Sell your 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt for cash

The 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt is a small car that came with a choice of 2.0L 4-cyl and 2.2L 4-cyl engines. At 17 years old, many are reaching the point where repairs cost more than the car is worth. Running or not, we'll make you an offer and tow it away for free.

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2009 Chevrolet Cobalt at a glance

Body styleSubcompact Cars
Engines2.0L 4-cyl, 2.2L 4-cyl (turbocharged versions available)
TransmissionsManual 5-spd, Automatic 4-spd
DriveFront-Wheel Drive
FuelRegular Gasoline
Fuel economy22–25 city / 30–37 highway / 25–30 combined MPG
EPA annual fuel cost$2,250–$2,700 a year (EPA estimate at current fuel prices, 15,000 miles)
Tailpipe CO₂296–355 grams per mile
Curb weight (NHTSA test vehicle)2,824 lb
Versions tested by EPA4 configurations: Cobalt, Cobalt XFE
Age17 years

Specs, fuel cost and emissions from the EPA's fueleconomy.gov data; weights from NHTSA crash-test records. Your car's exact equipment may differ.

What affects its junk value

  • Age: at 17 years old, most of a 2009 Cobalt's value comes from reusable parts and scrap metal, not resale.
  • Weight: NHTSA's crash-test 2009 Cobalt weighed 2,824 lb at curb weight. Scrap value is largely priced by weight, so this is a good starting point. See how scrap prices by weight work.
  • Catalytic converter: like all gas and diesel cars, it has a catalytic converter containing precious metals, one of the most valuable parts on a junk car. An offer assumes it's still in place. More on catalytic converters.
  • Recalls: NHTSA lists 5 recalls for the 2009 Cobalt. Open recalls don't stop you from selling or junking it.
  • Known problems: owners reported the most issues with the fuel/propulsion system, typically around 98,000 miles. If that's what failed on yours, it can still be sold as-is.

How junk car offers are calculated

2009 Chevrolet Cobalt recalls

NHTSA lists 5 safety recalls covering the 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt. Open recalls don't stop you from selling or junking the car, but check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which apply to yours.

Electrical SystemApr 2014 · NHTSA campaign 14V171000

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 ignition is not in the "Off" position.

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,

Air BagsFeb 2014 · NHTSA campaign 14V047000

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 on February 10, 2014 that they are…

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.

Fuel System, GasolineSep 2012 · NHTSA campaign 12V459000

General Motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2007 Chevrolet Equinox and Pontiac Torrent vehicles originally sold or currently registered in Arizona, California, Nevada, and Texas; model year 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt, Pontiac G5, and Saturn ION vehicles originally sold, or currently registered in, Arizona, California, Florida…

Risk: Fuel leakage in the presence of an ignition source may result in a fire.

SteeringMar 2010 · NHTSA campaign 10V073000

General motors is recalling certain model year 2005-2010 Chevrolet Cobalt and model year 2007-2010 pontiac g5 vehicles equipped with electric power steering. The driver may experience a sudden loss of power steering assist that could occur at any time while driving.

Risk: If power steering assist is lost, it would require greater driver effort at low vehicle speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.

Power TrainMar 2009 · NHTSA campaign 09V073000

General motors is recalling 276,729 my 2009 buick enclave, Chevrolet Cobalt, hhr, malibu, traverse, gmc acadia, pontiac g5, g6 and saturn aura and outlook passenger vehicles. These vehicles fail to comply with federal motor vehicles safety standard 102, "transmission shift position sequence, starter interlock, and transmission…

Risk: The driver may not be able to restart the vehicle and the vehicle could roll away after the driver has exited the vehicle, resulting in a possible crash without prior warning.

Common 2009 Cobalt problems

Owners have filed 710 complaints about the 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt with NHTSA. 59 reports involved a crash and 7 reports involved a fire. Owners reported 41 injuries.

