IllustrationTHE REAR BRAKE ROTORS ARE SHOWING DEEPER THAN NORMAL GROOVES AT LESS THAN 4000 MILES. PADS SHOWING PREMATURE WEAR. FRONT ROTORS ARE NICE AND SMOOTH. *TR
2009 Chevrolet Cobalt Ss
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Cobalt Ss years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
1330–25K
2325–50K
950–75K
675–100K
2100–150K
1150K+
174 reports with mileage · 16 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 133 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Parking Brake. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
8 crash reports2 fire reports3 injury reports
Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints
133 reportsI NOTICED THAT THE REAR BRAKE ROTORS WERE SLIGHTLY SCORED WHEN I GOT THE CAR FROM THE DEALERSHIP NEW, I DIDN'T THINK MUCH OF IT SINCE I WAS EXCITED TO GET THE CAR. THEY ALSO MAKE NOISE THEN APPLYING THE BRAKES. I'VE NOTICED TO THAT SOME TIMES AFTER DRIVING AND PARKING, I CAN SMELL BURNING BRAKE PAD MATERIAL. I CURRENTLY HAVE ABO…
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I NOTICED THAT THE REAR BRAKE ROTORS WERE SLIGHTLY SCORED WHEN I GOT THE CAR FROM THE DEALERSHIP NEW, I DIDN'T THINK MUCH OF IT SINCE I WAS EXCITED TO GET THE CAR. THEY ALSO MAKE NOISE THEN APPLYING THE BRAKES. I'VE NOTICED TO THAT SOME TIMES AFTER DRIVING AND PARKING, I CAN SMELL BURNING BRAKE PAD MATERIAL. I CURRENTLY HAVE ABOUT 2500 MILES ON THE CAR AND THE ROTORS HAVE SCORED MORE CONSIDERABLY. I BELIEVE THAT THE PADS AND ROTORS WON'T MAKE IT ANOTHER 2500 MILES WITHOUT BEING REPLACED. AFTER SEARCHING THE INTERNET I FOUND THAT OTHERS ARE HAVING THIS SAME ISSUE WITH THEIR CARS. THE CAR IS A 2009 CHEVROLET COBALT SS SEDAN. I FOUND THAT THIS ISSUE AFFECTS THE SS SEDAN AND SS COUPE ALIKE. IT WOULD BE NICE IF GM WOULD ISSUE A RECALL ON THIS, AS THIS COULD POSE A POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE DOWN THE ROAD. *TR
I NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE ROTORS WERE SLIGHTLY SCORED WHEN I GOT THE CAR FROM THE DEALERSHIP NEW, I DIDN'T THINK MUCH OF IT SINCE I WAS EXCITED TO GET THE CAR. THEY ALSO MAKE NOISE THEN APPLYING THE BRAKES. I'VE NOTICED TO THAT SOME TIMES AFTER DRIVING AND PARKING, I CAN SMELL BURNING BRAKE PAD MATERIAL. I CURRENTLY HAVE ABOUT 25…
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I NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE ROTORS WERE SLIGHTLY SCORED WHEN I GOT THE CAR FROM THE DEALERSHIP NEW, I DIDN'T THINK MUCH OF IT SINCE I WAS EXCITED TO GET THE CAR. THEY ALSO MAKE NOISE THEN APPLYING THE BRAKES. I'VE NOTICED TO THAT SOME TIMES AFTER DRIVING AND PARKING, I CAN SMELL BURNING BRAKE PAD MATERIAL. I CURRENTLY HAVE ABOUT 2500 MILES ON THE CAR AND BELIEVE THAT THE PADS AND ROTORS WON'T MAKE IT ANOTHER 2500 MILES WITHOUT BEING REPLACED. AFTER SEARCHING THE INTERNET I FOUND THAT OTHERS ARE HAVING THIS SAME ISSUE WITH THEIR CARS. THE CAR IS A 2009 CHEVROLET COBALT SS SEDAN. I FOUND THAT THIS ISSUE AFFECTS THE SS SEDAN AND SS COUPE ALIKE. IT WOULD BE NICE IF GM WOULD ISSUE A RECALL ON THIS, AS THIS COULD POSE A POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE DOWN THE ROAD. *TR
WELL, I PUT IN A COMPLAINT A WHILE AGO ABOUT THE REAR ROTORS WEARING FAIRLY QUICK. NOW THE ROTORS NEED TO BE COMPLETELY REPLACED. THE INSIDE PART OF THE ROTOR IS EXTREMELY DAMAGED AND NOW BRAKING DISTANCE IS NEARLY 1.5 TIMES GREATER THAN BEFORE. ITS DANGEROUS. *TR
REAR BRAKES ARE GROOVED, GRINDING, AND SQUEAKING. DO NOT STOP THE CAR WELL. *TR
MY COBALT SS T/C HAS 9000 MILES ON IT AND I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING A VERY LOUD SQUEAL COMING FROM THE FRONT BRAKES SINCE 5000 MILES. ROTORS WERE TURNED BY DEALERSHIP AND PADS REPLACED YET THE SQUEAL REMAINS. A SQUEAL SO LOUD IT CAN'T BE IGNORED YET GM STATES IN A BULLETIN RELEASED RECENTLY THAT THIS IS NORMAL FOR HIGH PERFORMANC…
