Chevrolet

Cobalt

Subcompact Cars · model years 2005 to 2010

Includes Cobalt, Cobalt Coupe and Cobalt Sedan as listed by the EPA.

See all 25 Cobalt trims All Chevrolet cars

The verdict

Worst year: 2005. complaints: 1649, about 2x this model's typical 824; recalls: 5, in line with this model's typical 5.

Year by year

Year by year summary for the Chevrolet Cobalt
Year	Trims	MPG	Fuel cost	Recalls	Complaints	Investigations	TSBs	Top complaints
2005	3Gas	24	$2,600	5	1,649	0	no data	STEERING 52%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 15%, POWER TRAIN 5%
complaints: 1649, about 2x this model's typical 824 recalls: 5, in line with this model's typical 5 deaths reported in NHTSA complaints: 11 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 72 complaints reporting a fire: 12 Score: 0 of 100, where higher is better.
2006	5Gas	24	$3,100	5	2,330	0	no data	STEERING 43%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 14%, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 9%
complaints: 2330, about 1.7x this model's typical 1374 recalls: 5, in line with this model's typical 5 deaths reported in NHTSA complaints: 8 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 196 complaints reporting a fire: 14 Score: 3 of 100, where higher is better.
2007	5Gas	24	$3,100	5	1,564	0	no data	STEERING 35%, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 14%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 14%
complaints: 1564, above this model's typical 1374 recalls: 5, in line with this model's typical 5 deaths reported in NHTSA complaints: 7 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 109 complaints reporting a fire: 16 Score: 20 of 100, where higher is better.
2008	5Gas	26	$2,950	4	845	0	no data	STEERING 28%, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 19%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 15%
complaints: 845, below this model's typical 1374 recalls: 4, below this model's typical 5 deaths reported in NHTSA complaints: 13 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 79 complaints reporting a fire: 14 Score: 32 of 100, where higher is better.
2009	3Gas	27	$2,300	5	710	0	no data	FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 25%, STEERING 23%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 17%
complaints: 710, below this model's typical 824 recalls: 5, in line with this model's typical 5 deaths reported in NHTSA complaints: 5 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 41 complaints reporting a fire: 7 Score: 27 of 100, where higher is better.
2010	4Gas	28	$2,225	5	574	1	976	STEERING 30%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 16%, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 13%
complaints: 574, below this model's typical 1099 recalls: 5, in line with this model's typical 5 deaths reported in NHTSA complaints: 4 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 45 complaints reporting a fire: 7 Score: 32 of 100, where higher is better. Theft rate: 2.2 per 1,000 produced (federal data, last published for 2014).

How the numbers moved

Combined MPG, median2005: 24 to 2010: 28

Owner complaints2005: 1,649 to 2010: 574

How we score each year

We compare each year of the Chevrolet Cobalt to the model's own typical numbers, not to other cars. A year reads solid when its recalls, owner complaints, and federal investigations sit at or below what is typical for this model, mixed when some of those numbers run above typical, and avoid when they run far above it. Deaths, reported fires, and an NHTSA advisory to park outside count against a year no matter what this model's baseline looks like.

A year is scored only when NHTSA has both complaint and recall counts for it. Complaint data often lags for the newest years, so a recent year can read not enough data even while its recall count already shows in the table. When the history is too thin, we say not enough data instead of guessing. Service bulletins are routine maintenance guidance from the manufacturer and do not lower a year's score.

Scores run 0 to 100, higher is better. Recall, complaint, and investigation figures come from NHTSA records. Fuel economy, fuel cost, and horsepower figures come from the EPA, shown as the median across the year's trims.

Information is gathered on a best-effort basis from public sources, may be incomplete or out of date, and is not purchasing or financial advice. Verify with the manufacturer or dealer before buying.