2008 Chevrolet COBALT problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
845 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
75,374 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2008 model year. Data snapshot: . 676 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Steering is the most frequently named component, appearing in 296 of 845 complaints (35.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 314 | 37.2% |
| Fuel system concerns | 141 | 16.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 79 | 9.3% |
| Braking behavior | 48 | 5.7% |
| Engine operation | 38 | 4.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 29 | 3.4% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Steering | 296 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 202 |
| Electrical System | 152 |
| Air Bags | 91 |
| Engine | 36 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 33 |
| Suspension | 22 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 21 |
Steering: 296; Fuel/Propulsion System: 202; Electrical System: 152; Air Bags: 91; Engine: 36; Fuel System, Gasoline: 33; Suspension: 22; Vehicle Speed Control: 21
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 80 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 119 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 131 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 131 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 155 |
| 150,000 and above | 60 |
Under 25,000: 80; 25,000 to 49,999: 119; 50,000 to 74,999: 131; 75,000 to 99,999: 131; 100,000 to 149,999: 155; 150,000 and above: 60
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (155). 169 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 |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 8 |
| 2009 | 25 |
| 2010 | 92 |
| 2011 | 55 |
| 2012 | 78 |
| 2013 | 42 |
| 2014 | 146 |
| 2015 | 80 |
| 2016 | 61 |
| 2017 | 56 |
| 2018 | 51 |
| 2019 | 42 |
| 2020 | 39 |
| 2021 | 34 |
| 2022 | 13 |
| 2023 | 12 |
| 2024 | 5 |
| 2025 | 4 |
| 2026 | 2 |
2008: 8; 2009: 25; 2010: 92; 2011: 55; 2012: 78; 2013: 42; 2014: 146; 2015: 80; 2016: 61; 2017: 56; 2018: 51; 2019: 42; 2020: 39; 2021: 34; 2022: 13; 2023: 12; 2024: 5; 2025: 4; 2026: 2
Pattern summary
Steering leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 314 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 141 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 79 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 10246004 · 2008-10-18 (October 18, 2008)
DRIVING IN TRAFFIC AND MY POWER STEERING FAILED. THERE IS NO POWER STEERING FLUID TO CHECK IN THESE CARS AND IT COST $600 JUST FOR THE PART NOT INCLUDING LABOR. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 85,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10246004 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10246534 · 2008-10-23 (October 23, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET COBALT. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, THE POWER STEERING FAILS AND THE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATES. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING COMPONENT WAS BURNED. THROUGH ONLINE RESEARCH, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ON THE STEERING. THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THEY STATED THAT THE REPAIR WOULD COST APPROXIMATELY $12,000. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 63,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 63,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10246534 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10259123 · 2009-02-17 (February 17, 2009)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET COBALT. WHEN THE CONTACT PARKED THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE WOULD NOT TURN OFF. THE KEYS WOULD NOT REMOVE FROM THE IGNITION. THE CONTACT HAD TO REMOVE THE FUSE FROM THE FUEL PUMP IN ORDER TO SHUT OFF THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPAIRED THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 25,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10259123 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10331126 · 2010-05-19 (May 19, 2010)
FEAR THIS ISSUE COULD HAVE LEAD TO ELECTRICAL FIRE IF THIS WAS SOME KIND OF SHORT IN THE UNDER HOOD FUSE CENTER. CAR PURCHASED NEW IN JUNE 2008. MILEAGE: 56,09423 MONTHS OLD. CAR WOULD CRANK, BUT WOULD NOT START. WOULD CONTINUE TO CRANK FOR SHORT TIME AFTER KEY TURNED OFF. TRIED FOR 15 MINUTES, FINALLY STARTED. DROVE TO DEALER AND LEFT FOR SERVICE. DEALER DIAGNOSIS, INTERMITTENT NO FUEL PRESSURE TO FUEL PUMP. FUEL PUMP CHECKED, OK AT THIS TIME. GM ADVISED DEALER TO INSPECT AND CLEAN BODY GROUND. REPAIR COST LABOR, SUPPLIES, TAX:…
Owner-reported narrative. 56,094 miles reported. Look up ODI 10331126 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10286836 · 2009-10-08 (October 8, 2009)