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MY COBALT SS T/C HAS 9000 MILES ON IT AND I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING A VERY LOUD SQUEAL COMING FROM THE FRONT BRAKES SINCE 5000 MILES. ROTORS WERE TURNED BY DEALERSHIP AND PADS REPLACED YET THE SQUEAL REMAINS. A SQUEAL SO LOUD IT CAN'T BE IGNORED YET GM STATES IN A BULLETIN RELEASED RECENTLY THAT THIS IS NORMAL FOR HIGH PERFORMANCE BRAKES. GM NEEDS TO BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS OF THIS BRAKING SYSTEM IN RECENT MONTHS. THANK YOU *TR
REAR BRAKE PADS ARE NO GOOD AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. I HAVE 15XXX MILES AND I AM A VERY GOOD DRIVER AND NEVER HAVE ABUSE THE CAR. IT IS BEING REPLACED UNDER GM WARRANTY GM STATED THAT ALL COBALTS SS FROM 08-09 HAVE THIS PROBLEM. *TR
1) DAILY DRIVING, 90 PERCENT HIGHWAY, 10% CITY. NO ABNORMAL DRIVING LEADING TO SITUATION. 2) VERY PITTED AND WORN REAR DISC ROTORS, LOUD AND BECOMING DANGEROUS. 3) NEW ROTORS, AFTERMARKET, NEW PADS, AFTERMARKET. *TR
EXTREME REAR BRAKE PAD WEAR AND DAMAGED REAR BRAKE ROTORS AFTER ONLY 3,500 MILES. 2009 COBALT SS SEDAN. *TR
BRAKE PADS WEAR AT AN EXTRAORDINARY RATE. THEY HAVE ALSO GOUGED THE ROTORS. THIS IS ON A BRAND NEW 2009 CHEVY COBALT SS, LESS THAN 9000 MILES ON THE CAR (PURCHASED IN APRIL). THE BRAKES CONTINUALLY SQUEAK, AND HAVE DONE SO SINCE I PICKED UP THE CAR. THE DEALERSHIP EXPLAINED IT WAS A "BREAK-IN" PERIOD, BUT CLEARLY IT SHOULDN'T LA…
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BRAKE PADS WEAR AT AN EXTRAORDINARY RATE. THEY HAVE ALSO GOUGED THE ROTORS. THIS IS ON A BRAND NEW 2009 CHEVY COBALT SS, LESS THAN 9000 MILES ON THE CAR (PURCHASED IN APRIL). THE BRAKES CONTINUALLY SQUEAK, AND HAVE DONE SO SINCE I PICKED UP THE CAR. THE DEALERSHIP EXPLAINED IT WAS A "BREAK-IN" PERIOD, BUT CLEARLY IT SHOULDN'T LAST THIS LONG. THE SQUEALING, IN ADDITION TO BEING ANNOYING, MAY POSE A SAFETY RISK DUE TO THE ACCELERATED PACE AT WHICH THEY BRAKE SYSTEM WEARS. I NOTICED AFTER A CAR/WHEEL WASH, THE NOISE DISSIPATES, BUT RETURNS SOON THEREAFTER. I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE LONGEVITY OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM. *TR
Official recalls
0No recalls in this snapshot.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
2PE20011 · Fuel Line Leak
Opened Jul 5, 2020 · Closed Aug 17, 2023
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Fuel System, Gasoline; Fuel System, Other:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings; Fuel/propulsion System
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 shield. The AGE coating consists of an annealed zinc aluminum alloy metal coating with extended corrosion protection paint. Under certain conditions, water and corrosive road deicing agents may enter a crevice between the heat shield and the AGE coating. With extended environmental exposure in high corrosive environments, the AGE coating can degrade. If it degrades enough, the base metal lines may begin to corrode beneath the heat shield.Corrosion to the fuel lines may eventually cause a perforation to develop in the line, allowing fuel vapors to escape from between the line and the heat shield, emitting a fuel odor that will be detectable to the vehicle operator. If the corrosion progresses, fuel may begin to weep from the line. Further metal degradation due to corrosion could create a drip or a mist of fuel. If this occurs, vehicle owners may see drips, spots, or puddles on the ground near the rear portion of the vehicle, primarily along the driver's side rear wheel.The majority of allegations (85%) were reported for vehicles that are operated in the salt belt region of