2008 Chevrolet Cobalt Engine Problems

Heavy fuel leak

NHTSA ID

11544308

Incident

Jun 28, 2022

The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30-35 MPH, the power steering warning light illuminated before the vehicle lost power. The contact shifted the vehicle into park and restarted the vehicle and the vehicle regained normal functionality. The failure occurred a total of 4 times. The contact had not taken the vehicle to the dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 114,000.

NHTSA ID

11429244

Incident

Jun 16, 2021

Mileage

114,000 mi

I HAD RECALLS FIXED IN 2015. AND THEN SUDDENLY POWER STEERING TURNS ON AND OFF. NEVER BEFORE THEY TOUCHED IT WAS THERE AN ISSUE. IT HAPPENS HERE AND THERE AND STOPS. THIS YEAR IS HAPPENING EVERY DAY AND WON'T GO AWAY. MY POWER STEERING TURNS OFF IN MIDDLE OF DRIVING. DASH BOARD LIGHTS GO OFF AND CAR STARTS CRANKING. GOES SUPER SLOW . I'M SCARED ITA GOING TO EXPLODE. I CAN'T DRIVE ON FREEWAY . AND NOW BESIDES THE LOCK ON SCREEN COMING ON MY ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON NOW . NOT SURE WHAT TO DO WITH IT. CAR SHOPS CAN'T HELP. WHEN I 1ST HAD THE ISSUE I CALLED THE DEALER BECAUSE THEY FIXED THE RECALL AND THEY SAID NOTHING COULD BE DONE BECAUSE THEY HAD ALREADY FIXED THE RECALL

NHTSA ID

11360824

Incident

Sep 15, 2020

Mileage

75,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL FUEL ODOR IN THE VEHICLE. ADDITIONALLY, WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. AN UNKNOWN DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,731. *BF *AS

NHTSA ID

11340691

Incident

Jul 1, 2009

Mileage

2,731 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS, FOR TWENTY MINUTES GAS WAS LEAKING OUT OF THE TANK AND THE FUEL METER DECREASED TO EMPTY. HOWEVER, THERE WERE NO VISUAL SIGN OF FUEL ON THE GROUND. ADDITIONALLY, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL ODOR OF GAS EMERGING IN AND OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THE SERVICE TIRE PRESSURE MONITOR LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO INFORMED THE TO CONTACT THE LOCAL DEALER AS WELL AS THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,875.

NHTSA ID

11144165

Incident

Oct 7, 2018

Mileage

55,875 mi

INSTRUMENT CLUSTER MALFUNCTIONING, SPEEDOMETER AND WARNING INDICATORS FLASHING, GOING OUT, RESUMING NORMAL OPERATION, THEN REPEATING THE FAILURE SYMPTOMS REPEATEDLY. DURING FAILURE SYMPTOMS THE TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE BOG DOWN, STALL AND THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILS (WITH ENGINE STILL RUNNING) . RANDOM ELECTRICAL ISSUES SUCH AS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, CAR ALARM SENSOR, ETC FLASH ON AND OFF THEN START WORKING AGAIN TOTALLY NORMALLY. CAN NOT GET THE FAILURE TO OCCUR AT THE DEALERSHIP OR MECHANICS. FAILS SEVERAL TIMES A WEEK. FAILS WHEN DRIVING ON STREET, HIGHWAY AT LOW SPEEDS, MEDIUM SPEEDS OR HIGH SPEEDS.

NHTSA ID

11104312

Incident

Jun 26, 2018

Mileage

120,000 mi

MY 2008 CHEVY COBALT BEGAN SECRETING A VERY STRONG FUEL ODOR; IT DIDN'T MATTER IF IT WAS PARKED, OR DRIVING, THE ODOR HAS BEEN PROMINENT 24/7. I CHECKED FOR LEAKS AND FOUND NOTHING. I RECENTLY MOVED, SO I HAVE YET TO FIND A NEW, TRUSTWORTHY MECHANIC, SO I'VE BEEN DRIVING MY HUSBANDS CAR DUE TO THE FACT THAT I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THE CHEVY AT THIS POINT. I HAD HOWEVER, BEEN REGULARLY STARTING THE ENGINE ONCE A WEEK, WHILE TRYING TO LOCATE A MECHANIC, HOWEVER NOW. MY CHEVY IS COMPLETELY DEAD; IT WONT TURN ON, NOR WILL THE LOCK SYSTEM EVEN FUNCTION VIN NUMBER: [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).'*JB

NHTSA ID

11032845

Incident

Oct 1, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET COBALT. WHETHER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED OR WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE CONTACT NOTICED AN ABNORMAL FUEL ODOR. ADDITIONALLY, THERE WAS FUEL LEAKING UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

