Head-to-head reliability
Chevrolet Cobalt vs Toyota Camry
How the Chevrolet Cobalt and Toyota Camry 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 Toyota Camry: The Cobalt has 7,966 complaints over 6 years (1,328/yr) with 49 deaths, while the Camry has 2,143 complaints over 10 years (214/yr) with 1 death. Steering failures dominate the Cobalt, whereas the Camry has more transmission and brake issues. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Chevrolet Cobalt or Toyota Camry more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Chevrolet Cobalt
The Chevrolet Cobalt, a compact sedan, shows a high complaint rate of about 1,328 per year over six years, with steering issues dominating at nearly half of all complaints. Owners frequently report sudden loss of power steering assist, making the car difficult to control, and some incidents involve simultaneous brake failure. Electrical problems, including fuel gauge malfunctions and ignition issues, are also common, along with fuel system leaks and air bag non-deployment in crashes. These patterns suggest a vehicle with significant safety-related reliability concerns that could affect daily usability and peace of mind.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry, a midsize sedan, has a much lower complaint rate of about 214 per year over ten years, with the most issues in the powertrain, engine, and brakes. Owners report transmission grinding and replacement needs, sudden acceleration incidents, and brake failures, though these are less frequent than Cobalt's steering issues. There are also complaints about air conditioning odors and condenser damage. Overall, the Camry appears more reliable, but it still has notable problems that buyers should be aware of.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Chevrolet Cobalt | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 7,966 | 2,143 Better |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 35 | 31 Better |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 566 | 181 Better |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 1327.7 | 214.3 Better |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 545 | 163 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 at speed, requiring extra effort to steer, sometimes with no warning light. This can make the vehicle hard to control and increases crash risk.
Electrical failures often accompany steering loss, and fuel gauges can drop rapidly or malfunction. These issues can leave drivers stranded or unaware of fuel levels, and may be linked to ignition switch problems.
Fuel pumps fail repeatedly, causing hard starts, intermittent stalling, and gas smells from leaks. This poses a fire hazard and can leave owners with costly repairs.
In several crashes, air bags failed to deploy, even in severe impacts, leading to injuries or deaths. This is a critical safety defect that undermines occupant protection.
“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…”
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN395
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER342
- 03ENGINE315
- 04SERVICE BRAKES290
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM246
Transmissions can make grinding noises and may need replacement, especially in newer models. This is a major expense and can affect drivability.
Some owners report sudden unintended acceleration, leading to crashes. Others have engine warning lights related to coolant valve issues, which may not be covered by recall for all VINs.
Brake failure has been reported, with no response when pressing the pedal, particularly on hills. This is a serious safety concern that requires immediate attention.
Electrical issues include air conditioning odors and condenser damage from rocks, which are unpleasant and costly to fix, though less critical than other problems.
“I turned into a restaurant’s parking lot, found a spot and slowly drove into the lot, I eased off the gas pedal and gently applying the brake as the lot has a slight downward slope. When I reach the chunk (the parking block), I added more force to the brake,…”
“Grinding noise coming from front end upon acceleration. Brought to dealership who confirmed noises coming from transmission. Transmission needs to be replaced per dealer recommendation. Recalls on 2021 Toyota Camry for same issue. Transmissions on backorder a…”
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…
Toyota Camry — 31 recalls
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Avalon, Avalon Hybrid, Corolla, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, RAV4, RAV4 Hybrid, Lexus ES350, Lexus RX350, Lexus RX450H, 2021 Sienna Hybrid, Lexus ES250, 2020-2022 Camry, Camry Hybrid, and ES300H vehicles. A short cir…
The risk: An air bag that does not deploy during a crash increases the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the sensor as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed in February 2024. Some final remedy owner letters were mailed October 31, 2024. Letters will continue…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Camry and Camry Hybrid vehicles. The second-row center and right-side seats may have insufficiently welded head restraint brackets. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle…
The risk: A head restraint bracket that is insufficiently welded may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the 60% rear seat-back frame sub-assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 19, 2024. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 24TB0…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023 Camry and Camry Hybrid vehicles. The lug nuts that attach the wheels to the vehicle may be loose, which can result in wheel detachment.
The risk: A wheel that detaches from a moving vehicle can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Dealers will inspect and tighten the lug nuts, and replace any damaged components, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Camry and Camry Hybrid vehicles. The second-row center and right-side seats may have insufficiently welded head restraint brackets. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle…
The risk: A head restraint bracket that is insufficiently welded may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the 60% rear seat-back frame sub-assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 19, 2024. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 24TB0…
Buyer analysis
Chevrolet Cobalt or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The Toyota Camry has far fewer complaints per year (214 vs. 1,328) and a lower rate of crash-related incidents, making it the more reliable choice. The Cobalt's steering and air bag failures are more frequent and severe, posing greater safety risks. In practice, the Camry is likely to require fewer major repairs and offer better peace of mind.
Key differences
- The Cobalt has a much higher complaint rate (1,328/yr) than the Camry (214/yr), indicating more frequent problems.
- Steering failure is the Cobalt's most common issue, with sudden loss of power assist, while the Camry's top issues are transmission and brake problems.
- Air bag non-deployment is a critical safety concern in the Cobalt, with multiple deaths reported, whereas the Camry has fewer air bag complaints.
- The Camry has more engine and powertrain issues, including sudden acceleration, but these are less frequent than the Cobalt's steering failures.
- Check for any open recalls, especially for ignition switch and power steering, and ensure they have been performed.
- Test the power steering at various speeds and listen for unusual noises; also inspect for fuel leaks and check the air bag system's readiness.
- Ask about transmission service history and test for any grinding or hesitation during acceleration.
- Inspect the brake system for any signs of failure, and check for any open recalls related to air bag sensors or other components.
Before you buy
- Obtain a vehicle history report and verify all recalls have been completed for both models.
- Have a trusted mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection, focusing on steering, brakes, and fuel system for the Cobalt, and transmission and engine for the Camry.
- Test drive both vehicles, including highway speeds, to feel for any steering or brake anomalies.
- Check for any NHTSA complaints or investigations related to the specific model year you are considering.
- Consider the cost of potential repairs: the Cobalt may have cheaper parts but more frequent issues, while the Camry may have higher repair costs but less frequent problems.
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 Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Chevrolet Cobalt vs Toyota Camry
- Chevrolet Cobalt total complaints
- 7,966
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,143
- Chevrolet Cobalt total recalls
- 35
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 31
- Chevrolet Cobalt avg complaints/year
- 1327.7
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 214.3
- More reliable overall
- Toyota Camry
- Chevrolet Cobalt top complaint area
- STEERING
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN