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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
78,320 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2010 Chevrolet Cobalt engine problems

engine problem

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2010 Chevrolet Cobalt Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #38

May 112023

Cobalt

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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.

- South Amboy, NJ, USA

problem #37

Nov 242020

Cobalt

  • 166,000 miles
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.

- Mt. Orab, OH, USA

problem #36

Nov 122021

Cobalt

  • 85,933 miles
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.

- Lake Saint Louis, MO, USA

problem #35

Sep 212020

Cobalt

  • 36,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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.

- Bell Aire, OH, USA

problem #34

May 032020

Cobalt

  • 72,000 miles
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!

- Portsmouth, VA, USA

problem #33

Mar 022020

Cobalt

  • 187,701 miles
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.

- Pownal, ME, USA

problem #32

Nov 282019

Cobalt

  • 177,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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.

- Spring Hill, FL, USA

problem #31

Aug 152019

Cobalt

  • miles
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.

- Loveland, OH, USA

problem #30

Oct 212019

Cobalt

  • 140,000 miles
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.

- Leachville, AR, USA

problem #29

Aug 222019

Cobalt

  • 65,000 miles
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.

- Tamarac, FL, USA

problem #28

Jul 212018

Cobalt

  • 134,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The transmission slips, then jerks into gear violently.

- Renton, WA, USA

problem #27

Jan 042017

Cobalt

  • 81,000 miles
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.

- Richmond, IN, USA

problem #26

Feb 212018

Cobalt

  • 83,000 miles
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.

- Richmond, IN, USA

problem #25

Oct 292017

Cobalt

  • 73,000 miles
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

- St Cloud, MN, USA

problem #24

Jan 012017

Cobalt

  • miles
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

- Wixom, MI, USA

problem #23

Dec 052016

Cobalt

  • miles
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.

- Peoria, AZ, USA

problem #22

Oct 162016

Cobalt 4-cyl

  • miles
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.

- Palmer, MA, USA

problem #21

Nov 302016

Cobalt

  • 120,000 miles
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.

- Duncanville, TX, USA

problem #20

Oct 262016

Cobalt 4-cyl

  • 80,000 miles
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.

- Jefferson Twp, PA, USA

problem #19

Oct 212016

Cobalt

  • 100,464 miles
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

- Brockton, MA, USA

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