11031491

Incident

Sep 10, 2017

COOLANT IS NOT READING, AIR CONDITIONER DON'T WORK AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. IT WILL STAY LIKE THIS FOR A DAY OR SO THEN BY THE TIME I GET IT INTO THE SHOP IT STARTS TO READ AGAIN AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT GOES OUT AIR CONDITIONER WILL WORK AGAIN AND THERE ARE NO CODES TO READ. REPAIR SHOP CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. THEY SAID POSSIBLE THERMOSTAT ISSUE OR SENSOR ISSUE BUT WITHOUT CODES OR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON THEY HAVE NO IDEA. IT KEEPS DOING IT BUT IT SEEMS TO CORRECT IT SELF BEFORE I CAN GET IT BACK TO THE GARAGE USUALLY OVER A WEEKEND WHEN THEY ARE CLOSED OR VERY BUSY. I HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE FOR A COUPLE MONTHS NOW, IT HAS NOT APPEARED TO CAUSE ANY OVER HEATING OR MADE ANY OTHER SOUNDS THAT I AM AWARE OF.

NHTSA ID

11024764

Incident

Sep 21, 2017

Mileage

5 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET COBALT. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FIRE WAS CONFINED TO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CONTACT NOTICED AN ABNORMAL FUEL ODOR IN THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A FIRE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V459000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 119,000.

NHTSA ID

10904457

Incident

Sep 6, 2016

Mileage

119,000 mi

START OF THE PROBLEM THE GAUGES WILL GO ERATIC, MY CAR CHIMES A FEW DINGS THEN THEFT LIGHT COMES ON. I DON'T HAVE A THEFT SYSTEM. LS MODEL. ALSO EFFECTS THE TRANSMISSION(AUTOMATIC) CAUSE IT WILL SHIFT HARD AND JERK THE CAR. THE AC ALSO SHUTS OFF DURING THIS ISSUE, IT WILL BLOW AIR BUT IT WON'T BE COLD. SEEMS LIKE THE ISSUE ALWAYS COMES BACK WHEN IT'S EXTREMELY HOT OUTSIDE. THIS IS AN ON GOING ISSUE FOR ABOUT 5 YEARS AND IT COMES AND GOES. EVERY MECHANIC I WENT TO THEIR CAR READER CAN'T READ MY CAR. ALSO IT HAS HAPPENED WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND AGAIN WHEN I'M PARKED AND JUST STARTED THE CAR. AND I HAVE HAD ALL THE RECALLS FIXED THAT WERE REPORTED.

NHTSA ID

10876175

Incident

Jun 17, 2016

Mileage

40,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED CONSTANTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE OXYGEN SENSOR MAY HAVE BEEN DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

10861664

Incident

Apr 5, 2016

I STARTED MY CAR IN MY DRIVEWAY, IT STARTED AND THEN STALLED IMMEDIATELY AND WOULD NOT START AT ALL. I DIAGNOSED IT ALONG WITH MY FRIEND WHO IS A CERTIFIED MECHANIC. THE CAM CHAIN GUIDES BROKE AT LESS THAN 79000 MILES, CAUSING SLACK IN THE CAM CHAIN WHICH CAUSED IT TO JUMP TEETH ON THE INTAKE CAM, THROWING IT OUT OF SYNCHRONIZATION. THIS CAUSED THE INTAKE VALVES TO BE OPEN WHEN THE PISTON REACHED THE TOP OF ITS TRAVEL, WHICH BENT THE VALVES. THIS IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE ON THE 2.2 ENGINES, BUT VERY UNUSUAL FOR SUCH A LOW MILEAGE VEHICLE. THE ENGINE HAS A 100,000 MILE WARRANTY BUT ONLY FOR 5 YEARS. I ONLY DRIVE ON AVERAGE 10,000 MILES A YEAR. THE ENGINE IS WELL BELOW 100,000 MILES AND GM WILL NOT ADMIT THAT THEY HAVE A DESIGN FLAW ON THESE ENGINES AND WILL NOT MAKE THIS REPAIR FOR ME UNDER WARRANTY.

NHTSA ID

10852333

Incident

Mar 8, 2016

Mileage

78,980 mi

MY FUEL PUMP WAS LEAKING, SO WE HAD THE FUEL PUMP REPLACED AND NOW THE AIR CONDITIONING/HEATER/DEFROST SYSTEMS NO LONGER WORK. WE'VE HAD TO REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN, THE FUEL INJECTION, AND A LEAKING FRONT WINDSHIELD TWICE.ALSO THE FUEL SWITCH. NOW THE CAR SOMEWHAT STALLS WHEN TRYING TO START.

