IGNITION SWITCH STUCK IN THE ON POSITION. CAR WILL NOT CUT OFF WITHOUT CHOKING THE MOTOR WITH THE CLUTCH. I HAVE SEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS OF THIS OCCURRING ON VARIOUS DIFFERENT FORUMS. IT SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. *TR
2010 chevrolet Cobalt electrical problems
severe 82 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $850
Complaints
82
Recalls
0
Crashes
5
Avg fix
$850
What owners are reporting 4 most recent
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 6…
IN DECEMBER 2015, I PULLED INTO A PARKING SPACE AND PUT MY CAR IN PARK, THEN TURNED MY KEY BACK TO LEAVE THE RADIO ON BUT EVERYTHING SEEMED TO COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN. I TRIED TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION BUT COULDN'T GET IT OUT. I TRIED TO RESTART THE CAR, BUT IT WOULDN'T START. MY KEY WAS STUCK IN THE IGNITION. I GOOGLED THE PROBLEM AND READ THAT THE GEARSHIFT MAY APPEAR TO BE IN PARK, BUT …
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 FAILUR…
Common questions
How serious is the electrical problem on the 2010 chevrolet Cobalt?
It's a meaningful issue. 82 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $850.
At what mileage does the electrical typically fail?
Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $850 for electrical repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to electrical?
No active recalls currently cover electrical issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Other problem areas on this vehicle
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities.
Repair cost estimates are independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area.
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