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ProblemsByVin Index / 2009-CHEVROLET-COBALT / COMPLAINTS
Full complaint record · NHTSA

2009 Chevrolet Cobalt owner complaints

900 complaints filed with NHTSA on this vehicle , including 2 reporting a crash, fire, injury, or fatality. Showing the 300 most recent — grouped by category for scanning.

other 8 complaints shown

12/29/2017 79,909 mi ODI #11057428.0

Fuel line rupture causing fuel to leak. Mechanic stated this is a common problem with this car. Cost for repair $455.53 plus car rental $ 64.97

12/28/2017 ODI #11057042.0

The car has a gas leak in the line. I have the same issue with my 2010 Chevy cobalt that had to replace the whole fuel line. I was told by the mechanic that this should not happen on a car of this age

12/27/2020 160,000 mi ODI #11385155.0

Fuel line leaking from driver's side rear. Probably corrosion related. Noticeable odor when vehicle is parked after driving.

12/27/2017 122,000 mi ODI #11056772.0

The fuel lines that are wrapped in the heat protective tape on the driver rear side just as they turn up to go to the fuel tank are rusted out because the heat shield protector holds water on the fuel lines and now mine are rusted out and leaking fuel all over the ground by my exhaust. This is a major issue that hasn't been addressed with many Chevy products. Now it's going to cost about $600 to replace the lines. Chevy is not taking responsibility with this defect and costing people money and putting lives in danger by having a leak prone line right by the hot exhaust. Please take action on this. I had at least a gallon spray out while driving and it continued to leak when parked.

12/26/2020 133,000 mi ODI #11384995.0

Fuel leak found behind the driver side rear tire resulting in a puddle of fuel on the floor. This leak was found while the engine was running as well as while the engine was off.

12/22/2018 42,890 mi ODI #11163082.0

Fuel line rotting out. Fuel spraying onto exhaust system when driving.potential fire/explosion safety concern. Contacted dealer of purchase no recall / no help.

12/22/2018 80,936 mi ODI #11163125.0

Gasoline leaking in front of left rear wheel beside exhaust pipe.leaking all the time sitting or moving leaking in same place as recalled cobalts in 2012 that was in a hand full of warm states.pa is as warm as any other state

12/21/2020 122,500 mi ODI #11384406.0

Fuel line are corroded and leaking fuel near the exhaust manifold and muffler

steering 5 complaints shown

209 total in this category · critical · avg repair $700 · see steering cluster analysis →
12/30/2018 135,000 mi ODI #11164130.0

2009 Chevrolet cobalt was driving on a city street and power steering light came on and steering wheel became tight and hard to steer

12/30/2014 55,000 mi ODI #10668977.0

The dic shows the reading of each tire pressure backwards, for example right front wheel is actually the rear right wheel, and left front is actually rear front. Also I am unable to use the cruise control. The lights turns on but the car does not engage in the same speed for the cruise control. *js

12/28/2015 121,041 mi ODI #10816507.0

Tl* the contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet cobalt. While driving approximately 45 MPH, the vehicle lost steering ability and the service air bag light illuminated. The contact pulled over to the side of the road and had the vehicle towed home. The failure was not diagnosed. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 121,041.

12/28/2013 52,000 mi ODI #10557536.0

While pulling out of the gas station, the power steering light came on and the power steering no longer worked. It has not worked since then. *tr

12/20/2017 179,000 mi ODI #11055800.0

The steering lost power assistance and became difficult to steer while driving at low speed in the city. This problem is still occurring and affects steering at all speeds

brakes 2 complaints shown

162 total in this category · severe · avg repair $450 · see brakes cluster analysis →
12/30/2009 3,500 mi ODI #10297590.0

My 2009 Chevy cobalt ss turbocharged has rear disc brakes that are wearing prematurely, screeching/squeaking noises are occurring. My car has not been in any accidents and I've driven it from ann arbor, mi to lake orion, mi countless times for work and school. The front brakes work great but the rear ones are causing me trouble. Please address this issue, thank you much- *tr

12/20/2018 46,000 mi Crash ODI #11162623.0

Coming out of a roundabout in rush hour when a car ahead of her suddenly stopped. She had about one and half to two car lengths and her speed was about 35 MPH. She applied her brakes and they did not respond. Her car rear ended another car. The airbag deployed. She has a sprained neck and back. She has been off for a couple of days per doctor's request. Major damage to the entire front end of the car.

electrical 2 complaints shown

123 total in this category · critical · avg repair $850 · see electrical cluster analysis →
12/29/2020 88,600 mi ODI #11385500.0

No start issue. Battery and alternator good. Wont start after it's been driven for about 1 hour. When you turn car off it won't start until it cools down. I have not been able to go anywhere because it won't start when I come out of store st shop again. New starter put in and won't start. They are going to keep looking

12/21/2024 Crash ODI #11631947.0

The air bag never deployed I bought car in 2018 from original owner with car only having 33,000 miles on it and still under warranty til car had 100,000 miles and I hit a deer head on 2 months after getting car which bought in may of 2018 hit the deer in July 2018 . The deer was hit with the front passenger side it broke my headlight n messed my hood up and smashed in the grill little and my air bags never deployed I hit deer at 50 mph , after that had happened I took it in to Chevy dealership and had them look at car cause I told them I hit that deer and air bag never deployed and that my air bag light came on once in awhile and said service air bag . The dealership said they do that sometimes and did something to make light go off that was it my air vag light still comes on and says s

powertrain 2 complaints shown

20 total in this category · severe · avg repair $2,500 · see powertrain cluster analysis →
12/28/2010 15,000 mi ODI #10373166.0

Tl* the contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet cobalt. The contact was stopped at a traffic light when she engaged the accelerator and the vehicle hesitated to accelerate. Later, while attempting to park in reverse, the vehicle would not move backward. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where they advised the contact that the transmission would need replacing. The dealer stated that the trans cooler line that connected to the radiator was not properly connected causing the transmission fluid to leak from a previous repair done at an unauthorized repair facility. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure and current mileage was 15,000. Updated 02/10/11 *bf the consumer stated the manufacturer agreed to fix the vehicle. Updated 03/14/11

12/26/2011 85,564 mi ODI #10441226.0

I parked the car for the night with no indications of any problems and when attempting to drive the next day, the key would not turn in the ignition. Tried moved the steering column and it would not turn to start. Talked with a locksmith and was told that it wasn't the ignition but the power train column shift since neither of the keys worked. I spoke with the Chevrolet consumer hot line (1-800-630-2438) and was told that there was not a recall on my VIN. I assured them that I have a vehicle with 85,546 miles that I can't started with the first 11 numbers of the VIN recall. *tr

Showing 300 of 900 total complaints. The full federal record is available at nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2009/Chevrolet/Cobalt#complaints.
Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) owner complaint database. Last synced 2026-06-14. Complaints are owner-submitted and unverified — the existence of a complaint is not proof of a defect, but a pattern of complaints around the same component is a signal worth weighing. Verify any specific filing at nhtsa.gov.
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