KnownCarProblemsHome › Chevrolet › Cobalt SS › 2008
2008 Chevrolet Cobalt SS Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 95 complaints with NHTSA about the 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt SS, most often about the brakes (76% of complaints, typically around 15,000 miles). It is the 2nd most complained-about Cobalt SS model year since 2000.
Most common 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt SS problems
Brakes
72 complaints · 76%Half of these problems showed up before 15,000 miles.
The rear rotors on my 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt SS seem to be wearing very fast. My car has 19,000 miles on it, and it is about a year and a half old. I took delivery on may 31st 2008. I noticed the rotors starting to wear this past spring.
1. Before purchasing this vehicle new in 2008, I was made aware of an issue with the rear brake wearing abnormally. I had made at least two inquiries to the service department at the dealership about the possibility of a tsb (technical service bulletin) being released on the problem. At the time there had not been…
Fuel system
7 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 62,500 miles.
I started smelling fuel in the passenger compartment and it has gotten worse. People complain about the fuel odor when they walk by. I have recently been informed by my mechanic that it is fuel leakage at the top of the tank. I have found the recall issues for the 2006 and 2007 cobalts and I believe the 2008 should be…
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.
Electrical
6 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 90,000 miles. Parts named most often: ignition.
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…
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.…
Engine
6 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 71,000 miles.
As I was driving on a city street, the engine began to run rough and I noticed the odor of gasoline. I pulled over to check for the source of the odor and found fuel leaking from the bottom of the car and onto the road. This was an extremely dangerous condition, as I could not stop the fuel from continuing to leak. I…
Engine light came on.... Had it checked by firestone... They told me the 2nd cylinder was misfiring per the diagnostic code.. Should be 130 psi and only registering 90 psi....then while stopped longer than 30 seconds "service traction" light comes on.....asking $2300 to repair.... Why would one of the four cylinders…
Other or unspecified
5 complaints · 5%Half of these problems showed up before 72,000 miles.
Driver door stuck. Will not open. If you are inside and that happens, you can not get out the door. The car had been parked outside overnight. Morning it would not open. It will unlock, but not open.
The key is stuck in the ignition and the car will not start. In addition, I can't get the gear to shift to park to move to neutral, I've lost all power to the car from the lights to being unable to open the trunk. I had to put the emergency break on for fear that the car would roll away because I couldn't move the…
Air bags
4 complaints · 4%2 years after I had the Chevrolet dealer fix the first air bag light issue it has come on again. I did report it to gm and the dealer however I was told that if the air bag light and dic stated service air bag comes on then goes away that the system did a "self check" and took care of the problem. I was also informed…
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.…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2008 Chevrolet Cobalt SS recalls
NHTSA lists no recalls for this model year.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Fuel line leak
Summary
On july 5, 2020, the office of defects investigations (odi) opened pe20-011 to investigate instances of metal fuel lines under the vehicle corroding and leaking fuel in model year (my) 2008 through 2010 chevrolet cobalt and 2008 through 2009 chevrolet hhr passenger cars manufactured by general motors (gm). The metal fuel lines are corroding and leaking fuel in the area between the front and rear wheels on the driver's side of the vehicle before the muffler. Most consumers allege a fuel odor and/or an observable fuel leak that alerts them to the condition.the subject metal fuel lines have a protective age coating and, in the vicinity of the left rear wheel, are further wrapped in a foil heat
Electric power steering failure
Summary
In a march 1, 2010 letter, general motors corporation (gm) provided a defect information report to NHTSA regarding a problem that could result in sudden loss of power steering assist in certain model year (my) 2005 through 2010 chevrolet cobalt and my 2007 through 2010 pontiac g5 vehicles equipped with electric power steering (eps).the letter indicates that the loss of steering assist could occur at any time while driving and that, once assist is lost, a message is displayed on the driver information center (dic) and a chime sounds to inform the driver.the letter further states that steering control is maintained in manual mode, but would require greater driver effort at low vehicle speeds.i
Questions about the 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt SS
- What are the most common problems with the 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt SS?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: brakes (72 complaints, typically around 15,000 miles); fuel system (7 complaints, typically around 62,500 miles); electrical (6 complaints, typically around 90,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt SS have?
- NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt SS. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls in case one is issued later.
- Is the 2008 a bad year for the Chevrolet Cobalt SS?
- It is the 2nd most complained-about Cobalt SS model year since 2000, with 95 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.
Other Chevrolet Cobalt SS years
- 2008
- 2009