AI Damage2016 Chevrolet Cobalt: common problems
The maker issued 124 service bulletins for this year. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 124
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Equipment | 0 | 0 | 43 |
| Engine and cooling | 0 | 0 | 35 |
| Wheels | 0 | 0 | 14 |
| Electrical system | 0 | 0 | 13 |
| Powertrain | 0 | 0 | 13 |
| Fuel system | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| Structure | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Tires | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Steering | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Suspension | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Engine | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Exterior lighting | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Service brakes | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Visibility | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Comparison
What to check before buying
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Wheels. Wheel runout, cracks, signs of a wheel strike.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- This PI provides Diagnostics tips on how the LIN bus works and how to diagnosis it
- This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into Technical Assistance
- PI to help diagnose A/C concern
- This preliminary information communicates information about how to determine if a wheel and tires size…
- This Preliminary information communicates the steps on how to save a GDS2 Session Log and upload to a…
This Preliminary information communicates the steps on how to save a GDS2 Session Log and upload to a Technical Assistance Case in CX Connect.
- This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have…
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have had multiple repair attempts that are being performed on customer’s vehicles that exhibit vibration conditions…
- New Vehicle Monitoring Programs Section in IVH
- This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have…
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have an intermittent no crank, no start, or start stall concern with the security light coming on. Technician may…
- This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about the use of…
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 terminated leads.
- This Preliminary information communicates a GM part number for reflective high temperature heat or…
This Preliminary information communicates a GM part number for reflective high temperature heat or insulating tape when repairing wiring harnesses.
- This Preliminary information communicates to dealers GM is working on a solution for outdated Apps
- This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about changing the tire…
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about changing the tire and wheel size on vehicles. General Motors will only support a tire calibration for tires that have been sized…
NHTSA lists 124 bulletins for this year; the 12 newest are shown here.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2016 Chevrolet Cobalt?
There are no owner complaints in the NHTSA data for this year; the data comes from 124 manufacturer service bulletins.
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2016 Chevrolet Cobalt?
NHTSA lists 124 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2016 Chevrolet Cobalt from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2016 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-04.