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CarComplaints.com Notes: The 2006 Cobalt continued to carry the torch first lit by the 2005 model year. To be clear, that torch is burning bright with widespread power steering issues, electrical curiosities and a dangerous ignition switch defect which led to a massive recall by GM. This isn’t a great torch to carry.

The 2006 added it’s own special flare with gas leaks due to cracks in the “return portion of the modular reservoir assembly.” A recall of 2006 Cobalts was issued to fix the problem, but only to vehicles sold in or current registered in Arizona and Nevada, leaving other owners to pay for repairs themselves.

Between this car stalling while driving, giving owners fits with power steering failure and having it be a potential tinderbox because of gas leaks, we felt we had no other option than to award it our “Avoid Like the Plague” badge.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
70 / 4
Injuries / Deaths:
129 / 3
Average Mileage:
64,228 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2006 Chevrolet Cobalt steering problems

steering problem

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2006 Chevrolet Cobalt Owner Comments (Page 19 of 62)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #870

Apr 262012

Cobalt 4-cyl

  • 71,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

We bought this car on Jan 21 of 2011 used at john howard in morgantown wv and 3 months later the power steering light comes on and beeps and there is no power steering. This has happened 3 to 4 times since. I contacted john howard but they don't want to take care of it unless I pay for it. There was a recall on this part they are saying failed (or failing) and when I contacted the Chevy dealer they say they are no longer responsible for it because 19000S mile ago it was replaced and once the recall was done then it is our problem. After talking to them longer they suggested I go to a GM dealer have it tested on my expense and if its the same thing that the recall was then they would talk about replacing it on their charge. After going to harry green in clarksburg they tell me I am responsible for whole thing that the part is out of warranty, something GM did not tell me. My thing is if they are having this much trouble with the power steering on this car, which they are, I should be no where responsible for their mistake they made over and over again. Instead I pay over $8000 for a car I expect to last longer than 3 months without pumping money into it last and I have to refix a recall that didn't work to begin with. Some where some how someone should be responsible and I don't feel that it should be me.

- Idamay, WV, USA

problem #869

May 072012

Cobalt 4-cyl

  • miles
I have a 2006 Chevy Cobalt and I was driving today about 45 mph on the main St and then I was going to turn to my house I reduce my speed and when I turn my steering wheel I couldn't cuz it got lock I almost hit the car the was on front of me and then the light on my dashboard turn on saying power steering idk what to do I got really scare im not going to drive the car no more I came home and told my husband to check it and he told me that the car dont even have power steering fluid idk if this car have a recall on the power steering please help me!

- Rogers, AR, USA

problem #868

Apr 022012

Cobalt

  • 58,494 miles
The contact owns 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated that the power steering failed while driving 35 mph. The dealer was notified, who stated that there was a recall associated with NHTSA campaign id number 10V073000 (steering: Electric power assists system). The vehicle was repaired under the recall in August 2010 when the vehicle had 58,494 miles on it. The dealer stated that they would not repair the vehicle for a second time unless the contact assists with the expenses. The manufacturer was notified, who stated that they would not authorize the recall repairs a second time. They offered no further assistance. The failure mileage was 58,494 and the current mileage was 64,326.

- Beckley, WV, USA

problem #867

Mar 142012

Cobalt

  • 53,500 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated that the power steering failed, giving resistance when attempting to turn the steering wheel. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 53,500 and the current mileage was 54,000. The VIN was unavailable.

- Pheonix, AZ, USA

problem #866

Mar 032012

Cobalt

  • 40,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated that the steering wheel seized without warning while attempting a turn. The failure recurred intermittently. The vehicle was taken to the dealer several times for the failure where the dealer was unable to duplicate the failure. The steering camshaft sensor was replaced, but the failure was not corrected. The steering continued to seize sporadically when the contact attempted a turn. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 40,000 and the current mileage was 41,923.

- Waltham, MA, USA

problem #865

Jan 012012

Cobalt

  • 10,600 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated that while driving 50 mph, the power steering warning light illuminated. The vehicle exhibited abnormal jerking and began pulling to one side. The dealer inspected the vehicle but was unable to diagnose the failure. The failure recurred with the addition of the steering wheel violently shaking. The contact allowed the vehicle to cool and the failure subsided. Two months later while driving 60 mph, the failure recurred with the illumination of the power steering warning light. In addition, the vehicle independently decelerated. The vehicle was towed back to the same dealer who again, was unable to diagnose the failure. The vehicle was not repaired and the failure persisted. The manufacturer was contacted and they offered no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 10,600.

- Corpus Cristy, TX, USA

problem #864

Aug 252011

Cobalt

  • 100,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated that the power steering, tire traction and check engine warning lights were illuminated. The automatic door locks would lock and unlock the doors independently and without warning, and the speedometer would become inoperative. The contact would have to shut the vehicle off and restart for the vehicle to perform as normal. The dealer repaired various components unknown to the contact on several occasions however, the failure would recur. The manufacturer was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 100,000 and the current mileage was 150,000. The VIN was unavailable.

- Pearland, TX, USA

problem #863

Mar 162012

Cobalt 4-cyl

  • 79,479 miles
When you are driving and slow down to make a turn or stop at a traffic sign, the power steering goes out and it is impossible to steer. On this make and model all of the power steering is electronic, so there is no way to repair it ourselves. I have done a little researach online and have found that there are several active recalls on this car due to power steering going out and has caused several accidents for other people. Please advise the best solution.

- Sapulpa, OK, USA

problem #862

Mar 052012

Cobalt

  • 73,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated that while driving approximately 35 mph, the steering and engine warning lights illuminated and the steering wheel became hard to turn. The contact had to place the vehicle in neutral and push the vehicle home. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure and current mileage was 73,000.