Complaints are reports from owners and aren't verified by NHTSA. One complaint can list several components. Mileage is the median odometer reading owners reported for that component.

Most-reported components

  • Fuel/Propulsion System226
  • Steering194
  • Electrical System131
  • Air Bags69
  • Engine39
  • Fuel System, Gasoline28

Typical mileage when problems were reported

  • Fuel/Propulsion System98,000 mi
  • Steering61,000 mi
  • Electrical System55,000 mi
  • Air Bags84,000 mi
  • Engine90,000 mi
  • Fuel System, Gasoline94,000 mi

2009 Chevrolet Cobalt service bulletins

Manufacturers have filed 1,005 technical service bulletins and communications with NHTSA covering the 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt. These are repair instructions for known issues, not recalls.

Most common bulletin topics

  • Equipment153
  • Equipment136
  • Electrical System93
  • Engine and Engine Cooling53
  • Equipment47
  • Equipment Adaptive/Mobility41

Recent bulletins

  • OtherSep 2025 · 13598

    New Vehicle Monitoring Programs Section in IVH

  • Service Bulletin/Repair InstructionsAug 2025 · PIC5650M

    This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have an intermittent no crank, no start, or start stall concern with

  • Service Bulletin/Repair InstructionsJul 2025 · PIP5601C

    This PI communicates the requirement to provide a pico file to receive diagnostic assistance from TAC.

  • Service Bulletin/Repair InstructionsMay 2025 · PIT5074R

    This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about the use of J-35616-64B and Mini 50 terminal test probe, replacement terminals, and

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications (technical service bulletins).

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA opened 3 defect investigations covering the 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt.

Fuel/Propulsion SystemPE20011 · opened Jul 2020, closed Aug 2023

Fuel Line Leak

On July 5, 2020, the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) opened PE20-011 to investigate instances of metal fuel lines under the vehicle corroding and leaking fuel in model year (MY) 2008 through 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt and 2008 through 2009 Chevrolet HHR passenger cars manufactured by General Motors (GM). The metal fu

Unknown or OtherAQ10001 · opened Nov 2010, closed Dec 2015

Fleet Vehicle Recall Completion Audit

On November 18, 2010, NHTSA's Recall Management Division (RMD) opened an audit query (AQ10-001) to investigate recall remedy completion by rental car companies on safety recall campaigns.It was expected to provide the agency an indication of how completely and how quickly rental car fleets perform necessary recall-rela

SteeringPE10005 · opened Jan 2010, closed Jul 2010Led to recall 10V073000

Electric Power Steering Failure

In a March 1, 2010 letter, General Motors Corporation (GM) provided a defect information report to NHTSA regarding a problem that could result in sudden loss of power steering assist in certain model year (MY) 2005 through 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt and MY 2007 through 2010 Pontiac G5 vehicles equipped with electric power s

Other Chevrolet Cobalt years

‹ Sell a 2008 Cobalt · Sell a 2010 Cobalt › · All Chevrolet Cobalt years

Other 2009 Chevrolet models

Selling a 2009 Cobalt: questions

How much is a 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt worth for junk?

It depends on its condition, whether major parts like the engine, transmission and catalytic converter are still there, and current scrap and parts prices where you live. Its parts make up much of its value. Enter your ZIP code above for a free offer on your specific car.

Can I junk a 2009 Cobalt that doesn't run?

Yes. We buy 2009 Cobalts that don't start, were in an accident, failed inspection or have a blown engine or transmission. Towing is always free.

Can I sell a 2009 Cobalt with open recalls?

Yes. Open recalls don't prevent a junk sale. NHTSA lists 5 recalls for the 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt; you can check whether any are still open on yours with the VIN lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What paperwork do I need to sell my 2009 Cobalt?

Usually the title and a photo ID. Rules differ by state, including what to do with your plates and whether to file a notice of sale. Check our state-by-state car title guides for the official forms.

Before you sell

Sources

Data retrieved October 2026.

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