U.S. public vehicle records

2008 Chevrolet COBALT SS problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

95 owner complaints analyzed

0 distinct recall campaigns

16,500 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2008 model year. Data updated: 2026-09-30 (September 30, 2026). 85 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Service Brakes, Hydraulic is the most frequently named component, appearing in 64 of 95 complaints (67.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Braking behavior	65	68.4%
Fuel system concerns	5	5.3%
Transmission and shifting	2	2.1%
Engine operation	2	2.1%
Electrical and battery issues	2	2.1%
Steering behavior	1	1.1%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

Service Brakes

Engine

Fuel/Propulsion System

Parking Brake

Unknown Or Other

Air Bags

Electrical System

Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 64; Service Brakes: 7; Engine: 6; Fuel/Propulsion System: 5; Parking Brake: 5; Unknown Or Other: 5; Air Bags: 4; Electrical System: 4

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000

25,000 to 49,999

50,000 to 74,999

75,000 to 99,999

100,000 to 149,999

150,000 and above

Under 25,000: 60; 25,000 to 49,999: 8; 50,000 to 74,999: 10; 75,000 to 99,999: 5; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 1

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (60). 10 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2009

2010

2011

2012

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2009: 38; 2010: 27; 2011: 6; 2012: 5; 2014: 10; 2015: 3; 2016: 1; 2017: 3; 2018: 2

Pattern summary

Service Brakes, Hydraulic leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 65 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 5 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10263799 · 2009-03-31 (March 31, 2009)

PREMATURE REAR BRAKE WEAR ON INSIDE BRAKE PADS, ROTORS SCORED FROM PAD FAILURE. FAULTY EQUIPMENT. GM WOULD NOT COVER UNDER WARRANTY AT ONLY 16,000MILES. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 16,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10263799 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10263925 · 2009-04-02 (April 2, 2009)

TERRIBLE PREMATURE WEAR OF REAR BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS ON 2008 CHEVROLET COBALT SS TURBOCHARGED WITH ROUGHLY 20,000 MILES... INSIDE PAD AND INWARD FACING SIDE OF ROTORS SHOW GREAT DAMAGE. VERY DEEP GAUGES TO INWARD SIDE OF BOTH REAR ROTORS. VERY COMMON PROBLEM ON ALL 2008-2009 COBALT SS TURBOCHARGED VEHICLES. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 20,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10263925 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10445766 · 2012-01-29 (January 29, 2012)

PURCHASED MY CHEVY COBALT ABOUT 7 MONTHS AGO WITH ABOUT 45000 MILES. JUST ROLLED OVER 50000 MILES WHEN STRONG GAS FUMES IN & OUT OF CAR. HAD AUTHORIZED MECHANIC.CHECK IT, HE SAID HE HAS SEEN THIS PROBLEM SEVERAL TIMES WITH THIS MAKE & MODEL. SAID IT IS THE FUEL SENDING/RETURN LINES CRACKED ON TOP OF FUEL PUMP. RESEARCHED & FOUND THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN KNOWN BY MANUFACTURER BACK TO 2005. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION, BUT CHEVROLET CO. WILL NOT RECALL. WHAT WILL IT TAKE FOR RECALL TO BE ISSUED, A CAR TO BLOW UP OR PERSON TO BE BURNED TO D…

Owner-reported narrative. 49,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10445766 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10466717 · 2012-07-20 (July 20, 2012)

TL* 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.

Owner-reported narrative. 69,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10466717 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10283023 · 2009-09-06 (September 6, 2009)

THE REAR BRAKES ARE WEARING PREMATURELY. THE PADS HAVE DAMAGED(CREATE DEEP RUTS IN) THE ROTORS ON THE SURFACE. THE DEALER TOLD ME IT WAS NORMAL AND DID NOTHING. THIS WEAR STARTED WITHIN 5K MILES. THE CAR HAS A MANUAL TRANSMISSION AND I HARDLY USE THE BRAKES. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 6,018 miles reported. Look up ODI 10283023 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10893782 · 2016-08-07 (August 7, 2016)

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.

Owner-reported narrative. 67,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10893782 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10566895 · 2014-03-03 (March 3, 2014)

ON 10/2013, I WAS DRIVING ON THE 105 FWY GOING EASTBOUND AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MILES PER HOUR WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE VEHICLE STALLED AND I NO LONGER COULD ACCELERATE. EAST BOUND TRAFFIC WAS HEAVY AND CHP OFFICER HAD TO PARK BEHIND ME WITH HIS LIGHTS TO AVOID ME GETTING HIT BY OTHER VEHICLES, SINCE THERE WAS NO SAFETY LANE TO PULL OVER FOR BROKEN DOWN CARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO ONE OTHER PLACE BEFORE BEING TOWED TO PENSKE CHEVROLET, 18605 S STUDEBAKER RD., CERRITOS, CA 90703 THE FOLLOWING DAY. IN SHORT, I TOOK MY CAR BACK 3 DIFFERENT …

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10566895 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10568897 · 2014-03-12 (March 12, 2014)

TL* 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 OPERATED NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND NO SOLUTION WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 90,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10568897 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10295861 · 2009-12-15 (December 15, 2009)

