Head-to-head reliability
Chevrolet Cobalt vs FORD F 150
How the Chevrolet Cobalt and FORD F 150 compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records
Chevrolet Cobalt vs FORD F 150: The Cobalt has a higher complaint rate (1327.7 per year) with critical steering and air bag failures, while the F-150 has a lower rate (1131.1 per year) but suffers from transmission issues. The Cobalt has 49 deaths reported, compared to 1 for the F-150. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Chevrolet Cobalt or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Chevrolet Cobalt
The Chevrolet Cobalt is a compact sedan that, in ownership terms, has a serious reliability problem centered on its electric power steering. Owners report sudden loss of power steering assist at speed, sometimes accompanied by brake failure, which can make the car difficult to control. The high complaint volume and multiple recalls for the ignition and air bags suggest that even basic safety systems may be compromised. Living with a Cobalt means dealing with unpredictable steering and potential fuel leaks, making it a risky choice for a first-time buyer.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup that, in ownership terms, has a notable transmission issue, particularly with the 10-speed automatic. Owners describe hard shifts, jerking, and occasional loss of power, which can be alarming and potentially dangerous in traffic. The truck also has a high number of recalls, but many relate to lighting and other non-critical items. Overall, the F-150's problems are more concentrated in the drivetrain, but they are still significant enough to warrant careful inspection before purchase.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Chevrolet Cobalt | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 7,966 Better | 11,311 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 35 Better | 145 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 566 | 328 Better |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 1327.7 | 1131.1 Better |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 545 | 287 Better |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 49 | 1 Better |
Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall records.
What actually goes wrong
The problems owners report
The most-complained-about systems on each vehicle — what fails, and what owners say in their own words.
Chevrolet Cobalt
- 01STEERING3,894
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1,474
- 03FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM1,116
- 04AIR BAGS622
- 05FUEL SYSTEM494
Owners report sudden loss of power steering assist while driving, often at highway speeds, requiring extra effort to steer. This can happen without warning and is a major safety concern.
Electrical failures are common, sometimes causing the power steering and brakes to become inoperable simultaneously. Owners also report issues with fuel gauges dropping rapidly and other electrical gremlins.
Fuel pumps fail repeatedly, leading to hard starts, stalling, and a strong gas smell due to leaks. These issues can be both inconvenient and dangerous.
There are reports of air bags not deploying in crashes, which is critical because it directly affects occupant safety. This is often linked to the ignition switch recall.
“The contact owns a 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated while driving 55 MPH, the power steering and brakes became inoperable. The driver was able to coast to the side of the road. The check engine warning light was illuminated after the failure. The veh…”
“The contact's daughter owns a 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the power steering assist failed to operate as needed. There was no warning light illuminated. Due to the failure, extra effort was needed to steer t…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,553
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,071
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,401
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,164
- 05ENGINE847
The 10-speed automatic transmission is a major source of complaints, with owners experiencing hard shifts, jerking, and clunking between gears. Some report sudden loss of power and vehicle shutdown, which is dangerous in traffic.
Electrical issues manifest as warning lights for front camera malfunction and pre-collision assist not available, appearing every time the truck is started. These can be persistent and may affect safety features.
Headlight problems are common, with recalls issued for this area. Owners may experience dim or malfunctioning headlights, reducing visibility at night.
Engine-related complaints are less frequent but still present, with some owners reporting issues that could lead to stalling or reduced performance.
“I started noticing hard and delayed shifts from 7th into 8th gear. My RPM's were not increasing when this happened, and then on a very crowded major road I lost all power, vehicle shut off and drifted, then started up and jerked again very hard. This failure…”
“I am reporting a safety-related transmission problem I experienced with my 2020 Ford F-150 equipped with the 10R80 automatic transmission. While driving normally, the transmission shifts hard (ie: jerks, clunks) between 4-5 and 5-6 gears, and has on occasion…”
Official recalls
Safety recalls on record
Federal recall campaigns — the defect, the risk, and the fix. Confirm any open recall was completed before you buy.
Chevrolet Cobalt — 35 recalls
The defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2005-2010 Chevrolet Cobalt, 2006-2011 Chevrolet HHR, 2007-2010 Pontiac G5, 2006-2010 Pontiac Solstice, 2003-2007 Saturn Ion, and 2007-2010 Saturn Sky vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the key can be removed from the ignition when the ignitio…
The risk: If the key can be removed from the ignition when the ignition is not in the "off" position, the vehicle could roll away: (a) for an automatic transmission, if the transmission is not in the "Park" position; or (b) for a manual transmission…
The fix: General Motors will notify owners, and for vehicles that were built with the defective ignition cylinder and have not previously had the ignition cylinder replaced with the redesigned part, dealers will replace the ignition cylinder and cu…
The defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2004-2006 and 2008-2009 Chevrolet Malibu, 2004-2006 Malibu Maxx, 2009-2010 HHR (non-turbo), 2010 Cobalt, 2008-2009 Saturn Aura and 2004-2007 Ion, and 2005-2009 Pontiac G6. In the affected vehicles, there may be a sudden loss of electric power…
The risk: If power steering assist is lost, greater driver effort would be required to steer the vehicle at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will perform one of four bulletins. Parts are not currently available. GM expects to send an interim notification around May 28, 2014. When parts are available, owners will be mailed a second letter to co…
The defect: This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency o…
The risk: If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ignition switch, free of charge. An interim notification was issued to owners of 2007 and earlier models on March 10, 2014, informing them of the safety defect. Owners of 2008 and later v…
The defect: UCI-FRAM Group is recalling certain LS1328 ignition Switches sold as Wells LS1328, Duralast LS1328, Airtex 1S6097, and Carquest 53-27479, and LS1497 Ignition Switches sold as Wells LS1497, Duralast LS1497, Airtex 1S10961, and Carquest 53-27967, for use on various General Motors model and model year…
The risk: If the ignition switch moves from the run position to accessory, the car would stall and the air bags will not deploy in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of personal injury to the occupants.