- Beaverton , OR, USA

problem #861

Feb 262012

Cobalt

  • 48,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact started the ignition and attempted to turn the steering wheel numerous times, however there was no response. A complete loss of power steering occurred without any warning. In addition, the failure occurred on separate occassions while driving and would reset after the engine was turned and restarted. On February 17, 2011 the vehicle was repaired under a recall associated with NHTSA campaign id number 10V073000 (steering: Electric power assist system). The contact did not experience a steering malfunction prior to the recall remedy being performed. The vehicle had not been repaired for the most recent failure. The contact planned to notify the manufacturer of the insufficient recall repair. The approximate failure mileage was 48,000.

- Erie, PA, USA

problem #860

Feb 102012

Cobalt 4-cyl

  • 51,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I had received a recall in the mail for my car back in 2010 for power steering. I took it to the dealer and they fixed the problem. So I thought. A couple of times after that I had been driving and the car would completely shut off and lock up but be fine when I turned it back on. Then a few days ago I was driving to work when my check engine light came on then my steering wheel locked up and it was hard to turn the wheel I came very close to wrecking. I took it back to the dealer and they told me I need a new steering rack. I had been researching this problem online and there is an awful crazy amount of complaints of the same prob. One lady even said how her daughter had wrecked over this problem. Lots of other complained of getting the problem fixed time and time again and it just keeps happening. This is a major problem that someone is going to be killed over and needs to be addressed. I asked my dealer shouldn't that be fixed for recall since it has to also do with my power steering and he replies with we replaced it back in 2010. But the problem is that replacing the power steering once doesn't stop the problem from happening again! im 2 1/2 months pregnant and this scares me to be driving this car that has this problem that can happen at anytime. Please help me get to the bottom of this issue before someone dies over it. Thank you!

- Mckees Rocks, PA, USA

problem #859

Feb 032012

Cobalt

  • 125,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated that while driving 65 mph, the steering failed and the power steering light illuminated before the failure occurred. The steering wheel seized and became difficult to control. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileages were 125,000. The VIN information was not available.

- Magnolia , TX, USA

problem #858

Feb 082012

Cobalt

  • miles
Stopped at the stop sign to make a left hand turn when I started off the car would not straighten up so it sent me into a ditch and field.

- Salisbury, NC, USA

problem #857

Dec 232010

Cobalt 4-cyl

  • 80,000 miles
The power steering motor had a recall and when my car started having problems a short time later we took it in to have it replaced. A year and 2 days later, or 20,000 miles later, the power steering stopped working while driving again. We took the vehicle to the shop and was told by my mechanic that his supplier sells so many motors for the power steering that they had 64 on stock because they sold at least 10 a week. A week later the power steering went out again. We took the car back and was told that they investigated the problem and a site for mechanics where they can put in problems and try and get solutions from other mechanics that may have had the same problem had over 1,000 cases of the same problem and no resolution. We have since replaced the steering column because when they were putting the car back together they accidentally hit the steering column and everything went dead and they hit the steering column again and everything came back normal. We were told there is a short, there is a known problem (and yes, GM knows because they have had mechanics call them about the problem repeatedly) and still no resolution or recall to completely overhall the power steering system. There are 1,000's of Cobalts on the road from when we were told by the sales people that the car was safe that are not safe and no one is fixing it. There are known cases from where people have died due to the problem and still no resolution. getsatisfaction.com/GM/topics/cobalt_power_steering "Q=&page=67 www.wtae.com/R/24443172/detail.html www.pressandguide.com/articles/2011/12/27/news/doc4ef9cac3D6db6656927102.txt"viewmode=fullstory.

- Belle Plaine, KS, USA

problem #856

Apr 042011

Cobalt

  • miles
As I was coming to stop at a red light, I heard a ding and "power steering" flashed on my dashboard. My car then started to jerk, and continued when I sped up. This has happened several times after the first incident.

- Defuniak Springs , FL, USA

problem #855

Dec 192011

Cobalt

  • 97,300 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated that while driving 30 mph, the steering wheel seized and the power steering light illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact crashed into a curb as a result. The vehicle was not taken to have the failure diagnosed or repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 97,300.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #854

Dec 122011

Cobalt

  • 80,100 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated that the vehicle was repaired under the recall associated with NHTSA campaign id number 10V073000 (steering:electric power assist system). Approximately one year later while driving 15 mph, the steering wheel began to jerk back and forth. The vehicle was not taken to have the failure diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and offered no assistance. The failure and the current mileages were 80,100.

- Tullahoma, TN, USA

problem #853

Nov 282011

Cobalt

  • 117,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated that she was unable to remove the key out from the ignition or turn off the vehicle. The contact mentioned that she was able to remove the key by engaging the release button located under the dashboard. In addition, the contact mentioned that the power steering lamp illuminated and the steering wheel seized. The power steering started to work again once she turned the vehicle completely off. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure and the vehicle was not repaired. The failure and the current mileage was 117,000.

- Sacramento, CA, USA

problem #852

Nov 012011

Cobalt

  • 79,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated that the power steering would fail intermittently with the illumination of the power steering warning light. The contact would turn the vehicle off and back on for the vehicle to operate normally. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and the current mileage was 79,000.

- Meno, OK, USA

problem #851

Oct 302011

Cobalt

  • 101,093 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact was driving 10 mph when the power steering failed and the steering wheel became hard to steer in any direction when making a turn. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer and the manufacturer was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 101,093 and the current mileage was 101,094.

- Albany, OR, USA

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