Problems · by component
2008 Chevrolet Cobalt suspension problems
27 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt cite suspension, 3% of all 940 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
27
3% of all complaints
Crashes
2
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
2
Reported by owners
What owners say about the suspension
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET COBALT. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO BRAKE, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME EXTREMELY LOOSE AND SHOOK INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT HEARD A SOUND OF PLASTIC BREAKING COMING FROM THE DASHBOARD. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE AXLE, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT STRUTS, FRONT MOUNTS, REAR SHOCKS, AND REAR SPRINGS FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AT THE DEALER, BUT THE CONTACT REPLACED THE FRONT SHOCKS HIMSELF. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT SPOKE TO THE MANUFACTURER WHO STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT ASSIST BECAUSE THE CONTACT REFUSED THE REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THE STUB AXLE WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,507.”
“AIRBAG : WARNING INTERMITTENTLY COMES ON.. THEN RESETS ON THE NEXT IGNITION START. THEN WILL REAPPEAR AGAIN. SUSPENSION: SEVERE CLUNKING IN FRONT END ONLY WHEN TURNING OR MANEUVERING . THIS VEHICLE HAS DONE 46K MILES TOTAL.”
“TOOK CAR IN TO REPLACE STRUTS DUE TO CLUNKING SOUND WHILE GOING OVER ANY SURFACE THAT WAS NOT PERFECTLY SMOOTH. TURNS OUT THE SWAY BAR AND BEARINGS WERE FAILING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. APPARENTLY I WAS VERY CLOSE TO A POSSIBLE BAD ACCIDENT. IT WAS QUITE COSTLY TO REPAINT AND I AM FINDING THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM GM IS AWARE OF.”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET COBALT. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT SUSPENSION CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000. UPDATED 4/30/15*CN”
“2008 CHEVROLET COBALT. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO SWAY BAR, POWER STEERING AND IGNITION SWITCH PROBLEMS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE DAY AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, THE SWAY BAR LINKS FAILED. *JB UPDATED 07/30/14”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET COBALT. WHILE DRIVING 34 MPH, THE SUSPENSION ARM FRACTURED ON THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE LOWER SUSPENSION ARM FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000. MA 09/03/15 UPDATED 8/30/2017*CN”
Showing 6 of 27 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.