NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026
SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME IT HAPPENED. GM HAS ISSUED A MASSIVE RECALL ABOUT THIS BUT REFUSES TO INCLUDE THIS VEHICLE, EVEN THOUGH OTHER 2008 COBALTS ARE COVERED. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY FAILED TO RELEASE FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V171000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE REMEDY FAILED TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.
WHEN THE CAR WAS LEFT RUNNING GAS WAS FOUND LEAKING FROM UNDER THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR. THE CHANNEL THAT THE GAS LINES RUN IN WAS SOAKED IN GAS, A OPEN FLAME WOULD HAVE CAUSED THE CAR TO CATCH FIRE. I HAD THE GAS LINES REPLACED AND THERE WERE 7 LEAKS ON BOTH GAS LINES AND THEY WERE 90% RUSTED FROM THE FRONT OF THE MOTOR TO THE GAS TANK. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET COBALT. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FUEL FUMES EMITTED INTO THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT NOTICED A FUEL LEAK ABOVE THE TANK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR A DIAGNOSTIC OF THE FAILURE. THE TECHNICIAN VERIFIED THERE WAS A FUEL LEAK AND THE FUEL PUMP MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V459000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,297.
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.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHEN THERE WAS A PASSENGER IN THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE AND THE AIR BAGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.
"SERVICE ESC" DASH WARNING CAME ON. BOTH "TRACTION CONTROL AND ESC" DASH LIGHTS WERE LIT. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET COBALT. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED A STRONG SMELL OF FUEL AND ALSO NOTICED A SMALL PUDDLE OF FUEL ON THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE HESITATED BEFORE IT WOULD START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE SEIZED AND THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN AS THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER:10V073000 (STEERING). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATE 15 MPH THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED WITHOUT WARNING AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME HARD TO TURN. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MERGE ONTO THE SIDE OF ROAD. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 10V073000 (STEERING) WAS PERFORMED ONE AND A HALF YEAR AGO; HOWEVER THE REPAIR FAILED TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC PERFORMED. THE MANUFACTURE WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,404.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET COBALT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,500.
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.
I AM USING MY PARTNER'S GRANDPARENT'S 2008 CHEVROLET COBALT LS TO GET BACK AND FOR TO WORK. THIS MORNING I GOT UP AS USUAL, AND WENT OUT TO MY CAR TO LET IT WARM UP. I STARTED MY CAR, MIND YOU I KEEP THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR OPEN BECAUSE MY CAR AUTOMATICALLY LOCKS, AND STARTED THE CAR. DOORS LOCKED AS PER USUAL. HOWEVER, UPON HITTING THE UNLOCK BUTTON ON MY KEY FOB, THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT UNLOCK, PASSENGER SIDE DID. I ROLLED DOWN THE WINDOW AND CLOSED THE DOOR, I DIDN'T HAVE A CHOICE, I HAVE TO WORK. ANYWAY, I HAD TO CLIMB IN THROUGH EITHER THE OPEN WINDOW OR THE PASSENGER SIDE. I CALLED REEDER CHEVROLET IN KNOXVILLE AND THEY STATED THAT IT WOULD BE SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS TO FIX POTENTIALLY ONE OF TWO PARTS IN THE VEHICLE. I WOULDN'T HAVE MINDED IF I HADN'T DONE MY RESEARCH AND FOUND OUT THAT THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL HUNDRED DIFFERENT PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM, AND NO ONE HAS DONE A RECALL ON THIS OR DONE ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THE DEALERS HALF THE TIME SAY THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT IS CAUSING IT OR THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF IT BEFORE. I WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE IT IF SOMEONE ACTUALLY DID A RECALL BECAUSE THIS IS RIDICULOUS. *TR
THE SERVICE TRACTION LIGHT COMES ON AND THEN THE ENGINE LIGHT..... SHIFTS REALLY HARD AND RUNS VERY ROUGH AND FEELS LIKE IT WILL STALL. VERY AFRAID.... BEING TOLD IT IS A CYLINDER MISFIRE... I HAVE READ A LOT ABOUT THIS ON LINE AND FIND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS RELATED TO THIS SAME ISSUE IN THIS SAME MODEL.... PLEASE HELP... I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY MATTER.... COULD STOP IN TRAFFIC OR ON EXPRESSWAY WHICH I TRAVEL EACH DAY. MANY THANKS!
