2010 Chevrolet Cobalt: won't start

Filed Aug 15, 2026 · Airbags · IA

Walked out to the car and the side air bags deployed and now it won't start. No power No accident. Drove it to the driveway and parked it. Now it won't start.

Filed May 16, 2023 · Engine, Fuel system · NJ

My car had a fuel pump go, then within MONTHS, another. We then dealt with the SAME problem symptomatically, and was told it was the fuel pump sensor. Within the last few weeks, I am having all the same issues-including the car intermittently not starting, gasoline leaking from the vehicle, both noticably missing from the gauge (i.e 1/8 tank less than night prior), odor of gas in the car, stalling out while driving and trying to start it, but also now dripping gas from the car. A new issue popped up, which is the dash light coming up saying "check gas cap". This past Thursday, my car wouldn't start again, and has not started since. It's concerning that the Chevy Cobalt has had recalls for the same exact problems, literally thousands of complaints that mirror mine- for every model year EXCEPT the 2010. It's also interesting that they also stopped producing the Cobalt entirely in 2010 too, but considering the amount of faults and issues I've seen documented in every year model it's not a shock. I'm concerned that despite the amount of complaints that include 2010 models, they were excluded from the recall and seeing that my situation is another one that won't be covered, fixed, or made right by GM is something that doesn't make sense. I have also seen, that in 2021 an investigation was launched specifically into this exact issue with the 2010, as well. I'm carless right now, with no answers from Chevy other than that it's not part of the recall, yet it's part of the problem. Something is VERY wrong here. It's shocking they wouldn't recall a vehicle knowing it's dripping gas, pooling gas, it's such a hazard for not only anyone driving them, but anyone driving near us or even PARKED near us. Please help do something! Also I have videos of my car dripping, 2 days prior to it not starting, if there is somewhere I could send those as well.

Filed May 8, 2022 · Fuel system · IN

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request: Noticed a gas smell in my garage for the past couple weeks and the car has been slow to start when sitting overnight. Was able to verify today a gas leak near the driver side rear wheel. Car would not start until I hit the gas pedal and got fuel to the engine, and the leak started again (was able to see drips on pavement) Car is available for inspection How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? Leaking fuel, fire hazard, fumes Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center: No Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others: No Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear: No lights or messages, but the gas smell in the garage has been going for a couple weeks.

Filed Jun 29, 2021 · Fuel system · MN

On 6/28/2021, my wife & I took our 2010 Chevy Cobalt Sedan 4 door into down to get some dinner. When we went out to the garage we smelled strong gas fumes which we thought was odd as our garage never smelled of strong gas fumes in the past. We got in the Cobalt & turned the key & it didn't start right away, it took a little bit for it to turn over which I thought was odd as we haven't experienced that before. We put the windows down as the inside of the car had a strong gas smell. There was no warning lights on the dashboard & no prior warning before this issue. Returned home parked car in garage, went back into garage & noticed even stronger smell of gas, looked under the car & noticed liquid under back driver side door which was gas dripping down onto the garage floor, I was nervous of the fumes collecting in the garage & potential fire hazard I put the car outside & placed a bucket under the car to catch the gas to stop it from dripping on the driveway. Also noticed the silver heat shield material was spongy feeling had liquid feel to it which I assume is gas as it was dripping right next to it? Looked on Google noticed other consumers having the same issue of gas dripping from the fuel line. Going to call a Chevy dealer to see what options are as I don't feel safe driving the car knowing its dripping gas & potentially collecting in the silver heat shield material. Chevy should issue a recall to repair the issue & prevent future safety hazard waiting to happen.

Filed Nov 30, 2019 · Engine · 177,000 miles · FL

I just bought this car..2010 chevy cobalt with 176,000 miles two weeks ago with all of the money that I had. I noticed that it had a dealers tag, but he wanted to meet me at a store and claimed that the car was perfect.day two it stalled & has continued to randomly stall & wouldn't start til the 3rd try. I tried, but it's impossible to contact the seller. Autozone said it had 17 codes, but could just be the c20? Sensor. Then last night it would start, accelerating to about 5 MPH,then stall & I had to have it towed home from a busy area, and now it won't turn over or start at all. Im a grandmother on my own with a part time job and have no money left for repairs or to start all over. I'm hoping there's a recall that could help.I don't know how to find this man as the title had another persons name on it, not that it would do any good.

Filed Oct 31, 2017 · Engine, Steering · 73,000 miles · MN

Was driving down the interstate at 75 MPH when all power to vehicle was lost and was able to pull over to side of road. Vehicle would not start engine would crank but not start. Vehicle had to be towed to mechanic, mechanic checked for problems could not locate problem after 6 hours working on it vehicle needed to be towed to dealer. Dealer said timing chain failed and caused extensive damage to vehicle and engine needs to be replaced. This is a major safety concern and caused have caused an crash with the sudden loss of power

Filed Apr 26, 2017 · MI

Car will not start takes hours to restart car. Car battery will not die die car will not start. Happens when car stops.

