Model year guide

2010 Chevrolet Cobalt

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 364 on record.

2010 Chevrolet Cobalt — representative photo
Representative photo · via Wikimedia Commons

2010 Chevrolet Cobalt at a glance

Safety recalls6
Owner complaints583
Combined28 mpg
Typical price$4,850

Free: specs, open recalls for that exact car, build sheet and fair price.

2010 Chevrolet Cobalt recalls 6

Electrical System:ignition NHTSA Campaign #14V171000 · 10/04/2014

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.

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 ea…

Steering:electric Power Assist System NHTSA Campaign #14V153000 · 31/03/2014

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2004-2006 and 2008-2009 Chevrolet Malibu, 2004-2006 Malibu Maxx, 2009-2010 HHR (non-turbo), 2010 Cobalt, 2008-2009 Saturn Aura and 2004-2007 Ion, and 2005-2009 Pontiac G6. In the affected vehicles, there may be a sudden loss of electric power steering (EPS) assist that could occur at any time while driving.

Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will perform one of four bulletins. Parts are not currently available. GM expects to send an interim notification around May 28, 2014. When parts are available, owners will be mailed a second letter to come in to have the applicable bulletin applied. Bulletin …

Air Bags NHTSA Campaign #14V047000 · 10/02/2014

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 vehicl…

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…

Electrical System:ignition:switch NHTSA Campaign #14E021000 · 30/04/2014

UCI-FRAM Group is recalling certain LS1328 ignition Switches sold as Wells LS1328, Duralast LS1328, Airtex 1S6097, and Carquest 53-27479, and LS1497 Ignition Switches sold as Wells LS1497, Duralast LS1497, Airtex 1S10961, and Carquest 53-27967, for use on various General Motors model and model year vehicles during repair and replacement of the original ignition switch. The weight on the key ring and/or road conditi…

Fix: UCI-FRAM Group has notified its purchasers to quarantine and return all inventory. Any switches already installed in vehicles will be replaced by GM dealers as part of NHTSA recall 14V-047, free of charge. UCI-Fram's purchasers should contact UCI-FRAM Group at 1-800-890-2075. GM vehicle owners r…

Air Bags:side/window NHTSA Campaign #15V500000 · 10/08/2015

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt vehicles manufactured January 4, 2010, to June 23, 2010. The affected vehicles may be equipped with an improperly routed Side-Impact Sensor (SIS) wiring harness in the driver side front door. The misrouted wiring harness could cause an electrical short that disables the driver side curtain air bag.

Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the sensor's wiring in the driver's door and make repairs as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on September 8, 2015. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 15075.

Steering:electric Power Assist System NHTSA Campaign #10V073000 · 03/03/2010

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.

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 O…

Source: U.S. NHTSA. A recall applies to a model year, but only a VIN check shows whether a specific car has had the repair done.

2010 Chevrolet Cobalt common problems

The most-reported problem areas from 583 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.

Fuel/propulsion System
Check for fuel or battery warnings, hard starts and stalling. On a hybrid/EV, confirm charging and range behave normally.
Steering
Steering should be tight and centered — no play, clunks or wandering. Test at low and highway speed; listen for power-steering whine.
Air Bags
Confirm the airbag light turns on then off at startup — if it stays lit there's a fault (costly, and a safety risk). Check for signs of prior deployment.
Electrical System
Test every electrical feature: windows, locks, infotainment, charging and all lights. Watch for flickering, dead accessories or warning lights.
Power Train
Drive through every gear: watch for slipping, hard or delayed shifts, and shudder. Check for transmission/driveline leaks and noises.
Structure
Inspect for rust, fresh undercoating, mismatched paint, uneven panel gaps and any sign of prior collision or frame repair.

2010 Chevrolet Cobalt safety ratings

Frontal crash★★★★★
Side crash★★★★★

Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), tested as the 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt 2-DR w/SAB. Ratings can differ by body style and drivetrain.

2010 Chevrolet Cobalt MPG & running costs

Combined28 mpg
City24 mpg
Highway34 mpg
Est. annual fuel cost$2,193

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov, averaged across trims.

What's a 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt worth?

Low
$2,900
Typical price
$4,850
High
$6,800

From 362 comparable 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt listings.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$10,965
Depreciation (5 yrs)$2,700
Total$13,665
Per mile$0.18

How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. Depreciation compares today's typical asking price for this model year ($4,850) with the same model 5 model-years older ($2,126), from CarLogs listing data. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.

2010 Chevrolet Cobalt trims & engines on record

Trims
LT · LS · 1LT · XFE · 2LT · SS · Internet Model
Engines
2.2L 4-cyl · 2.0L 4-cyl 260 hp

2010 Chevrolet Cobalt vehicles on record

Other Chevrolet Cobalt model years

2010 Chevrolet Cobalt — frequently asked questions

Does the 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt have any safety recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 6 safety recalls for the 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.

What are the most common problems with the 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt?

Based on 583 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are fuel/propulsion system, steering, air bags.

What is the 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt safety rating?

NHTSA gives the 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt crash-test ratings of frontal 4★, side 4★ (out of 5; this model year pre-dates NHTSA's overall score).

What gas mileage does the 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt get?

The U.S. EPA rates the 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt at about 28 mpg combined (24 city / 34 highway).

How much is a 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt worth?

Comparable 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt listings run roughly $2,900–$6,800, typically around $4,850 (from 362 vehicles).

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.