The Good
The 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt offered a compelling value proposition. For practical buyers, it was an affordable and fuel-efficient commuter car. The availability of the SS trim catered to emotional buyers seeking sporty performance. It also provided reasonable comfort for its class and a relatively modern design compared to some competitors. While not known for stellar reliability, it was generally adequate for its price point.
The Bad
Known weaknesses of the 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt include potential issues with the ignition switch (subject to a recall), power steering motor failures, and reported problems with the paint quality leading to premature rusting. The interior materials were also considered low-quality compared to some rivals. Potential buyers should inspect for these issues before purchasing.
2009 Chevrolet Cobalt: Quick Overview
- Engine Options:
- 2.2L Ecotec Inline-4: (Base, LS, LT)
- 2.4L Ecotec Inline-4: (Sport, LT)
- 2.0L Supercharged Inline-4: (SS - Supercharged, produced before 2008)
- 2.0L Turbocharged Inline-4: (SS - Turbocharged)
- Horsepower:
- 2.2L: 155 hp
- 2.4L: 171 hp
- 2.0L Supercharged: 205 hp
- 2.0L Turbocharged: 260 hp
- Fuel Economy (estimated):
- 2.2L: 25 mpg city / 37 mpg highway
- 2.4L: 22 mpg city / 31 mpg highway
- 2.0L Turbocharged: 22 mpg city / 30 mpg highway
- 0-60 Times (estimated):
- 2.2L: 8.5 - 9.0 seconds
- 2.4L: 7.8 - 8.2 seconds
- 2.0L Turbocharged: 5.5 - 5.7 seconds
- Towing Capacity: Not recommended or rated for towing.
- Trim-Level Features:
- Base: Basic features like cloth seats, AM/FM radio, and manual windows.
- LS: Adds features like air conditioning, power windows and locks.
- LT: May include upgraded sound system, cruise control, and enhanced interior trim.
- Sport: (Available in some years) Enhanced styling and features.
- SS: (Super Sport) Performance-oriented with sport-tuned suspension, body kit, and more powerful engine (supercharged or turbocharged depending on the year). Bucket seats, performance gauges.
2009 Chevrolet Cobalt Specifications
Vehicle Information
| Year | 2009 |
| Make | Chevrolet |
| Model | Cobalt |
| Trim | - |
| Style | - |
| Type | LS W |
| Category | Compact Car |
Manufacturing Details
| Made In | United States |
| Manufacturing City | LORDSTOWN |
Dimensions
| Doors | 2-Door |
| Curb Weight | - |
| Gross Vehicle Weight Rating | - |
| Overall Height | - |
| Overall Length | - |
| Overall Width | - |
| Wheelbase Length | - |
| Standard Seating | - |
Engine & Performance
| Engine | LAP |
| Engine Size | 2.2L |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 |
| Transmission | 5-Speed Manual |
| Transmission Type | Manual |
| Transmission Speeds | 5-Speed |
| Drivetrain | Front-Wheel Drive |
Additional Features
| Anti-Brake System | - |
| Steering Type | - |
Pricing
| Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) | - |
| Invoice Price | - |
| Delivery Charges | - |
Vehicle History Report
Specifications
History
Events
History Check
Check
Check
Check
Check
Listings
Recalls
Check
Analysis
What Problems Does the 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt Have?
Long-term reliability concerns revolve around the aforementioned issues, plus potential problems with the air conditioning system and general wear and tear on suspension components. Earlier model years (2005-2007) were particularly affected by the ignition switch recall, but it's crucial to ensure that any 2009 Cobalt has had the recall work performed. Due to the age of the vehicle, expect general maintenance needs to increase, including potential repairs to the braking system, exhaust, and cooling system. Regular maintenance and addressing issues promptly can mitigate some of these long-term concerns.
How long will the 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt last?
Positive Owner Reviews
Negative Owner Reviews
What Technology & Safety Features are Included?
Safety features included standard front airbags, side-impact airbags (optional), and electronic stability control (ESC) was available on some models. Optional features could include remote keyless entry and power accessories. Crash test ratings from the IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) and NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) varied depending on the specific test and model year, but generally the Cobalt received acceptable, but not outstanding, ratings. It is advisable to check the specific crash test ratings for the 2009 model year on the IIHS and NHTSA websites. The availability of side airbags significantly improved side-impact crash protection. Overall, the Cobalt offered basic safety and technology for its time, but lagged behind more modern vehicles in these areas.
What Colors Options are Available?
