THAN (LIGHTER BUCK) AT 20 MPH, AND CONTINUES LIGHTER THROUGH ACCELERATION. CODES THAT ARE COMING UP ARE P0107 ENGINE (MAP) BAROMETRIC PRESSURE CIRCUIT - LOW INPUT, P0452 ENGINE (EVAPORATIVE EMISSION SYSTEM PRESSURE SYSTEM PRESSURE SENSOR - SWITCH LOW INPUT, P0532 ENGINE AC PRESSURE SENSOR A - CIRCUIT LOW, AND P0641 ENGINE (SENSOR REFERENCE VOLTAGE A) CIRCUIT/OPEN. I WAS ABLE TO CLEAR OUT ALL CODES EXCEPT FOR P0641 (PERMANENT). PLEASE HELP.

NHTSA ID

10787380

Incident

Oct 20, 2015

Mileage

107,225 mi

MY CAR HAS HAD REGULARLY SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE SINCE WE PURCHASE IT IN FEB 2011. TODAY, AS MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING IT, WE BELIEVE THE ENGINE JUST BLEW UP. THE CAR STARTED SHAKING, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, THEN THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE AND THE CAR SHUT DOWN. IT HAD TO BE TOWED BACK TO OUR HOUSE. WE HAVE NO IDEA WHY THIS HAPPENED OR WHAT TO DO. WE CURRENTLY STILL OWE MONEY ON THE CAR. IT IS STILL FINANCED. THIS VEHICLE WAS CONSTANTLY AT CHEVROLET BECAUSE IT HAD PROBLEMS. MANY OF THEM THEY REFUSED TO FIX EVEN THOUGH WE BOUGHT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. I TOOK IT AND COMPLAINED ABOUT THE DASH ACTING STRANGE, THE GAUGES WOULD JUMP AND THE DIGITAL WOULD GO TO ALL DASHES, THEY REPLACED SOMETHING ONCE AND IT STILL DID IT. I COMPLAINED SEVERAL MORE TIMES AND ALL THEY WOULD SAY WAS THEY COULD NOT GET THE ISSUE TO REPLICATE. THERE HAVE BEEN OIL LEAKS THAT WERE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY, IT WEARS OUT SHOCKS LIKE CRAZY, BOTH FRONT HUBS HAVE HAD TO BE REPLACED, THERE HAS BEEN WATER IN THE HEAD LIGHTS, 1 WAS REPLACED BY THE WARRANTY BUT THEN THE OTHER MY DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO REPLACE AND I HAD TO PAY TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. WATER LEAKS INTO THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT FLOOR BOARD FROM UNDER THE DASH, THE DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS NOT COVERED BY THE WARRANTY, WATER LEAKS IN THE DRIVER SIDE FLOOR BOARD FROM UNDER DASH DURRING AND AFTER HEAVY RAINS, DEALERSHIP STATED THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE THE ISSUE, NOT TO MENTION THE RECALLS. WE HAVE DONE ALL THE REG. SCHEDULED OIL CHANGES AND SERVICE. IT HAS GOTTEN NEW SPARK PLUGS AND NEW COIL PACKS. NOW THE ENGINE IS BLOWN UP WITH ONLY 135000 MILES ON IT.

NHTSA ID

10725105

Incident

Jun 13, 2015

Mileage

136,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET COBALT. WHILE DRIVING UP A HILL AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE ENGINE POWER REDUCED WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE MADE A JERKING MOTION AND STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE MAP SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,500.

NHTSA ID

10724966

Incident

Jun 6, 2015

Mileage

104,500 mi