the United States. This area includes states in the Northeast, mid-Atlantic, and Midwest regions. Additionally, the average failure mileage in the subject vehicles is approximately 111,000 across all data sources.Considering the low manufacturer complaint/warranty rates of fuel line replacement, the fact that the majority of failures are concentrated in salt belt states, high failure mileages, as well as the field exposure time for the subject vehicles, and the highly detectable and progressive nature of this failure over time, the potential safety consequences of this issue are very low. To date, there have been no reported crashes, injuries, or fatalities related to this issue. There are two reported fires in ODI data and no reported fires in GM data. Both ODI reported fires were minor, occurred after the vehicle was parked, and were extinguished utilizing fire extinguishers.In view of the progressive failure occurring at high mileages, the age of the subject vehicles, the high detectability of the leak, and the majority of failures occurred in salt belt states, this Preliminary Evaluation is closed. The agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by new circumstances.Review the ODI reports cited above at nhtsa.gov under the attached identification numbers.
Additional source detail variants (3)
Fuel/propulsion System
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 shield. The AGE coating consists of an annealed zinc aluminum alloy metal coating with extended corrosion protection paint. Under certain conditions, water and corrosive road deicing agents may enter a crevice between the heat shield and the AGE coating. With extended environmental exposure in high corrosive environments, the AGE coating can degrade. If it degrades enough, the base metal lines may begin to corrode beneath the heat shield.Corrosion to the fuel lines may eventually cause a perforation to develop in the line, allowing fuel vapors to escape from between the line and the heat shield, emitting a fuel odor that will be detectable to the vehicle operator. If the corrosion progresses, fuel may begin to weep from the line. Further metal degradation due to corrosion could create a drip or a mist of fuel. If this occurs, vehicle owners may see drips, spots, or puddles on the ground near the rear portion of the vehicle, primarily along the driver's side rear wheel.The majority of allegations (85%) were reported for vehicles that are operated in the salt belt region of the United States. This area includes states in the Northeast, mid-Atlantic, and Midwest regions. Additionally, the average failure mileage in the subject vehicles is approximately 111,000 across all data sources.Considering the low manufacturer complaint/warranty rates of fuel line replacement, the fact that the majority of failures are concentrated in salt belt states, high failure mileages, as well as the field exposure time for the subject vehicles, and the highly detectable and progressive nature of this failure over time, the potential safety consequences of this issue are very low. To date, there have been no reported crashes, injuries, or fatalities related to this issue. There are two reported fires in ODI data and no reported fires in GM data. Both ODI reported fires were minor, occurred after the vehicle was parked, and were extinguished utilizing fire extinguishers.In view of the progressive failure occurring at high mileages, the age of the subject vehicles, the high detectability of the leak, and the majority of failures occurred in salt belt states, this Preliminary Evaluation is closed. The agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by new circumstances.Review the ODI reports cited above at nhtsa.gov under the attached identification numbers.
