2008 Chevrolet Cobalt Brakes Problems

i own a 5-speed manual transmission which should roll freely while in neutral. after starting engine while on a slight incline in a parking lot, the vehicle would not roll in neutral, as if all brakes were being applied. i thought that by driving the vehicle on the road the brakes would free up, but they did not. i shut the engine off and on a few times but that did not make a difference. i could only move forward at 5-10 mph in first gear to get the vehicle home, which fortunately was just 5 blocks away. something smelled terrible like burning wires or brake pads. even after letting the vehicle sit in my driveway for a few hours it would not free up the brakes which were being applied. then i read a tip on an internet users forum: remove a fuse labeled "ABS2" and voila! it freed up the brakes! i can drive the vehicle normally but obviously without ABS capability. now my 19 yr old grandson, who turned the vehicle over to me because of this issue, states this happened to him on two different occasions *while driving on the road!* imagine having your brakes applied while at full speed: THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE WHICH COULD RESULT IN INJURY OR DEATH

NHTSA ID

11462858

Incident

Apr 29, 2022

I WAS AT WORK AND PARKED MY CAR LIKE NORMAL, SOMEONE CAME AND ASKED ME IF THAT WAS MY CAR THAT WAS PARKED CRAZY. I LOOKED OUT AND IT WAS. MY CAR ROLLED OUT OF THE PARKING SPOT WITH THE E-BRAKE ON. ANOTHER TIME I STARTED IT TO WARM IT UP IN THE MORNING, I CAME BACK OUT, IT ROLLED OUT OF MY SPOT AND HIT THE CURB. I LOOKED TO SEE IF THERE WAS A RECALL, BUT THERE IS NOT. I DID FIND MANY OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME ISSUES!!!

NHTSA ID

11186184

Incident

Nov 15, 2018

Mileage

149,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2008 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HER SON WAS DRIVING AND HIS COUSIN IN THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT AT 78 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HER SON WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE, LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, HIT A FIRE HYDRANT AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. IT WAS UNKNOWN THE ORIGIN OF THE FIRE. THE DRIVER WAS INJURED WHICH RESULTED WITH LACERATION ON THE ANTERIOR RIGHT SIDE, THERE WERE BILATERAL WRIST FRACTURE, FRACTURE TO THE RIGHT FEMUR AND LEFT KNEE. THERE WAS AN AORTIC LACERATION AND MULTIPLE BILATERAL LUNG LACERATIONS AND CARDIAC CONTUSIONS, AUTOPSY ALSO REVELED FIRST TO FORTH DEGREE FIRMS BURNS WITH CHARRING ON APPROXIMATELY 70% OF THE BODY SURFACE AREA, THERE WERE THERMAL FRACTURES TO THE SKULL AND BOTH THE HANDS. THE DRIVER WAS REPORTED DEAD AT THE SCENE AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SUSTAINED A HEAD INJURY THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

10967486

Incident

Apr 27, 2014

ELECTRICAL DASH PANEL GAUGES BOUNCE. POWER STEERING COMES AND GOES. ENGINE CUTS OUT & IDOLS ODDLY, EVER SINCE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE I HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE POWER STEERING AND ELECTRONIC DASH CLUSTER.

NHTSA ID

10908494

Incident

Sep 12, 2008

Mileage

107 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET COBALT. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND THE SPEEDOMETER, FUEL GAUGE, AND TACHOMETER NEEDLES MOVED BACK AND FORTH AND DISPLAYED INACCURATE READINGS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ELECTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE REMEDY DID NOT RESOLVE THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR INTERMITTENTLY. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

NHTSA ID

10846009

Incident

Feb 10, 2016

Mileage

140,000 mi

2008 CHEVROLET COBALT. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO CORROSION OF THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE LINES CAUSING FLUID LOSS AND IMPAIRMENT OF FULL SYSTEM BRAKING. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED AN INVESTIGATION SHOWED THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. *JB

NHTSA ID

10836173

Incident

Jan 4, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET COBALT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK WHEN DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE, THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE NEEDED TO BE ENGAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO DID NOT DIAGNOSE THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 96,025.

NHTSA ID

10809477

Incident

Dec 8, 2015

Mileage

96,025 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED VIOLENTLY. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY FORCE TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IN ORDER TO INCREASE IN SPEED. IN ADDITION, THE LOW TIRE PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000. UPDATED 1/12/16 *CN

NHTSA ID

10790145

Incident

Nov 1, 2015

Mileage

96,000 mi

WHEELS- THE CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS WEAR TREMENDOUSLY AND RATTLE MAKING THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKE UNCONTROLLABLY. STEERING- THE STEERING WHEEL HAS A TON OF "PLAY" BEFORE IT ENGAGES IN A TURN. BRAKES- THE REAR DRUMS AND SHOES WEAR EXCESSIVELY FAST CAUSING SEVERE DETERIORATION AND GRINDING.

