2008 Chevrolet Cobalt reliability record
Every consumer complaint and recall the U.S. government (NHTSA) has on file for the 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt — the repair risk behind the ownership cost.
- NHTSA complaints
- 1,102
- 77 in the last 5 years
- Top problem area
- STEERING
- 296 complaints
- Recalls on record
- 4
- see below
- Reported harm
- 108 reported crashes · 107 injuries · 21 deaths · 20 fires
What owners report fails — 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt
- STEERING 296
- FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 202
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 152
- AIR BAGS 89
- ENGINE 36
4 recalls on record for the 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt
- NHTSA 14V047000 · 2014 · AIR BAGS If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the
- NHTSA 14V171000 · 2014 · ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION If the key can be removed from the ignition when the ignition is not in the "off" position, the vehicle could roll away:
- NHTSA 12V459000 · 2013 · FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP Fuel leakage in the presence of an ignition source may result in a fire.
- NHTSA 10V073000 · 2010 · STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM IF POWER STEERING ASSIST IS LOST, IT WOULD REQUIRE GREATER DRIVER EFFORT AT LOW VEHICLE SPEEDS, INCREASING THE RISK OF A
Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt
A vehicle's complaint record hints at the repair and maintenance budget you'll need. Add your state, purchase price, and mileage to the TCO calculator for the full picture.
Open TCO calculatorThese are unverified consumer reports and manufacturer recalls filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — not validated defect rates, and not adjusted for how many 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt units were produced or sold. High-volume and older vehicles naturally accumulate more complaints. Use this as one research signal, not a verdict on any individual vehicle. Data as of 2026. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain).
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt reliable?
NHTSA has 1,102 consumer complaints on record for the 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt and 4 recalls. The most-reported problem area is steering (296 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.
What are the most common problems with the 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt?
Owners most often report problems with: steering (296), fuel/propulsion system (202), electrical system (152), air bags (89). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
How much does it cost to own a 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt?
Ownership cost depends on your state taxes, insurance, fuel, and the maintenance the vehicle's reliability record implies. Use the CarOutlay 5-year TCO calculator to estimate the full cost including the repair risk this complaint record suggests.