OWN A 2008 CHEVROLET COBALT. WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT 70 MPH AROUND A CURVE WHEN THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT AND THE POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON THE DASH. I CAME VERY CLOSE TO CRASHING BECAUSE OF THE DIFFICULTY OF STEERING. PULLED OVER AT NEXT EXIT AND COULD NOT FIND A POWER STEERING RESERVOIR OR ANYTHING. WHEN I TURNED THE CAR BACK ON IT WAS FINE. LOOKED THE PROBLEM UP ONLINE THIS MORNING AND FOUND SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE HAVING SAME PROBLEM. THEY TOOK THEIR CAR TO THE DEALER TO GET THE PROBLEM FIXED AND FOUND OUT THAT THE CAR HAS EL…

Owner-reported narrative. 6,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10295861 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10313460 · 2010-02-23 (February 23, 2010)

HELLO I HAVE A 2008 CHEVY COBALT SS AND I HAVE EXPERIENCED A BIG DEFECT WITH MY CAR, THE CAR ITSELF TURNED OFF AS IN ALL ELECTRICAL PARTS WENT OFF SUDDENLY WHILE THE CAR WAS IN MOTION THIS WAS REPORTED TO MY DEALERSHIP RIGHT AWAY SINCE THIS IS A LEASED BRAND NEW CAR, THE DEALERSHIP DID NOT RESPOND TO THE COMPLAINT IN ANYWAY, THE CAR HAS BEEN FIXED BUT STILL CONTINUES TO HAVE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS AND THE DEALERSHIP NOR THE MANUFACTURER WANT TO TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10313460 at NHTSA ↗

Explore the data

Vehicle analysis explorer

Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.

Data completeness

95 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-09-30.

89.5%Usable mileage85 / 95 records

100.0%Valid incident date95 / 95 records

100.0%Valid filing date95 / 95 records

100.0%Ordered incident and filing dates95 / 95 records

Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.

Problems by model year

Model-wide comparison of the eight most reported components across the model. Cells show counts and shares within each model year. Open a cell for source examples.

