2008 Chevrolet COBALT SS problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
95 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
16,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2008 model year. Data snapshot: . 85 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes, Hydraulic is the most frequently named component, appearing in 64 of 95 complaints (67.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 65 | 68.4% |
| Fuel system concerns | 5 | 5.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 2.1% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 2.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 2.1% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 1.1% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 64 |
| Service Brakes | 7 |
| Engine | 6 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 5 |
| Parking Brake | 5 |
| Unknown Or Other | 5 |
| Air Bags | 4 |
| Electrical System | 4 |
Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 64; Service Brakes: 7; Engine: 6; Fuel/Propulsion System: 5; Parking Brake: 5; Unknown Or Other: 5; Air Bags: 4; Electrical System: 4
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 60 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 8 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 10 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 5 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 60; 25,000 to 49,999: 8; 50,000 to 74,999: 10; 75,000 to 99,999: 5; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 1
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (60). 10 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2009 | 38 |
| 2010 | 27 |
| 2011 | 6 |
| 2012 | 5 |
| 2014 | 10 |
| 2015 | 3 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2018 | 2 |
2009: 38; 2010: 27; 2011: 6; 2012: 5; 2014: 10; 2015: 3; 2016: 1; 2017: 3; 2018: 2
Pattern summary
Service Brakes, Hydraulic leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 65 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 5 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10263799 · 2009-03-31 (March 31, 2009)
PREMATURE REAR BRAKE WEAR ON INSIDE BRAKE PADS, ROTORS SCORED FROM PAD FAILURE. FAULTY EQUIPMENT. GM WOULD NOT COVER UNDER WARRANTY AT ONLY 16,000MILES. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 16,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10263799 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10263925 · 2009-04-02 (April 2, 2009)
TERRIBLE PREMATURE WEAR OF REAR BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS ON 2008 CHEVROLET COBALT SS TURBOCHARGED WITH ROUGHLY 20,000 MILES... INSIDE PAD AND INWARD FACING SIDE OF ROTORS SHOW GREAT DAMAGE. VERY DEEP GAUGES TO INWARD SIDE OF BOTH REAR ROTORS. VERY COMMON PROBLEM ON ALL 2008-2009 COBALT SS TURBOCHARGED VEHICLES. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 20,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10263925 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10445766 · 2012-01-29 (January 29, 2012)
PURCHASED MY CHEVY COBALT ABOUT 7 MONTHS AGO WITH ABOUT 45000 MILES. JUST ROLLED OVER 50000 MILES WHEN STRONG GAS FUMES IN & OUT OF CAR. HAD AUTHORIZED MECHANIC.CHECK IT, HE SAID HE HAS SEEN THIS PROBLEM SEVERAL TIMES WITH THIS MAKE & MODEL. SAID IT IS THE FUEL SENDING/RETURN LINES CRACKED ON TOP OF FUEL PUMP. RESEARCHED & FOUND THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN KNOWN BY MANUFACTURER BACK TO 2005. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION, BUT CHEVROLET CO. WILL NOT RECALL. WHAT WILL IT TAKE FOR RECALL TO BE ISSUED, A CAR TO BLOW UP OR PERSON TO BE BURNED TO D…
Owner-reported narrative. 49,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10445766 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10466717 · 2012-07-20 (July 20, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET COBALT SS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE EMITTED A STRONG FUEL ODOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL GARAGE WHERE THE FAILURE WAS LOCATED AT THE FUEL PUMP. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 69,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10466717 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10283023 · 2009-09-06 (September 6, 2009)
THE REAR BRAKES ARE WEARING PREMATURELY. THE PADS HAVE DAMAGED(CREATE DEEP RUTS IN) THE ROTORS ON THE SURFACE. THE DEALER TOLD ME IT WAS NORMAL AND DID NOTHING. THIS WEAR STARTED WITHIN 5K MILES. THE CAR HAS A MANUAL TRANSMISSION AND I HARDLY USE THE BRAKES. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 6,018 miles reported. Look up ODI 10283023 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10893782 · 2016-08-07 (August 7, 2016)
REAR BRAKES WEAR THE PADS UNEVENLY AND SCRATCH THE ROTORS. COMMON PROBLEM THAT MOST 2008+ COBALT SS OWNERS EXPERIENCE. DUE TO THE FAULTY BRAKES, THE HAND BRAKE WILL OFTEN NOT WORK, WHICH IS A LARGE INCONVENIENCE IN A CAR THAT IS ONLY AVAILABLE WITH A MANUAL TRANSMISSION. THIS IS MOST NOTICEABLE WHEN TRYING TO PARK ON A HILL.
Owner-reported narrative. 67,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10893782 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10566895 · 2014-03-03 (March 3, 2014)
ON 10/2013, I WAS DRIVING ON THE 105 FWY GOING EASTBOUND AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MILES PER HOUR WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE VEHICLE STALLED AND I NO LONGER COULD ACCELERATE. EAST BOUND TRAFFIC WAS HEAVY AND CHP OFFICER HAD TO PARK BEHIND ME WITH HIS LIGHTS TO AVOID ME GETTING HIT BY OTHER VEHICLES, SINCE THERE WAS NO SAFETY LANE TO PULL OVER FOR BROKEN DOWN CARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO ONE OTHER PLACE BEFORE BEING TOWED TO PENSKE CHEVROLET, 18605 S STUDEBAKER RD., CERRITOS, CA 90703 THE FOLLOWING DAY. IN SHORT, I TOOK MY CAR BACK 3 DIFFERENT …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10566895 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10568897 · 2014-03-12 (March 12, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER STARTING THE ENGINE, THE DASHBOARD AND HEADLIGHTS BEGAN TO FLICKER BEFORE THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS LATER DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE ENGINE AND THE VEHICLE OPERATED NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND NO SOLUTION WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 90,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10568897 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10295861 · 2009-12-15 (December 15, 2009)
OWN A 2008 CHEVROLET COBALT. WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT 70 MPH AROUND A CURVE WHEN THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT AND THE POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON THE DASH. I CAME VERY CLOSE TO CRASHING BECAUSE OF THE DIFFICULTY OF STEERING. PULLED OVER AT NEXT EXIT AND COULD NOT FIND A POWER STEERING RESERVOIR OR ANYTHING. WHEN I TURNED THE CAR BACK ON IT WAS FINE. LOOKED THE PROBLEM UP ONLINE THIS MORNING AND FOUND SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE HAVING SAME PROBLEM. THEY TOOK THEIR CAR TO THE DEALER TO GET THE PROBLEM FIXED AND FOUND OUT THAT THE CAR HAS EL…
Owner-reported narrative. 6,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10295861 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10313460 · 2010-02-23 (February 23, 2010)
HELLO I HAVE A 2008 CHEVY COBALT SS AND I HAVE EXPERIENCED A BIG DEFECT WITH MY CAR, THE CAR ITSELF TURNED OFF AS IN ALL ELECTRICAL PARTS WENT OFF SUDDENLY WHILE THE CAR WAS IN MOTION THIS WAS REPORTED TO MY DEALERSHIP RIGHT AWAY SINCE THIS IS A LEASED BRAND NEW CAR, THE DEALERSHIP DID NOT RESPOND TO THE COMPLAINT IN ANYWAY, THE CAR HAS BEEN FIXED BUT STILL CONTINUES TO HAVE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS AND THE DEALERSHIP NOR THE MANUFACTURER WANT TO TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10313460 at NHTSA ↗