NHTSA ID

10763960

Incident

Jul 31, 2015

Mileage

151,565 mi

"SERVICE ESC" DASH WARNING CAME ON. BOTH "TRACTION CONTROL AND ESC" DASH LIGHTS WERE LIT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10693461

Incident

Mar 10, 2015

Mileage

138,400 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10663307

Incident

Dec 7, 2014

I WAS JUST GOING THROUGH A GREEN LIGHT AND JUST AS I STARTED TO HIT THE BRAKE'S I N MY CAR I DID NOT STOP AT ALL AMS I WAS IN SO MUCH SHOCK TRYING TO BRAKE THAT I COULD NOT SWERVE FAST ENOUGH TO MISS THE CAR IN FRONT OF MR AND REAR ENDED HER BLUE KIA AT 30 MPH AND NOW MY CARS FRONT END IS SMASHED I JUST REPLACES MY BRAKES LAST MONTH WITH MY GRADUATION MONEY BECAUSE EVER SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR MY BRAKES HOWL ALL THE TIME AND I STILL DIDN'T IX THE PROBLEM NOW I HAVE TO COME UP WITH EXTRA INSURANCE MONEY AND FIX MY CAR EVEN THOUGH IT WAS A MALFUNCTION ON MY CAR.. *TR

NHTSA ID

10616463

Incident

Jul 25, 2014

Mileage

82,990 mi

I WAS DRIVING ON THE EVERETT TURNPIKE IN NH. THERE WAS A SOCCER NET IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY. THE CARS IN FRONT OF ME HAD STOPPED AND I TRIED TO STOP, BUT BECAUSE MY POWER STEERING WAS OUT ALONG WITH MY ANTI-LOCK BRAKES. I COULDN'T STOP. I HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME AND MY AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. LUCKILY THE ONLY DAMAGE DONE WAS PSYCHOLOGICAL. IF I WERE AN INEXPERIENCED DRIVER THAN I WOULD HAVE DIED.. I HAVE ALREADY HAD MY POWER STEERING FIXED ONCE AND NOW IT HAS BEEN RECALLED AGAIN. THE CAR AS A WHOLE SHOULD BE RECALLED. I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING IT AFTER THEY FIX A PROBLEM THAT HAS ALREADY HAPPENED TWICE. *JS

NHTSA ID

10585324

Incident

Apr 26, 2014

WHEN USING BRAKES ON ICE ROADS THE BACK BRAKES COME ON FIRST,,AND YOU SPIN IN A CIRCLE..NOT GOOD!!!!!! THE RADIO GOES OFF AND ON WHEN IT WANTS..THIS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME!!! *TR

NHTSA ID

10575673

Incident

Mar 4, 2014

Mileage

69,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING IN THE LEFT LANE ON A MULTIPLE LANE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY THE DRIVER ON MY RIGHT CHANGED LANES INTO MY LANE. ON MY LEFT WAS A CONCRETE BARRIER WITHOUT ENOUGH ROOM FOR ME TO AVOID THE OTHER DRIVER. I AGGRESSIVELY APPLIED THE BRAKES TO TRY AND AVOID THE OTHER VEHICLE. EVEN THOUGH MY VEHICLE HAS ABS (ANTI-LOCK BRAKES), THE LEFT FRONT BRAKE LOCKED UP AND PULLED ME INTO THE CONCRETE BARRIER. AT NO TIME IN THE LIFE OF MY CAR HAVE I GOTTEN ANY INDICATION THAT THE ABS SYSTEM WASN'T WORKING PROPERLY. IN THIS SITUATION I WOULD HAVE BEEN MUCH BETTER OFF NOT HAVING ABS THAN HAVING THE SYSTEM ONLY TO HAVE IT MALFUNCTION ON JUST ONE WHEEL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10561138

