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.
The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt. While driving approximately 30 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning. As a result, the contact crashed the vehicle into a ditch. There were no injuries. The cause of the failure was not diagnosed, but an independent mechanic repaired the vehicle. The manufacturer was notified. The failure mileage was 139,812. Updated 09/30/14 the recall repair was was completed by 7/20/14. The vehicle had experienced any further failures. Updated 2/24/2015
The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated that while driving approximately 20 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle restarted and the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where the repairs were unknown. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 80,000. The VIN was not available. Updated 10/22/14
The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated that the driver was traveling 55 mph and drove over a pot hole when the vehicle suddenly stalled, causing the driver to crash into a tree. The air bags failed to deploy. The force of the impact caused the vehicle to explode, causing fatal injuries to a passenger. The driver was removed from the vehicle within seconds of the explosion however, the passenger could not be rescued. A police report was filed. The driver was transported to the hospital for treatment of severe bruising, lacerations and fractures to both legs. The vehicle was destroyed. The contact referenced NHTSA campaign number: 14V047000 ( air bags, electrical system) and stated that the recall notification was not received until after the incident. The VIN and failure mileage was not available.
While traveling, the vehicle started to jerk as if the brakes were being applied. Contacted the dealer and was informed that this is common in the Cobalts until the car knows your driving habits. Same occurrence in the 2007 Cobalt. The dealer had to adjust the transmission. Dealer will not take action as to date for this issue stating that it hasn't had a chance to adjust to the driving habits. We had the car for more than a few months and put over 3000 miles on it. Car doesn't feel safe to drive on major highways. Dealer is made aware of this. Informed by dealer, not a safety issue.
I was driving my Chevy Cobalt when I arrived at the gas station I could not turn off the car. The key was stuck in the driving position and would not release. I then proceeded to go to my father's house to try and have him help me remove the key and shut off the car. He was not able to as well. I then called a Chevrolet dealer located on sw 152 St in miami, fl where I was told that this was a recall problem and that I should;D bring in the vehicle but that it would take about a week to fix. On the way there, my car began to overheat. I then pulled over and tried again to attempt to shut off the car and remove the key. The car reached 300 degrees Fahrenheit and soon after shut off, leaving me stranded with my two small children. I had the car towed to a mechanic in hialeah, fl where I was told that the engine was blown due to the car overheating. I then called GM and explained this to them, I then was advised to call the service manager at miami lakes Chevrolet. The car has since been towed there as I was told the car would need to be diagnosed. However, miami lakes Chevrolet is now hassling me that they can not touch my vehicle because it is a rebuilt title vehicle, although I have repeatedly explained that had my car been able to be cut off then it would not have overheated to it's maximum and I would still have a vehicle. I am very upset as I was unaware of the key ignition recall and I am now left carless which is my livihood for my kids and family as well as I am still making payments on a vehicle which is not functioning due to a recall I had not clue about!
- Miami, FL, USA
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My keys can be taken out while car is still running. Also the switch sticks and you have to play with it to get it to turn. I call GM and was told that 2008 Cobalts are not on recall.the key has came out while driving. GM call center told me to take to dealer have it checked I am afraid that they will charge me to replace it and just ignore the problem on the 2008 Cobalt.
Ignition switch jams; air bag light stays on; cruise control stopped working; airconditioner stopped working; tire light stays on; engine light stays on; and now heater is barely working.
On my way home from work in heavy traffic in indianapolis, someone in front of me hit their brakes hard. As a result, I also had to slam on my brakes. When I did so, my rear end spun out. I lost power steering. I crashed head first into the concrete median. However, the airbag did not deploy. Luckily, I escaped severe injury; although the wreck, the resulting loss of power steering, and the fact that the airbag did not deploy were directly due to the negligence of General Motors.
