The most-reported Cobalt run is 1G1AK55F767 (2006 builds) with 73 complaints, 8.4× the typical run. Steering problems make up 43% of reports; 2006 is the worst model year at 9.7 complaints per run; NHTSA lists 11 recall campaigns for Cobalt model years 2005–2010.
Which build runs owners report most
A production run is the first 11 characters of the VIN: plant, model year, body and engine. The Chevrolet Cobalt has 761 of them on record. The five runs at the top of this table hold 5% of every Cobalt complaint on file.
| Production run (VIN 1–11) | Year | Complaints | Involved a crash | Fire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1G1AK55F767•••••• | 2006 | 5 | — | |
| 1G1AK55F067•••••• | 2006 | 2 | — | |
| 1G1AK55F867•••••• | 2006 | 1 | — | |
| 1G1AK55F567•••••• | 2006 | 6 | 2 | |
| 1G1AK55F667•••••• | 2006 | 5 | — | |
| 1G1AK52F357•••••• | 2005 | 1 | — | |
| 1G1AK55F967•••••• | 2006 | 5 | 1 | |
| 1G1AK55F267•••••• | 2006 | 2 | — | |
| 1G1AK52F657•••••• | 2005 | 8 | — | |
| 1G1AK55F367•••••• | 2006 | 2 | — | |
| 1G1AK55FX67•••••• | 2006 | 3 | — | |
| 1G1AK52F257•••••• | 2005 | 3 | — |
Each of the other 749 Cobalt runs has 54 complaints or fewer. ForCar has checked 22 Cobalt VINs so far, most often 2010, 2007, 2009 builds; 2 of them belong to one of the 12 runs above.
Which model years to check twice
Complaints per production run, so a year that simply sold more does not top the list. On the Chevrolet Cobalt the gap between build years is 2×: a 2006 car draws 9.7 complaints per run, a 2010 one 4.9.
| Year | Per run | Complaints | Runs | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 532 | 109 | 40 | |
| 2009 | 766 | 116 | 55 | |
| 2008 | 799 | 92 | 60 | |
| 2007 | 1290 | 150 | 92 | |
| 2006 | 1903 | 196 | 129 | |
| 2005 | 1309 | 144 | 79 |
Heaviest year here is 2006 at 9.7 complaints per run; lightest is 2010 at 4.9.
What to inspect on this car
One system accounts for 43% of everything Chevrolet Cobalt owners report: Steering, 3,183 of 6,599 complaints. Start the pre-purchase inspection there.
| System | Complaints | Involved a crash | Fire |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steering | 214 | 15 | |
| Electrical System | 72 | 16 | |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 3 | 17 | |
| Air Bags | 191 | 5 | |
| Fuel System | 5 | 3 | |
| Gasoline | 5 | 3 | |
| Service Brakes | 53 | 5 | |
| Power Train | 20 | 1 |
Recalls to check against your VIN
NHTSA has 11 recall campaigns on the Chevrolet Cobalt; the 6 below cover build years 2005 to 2010. These are for the model and year; whether one is still open on a given car, only that VIN can tell.
| Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|
| 14V171000 | Electrical System:ignition | 2005–2010 |
| 14V047000 | Air Bags | 2005–2010 |
| 14E021000 | Electrical System:ignition:switch | 2005–2010 |
| 10V073000 | Steering:electric Power Assist System | 2005–2010 |
| 12V459000 | Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump | 2007–2009 |
| 09V419000 | Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump | 2006–2007 |
14V171000 was opened in 2014 on cars built from 2005: 9 years on the road before the recall.
The Cobalt against its rivals
The Cobalt draws 8.7 complaints per production run; the Hyundai Tiburon 2.7. That is the highest rate of the 2.
| Model | Complaints | Runs | Per run | Involved a crash |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chevrolet Cobalt | 6,599 | 761 | 6.9% | |
| Hyundai Tiburon | 560 | 208 | 13.8% |
How serious were they
Of the 6,599 reports on the Chevrolet Cobalt, 6.9% involved a crash against 5.8% across all vehicles, above the norm.
| Outcome | Chevrolet Cobalt | All vehicles |
|---|---|---|
| Complaints filed | 6,599 | 1,115,966 |
| Involved a crash | 455 (6.9%) | 64,194 (5.8%) |
| Involved a fire | 59 (0.9%) | 26,974 (2.4%) |
| Injuries reported | 378 | 58,013 |
| Deaths reported | 34 | 2,728 |
You know what it is. Find out what it's worth.
- Exact value for this VIN, adjusted for mileage
- The original window sticker and factory options
- Full research report as a PDF you can hand to a mechanic
- Decode a whole list of VINs at once
- No ads, no tracking — and much more
How this check works
The file behind this page holds 1,115,966 complaints filed with NHTSA between 1981 and 2026, across 298,921 production runs. The Chevrolet Cobalt share of that is 6,599 complaints over 761 runs, 0.59% of everything on record.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check a Chevrolet Cobalt VIN for free?
Enter the 17 characters above. ForCar matches the first eleven, the production run, against 6,599 NHTSA complaints from 761 Cobalt runs and 11 recall campaigns. No account, no card.
Which Cobalt production run has the most complaints?
1G1AK55F767, a 2006 build, with 73 complaints, 5 of them after a crash. The typical Cobalt run has 8.7.
Which Cobalt years have the most complaints?
Per production run, 2006 is heaviest at 9.7 complaints per run and 2010 lightest at 4.9.
Does the Cobalt get more complaints than the Hyundai Tiburon?
Yes: 8.7 complaints per production run for the Cobalt against 2.7 for the Hyundai Tiburon.
How many Cobalt complaints involve a crash?
6.9% of 6,599 reports, against 5.8% across all vehicles; 59 involved a fire.
Mark ForCar as a preferred source and our data shows up first in your Google results. One click, no account.