From model yearThrough model year

Component complaint heatmap
Component	2008	2009	2010
Service Brakes, Hydraulic	6467.4% ODI 10263799 · 16,000 mi PREMATURE REAR BRAKE WEAR ON INSIDE BRAKE PADS, ROTORS SCORED FROM PAD FAILURE. FAULTY EQUIPMENT. GM WOULD NOT COVER UNDER WARRANTY AT ONLY 16,000MILES. *TR Look up ODI 10263799 at NHTSA ↗	13370.0% ODI 10263782 · 8,104 mi ON MY 09 CHEVY COBALT SS THE REAR BRAKES GOT VERY LOUD. THE FAILURE WAS THE INNER REAR BRAKE PADS WENT METAL TO METAL BY 8000 MILES FROM NEW. THE OUTER PADS WERE LIKE NEW. DEALERSHIP RESURFACED THE ROTORS AND REPLACED THE PADS. THEY HAD THE CAR 5 DAYS AND GAVE ME A RENTAL. 2000 MILES LATER AND THE BRAKES ARE GETTING LOUD AGAIN. *TR Look up ODI 10263782 at NHTSA ↗	222.2% ODI 10433649 · 30,230 mi I BROUGHT MY CAR (2010 CHEVROLET COBALT SS) TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP NEAR ME IN MASSACHUSETTS, AND I WAS TOLD THAT MY REAR BRAKES WERE WORN TO THE POINT JUST BEFORE A SENSOR GOING OFF. THE CAR ONLY HAS 30,000 MILES ON IT AND REAR BRAKES ARE SUPPOSED TO BE THE ONES THAT LAST LONGER THAN FRONT ONES BUT MY FRONT ARE FINE. THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO FIX THE BRAKES UNDER THE 3 YEAR 36,000 [I]UNLIMITED[/I] WARRANTY OR THE 2 YEAR 20,000 MILE MAINTENANCE WARRANTY. I HAVE BEEN READING MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE REAR BRAKES ON WEBSITES ABOUT THE REAR BRAKES… Look up ODI 10433649 at NHTSA ↗
Parking Brake	55.3% ODI 10278867 · 4,000 mi THE REAR BRAKE ROTORS ON BOTH SIDES ARE SEVERELY GROOVED ON THE INNER AND OUTER SURFACES. THE INNER BRAKE PADS ON BOTH SIDES ARE WORN NOTICEABLY MORE THAN THE OUTER PADS. THE BRAKES MAKE A GRINDING NOISE. THE PARKING BRAKE DOESN'T HOLD THE CAR IN PLACE. THIS IS AT 4K MILES. *TR Look up ODI 10278867 at NHTSA ↗	189.5% ODI 10283034 · 12,000 mi REASON FOR INSPECTION WAS DUE TO REAR BRAKE GRINDING SOUNDS. AFTER 12,000 MILES THE REAR BRAKE PADS WERE COMPLETELY GONE, AND THE REAR ROTORS SEVERELY GROOVED AND WARPED. GM AGREED THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM AND REPLACED THE PADS AND ROTORS UNDER WARRANTY STATING THAT THEY'VE SEEN IT ON 3 OTHERS AND WERE TAKING THE SAME ACTION. *TR Look up ODI 10283034 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Service Brakes	77.4% ODI 10459533 · 48,066 mi EXCESSIVE WEAR ON REAR BRAKES, CAUSING UNTIMELY REPLACEMENT. REAR BRAKES WEAR MORE QUICKLY THAN FRONTS CAUSING UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITIONS. *TR Look up ODI 10459533 at NHTSA ↗	136.8% ODI 10456839 · 25,000 mi BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS DID NOT LAST. MY BRAKES NEEDED REPLACING WAY EARLIER THAN THEY SHOULD. IT'S A SAFETY HAZARD. *JS Look up ODI 10456839 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Air Bags	44.2% ODI 10573016 · 51,000 mi 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 "SHOULD" IT COME ON AGAIN TO BRING IT BACK IN. WITH THE RECALLS GOING ON NOW AND MY YEAR OF CAR IS NOT IS THIS RECALL REALLY??? $22,000 ON A SPORTS CAR WHICH BY THE WAY IS TURBO CHARGED AND I HAVE AN AIR BAG ISSUE STILL..GOOD TH… Look up ODI 10573016 at NHTSA ↗	84.2% ODI 10566235 · 50,000 mi VEHICLE'S AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS BEGAN TO ENGAGE AND DISENGAGE ON THEIR OWN, POSSIBLY LOCKING THE STEERING COLUMN AS VEHICLE ENTERED INTO A CURVE. CAUSED DRIVER TO LOOSE CONTROL GO INTO DITCH, BOUNCE OUT OF DITCH AND LOG ROLL THE VEHICLE. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DOOR LOCKS WERE STILL GOING UP AND DOWN SEVERAL HOURS LATER AT THE VEHICLE IMPOUND YARD AND WAS OBSERVED BY THE POLICE OFFICER AND NOTED IN HIS REPORT. ADDITIONAL. THIS PROBLEM IS MUCH BIGGER THAN BELIEVED! I HAVE A 2011 HHR AND HAVE HAD THE IGNITION SWITCH TURN OFF WHEN I HAVE… Look up ODI 10566235 at NHTSA ↗	222.2% ODI 10820741 · 3,000 mi MY CAR HAS APPROXIMATELY 3000 MILES ON IT. IT IS ALWAY GARAGE (ENCLOSED). DURING ITS 3000 MILES, IT HAS ONLY HAD ONE PASSENGER FOR ABOUT A 100 MILE TRIP. NO ONE HAS RIDEN IN THE BACKSEAT NOR HAS THE REAR SEAT BEEN USED FOR TRANSPORTING ITEMS. THE INTERIOR HAS NOT BEEN CLEANED (NOT NEEDED). IT IS A COLLECTOR CAR AND USED AS SUCH FOR OCCASIONAL TRIPS. LAST WEEK, THE SIR INSTRUMENT LIGHT SUDDENLY ILLUMINATED (SERVICE AIRBAG) WHILE ON A TRIP TO EXERCISE THE CAR (CAR WAS STATIONARY AND THE SIR ILLUMINATED WHEN THE AUTOMOBILE WAS STARTED). … Look up ODI 10820741 at NHTSA ↗
