2009 BMW 128I vs 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2009 BMW 128I | 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 26 | 710 |
| Recall campaigns | 6 | 5 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 91 | 1,005 |
| Investigations | 1 | 3 |
| Crash reports | 0 | 59 |
| Fire reports | 1 | 7 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 21–22 | 25–29 |
| Median reported incident mileage | — | 75,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | BMW 128I | Chevrolet Cobalt |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel/propulsion System | 1 | 226 |
| Steering | 0 | 206 |
| Electrical System | 5 | 151 |
| Air Bags | 10 | 72 |
| Engine | 5 | 39 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 0 | 36 |
| Power Train | 1 | 29 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 3 | 12 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Rust / corrosion | 0 | 61 |
| Stalling | 0 | 43 |
| Steering problems | 0 | 42 |
| Check engine light | 0 | 19 |
| Airbag warning light | 0 | 18 |
| Loss of power | 0 | 16 |
| Won’t start | 0 | 14 |
| Vibration / shaking | 0 | 13 |
2009 BMW 128I
2009 Chevrolet Cobalt
Compare all BMW 128I vs Chevrolet Cobalt years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.