Vehicle Data Hub

2008 Chevrolet Cobalt SS problems

The 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt SS has 117 complaints on file with NHTSA. The largest share (66%) concerns brakes. After that come fuel system (6%) and electrical system (5%).

At a glance

Complaints
117 filed with NHTSA
Most reported
Brakes 66% of complaints
Crashes and fires
0 and 3
Injuries and deaths
0 and 0
Typical mileage
18,000 miles 103 complaints with mileage

Source: NHTSA owner complaints

Where the complaints are

Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.

  • Brakes 66%
  • Fuel system 6%
  • Electrical system 5%
  • Engine 5%
  • Air bags 3%
  • Lighting 2%
  • Steering 2%
  • Cruise control <1%
  • Seat belts <1%
  • Stability control <1%

When problems show up

Complaints by mileage, 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt SS Complaints by odometer reading in 20,000-mile steps. The median is about 18,000 miles. 0k to 20k miles: 56 complaints 20k to 40k miles: 13 complaints 40k to 60k miles: 10 complaints 60k to 80k miles: 12 complaints 80k to 100k miles: 8 complaints 100k to 120k miles: 0 complaints 120k to 140k miles: 1 complaints 140k to 160k miles: 0 complaints 160k to 180k miles: 3 complaints 180k to 200k miles: 0 complaints 200k+ miles: 0 complaints 040k80k120k160k200k miles Typical: 18,000 miles
Based on 103 complaints that include mileage. 77% were reported before 60,000 miles. The amber marker shows the median: half of these complaints happened before that mileage.
View the numbers
MileageComplaints
0k to 20k miles56
20k to 40k miles13
40k to 60k miles10
60k to 80k miles12
80k to 100k miles8
100k to 120k miles0
120k to 140k miles1
140k to 160k miles0
160k to 180k miles3
180k to 200k miles0
200k+ miles0

What the data shows

Among the 103 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 18,000 miles. For brakes specifically, the median reported mileage is about 15,000 miles (69 complaints with mileage).

Safety-related details: 3 complaints mention a fire. Its complaints are less severe on average than those of 90% of model years in our database.

What owners wrote

A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.

Fuel pump harness caught fire. Contacted GM about 2012 recall that I was not notified about. Explained to GM that the mechanic that worked on the cobalt said fuel harness caught fire do to too much power at start up. And explained to GM that when I put the key in the ignition to start the car the wheel would lock. Gmwas very rude all the said was take other keys off ring and would not fix at the time the ignition. And wouldn't reimburse the cost of the fuel pump.

Reported at 98,000 miles, February 2014 Fire

The rear brake rotors on both sides are severely grooved on the inner and outer surfaces. The inner brake pads on both sides are worn noticeably more than the outer pads. The brakes make a grinding noise. The parking brake doesn't hold the car in place. This is at 4k miles.

Reported at 4,000 miles, July 2008

1) I drove my car and used the brakes. 2) scored brakes, sounds like a 747 coming in for a landing every time I stop. 3) nothing yet, called the dealership today (05/24/10).

Reported at 12,500 miles, May 2010

Other model years of the Cobalt SS