Recall 15V500 affects 59,474 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt vehicles for misrouted driver-door air bag wiring. Repair is free at any franchised Chevrolet dealer.
Chevrolet is recalling 59,474 2010 Cobalt vehicles because a driver-door side-impact sensor wiring harness was routed incorrectly, which can short and disable the driver side roof-rail air bag. If a crash requires that air bag, it will not deploy, which raises injury risk for the driver, and Chevrolet dealers will repair the wiring free of charge.
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What's wrong?
The side-impact sensor wiring harness in the 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt runs inside the driver side front door. It connects the side-impact sensor to the air bag control system, so the vehicle can read a side impact and command the driver side curtain air bag when that protection is needed.
In the affected Cobalts, the harness was routed incorrectly during assembly. That routing can let the wiring short electrically inside the door. When the short occurs, the system disables the driver side curtain air bag, which means that air bag will not deploy as intended in a side-impact crash.
The warning sign is the airbag warning light on the instrument panel. It stays on for that ignition cycle, then the condition can disappear on the next start and return later.
Who's affected?
| 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt | side air bag |
|---|---|
| Units affected | 59,474 |
Not every 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt is on the list. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific car is included.
What's the safety risk?
If the driver side roof-rail air bag is disabled, it will not deploy in a crash that needs that air bag, increasing injury risk to the driver. The airbag warning light stays on for that ignition cycle, and the condition can be intermittent between starts. Schedule the inspection soon. Repair is free at any franchised Chevrolet dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Chevrolet dealer to schedule the free driver-door side-impact sensor wiring inspection and repair.
- Bring the recall notice if Chevrolet mailed one. If not, reference recall number 15V500 when you call.
- Ask the dealer to confirm the wiring harness repair corrects the driver side curtain air bag concern before you pick up the vehicle.
- Call Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 with questions about scheduling or recall number 15075.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Chevrolet technician inspects the side impact sensor wiring in the driver's door and repairs the wiring harness if needed. The inspection, parts, and labor are free under the recall. If you've already paid for a related repair, GM's standard reimbursement plan covers eligible documented repairs completed on or before ten days after the owner mailing is completed, according to the plan submitted on May 20, 2015. Contact Chevrolet customer service with your repair paperwork to start the reimbursement request.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| August 5, 2015 | Dealer notification began |
|---|---|
| August 5, 2015 | Dealer notification ended |
| August 10, 2015 | NHTSA published the recall |
| August 26, 2015 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
| September 8, 2015 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 15V500?
Recall 15V500 covers 59,474 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt vehicles with a driver door side-impact sensor wiring harness routed incorrectly. That wiring fault can short and disable the driver side roof-rail air bag. Chevrolet dealers will inspect the wiring and make needed repairs for free.
What should I do if my 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific Cobalt is included in recall 15V500. If it is, contact a franchised Chevrolet dealer to schedule the driver door wiring inspection and repair. Reference recall number 15V500 or Chevrolet recall number 15075 when you call.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost. Chevrolet dealers will inspect the side-impact sensor wiring in the driver's door and make repairs as needed free of charge.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is that the driver side roof-rail air bag will not deploy in a crash that needs that air bag. That raises the risk of injury to the driver. The repair path is a free Chevrolet dealer inspection and wiring repair.
What if I bought my Chevrolet Cobalt used?
The recall follows the VIN, not the first owner. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt is included. If it is, a franchised Chevrolet dealer must perform the recall repair for free.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/15V500000 |
|---|---|
| Chevrolet customer service | 1-800-222-1020 |
| NHTSA recall # | 15V500 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 15V500000 |
Source documents
-
Download Misc. Document (PDF) - Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Quarterly Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 31, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →