2008 Chevrolet COBALT: complaints, problems and recalls

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 ↗

I WAS DRIVING A 2008 CHEVY COBALT LT AT ABOUT 30MPH ON A SUNNY AND BEAUTIFUL DAY WHEN FOR NO REASON AT ALL THE DRIVERS SIDE, PASSENGERS FRONT, PASSENGERS SIDE, AND BOTH REAR PASSENGER AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO A SECURE STOP. THERE WAS NO WARNING THAT THIS WAS GOING TO HAPPEN. THE AIRBAG INDICATOR LIGHT DID NOT LIGHT UP, NOR DID AN ALARM GO OFF TELLING ME THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG. GENERAL MOTORS HAS DONE AN INVESTIGATION AND HAS REFUSED TO RELEASE THE REASON THAT THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10243384 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET COBALT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS AND GAUGES WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE IN THE DAYLIGHT. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS ILLUMINATED PROPERLY AT NIGHT. THE AUTHORIZED DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS NO DEFECT WITH THE INSTRUMENT PANEL OPERATION. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 29,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 39,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 29,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10244543 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

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 ↗

MY SON WAS IN A MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT. IT WAS A SINGLE CAR ACCIDENT IN WHICH HE LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR, WENT OFF THE ROAD, HIT A TREE STUMP AND THEN THE CAR WAS SPUN SIDES, ROLLED ONTO IT'S SIDE AND INTO A TREE. NONE OF HIS AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. HE WAS KILLED IN THE CAR ACCIDENT WHILE 3 OTHER KIDS WALKED AWAY. HE WAS THE DRIVER AND THE CAR WAS HIT ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10250853 at NHTSA ↗

DRIVING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER, CAR PERFORMS POORLY. HARD TO CONTROL AND POOR TRACTION. CAR HAS 18,000 MILES ON IT. SPOKE TO AN OWNER WITH SIMILAR CAR (PONTIAC G5) WHO HAS SIMILAR COMPLAINT. A WEEK AGO AN 18 YEAR OLD GIRL LOST CONTROL OF HER 2007 COBALT DURING WINTER WEATHER. WORST CAR IN WINTER WEATHER I HAVE OWNED. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 17,957 miles reported. Look up ODI 10251968 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

Reported: 2010-03-03 (March 3, 2010)

GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2010 CHEVROLET COBALT AND MODEL YEAR 2007-2010 PONTIAC G5 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ELECTRIC POWER STEERING. THE DRIVER MAY EXPERIENCE A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST THAT COULD OCCUR AT ANY TIME WHILE DRIVING.

Consequence: IF POWER STEERING ASSIST IS LOST, IT WOULD REQUIRE GREATER DRIVER EFFORT AT LOW VEHICLE SPEEDS, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING MOTOR FREE OF CHARGE. OWNERS ARE BEING NOTIFIED ON A ROLLING BASIS BETWEEN MARCH 29 THROUGH NOVEMBER 2010. A COPY OF THE MAILING SCHEDULE IS LOCATED IN THE RECALL FILE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 AND PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668 OR AT THE OWNER CENTER AT WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.

Reported: 2012-09-19 (September 19, 2012)

General Motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2007 Chevrolet Equinox and Pontiac Torrent vehicles originally sold or currently registered in Arizona, California, Nevada, and Texas; model year 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt, Pontiac G5, and Saturn ION vehicles originally sold, or currently registered in, Arizona, California, Florida, Nevada, or Texas; model year 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt and Pontiac G5 vehicles originally sold, or currently registered in, Arizona; and model year 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt and Pontiac G5 vehicles originally sold, or currently registered in, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Nevada, Oklahoma, or Texas. Some of these vehicles have a condition in which the plastic supply or return port on the fuel pump module may crack, which could cause a fuel leak.

Consequence: Fuel leakage in the presence of an ignition source may result in a fire.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. Notification to owners began on on November 21, 2012. Owners were instructed to not bring their vehicles in for repair until January 2013. Owners may contact General Motors at 1-800-521-7300.

Reported: 2014-02-10 (February 10, 2014)

This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on February 10, 2014 that they are recalling 619,122 model year 2005-2007 Chevrolet Cobalt, and 2007 Pontiac G5 vehicles. On February 25, 2014, GM increased the recall to include an additional 748,024 model year 2006-2007 Chevrolet HHR and Pontiac Solstice vehicles and 2003-2007 Saturn Ion vehicles and 2007 Saturn Sky vehicles. In these models, the weight on the key ring and/or road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine. On March 27, 2014, GM notified the agency that the defective ignition switches may have been used as service replacement parts on other vehicles, and as a result GM will be recalling certain model year 2008-2010 Chevrolet Cobalt, Saturn Sky, and Pontiac G5 and Solstice, and 2008-2011 Chevrolet HHR vehicles. The part numbers for the service parts are 10392423 (a/k/a ACDelco D1461F), 10392737, 15857948, 15854953, 15896640, and 25846762. This expansion represents an additional 823,788 vehicles.

Consequence: If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ignition switch, free of charge. An interim notification was issued to owners of 2007 and earlier models on March 10, 2014, informing them of the safety defect. Owners of 2008 and later vehicles will be mailed an interim letter on April 21, 2014. All affected owners will receive another letter once parts are available. The recall began on April 18, 2014. Owners may contact Chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020, Pontiac at 1-800-762-2737 or Saturn at 1-800-553-6000. GM's number for the initial recall is 13454 and 14063 for the expansion. GM’s recall number for the vehicles that may have received the replacement parts is 14092. Note: Until the recall repairs have been performed, it is very important that customers remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the vehicle key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. Always wear your seatbelt.

Reported: 2014-04-10 (April 10, 2014)

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2005-2010 Chevrolet Cobalt, 2006-2011 Chevrolet HHR, 2007-2010 Pontiac G5, 2006-2010 Pontiac Solstice, 2003-2007 Saturn Ion, and 2007-2010 Saturn Sky vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the key can be removed from the ignition when the ignition is not in the "Off" position.

Consequence: If the key can be removed from the ignition when the ignition is not in the "off" position, the vehicle could roll away: (a) for an automatic transmission, if the transmission is not in the "Park" position; or (b) for a manual transmission, if the parking brake is not engaged and the transmission is not in the "Reverse" position. This potential for rollaway increases the risk for a crash and occupant or pedestrian injuries.

Remedy: General Motors will notify owners, and for vehicles that were built with the defective ignition cylinder and have not previously had the ignition cylinder replaced with the redesigned part, dealers will replace the ignition cylinder and cut and, if necessary, re-learn two ignition/door keys for each vehicle. For vehicles that were built with the redesigned ignition cylinder or had the ignition cylinder replaced with the redesigned part, dealers will cut and, if necessary, re-learn two ignition/door keys for each vehicle. The recall began on April 18, 2014. Chevrolet owners may contact General Motors at 1-800-222-1020, Pontiac owners at 1-800-762-2737, and Saturn owners at 1-800-553-6000. General Motors' number for this recall is 14113 for the ignition lock cylinder and key replacement, and 14133 for only key replacements. Note: Until a vehicle has been remedied, owners and operators are advised that when exiting, to be sure that the vehicle is in "Park," or in the case of a manual transmission, that the vehicle is in the "Reverse" position and the parking brake is engaged.