What Owners Report NHTSA ODI · 2,175,102 complaints · MY1998–2026

2006 Chevrolet Cobalt

Typical pattern

2.2% of complaints about the 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2006 vehicle — around the middle of the 250 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 5.7 yr in service. The most-reported system is steering (1297 complaints), typically at 4.3 yr or about 60,750 miles.

Complaints
3,036
Median age at failure
5.7 yr
Median mileage
68,000 n=2465
Crash / fire / tow
10.1% of reports
Safety recalls
6

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Steering
1297 reports · 60,750 mi
4.3 yr
6.5%
Electrical system
421 reports · 80,000 mi
8.1 yr
11.2%
Fuel / propulsion
255 reports · 99,433 mi
9.0 yr
2%
Fuel system
227 reports · 74,000 mi
5.8 yr
2.6%
Air bags
148 reports · 79,000 mi
8.3 yr
40.5%
Power train
136 reports · 67,350 mi
5.2 yr
10.3%
Engine
93 reports · 101,000 mi
8.9 yr
17.2%
Structure
53 reports · 53,000 mi
6.0 yr
18.9%
Suspension
50 reports · 55,000 mi
4.9 yr
12%
Speed control
48 reports · 90,000 mi
8.0 yr
18.8%
Engine cooling
43 reports · 41,278 mi
4.0 yr
9.3%
Other
40 reports · 100,000 mi
10.5 yr
12.5%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

14E021000 2014-04-30
Electrical system:ignition:switch

UCI-FRAM Group is recalling certain LS1328 ignition Switches sold as Wells LS1328, Duralast LS1328, Airtex 1S6097, and Carquest 53-27479, and LS1497 Ignition Switches sold as Wells LS1497, Duralast LS1497, Airtex 1S10961, and Carquest 53-27967, for use on various General Motors model and model year vehicles during repair and replacement of the original ignition switch. The weight on the key ring and/or road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the affected ignition switches to move out of the run position, turning off the engine and disabling the air bags.

If the ignition switch moves from the run position to accessory, the car would stall and the air bags will not deploy in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of personal injury to the occupants.

14V171000 2014-04-10
Electrical system:ignition

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2005-2010 Chevrolet Cobalt, 2006-2011 Chevrolet HHR, 2007-2010 Pontiac G5, 2006-2010 Pontiac Solstice, 2003-2007 Saturn Ion, and 2007-2010 Saturn Sky vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the key can be removed from the ignition when the ignition is not in the "Off" position.

If the key can be removed from the ignition when the ignition is not in the "off" position, the vehicle could roll away: (a) for an automatic transmission, if the transmission is not in the "Park" position; or (b) for a manual transmission, if the parking brake is not engaged and the transmission is not in the "Reverse" position. This potential for rollaway increases the risk for a crash and occup

14V047000 2014-02-10
Air bags

This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on February 10, 2014 that they are recalling 619,122 model year 2005-2007 Chevrolet Cobalt, and 2007 Pontiac G5 vehicles. On February 25, 2014, GM increased the recall to include an additional 748,024 model year 2006-2007 Chevrolet HHR and Pontiac Solstice vehicles and 2003-2007 Saturn Ion vehicle

If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

10V073000 2010-03-03
Steering:electric power assist system

GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2010 CHEVROLET COBALT AND MODEL YEAR 2007-2010 PONTIAC G5 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ELECTRIC POWER STEERING. THE DRIVER MAY EXPERIENCE A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST THAT COULD OCCUR AT ANY TIME WHILE DRIVING.

IF POWER STEERING ASSIST IS LOST, IT WOULD REQUIRE GREATER DRIVER EFFORT AT LOW VEHICLE SPEEDS, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

09V419000 2009-10-29
Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump

GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006 CHEVROLET COBALT AND SATURN ION VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF ARIZONA AND NEVADA; AND MODEL YEAR 2007 CHEVROLET COBALT, PONTIAC G5 AND SATURN ION VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF ARIZONA, CALIFORNIA, FLORIDA, NEVADA AND TEXAS. THE PLASTIC SUPPLY OR RETURN PORT ON THE MODULAR RESERVOIR ASSEMBLY MAY CRACK. IF EITHER OF THESE PORTS DEVELOPS A CRACK, FUEL WILL LEAK FROM THE AREA. IF THE CRACK BECOMES LARGE ENOUGH, FUEL MAY BE OBSERVED DRIPPING ONTO THE GROUND AND VEHICLE

FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

07V014000 2007-01-18
Structure

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES NOT EQUIPPED WITH OPTIONAL ROOF-MOUNTED SIDE IMPACT AIR BAGS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 201, 'OCCUPANT PROTECTION IN INTERIOR IMPACT.'

IN A CRASH, HEAD IMPACT PROTECTION MAY BE INADEQUATE.

In owners’ own words

Power train 675 mi 1 mo in service
I AM WRITING THIS LETTER BECAUSE OF CONCERNS I HAVE WITH MY 2006 COBALT I PURCHASED 31 AUGUST 2005. (VIN#1G1AK55F767633 614) MY FIRST CONCERN IS THE SAFETY OF THE CAR. ON THE 25 OF OCTOBER WHILE DRIVING THE CAR THE TRANSMISSION STARTED TO GO OUT OF GEAR AND BACK IN CAUSING A JERKING MOTION AND WHEN I PULLED OVER THE MOTOR STOPPED. I HAD 675 MILES ON IT AT THAT TIME. YESTERDAY I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND THEY DROVE IT FOR A FEW MILES WITH NO PROBLEM. NO OTHER CHECK WAS MADE BY THE DEALER ON THE CAR. *NM
Power train 2,400 mi 3 mo in service
11/24/05 CLUTCH BURNING ODOR, WAS TOLD IT WAS NORMAL EXHAUST COATING BURNING OFF 12/27/05 CLUTCH SLIPPING WHILE ON HIGHWAY, PROCEEDED TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHERE IT TOOK ALMOST 3 WEEKS AND COST ME 1600 DOLLARS TO REPLACE A FAILING CLUTCH. LATER CONFIRMED FOR A PRIVATE MECHANIC THAT THE CLUTCH WAS TOO WEAK FOR THE CARS HP RATING. I AM NOT THE ONLY COBALT SS/SC TO HAVE THIS FAILURE. *NM
Power train 2,000 mi 6 mo in service
2006 CHEVY COBALT, SHIFTER WON'T ENGAGE @ 500 MILES-DEALER TRADES CARS. 2006 CHEVY COBALT, CLUTCH BURNS UP @2000 MILES, DEALER REPLACES CLUTCH PLATES AT NO CHARGE, WILL CHARGE FOR ANOTHER OCCURRENCE OF SAME NATURE. DEALER STATES ABUSE IS CAUSE OF CLUTCH DAMAGE. *NM
Electrical system 76 mi 9 mo in service
WHEN TURNING THE HEADLIGHTS FROM THE AUTOMATIC TO THE MANUAL POSITION THE DASHBOARD INSTRUMENTATION DOES NOT LIGHT UP. THIS POSES A SAFETY HAZARD ON CLOUDY / FOGGY DAYS WHEN THE AUTOMATIC SENSOR SENSITIVITY IS SET TO HIGH TO ALLOW FOR PROPER LIGHTING OF THE HEADLIGHTS AND DASH INSTRUMENTATION. WHEN THE LIGHTS ARE SWITCHED TO MANUAL THIS SHOULD BYPASS THE AUTOMATIC SENSOR AND ALLOW FOR DASHBOARD ILLUMINATION HOWEVER THIS IS NOT THE CASE. *NM

Other Cobalt model years

201020092008200720062005

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