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2008 Chevrolet Cobalt electrical problems

166 complaints (20% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 70,000. 7 crashes reported.

owner complaints
166
of this car's complaints
20%
typical mileage
70,000
crashes
7
recalls
1

Which part fails

  • Ignition
    11
  • Ignition: switch
    5
  • Wiring: interior/under dash
    1
  • 12v/24v/48v battery
    1

At what mileage

Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.

0k-25k
25k-50k
50k-75k
75k-100k
100k-125k
125k-150k
150k-175k
175k-200k
200k+

Chevrolet Cobalt electrical problems in other years

200520062007200820092010

Specific symptoms reported on the 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt electrical

Phrases found in the owners' own descriptions, so one complaint can mention several symptoms.

Fire or smoke 12Warning lights 5

Related recalls

Electrical system: ignitionReported April 10, 2014 · 2,191,014 vehicles affected
What is wrong
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2005-2010 Chevrolet Cobalt, 2006-2011 Chevrolet HHR, 2007-2010 Pontiac G5, 2006-2010 Pontiac Solstice, 2003-2007 Saturn Ion, and 2007-2010 Saturn Sky vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the key can be removed from the ignition when the ignition is not in the "Off" position.
Risk
If the key can be removed from the ignition when the ignition is not in the "off" position, the vehicle could roll away: (a) for an automatic transmission, if the transmission is not in the "Park" position; or (b) for a manual transmission, if the parking brake is not engaged and the transmission is not in the "Reverse" position. This potential for rollaway increases the risk for a crash and occupant or pedestrian injuries.
Remedy
General Motors will notify owners, and for vehicles that were built with the defective ignition cylinder and have not previously had the ignition cylinder replaced with the redesigned part, dealers will replace the ignition cylinder and cut and, if necessary, re-learn two ignition/door keys for each vehicle. For vehicles that were built with the redesigned ignition cylinder or had the ignition cylinder replaced with the redesigned part, dealers will cut and, if necessary, re-learn two ignition/door keys for each vehicle. The recall began on April 18, 2014. Chevrolet owners may contact General Motors at 1‑800‑222‑1020, Pontiac owners at 1‑800‑762‑2737, and Saturn owners at 1‑800‑553‑6000. General Motors' number for this recall is 14113 for the ignition lock cylinder and key replacement, and 14133 for only key replacements. Note: Until a vehicle has been remedied, owners and operators are advised that when exiting, to be sure that the vehicle is in "Park," or in the case of a manual transmission, that the vehicle is in the "Reverse" position and the parking brake is engaged.

Recall number 14V171000 · Recall details

What 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt owners say

Most recent owner complaints, unedited.

Filed May 19, 2025 · Electrical, Fuel system · TN

The ignition doest work right n want release the key the car dies n stalls while driving we was almost hit by a trooper n he called we spoke to 2 people n they had a gm call us n they said that this has been a big concern of these cars n we tried n tried to get it fixed n they say sorry can't can they when something they built wrong kills me or my family my vin [XXX] 2008 CHEVY COBALT [XXX] IS MY NUMBER INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Apr 7, 2025 · Airbags, Electrical · 259,000 miles · OR

Our vehicle has had zero accidents the airbag light showed up on dashboard stating check airbags. Then as far as electrical the headlights seem to turn on there own at times. We feel this perhaps is a recall not known yet.

Filed Dec 3, 2024 · Airbags, Electrical · GA

The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the air bag warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was related to the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 14V047000 (Air Bags, Electrical System). The contact called the local dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was unknown.

Filed Aug 3, 2023 · Airbags, Electrical · UT

My speedometer jumps and shows a message of POWER STEERING. It makes my fuel line jump as well. I've recently gotten my starter fixed because my car wouldn't start. My tire warning stays on and my tires are new and set at the right PSI. My ABS comes and goes ALL THE TIME and nothing needs to be fixed. My car jerks really hard when all of this is going on.

Filed Aug 21, 2022 · Driver assistance, Electrical · OK

I was drivein on high way in my car got hard to trun so i stoped and let my uncle drive cause he is more stronger then from that point it got harder to trun it amost locked up on me who know what would have happen but i was almost to my house so we were ablue to get it here then i called my car lot and i hade to drive it there it was so impossible to do but with the help of my uncle he got it there and im in school and stuck with out a car intell its fixed and i have to pay laber wait on part to come in thay say etc its just alot and thank god i was not alone

Filed Jul 7, 2022 · Electrical, Steering · VA

Power steering is locking up while driving. Windows won’t go down.

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 Apr 7, 2022 · Electrical · IL

The accelerator pedal constantly fails to activate immediately after turning it on. it used to happen on cold or rainy days. It now fails to activate all the time. Took it to an independent service center and they said it could be the wiring due to water getting in the car. My car did have a leak and it was fixed but many months after these issues started occurring. I get a check engine light with a service traction control, service esc, and code p2138 is shown.

Filed Oct 30, 2021 · Electrical · OH

The receptacle that holds the brake light gets so hot that it melts and has melted the plastic around it as well. The bulb won’t stay lit because of this therefore the brake and turn signal lights constantly burn out and it could cause an accident due to lack of signaling and could also very easily start a fire. It started about 2-3 years after we bought the car new with just having to just replace the bulbs much too often, yearly, then a couple of times a year, and now the bulbs are not even lasting a month and the components are actually melting.

Filed Feb 5, 2021 · Electrical, Fuel system · 90,000 miles · VA

I have a fuel leak on the drivers side middle of the vehicle, in front of the rear tire. This leak is from the fuel lines around the heat shield. It appears the fuel lines are corroded. I tried to get a price quote on parts from the dealership, but they required me to take in in for diagnostics, because they said it was a common problem and should be covered under a recall. After $100 they told me it wasn't covered and finally quoted me on the repair, over $1,000. Not only do I feel the parts were faulty, I feel like I was scammed out of an additional $100 to confirm what I already knew. The vehicle leaks when stationary, if you turn the key off the fuel lines will drain onto the ground until the lines empty. Starting the vehicle takes about 5 seconds for the pump to get new fuel to the engine. When the engine is on the fuel will continually drizzle out. The leak was not noticed until a mechanic pointed it out in september of 2018, but has now grown to a big issue. Given the proximity of the leak to the exhaust I am concerned this could be a major issue for someone driving in the south, in the summer.

Questions about the 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt electrical

Does the 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt have electrical problems?

Owners have filed 166 complaints about the electrical of the 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt, 20% of all its complaints.

At what mileage do 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt electrical problems start?

The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 70,000 miles.

Was there a recall on the 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt electrical?

Yes, 1 recall: 14V171000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.

What year does the Chevrolet Cobalt have the most electrical problems?

The Chevrolet Cobalt model years with the most electrical complaints are 2006 (412 complaints), 2005 (323 complaints) and 2007 (281 complaints).

Other 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt problems

Steering 309Fuel system 243Airbags 98Engine 45Brakes 31Transmission 29Suspension 27Acceleration 22Driver assistance 20Lights 18Seat belts 18Body 11Wheels 9Visibility 6Locks 5Tires 5Seats 1

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