YearToAvoid

2008 Chevrolet Cobalt SS Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls

No verdict The 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt SS ranks 2nd worst of 3 model years, with a complaint index of 50 and 95 complaints, most about premature rear brake wear near 15,000 miles. There are no recalls tied to this year in the data.

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

YearToAvoid Scorecard

Complaint Index
50/100
#2 of 3 Cobalt SS years
Verdict
No verdict
vs. other years of this model
Complaints
95
unique NHTSA reports
Recalls
0
distinct NHTSA campaigns
Crashes
0
reported in complaints
Fires
1
Injuries
0
Top issue
Brakes
Best nearby year
—
no alternative with data

Top 2008 Chevy Cobalt SS problems

Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Brakes74 (78%)
  2. Electrical System8 (8%)
  3. Engine7 (7%)
  4. Fuel System7 (7%)
  5. Other7 (7%)
  6. Airbags4 (4%)
  7. Steering2 (2%)
  8. Seat Belts1 (1%)
  9. Structure & Body1 (1%)
  10. Suspension, Wheels & Tires1 (1%)

A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.

What owners report

  • Rear brake pads and rotors wear out prematurely, often noticed around 15,000 to 20,000 miles.
  • Rear rotors show deep scoring and gouging, sometimes described as grinding noise when stopping.
  • Some owners report the issue affects the inside pad and inward-facing rotor surface specifically on turbocharged SS models.
  • A fuel pump harness fire was reported near 98,000 miles, tied by the owner to a later recall notice they said they never received.
  • One owner described the steering wheel locking when trying to start the car after the fuel harness incident.
2008 Chevrolet Cobalt SS complaints: complaints filed per month17Mar 2009Oct 2009Apr 2010Sep 2010Nov 2011Jul 2012Aug 2014Jun 2017
95 complaints filed with NHTSA from Mar 2009 to Oct 2018; peak Sep 2009 (17).

2008 Chevrolet Cobalt SS recalls

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

2008 compared with other Cobalt SS years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100200820092010
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2008No verdict50950—
2009No verdict1001900—
2010No verdict09025

All Chevrolet Cobalt SS years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt SS reliable?
NHTSA data shows 95 complaints for the 2008 model year, with a complaint index of 50 that ranks it 2nd worst among the 3 Cobalt SS years covered. Brakes account for 78% of complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the 2008 Cobalt SS?
Brakes dominate the complaint data, with 74 of 95 complaints (78%) about premature rear brake wear, at a median mileage of 15,000 miles.
Does the 2008 Cobalt SS have any recalls?
NHTSA lists zero recalls tied to the 2008 model year in this data.
How does the 2008 Cobalt SS compare to other years?
The 2008 model's complaint index of 50 is worse than the 2010 model (index 0) but better than the 2009 model (index 100), which had 190 complaints.
Were there any fires reported for the 2008 Cobalt SS?
NHTSA lists 1 fire report for the 2008 model, tied to the electrical system and fuel system, with no crashes, injuries, or deaths recorded.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.