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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 1
Average Mileage:
53,881 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2008 Chevrolet Cobalt electrical problems

electrical problem

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2008 Chevrolet Cobalt Owner Comments

problem #11

May 142014

Cobalt

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated that the key failed to turn in the ignition until after several attempts. The failure recurred intermittently. The vehicle was recently repaired under NHTSA campaign id number: 12V486000 (electrical system, visibility) however, the remedy was insufficient and the failure persisted. The manufacturer was not notified of the issue. The failure mileage was unavailable.

- Corpus Christi, TX, USA

problem #10

Jul 032014

Cobalt

  • 147,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt. After the ignition switch had been repaired, the contact experienced difficulty starting the vehicle after it had been parked for short periods of time. The contact smelled fuel vapors inside and outside the vehicle. An independent mechanic discovered that the fuel pump assembly was leaking on top of the tank. The manufacturer stated that the VIN was excluded from NHTSA campaign number: 12V459000 (fuel system, gasoline). The manufacturer was notified. The approximate failure mileage was 147,000.

- Greensboro, NC, USA

problem #9

Dec 212008

Cobalt

  • 7,000 miles
Ignition 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt. December 21,2008 changed my life forever. Driver was killed in a one car crash, where her and her car were thru to the street below on 6-35 and high dr. The car went airborne she was thrown out the car but was saved enough to be transported to the hospital where she later died. The car was not so lucky it landed and rolled to a stop at the bottom of the bridge, in which the car was scatter in many pieces. There was physical not much left of the car. The car would have been going the speed limit it would have by passed the opening and landed on the other side but because it was slow going it resulted in her death. There was a reenactment done but the finding were in conclusive on how she died. She lost control after getting on the highway. I checked for recall on her 2008 Cobalt and there were none at the time of her death. Her older sister want to know if this could have been a result of the power steering problem. I started looking for recall right after her death and did not find any and did not know what to do but now this national recalls for the Toyota then the voluntary recall done with GM recently opened our eyes that this young woman death could be the result of faulty car. Please let me know what is need to be done to file this complaint. We have suffered a great loss. She was a good drive and the conclusion that has been made has been none. We just don't know what happened. This was report several time back in 3/ 2010 and 6/10 as complaint with the steering.... I have contact GM as of recently because recalls and her call was one of the parts that was in that recent ignition issues. There were not skid mark with the reenactment done there was no reason why her call did not show brake or skids. I believe this to be part of the recall cover up my GM!!!!!

- Kansas City , MO, USA

problem #8

Nov 212013

Cobalt

  • 78,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt. While driving various speeds, the vehicle stalled without warning. The failure recurred several times. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who replaced the ignition switch however, the failure recurred. The contact placed the gear in neutral and was able to shift into drive, but the vehicle continued to stall several times. The vehicle was included in NHTSA campaign number 14V171000 (electrical system), but the contact was notified of the recall after the failure had occurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 78,000.

- Silsbee, TX, USA

problem #7

Apr 092014

Cobalt 4-cyl

  • 137,000 miles
The key locked causing car to roll forward. I attempted to remove key but electrical system was disabled. I was not able to restart auto until jump starting it. Then the check engine light appeared and the traction control off warning appeared. Additionally, the power steering light indicated it was off. No injuries occurred as I was coming to a stop when incident happened. When driving my auto to the dealer, I noticed the RPM reached 4500 at about 50 mph. Steering took some effort without power steering.

- Shepherd, TX, USA

problem #6

Mar 092011

Cobalt 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 31,695 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated that the key would not remove from the ignition. As a result, it was difficult to start the vehicle. The contact also stated that on the last attempt to start the vehicle, the key fractured. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer and was repaired. The failure mileage was 31,695 and the current mileage was 43,396. Updated 05/10/12

- Dallas, TX, USA

problem #5

Jan 122011

Cobalt

  • 45,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact was driving 35 mph when the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact was unable to remove the key from the ignition while the steering column froze. The vehicle was towed to the dealer who diagnosed the failure as the ignition lock cylinder needing to be replaced. The manufacturer was contacted but offered no assistance. The vehicle was repaired. The failure mileage was 45,000 and the current mileage was 52,948.

- Aurora, IN, USA

problem #4

Nov 012010

Cobalt 4-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • 54,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact received recall notice 10V073000 steering electric power assists system in August of 2010. The dealership advised him that they could not schedule an appointment, because the part wasn't available. On November 1, 2010 while the contact attempted to start the vehicle the steering wheel locked. She was unable to unlock the steering and was not able to turn the key in the ignition. The vehicle was towed to the dealership for diagnostic testing which determined that the power steering column caused the failure to occur. The manufacturer will be contacted. The vehicle wasn't repaired. The failure and the current mileages were 54,000. Updated 01/31/11 the ignition lock cylinder was replaced. Updated 04/18/11

- Stilwell , OK, USA

problem #3

Aug 132010

Cobalt

  • 48,000 miles
2008 Chevy Cobalt. Won't turn off and key won't turn or come out.

- Greenwood, AR, USA

problem #2

Jul 102009

Cobalt

  • 20,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact made several attempts to start the vehicle and was unsuccessful. The vehicle was towed to an authorized dealer for inspection. The failure was contributed to the ignition cylinder. The vehicle was repaired per the service warranty. On three separate occasions the dealer replaced the ignition cylinder. The contact had concerns of the safety risk involved. The failure mileage was 20,000 and the current mileage was 28,000.

- Parma, OH, USA

problem #1

Feb 152009

Cobalt

  • 25,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt. When the contact parked the vehicle, the engine would not turn off. The keys would not remove from the ignition. The contact had to remove the fuse from the fuel pump in order to shut off the engine. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and they repaired the failure. The failure mileage was 25,000.

- Columbia, MD, USA

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