RoadVitals

2010 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.
10
Latest Oct 10, 2020
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.
2%
of 573 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.
2
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 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 10 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 Oct 10, 2020

ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL QUIT WORKING. I HAVE TO TURN IT ON AND WHEN I HAVE MADE MY TURN I HAVE TO FLIP IT OFF MYSELF OR IT DOES NOT GO OFF. I BELIEVE THIS FAILS TO COMPLY WITH FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NUMBER 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVISES AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT. IF THE TURN-SIGNALS DO NOT AUTOMATICALLY DEACTIVATE, THE DRIVER MAY FAIL TO TURN THEM OFF MANUALLY. AN ERRONEOUS ACTIVE TURN-SIGNAL MAY MISLEAD PEDESTRIANS AND OTHER DRIVERS, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH. OF COURSE THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE CAR IS IN MOTION. I DO NOT KNOW THE CAUSE OF THE SAFETY RISK. I GLANCE THROUGH THE SAFETY ISSUE RECALLS AND SAW THAT A 2019 GM AUTOMOBILE WAS RECALLED WITH THIS ISSUE STATING THE FMVSS SAFETY STANDARD; THEREFORE, I AM SUBMITTING THIS SAME ISSUE. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V117000.

NHTSA ID
11363699
Incident
Aug 8, 2017
Mileage
52,000 mi
BrakesElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Oct 10, 2018

MY COBALT ILLUMINATES THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AS WELL AS THE THEFT LIGHT AND DISPLAYS ENGINE POWER REDUCED HAPPENS MULTIPLE TIMES FIRST TIME IT STARTED WAS IN 12/2017. THE CAR WAS PURCHASED IN 2011 ALWAYS SERVICED AND REPAIRED BY DEALER SHIP. THE CAR STALLS AT STOP SIGNS LIGHTS OR WHEN YOU PULL INTO A PARKING LOT. ENGINE LIGHT COMES AND GOES. LIGHTS DIM AND FLICKER THE GAUGES JUMP UP AND DOWN IN THE DASH. AFTER YOU SHUT THE CAR OFF THE GAUGES IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER JUMP ADN MAKE TICKING NOISE. WHEN THERE IS NO ENGINE LIGHT PRESENT THE CAR IDLES ROUGH AND ACTS LIKE ITS GOING TO DIE TILL YOU START DRIVING THEN ITS FINE. THE ISSUE WITH THE BRAKES ARE WHEN YOU TO PRESS THEM THE PEDAL WILL DEPRESS ALL THE WAY BUT ITS LIKE IT DONT MEET WITH THE PAD, THIS PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT AS WELL. OBD2 CODES HAVE BEEN P0641 P0017 P0651 P0573 CURRENT CODES STORED ARE P0340 P0300 P0341. I'VE HAD THIS CAR AT THE DEALER AND MULTIPLE SHOPS ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS NOW WITHOUT RESOLUTION. IT'S BECOMING MORE OF A PROBLEM THAN ANYTHING ESPECIALLY WHEN YOUR ON THE INTERSTATE AND IT DIES OR COMING UP TO A STOP LIGHT/ SIGN, A CAR PULLS OUT OR AN ANIMAL AND YOUR BRAKES FAIL TO STOP YOU! IT IS A VERY SCARY SITUATION. THE CAR DOES HAVE HIGH MILES BUT I HAVE NOT HAD ANY PROBLEMS TILL DECEMBER OF 2017 MILEAGE IS 203,602 ALL MAINTENANCE IS PERFORMED UNDER RECOMMENDED MILEAGE.

