YearToAvoid

2010 Chevrolet Cobalt Engine Problems

NHTSA lists 54 engine complaints for the 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt, 9% of its 574 total complaints for the year. Median mileage at failure was 84,500 miles, with 2 crashes and 1 injury linked to this area. No recall is tied directly to the Engine category in this data.

Engine complaints
54
9% of 574
Crashes reported
2
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
1
Median mileage
84,500 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical engine symptoms owners report

  • Owners report sudden loss of power steering assist accompanied by a chime and an "power steering" warning message, sometimes while turning or making a U-turn.
  • Some describe the engine or ignition seizing while parking, with dealers unable to diagnose the issue.
  • Others report the engine cutting off entirely while driving at low speed or merging onto a highway, sometimes recurring multiple times in one trip.
  • Several complaints describe the vehicle triggering an "engine reduce power" warning light and losing speed suddenly at various speeds.
  • A few owners noted the shutdowns came with unrelated electrical symptoms like flickering gauges, door locks cycling, and airbag warning lights.

When 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt engine complaints were filed

First complaint Jan 10, 2011, latest Jan 17, 2024.

2010 Chevrolet Cobalt engine complaints: complaints filed per month4Jan 2011Mar 2014Sep 2014Mar 2016Dec 2016Aug 2018May 2020Jan 2024
54 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jan 2011 to Jan 2024; peak Mar 2014 (4).

Engine recalls for the 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Engine complaints by Cobalt model year

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

  1. 2005154 (9%)
  2. 2006171 (7%)
  3. 200796 (6%)
  4. 200864 (8%)
  5. 200964 (9%)
  6. 201054 (9%)
  7. 20110 (0%)
  8. 20120 (0%)
  9. 20160 (0%)
  10. 20170 (0%)

Frequently asked questions

How many engine complaints does the 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt have?
NHTSA lists 54 engine-related complaints for the 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt, which is 9% of the 574 total complaints filed for that model year.
At what mileage do engine problems typically show up?
The median mileage at failure for engine complaints on the 2010 Cobalt is 84,500 miles.
Is there a recall for the 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt engine problems?
The data on file shows no recall specifically tied to the Engine complaint category for the 2010 Cobalt.
Did these engine issues cause any crashes or injuries?
NHTSA data associated with this complaint area lists 2 crashes and 1 injury, with no fires reported.
What kind of engine failures do owners describe?
Owners describe sudden power steering loss, engines seizing while parking, unexpected shutdowns while driving, and "engine reduce power" warnings appearing at various speeds.

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.