Fuel System, Gasoline
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 shield. The AGE coating consists of an annealed zinc aluminum alloy metal coating with extended corrosion protection paint. Under certain conditions, water and corrosive road deicing agents may enter a crevice between the heat shield and the AGE coating. With extended environmental exposure in high corrosive environments, the AGE coating can degrade. If it degrades enough, the base metal lines may begin to corrode beneath the heat shield.Corrosion to the fuel lines may eventually cause a perforation to develop in the line, allowing fuel vapors to escape from between the line and the heat shield, emitting a fuel odor that will be detectable to the vehicle operator. If the corrosion progresses, fuel may begin to weep from the line. Further metal degradation due to corrosion could create a drip or a mist of fuel. If this occurs, vehicle owners may see drips, spots, or puddles on the ground near the rear portion of the vehicle, primarily along the driver's side rear wheel.The majority of allegations (85%) were reported for vehicles that are operated in the salt belt region of the United States. This area includes states in the Northeast, mid-Atlantic, and Midwest regions. Additionally, the average failure mileage in the subject vehicles is approximately 111,000 across all data sources.Considering the low manufacturer complaint/warranty rates of fuel line replacement, the fact that the majority of failures are concentrated in salt belt states, high failure mileages, as well as the field exposure time for the subject vehicles, and the highly detectable and progressive nature of this failure over time, the potential safety consequences of this issue are very low. To date, there have been no reported crashes, injuries, or fatalities related to this issue. There are two reported fires in ODI data and no reported fires in GM data. Both ODI reported fires were minor, occurred after the vehicle was parked, and were extinguished utilizing fire extinguishers.In view of the progressive failure occurring at high mileages, the age of the subject vehicles, the high detectability of the leak, and the majority of failures occurred in salt belt states, this Preliminary Evaluation is closed. The agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by new circumstances.Review the ODI reports cited above at nhtsa.gov under the attached identification numbers.
Fuel System, Other:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
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 shield. The AGE coating consists of an annealed zinc aluminum alloy metal coating with extended corrosion protection paint. Under certain conditions, water and corrosive road deicing agents may enter a crevice between the heat shield and the AGE coating. With extended environmental exposure in high corrosive environments, the AGE coating can degrade. If it degrades enough, the base metal lines may begin to corrode beneath the heat shield.Corrosion to the fuel lines may eventually cause a perforation to develop in the line, allowing fuel vapors to escape from between the line and the heat shield, emitting a fuel odor that will be detectable to the vehicle operator. If the corrosion progresses, fuel may begin to weep from the line. Further metal degradation due to corrosion could create a drip or a mist of fuel. If this occurs, vehicle owners may see drips, spots, or puddles on the ground near the rear portion of the vehicle, primarily along the driver's side rear wheel.The majority of allegations (85%) were reported for vehicles that are operated in the salt belt region of the United States. This area includes states in the Northeast, mid-Atlantic, and Midwest regions. Additionally, the average failure mileage in the subject vehicles is approximately 111,000 across all data sources.Considering the low manufacturer complaint/warranty rates of fuel line replacement, the fact that the majority of failures are concentrated in salt belt states, high failure mileages, as well as the field exposure time for the subject vehicles, and the highly detectable and progressive nature of this failure over time, the potential safety consequences of this issue are very low. To date, there have been no reported crashes, injuries, or fatalities related to this issue. There are two reported fires in ODI data and no reported fires in GM data. Both ODI reported fires were minor, occurred after the vehicle was parked, and were extinguished utilizing fire extinguishers.In view of the progressive failure occurring at high mileages, the age of the subject vehicles, the high detectability of the leak, and the majority of failures occurred in salt belt states, this Preliminary Evaluation is closed. The agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by new circumstances.Review the ODI reports cited above at nhtsa.gov under the attached identification numbers.
PE10005 · Electric Power Steering Failure
Opened Jan 27, 2010 · Closed Jul 19, 2010
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering:electric Power Assist System
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.In the next ignition cycle, power assist is typically regained and the DIC message is no longer displayed.GM's letter identifies the root cause of the EPS failure as the EPS motor and indicates that production of a new motor started in December 2009.GM's recall repair procedure instructs dealers to replace the EPS motor in all recalled vehicles. ODI's analysis of all information available related to sudden loss of EPS assist while driving in the MY 2005 through 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt vehicles shows current complaint and warranty rates of 323/100,000 vehicles and 0.4% respectively.In response to ODI's request for information, GM identified 81 complaints where a crash was claimed that may be related to loss of EPS assist.ODI's analysis of all crash claims was based on verifiable factors such as; whether a loss of EPS was indicated at the time of the crash by a chime or malfunction indicator lamp or if a EPS related component malfunction was identified after the crash occurred.With this method ODI identified 36 possible crashes related to EPS failure.GM assessed crash claims based on the available facts and excluded crash claims that indicated that the vehicle was travelling at speeds in the range of 30 mph or greater.GM said that it believes if power assist is lost while a vehicle is moving at speeds in the range of 30 mph or greater there is a small difference in steering efforts perceived in subjective evaluations at those speeds and it is unlikely to lead to loss of vehicle control. Based on GM's safety recall, this investigation is closed.