Is the 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt a bad year?
710 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Cobalt years.
Keep it. You picked a good year.
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt are in line with other Cobalt years. Fuel system stands out for this year: see below.
2th quietest of 6 Cobalt years by owner complaints (years with 7+ years on the road).
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2009 Cobalt owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 98,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel systemSTANDS OUT | 261 (37%) | 73k–128k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Steering | 206 (29%) | 29k–114k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Air bags | 72 (10%) | 48k–100k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Engine | 49 (7%) | 70k–107k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Body structure | 15 (2%) | 31k–102k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Speed control | 14 (2%) | 48k–106k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Wheels | 12 (2%) | 40k–100k miles · around this mileage | Wheel bearing / hub assembly replacement (one wheel) $230–$750 |
| Exterior lighting | 9 (1%) | 50k–115k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Stability control | 9 (1%) | 66k–119k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Electrical system | 151 (21%) | 40k–82k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 29 (4%) | 32k–77k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Brakes | 19 (3%) | 21k–83k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Suspension | 10 (1%) | 24k–79k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Latches and locks | 6 (1%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 98,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 710 complaints: 59 mention a crash · 7 mention a fire · 29 report an injury · 20 say the car was towed.
1 complaint was filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Mar 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
Takata recall my vehicle was hit head on I have pictures of the airbag and my head impacting top windshield insurance settle net me 3750.
I have a 2009 chevy cobalt and since I purchased it it has been problem after problem first the key got stuck in the ignition before the recall.
Driving vehicle on highway when engine check light comes on and "Reduced engine power" Message appears on status bar of dashboard.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 98,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt: 6
The weight on the key ring and/or road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the affected ignition switches to move out of the run position, turning off the engine and disabling the air bags. If the ignition switch moves from the run position to accessory, the car would stall and the air bags will not deploy in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of personal injury to the occupants.
In the affected vehicles, the key can be removed from the ignition when the ignition is not in the "Off" position. If the key can be removed from the ignition when the ignition is not in the "off" position, the vehicle could roll away: (a) for an automatic transmission, if the transmission is not in the "Park" position…
This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. In these models, the weight on the key ring and/or road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine. If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Some of these vehicles have a condition in which the plastic supply or return port on the fuel pump module may crack, which could cause a fuel leak. Fuel leakage in the presence of an ignition source may result in a fire.
The driver may experience a sudden loss of power steering assist that could occur at any time while driving. If power steering assist is lost, it would require greater driver effort at low vehicle speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.
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". 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.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Chevrolet: 333
Repair instructions Chevrolet sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Intermittent no crank, no start, or start stall concern with the security light coming…
Rough idle, Crank no start, extended crank or misfire, MIL with DTCs, and explains how Top Tier fuels should be used to reduce carbon build-up
Guidelines to replace Oil Cooler, Oil Cooler Lines and Oil Tank if the engine was replaced where large amounts of debris has flowed throughout the oiling system
Proper way to install the pistons in an engine
NHTSA defect investigations: 3
Fuel Line Leak
Fleet Vehicle Recall Completion Audit
Electric Power Steering Failure
Neighbouring years
2008 Cobalt: 843 complaints, keep it · 2010 Cobalt: 574 complaints, keep it.
Every Chevrolet Cobalt year
2000 · 2002 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2016 · 2017 · All Cobalt years side by side
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Questions
Is the 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt a bad year?
710 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Cobalt years. At 98,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: fuel system (261), steering (206), air bags (72), engine (49), body structure (15).
How many recalls does the 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt have?
6 recall campaigns list this model year: Electrical system (NHTSA 14E021000), Electrical system (NHTSA 14V-171), Electrical system (NHTSA 14V-047), Fuel system (NHTSA 12V-459) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.