Incident

Dec 1, 2013

Mileage

70,000 mi

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! *TR

NHTSA ID

10553129

Incident

Nov 1, 2013

Mileage

112,000 mi

SINCE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW, IT HAS MADE OCCASIONAL GRINDING NOISES FROM THE REAR BRAKES. THE REAR BRAKES HAVE WORN OUT SO QUICK THAT THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THEY ARE BEING REPLACED (THREE SETS OF REAR BRAKES IN UNDER 50,000 MILES). THE REPLACEMENTS HAVE NOT BEEN COVERED UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE THEY ARE A "WEAR" ITEM. THIS VEHICLE IS THE FOUR-DOOR "SPORT" MODEL WITH THE REAR DISC BRAKES AND MANUAL TRANSMISSION. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE BRAKES WEAR VERY QUICK AND THE PARKING BRAKE WILL NO LONGER HOLD THE VEHICLE ON AN INCLINE. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS ADJUSTED BY THE DEALERSHIP TWICE AND THEY SAID THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT, BUT I FIGURED OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. THE SPRINGS ON THE REAR CALIPERS THAT RELEASE THE PADS WHEN THE PARKING BRAKE IS DISENGAGED ARE NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO RELEASE THE PADS. EVEN WHEN THE PARKING BRAKE IS FULLY DISENGAGED, THE REAR PADS ARE CLAMPED DOWN ON THE ROTORS CAUSING HEAT, PREMATURE WEAR, AND MORE ROLLING RESISTANCE, LEADING TO DECREASED PARKING BRAKE FUNCTION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10525045

Incident

Jul 11, 2013

Mileage

48,590 mi

WHEN DRIVING THE TRACTION CONTROL AND ABS WARNING COME ON TOGETHER AND IT MAKES THE CAR SHAKE DURING BRAKING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10510210

Incident

May 17, 2012

Mileage

110,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH AND ATTEMPTING O DECELERATE, THE BRAKE FAILED TO ENGAGE AND THE CONTACT PROCEEDED TO CRASH INTO A STOP SIGN. THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL BODY SHOP FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 39,000.

NHTSA ID

10475378

Incident

Aug 31, 2012

Mileage

39,000 mi

AFTER 12,000 MILES HAD TO GET NEW BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS DO TO LOUD SQUEALING. HAVE SINCE BEEN REPLACED TWO MORE TIMES FOR THE SAME THING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10454926

Incident

Nov 20, 2008

Mileage

12,000 mi

THE REAR BRAKES CLUNKED AND SQUEAKED. TOOK IT TO THE CHEVY DEALERSHIP IN NOVEMBER 2011. THEY REPLACED THE PADS AND TURNED THE ROTORS. SINCE THE CAR WAS TWO MONTHS OUT OF WARRANTY THE CHARGE WAS 307.40. WITHIN 30 DAYS THE BRAKES STARTED MAKING THE NOISE AGAIN BUT NOT AS OFTEN OR AS LOUD. THE SOUND HAS GOTTEN PROGRESSIVELY WORSE AND MORE OFTEN. INSTEAD OF A SQUEAK THERE IS NOW AN EXTREMELY LOUD GRINDING NOISE WHEN STOPPING, PARTICULARLY WHEN THERE IS MOISTURE PRESENT. THE BRAKE PADS STILL HAVE PLENTY OF MATERIAL ON THEM AND THE ROTORS ARE SMOOTH. THE NOISE IS DEAFENING IN PARKING GARAGES AND CAN EASILY BE HEARD 1/8TH OF A MILE AWAY. STOPPING DISTANCE HAS INCREASED AND THE VEHICLE DOES NOT FEEL SAFE. *KB

NHTSA ID

10446368

Incident

Sep 1, 2011

Mileage

21,000 mi

THE CAR ATE THE REAR BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS IN LESS THAN 16,000 MILES WHICH IS ODD! *TR

NHTSA ID

10438208

Incident

Dec 16, 2009

Mileage

18,000 mi

UNABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF STEERING, WHEEL CONTROL OR BRAKING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10436769

Incident

Nov 22, 2011

UNABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF STEERING, SPEED CONTROL OR BRAKING. SAME PROBLEM AGAIN TODAY 11/22/2011 WHILE STOPPING AT STOP SIGN UNDER 10 MPH. *TR

NHTSA ID

10436767

Incident

Aug 4, 2010

Mileage

55 mi

WHENEVER MY REAR DISC BRAKES GET WET AND THEN DRY OFF - THEY MAKE A VERY LOAD SQUEALING NOISE. I HAVE TO MAKE SURE I BACK OUT OF MY GARAGE WITHOUT BRAKING. I AM AFRAID THE NOISE WILL WAKE MY DAUGHTER BECAUSE HER BEDROOM IS ABOVE THE GARAGE. I HAVE HAD IT IN TO THE CHEVY DEALER TO CHECK IT OUT AND THEY TELL ME THE BRAKES ARE FINE. ALSO, THEY KNOW THIS MODEL CAR DOES HAVE THIS PROBLEM. IF GM KNOWS ABOUT THIS WHY DO THEY NOT REMEDY IT. ONCE I DRIVE IT A FEW MILES IT SEEMS TO GO AWAY. BUT ONCE THE REAR BRAKES GET WET AGAIN I GUARANTEE THE SQUEAL WILL BE BACK. *TR

NHTSA ID

10386461

Incident

Jan 1, 2009

Mileage

29,000 mi