2010 Chevrolet Cobalt Airbags Problems
NHTSA lists 77 airbag complaints for the 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt, 13% of all complaints filed for the year, linked to 26 crashes, 27 injuries, and 1 fire. Two related recalls (14V047000 and 15V500000) cover ignition switch and side-impact sensor wiring issues tied to airbag non-deployment. Median mileage at failure is 67,000.
- Airbags complaints
- 77
- 13% of 574
- Crashes reported
- 26
- Fires reported
- 1
- Injuries reported
- 27
- Median mileage
- 67,000 mi
- Related recalls
- 2
Typical airbag symptoms owners report
- Airbags fail to deploy during frontal or rear-end collisions at moderate speeds, such as 40-45 mph.
- Airbags fail to deploy during rollover crashes after the vehicle veers off the road or flips.
- Owners report sudden loss of steering or vehicle control just before a crash in which airbags never activate.
- Some incidents involve a rollover following a swerve or road departure, with occupants trapped inside because doors would not open and airbags did not fire.
- One case involved a crash followed by fire after airbags failed to deploy, resulting in total loss of the vehicle.
When 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt airbag complaints were filed
First complaint Oct 30, 2010, latest Aug 15, 2026.
Airbags recalls for the 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt
- NHTSA 15V500000Aug 10, 2015Airbags59,474 vehicles
Air bags:side/window
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.
Risk: A disabled driver side roof-rail air bag will not deploy in the event of a crash necessitating deployment of that air bag, increasing the risk of injury to the driver.
Remedy: 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.
- NHTSA 14V047000Feb 10, 2014Airbags2,190,934 vehicles
Air bags
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 been used as service replacement parts on other vehicles, and as a result GM will be recalling certain model year 2008-2010 Chevrolet Cobalt, Saturn Sky, and Pontiac G5 and Solstice, and 2008-2011 Chevrolet HHR vehicles. The part numbers for the service parts are 10392423 (a/k/a ACDelco D1461F), 10392737, 15857948, 15854953, 15896640, and 25846762. This expansion represents an additional 823,788 vehicles.
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.
Remedy: 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 number for the vehicles that may have received the replacement parts is 14092. Note: Until the recall repairs have been performed, it is very important that customers remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the vehicle key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. Always wear your seatbelt.
Airbags complaints by Cobalt model year
Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.
Frequently asked questions
- How many airbag complaints does NHTSA have for the 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt?
- NHTSA lists 77 airbag-related complaints for the 2010 Cobalt, making up 13% of the 574 total complaints filed for this model year.
- Is there a recall related to airbags on the 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt?
- Yes. Recall 14V047000 covers an ignition switch defect that can affect airbag operation, and recall 15V500000 covers improperly routed side-impact sensor wiring.
- Do airbag complaints for the 2010 Cobalt involve crashes or injuries?
- Yes, the 77 airbag complaints are linked to 26 crashes, 27 injuries, and 1 fire, according to NHTSA data.
- At what mileage do airbag problems typically get reported on the 2010 Cobalt?
- The median mileage at failure for airbag complaints on the 2010 Cobalt is 67,000 miles.
- What do owners say happens when the airbags fail on the 2010 Cobalt?
- Owners describe airbags failing to deploy during frontal crashes, rear-end collisions, and rollovers, sometimes alongside loss of steering control.