Electrical System	44.2% ODI 10313460 HELLO I HAVE A 2008 CHEVY COBALT SS AND I HAVE EXPERIENCED A BIG DEFECT WITH MY CAR, THE CAR ITSELF TURNED OFF AS IN ALL ELECTRICAL PARTS WENT OFF SUDDENLY WHILE THE CAR WAS IN MOTION THIS WAS REPORTED TO MY DEALERSHIP RIGHT AWAY SINCE THIS IS A LEASED BRAND NEW CAR, THE DEALERSHIP DID NOT RESPOND TO THE COMPLAINT IN ANYWAY, THE CAR HAS BEEN FIXED BUT STILL CONTINUES TO HAVE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS AND THE DEALERSHIP NOR THE MANUFACTURER WANT TO TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY. *TR Look up ODI 10313460 at NHTSA ↗	73.7% ODI 10427712 · 41,000 mi TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET COBALT SS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE SHUT OFF AND THE KEYS WOULD NOT REMOVE FROM THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE ARE NO RECALLS OR WARRANTIES ADDRESSING THIS FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,000. Look up ODI 10427712 at NHTSA ↗	333.3% ODI 10569294 · 34,000 mi TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY WOULD NOT RELEASE FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH. IN ADDITION, THE ENGINE FAILED TO TURN OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE IGNITION SOLENDER WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,000. Look up ODI 10569294 at NHTSA ↗
Fuel/Propulsion System	55.3% ODI 10466717 · 69,000 mi TL* 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. Look up ODI 10466717 at NHTSA ↗	63.2% ODI 10643229 · 65,666 mi WANTED TO CHANGE OIL; HAD SMELLED GASOLINE FROM TIME TO TIME; CLOSER INSPECTION SHOWED LEAK AT FUEL TANK AREA. COULD NOT DRIVE DUE TO RISK OF INJURY TO FAMILY, INCLUDING TWO-YEAR-OLD CHILD. *TR Look up ODI 10643229 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Engine	66.3% ODI 10568897 · 90,000 mi TL* 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 OPERATED NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND NO SOLUTION WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000. *TR Look up ODI 10568897 at NHTSA ↗	31.6% ODI 10573809 · 38,000 mi DECEMBER 29, 2011, I WAS DRIVING HOME ONE EVENING IN THE COBALT WHEN MY CAR'S ENGINE SHUT OFF AND I LOST CONTROL ON A SEMI-RESIDENTIAL A FEW BLOCKS FROM HOME. DRIVING AT ABOUT 35-45 MP, DOWNHILL, I HIT A PARKED CAR ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ROAD (NARROW ROAD, CARS PARKED ON BOTH SIDES, 2-WAY STREET). I THOUGHT, "I'M GOING TO DIE". THIS IMPACT MADE THE CAR CONTINUE ON, FASTER AND MORE OUT OF CONTROL, HITTING ANOTHER PARKED VEHICLE ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE STREET AND I FINALLY WAS ABLE TO STOP THE CAR BY HITTING THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT WHEEL/B… Look up ODI 10573809 at NHTSA ↗	111.1% ODI 10678724 · 201,000 mi VECHICAL STARTED MAKING A LOUD NOISE AND ALL OF A SUDDEN IT BLEW UP IN FLAMES. *TR Look up ODI 10678724 at NHTSA ↗
Steering	22.1% ODI 10295861 · 6,000 mi OWN A 2008 CHEVROLET COBALT. WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT 70 MPH AROUND A CURVE WHEN THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT AND THE POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON THE DASH. I CAME VERY CLOSE TO CRASHING BECAUSE OF THE DIFFICULTY OF STEERING. PULLED OVER AT NEXT EXIT AND COULD NOT FIND A POWER STEERING RESERVOIR OR ANYTHING. WHEN I TURNED THE CAR BACK ON IT WAS FINE. LOOKED THE PROBLEM UP ONLINE THIS MORNING AND FOUND SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE HAVING SAME PROBLEM. THEY TOOK THEIR CAR TO THE DEALER TO GET THE PROBLEM FIXED AND FOUND OUT THAT THE CAR HAS EL… Look up ODI 10295861 at NHTSA ↗	42.1% ODI 10313500 · 3,000 mi MAKING LEFT TURN. WHEEL TURNED ABOUT 45 DEGREES AND STUCK. AFTER COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP, I COULD TURN WHEEL FREELY. WHEEL OFTEN SLIPS LEFT OR RIGHT FOR NO APPARENT REASON, AS THOUGH IT NEEDS AN ALIGNMENT. ONLY THREE MONTHS AND 3,000 MILES OLD. *TR Look up ODI 10313500 at NHTSA ↗	333.3% ODI 10491634 · 45,528 mi THE STEERING GOT EXTREMELY HARD AND A WARNING CAME ON. *TR Look up ODI 10491634 at NHTSA ↗

