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2009 Chevrolet Cobalt Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 710 complaints with NHTSA about the 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt, most often about the fuel system (37% of complaints, typically around 97,500 miles). It is 5th of 12 Cobalt model years by number of complaints and has 5 recalls.
Most common 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt problems
Fuel system
261 complaints · 37%Half of these problems showed up before 97,500 miles. Parts named most often: delivery, storage.
The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated that the vehicle experienced intermittent electrical shorts and the temperature controls and power windows failed to work properly. The contact was unable to use the controls for the air conditioner and heater. In addition, the contact was unable to start…
The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated that while driving at any speed fuel fumes were emitted inside the vehicle. The contact inspected the vehicle and noticed a fuel leak. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who decided to replace the fuel pump. There was a recall under NHTSA…
Steering
206 complaints · 29%Half of these problems showed up before 59,000 miles. Parts named most often: electric power assist system, column, rack and pinion.
The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated that the power steering failed while driving at 70mph. The contact was able to pull over on the shoulder of the road, and turned the vehicle off for a few minutes. The power steering returned to normal function for a few minutes, and then continued to fail.…
Vehicle is making weird front end noises, knocking, rattles, shakes in the steering column, vibrations when driving on the driver side behind the steering wheel and in the floor, tires are making a noise when driving like something is hanging.
Electrical
151 complaints · 21%Half of these problems showed up before 54,000 miles. Parts named most often: ignition, instrument cluster/panel, 12v/24v/48v battery.
Tl contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact attempted to park and shut the vehicle off but the key could not be removed from the ignition. A mechanic arrived to disconnect the engine. The vehicle was towed to an authorized dealer who was diagnosing the problem. The current and failure mileages were…
Key is stuck in ignition in the on position. Car will not turn off. Had to disconnect the battery (while car is running) to turn off. Although support bulletin 10256 references this exact problem with 2009 cobalts, gm and dealer are saying that my car is not included in this and I have to pay to get fixed. The support…
Air bags
72 complaints · 10%Half of these problems showed up before 80,000 miles. Parts named most often: frontal, side/window.
My 2009 Cobalt began jerking when accelerating over the last few months and just 3 days ago, as I was driving down the road, my car stalls and won't turn back on. After looking at symptoms, it is very apparent that the fuel pump has gone out
Air bag light has been on for a long time .but I noticed a puddle of gas under car and had to take it in to get fixed I have read on here many problems with this same issue hopefuuly it will be a recall
Engine
51 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 85,000 miles. Parts named most often: engine, exhaust system, cooling system.
Overheat back in 2014 took in to dealer in richmond ca. Again car overheating told fine by dealer. Summer had to run heater for car to cool down when driving. Even after I put antifreeze in& fluids fine. Would not pass smog for 2016 tags, has 85,000 miles.p03000 random multiple cylinders misfired detected. Was then…
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. I had to spend all day at the dealership, then I had to take it back for the ignition switch recall. Next it was taken back for suspension problems and a cracked steering…
Transmission
29 complaints · 4%Half of these problems showed up before 64,000 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission, manual transmission, clutch assembly.
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…
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…
Other or unspecified
23 complaints · 3%Half of these problems showed up before 77,000 miles.
The key gets stuck in ignition when parking car and turning vehicle off pulling key out gets stuck have to wiggle it out got hit on driverside front end no airbags came out the time I got hit driver side. It was because I tried to stop and vehicle kept accelerating wouldn't stop
Unable to remove key from ignition. After placing the car in park and shutting it off. You can not remove the key from the ignition. You are unable to turn the ignition to the position to remove it. This has happened repeatly.
Brakes
20 complaints · 3%Half of these problems showed up before 35,500 miles. Parts named most often: foundation components.
The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated that while driving approximately 15 MPH, the contact attempted to decelerate and a loud squeaky noise emitted outside of the vehicle. The failure occurred whenever coming to a stop. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where the front brake pads…
This is the second time this issue has happened. The issue is when turning on an on-ramp that has sharp turning radius the car ABS system turns on and you lose control of the car. This also happens when you are already on a freeway that has a sweeping on ramp to another freeway the ABS starts to brake in the turn. I…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2009 Chevrolet Cobalt recalls
Electrical: ignition
Risk: 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; or (b) for a manual transmission, if the parking brake is not engaged and the transmission is not in the "reverse" position. This potential for rollaway increases the risk for a crash and occupant or pedestrian injuries.
Fix: General motors will notify owners, and for vehicles that were built with the defective ignition cylinder and have not previously had the ignition cylinder replaced with the redesigned part, dealers will replace the ignition cylinder and cut and, if necessary, re-learn two ignition/door keys for each vehicle. For vehicles that were built with the redesigned ignition cylinder or had the ignition cylinder replaced with the redesigned part, dealers will cut and, if necessary, re-learn two ignition/door keys for each vehicle. The recall began on april 18, 2014. Chevrolet owners may contact general
Full defect summary
General motors llc (gm) is recalling certain model year 2005-2010 chevrolet cobalt, 2006-2011 chevrolet hhr, 2007-2010 pontiac g5, 2006-2010 pontiac solstice, 2003-2007 saturn ion, and 2007-2010 saturn sky vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the key can be removed from the ignition when the ignition is not in the "off" position.
Air bags
Risk: 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.