I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 45 MPH AND SUDDENLY THE IT WAS HARD TO STEER AND THE WORDS POWER STEERING POPPED UP ON MY DASH. THERE WAS LOTS OF TRAFFIC. IT WAS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE FOR ME TO TURN LEFT AND RIGHT. I TURNED THE CAR OFF ONCE I GOT HOME FOR ABOUT TWENTY MINUTES AND I STARTED IT UP AND TOOK IT AROUND THE BLOCK, NOT EVEN ONE MINUTE OF STARTING IT POWER STEERING FLASHED ON MY DASH. I HAVE HAD 2 OTHER ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR THIS WILL BE MY 3RD TIME TAKING IT INTO THE DEALER FOR SOMETHING ELECTRICAL. MY WARRANTY ENDED AT 30,000 IT CURRENTL…
Owner-reported narrative. 30,060 miles reported. Look up ODI 10286836 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10310515 · 2010-02-15 (February 15, 2010)
CAR ALARM WENT OFF WHILE PARKED AND LOCKED. NO APPARENT REASON WHY IT WAS GOING OFF. IT DID THIS SEVERAL TIMES THAT DAY. AT TIMES, I WILL LOCK THE VEHICLE ONLY TO COME OUT AND SEE THAT IT IS UNLOCKED. I HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE REMOTE KEY FOB. I REPLACED THE BATTERY AND NOT MUCH CHANGED. ALSO, ON THIS VEHICLE, I NOTICED THAT WHEN I PUT THE CAR INTO PARK,THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OFF. WHEN THE ENGINE WAS SHUT OFF THE LIGHTS WENT OUT IMMEDIATELY INSTEAD OF STAYING ON FOR A COUPLE OF MINUTES LIKE THEY ARE SUPPOSED TOO. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 18,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10310515 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10252285 · 2008-12-19 (December 19, 2008)
I OWN A 2008 CHEVROLET COBALT LT SEDAN, BEEN HAVING SEVERAL PROBLEMS RELATING TO THE BRAKING SYSTEM IN THE CAR. THERE IS A STRONG PULSATION FROM THE BRAKES, SQUEALING, AND THE BRAKES LOCK UP AND PULL TO THE LEFT EASILY. WHILE BRAKING ON THE HIGHWAY THE BRAKES LOCKED UP AND THE CAR WENT INTO A SKID, GM CAN NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR AFTER 6 REPAIR ATTEMPTS AND THEREFORE CAN'T FIX IT. I WAS RECENTLY TOLD BY DEALER, I WOULD JUST HAVE TO LIVE WITH IT. THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE AND IM NOT "JUST LIVING WITH IT" AFTER DOING M…
Owner-reported narrative. 6,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10252285 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10273792 · 2009-06-15 (June 15, 2009)
I OWN A 2008 CHEVROLET COBALT LT SEDAN, BEEN HAVING SEVERAL PROBLEMS RELATING TO THE BRAKING SYSTEM IN THE CAR. THERE IS A STRONG PULSATION FROM THE BRAKES. WAS TOLD THIS WAS NORMAL, BUT NOT QUITE SURE SINCE OTHER COBALT OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME. HAVE NOT BEEN TO GM TO HAVE IT CHECKED, BUT WAS TOLD OVER THE PHONE THAT WAS NORMAL. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10273792 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10303941 · 2010-02-02 (February 2, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET COBALT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND IMMEDIATELY THERE WAS A LOSS OF POWER STEERING. THE DRIVER USED EXTREME FORCE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL AND DRIVE ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE. THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER AND AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10303941 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10310842 · 2010-02-16 (February 16, 2010)
TL* THE CONTACT'S SISTER RENTED A 2008 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE DRIVER WAS DRIVING AT APPROX 55 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE VEERED OFF THE ROAD INTO THE OPPOSITE LANE WHERE IT WAS STRUCK BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE DRIVER WAS KILLED AS A RESULT OF THE CRASH. THE NORTH CAROLINA HIGHWAY PATROL INSPECTED THE VEHICLE BUT COULD NOT FIND A CAUSE FOR THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT SAW REPORTS OF FAILED POWER STEERING IN NEWS REPORTS AND THOUGHT THAT THE EXPLANATION COULD HAVE BEEN A LOSS OF POWER STEERING. THE CONTACT NEVER SPOKE WITH THE MANUFACTURER OR THE DEALER ABOUT…
Owner-reported narrative. 9,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10310842 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10217720 · 2008-02-11 (February 11, 2008)
4TH GEAR SYNCHRO NOT FULLY FUNCTIONAL(MANUAL TRANSMISSION)....AVERAGE OF 10% OF THE TIME WHEN ATTEMPTING TO SELECT 4TH GEAR W/CLUTH FULLY ENGAGED GRINDING NOISE & VIBRATION OCCURS...DOES GO INTO GEAR, BUT GRINDS...DEALER TOLD ME THAT CHEVY TOLD THEM THAT NO DAMAGE WILL BE CAUSED BY PROBLEM, AND TO CONTINUE TO DRIVE WITH DEFECTIVE PART...NEW PART FOR 08 IN TRANNY VS 05-07 TRANNY. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 34 miles reported. Look up ODI 10217720 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10253433 · 2009-01-01 (January 1, 2009)
WENT TO START 2008 CHEVY COBALT WITH JUST OVER 8000MILES. WHEN INSERTED KEY INTO IGNITION KEY GOT STUCK AND WOULD NOT RELEASE/TURN TO START VEHICLE. CAR WOULD NOT EVEN SHIFT OUT OF PARK. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 8,325 miles reported. Look up ODI 10253433 at NHTSA ↗