1st (only) generation · GM Delta (GMX001) · 10,105 complaints, 8,138 with mileage
Owners filed 10,105 complaints with NHTSA about the 2005–2010 Chevrolet Cobalt, and 8,138 of them record the mileage at which the failure happened. That is enough to show not just what fails, but when.
Failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 43,000 and 100,000 miles. The median is 67,500 miles.
The most-reported areas are the steering (38.8% of complaints, typically around 60,000 miles), the electrical system (14.8% of complaints, typically around 68,000 miles), the fuel and propulsion system (10.9% of complaints, typically around 100,000 miles).
6 recall campaigns cover this generation.
| System | Complaints | Share | Typical mileage | Middle half |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steering | 3,920 | 38.8% | 60,000 | 42,000–88,000 |
| Electrical System | 1,491 | 14.8% | 68,000 | 41,022–100,000 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 1,105 | 10.9% | 100,000 | 74,000–127,000 |
| Air Bags | 613 | 6.1% | 70,000 | 40,900–100,000 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 503 | 5.0% | 75,000 | 52,000–101,000 |
| Power Train | 372 | 3.7% | 68,000 | 40,000–99,000 |
| Engine | 331 | 3.3% | 100,000 | 70,000–130,000 |
| Suspension | 222 | 2.2% | 47,197 | 25,500–68,902 |
| Unknown Or Other | 161 | 1.6% | 83,000 | 45,700–131,283 |
| Structure | 159 | 1.6% | 61,717 | 29,000–100,000 |
| Year | Complaints | With mileage |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 2,231 | 1,877 |
| 2006 | 3,056 | 2,469 |
| 2007 | 2,004 | 1,596 |
| 2008 | 1,104 | 857 |
| 2009 | 916 | 724 |
| 2010 | 794 | 615 |
Complaints about this generation are not spread evenly across the vehicle, and the systems that generate the most of them do not all fail at the same point in a car's life. The median failure across all systems here is 67,500 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.
The steering accounts for 38.8% of complaints (3,920 reports, 3,415 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 60,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 42,000 and 88,000 miles.
A single system taking 38.8% of all complaints is a concentration worth noting. It means that for this generation, most of what owners reported came back to one area of the car rather than being distributed across many small faults.
The electrical system accounts for 14.8% of complaints (1,491 reports, 1,069 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 68,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 41,022 and 100,000 miles.
The fuel and propulsion system accounts for 10.9% of complaints (1,105 reports, 855 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails late — a median of 100,000 miles, considerably beyond the vehicle's overall median. That pattern is consistent with normal service life rather than a defect, though it matters for anyone buying an example already near that mileage. The middle half of these reports falls between 74,000 and 127,000 miles.
The airbag system accounts for 6.1% of complaints (613 reports, 408 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 70,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 40,900 and 100,000 miles.
The fuel system accounts for 5.0% of complaints (503 reports, 414 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 75,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 52,000 and 101,000 miles.
The transmission and driveline accounts for 3.7% of complaints (372 reports, 320 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 68,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 40,000 and 99,000 miles.
Within this generation, complaint volume is not constant across model years. The 2006 model year drew the most — 3,056 complaints — while 2010 drew the fewest at 794. The median year sits at 1,554.
NHTSA records 6 recall campaigns covering vehicles in this generation. A recall means the manufacturer or the regulator concluded there was a safety defect or a standard was not met, and that a free remedy is owed to owners — including second and later owners.
The campaigns cluster around the airbag system (2), the steering (2), the electrical system (1). Repeated recalls against the same area of the car generally mean the first remedy did not fully resolve the underlying problem.
Recall status is specific to the individual vehicle, not the model. Checking a VIN against NHTSA's lookup is free and takes under a minute, and it is the only way to know whether a particular car has had the work done.
Of the 10,105 complaints filed against this generation, 884 reported a crash; 101 reported a fire; 872 reported an injury; 81 reported a fatality. Crash-involved reports represent 8.7% of the total.
These are owner-reported outcomes, not verified investigations, and they are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. They are included because the distinction between a fault that strands a car and a fault that causes a collision is the one that matters most, and it is not visible in a complaint count alone.
For a buyer, failures on this generation are spread rather than concentrated: the middle half falls between 43,000 and 100,000 miles, with a median of 67,500. There is no single mileage threshold to watch, which means condition and maintenance records are more informative than the odometer.
On inspection, the steering and the electrical system are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. The steering in particular shows a median failure mileage of 60,000, which gives a concrete number to compare against the odometer of any car you are considering.
None of this is a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on the individual car. Aggregate patterns describe a population; the example in front of you has its own history.
The ignition switch detent plunger and spring provide insufficient torque to hold the key in RUN. Knee contact with the key ring, a heavy key fob, or a rough road can rotate the key to ACCESSORY or OFF, shutting off the engine and with it power steering and power brake assist, and — critically — disabling the airbag system so it will not deploy in the ensuing crash. GM recall 14V-047 (February 2014) covered 2005-2010 Cobalt; NHTSA fined GM $35 million for concealing the defect for roughly a decade. Thirteen deaths were initially acknowledged; the victim compensation fund ultimately recognized 124.
Electric power steering (EPS) motor and torque sensor failure causing sudden total loss of steering assist at any speed, with steering effort spiking without warning. NHTSA recall 10V-073 (2010), expanded under 14V-153, covering roughly 1.3 million Cobalt and Pontiac G5 vehicles.
Ecotec timing chain stretch on the 2.2L and 2.4L, announced by a cold-start rattle and setting cam/crank correlation codes; often driven by excessive oil consumption and PCV-system oil carryover that lets the chain run dry.
| Campaign | Date | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 15V500000 | 2015-09-08 | Air Bags:Side/Window |
| 14V153000 | 2014-07-17 | Steering:Electric Power Assist System |
| 14V171000 | 2014-04-18 | Electrical System:Ignition |
| 14V047000 | 2014-04-18 | Air Bags |
| 12V459000 | 2013-01-01 | Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump |
| 10V073000 | 2010-03-29 | Steering:Electric Power Assist System |