POWER STEERING WENT OUT WHILE I WAS DRIVING AT A SPEED OF 45 MPH. I CHECKED FUSE AND IT WAS BLOWN. I THEN BUT NEW FUSE IN AND STARTED CAR. THE SECOND I STARTED THE CAR THE FUSE BLEW AGAIN. THE STRANG THING WAS THAT EVEN THO THE FUES HAD BLOWN THE POWER STEERING CONTINUED TO WORK UNTIL THE CAR WAS SHUT OFF. ALSO MY RADIO STARTED CHANGING STATIONS BY ITSELF AND AIRBAG WARNING CAME ACROSS THE DASH THEN A COUPLE DAYS AFTER THAT STARTED I WENT TO START THE CAR AND IT WOULDN'T. RADIO, OUTSIDE LIGHTS AND BLINKERS, INTERIOR LIGHTS, AND DASH LIGHTS WOULD ALL STILL WORK, BUT IT SEEMED THAT NO POWER WAS GETTING TO THE STARTER NOR THE FULE PUMP. AT THIS TIME THE CAR STILL WON'T START
I WAS ON MY WAY TO PICK UP MY SISTER, STARTED TO CAR AND IT WOULD NOT TURN WHILE BACKING UP SO I RE-PARK. THE NEXT DAY I TRIED IT AGAIN, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS FINE SO I DROVE THE CAR AGAIN TILL IT HAPPEN AGAIN YESTERDAY, APRIL 22, 2015 AROUND 4P.M. WHEN I WAS DRIVING TO PICK UP MY GRANDSON FROM HIS JOB.. I CAME HOME AND IT IS PARK ON THE LOT. HARD OF STEERING IS WHAT HAPPEN, IT IS A GOOD THING I WAS ONLY GOING THIS SECOND TIME, STARTING FROM A CORNER TURN, SO MY SPEED WAS VERY SLOW. *TR
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
1/10/15, KEPT THINKING I WAS SMELLING GAS WHILE DRIVING FOR SEVERAL WEEKS, THEN ON THE 10TH OF JANUARY 2015 I PULLED IN AND PARKED CAR IN GARAGE. SEVERAL HOURS LATER, I RETURNED AND NOTED A SMALL PUDDLE BY DRIVERS DOOR. I INSPECTED IT AND SMELLED IT, YES IT WAS GASOLINE. I STARTED THE CAR TO MOVE IT BACK TO SEE HOW MUCH IT LEAKED, IT WAS THEN THAT FUEL BEGAN RUNNING OUT EVERYWHERE AROUND MY SHOES, HAD 1/2 TANK. I SHUT OFF THE CAR, AS IT SCARED ME. AND LOW FUEL LIGHT CAME ON. IT STILL SETS I'M MY GARAGE NOW. I NOTED MANY!!! COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME PROBLEM. I AM UPSET AS I WAS NOT AWARE OF THIS AND A FIRE COULD HAVE OCCURRED WITH SMALL CHILDREN IN CAR SEATS IN THE BACK. THANKS GM. *TR
CAR SPLITTERS WHEN PRESSING GAS. CAR WON'T GO BUT 40 MPH WHILE DRIVING AND SHUTS OFF. DASH SHOWS FUEL POWER REDUCTION MESSAGE. CAR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2008 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ODOR OF FUEL PRESENT INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DISCOVERED FUEL LEAKING FROM THE FRONT AND REAR OF THE FUEL TANK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V459000 (FUEL SYSTEM). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
MY FUEL TANK IS LEAKING AND THIS IS APPARENTLY AN ISSUE THAT GM IS AWARE OF, AS THEY HAVE DISCONTINUED THE FUEL TANK. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE SUBJECT TO RECALL. *JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE TURN SIGNAL FLASHER AND THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR LATCHES BECAME INOPERABLE INTERMITTENTLY. ALSO, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE TIRE GAUGES WERE MISREADING THE OPPOSITE TIRES AND WHEN ATTEMPTING TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL A WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
