10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
6 / 4
Injuries / Deaths:
3 / 2
Average Mileage:
47,680 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #10

Apr 082011

Cobalt 4-cyl

  • 40,500 miles
We first had electronics issues the with our Cobalt when parking.was told wife over drove steering mech. Later they called a recall & replaced the steering motor.constantly we have had it that he turn signals would not turn of after a turn. Again they tell me they can not reproduce the issue.then the passenger door not unlock for the key. Several times this occurred & one time the issue lasted for about 2 weeks. Another issues was that the inside light would not come on this lasted about 2-3 days sometimes we smelt rubberish smoke fumes then the issue occurred & then went away.we called Chevy & emma set up a file & we turned the vehicle in several time to jba Chevy in glen burnie, md 21062 and each time they say the issues could not be reproduced. This last time I took it in telling them of the issues and again they could not reproduce them. This last issue has occured about 500+ miles later. I just had the brakes checked and tires rotated. I asked for a complete check but the attendant only set it up for oilchange, brakes and tire rotation. They said all was okay. On Friday the 8th of April on the way to work I stopped at a red light. As I took off thecar acted funny and the speedometer reached 80 & te rev was high yet I was only doing about 20mph the trans downshifted real hard. I noticed it was not responding properly but seemed better. So I tried to proceed to work. As I was coming down the hill past the next light the car froze up and I went into a skid. I tried to steer it out of it but the car would not respond & the antilocking brakes seemed not to be working, I rammed into the curb & the car would not respond properly to my trying to move it forward. At that time a jeepsuv slammed on his brakes and hit me in the rear..I think it totaled the car. On that Tuesday noticed the brakes not responding well (shimmied for a time. On wed & thurs, they worked normal. I think the vehicle has an electronics issue. Was told a body control module might be bad.

- Baltimore, MD, USA

problem #9

Apr 072011

Cobalt

  • miles
Had no problem leading up to this problem and worked fine and came out of no where. My 2008 Chevy Cobalt ls won't turn off the key is in the ignition and won't come out or turn off. I called my dealer ship and they said they have had several problems with Cobalts prior to this and it's the cylinder ignition. It's in the shop now and won't know anything till tomorrow. If people are having problems then why isn't this taking car of? I do not have 300 plus dollars to put into my car.

- Hedgesville, WV, USA

problem #8

Apr 022011

Cobalt

  • miles
My 2008 Chevy Cobalt just started giving me problems April 2, 2011. I purchased it on March 15, 2011. I went to leave work and my car wouldn't start. All my electrical components shut down on me and my key wouldn't come out the ignition. When I turned the switch it just made a clicking noise. So I just sat there trying to figure out what was wrong. So I walked away trying to get help. When I returned the radio was on and the car just started right up. Also it doesn't pick up speed on the highway. At 65mph it seems as if I'm just barely moving. I feel as though this is an inconvenience to me because I have to sit and wonder if my car is gonna start everytime I turn the switch. It has occurred several times in one day and I haven't even had my car for a month. I am highly upset.

- Arlington, TX, USA

problem #7

Sep 272010

Cobalt

  • 45,353 miles
I bought my 2008 Cobalt as a program car in November 2008. I received a recall for the power steering motor in September 2010. The motor was replaced. I thought that maybe that was the problem of the intermittent ease of turning the key. When I picked up the car for that repair I was told that the ignition cylinder had to be replaced because it was intermittently locking up. I picked up the car and then the emergency switch broke, that was replaced and during this time I was told that the front speakers blew out. Those were replaced, and now the radio/clock has to be replaced which is not under warranty. I do not believe that my two-year car is reliable. I told the service manager that I believe the car is faulty because it is "too young" to have this much repair work in a very short time.

- Wharton, TX, USA

problem #6

Aug 092010

Cobalt

  • miles
When I started my car and at the same time I wanted to pull down the window it didn't work. I think it was already too much for the car. It happened already 3 times in 2.5 years and the car was new. Every time I have to go to the dealer to change the regulator in the window.

- Edison, NJ, USA

problem #5

May 042010

Cobalt

  • 56,094 miles
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: $101 4 days later car would again (crank but not start - at all), had to be towed to dealer. Again, would continue to crank for short time after key turned off. Dealer diagnosis: Under hood fuse center bad. Tow $75, parts $283, labor $ 110, supplies + tax $26. Total: $494 total cost to fix vehicle: $595.

- Omaha, IL, USA

problem #4

Jun 152009

Cobalt

  • 18,000 miles
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.

- Port Orchard, WA, USA

problem #3

Mar 072009

Cobalt

  • miles
To whom it may concern; my problem happens to be a serious one involving the head lamps of our 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt. The incidents have occurred without warning and on multiple occasions. What I speak of is the lights, upon engaging only the right turn signal shut off, flicker....with no control for a period of only a few seconds. Now, the concern I have is with the potential for myself or other motorists to have serious complications. During that small period of time in which the headlamps failed, my family's life was jeopardized, which is something I should not have to, and will not tolerate. I have made attempts to correct malfunction by using Chevy dealer technicians. Problem was allegedly fixed, then occurred again. Please help me with any information you might be able to provide to further aid my progress in correcting this problem before someone gets hurt.

- Battle Ground , WA, USA

problem #2

Mar 202009

Cobalt

  • 8,500 miles
Car alarm goes off when parked and locked for no reason. Also car has started twice, engine misses with check engine light on, shut car off and restart and it then is fine until next time.

- Eden Prairie, MN, USA

problem #1

May 112008

Cobalt

  • 29,000 miles
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.

- Louisville, KY, USA