There are 14 owner-reported suspension complaints for the 2008 Chevrolet Cobaltin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
TOOK CAR IN TO REPLACE STRUTS DUE TO CLUNKING SOUND WHILE GOING OVER ANY SURFACE THAT WAS NOT PERFECTLY SMOOTH. TURNS OUT THE SWAY BAR AND BEARINGS WERE FAILING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. APPARENTLY I WAS VERY CLOSE TO A POSSIBLE BAD ACCIDENT. IT WAS QUITE COSTLY TO REPAINT AND I AM FINDING THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM GM IS AWARE OF.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET COBALT. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT SUSPENSION CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000. UPDATED 4/30/15*CN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET COBALT. WHILE DRIVING 34 MPH, THE SUSPENSION ARM FRACTURED ON THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE LOWER SUSPENSION ARM FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000. MA 09/03/15 UPDATED 8/30/2017*CN
LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHING FAILS . THERE IS SO MUCH PLAY WHEN BRAKING CAR PULLS TO ONE SIDE IT DIDN'T START TILL CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. *TR
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. *TR
AIRBAG : WARNING INTERMITTENTLY COMES ON.. THEN RESETS ON THE NEXT IGNITION START. THEN WILL REAPPEAR AGAIN. SUSPENSION: SEVERE CLUNKING IN FRONT END ONLY WHEN TURNING OR MANEUVERING . THIS VEHICLE HAS DONE 46K MILES TOTAL.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE CUT HIS HAND ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE CHROME WAS PEELING OFF FROM BOTH DOOR HANDLES ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE FAILURE REPAIRED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE FRONT SWAY BAR END WAS LOOSE BECAUSE IT WAS WORN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,000. UPDATED 11/17/11 *BF UPDATED 11/30/11
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE MAKING A TURN AT 5 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE LOWER CONTROL ARM UNDER THE WARRANTY. FOUR MONTHS LATER WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CONTACT DROVE OVER A ROAD BUMP AND A NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE LEFT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHO INSPECTED THE NOISE AND NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19,300 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 22,368. UPDATED 10/31/11 *BF UPDATED 3/30/12 *CN
2008 CHEVY COBALT 60,000 MILES, LEFT AND RIGHT LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS FAILED ENABLING FRONT WHEELS TO MOVE A FEW INCHES RELATIVE TO THE FRAME. R & R CONTROL ARMS. MECHANIC SAID WHEEL WAS READY TO DETACH FROM CAR, REPLACED PARTS ARE AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION. *TR
RECENTLY HEARD CLUNKING NOISE IN FRONT END. HAVEN'T TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER YET, BUT WILL SHORTLY. SUSPECT IT IS BUSHINGS MENTIONED IN REPORT # 10335840. THE MILEAGE IS 26100. *TR
THIS CAR HAS SWAYBARS WHICH I AM TOLD STABALIZE THE CAR IN TURNS I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THEM TWICE IN A YEAR AND A HALF AND NOW THEY ARE BROKEN AGAIN AND MY WARRANTY IS EXPIRED AND THIS COST A FEW HUNDRED DOLLARS EVERY TIME THEY NEED TO BE REPLACED AND I FEAR REPLACING THEM WONT REALLY FIX THE PROBLEM AS IT KEEPS HAPPENING AND I DONT KNOW WHAT TO DO AT THIS POINT EITHER PUT MORE MONEY INTO THE CAR OR GET RID OF IT WHICH I CAN NOT AFFORD TO DO . *TR
MY SON WAS DRIVING HIS CHEVY COBALT HOME AND WHEN HE TRIED TO STOP HE HAD TROUBLE. IT FELT LIKE THE BACK TIRE WAS GOING TO FALL OFF. HE ENDED UP HITTING A CAR. UPON INSPECTION, WE FOUND THAT THE REAR SUSPENSION ON THE PASSENGER SIDE HAD LOST THE NUT AND WASHER. IT HAS BEEN REPAIRED AT OUR EXPENSE EVEN THOUGH IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY. *TR
THE VEHICLE IS PAST THE WARRANTY MILEAGE LIMITS. I NOTICED SEVERAL DAYS AGO A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE WHILE GOING OVER THE SLIGHTEST BUMP COMING FROM THE FRONT END. I HAD THE VEHICLE IN FOR A OIL CHANGE AND TIRE ROTATION AND ASKED TO HAVE THE FRONT END CHECKED. THE CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS ARE WORN OUT AND I HAVE TO PAY $300+ FOR THE REPAIR. GRANTED, I AM OUTSIDE THE MILEAGE LIMITS OF THE WARRANTY, BUT THIS VEHICLE IS BARELY THREE YEARS OLD. IT APPEARS I'M NOT THE FIRST TO COMPLAIN EITHER. I HAVE BEEN A CHEVROLET AND GM FAN FOR YEARS, BUT WITH THIS ISSUE PLUS THE PROBLEMS I HAD WITH MY LAST PICKUP, A 2004 GMC SIERRA, I'M BEGINNING TO QUESTION MY CHOICES. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN DRIVING OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD, THE ENTIRE FRONT END WOULD RATTLE AS IF WAS GOING TO FALL OFF. THE VEHICLE HAD EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE BEFORE AND THE DEALER MADE REPAIRS TO THE BUSHINGS. THE FAILURE RECURRED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS YET CONTACTED REGARDING THE RECURRING FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000.
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 26, 2026