Filed Dec 11, 2015 · Electrical · 96,000 miles · DE

In december 2015, I pulled into a parking space and put my car in park, then turned my key back to leave the radio on but everything seemed to completely shut down. I tried to remove the key from the ignition but couldn't get it out. I tried to restart the car, but it wouldn't start. My key was stuck in the ignition. I googled the problem and read that the gearshift may appear to be in park, but is really in gear, locking the key. I couldn't move the gear forward any further but noticed the "reverse" gear was highlighted on the panel instead of "park". I saw that it was a recalled issue so I called the dealer and was told that tap hat issue had able easy been "fixed" in june 2014. I explained that my key was stuck and my gearshift appeared to be off kilter, and that it was listed as a different issue. Again, she rudely told me that had been fixed and that the problem must be something else and I'd have to pay $70.00 for the diagnostic. The problems I have with that are if it were "fixed", isn't there a chance it wasn't fixed properly (since obviously, it wasn't built properly the first time), and that having a chevy dealer do the diagnostic and possibly find that it is the same recall issue, would they really tell me that and "fix" it again, or would they tell me it's non-related and charge me for something else? I had it towed to a mechanic and it's currently being looked at.

Filed Jul 8, 2015 · Fuel system · 94,000 miles · CA · fire

Tl* the contact owns a 2010 chevrolet cobalt. The contact stated that the vehicle would not start. An independent mechanic inspected the vehicle. The mechanic stated that the connection to the fuel pump was melted. As a result the fuel tank was removed. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 94,000.

Filed Dec 7, 2014 · Driver assistance, Electrical · 72,792 miles · VA

Driving on the highway at 60 MPH when all electrical dashboard went down. First light to come on the vehicle was the security system light which was explained to me that your car is suppose to shut down if stolen then it went off after a few minutes. Once that light went off then the vehicle ABS, traction control lights came on and the vehicle could not pick up speed nor drove properly or safely. The vehicle cruise control also went off. Power steering light came on too. The vehicle lost power for ABS, traction control, cruise control and power steering. Once pulled over on side of the road the check engine light came on too. Tried to start driving the vehicle again to get it off the highway vehicle was difficult to drive couldn't reach speed very slow - did not drive properly. Safely pulled over again and shut vehicle off. Check engine light and other lights on dash stayed on. Could not get key out of ignition it stayed in the 2nd switch stuck (not running). Tow truck driver had to come and tow because vehicle wouldn't start nor would the key come out. Finally tow truck driver was able to get the key out of the ignition and towed it to a shop. Next day shop turned on the vehicle and could not find anything wrong. Dealer could not find anything wrong with electrical panel. Ran numerous test on vehicle including dealer driving vehicle and still nothing could be found. They say they can't fix anything because nothing is wrong with my car. Obviously there is something wrong with chevrolet vehicles and the electrical panels going down in which I lost all cruise control, traction control, ABS, electronic stability control and panic braking assist operation. Thankfully I was not in an accident and was able to pull off the highway safely.

Filed Apr 4, 2014 · Fuel system · 62,800 miles · FL

My car would not start so I had it towed to the dealership where I was told the fuel pump needed to be replaced. I later received a call advising that the value around the fuel pump had melted and they did not know why except something must have gotten to hot under the engine. Problem is this is connected with the fuel pump. I call in report and was told eventually engineers would investigate but there was there may or may not be a recall issued. If part melting under the hood that are connected with fuel pump doesn't demand a recall what will another death or fire. Come on gm, get real. Angry customer.

Filed Dec 31, 2010 · Brakes, Driver assistance · OH

I purchased the vehicle in february 2010 and I didn't start noticing problems till around summer but they were not that bad till september were the car started showing strange electrical and steering issue. I received the recall letter in october and had the power steering issue fixed but its still have issues were the vehicle will swerve back and forth in return I will have to keep my hands on the steering wheel to try to keep it from hitting other vehicles on the highway. Then the blower motor that blows the hot and cold air sometimes istatically revs up high and I have to turn of the heater. Also I have noticed that the brakes squeal and I only have 10,300 miles. I have also noticed that the needles on the gauges in the dash tend to twitch radically when I turn the vehicle off sometimes. Then at times the car when turned on will start to act as if it was to shut off and the lights would all dim and then it would stabilize. It has done that on the highway making steering difficult at times. The engine as well had made knocking noises to its been an off and on thing.