The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated that while driving approximately 25 mph, the vehicle suddenly decelerated. The contact shut off the vehicle and once restarted, the vehicle resumed normally. The contact indicated that the failure was recurring. The vehicle was diagnosed by the dealer but the defect could not be duplicated and no repairs were performed. The manufacturer was notified and no solution was offered. The failure mileage was 50,000.
The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated that while driving approximately 15 mph, the vehicle suddenly stalled. The contact stated that after restarting the vehicle, the vehicle operated normally. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the defect. The contact also stated that while driving approximately 20 mph, the power steering sensor light illuminated as the power steering assist failed. The contact indicated that after shutting off and restarting the vehicle, the defect was corrected. The failure was intermittent. The vehicle was neither diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 97,000.
2008 Cobalt, gave us no indication of problems. Now dealer is saying this 5 year old car may have slipped it's timing belt and destroyed it's head and valves requiring a new motor. This should be recalled because Chevy does not recommend timing chain maintenance at a set mileage. It's supposed to last. The fact that such a big engine failure can happen to so many of these cars just 5 month after warranty end at 90 thousand miles makes this a design flaw in my opinion.
My most important issue with my 2008 Cobalt lt is that my engine is gone which I think is horrible and I purchased this car brand new I have been the only owner and have taking very good care of my vehicle, I will never buy a GM product again, through reading all the complaints I cant believe this vehicle hasn't been recalled my car started shaking really bad, and making a loud ticking noise, it was very hard to stop and also steer my vehicle I could have been in a very fatal crash or anything! my car also has the same issue about the speakers they go in and out and work when they want to. But my main issue is my engine in which my car I is longer under warranty and the dealership said it is nothing they can do for me, which I believe is totally absurd considering im still making payments on a vehicle that doesn't work, and is only 5 years old, so basically that means to me they will cover your car for 5 years or 100,000 miles then your just on your own which is horrible, to invest and buy a vehicle brand new and it just breaks down in this magnitude! I am very upset and disappointed that they aren't willing to help, so I will be suing them!
2008 Chevrolet Cobalt. Consumer writes in regards to replacement of sway bars, links, wheel bearing and engine. Vehicle currently has steering wheel mechanical issues.
My vehicle started have a slight gas odor when stopped or parked. Within a couple of days the gas smell from fumes are very strong. I have to drive with the windows down to even use the vehicle (living in Texas is it hot and makes it hotter with the window down) the car seems to now make a clicking noise when starting, and seems to not have the gas mileage that it use to. I am afraid of something igniting the gas with such strong fumes. I called parkway Chevrolet in tomball Texas as was told that a recall was coming, but it was not out yet. I was told that I have to pay out of pocket or fear ignition of the fumes from the vehicle. We are in the middle of international adoption and money is tight. Can you give any indication of when this would be an actual recall" and when it might be mailed out" it saddens me to see that they know a recall is coming and wont fix a vehicle with apparent dangers. Also now my passenger airbag light is coming on saying that it needs attention.
Late 2011 my car starting having issues with the rpms going up and down while I was driving at a steady pace. By Dec 2011 my car smelled like it had a small fuel leak; one that I could only smell while my car was idling. Since February 2012 the smell of gasoline has gone from a faint smell while idling to an almost unbearable smell that I can smell even doing 70+ mph on the freeway. With the fuel lines not allowing enough fuel to be pumped into my engine it also does not like to start if it has been sitting for more than a few hours. I have to turn the key let the engine turn over a few times, let it sit, then attempt to start it up again. Chevy has had this problem with their Cobalt's since they have started making them it seems. They have not fixed the problem with the 2008's they have just chosen to ignore that our cars have this issue as well. When I call the dealership they tell me that the 2008 models do not have the issue that the earlier models had, but they are more than happy to diagnose the problem for me at a cost of $150 and they can fix it at double the price anywhere else because they are a dealership. No thank you! I will not pay Chevy to fix a problem that they have caused and refuse to fix. I do know that I will not be buying another Chevy once I am able to get rid of this car.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Broadhead , KY, USA