YearToAvoid

2009 Chevrolet Cobalt Electrical System Problems

NHTSA has 156 owner complaints about electrical problems in the 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt, 22% of all 710 complaints for this model year. That is #5 highest electrical complaint count among 10 Cobalt model years. These complaints report 8 crashes and 4 injuries. Median mileage at failure: 54,550 miles.

Electrical System complaints
156
22% of 710
Crashes reported
8
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
4
Median mileage
54,550 mi
Related recalls
1

When 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt electrical complaints were filed

First complaint Aug 1, 2009, latest Dec 21, 2024.

2009 Chevrolet Cobalt electrical system complaints: complaints filed per quarter352009 Q32011 Q32013 Q12014 Q32016 Q12018 Q22020 Q12024 Q2
156 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2009 Q3 to 2024 Q4; peak 2014 Q2 (35).

Electrical System recalls for the 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt

  1. NHTSA 14V171000Apr 10, 2014Electrical System2,191,014 vehicles

    Electrical system:ignition

    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.

    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.

    Remedy: 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 Motors at 1-800-222-1020, Pontiac owners at 1-800-762-2737, and Saturn owners at 1-800-553-6000. General Motors' number for this recall is 14113 for the ignition lock cylinder and key replacement, and 14133 for only key replacements. Note: Until a vehicle has been remedied, owners and operators are advised that when exiting, to be sure that the vehicle is in "Park," or in the case of a manual transmission, that the vehicle is in the "Reverse" position and the parking brake is engaged.

Electrical System complaints by Cobalt model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 2005341 (21%)
  2. 2006424 (18%)
  3. 2007289 (18%)
  4. 2008179 (21%)
  5. 2009156 (22%)
  6. 2010127 (22%)
  7. 20110 (0%)
  8. 20120 (0%)
  9. 20160 (0%)
  10. 20170 (0%)

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt have electrical problems?
NHTSA has 156 owner complaints about the electrical in the 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt, 22% of all complaints for this model year, including 8 that report a crash. Median mileage at failure is 54,550 miles.
Which Chevrolet Cobalt year has the most electrical complaints?
The 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt has the most electrical complaints (424), compared with 156 for the 2009.
Is there a electrical recall for the 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt?
Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign for the 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt concerns the electrical: 14V171000.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.