2008 Chevrolet Cobalt problems
Owners have filed 1,104 complaints with NHTSA about the 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt. Steering is the most reported problem area, at 28% of complaints. After that come fuel system (22%) and electrical system (15%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 1,104 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Steering 28% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 110 and 20
- Injuries and deaths
- 107 and 21
- Typical mileage
- 75,000 miles 856 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%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 81 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 80 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 154 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 136 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 142 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 99 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 70 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 55 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 14 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 6 |
| 200k+ miles | 19 |
What the data shows
Among the 856 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 75,000 miles. For steering specifically, the median reported mileage is about 68,000 miles (264 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 110 complaints mention a crash; 20 complaints mention a fire; 107 injuries reported; 21 deaths reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2008 ranks 5th most-complained-about out of 6 model years of the Chevrolet Cobalt with enough data (468 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 4 safety recall campaigns.
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.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 chevrolet cobalt. The contact stated that the driver was traveling 55 MPH and drove over a pot hole when the vehicle suddenly stalled, causing the driver to crash into a tree. The air bags failed to deploy. The force of the impact caused the vehicle to explode, causing fatal injuries to a passenger. The driver was removed from the vehicle within seconds of the explosion however, the passenger could not be rescued. A police report was filed.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 chevrolet cobalt. The contact stated that there were fuel fumes emitting intermittently in and around the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The technician diagnosed that the fuel pump module and the fuel lines were corroded which were causing fuel to leak. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact that the vehicle was included under NHTSA campaign number: 12v459000 (fuel system, gasoline). The vehicle was not repaired.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 chevrolet cobalt. The contact stated that after the vehicle was refueled, there would be an odor of fuel and a fuel puddle under the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the fuel lines were corroded and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 94,127.