1996 Chevrolet Cobalt
Only 1 complaint on file — too few for a fair verdict.
This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.
Only 1 complaint on file — too few for a fair verdict. The data below is complete but unranked.
- Complaints
- 1
- Recalls
- 0
- Investigations
- 0
- Top problem
- —
Too few to rank
None on file
None on file
Not enough data
Complaints per year
1996: 1 complaint
View as data table
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 1996 | 1 |
| 2000 | 1 |
| 2002 | 2 |
| 2005 | 1,649 |
| 2006 | 2,330 |
| 2007 | 1,564 |
| 2008 | 845 |
| 2009 | 710 |
| 2010 | 574 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
Known problem areas
Only 1 complaint on file for this model year — too few to rank by share. Raw counts only, below.
Air bags
1 of 1 total report mentions: air bags, most commonly citing frontal.
Show complaint excerpts
Tl*the contact owns a 1996 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated that he noticed that the air bag warning light illuminated on the instrument control panel, indicating that the passenger side front air bag was inoperative.
NHTSA ODI report, 2009-08-28
Safety timeline
No recalls on file for this model year.
0 recalls · 0 investigations · oldest first
To check one car, enter its VIN on the NHTSA recall page. Check a VIN →
Buy-smart checklist
1996 Chevrolet Cobalt — pre-purchase inspection
Inspect
- Air bags: 1 report on file for this year.
Other years of this model
See all years ranked →FAQ
- Is the 1996 Chevrolet Cobalt reliable?
- There isn't enough NHTSA complaint data on file yet to give this model year a verdict.
- What are the most common problems with the 1996 Chevrolet Cobalt?
- The most-reported component is air bags, accounting for 100% of complaints on file.
- How many recalls does the 1996 Chevrolet Cobalt have?
- No recalls are on file for this model year.
Data updated 2026-10-31 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.