2007 Chevrolet Cobalt Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt most often describe a sudden loss of power steering assist while driving, followed by strong fuel odors and leaks from the rear of the car. Complaints also mention the airbag warning light and ignition key or stalling concerns. Problems appear across a wide mileage range, from under 50,000 miles to well past 150,000.

1. 1
   Steering

   Sudden loss of power steering assist

   • 590 complaints (38%)
   • median 52,055 mi at 3.5 yrs old (518 state mileage)
   • 54 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $900 (median of 47 quotes)
   • filed 2007–2026

   Owners describe the power steering warning message appearing and the wheel suddenly becoming very hard to turn, sometimes at highway speed. Many say steering returns after shutting the car off and restarting, only to fail again later. Several owners link this to recall 10V073000 but report their vehicle identification number was not included; some say the steering was repaired under that recall and later failed again. Others describe rattling, clunking or a loose steering column along with the stiffness. Reported from roughly 40,000 to over 250,000 miles, with many complaints between 90,000 and 175,000 miles.

   Recall 10V0730001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask whether recall 10V073000 was performed and whether the steering assist has failed since. On a test drive, watch for the power steering message and check for noise or play in the steering column.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My family and I was riding in my 2007 Cobalt on the freeway 7-14-2020. As I was going between 40-35 MPH making a sharp right around the curb on the I-10 freeway my steering wheel got very firm and locked up causing my car to slide. I had to exit the freeway.”

   NHTSA complaint #11339469, filed 2020-07, 123,213 miles

   “I have been having issues with my 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt. While driving, usually on the highway, my car beeps twice and the words power steering appears on my dash. When this happens it's extremely difficult to turn the wheel left or right. I need to pull over and turn the car off and back on to regain steering. The first time I experienced this was in october 2009. I called the dealership that sold me the car and they said that it was just something that happened with cobalts. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10316342, filed 2010-03, 40,000 miles
2. 2
   Fuel system

   Fuel odor and leaks from rusted lines or tank area

   • 415 complaints (27%)
   • median 88,000 mi at 6.2 yrs old (342 state mileage)
   • 9 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $700 (median of 34 quotes)
   • filed 2009–2026

   Owners report a strong gasoline smell, often after the car sits overnight, with fuel visible on the ground near the driver-side rear wheel or on top of the fuel tank. Several say a mechanic traced it to corroded or cracked fuel lines, a cracked filler neck or a cracked fitting at the fuel pump module. Some were told their vehicle identification number was not covered by the fuel-system recalls, while others had a recall repair done and later found fuel leaking again. Reported from about 24,000 to 200,000 miles, with many between 85,000 and 180,000 miles; some owners mention road salt and winter conditions.

   Recall 12V459000Recall 09V4190002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the fuel-pump recalls were completed and have the underside inspected for rusted or damp fuel lines near the rear wheel. A gasoline smell after the car has been parked is worth investigating before purchase.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My 2007 supercharged Cobalt has been leaking gas like a pig. It is coming from the exposed plastic retainer clip that has rusted through my gas line and slowly rusting through my brake line now as well. This is a huge design flaw as there is definately road salt that got between the plastic clip and gas line eating away at the metals and rusting. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11349582, filed 2020-08, 101,000 miles

   “While at a stop I smell fuel really strong and only when there is pressure it leaks on top of gas tank where the return line cracked running down the back of the tank and onto the exhaust I see there is a recall for many other Cobalt's but not my VIN with this same issue! I am very disappointed this is a safety hazard what if somebody was to smoke by the car or they threw a cigarette out of there car and I caught on fire ????”

   NHTSA complaint #11405263, filed 2021-03, 150,000 miles
3. 3
   Electrical system

   Stalling, no-start and ignition key concerns

   • 438 complaints (28%)
   • median 67,201 mi at 5.7 yrs old (361 state mileage)
   • 33 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $897 (median of 34 quotes)
   • filed 2007–2026

   Owners report the engine cutting out while driving or failing to restart, sometimes with the security or anti-theft light on and the key stuck in the ignition or the shifter locked. Some say a dealer diagnosed a faulty ignition switch. Others describe the ignition switch or security system leaving them stranded, with no check-engine light showing beforehand. Several tie their experience to ignition-related recalls but say their vehicle was not included. Mostly reported between about 50,000 and 190,000 miles, with no strong seasonal pattern.

   Recall 14V171000Recall 14V0470002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the ignition recalls were performed and whether the key ring has been kept light. Check that the key turns freely, comes out in the off position, and that the car restarts reliably after a short drive.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I went to turn the car on and it wouldn't start. As I tried to take the key out of the ignition it locked itself in and have not been able to remove it.I was going to attempt the car jump but I couldn't put the car in neutral to move it to a position to get a jump because the gear shift is also locked. It is impossible to move this car as is.”

   NHTSA complaint #11353394, filed 2020-09, 113,000 miles

   “2-3 weeks ago I got in my car to go somewhere. From the time I pulled out of my driveway my car was in limp mode. At the same time my check engine light, air bag light, power steering light, service traction light and theft light all came on. I got my car back to the house and when I shut it off it would not start back. I hooked it up to the obd2 scanner and the codes that came back were p1682( faulty ignition switch) and code u0101(transmission control module).”

   NHTSA complaint #11354020, filed 2020-09, 154,000 miles
4. 4
   Air bags

   Airbag warning light and passenger seat sensor

   • 149 complaints (10%)
   • median 72,000 mi at 7.5 yrs old (115 state mileage)
   • 54 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $2,000 (median of 5 quotes)
   • filed 2007–2026

   Owners describe the service airbag message or warning light coming on, sometimes with the front passenger airbag not registering when someone is sitting there. In one case a dealer said the passenger seat sensor and retractor needed replacement. Some complaints also mention the airbag light appearing alongside other warning lights or after a crash in which the bags did not deploy. Scattered across the sample from about 16,000 to 130,000 miles, with no clear mileage pattern.

   Recall 14V047000

   What to check: Turn the key to the on position and confirm the airbag light goes out, then sit in the passenger seat and check that the passenger airbag indicator reads occupied.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The contact owns a 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the Service Air Bag message was intermittently displayed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but informed the contact that there was no recall associated with the VIN. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.”

   NHTSA complaint #11551348, filed 2023-10, 120,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated that while driving at 55 MPH, a 12-point buck jumped into the roadway, causing the contact to abruptly depress the brake pedal; however, the vehicle skidded and crashed into the buck. No air bags deployed. The vehicle was drivable; however, the vehicle was towed to the residence due to the radiator being damaged. The contact stated that he sustained injuries to his left knee, and his fiancée, who was seated in the front passenger side, sustained injuries to her left knee. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11709925, filed 2026-01, 16,265 miles

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.