Used Chevy Cobalt Buying Guide: Ignition Recall, SS Models and What to Check

A used Chevy Cobalt (2005-2010) can be a cheap, decent commuter or a genuinely quick turbo coupe, but don't buy one until a Chevy dealer or GM's recall lookup shows the ignition switch recall, 14V047, and the ignition cylinder recall, 14V171, as completed for that VIN. The switch defect could knock the key out of Run and leave the air bags unable to deploy. After that, the questions are the usual ones for a cheap old compact: the power steering recall, rust, and whether anyone ever changed the oil.

I ran every Cobalt model year through NHTSA's recall API on Saturday night, October 17, 2026, and went back to the compensation fund's final report and Car and Driver's tests. Fair warning: I'm skeptical of most Cobalt listings, because at this price a lot of them are fourth-owner cars with one key and no records.

What the Cobalt is

Car and Driver's 2008 Cobalt overview says it launched for 2005 as the Cavalier's replacement, sold as a coupe or sedan, front-wheel drive only. Base cars had a 148-hp 2.2-liter four, the Sport had a 171-hp 2.4, a five-speed manual was standard and a four-speed automatic was optional. C/D called it a "straight-C student." Curtain air bags and tire-pressure monitoring became standard for 2008, which is one reason I'd lean toward a 2008-2010 car. Pontiac sold a near twin, the G5, as a coupe only.

If you're cross-shopping GM compacts, the used Chevy Cruze guide covers the car that came next, and the used Chevy HHR guide covers the wagon that shares the same ignition recall headaches. The Pontiac G6 is the bigger GM sedan from the same years.

The SS is a different car

For 2008 Chevy replaced the earlier SS models (one naturally aspirated, one supercharged) with a single turbocharged SS. C/D's 2008 Cobalt SS test got 260 hp and 260 lb-ft from its 2.0-liter turbo, 55 hp more than the supercharged car, and a 5.7-second run to 60 mph. It praised the Brembo front calipers, launch control and "no-lift shift," and griped about the plain interior, wind noise, numb steering and a starter that sounds like forks in a disposal. Most SS cars have been driven like SS cars, so look for a clutch that slips, aftermarket tunes and track-day wear before you pay a premium.

The ignition switch recall, and why it still matters

NHTSA's record for 14V047 says GM notified the agency on February 10, 2014, recalling 619,122 2005-2007 Cobalts and 2007 G5s, then added other GM small cars. On March 27, 2014, it expanded to 2008-2010 Cobalts because the faulty switch may have been installed as a service replacement part. The defect: key ring weight or a jolt from the road could move the switch out of Run, shutting the engine off, and with the key out of Run the air bags might not deploy. Until the repair is done, the recall notice tells owners to carry only the ignition key, with nothing else on the ring.

This wasn't a paperwork recall. The compensation fund's final report (December 10, 2015) reviewed 4,343 claims, found 399 eligible, including 124 deaths, and offered $594.5 million in total. CBC's AP story says GM recalled 2.6 million small cars over it. Our GM ignition switch recall check goes deeper on proving the fix was done.

Other Cobalt recalls on file

• 14V171, 2005-2010: the key can come out when the ignition isn't Off, so the car can roll away. Dealers replace the cylinder and cut and, if needed, relearn two keys, so ask if both keys come with the car.
• 10V073, 2005-2010: sudden loss of electric power steering assist. Dealers replace the steering motor. 14V153 adds 2010 cars.
• 15V500, 2010: cars built January 4 to June 23, 2010, may have misrouted side-impact sensor wiring in the driver's door that can disable the driver's curtain air bag.
• 09V419 and 12V459: fuel pump campaigns for certain cars sold or registered in a few hot-weather states such as Arizona and Nevada.
• 14E021: aftermarket ignition switches sold under the Wells, Duralast, Airtex and Carquest names. If a previous owner did the switch at home with a parts-store switch, a "done" story may not mean much.

How to check one before you buy

Run the VIN on GM's recall lookup and our Chevy recall check by VIN post shows how to read it; open GM recalls are fixed free at Chevy dealers. Decode the VIN with NHTSA's vPIC tool or our Chevrolet VIN decoder guide to confirm the year, since the switch history differs between 2007 and 2008 cars. Search NMVTIS for salvage and junk brands too. Cheap cars get totaled and patched more often than people admit.

Then get a real history report, not a seller's photo of one, because a clean report for some other VIN fools plenty of people. CarVins is a licensed CARFAX and AutoCheck reseller and isn't affiliated with CARFAX, AutoCheck, Experian or GM. As of mid October 2026, expect around $5.50 for a guest report, about $4.50 as a member, or roughly $6.75 for both, compared with $39.99 to $44.99 or so at retail. Check the checkout total before you pay; it has the last word.

Sources

• Car and Driver: 2008 Cobalt and 2008 Cobalt SS test
• GM Ignition Compensation final report and CBC/AP, Aug. 24, 2015
• Recalls from api.nhtsa.gov, read Oct. 17, 2026