Exterior Colors
Interior Colors
2009 Chevrolet Cobalt Prices and Market Value
2009 Chevrolet Cobalt Cost of Ownership
2009 Chevrolet Cobalt Fuel Efficiency
2009 Chevrolet Cobalt Safety Rating
NHTSA
2009 Chevrolet Cobalt Insurance
reasonable repair costs.
How Does the 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt Compare to Other LS W?
Feature-wise, the Cobalt was generally on par with its competitors, though some rivals offered more advanced technology. Price-wise, the Cobalt was often more affordable than the Civic and Corolla. In terms of similar alternatives, the Ford Focus offers a similar value proposition. Better alternatives, particularly in terms of long-term reliability and resale value, would be the Honda Civic or Toyota Corolla. If performance is a key concern, a well-maintained Mazda3 with a larger engine may be a more reliable alternative to the Cobalt SS, although at a potentially higher price point.
Ranks #1170 Sedan
| 1 | 2023 Toyota Camry | (5.0★) |
| 2 | 2023 Honda Accord | (0.0★) |
| 3 | 2023 Lexus ES | (0.0★) |
| 4 | 2024 Subaru Legacy | (5.0★) |
| 5 | 2022 Mazda MX-30 | (4.0★) |
| 6 | 2024 BMW M3 | (0.0★) |
| 7 | 2023 Ford Mustang | (5.0★) |
| 8 | 2023 Mercedes-Benz AMG GT | (0.0★) |
| 9 | 2023 Audi A3 | (0.0★) |
| 10 | 2023 Chevrolet Camaro | (5.0★) |
| 11 | 2023 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid | (0.0★) |
| 12 | 2023 Nissan Altima | (4.0★) |
| 1170 | 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt | (4.0★) |
Final Verdict: Is the 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt a Good LS W?
Josh on June 17, 2024
Good gas mileage but that's really all the positive IGood gas mileage but that's really all the positive I have. If.your much over 6dt your not gonna.be comfortable at all. The seats are junk. Hard as bricks. Electrical issues since I got it. Security system freaks.out if the battery gets low and requires reset.
The Cobalt Ranger on March 17, 2024
Take care of the engine and transmission and do reI bought a 2007 Chevy Cobalt LT with 89000 miles roughly every light you can think of on the dashboard was lit up to the guy just want to get rid of it so he sells me for 500 bucks I bought it cause my niece also had the same make and the same year but her car only had 79,000 mi but she didn't think it was I don't know fast enough or what the color maybe cuz hers was yellow so I bought it off her for $1,000 cause she had the money for the car that she wanted and she really didn't care about how much she could get maximum for her car so she said $1,000 I said so plus you know all the closing fees and all that so what I did was did an engine swap I did I'd say about 40% of the engine swap and my niece's husband did the other 60% and swap and it worked out perfectly the 2.2 ecotec engine that's it Chevy made was a very easy swap and they easy to work on and everything like that anyhow I drove that car from 79000 MI at the age of 20 to roughly 256,000 MI I never had a serious engine transmission breakdown I had to get a new exhaust because I hit a rock and it punctured a hole in my old exhaust so I had to buy a new one but I changed the oil on it every 3,000 miles with synthetic high mileage Pennzoil every 3k miles cuz that's what the handbook said I should ever see something on I should change the engine oil in my car I definitely spent more money in engine oil and filters cuz I do my own oil changes on all my vehicles held I think a little less than 5 quarts every time I just had to buy a 5 quart borrow a pennzo and oil filter change a couple of times and find out that this oil phone is better than anything and all that so it wasn't always the same but I never had an ending problem transmission problem or anything the car ran perfect for the time I had it until the time I saw it to buy a 2012 Toyota Camry I bought it was the most reliable midsize car and it was in my price range I basically paid $1,500 for the Cobalt couldn't tell you how much for the exhaust repair the brakes calipers the bigger meeting you in the car but I got $2,500 for the car from a guy I was asking for $3,000 because it never had a problem I told him everything about it he said no problem how about 2500 I said you got àdeal. We took the car to the thing to change ownership and all that other crap you know that cost a couple hundred dollars to do and that same day I went and picked up the Toyota Camry roughly 3 hours after I sold the Cobalt at 10:00 in the morning and I have not had any major issues with the Camry so far it has 179,000 MI no lights are on shifts good drives good can't complain just like I couldn't complain about the couple I still talk to the guy every now and again he still owns the car it has 393,000 MI I asked if he had any major issues except for you know normal stuff like changing the oil brake pads calipers stuff like that and he said nope he said it's been smooth never had a problem it's just right now I'm not driving it because I don't have a license cuz I ain't got a DUI in it but parade Chief and a compact car sure had a nice 393,000 MI no major breakdowns just your everyday upkeep I think I did pretty good for $1500 and I think he did pretty good for $2,500 I paid $7,500 for the camry and I just must be looking except I've had no music phones at either and I use it everyday for work and for if I need to go to the store or something like that but that's my story and that's why I give it a 5 out of five I've heard so many horror stories about to come off I think it's mainly because people don't keep the car correctly by you know changing the oil change in brake pads caliper struts all that stuff when they go to bed the reason my niece is cars agencies that was good she never changed the oil in it she drove it like 28,000 miles without ever changing oil in it and it seized up her engine that is but I had a good deal in the end.
