2009 Chevrolet Cobalt Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often write about two things: fuel lines that rust through near the rear driver-side wheel and let fuel drip or pool, and a sudden loss of power steering assist that makes the wheel hard to turn, sometimes resetting after a restart. Fuel complaints are reported from very low mileage up past 150,000, while power-steering reports cluster across a wide mileage range. Remaining reports involve warning lights, no-start and stall conditions, and airbag warning messages.

1. 1
   Fuel system

   Rusted fuel lines leaking near rear driver-side wheel

   • 217 complaints (31%)
   • median 98,000 mi at 9.9 yrs old (171 state mileage)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $825 (median of 18 quotes)
   • filed 2011–2026

   Owners describe a strong gasoline smell inside or outside the car, then finding a puddle or steady drip under the rear driver-side area, in front of or behind the rear tire. Several reports say the leak comes from metal fuel lines corroded where they pass a plastic retaining block or under a heat shield near the exhaust, and that the fuel line or a section of it had to be replaced, sometimes along with the vapor return line. Some owners say a dealer or mechanic quoted several hundred to over a thousand dollars for the repair, and some note their vehicle was not covered by the fuel-system campaign tied to certain states. Reported from as little as roughly 37,000 to 46,000 miles up to about 160,000 miles, often noticed when the car is parked after driving and in vehicles driven in areas that see road salt.

   Recall 12V4590001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Look for a gasoline smell and any staining or dampness on the metal lines above and in front of the rear driver-side tire, especially near the plastic retaining blocks and heat shielding. Ask whether the fuel lines have ever been replaced and whether the car was registered in a state covered by the fuel-system campaign.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The fuel lines have corroded causing a hazardous gas leak by the fuel tank which could have caused a severe fire and or explosion while driving. I noticed a gas smell in the vehicle when parked and upon further investigation recognized a gas drip by the the corroded fuel lines and gas traveling down the lines from the leak. Thankfully I noticed this before a fire would have occurred. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11389527, filed 2021-01, 70,000 miles

   “In my 2009 chevy Cobalt, I recently noticed a very strong gas smell when getting out of my car after a short trip. Yesterday, after I backed the car out of the garage to install a new car seat for my one year old son, I noticed the smell again and noticed a large puddle of gas dripping at a pretty fast pace. After investigating, I noticed it coming from a section of rusted fuel line near rear driver side tire. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11343154, filed 2020-08, 132,881 miles
2. 2
   Steering

   Power steering assist cuts out; wheel becomes hard to turn

   • 183 complaints (26%)
   • median 60,500 mi at 5.4 yrs old (170 state mileage)
   • 21 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,100 (median of 7 quotes)
   • filed 2009–2025

   Owners report the wheel suddenly becoming very difficult to turn, often with a power steering warning message on the instrument panel, and sometimes the assist returns after switching the car off and restarting. Reports come at low speeds while parking or reversing and at highway speeds, and a few describe shaking or stalling around the same time. Some owners were told the electric power steering motor or module needed replacement, while others say a dealer checked the VIN and said the steering campaign did not apply. Spread from under 2,000 miles to about 150,000 miles, at both parking-lot and highway speeds, sometimes intermittently.

   Recall 10V073000

   What to check: During a test drive, note whether the power steering warning message appears and whether the wheel effort changes; ask whether the steering assist recall was completed and whether the steering motor or module has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated while driving at 45 MPH, the power steering ceased and became difficult to turn. The warning message power steering was displayed on the instrument panel. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer to be diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 69,438.”

   NHTSA complaint #11315687, filed 2020-03, 69,438 miles

   “The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated that while his wife was reversing the steering wheel became inoperable. The power steering warning light was illuminated. The contact drove the vehicle to his residence. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 142,993.”

   NHTSA complaint #11421612, filed 2021-06, 142,993 miles
3. 3
   Electrical system

   No-start, stall and warning-light electrical faults

   • 229 complaints (32%)
   • median 76,500 mi at 6.3 yrs old (202 state mileage)
   • 23 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $920 (median of 10 quotes)
   • filed 2009–2025

   Owners describe the car failing to start or cranking without firing, sometimes only after being driven and then restarted while still warm, and one report notes a security or theft warning light along with the key stuck in the ignition and door locks and windows not working. Others mention the engine shutting off while driving, a check engine light, and diagnosis pointing to sensors or the fuel level circuit. Some say a dealer could not reproduce the problem or found no stored cause. Mostly reported between about 85,000 and 160,000 miles, often after a short stop with the engine still warm.

   Recall 14V171000Recall 09V0730003 related service bulletins

   What to check: Start the car cold, drive it, shut it off and restart it while warm to see whether it catches normally. Ask whether any ignition-switch or shifter recalls were completed and whether the battery, starter and grounds have been checked.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “No start issue. Battery and alternator good. Wont start after it's been driven for about 1 hour. When you turn car off it won't start until it cools down. I have not been able to go anywhere because it won't start when I come out of store st shop again. New starter put in and won't start. They are going to keep looking”

   NHTSA complaint #11385500, filed 2020-12, 88,600 miles

   “The vehicle overheated and shutdown while traversing rt 287 near boonton at speeds around 65. I coasted off an exit and came to a stop at park ave and wootton st. While I was waiting for my vehicle to cool down so I could either fix/continue driving, it had become apparent that the engine compartment had started to combust. Noticeable by the sound of the fire. That left me rushing to empty out the vehicle of belongings in the middle of the road before the vehicle completely engulfed into flames. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11327186, filed 2020-06, 140,000 miles
4. 4
   Air bags

   Airbag warning message and non-deployment reports

   • 61 complaints (9%)
   • median 76,000 mi at 6.0 yrs old (50 state mileage)
   • 24 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2009–2024

   Owners report a service airbag message or airbag warning light appearing on the dash, sometimes only when starting the car or when turning, and sometimes going away after a restart. A few say a dealer could not find the cause, and one owner reports that the airbags did not deploy in a collision. Others mention intermittent clicking noises near the passenger airbag area. Reported from roughly 33,000 to 129,000 miles, with several owners noting the message appears more in colder temperatures or while turning.

   Recall 14V047000

   What to check: With the ignition on, confirm the airbag warning light goes out after the bulb check, and ask whether the airbag-related recall was performed on this vehicle.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Service airbag message comes on with warning light mostly in colder temperatures and when turning the vehicle. This is random and does not occur all the time. Happens when just starting the vehicle and also when in motion and turning. Dealership is unable to find an issue.”

   NHTSA complaint #11395514, filed 2021-02, 129,000 miles

   “When turning the car on there is a message on the dash saying service air bag. But if you turn it off and on it is gone. It could be a short in the system or something really wrong.”

   NHTSA complaint #11297965, filed 2020-01, 53,234 miles

Buying note. Have a shop inspect the metal fuel lines above the rear driver-side wheel and check whether the steering and airbag campaigns were completed for the VIN before buying. A test drive that includes a warm restart and some low-speed turning will show whether steering assist and starting behave normally.

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.