repaired · 2016 Q4
Air bags: side/window
Risk. A disabled driver side roof-rail air bag will not deploy in the event of a crash necessitating deployment of that air bag, increasing the risk of injury to the…
2010 Chevrolet CobaltProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 574 owner complaints about the 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt, most often about the steering. It is covered by 5 safety recalls, and for recall 15V-500 the manufacturer reports only 51% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through August 15, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: Elise240SX, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt has problems
574 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
239Steering17 crash/fire/injury
125Electrical system10 crash/fire/injury
101Fuel/propulsion system5 crash/fire/injury
77Air bags26 crash/fire/injury
38Engine
31Power train
21Fuel system, gasoline
14Service brakes, hydraulic
14Service brakes
10018 other systems14 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Steering | 239 | 17 |
| Electrical system | 125 | 10 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 101 | 5 |
| Air bags | 77 | 26 |
| Engine | 38 | 1 |
| Power train | 31 | 1 |
| Fuel system, gasoline | 21 | 0 |
| Service brakes, hydraulic | 14 | 1 |
| Service brakes | 14 | 4 |
| 18 other systems | 100 | 14 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
5 recalls
2010 Chevrolet Cobalt recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2016 Q2
Electrical system: ignition
Risk. If the key can be removed from the ignition when the ignition is not in the "off" position, the vehicle could roll away: (a) for an automatic transmission, if…
repaired · 2016 Q2
Steering: electric power assist system
Risk. If power steering assist is lost, greater driver effort would be required to steer the vehicle at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.
repaired · 2016 Q2
Air bags
Risk. If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Show 1 more recall
no report yet
Steering: electric power assist system
Risk. IF POWER STEERING ASSIST IS LOST, IT WOULD REQUIRE GREATER DRIVER EFFORT AT LOW VEHICLE SPEEDS, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Chevrolet.
Mileage at failure
When do steering problems start?
56kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 210 steering complaints. 88% were reported before 100,000 miles.
30under 30k miles184under 100k miles26100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs
What owners say repairs cost
Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.
Steering
8 owners mentioned a cost$399median
Middle half: $171 – $625
If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.
Best & worst years
2010 vs. every other Cobalt year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Cobalt median. How we score
'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'16'17
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2010 Chevrolet Cobalt safety ratings
2010 Chevrolet Cobalt 2-DR w/SAB in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
Side barrierNot rated
- Stability control: Optional
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: No
1 investigation
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt, and the recalls they led to.
- Fuel Line LeakNo recall
In owners' words
What Cobalt owners report
Recent steering complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
The contact's daughter owns a 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the power steering assist failed to operate as needed. There was no warning light illuminated. Due to the failure, extra effort was needed to steer the vehicle. The vehicle was not…
The contact owns a 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated while driving 55 MPH, the power steering and brakes became inoperable. The driver was able to coast to the side of the road. The check engine warning light was illuminated after the failure. The vehicle was towed to her parent's…
UNKNOWN. My traction and ABS light keeps coming on. My steering is off some. My turning right or left is making ruff popping sounds in the steering. My ABS and Traction lite keeps coming on.
Own a 2010 Cobalt?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.