CLUTCH IS LOSING PRESSURE, CAN NOT SHIFT GEARS TO DRIVE THE 2008 CHEVY COBALT LS (MANUAL). MUST PUMP CLUTCH OVER 200 TIMES TO GET PRESSURE BACK. THE CLUTCH PRESSURE GOES OUT WHILE DRIVING ON STREET AND THE HIGHWAYS, MAKING IT NO WAY TO DOWNSHIFT/ SLOW DOWN. COULD CAUSE INJURY TO ALL PASSENGERS. *TR
I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY WHEN I CHANGED LANES AND LOST CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE. MY ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM DID NOT WORK AS IT WAS SUPPOSED TO; MY TRACTION CONTROL DID NOT WORK AS IT WAS SUPPOSE TO, WHICH RESULTED IN ME LOSING CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE AND HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE. A MONTH EARLIER, I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO RANCHO MOTOR COMPANY TO HAVE A RECALL PART ON MY VEHICLE FIXED. THEY NOTICED THAT MY ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS WERE ON. THEY RAN A DIAGNOSTICS TEST ON THE VEHICLE. WHEN I PICKED UP MY VEHICLE, THEY INFORMED ME THERE WAS NOTHING PHYSICALLY WRONG WITH MY VEHICLES ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEMS BUT THE SOFTWARE WAS OUTDATED AND NEEDED TO BE UPDATED. *TR
ON 12/7/14, MY POWER STEERING WENT OUT WHILE I WAS BACKING UP. WHEN I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON A FEW MINUTES LATER, THE POWER STEERING CAME BACK. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP ON 12/12/14 AND WAS TOLD THE STEERING COLUMN WAS FAULTY AND PAID ABOUT $830 FOR IT TO BE REPLACED. ON 2/25/15, THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT AGAIN. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE SAME DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT THE STEERING COLUMN THAT WAS PUT IN TWO MONTHS BEFORE WAS ALSO FAULTY. IT WAS REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE SINCE THE ORIGINAL REPAIR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. ELEVEN DAYS LATER, ON 3/8/15, THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT AGAIN. THIS TIME WHEN I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP, I WAS TOLD THE BATTER CABLES WERE LOSE AND THAT THE BATTERY FAILED THE LOAD TEST, AND THAT THIS IS WHAT WAS CAUSING THE POWER STEERING TO GO OUT THIS TIME, BUT THEY STILL INSISTED THAT IT WAS THE STEERING COLUMNS THE FIRST TWO TIMES. I WAS TOLD IF I PAID FOR THE BATTERY, THE LABOR WOULD BE FREE. I HAD THE BATTERY REPLACED ELSEWHERE AND HAVE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH GM'S CORPORATE CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER AND THE BBB. I WILL ALSO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH THE AZ ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE SINCE THE ISSUE HAS NOT BEEN RECTIFIED. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 10V073000 (STEERING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2008 CHEVROLET COBALT. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED HEAD INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 143,000.