Fix: Gm will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ignition switch, free of charge. An interim notification was issued to owners of 2007 and earlier models on march 10, 2014, informing them of the safety defect. Owners of 2008 and later vehicles will be mailed an interim letter on april 21, 2014. All affected owners will receive another letter once parts are available. The recall began on april 18, 2014. Owners may contact chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020, pontiac at 1-800-762-2737 or saturn at 1-800-553-6000. Gm's number for the initial recall is 13454 and 14063 for the expansion. Gmâs recall nu
Full defect summary
This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General motors llc (gm) notified the agency on february 10, 2014 that they are recalling 619,122 model year 2005-2007 chevrolet cobalt, and 2007 pontiac g5 vehicles. On february 25, 2014, gm increased the recall to include an additional 748,024 model year 2006-2007 chevrolet hhr and pontiac solstice vehicles and 2003-2007 saturn ion vehicles and 2007 saturn sky vehicles. 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. On march 27, 2014, gm notified the agency that the defective ignition switches may have be
Fuel system: fuel pump
Risk: Fuel leakage in the presence of an ignition source may result in a fire.
Fix: Gm will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. Notification to owners began on on november 21, 2012. Owners were instructed to not bring their vehicles in for repair until january 2013. Owners may contact general motors at 1-800-521-7300.
Full defect summary
General motors (gm) is recalling certain model year 2007 chevrolet equinox and pontiac torrent vehicles originally sold or currently registered in arizona, california, nevada, and texas; model year 2007 chevrolet cobalt, pontiac g5, and saturn ion vehicles originally sold, or currently registered in, arizona, california, florida, nevada, or texas; model year 2008 chevrolet cobalt and pontiac g5 vehicles originally sold, or currently registered in, arizona; and model year 2009 chevrolet cobalt and pontiac g5 vehicles originally sold, or currently registered in, arkansas, arizona, california, nevada, oklahoma, or texas. 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.
Steering: electric power assist system
Risk: If power steering assist is lost, it would require greater driver effort at low vehicle speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the electric power steering motor free of charge. Owners are being notified on a rolling basis between march 29 through november 2010. A copy of the mailing schedule is located in the recall file. Owners may contact chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438 and pontiac at 1-800-620-7668 or at the owner center at www.gmownercenter.com.
Full defect summary
General motors is recalling certain model year 2005-2010 chevrolet cobalt and model year 2007-2010 pontiac g5 vehicles equipped with electric power steering. The driver may experience a sudden loss of power steering assist that could occur at any time while driving.
Transmission: column shift
Risk: 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.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and ensure that the shift cable adjustment clip is fully engaged. In the event that the clip does not engage, the shift cable will be replaced free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on or before march 24, 2009. Owners may contact buick at 1-866-608-8080, chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438, gmc at 1-866-996-9463, pontiac at 1-800-620-7668 and saturn at 1-800-972-8876 or at www.gmownercenter.com.
Full defect summary
General motors is recalling 276,729 my 2009 buick enclave, chevrolet cobalt, hhr, malibu, traverse, gmc acadia, pontiac g5, g6 and saturn aura and outlook passenger vehicles. 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". 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".
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Fuel line leak
Summary
On july 5, 2020, the office of defects investigations (odi) opened pe20-011 to investigate instances of metal fuel lines under the vehicle corroding and leaking fuel in model year (my) 2008 through 2010 chevrolet cobalt and 2008 through 2009 chevrolet hhr passenger cars manufactured by general motors (gm). The metal fuel lines are corroding and leaking fuel in the area between the front and rear wheels on the driver's side of the vehicle before the muffler. Most consumers allege a fuel odor and/or an observable fuel leak that alerts them to the condition.the subject metal fuel lines have a protective age coating and, in the vicinity of the left rear wheel, are further wrapped in a foil heat
Fleet vehicle recall completion audit
Summary
On november 18, 2010, NHTSA's recall management division (rmd) opened an audit query (aq10-001) to investigate recall remedy completion by rental car companies on safety recall campaigns.it was expected to provide the agency an indication of how completely and how quickly rental car fleets perform necessary recall-related remedies on the vehicles owned and then rented/leased for use on the roadways.rmd queried three (3) major motor vehicle manufacturers (ford, chrysler, and general motors) and requested data regarding completion figures for fifteen (15) discreet safety recalls.analysis of this data demonstrated that rental car recalls completion was neither complete nor consistent.the rental
Electric power steering failure
Summary
In a march 1, 2010 letter, general motors corporation (gm) provided a defect information report to NHTSA regarding a problem that could result in sudden loss of power steering assist in certain model year (my) 2005 through 2010 chevrolet cobalt and my 2007 through 2010 pontiac g5 vehicles equipped with electric power steering (eps).the letter indicates that the loss of steering assist could occur at any time while driving and that, once assist is lost, a message is displayed on the driver information center (dic) and a chime sounds to inform the driver.the letter further states that steering control is maintained in manual mode, but would require greater driver effort at low vehicle speeds.i
Questions about the 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt
- What are the most common problems with the 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: fuel system (261 complaints, typically around 97,500 miles); steering (206 complaints, typically around 59,000 miles); electrical (151 complaints, typically around 54,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt have?
- 5 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from April 10, 2014 (electrical). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2009 a bad year for the Chevrolet Cobalt?
- It is 5th of 12 Cobalt model years by number of complaints, with 710 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.