MASTERMECH26 on August 30, 2023
GREAT CAR FOR THE PRICEPICKED UP ONE WITH 70,000 MILES .GREAT RUNNING CAR IT NOW HAS 174,000 MILES VERY RELIABLE CAR ALL I HAD DONE WAS CHANGE THE OIL AND WITH 1 MINOR PROBLEM ONE VTS GO BAD WITCH IS A TIMING SOL. PRICE 36.00 DOLLARS THATS IT CAR STILL RUNS GREAT.PASSED SMOG NO PROBLEM LAST WEEK
HarryMac on January 5, 2023
a real lemonCar had timing chain issues at 18,000, both front axial bearings at 20,000, engine light came on and off at 12,000 and eventually service engine came on due to improperly installed piston that was cracked from original install, car was built in a delaware factory. GM never made good on it, I'll never buy another gm.
Ashley on May 26, 2022
Great affordable but reliable carI bought my 2009 Chevy cobalt at 52,000 km for $4,600 in 2014. This car was bought to replace my 2002 Volkswagen Jetta (I would never ever by volkswagen again nothing but expensive problems). The cobalt was a manual transmission, very basic model. It was a fantastic car for me, and the car treated me well. Affordable and never any major expensive fixes needing to be done. Regular maintenance and oil changes every 5000km or 3 months (which ever is sooner) will keep this car reliable for you. Only issue I had with mine was rusting on the drivers side door that I should of dealt with sooner (I live in a very cold climate of Canada where the weather is terrible on vehicles). 10/10 would recommend. I wish I could buy this car new today. Unfortunately someone ended up side swiping me and ultimately writing the car off at 210,000 km. I think the car would of lasted even a few more years. Great car if you’re not picky and needing all the bells and whistles of a fancy car. For a small car was even good on cargo space, we took it camping many times and it was just fine for couples camping.
Wanda Briggs on April 9, 2022
Very very reliable car it does very well gas mileaI have had the car a year and I am very happy with it have had to do very little to it a very efficient car on gas and drivability I am very pleased
Brandones on June 5, 2021
Good cheap first car and is reliableGood cheap car and is reliable but upon further inspection you can tell its cheap as far as everything on the interior goes but as far as just being a daily driver and getting decent gas mileage it's a good little car, definitely has its pros and cons.
Isabellarain on August 19, 2020
Definitely a great first carThis was my first car I’ve had it for over 2 years and I’m sad to see it go honestly this car has gotten me through EVERYTHING and never broke down or left me stranded, I’ve always taken care of it I just need something bigger and more realistic for my dogs.
Tallcarguy on July 6, 2020
Most reliable car I’ve ownedFor the year it is really a reliable car, great for college kids, it is a daily driver, recommended to anyone needing a reliable form of transportation.
Jimmybean on July 2, 2020
The Best car Ive HadThis car is a great car for any purpose its cheap. it gets good mpg its looks good its fast its overall the best car for the money.
Eugene S
Eugene is an automotive enthusiast with over 15 years of experience in the used car market. As a writer at VINCheck.info, he brings deep industry insight and a passion for cars, helping readers make smart, informed decisions. Eugene has written hundreds of used car reviews and is known for breaking down complex automotive topics into clear, actionable advice. Over the years, he has driven and worked on a wide range of vehicles—starting with tuning street cars in his early days and eventually focusing on performance upgrades and reliability improvements. Today, he specializes in evaluating used vehicles through the lens of real-world ownership and enthusiast needs. A longtime fan of Porsche, Eugene especially appreciates vehicles that blend durability with driving enjoyment.