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Electrical systemPart report

2008 Chevrolet Cobalt Electrical system Problems

Complaints
166about this part
Share
20%of 845 total for the year
Median mileage
70,000miles
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

NHTSA recorded 166 complaints about the electrical system of the 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt, 20% of the 845 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 70,000 miles. 7 of these say a crash was involved and 4 a fire, according to the filers. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“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.”

NHTSA complaint #11653303, filed 2025-04, 259,000 miles

“Purchased this vehicle off a used car lot feb/2015 within a month of use the transmission fluid lines broke. Got back on the road, several months later the check engine light comes on and the power steering sensor as well. The car immediately started to become harder to handle. I'm scared that it will cut out on my wife and infant.”

NHTSA complaint #10783127, filed 2015-10, 84,000 miles

“Once my ignition switch was repaired per the recall, I began smelling gas inside and outside of the vehicle. No check engine light has come on but the smell has been getting worse and worse. When the car sits for a long or short period of time it has difficulty starting; also since the ignition switch was replaced an electrical issue began.”

NHTSA complaint #10644686, filed 2014-10, 87,608 miles

“Car had starting issues, once took to the mechanic, they found out that the fuel pump connectors were burned and had possibility of igniting during driving. Chevy recalled many cars(cobalts) with the same issues from 2007 to 2009, when we called chevy about our vehicle, they said our car wasn't included in the recall even though we had that problem.”

NHTSA complaint #10482988, filed 2012-10, 103,000 miles

“I have a 2008 chevy Cobalt, I have many problems with it. It shut off itself 3 times at 60 miller per hour, the lights start blink and the power lock it's locking and unlocking by itself many times. I call the chevy recall center and they told me that I have to pay for the diagnostic ,but I am doing payments on this car still and I can't pay for the diagnostic . The recall # is.. 14v047 and 14v171.”

NHTSA complaint #10595906, filed 2014-06, 94,000 miles

Related recalls

Related service bulletins

Electrical system: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
201012522%
200915121%
200816620%
200728118%
200641218%
200532320%

Other parts of the 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt

Steering
309 complaintsFuel system
243 complaintsAir bags
98 complaintsEngine
36 complaintsBrakes
31 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
29 complaintsSuspension
27 complaintsOther or unknown
22 complaintsVehicle speed control
22 complaintsExterior lighting
18 complaintsSeat belts
18 complaintsElectronic stability control
17 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology