YearToAvoid

2008 Chevrolet Cobalt Transmission & Powertrain Problems

NHTSA has 29 owner complaints about transmission problems in the 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt, 3% of all 845 complaints for this model year. That is #5 highest transmission complaint count among 10 Cobalt model years. These complaints report 2 crashes. Median mileage at failure: 75,000 miles.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints
29
3% of 845
Crashes reported
2
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
75,000 mi
Related recalls
0

When 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt transmission complaints were filed

First complaint Feb 11, 2008, latest Feb 10, 2021.

2008 Chevrolet Cobalt transmission & powertrain complaints: complaints filed per month2Feb 2008May 2009Jan 2012Apr 2014Jun 2016Jun 2018Feb 2021
29 complaints filed with NHTSA from Feb 2008 to Feb 2021; peak Feb 2015 (2).

Transmission & Powertrain recalls for the 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints by Cobalt model year

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

  1. 200599 (6%)
  2. 2006137 (6%)
  3. 200743 (3%)
  4. 200829 (3%)
  5. 200929 (4%)
  6. 201031 (5%)
  7. 20110 (0%)
  8. 20120 (0%)
  9. 20160 (0%)
  10. 20170 (0%)

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt have transmission problems?
NHTSA has 29 owner complaints about the transmission in the 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt, 3% of all complaints for this model year, including 2 that report a crash. Median mileage at failure is 75,000 miles.
Which Chevrolet Cobalt year has the most transmission complaints?
The 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt has the most transmission complaints (137), compared with 29 for the 2008.
Is there a transmission recall for the 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt?
No NHTSA recall campaign for the 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt is classified under transmission & powertrain. 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.