NHTSA ID
11139374
Incident
Dec 1, 2017
Mileage
188,520 mi
Driver assistanceElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Jul 15, 2018

WHEN IM DRIVING TO WORK AND CAR IS IN MOTION ALL LIGHTS DIM, ALL 4 LOCK FLICKER OFF AND ON WHILE IM DRIVING AND CAR IS IN MOTION ON HIGHWAY. SOMETIMES THE LOCK OPEN OTHER TIMES THEY DON'T WORK WITH THE CAR REMOTE. THE HEADLIGHTS WILL COME ON BY THEM SELF EVEN AFTER I SHUT THE CAR OFF. THE CAR WILL UNLOCK EVEN AFTER I LOCK IT EITHER WILTH REMOTE OR MANUALLY. CHEVY DEALERSHIP HAD A RECALL ON THIS CAR AND I DID TAKE IT FOR UPDATES. I REALIZE THIS IS A 2010, BUT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO MY CAR SINCE 2011. ONCE THEY FIXED THE PROBLEM IT WAS OK, BUT HERE WE GO AGAIN. I TELL ME HUSBAND IM AFRAID TO GET INTO CHRISTINE. I WOULD LIKE THE DEALERSHIP TO FIX THIS AT THEIR EXPENSE. I DON'T THINK I WILL BUY ANOTHER CHEVY WHEN I SEE HOW MANY ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS ARE WRITTEN ONLINE.

NHTSA ID
11111387
Incident
Jul 13, 2018
Mileage
79,631 mi
Driver assistanceElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Jun 29, 2018
Crash reported

THE BRAKE LIGHTS REMAIN ON EVERYTIME I DRIVE. THEY ARE INTERMITTENT. THEY WILL STAY ON FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME AND THEN THEY WILL TURN OFF ONLY TO COME BACK AGAIN. I HAVE GONE TO CHEVY DEALERS, PEPBOYS, AND LOCAL MECHANICS AND NO ONE HAS BEEN ABLE TO FIX OR SOLVE THE ISSUE PERMANENTLY. THEY HAVE "FIXED" THE BRAKE SENSORS, REPROGRAMMED THE CAR, AND HAVE DONE SOME OTHER THINGS, YET NO ONE CAN FIX THE ISSUE. WHAT A HORRIBLE COMPANY THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR OVER 3 1/2 YEARS

NHTSA ID
11104676
Incident
Jul 17, 2016
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Nov 1, 2016

I HAVE HAD MY CAR IN THE SHOP MULTIPLE TIMES FOR LIGHTS DIMMING WITHIN THE VEHICLE, REPLACING THE FRONT HEAD LIGHT AND THE RADIO NOT WORKING. HAVE BEEN TOLD THE HEADLIGHTS WIRES ARE MELTED, THE CAR GENUINELY HAS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM BUT NO RECALLS. THIS IS INCREDIBLY UNSAFE TO HAVE ELECTRIC WIRES BURNING OUT AND MELTING.

NHTSA ID
10920523
Incident
Aug 4, 2016
Mileage
120,000 mi
AirbagsElectricalExterior lighting
Filed May 30, 2016
Crash reported

I NOTICED THAT THERE WAS NO TURN SIGNAL SOUND INDICATING THE TURN SIGNAL WAS IN USE. AT THE SAME TIME I ALSO NOTICED THAT ALL OF THE WARNING INDICATOR SOUNDS WERE ALSO NOT WORKING (SET BELT, DOOR OPEN WITH KEY IN, LOW TIRE PRESSURE, ECT) NONE OF THE WARNING SOUNDS ARE NOW WORKING. IT SEEMS THAT THE LEFT FRONT SPEAKER IS USED FOR THE TRANSMITTING OF THE WARNING SOUNDS THUS THERE IS NO SOUND FROM THE LEFT SPEAKER. NONE THE LESS I FEEL THAT WITH THE WARNING SOUNDS NOT WORKING THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. EVERYTIME I START MY CAR THE SVC LIGHT STAYS ON ALL THE TIME , MY TIRES ARE ALWAYS WOBBLY WHILE SLOWING DOWN AND DRIVING. SAME AS I HAVE HEARD FROM OTHERS. GOT IN A HIT AND RUN IF I HAVE SIDE AIR BAGS THEY DIDNT GEPLOY

NHTSA ID
10871476
Incident
Sep 6, 2015
Mileage
50,000 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Mar 24, 2016

IN THE FALL OF 2015 I NOTICED THAT THERE WAS NO TURN SIGNAL SOUND INDICATING THE TURN SIGNAL WAS IN USE. AT THE SAME TIME I ALSO NOTICED THAT ALL OF THE WARNING INDICATOR SOUNDS WERE ALSO NOT WORKING (SET BELT, DOOR OPEN WITH KEY IN, LOW TIRE PRESSURE, ECT) NONE OF THE WARNING SOUNDS ARE NOW WORKING. IT SEEMS THAT THE LEFT FRONT SPEAKER IS USED FOR THE TRANSMITTING OF THE WARNING SOUNDS THUS THERE IS NO SOUND FROM THE LEFT SPEAKER. NONE THE LESS I FEEL THAT WITH THE WARNING SOUNDS NOT WORKING THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE.