The fix: UCI-FRAM Group has notified its purchasers to quarantine and return all inventory. Any switches already installed in vehicles will be replaced by GM dealers as part of NHTSA recall 14V-047, free of charge. UCI-Fram's purchasers should cont…
FORD F 150 — 145 recalls
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 F-150 trucks equipped with high series LED headlamps with Autolamp (On/Off) functionality. The Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) may remain activated instead of dimming to parking lamps when the Master Lighting Switch (MLS) is manually rotated from…
The risk: DRL that cannot dim may reduce the visibility of other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the body control module, free of charge. The recall began March 10, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20C03.
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2019-2020 F-150 vehicles. The fastener securing the Power Distribution Box (PDB) 12V cable and Battery Monitoring System (BMS) eyelets to the positive battery terminal may loosen and affect the vehicle's systems such as instrument panel displays and br…
The risk: Inoperative vehicle systems or an engine stall can increase the risk of a crash. Reduced braking and steering efforts increases the risk of a crash. This condition could also create a resistive short, increasing the risk of a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the positive battery cable/BMS/PDB joint for excess sealant adhesive and remove any excessive adhesive, reassemble the joint, and retorque the fastener, as necessary, free of charge. The re…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Ford F-150 and 2017-2019 Ford F-250 Super Duty, F-350 Super Duty, F-450 Super Duty, and F-550 Super Duty pick-up trucks equipped with an engine block heater. Water and contaminants may get into the block heater cable's splice connector causin…
The risk: When the heater is plugged in, prolonged corrosion could cause a resistive short, increasing the risk of overheated or melted wiring which can increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will disable the block heater cable, free of charge. Once parts are available, Dealers will replace the engine block heater cable, free of charge. The recall began June 3, 2019. Owners may contact Ford…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 F-150 and 2019-2020 F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 Super Duty pickup trucks, and 2018-2019 Ford Explorer, 2019-2020 Expedition, and 2020 Escape vehicles equipped with driver and/or passenger's manual front seat back recliner mechanisms. Also…
The risk: A seat back with an improperly assembled recliner mechanism may have reduced strength and may not adequately restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and Ford and Lincoln dealers will inspect the seat structure and replace them, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 21, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's num…
Buyer analysis
Chevrolet Cobalt or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Chevrolet Cobalt has a higher complaint rate per year (1327.7) compared to the Ford F-150 (1131.1), but the Cobalt's issues are more safety-critical, involving steering and air bags. The F-150's problems are mainly transmission-related, which can be costly but are less likely to cause a crash. In practice, the Cobalt poses a greater immediate risk to occupants.
Key differences
- The Cobalt has a much higher rate of steering failures, which can occur suddenly and without warning, while the F-150's main issue is harsh shifting.
- The Cobalt has a history of air bags not deploying in crashes, a critical safety defect, whereas the F-150's recalls are more about lighting and other non-critical items.
- The Cobalt's fuel system problems include repeated fuel pump failures and gas leaks, while the F-150's electrical issues are more about warning lights and sensor malfunctions.
- The F-150 has a higher total number of complaints but over a longer period, resulting in a lower per-year rate, but its transmission problems can be expensive to fix.
- Test the power steering at various speeds, especially on the highway, to ensure it doesn't cut out.
- Check for any signs of fuel leaks, such as a gas smell, and have the fuel pump and sensor inspected.
- Test drive the truck and pay attention to how the transmission shifts, especially between 4th and 8th gears, for any hard shifts or jerking.
- Check the dashboard for any warning lights related to the front camera or pre-collision assist, and have the electrical system scanned for codes.
Before you buy
- For the Cobalt: have a mechanic inspect the power steering system and check for any pending recalls, especially the ignition switch.
- For the Cobalt: ask for service records related to fuel pump replacements and any air bag work.
- For the F-150: get a transmission fluid analysis and have the transmission computer checked for codes.
- For the F-150: verify that all recalls have been performed, especially those for headlights and the battery cable.
- For both: take the vehicle to a trusted mechanic for a pre-purchase inspection, focusing on the specific problem areas mentioned.
Check the actual car
Comparing models is smart. Checking the VIN is essential.
Brand averages tell you the trend. A VIN check tells you what's wrong with the specific Chevrolet Cobalt or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Chevrolet Cobalt vs FORD F 150
- Chevrolet Cobalt total complaints
- 7,966
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,311
- Chevrolet Cobalt total recalls
- 35
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 145
- Chevrolet Cobalt avg complaints/year
- 1327.7
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1131.1
- More reliable overall
- FORD F 150
- Chevrolet Cobalt top complaint area
- STEERING
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN