CHEVROLET COBALT SS · model year

2008 CHEVROLET COBALT SS

117 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2008CHEVROLETCOBALT SS carries 117 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 3 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2008 COBALT SS is service brakes, hydraulic with 64 filings, followed by service brakes (7) and engine (6). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 57 investigation files overlapping the 2008 COBALT SS, and 2 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

117
Complaints
0
Crashes
3
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

117 filings

Crashes Reported

0 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC64
SERVICE BRAKES7
ENGINE6
PARKING BRAKE5
UNKNOWN OR OTHER5
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM5
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM4
AIR BAGS4
EQUIPMENT2
STEERING2
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION2
EXTERIOR LIGHTING2
TIRES1
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)1

Recent Complaints

20181031ENGINE

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.

Mileage: 70,000

20181031FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

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.

Mileage: 70,000

20180827UNKNOWN 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.

Mileage: 130,000

20171204ELECTRICAL 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.

Mileage: 179,000

20171204ENGINE

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.

Mileage: 179,000

20171204UNKNOWN OR OTHER

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.

Mileage: 179,000

20171129FUEL/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.

20170608SERVICE 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

Mileage: 99,990

20160807SERVICE 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.

Mileage: 67,700

20150723STRUCTURE: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)

Mileage: 70,386

20150723SEAT BELTS

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)

Mileage: 70,386

20150723EXTERIOR LIGHTING

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)

Mileage: 70,386

20150616AIR 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.

Mileage: 94,000

20150308ENGINE

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 GO BAD.....COMPLAINED TO GM AND THEY TOLD ME I NEEDED A CERTIFIED GM DEALER TO LOOK AT IT SO I TOOK IT TO GM ALSO FOR DIAGNOSTIC AND THEY ARE SAYING MISFIRE IN 2ND CYLINDER WHICH IS WHAT THE DIAGNOSTIC CODE SAYS- PER THE PAPERWORK GIVEN ME THEY ARE NOT SURE WHAT THE REPAIR IS GOING TO ENTAIL OR HOW TO FIX THE PROBLEM..... PER INTERNET COMPLAINTS THIS S A PROBLEM THAT HAS OCCURRED MANY TIMES IN COBALTS.... IS IT BECAUSE NO ONE GOT HURT OR DIED THAT THEY DON'T WANT TO CONSIDER THIS A RECALL? THE CAR IS ONLY 9 YEARS OLD AND HAS 68800 MILES ON IT.....AND BELIEVE IT OR NOT THE WARRANTY EXPIRED 1000 MILES AGO... VERY FRUSTRATING AND UNBELIEVABLE! PLEASE HELP ME UNDERSTAND. *TR

Mileage: 68,800

20150308SERVICE BRAKES

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 GO BAD.....COMPLAINED TO GM AND THEY TOLD ME I NEEDED A CERTIFIED GM DEALER TO LOOK AT IT SO I TOOK IT TO GM ALSO FOR DIAGNOSTIC AND THEY ARE SAYING MISFIRE IN 2ND CYLINDER WHICH IS WHAT THE DIAGNOSTIC CODE SAYS- PER THE PAPERWORK GIVEN ME THEY ARE NOT SURE WHAT THE REPAIR IS GOING TO ENTAIL OR HOW TO FIX THE PROBLEM..... PER INTERNET COMPLAINTS THIS S A PROBLEM THAT HAS OCCURRED MANY TIMES IN COBALTS.... IS IT BECAUSE NO ONE GOT HURT OR DIED THAT THEY DON'T WANT TO CONSIDER THIS A RECALL? THE CAR IS ONLY 9 YEARS OLD AND HAS 68800 MILES ON IT.....AND BELIEVE IT OR NOT THE WARRANTY EXPIRED 1000 MILES AGO... VERY FRUSTRATING AND UNBELIEVABLE! PLEASE HELP ME UNDERSTAND. *TR

Mileage: 68,800

20140805FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

CAR BEGAN HAVING A GASOLINE SMELL. AS OF TODAY, THE SMELL IS MUCH MORE EXTREME. *TR

Mileage: 45,000

20140725ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET COBALT SS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE COOLANT AND THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000. UPDATED 10/30/14*CN UPDATED 7/9/2015*JS THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED. THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED TWICE. THE AIRBAG PRETENSIONER FAILED. UPDATED 7/9/2015 *JS

Mileage: 40,000

20140725AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET COBALT SS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE COOLANT AND THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000. UPDATED 10/30/14*CN UPDATED 7/9/2015*JS THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED. THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED TWICE. THE AIRBAG PRETENSIONER FAILED. UPDATED 7/9/2015 *JS

Mileage: 40,000

20140725ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET COBALT SS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE COOLANT AND THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000. UPDATED 10/30/14*CN UPDATED 7/9/2015*JS THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED. THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED TWICE. THE AIRBAG PRETENSIONER FAILED. UPDATED 7/9/2015 *JS

Mileage: 40,000

20140714ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I AM SENDING THIS E-MAIL ON BEHALF OF A 92 YEAR OLD FRIEND,[XXX], WHO I BELIEVE IS GETTING THE RUN AROUND BY GOLD RUSH CHEVY IN AUBURN, CA. SEVERAL MONTHS AGO, SHE CALLED GOLD RUSH AND ASKED IF HER CAR WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. SHE WAS TOLD NO. ON THE FIRST OF MAY, 2014, I CALLED GOLD RUSH AND WAS TOLD THAT VIRGINIA SHOULD HAVE BROUGHT THE CAR IN TO VERIFY THE VIN #. I DO SO AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AND THAT THE PART WOULD BE ORDERED AND WOULD ARRIVE IN TWO TO FIVE WEEKS. ON 6/11, VIRGINIA CALLED GOLD RUSH AND WAS TOLD THAT THE PART WAS ORDERED ON 6/1. SHE CALL AGAIN ON 6/17 AND GIVEN THE RUN AROUND. I CALLED 7/3 AND WAS TOLD THAT THE PART WAS ORDERED 5/1 NOT 6/1. CAN YOU SEE THE REASON THAT I FEEL SHE IS BEING PUT OFF JUST BECAUSE SHE IS AN OLD LADY!!! I CALL YOUR 800-222-1020 LINE AND WAS NOT SATISFIED WITH ANYTHING THE PERSON TOLD ME. PLEASE RESPOND TO THIS E-MAIL BY 7/8/14 5 PM PST OR CALL ME AT [XXX] OR I WILL CONTACT L THE GOVERNMENT AGENCY RES

Mileage: 13,000

Compare 2008CHEVROLETCOBALT SS to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 2 Open

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2008 CHEVROLET COBALT SS have?
The 2008 CHEVROLET COBALT SS has 117 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 3 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2008 CHEVROLET COBALT SS?
The most-complained component for the 2008 CHEVROLET COBALT SS is SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC with 64 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SERVICE BRAKES and ENGINE.
Is the 2008 CHEVROLET COBALT SS safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.