There are 20 owner-reported powertrain & transmission complaints for the 2009 Chevrolet Cobaltin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
MY VEHICLE TRANSMISSION WAS STUCK IN PARK, IT WOULDN'T START AND WOULD STILL ROLL WHEN IN PARK. WE HAVE COME TO THE CONCLUSION IT WAS A FAULTY TRANSMISSION CABLE CLIP OR INSTALLED IMPROPERLY. I HAVE CONTACTED GM ABOUT A RECALL AND SAID IT WAS CLOSED DUE TO A DEALERS INSPECTION IN 2012. I HAVE SINCE TAKEN IT IN TO GET FIXED AND IT APPEARS IT IS A PROBLEM WITH THE RECALLED PART. GM STILL REFUSES TO COVER IT. I AM ENCLOSING BELOW MY EMAIL TO GM BELOW WITH ATTACHMENTS AND LINKS. ANY HELP WITH THIS IS APPRECIATED [XXX] TO:CUSTOMERASSISTANCE@CHEVROLET.COM CC:[XXX] MAR 16 AT 10:54 AM THANK YOU FOR THE INFORMATION. I HAD TAKEN THE CAR IN ON MARCH 14TH TO HAVE THE PROBLEM DIAGNOSED AND OFFER THE INVOICE OF WHAT THEY FOUND AND FIXED FOR YOUR REVIEW. THEY SAID THE CLIP WAS FULLY ENGAGED BUT THE CABLE WAS STILL SLIPPING. I ASKED THAT THEY GIVE ME THE OLD PART BACK FOR MY INSPECTION. I ALSO OFFER A VIDEO OF MY REVIEW OF THE CABLE, PLEASE SEE LINK BELOW. THE THIRD ATTACHMENT IS THE 1ST PAGE OF THE INVOICE MY RECEIPT OF PAYMENT. HTTPS://DRIVE.GOOGLE.COM/FILE/D/1RRTBJHVTPIPNH3LZTHGBUIWJ-AUX190O/VIEW?USP=DRIVESDK I AM ASKING THAT GM REIMBURSE ME THE COST OF 210.24 DOLLARS FOR THE TRANSMISSION CABLE REPLACEMENT. IT IS APPARENT FROM THE INSPECTION FROM THE TECHNICIAN AND MY OWN INSPECTION THAT THE PROBLEM LIES WITH THE CLIP NOT OPERATING PROPERLY. DON'T KNOW WHAT MAY HAVE HAPPENED IN 2012 DURING THEIR INSPECTION, BUT REGARDLESS IT APPEARS TO BE A DEFECT IN THE GM DESIGN/PART AND SHOULD BE COVERED. I ASSURE YOU I AM NOT TRYING TO GET SOMETHING FOR FREE HERE, I JUST WANT BUSINESSES TO BACK THEIR PRODUCTS, ESPECIALLY WHEN THERE ARE KNOWN PROBLEMS WITH THEM, WHICH I HOPE YOU WILL DO. I APPRECIATE ALL YOUR TIME IN THIS MANNER AND LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR REPLY. SINCERELY, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET COBALT. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE MOVED VERY SLOWLY. IN ADDITION, WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN REVERSE, IT ACCELERATED FORWARD INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64,000. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET COBALT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THERE WAS A SUDDEN INCREASE IN ENGINE RPM. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLUTCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,000.
2009 CHEVROLET COBALT. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT WITH LOW MILES. * LD THE COST TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION, WAS $2100. *JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V171000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM), BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT REMEDIED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH AND PROVIDED THE CONTACT WITH A NEW SET OF KEYS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE JERKED AND STALLED. THE CHECK ENGINE AND SERVICE TRACTION INDICATORS ILLUMINATED DURING THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.
DRIVING VEHICLE ON HIGHWAY WHEN ENGINE CHECK LIGHT COMES ON AND "REDUCED ENGINE POWER" MESSAGE APPEARS ON STATUS BAR OF DASHBOARD. REPAIRED AT DEALERSHIP BY REPLACING THROTTLE CONTROL BODY. OCCURRED TWICE MORE OVER NEXT 3 DAYS, REPAIRED AT DIFFERENT DEALERSHIP SAYING FIRST THROTTLE CONTROL BODY WAS DEFECTIVE. OCCURRED AGAIN 2 DAYS LATER, DEALERSHIP REPLACED CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR. OCCURRED AGAIN 1 DAY LATER. NEED TO TAKE IN FOR MORE SERVICE. BASIC INTERNET RESEARCH SHOWS THAT THIS IS COMMON PROBLEM ON CHEVROLET COBALTS. *JS
I WAS TRYING TO START MY CAR AND TURNED THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND MY CAR WAS COMPLETELY DEAD. I THOUGHT IT WAS THE BATTERY AND TRIED TO TAKE THE KEY OUT, BUT IT WAS STUCK AND WOULDN'T COME OUT. I GOOGLED HOW TO TAKE IT OUT AND THAT WORKED, WE JUMPED THE CAR THINKING IT WAS THE BATTERY, BUT WITHOUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, THE LIGHTS AND ELECTRICAL ALLTURNED ON. THIS TELLS ME THAT THE CAR'S IGNITOR/SHIFTER WAS STUCK IN THE "ON" POSITION. IT COULD HAVE BEEN A DANGEROUS SITUATION IF I WERE ANYWHERE BUT HOME. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE JERKED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO WAS NOT ABLE TO REPLICATE OR DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000. UPDATED 09/05/14*LJ
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE AND REMOVING THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION, A PASSENGER HAPHAZARDLY STRUCK THE AUTOMATIC GEAR SHIFTER INTO REVERSE. THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARD FROM THE RESIDENTIAL DRIVEWAY AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO ADVISED THAT THEY WOULD CONTACT HER AT A LATER DATE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 62,000. UPDATED 6/12/12 *CN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET COBALT. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE, THE GEAR SHIFTER SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG AND CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED RANDOMLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO OVERHEAT RANDOMLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 77,000. UPDATED 01/11/2017*CT *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DECELERATE INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT APPLIED THE ACCELERATOR BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND. THE BRAKES WERE UNRESPONSIVE AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED ABNORMALLY. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AT THAT LOCATION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 47,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,995.
