Chevrolet Cobalt Power Train Problems
Owners have filed 368 complaints with NHTSA about power train problems on the Chevrolet Cobalt across 6 model years. The 2006 model year has the most (137). The words owners use most often: “ignition switch” (7% of reports).
- 368power train complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 21mention a crash
- 6mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- $2,500typical repair cost reported by owners
- 35%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Ignition switch: mentioned in 26 of 368 complaints (7%)
- Gear shifter: mentioned in 20 of 368 complaints (5%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical power train repair on the Chevrolet Cobalt at $2,500, and half of them between $2,300 and $2,950.
Based on 9 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2006–2014), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do power train problems happen?
Based on 316 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 368 complaints, 21 mention a crash, 1 a fire, 6 an injury.
Chevrolet Cobalt power train complaints by model year
| Model year | Power Train complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 Cobalt | 31 | 5% | 94,000 |
| 2009 Cobalt | 29 | 4% | 64,000 |
| 2008 Cobalt | 29 | 3% | 75,000 |
| 2007 Cobalt | 43 | 3% | 51,581 |
| 2006 Cobalt | 137 | 6% | 66,175 |
| 2005 Cobalt | 99 | 6% | 65,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Power train:automatic transmission:lever and linkage:column shift
Model years: 2009
Problem: General motors is recalling 276,729 my 2009 buick enclave, chevrolet cobalt, hhr, malibu, traverse, gmc acadia, pontiac g5, g6 and saturn aura and outlook passenger vehicles. These vehicles fail to comply with federal motor vehicles safety standard 102, "transmission shift position sequence, starter interlock, and transmission braking effect", and fmvss 114, "theft protection and rollaway prevention". On some of these vehicles, the transmission shift cable adjustment clip may not be fully engaged. If the clip is not fully engaged, the shift lever and the actual position of the transmission gear may not match. With this condition, the drive could move the shifter to "park" and remove the ignition key, but the transmission gear may not be in "park".
Risk: The driver may not be able to restart the vehicle and the vehicle could roll away after the driver has exited the vehicle, resulting in a possible crash without prior warning.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and ensure that the shift cable adjustment clip is fully engaged. In the event that the clip does not engage, the shift cable will be replaced free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on or before march 24, 2009. Owners may contact buick at 1-866-608-8080, chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438, gmc at 1-866-996-9463, pontiac at 1-800-620-7668 and saturn at 1-800-972-8876 or at www.gmownercenter.com.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
Unknown
The contact owns a 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH, the anti-theft warning light illuminated. Additionally, the low fuel warning light was illuminated; however, there was fuel in the tank. The contact stated that the vehicle lost power steering functionality and the…
Power steering light came on now I have no speedometer and it will not shift right
I purchased a 2007 Chevy cobalt and was told by an independent shop that their computer was reading codes for the ignition switch and the air bag lights are on. On top of it the power steering feels like it goes in and out. I know thereâs recalls on the 2007 Chevy cobalts for the exact reasoning…
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 chevrolet cobalt. The contact stated that the transmission failed. The contact stated that the transmission shift point failed and caused the vehicle to shift gears incorrectly and causes the vehicle to jerk and stall. The contact also stated that the power steering…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Chevrolet Cobalts have power train problems?
No. NHTSA has 368 owner complaints about power train for the Chevrolet Cobalt. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Chevrolet Cobalt power train?
Yes: 1 safety recall list power train. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix power train problems on the Chevrolet Cobalt?
Owners report a typical cost of $2,500 (half paid between $2,300 and $2,950), from 9 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about power train problems on the Chevrolet Cobalt?
The most frequent phrase is “ignition switch”, in 26 of 368 complaints, followed by “gear shifter” (20).
Other Chevrolet Cobalt problems
- Steering problems (3,890)
- Electrical System problems (1,458)
- Fuel/propulsion System problems (1,107)
- Air Bags problems (609)
- Fuel System, Gasoline problems (478)
- Engine problems (331)
- Suspension problems (218)
- Vehicle Speed Control problems (157)
See all Chevrolet Cobalt problems.