Darker cells indicate a larger share of submitted complaints. Components overlap. This measures complaint composition, not failure probability.

Failure mileage by component

Median and middle 50% of usable owner-reported mileages. Ranges require at least five records.

Component failure mileage distribution
Component	Mileage range (25th–75th percentile)	Median	Usable records	Examples
Service Brakes, Hydraulic	6,325–18,750 mi	14,000 mi	58	ODI 10263799 · 16,000 mi PREMATURE REAR BRAKE WEAR ON INSIDE BRAKE PADS, ROTORS SCORED FROM PAD FAILURE. FAULTY EQUIPMENT. GM WOULD NOT COVER UNDER WARRANTY AT ONLY 16,000MILES. TR Look up ODI 10263799 at NHTSA ↗ ODI 10263925 · 20,700 mi TERRIBLE PREMATURE WEAR OF REAR BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS ON 2008 CHEVROLET COBALT SS TURBOCHARGED WITH ROUGHLY 20,000 MILES... INSIDE PAD AND INWARD FACING SIDE OF ROTORS SHOW GREAT DAMAGE. VERY DEEP GAUGES TO INWARD SIDE OF BOTH REAR ROTORS. VERY COMMON PROBLEM ON ALL 2008-2009 COBALT SS TURBOCHARGED VEHICLES. TR Look up ODI 10263925 at NHTSA ↗ ODI 10265406 · 10,000 mi REAR ROTORS FAILURE. MASSIVE SCORING ON REAR BRAKES DUE TO GM POOR QUALITY IN BRAKES. GRINDING NOISE WHEN STOPPING. *TR Look up ODI 10265406 at NHTSA ↗
Service Brakes	52,975–84,700 mi	68,250 mi	6	ODI 10459533 · 48,066 mi EXCESSIVE WEAR ON REAR BRAKES, CAUSING UNTIMELY REPLACEMENT. REAR BRAKES WEAR MORE QUICKLY THAN FRONTS CAUSING UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITIONS. TR Look up ODI 10459533 at NHTSA ↗ ODI 10461404 · 21,000 mi THE REAR BRAKE PADS ARE WORN SEVERELY UNEVENLY. THE INSIDE PADS ARE DOWN TO METAL WHILE THE OUTSIDE PADS ARE STILL AT LEAST 50%. THE ROTORS ARE DEEPLY SCORED BECAUSE OF THE WEAR. TR Look up ODI 10461404 at NHTSA ↗ ODI 10588479 · 90,000 mi AFTER CLIMBING A STEEP DRIVEWAY, BRAKES WENT TO THE FLOOR WHEN PULLING OUT ONTO MAIN ROAD. BRAKES WOULD STOP BUT CONTINUED TO GO TO FLOOR IF 1) BRAKES WERE PUT ON PART OF THE WAY; RELEASE AND THEN PUT ON TO STOP AGAIN OR 2) FOOT STAYED ON BRAKE PEDAL UPON STOPPING. IT WAS NOT A SUDDEN DROP BUT A CONTINUOUS MOVEMENT OF THE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR. TOOK TO SOUTHTOWNE CHEVROLET IN NEWNAN, GA AND AFTER A COUPLE OF ATTEMPTS TO REPAIR THE BRAKES (REPLACING FRONT BRAKES, ETC) A FORMAN RODE WITH ME AND THEY ENDED UP HAVING TO FLUSH THE HYDRAULIC SYSTEM TO G… Look up ODI 10588479 at NHTSA ↗
Engine	69,100–85,500 mi	71,000 mi	6	ODI 10568897 · 90,000 mi TL* 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 OPERATED NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND NO SOLUTION WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000. TR Look up ODI 10568897 at NHTSA ↗ ODI 10576116 · 72,000 mi ON AT LEAST THREE OCCASIONS THE KEY IN THE IGNITION HAS MOVED TO THE OFF POSITION WHILE DRIVING. TR Look up ODI 10576116 at NHTSA ↗ ODI 10616356 · 40,000 mi 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 10/30/14CN UPDATED 7/9/2015JS THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED. THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED TWICE. THE AIRBAG PRETENSIONER FAILED. UPDATED 7/9/2015 *JS Look up ODI 10616356 at NHTSA ↗
Fuel/Propulsion System	Too few reports for a range	69,500 mi	4 (sparse)	ODI 10466717 · 69,000 mi TL* 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. Look up ODI 10466717 at NHTSA ↗ ODI 10579304 · 98,000 mi 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. GMWAS VERY RUDE ALL THE SAID WAS TAKE OTHER KEYS OFF RING AND WOULD NOT FIX AT THE TIME THE IGNITION. AND WOULDN'T REIMBURSE THE COST OF THE FUEL PUMP. THIS WAS THREE MONTHS AGO BEFORE RECALLS I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO GET THE IGNITION … Look up ODI 10579304 at NHTSA ↗ ODI 10618900 · 45,000 mi CAR BEGAN HAVING A GASOLINE SMELL. AS OF TODAY, THE SMELL IS MUCH MORE EXTREME. *TR Look up ODI 10618900 at NHTSA ↗
Parking Brake	5,000–15,000 mi	15,000 mi	5	ODI 10278867 · 4,000 mi THE REAR BRAKE ROTORS ON BOTH SIDES ARE SEVERELY GROOVED ON THE INNER AND OUTER SURFACES. THE INNER BRAKE PADS ON BOTH SIDES ARE WORN NOTICEABLY MORE THAN THE OUTER PADS. THE BRAKES MAKE A GRINDING NOISE. THE PARKING BRAKE DOESN'T HOLD THE CAR IN PLACE. THIS IS AT 4K MILES. *TR Look up ODI 10278867 at NHTSA ↗ ODI 10288545 · 17,000 mi 2008 CHEVY COBALT SS UNDER NORMAL DRIVING AND BRAKING CONDITIONS THE REAR DISK BRAKES WEAR UNEVENLY AND FAIL PREMATURELY. INCIDENT 1: 0% PAD MATERIAL ON INNER LININGS ON BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT REAR WHEELS WITH >80% MATERIAL OUTBOARD PADS. FAILURE OCCURRED WITH ABOUT 17K MILES. ON INSPECTION IT WAS OBSERVED THAT GM HAD FAILED TO APPLY LUTRICANT TO THE GUIDE PINS OF CALIPERS. REPLACEMENT OF ROTORS AND PADS WAS REQUIRED. INCIDENT 2: SAME FAILURE AS INCIDENT 1. 0% PAD MATERIAL ON INNER LININGS OF BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT REAR WHEELS WITH >80% MAT… Look up ODI 10288545 at NHTSA ↗ ODI 10288651 · 15,000 mi 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, BUT I HAD NEITHER EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM UP UNTIL THEN. 2. THE FAILURE OCCURS WITH THE PARKING BRAKE MECHANISM. THE PARKING BRAKE FUNCTIONS BY ENGAGING THE INSIDE BRAKE PAD ON THE REAR BRAKES. THERE IS A RETURN SPRING THAT IS SUPPO… Look up ODI 10288651 at NHTSA ↗
Unknown Or Other	10,500–130,000 mi	72,000 mi	5	ODI 10283694 · 100 mi MY REAR BRAKE WERE SCORED UP AND SQUEAK EVER SINCE I GOT THE CAR BRAND NEW. AFTER A LITTLE BIT OF STOP AND GO TRAFFIC THE REAR BRAKES BEGAN TO SQUEAK WHEN BRAKE IS APPLIED TO GRADUALLY SLOW TO A STOP. TR Look up ODI 10283694 at NHTSA ↗ ODI 10307352 · 10,500 mi 2008 CHEVROLET COBALT SS - TURBOCHARGED. REAR BRAKES GOING BAD QUICKLY AND RUINING ROTORS. Look up ODI 10307352 at NHTSA ↗ ODI 10576116 · 72,000 mi ON AT LEAST THREE OCCASIONS THE KEY IN THE IGNITION HAS MOVED TO THE OFF POSITION WHILE DRIVING. TR Look up ODI 10576116 at NHTSA ↗
Air Bags	Too few reports for a range	72,500 mi	4 (sparse)	ODI 10573016 · 51,000 mi 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 "SHOULD" IT COME ON AGAIN TO BRING IT BACK IN. WITH THE RECALLS GOING ON NOW AND MY YEAR OF CAR IS NOT IS THIS RECALL REALLY??? $22,000 ON A SPORTS CAR WHICH BY THE WAY IS TURBO CHARGED AND I HAVE AN AIR BAG ISSUE STILL..GOOD TH… Look up ODI 10573016 at NHTSA ↗ ODI 10579304 · 98,000 mi 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. GMWAS VERY RUDE ALL THE SAID WAS TAKE OTHER KEYS OFF RING AND WOULD NOT FIX AT THE TIME THE IGNITION. AND WOULDN'T REIMBURSE THE COST OF THE FUEL PUMP. THIS WAS THREE MONTHS AGO BEFORE RECALLS I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO GET THE IGNITION … Look up ODI 10579304 at NHTSA ↗ ODI 10616356 · 40,000 mi 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 10/30/14CN UPDATED 7/9/2015JS THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED. THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED TWICE. THE AIRBAG PRETENSIONER FAILED. UPDATED 7/9/2015 *JS Look up ODI 10616356 at NHTSA ↗
Electrical System	Too few reports for a range	90,000 mi	3 (sparse)	ODI 10568897 · 90,000 mi TL* 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 OPERATED NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND NO SOLUTION WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000. *TR Look up ODI 10568897 at NHTSA ↗ ODI 10610338 · 13,000 mi 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 … Look up ODI 10610338 at NHTSA ↗ ODI 11052151 · 179,000 mi 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. Look up ODI 11052151 at NHTSA ↗

