2008 Chevrolet Cobalt brakes problems

Filed Apr 30, 2022 · Brakes, Electrical · OH

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

Filed Mar 12, 2019 · Brakes · 149,000 miles · VA

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!!!

Filed Mar 21, 2017 · Airbags, Brakes · MI · crash · fire · 1 injury

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.

Filed Sep 21, 2016 · Brakes, Driver assistance · 107 miles · AK

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.

Filed Mar 10, 2016 · Brakes, Electrical · 140,000 miles · IA

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.

Filed Jan 12, 2016 · Brakes · NJ

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.

Filed Dec 10, 2015 · Acceleration, Brakes · 96,025 miles · MD

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.

Filed Nov 13, 2015 · Acceleration, Brakes · 96,000 miles · TN

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

Filed Sep 15, 2015 · Brakes, Steering · 151,565 miles · NY

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.

Filed Mar 11, 2015 · Brakes, Electrical · 138,400 miles · FL

"service ESC" dash warning came on. Both "traction control and ESC" dash lights were lit.