NHTSA ID
10851410
Incident
Oct 2, 2015
Mileage
36,500 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Apr 10, 2014

THE TURN SIGNAL LEVER IS NOT CONSISTENTLY WORKING ANY MORE. IT SOMETIMES WILL NOT ACTIVATE THE TURN SIGNALS UPON DEMAND. THE LEVER HAS TO BE PUSHED ON OR JIGGLED THE THEN LIGHTS OPERATE. IT SOMETIMES TURNS ON THE TURN SIGNALS AFTER THE TURN IS COMPLETE AT THE LEVER AUTOMATICALLY MOVES BACK TO THE NEUTRAL POSITION. THE TWO MAIN DRIVERS OF THIS VEHICLE HAVE BOTH OBSERVED THIS PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID
10579021
Incident
Apr 10, 2014
Mileage
96,212 mi
BrakesExterior lighting
Filed Aug 15, 2013

I NOTICE AS I WAS DRIVING THAT MY BRAKE LIGHTS WOULD STAY ON WHEN I AM NOT PUSHING ON THE BRAKE. IT DOES NOT MATTER THE SPEED THAT I AM GOING. BUT WHEN I DO PUSH ON THE BRAKES THE LIGHTS GO OFF, WHICH I DON'T THINK SHOULD BE HAPPENING SINCE THE DRIVER BEHIND ME WILL NOT KNOW THAT I AM STOPPING. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I DON'T THINK THIS SHOULD BE HAPPENING ON A CAR THAT WAS 2 YEARS OLD AT THE TIME THIS STARTED. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY MY DEALERSHIP THAT OTHER CUSTOMER HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10535495
Incident
Sep 15, 2012
Mileage
50,000 mi
BrakesDriver assistanceElectrical+3 more
Filed Dec 31, 2010

I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN FEBRUARY 2010 AND I DIDN'T START NOTICING PROBLEMS TILL AROUND SUMMER BUT THEY WERE NOT THAT BAD TILL SEPTEMBER WERE THE CAR STARTED SHOWING STRANGE ELECTRICAL AND STEERING ISSUE. I RECEIVED THE RECALL LETTER IN OCTOBER AND HAD THE POWER STEERING ISSUE FIXED BUT ITS STILL HAVE ISSUES WERE THE VEHICLE WILL SWERVE BACK AND FORTH IN RETURN I WILL HAVE TO KEEP MY HANDS ON THE STEERING WHEEL TO TRY TO KEEP IT FROM HITTING OTHER VEHICLES ON THE HIGHWAY. THEN THE BLOWER MOTOR THAT BLOWS THE HOT AND COLD AIR SOMETIMES ISTATICALLY REVS UP HIGH AND I HAVE TO TURN OF THE HEATER. ALSO I HAVE NOTICED THAT THE BRAKES SQUEAL AND I ONLY HAVE 10,300 MILES. I HAVE ALSO NOTICED THAT THE NEEDLES ON THE GAUGES IN THE DASH TEND TO TWITCH RADICALLY WHEN I TURN THE VEHICLE OFF SOMETIMES. THEN AT TIMES THE CAR WHEN TURNED ON WILL START TO ACT AS IF IT WAS TO SHUT OFF AND THE LIGHTS WOULD ALL DIM AND THEN IT WOULD STABILIZE. IT HAS DONE THAT ON THE HIGHWAY MAKING STEERING DIFFICULT AT TIMES. THE ENGINE AS WELL HAD MADE KNOCKING NOISES TO ITS BEEN AN OFF AND ON THING. *TR

NHTSA ID
10373647
Incident
Jul 8, 2010

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

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Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .