Model year record
2008 Chevrolet Cobalt Ss recalls & problems
The 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt Ss has no safety recalls on file with NHTSA, and 95 owner complaints. The most-reported problem area is service brakes, hydraulic (64 complaints).
Safety recalls
No safety recalls have been filed for the 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt Ss.
Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.
What owners report
| Problem area | Complaints | Typical mileage* |
|---|---|---|
| Service brakes, hydraulic | 64 | 14,000 mi |
| Service brakes | 7 | 68,250 mi |
| Electrical systemIgnition | 6 | 90,000 mi |
| Engine | 6 | 71,000 mi |
| Parking brake | 5 | 15,000 mi |
| Unknown or other | 5 | 72,000 mi |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 5 | 69,500 mi |
| Air bags | 4 | 72,500 mi |
| Equipment | 2 | — |
| Steering | 2 | — |
| Fuel system, gasoline | 2 | — |
| Exterior lighting | 2 | — |
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
- Engine
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 FOUND THAT THE FUEL SUPPLY LINE BETWEEN THE FUEL TANK AND ENGINE RUSTED COMPLETELY THROUGH NEAR THE DRIVER SIDE REAR FENDER WELL, CAUSING THE LEAK. THE EVAPORATIVE EMISSION VAPOR LINE WAS RUSTED AND LEAKING AS WELL, RESULTING IN FLAMMABLE FUEL VAPORS ESCAPING.
- Unknown or other
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.
- Electrical system
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 GEAR SHIFT. THE CAR HAS BEEN PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY FOR THE LAST THREE MONTHS.
- Fuel/propulsion system
TOOK MY CAR IN BECAUSE IT IS EXPERIENCING A LONG PERIOD OF TIME CRANKING BEFORE STARTING EACH TIME, AND I FIND OUT THAT I HAVE A FUEL LINE LEAK. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH TO SEE IF THERE IS A RECALL, I FIND THAT MY YEAR AND MODEL ARE NOT INCLUDED, ALTHOUGH MANY OTHER 08 CHEVY COBALTS ARE. THIS REALLY CONCERNS ME THAT THIS MODEL OF VEHICLE HAS BEEN LEFT OUT OF RECALLS THAT AFFECT THE SAFETY OF MY MODE OF TRANSPORTATION.
- Service brakes
WHILE PARKED THE PARKING BRAKE LEVER RELEASE BUTTON JAMMED AND I COULD NOT RELEASE THE PARKING BRAKES. THERE IS ABNORMAL NOISE HEARD IN THE REAR BREAKING SYSTEM WHEN REVERSING. ABNORMAL PREMATURE WEAR TO INSIDE REAR BRAKE PADS AND ROTOR DISCS
- Service brakes
REAR BRAKES WEAR THE PADS UNEVENLY AND SCRATCH THE ROTORS. COMMON PROBLEM THAT MOST 2008+ COBALT SS OWNERS EXPERIENCE. DUE TO THE FAULTY BRAKES, THE HAND BRAKE WILL OFTEN NOT WORK, WHICH IS A LARGE INCONVENIENCE IN A CAR THAT IS ONLY AVAILABLE WITH A MANUAL TRANSMISSION. THIS IS MOST NOTICEABLE WHEN TRYING TO PARK ON A HILL.
- Structure › Body
CLEAR COAT ON THE FRONT BUMPER IS COMING OFF REALLY BAD. THE PAINT SEEMS TO STAY ON THE BUMPER BUT PROGRESSIVELY FLAKES OFF MORE EVERY DAY. IT STARTS AS A SMALL SPOT THEN EXPANDS LIKE A VIRUS. THE UNDERSIDE OF THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOORS BEGIN TO RUST AND ARE SPREADING TO THE OUTER PARTS OF THE DOORS AND BODY. THE INTERIOR LIGHTING FOR THE CENTER-CONSOLE (CLIMATE CONTROL) BURN OUT FAST AND FAIL TO ILLUMINATE THE REST OF THE BUTTONS. SEAT BELTS WEAR OUT EXCESSIVELY FAST AND THE BUTTONS THAT STOP THE BELT BUCKLE FALL OUT PREMATURELY. -------- *THIS PROBLEM IS FOUND ON THE COBALT SPORT 2008 2.4L (MANUAL)
- Air bags
UPON START OF THE VEHICLE THE SERVICE AIRBAG WARNING IS ILLUMINATED. THE AIRBAG READINESS LIGHT STAYS ON. IF I WIGGLE THE WIRES UNDERNEATH THE WARNING GOES AWAY TEMPORARILY. ALSO IF A PASSENGER SITS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT IT WOULD INDICATE AN AIRBAG SENSOR AND THE INDICATOR WOULD SHOW IT BEING OFF ALTHOUGH A PASSENGER IS IN THE SEAT. I TOOK IT TO THE CHEVROLET DEALER WHO PULLED MY VIN AND INDICATED NO RECALL ON MY VEHICLE VIN, BUT KNOWING OTHER 2008 CHEVROLET COBALTS ARE HAVING SIMILAR ISSUES IS MY CONCERN EVEN IF MY VIN SHOWS NO RECALL.
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Fuel Line LeakClosed
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 shield. The AGE coating consists of an annealed zinc aluminum alloy metal coating with extended corrosion protection paint. Under certain conditions, water and corrosive road deicing agents may enter…
- Electric Power Steering FailureClosedLed to recall 10V073000
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.In the next ignition cycle, power assist is typically regained and the DIC message is no longer displayed.GM's letter identifies the root cause of the EPS failure as the EPS motor and indicates that…