WHILE DRIVING ON THE ROUTE 20 AT ABOUT 50MPH IT STARTED TO RAIN AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY CAR "REDUCED ENGINE POWER" LIGHT WENT ON. MY CAR STARTED SLOWING DOWN AND I HAD TO TURN TO THE CLOSEST STREET SO THAT I WASN'T HIT BY THE CAR BEHIND ME. THIS HAS HAPPENED BEFORE, LAST YEAR WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY DRIVING TO CLEVELAND, MY CAR BEGAN RAPIDLY SLOWING DOWN AND I COULDN'T PICK UP SPEED WHILE PRESSING THE GAS. I TOOK THE NEAREST EXIT AND HAD TO WAIT TWO HOURS BEFORE THE ENGINE LIGHT WOULD TURN OFF. ALSO, WHILE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON, IT ALSO SAYS "TRACTION OFF" AND MY CAR SHAKES. BOTH TIMES IT WAS RAINING, AND I WAS DRIVING AT 50MPR SPEEDS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 168,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET COBALT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH AND MAKING A TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,800.
NOTED FUEL SMELL UNDER CAR. FOUND PUDDLE OF FUEL AND CORRODED FUEL LINES AT A PLASTIC CHASSIS BRACKET. LINES ARE COMING FROM THE PUMP RUNNING FORWARD UNDER THE PASSENGER DOOR. WITNESSED FUEL DRIPPING. FUEL LINES ARE ONLY INCHES FROM EXHAUST PIPE WHICH COULD BE A SOURCE OF IGNITION FIRE. SEVERAL ONLINE DISCUSSION BOARDS MENTION THIS SAME ISSUE AS A PROBLEM WITH THE COBALT. THERE IS A RECALL ON THE FUEL PUMP BUT NOT ON THE FUEL LINES? THIS DEFECT/POOR QUALITY FUEL LINE MATERIAL SHOULD BE RECALLED AS ITS A MAJOR FIRE/SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
OWNER OF A 2008 CHEVY COBALT, RECENTLY STARTED HAVING A STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE IN AND AROUND VEHICLE AFTER DRIVING AND EVEN AFTER THE CAR HAD SAT OVER NIGHT. HAD VEHICLE DIAGNOSED AND WAS TOLD THAT FUEL WAS LEAKING ON TOP OF THE FUEL TANK. UPON RESEARCH I FOUND THAT THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL RECALLS AND MANY COMPLAINTS FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM, BUT RECALLS ARE ONLY IN CERTAIN STATES. I'M SORRY CHEVROLET DOESN'T TAKE THE SAFETY OF IT'S CUSTOMERS SERIOUSLY AS I NO LONGER FEEL SAFE DRIVING MY YOUNG CHILDREN IN THIS CAR. CHEVROLET PLEASE EXPLAIN HOW BEING IN A DIFFERENT STATE CHANGES THE FACT THAT YOU MADE A CAR WITH YET ANOTHER DEFECTIVE PART YET YOU WILL NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR ALL THE VEHICLES THAT YOU PUT IT IN??? *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OF REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000.
ONCE MY IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPAIRED PER THE RECALL, I BEGAN SMELLING GAS INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS COME ON BUT THE SMELL HAS BEEN GETTING WORSE AND WORSE. WHEN THE CAR SITS FOR A LONG OR SHORT PERIOD OF TIME IT HAS DIFFICULTY STARTING; ALSO SINCE THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE BEGAN. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE PUSH BUTTON STARTER WAS DEACTIVATED, THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE DOORS FAILED TO UNLOCK. THE CONTACT ACTIVATED THE REMOTE KEY FOB TO EXIT FROM THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR. IN ADDITION, BOTH TURN SIGNALS BECAME INOPERABLE. THE AIR BAG ON INDICATOR AND TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM FAILED TO FUNCTION. THE FAILURES OCCURRED AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10V073000 (STEERING). THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE WAS MILEAGE 65,306.
STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE. FUEL LEAKING ONTO THE GROUND. REPAIR GARAGE STATED THE PROBLEMS WAS CRACKED PORT ON THE FUEL PUMP EXACTLY LIKE EXISTING RECALL STATES (GM CAMPAIGN NUMBER 12190). ACCORDING TO GM MY VEHICLE IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL EVEN THOUGH IT IS THE SAME MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR, WITH THE SAME DEFECT. THIS RECALL NEEDS TO BE EXPANDED TO INCLUDE OTHER VEHICLES (INCLUDING MY OWN) THAT ARE CLEARLY DEFECTIVE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET COBALT. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO BRAKE, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME EXTREMELY LOOSE AND SHOOK INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT HEARD A SOUND OF PLASTIC BREAKING COMING FROM THE DASHBOARD. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE AXLE, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT STRUTS, FRONT MOUNTS, REAR SHOCKS, AND REAR SPRINGS FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AT THE DEALER, BUT THE CONTACT REPLACED THE FRONT SHOCKS HIMSELF. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT SPOKE TO THE MANUFACTURER WHO STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT ASSIST BECAUSE THE CONTACT REFUSED THE REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THE STUB AXLE WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,507.
STRONG SMELL OF GAS ... GAS LEAKING. *TR
MY CAR SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING FOR THE SECOND TIME SINCE JUNE 25, 2014. THIS TIME IT RESTARTED AND I WAS TOLD TO TAKE IT TO THE GM DEALERSHIP WHICH FIXED IT BEFORE. THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE WAS REPLACED IN JULY AND NOW THE PROBLEM WAS THE MODULE CONNECTORS. BOTH OF WHICH I HAD TO PAY FOR THE COSTLY REPAIRS. GM DOESN'T CARE UNLESS THERE IS A DEATH WITH THESE CARS SHUTTING DOWN WHILE YOU ARE DRIVING THEM. I WAS TOLD GM WOULD NOT STAND BEHIND ANY OF THE REPAIR COSTS BECAUSE I HAD A HIGH MILEAGE VEHICLE. AT WHAT MILEAGE SHOULD YOU EXPECT A GM CAR TO START SHUTTING DOWN WHILE YOU ARE DRIVING? I WASN'T GIVEN THAT INFORMATION WHEN I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE NEW. THE 59 CENT IGNITION SWITCH IS NOT THE ONLY PROBLEM SHUTTING DOWN GM VEHICLES. I HAVE HAD TO PAY OVER $500.00 TO REPAIR THE OTHER PARTS THAT THEY SAY ARE SHUTTING MY VEHICLE DOWN WHILE DRIVING. I HAVE INCURRED TOO MUCH MONEY TO FIX A VEHICLE THAT IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE AND HAS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. I WILL ALSO LOOSE MONEY WHEN TRADING IT BECAUSE OF THIS HISTORY OF THE VEHICLE. MAKE GM DO SOMETHING ABOUT THESE UNSAFE VEHICLES. *TR
THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM DRAINS THE BATTERY CAUSING THE KEYS TO GET STUCK IN THE IGNITION I NEED TO GET A JUMP TO START IT AND THIS IS A NEW BATTERY SIX MONTHS OLD. *TR
SEAT BELT ON PASSENGER SIDE CONTINUOUSLY GOT JAMMED WHILE SEATBELT WAS ON. COULDN'T GET OUT OF SEATBELT, HAD TO CUT SEATBELT OFF. *TR
CAR ROLLED DOWN SLIGHT HILL AFTER TURNING OFF AND EXITING VEHICLE, TRANSMISSION SHIFTER APPEARED TO BE IN PARK BUT OBVIOUSLY NOT AS CAR ROLLED AFTER LEAVING ALONE ON SLIGHT SLOPE. AFTER ACCIDENT, I PLACED KEY IN IGNITION, STARTED CAR BUT WILL NOT BACK UP OR CHANGE POSITION OF GEAR FROM NEUTRAL OR DRIVE. WILL NOT GO BACK INTO PARK. KEY WILL NOT COME OUT OF IGNITION NOW. BUMPER AND RADIATOR ARE DAMAGED AFTER CRASH. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET COBALT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, A CLICKING SOUND EMITTED FROM THE DASHBOARD AND THE KEY BECAME LODGED IN THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE BATTERY POST NEEDED TO BE TIGHTENED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V047000 (AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) AND NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V171000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). HOWEVER, THE PARTS NEEDED WERE UNAVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET COBALT. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT SMELLED FUEL INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE PLASTIC TUBES ATTACHED TO THE FUEL TANK WERE COVERED WITH FUEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000. UPDATED 11/20/14*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY THE DEALER FREE OF CHARGE. UPDATED 5/4/2015 *JS
STRONG FUEL SMELL AFTER DRIVING, NOTICED WET SPOTS ON PLASTIC TUBES GOING INTO GAS TANK THAT SMELLED LIKE GAS. *TR
ELECTRICAL/ELECTRONICS PROBLEM. SYMPTOMS: DASH WARNING LIGHTS (IE: ENGINE, TRACTION, THEFT) CAME ON. DIGITAL DISPLAY WARNING: LOW FUEL (OVER 1/2 TANK OF GAS) POWER STEERING (WHICH STOPPED OPERATING) AND TRANSMISSION SERVICE (TRANSMISSION STOPPED SHIFTING SMOOTHLY). GAUGES (SPEED, FUEL AND TACH) OPERATED ERRATICALLY, NOT AT ALL OR COMBINATION OF THE TWO CONDITIONS. THIS CONDITION STARTED WITH A FEW OF THE LISTED SYMPTOMS WHICH INITIALLY CLEARED THEM SELVES. LATER AS MORE SHOWED AT SAME TIME, I WAS ABLE TO CLEAR THEM OR SOMETIME THEY CLEARED THEMSELVES . THIS HAPPENED OVER A YEARS TIME. WHEN ALL SYMPTOMS SHOWED AND WOULD NOT CLEAR, I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO TRUSTED MECHANIC. HE COULD NOT LOCATE PROBLEM BUT DUE TO OUTSTANDING IGNITION SWITCH RECALL, SUGGEST THAT REPAIR MAY FIX THE PROBLEM. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP AND RECALL SERVICE PREFORMED AND NO OTHER OUTSTANDING RECALLS WERE FOUND. VEHICLE OPERATED WITHOUT A PROBLEM FOR ALMOST A MONTH BEFORE THE LISTED SYMPTOMS REAPPEARED. WAS ABLE TO CLEAR THE FAULT CODES BUT SYMPTOMS RETURNED WITHIN THE DAY AND WON'T CLEAR. A CHECK OF RECALLS FOUND THAT A RECALL FOR POWER STEERING LOSS AS DESCRIBED WAS ISSUED AND DONE AT APPROX. 49,000 MILES. SEVERAL ELECTRICAL SYSTEM CHECKS WERE FOUND IN MAINTENANCE HISTORY (DONE AFTER POWER STEERING RECALL) AND PREFORMED BEFORE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. THE ISSUE DESCRIBE HAS BECOME WORSE OVER TIME AND HAS EFFECTED THE SAFETY OF NOT ONLY THOSE OPERATING THE VEHICLE BUT ANY ONE ELSE ON THE ROAD WHEN THIS PROBLEM MANIFEST ITSELF. GIVEN THAT THE IGNITION WAS REPLACED AND THE PROBLEMS PERSIST, I CAN'T BELIEVE IT WAS THE IGNITION CAUSING THESE PROBLEMS. I WILL CONTACT GM TO SEE WHAT MY OPTIONS ARE. GIVEN THAT GM IS PAYING 900 MILLION TO THE GOVERNMENT IN FINES, MAYBE UNCLE SAM COULD HELD THOSE OF US WITH GM ENGINEERED LEMONS REPLACE THEM WITH SOMETHING THAT IS SAFE TO DRIVE ON THE ROAD.