Complaint and recall timeline

Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.

ComponentPeriod

Solid line: filed complaints. Dashed amber lines: recall announcement dates for this vehicle selection; markers include all recall components. The latest month is partial. Temporal proximity does not establish causation.

Monthly counts, recall campaigns and complaint examples

Monthly complaint and recall timeline
Month	Campaigns announced	Examples
2024-10	None	No examples available for this selection.
2024-11	None	No examples available for this selection.
2024-12	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-01	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-02	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-03	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-04	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-05	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-06	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-07	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-08	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-09	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-10	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-11	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-12	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-01	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-02	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-03	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-04	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-05	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-06	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-07	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-08	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-09 (partial)	None	No examples available for this selection.

Emerging complaint spikes

Complete months in the latest six months with at least 10 complaints, at least twice the preceding 12-month average, and at least three square-root deviations above that average.

This is a descriptive screening rule, not a statistical defect finding. Publicity and reporting changes can increase submissions.

No complete months meet the spike thresholds for this selection.

Equal-age model-year comparison

Model-wide cumulative reports during the first three or five calendar years, starting with the model year (age 0). Only fully elapsed windows are compared.

Observation windowFirst model yearSecond model year

2009: 159 complaints · 2010: 2 complaints

Equal observation windows
Model year	Through age 0	Through age 1	Through age 2
2009	80	137	159
2010	0	1	2

Date coverage across each selected cohort

Date basis for all complaints in selected model years
Year	Incident dates used	Filing date fallbacks	Excluded dates
2009	187	0	3
2010	9	0	0

Incident date is preferred when valid and no later than filing; otherwise filing date is used. Model year approximates age. Equal observation time does not adjust for sales, distance driven or reporting delays. One complaint linked to multiple model years can appear in each cohort.

Components reported together

Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.

