YearToAvoid

2008 Chevrolet Cobalt Engine Problems

NHTSA has 64 owner complaints about engine problems in the 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt, 8% of all 845 complaints for this model year. That is #4 highest engine complaint count among 10 Cobalt model years. These complaints report 8 crashes, 4 fires, and 3 injuries. Median mileage at failure: 64,896 miles.

Engine complaints
64
8% of 845
Crashes reported
8
Fires reported
4
Injuries reported
3
Median mileage
64,896 mi
Related recalls
0

When 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt engine complaints were filed

First complaint Mar 2, 2009, latest Sep 13, 2023.

2008 Chevrolet Cobalt engine complaints: complaints filed per month6Mar 2009Nov 2011Oct 2013Jun 2014Jun 2015Mar 2016Oct 2017Sep 2020
64 complaints filed with NHTSA from Mar 2009 to Sep 2023; peak Mar 2014 (6).

Engine recalls for the 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Engine complaints by Cobalt model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 2005154 (9%)
  2. 2006171 (7%)
  3. 200796 (6%)
  4. 200864 (8%)
  5. 200964 (9%)
  6. 201054 (9%)
  7. 20110 (0%)
  8. 20120 (0%)
  9. 20160 (0%)
  10. 20170 (0%)

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt have engine problems?
NHTSA has 64 owner complaints about the engine in the 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt, 8% of all complaints for this model year, including 8 that report a crash. Median mileage at failure is 64,896 miles.
Which Chevrolet Cobalt year has the most engine complaints?
The 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt has the most engine complaints (171), compared with 64 for the 2008.
Is there a engine recall for the 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt?
No NHTSA recall campaign for the 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt is classified under engine. Complaints alone do not trigger a recall; check the full recall list and your VIN.

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.