I WAS JUST WONDERING IF AFTER THE DEALERSHIPS FIXED THE DEFECTIVE KEY SLOTS OF COBALTS AND OTHER CARS, MANY PEOPLE HAD THEIR WIRING SYSTEM MESS UP ONLY TO TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND HAVE THEM CHARGE YOU FOR FIXING UP THE WIRING THAT LED FROM THE KEY SLOT ( WHERE YOU INSERT THE KEY TO START THE CAR) DOWN TO WHEREVER IT GOES. THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED TO ME. ABOUT A MONTH TO TWO MONTHS LATER ( I WOULD HAVE TO GO BACK AND CHECK) AFTER THEY FIXED THE KEY SLOT MY CAR JUST WENT DEAD AND THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME IT WAS THE WIRING FROM THE KEY SLOT FROM THE IGNITION TO WHEREVER IT LEADS AND THAT THEY HAD TO CHANGE IT AND WHEN I TRIED TO TALK TO THE MANAGER ABOUT IT I NEVER GOT THROUGH TO HIM ON HIS PHONE, HE NEVER ANSWERED HIS CELL PHONE AND WASN'T AT THE OFFICE AND I JUST GAVE UP ON IT. SO MY QUESTION IS DID OTHERS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AS I DID WHERE THEY HAD TO PAY FOR WIRING THAT I THINK WAS PART OF THE SAME THING THAT THEY SUPPOSEDLY HAD RECALLED TO FIX. IN CASE YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT; THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE IGNITION KEYS, THAT COULD ACCIDENTALLY JUST TURN YOUR CAR OFF AND YOU WOULD HAVE TROUBLE STEERING THE CAR'S STEERING WHEEL AS THE CAR WAS OFF. SORRY, IF I AM NOT BEING SPECIFIC ENOUGH, I WAS JUST WONDERING IF OTHERS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM I HAD ABOUT HAVING TO FIX THE WIRING AND PAY FOR IT THEMSELVES AS I BELIEVE IT WAS THEIR NEGLIGENCE OF HANDLING THE WIRING SYSTEM. I AM NOT SURE ON THE DATES AS I AM NOT LOOKING UP THE INFORMATION, I AM JUST APPROXIMATING AND I AM NOT SURE HOW TO SEND THIS INFORMATION AS I AM NOT COMPUTER LITERATE.
THIS EVENING WHEN I PULLED INTO THE GARAGE, I PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND PROCEEDED TO TURN OFF AND REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO TURN KEY FORWARD AND THEN BACK, I COULD NOT GET THE KEY OUT. I TRIED PUTTING THE CAR IN GEAR AND THEN PUTTING IT IN PARK AGAIN. THE KEY STILL WOULD NOT COME FREE. I DIDN'T WANT TO BURN THE 1/2 TANK OF FUEL SO I REMOVED THE FUEL PUMP FUSE, WHICH STOPPED THE CAR AND THEN HAD TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY SO AS NOT TO DRAIN THE BATTERY AS THE KEY IS STUCK IN THE "ON' POSITION. DIFFERENT THAN OTHER STORIES I HAVE READ ABOUT THE KEY BEING STUCK ON, IS THAT I AM STILL ABLE TO TURN IT FORWARD A BIT. HOPEFULLY, I CAN PUT THE FUSE BACK IN, CONNECT THE BATTERY AND START IT SO THAT I CAN DRIVE IT TO A DEALERSHIP IN THE MORNING. *TR
MY 2008 CHEVY COBALT LT BEGAN TO PUT OFF A STRONG FUEL ODOR, BOTH AFTER BEING PARKED AND WHILE DRIVING. I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC AND IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE FUEL PUMP MODULE HAD A CRACK IN IT AND WAS LEAKING FUEL ONTO THE FUEL TANK. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP MODULE AND I PERSONALLY PAID FOR ALL THE COSTS. A WEEK LATER, I WAS NOTIFIED BY A FRIEND WITH THE SAME VEHICLE THAT THEY HAD RECEIVED A NOTICE FOR RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE IN THE MAIL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 12V459000 AND THEY WERE FULLY REIMBURSED. I NEVER RECEIVED THIS NOTICE IN THE MAIL, BUT I AM REQUESTING A REIMBURSEMENT FOR HAVING THIS ISSUE FIXED. *TR