Component co-occurrence matrix
Component	Service Brakes, Hydraulic	Service Brakes	Engine	Fuel/Propulsion System	Parking Brake	Unknown Or Other	Air Bags	Electrical System
Service Brakes, Hydraulic	—	0	0	0	4 ODI 10278867 · 4,000 mi THE REAR BRAKE ROTORS ON BOTH SIDES ARE SEVERELY GROOVED ON THE INNER AND OUTER SURFACES. THE INNER BRAKE PADS ON BOTH SIDES ARE WORN NOTICEABLY MORE THAN THE OUTER PADS. THE BRAKES MAKE A GRINDING NOISE. THE PARKING BRAKE DOESN'T HOLD THE CAR IN PLACE. THIS IS AT 4K MILES. TR Look up ODI 10278867 at NHTSA ↗ ODI 10288545 · 17,000 mi 2008 CHEVY COBALT SS UNDER NORMAL DRIVING AND BRAKING CONDITIONS THE REAR DISK BRAKES WEAR UNEVENLY AND FAIL PREMATURELY. INCIDENT 1: 0% PAD MATERIAL ON INNER LININGS ON BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT REAR WHEELS WITH >80% MATERIAL OUTBOARD PADS. FAILURE OCCURRED WITH ABOUT 17K MILES. ON INSPECTION IT WAS OBSERVED THAT GM HAD FAILED TO APPLY LUTRICANT TO THE GUIDE PINS OF CALIPERS. REPLACEMENT OF ROTORS AND PADS WAS REQUIRED. INCIDENT 2: SAME FAILURE AS INCIDENT 1. 0% PAD MATERIAL ON INNER LININGS OF BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT REAR WHEELS WITH >80% MAT… Look up ODI 10288545 at NHTSA ↗ ODI 10351770 · 5,000 mi MY REAR ROTORS HAVE SCARRED SO BAD IT IS AFFECTING BRAKING, AND THEY HAVE ALREADY BEEN REPLACED ONCE. THEY ARE NOISY, DANGEROUS, AND VISUALLY UNPLEASING. TR Look up ODI 10351770 at NHTSA ↗	0	0	0
Service Brakes	0	—	1 ODI 10692791 · 68,800 mi 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 G… Look up ODI 10692791 at NHTSA ↗	0	0	0	0	0
Engine	0	1 ODI 10692791 · 68,800 mi 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 G… Look up ODI 10692791 at NHTSA ↗	—	1 ODI 11144570 · 70,000 mi 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 FL… Look up ODI 11144570 at NHTSA ↗	0	2 ODI 10576116 · 72,000 mi ON AT LEAST THREE OCCASIONS THE KEY IN THE IGNITION HAS MOVED TO THE OFF POSITION WHILE DRIVING. *TR Look up ODI 10576116 at NHTSA ↗ ODI 11052151 · 179,000 mi 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. Look up ODI 11052151 at NHTSA ↗	1 ODI 10616356 · 40,000 mi 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 10/30/14CN UPDATED 7/9/2015JS THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED. THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED TWICE. THE AIRBAG PRETENSIONER FAILED. UPDATED 7/9/2015 *JS Look up ODI 10616356 at NHTSA ↗	2 ODI 10568897 · 90,000 mi TL* 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 OPERATED NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND NO SOLUTION WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000. *TR Look up ODI 10568897 at NHTSA ↗ ODI 11052151 · 179,000 mi 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. Look up ODI 11052151 at NHTSA ↗
Fuel/Propulsion System	0	0	1 ODI 11144570 · 70,000 mi 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 FL… Look up ODI 11144570 at NHTSA ↗	—	0	0	1 ODI 10579304 · 98,000 mi 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. GMWAS VERY RUDE ALL THE SAID WAS TAKE OTHER KEYS OFF RING AND WOULD NOT FIX AT THE TIME THE IGNITION. AND WOULDN'T REIMBURSE THE COST OF THE FUEL PUMP. THIS WAS THREE MONTHS AGO BEFORE RECALLS I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO GET THE IGNITION … Look up ODI 10579304 at NHTSA ↗	0
Parking Brake	4 ODI 10278867 · 4,000 mi THE REAR BRAKE ROTORS ON BOTH SIDES ARE SEVERELY GROOVED ON THE INNER AND OUTER SURFACES. THE INNER BRAKE PADS ON BOTH SIDES ARE WORN NOTICEABLY MORE THAN THE OUTER PADS. THE BRAKES MAKE A GRINDING NOISE. THE PARKING BRAKE DOESN'T HOLD THE CAR IN PLACE. THIS IS AT 4K MILES. TR Look up ODI 10278867 at NHTSA ↗ ODI 10288545 · 17,000 mi 2008 CHEVY COBALT SS UNDER NORMAL DRIVING AND BRAKING CONDITIONS THE REAR DISK BRAKES WEAR UNEVENLY AND FAIL PREMATURELY. INCIDENT 1: 0% PAD MATERIAL ON INNER LININGS ON BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT REAR WHEELS WITH >80% MATERIAL OUTBOARD PADS. FAILURE OCCURRED WITH ABOUT 17K MILES. ON INSPECTION IT WAS OBSERVED THAT GM HAD FAILED TO APPLY LUTRICANT TO THE GUIDE PINS OF CALIPERS. REPLACEMENT OF ROTORS AND PADS WAS REQUIRED. INCIDENT 2: SAME FAILURE AS INCIDENT 1. 0% PAD MATERIAL ON INNER LININGS OF BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT REAR WHEELS WITH >80% MAT… Look up ODI 10288545 at NHTSA ↗ ODI 10351770 · 5,000 mi MY REAR ROTORS HAVE SCARRED SO BAD IT IS AFFECTING BRAKING, AND THEY HAVE ALREADY BEEN REPLACED ONCE. THEY ARE NOISY, DANGEROUS, AND VISUALLY UNPLEASING. TR Look up ODI 10351770 at NHTSA ↗	0	0	0	—	0	0	0
Unknown Or Other	0	0	2 ODI 10576116 · 72,000 mi ON AT LEAST THREE OCCASIONS THE KEY IN THE IGNITION HAS MOVED TO THE OFF POSITION WHILE DRIVING. *TR Look up ODI 10576116 at NHTSA ↗ ODI 11052151 · 179,000 mi 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. Look up ODI 11052151 at NHTSA ↗	0	0	—	0	1 ODI 11052151 · 179,000 mi 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. Look up ODI 11052151 at NHTSA ↗
Air Bags	0	0	1 ODI 10616356 · 40,000 mi 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 10/30/14CN UPDATED 7/9/2015JS THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED. THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED TWICE. THE AIRBAG PRETENSIONER FAILED. UPDATED 7/9/2015 *JS Look up ODI 10616356 at NHTSA ↗	1 ODI 10579304 · 98,000 mi 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. GMWAS VERY RUDE ALL THE SAID WAS TAKE OTHER KEYS OFF RING AND WOULD NOT FIX AT THE TIME THE IGNITION. AND WOULDN'T REIMBURSE THE COST OF THE FUEL PUMP. THIS WAS THREE MONTHS AGO BEFORE RECALLS I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO GET THE IGNITION … Look up ODI 10579304 at NHTSA ↗	0	0	—	0
Electrical System	0	0	2 ODI 10568897 · 90,000 mi TL* 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 OPERATED NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND NO SOLUTION WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000. *TR Look up ODI 10568897 at NHTSA ↗ ODI 11052151 · 179,000 mi 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. Look up ODI 11052151 at NHTSA ↗	0	0	1 ODI 11052151 · 179,000 mi 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. Look up ODI 11052151 at NHTSA ↗	0	—

