2008 Chevrolet Cobalt: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 1102 complaints
1102
Total Complaints
75,248mi
Median Mileage
STEERING
Top Issue
108
Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

45,000 25th Percentile
75,248 Median Mileage
109,000 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

STEERING
296
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
202
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
152
AIR BAGS
89
ENGINE
36
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
33
SUSPENSION
22
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
21
POWER TRAIN
20
SEAT BELTS
18

Severity Assessment

108
Crashes
20
Fires
107
Injuries
21
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"4TH GEAR SYNCHRO NOT FULLY FUNCTIONAL(MANUAL TRANSMISSION)....AVERAGE OF 10% OF THE TIME WHEN ATTEMPTING TO SELECT 4TH GEAR W/CLUTH FULLY ENGAGED GRINDING NOISE & VIBRATION OCCURS...DOES GO INTO GEAR, BUT GRINDS...DEALER TOLD ME THAT CHEVY TOLD THEM THAT NO DAMAGE WILL BE CAUSED BY PROBLEM, AND TO C..."
"I WAS DRIVING A 2008 CHEVY COBALT LT AT ABOUT 30MPH ON A SUNNY AND BEAUTIFUL DAY WHEN FOR NO REASON AT ALL THE DRIVERS SIDE, PASSENGERS FRONT, PASSENGERS SIDE, AND BOTH REAR PASSENGER AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO A SECURE STOP. THERE WAS NO WARNING THAT THIS WAS GOING TO HAPPEN. THE AIRBAG..."
"I WAS DRIVING A 2008 CHEVY COBALT LT AT ABOUT 30MPH ON A SUNNY AND BEAUTIFUL DAY WHEN FOR NO REASON AT ALL THE DRIVERS SIDE, PASSENGERS FRONT, PASSENGERS SIDE, AND BOTH REAR PASSENGER AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO A SECURE STOP. THERE WAS NO WARNING THAT THIS WAS GOING TO HAPPEN. THE AIRBAG..."

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28