NHTSA ID

10846315

Incident

Jan 15, 2016

Mileage

110,000 mi

WAS DRIVING TO SAN DIEGO, FIRST STOP OF SEVERAL ON A VACATION. STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT. WENT TO PROCEED AS LIGHT TURNED GREEN, HEARD A SCRAPING AND GRINDING SOUND; THERE WAS LITTLE TO NO POWER FOR THE CAR. IT COULDN'T GO ABOVE 30 MPH, AND MADE A "LOUD NOISE" (AS STATED ON PAPERWORK FROM DEALERSHIP). GOT TO CITY (BY THE BAY) CHEVROLET. I ENDED UP SPENDING $1334.21 FOR A NEW CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND TWO GASKETS. I WAS ALSO OUT $111.26 FOR A RENTAL AS I WAS GOING TO DISNEYLAND AND KNOTT'S BERRY FARM AFTER A STOP TO SAN DIEGO. I HAD TO HAVE THE RENTAL FROM THURSDAY TO SATURDAY OR I WOULD HAVE MISSED TIME AT DISNEYLAND. I PICKED THE DAY FOR KNOTT'S BERRY FARM. ACCORDING TO CHEVROLET, THE 2005-2007 COBALTS IN NEVADA (WHERE I BOUGHT THE CAR AND LIVE) ARE AFFECTED BY A CATALYTIC CONVERTER ISSUE; HOWEVER AFTER CONTACTING CHEVROLET AND ADVISING THEM OF MY ISSUE -- THEY TELL ME (DESPITE THE IDENTICAL ISSUE) -- MY MODEL IS NOT AFFECTED. I AM LOOKING FOR $1445.47 IN COMPENSATION FOR ACTUAL LOSSES. I WOULD LIKE COMPENSATORY DAMAGES SINCE CHEVROLET IS REFUSING TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND INVESTIGATE OR REIMBURSE ME AND IT AFFECTED MY VACATION. ALSO, I WANT THE RECALL EXTENDED TO THE 2008 MODELS. UPDATED 09/15/15*LJ UPDATED 11/03/2017*CN

NHTSA ID

10731532

Incident

Jun 25, 2015

Mileage

122,701 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10725919

Incident

Nov 22, 2014

Mileage

90,038 mi

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!

NHTSA ID

10725117

Incident

Feb 18, 2015

Mileage

68,788 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10681314

Incident

Dec 8, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET COBALT. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE THERMOSTAT BECAME INOPERABLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

NHTSA ID

10648320

Incident

Sep 6, 2011

Mileage

40,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STARTED EXHIBITING THIS PROBLEM AFTER BEING REPAIRED UNDER RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V047000 (AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 209,000.

NHTSA ID

10630846

Incident

Jul 17, 2014

Mileage

209,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET COBALT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED THE VEHICLE INTO A DITCH. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED, BUT AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 139,812. UPDATED 09/30/14*LJ THE RECALL REPAIR WAS WAS COMPLETED BY 7/20/14. THE VEHICLE HAD EXPERIENCED ANY FURTHER FAILURES. UPDATED 2/24/2015 *JS

NHTSA ID

10617593

Incident

Apr 10, 2014

Mileage

139,812 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AND THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE REPAIRS WERE UNKNOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 10/22/14*LJ

NHTSA ID

10609433

Incident

May 10, 2014

Mileage

80,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG INDICATOR WAS ILLUMINATED AND THE COOLANT LEVELS MALFUNCTIONED FOR OVER A WEEK. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT PRETENSIONER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE COOLANT FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

NHTSA ID

10597679

Incident

Apr 28, 2014

Mileage

40,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER WAS TRAVELING 55 MPH AND DROVE OVER A POT HOLE WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO CRASH INTO A TREE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE FORCE OF THE IMPACT CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO EXPLODE, CAUSING FATAL INJURIES TO A PASSENGER. THE DRIVER WAS REMOVED FROM THE VEHICLE WITHIN SECONDS OF THE EXPLOSION HOWEVER, THE PASSENGER COULD NOT BE RESCUED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL FOR TREATMENT OF SEVERE BRUISING, LACERATIONS AND FRACTURES TO BOTH LEGS. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V047000 ( AIR BAGS , ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) AND STATED THAT THE RECALL NOTIFICATION WAS NOT RECEIVED UNTIL AFTER THE INCIDENT. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10586862

Incident

Mar 27, 2014

WHILE TRAVELING, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO JERK AS IF THE BRAKES WERE BEING APPLIED. CONTACTED THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THIS IS COMMON IN THE COBALTS UNTIL THE CAR KNOWS YOUR DRIVING HABITS. SAME OCCURRENCE IN THE 2007 COBALT. THE DEALER HAD TO ADJUST THE TRANSMISSION. DEALER WILL NOT TAKE ACTION AS TO DATE FOR THIS ISSUE STATING THAT IT HASN'T HAD A CHANCE TO ADJUST TO THE DRIVING HABITS. WE HAD THE CAR FOR MORE THAN A FEW MONTHS AND PUT OVER 3000 MILES ON IT. CAR DOESN'T FEEL SAFE TO DRIVE ON MAJOR HIGHWAYS. DEALER IS MADE AWARE OF THIS. INFORMED BY DEALER, NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10577622

Incident

Jul 23, 2013

Mileage

35,000 mi