Co-reporting does not establish that one component caused another concern.

Recurring narrative patterns

Specific keyword mentions beyond broad component labels. Matching includes negations and comparisons and does not confirm a diagnosis.

Search patterns

5 patterns with matching reports.

Fuel smell or leak mentions

3 mentions · 3.2% of complaints

Median mileage: 56,000 mi (3 usable records).

ODI 10457685 · 56,000 mi

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 INCLUDED. MY CAR IS CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN TX, BUT IT IS A CA VEHICLE. OVERWHELMING ODOR INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF VEHICLE. EXTREME FIRE DANGER!!!!! *TR

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ODI 10618900 · 45,000 mi

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

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ODI 11144570 · 70,000 mi

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 FL…

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Matching rule

\b(fuel leak\w*|gas leak\w*|gas(?:oline)? smell|smell\w* (?:of )?(?:fuel|gas))\b

Brake response concerns

2 mentions · 2.1% of complaints

Median mileage: 50,000 mi (2 usable records).

ODI 10323560 · 10,000 mi

EVERYTHING WAS FINE UNTIL ABOUT 6000 MILES WHEN I NOTICED SLIGHT BRAKE NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR BRAKES. I DIDNT NOTICE THE GROVES IN THE ROTORS UNTIL AFTER I GOT STUCK ON INTERSTATE 465 IN THE SNOW BECAUSE THE BACK BRAKES WERE DRAGGING. I KNOW THE BACK BRAKES WERE DRAGGING BECAUSE I HAD TO PUT MY CAR INTO FIRST GEAR AND PUSH MY OWN CAR WITH THE DOOR OPEN. I KNOW BAD IDEA. I NOTICED THAT THE REAR TIRES DIDN'T START ROLLING UNTIL THEY GOT TO CLEAN PAVEMENT. THERE WAS LESS THAN ONE INCH OF SNOW ON THE ROADS. IT TOOK ME TWO HOURS TO GET HOME FROM…

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ODI 10588479 · 90,000 mi

AFTER CLIMBING A STEEP DRIVEWAY, BRAKES WENT TO THE FLOOR WHEN PULLING OUT ONTO MAIN ROAD. BRAKES WOULD STOP BUT CONTINUED TO GO TO FLOOR IF 1) BRAKES WERE PUT ON PART OF THE WAY; RELEASE AND THEN PUT ON TO STOP AGAIN OR 2) FOOT STAYED ON BRAKE PEDAL UPON STOPPING. IT WAS NOT A SUDDEN DROP BUT A CONTINUOUS MOVEMENT OF THE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR. TOOK TO SOUTHTOWNE CHEVROLET IN NEWNAN, GA AND AFTER A COUPLE OF ATTEMPTS TO REPAIR THE BRAKES (REPLACING FRONT BRAKES, ETC) A FORMAN RODE WITH ME AND THEY ENDED UP HAVING TO FLUSH THE HYDRAULIC SYSTEM TO G…

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Matching rule

Stalling or loss of power

2 mentions · 2.1% of complaints

Median mileage: 90,000 mi (1 usable records).

ODI 10566895

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ODI 10568897 · 90,000 mi

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Matching rule

\b(stall\w*|loss of power|lost power|engine shut\w* off)\b

Warning lights and dashboard alerts

2 mentions · 2.1% of complaints

Median mileage: 40,000 mi (1 usable records).

ODI 10566895

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ODI 10616356 · 40,000 mi

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

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Matching rule

\b(warning light\w*|check engine|dashboard warning\w*|malfunction indicator)\b

Steering assistance concerns

1 mentions · 1.1% of complaints

Median mileage: 6,000 mi (1 usable records).

ODI 10295861 · 6,000 mi

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Matching rule

\b(power steer\w*|steering assist\w*|steering lock\w*|steering wheel lock\w*)\b