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
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
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY COULD NOT BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO UNABLE TO START THE VEHICLE ONCE THE KEY WAS STUCK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER TO BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER 09V073000 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT) BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED; THEREFORE, THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO COVER THE REPAIR COSTS. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
2009 CHEVROLET COBALT. CONSUMER EXPRESS DISCONTENT REGARDING RECALL REPAIRS. *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN SHE ATTEMPTED TO BACK OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, THE VEHICLE BARELY WANTED TO MOVE. SHE APPLIED MORE PRESSURE TO THE ACCELERATOR AND THEN IT ACCELERATED QUICKLY AND THE ENGINE REVVED EXTREMELY HIGH. THE CONSUMER HIT A PARKED VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER DIDN'T BELIEVE THE RECALL WAS PROPERLY FIXED. *JB
SHIFTING I THREW THE GEARS QUICKLY TO GET UP TO SPEED OF TRAFFIC. THE SHIFT LINKAGE BREAKS AND CAR IS EITHER STUCK IN GEAR OR NEUTRAL WITH NO ACCELERATION CAUSING TRAFFIC TO BREAK HEAVY OR ACCIDENT BEHIND VEHICLE. REPLACE UNDER WARRANTY WITH SIMILAR PARTS BUT STILL SAME PLASTIC ENDS AND CLIPS SHOULD ME METAL ON DRIVE LINE PARTS. *TR
I HAVE A 2007 CHEVY COBALT AND THE POWER STEERING GOES OUT WHEN I GO TO MAKE A SHARP TURN. (THE WHEEL WILL NOT TURN UNLESS I GIVE IT GAS AND GO STRAIGHT FOR A LITTLE WHILE, THEN SOMETIMES IT WILL THEN TURN.) GARAGE SAYS THAT COMPUTER DOESN'T SHOW ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT...BUT WILL TAKE IT BACK TO GARAGE AGAIN AND AGAIN...UNTIL THEY TELL ME THAT A RECALL IS ON IT. I PRAY THAT THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN WHEN I'M IN HEAVY TRAFFIC! VERY DANGEROUS! *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING AT ANY SPEED, THE VEHICLE WOULD INTERMITTENTLY BECOME HESITANT AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CHANGE GEARS INTO REVERSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE UNKNOWN REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAD ALSO EXPERIENCED THE VEHICLE STALLING INTERMITTENTLY ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBERS:14V047000 (ELECTRICAL), 14V171000 (ELECTRICAL) OR 09V073000 (POWER TRAIN) BUT STATED THAT HE HAD EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE DESCRIBED IN EACH RECALL ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS SCHEDULED FOR DIAGNOSIS AND POSSIBLE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15000.
WHY ISN'T THERE A RECALL FOR THE 2005 COBALT? THIS HAPPENED SHORTLY AFTER I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE! WHY DO YOU HAVE THE RECALL ONLY FOR 2009, IT SHOULD BE FOR 2005 AND ALL MODELS AFFECTED, REGARDLESS OF THE YEAR! JUST PICKING ONE YEAR IS NOT ACCURATE FOR THIS TYPE OF ISSUE. THIS NEED TO BE FIXED ASAP! PLEASE AND THANK YOU! "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". *TR
I PURCHASED A NEW 2009 CHEVROLET COBALT FROM CLASSIC CHEVROLET IN SUGARLAND, TX ON JUNE 8, 2009. ON JUNE 10, 2009 THE CLUTCH PEDAL FELL OFF AS A RESULT OF A RETAINER NOT BEING SECURED AT THE LORDSTOWN FACTORY. AT 8848 MILES, ON SEPTEMBER 23, 2009 I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR ITS FIRST SERVICE WORK TO THE SAME DEALERSHIP. I INFORMED THEM THAT THE CLUTCH PEDAL HAD BECOME INOPERATIVE AND THAT I HAD SECURED THE LOCKING NUT BUT ASKED THEM TO CHECK IT FURTHER. THE DEALERSHIP FOUND OTHER RETAINERS MISSING FROM THE CLUTCHES MASTER CYLINDER. THE CAR HAD LEFT THE FACTORY IN AN UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITION THAT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN AN INJURY TO MYSELF OR OTHERS. *TR
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026