Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt
NHTSA data on file today
The 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt has 6 NHTSA recall campaigns and 710 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #14E021000 Aftermarket Replacement Ignition Switches NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #14V171000 Key Can Be Removed when Ignition is not Off NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #14V047000 Ignition Switch may Turn Off NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #12V459000 Fuel Pump Module May Crack NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #10V073000 ELECTRIC POWER STEERING NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #09V073000 SHIFT LEVER INDICATOR/FMVSS 102 & FMVSS 114 NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Fuel/Propulsion System 226 complaints
- Steering 206 complaints
- Electrical System 151 complaints
- Air Bags 72 complaints
- Engine 39 complaints
- Fuel System, Gasoline 36 complaints
Of the 710 complaints on file, 59 report a crash and 7 a fire; across all 710 complaints, owners report 41 injuries and 5 deaths (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $5,000–$9,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt has a below-average reliability rating due to high owner complaints and multiple recall campaigns. Notable issues include problems with the fuel/propulsion system, steering, and electrical systems. The data suggests frequent problems, but specifics about failure mileage are limited.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel/propulsion system | Unknown | $200–$800 | very common |
| Steering system | Unknown | $400–$1,200 | common |
| Electrical system | Unknown | $150–$600 | common |
| Airbag system | Unknown | $600–$1,500 | occasional |
| Engine | Unknown | $500–$2,000 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter changes
- Brake inspection and servicing
- Tire rotation and alignment
- Replace air and cabin filters
- Coolant system flush
- Transmission fluid change
- Inspect suspension components
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Fuel leaks or smell
- Hard steering at low speed
- Electrical system failures
- Airbag warning light
- Engine misfiring or stalling
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.