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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 47 of 62)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #310

Nov 042009

Cobalt

  • 60,900 miles

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

When driving my dash displayed a power steering message. Then the car starts to jump and then check engine light comes on. Then I lose power steering. When we took it to the dealer (twice) they could not find the problem. This has happened about 5 times and did not happen until my car had about 900 miles over the 60,000 warranty miles. My car is a Chevy Cobalt 2006.

- Elpaso, IL, USA

problem #309

Nov 142009

Cobalt

  • 4,200 miles
I have a 2006 Chevy Cobalt. I was on my way to work when the car dinged and I look down to see that it was saying the my power steering was out. I turn the car off and restarted it and then it went away. I thought that it was nothing until it came back on the next time I drove my car. I then went and researched it on the internet when I found out that there is a lot people having the same issue. I am one if the ones that can not afford the pay for this problem to be fixed. When are they going to do a recall on the this problem.

- Newnan, GA, USA

problem #308

Jul 012009

Cobalt

  • 62,000 miles
Electric power assisted steering on 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt is not working.

- Odessa, TX, USA

problem #307

Nov 012009

Cobalt

  • 70,000 miles

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

2006 Chevy Cobalt steering failed taking a sharp turn causing car to cross centerline hitting another car head on, son suffered a very bad broken leg requiring a rod from knee to ankle.

- Normalville , PA, USA

problem #306

Oct 062009

Cobalt

  • 37,500 miles
Power steering failure 2006 Chevy Cobalt 2006.

- Tomball, TX, USA

problem #305

Nov 072009

Cobalt

  • 100,000 miles
2006 Chevrolet Cobalt has power steering failure and I own one and there is no recall on this problem. My guess is no one has died from it, yet. The steering is electrical instead of hydraulic. Every time I go down the rod within two minutes the warning buzzer and the dash lights up and I lose all steering.

- S.Boston, VA, USA

problem #304

Nov 072009

Cobalt

  • 58,400 miles

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

When driving car power steering shuts off randomly. This makes the car very difficult to steer and control. First instance was 11/7/09. This now happens quite frequently (2-4) times everytime I drive the car. Doesn't matter if the car is idling at a red light or driving 50 mph. At this time no accidents have resulted but it's only a matter of time. Have not contacted dealer or mechanic yet as I have read and heard that this is a wide-spread problem with this particular vehicle and would like to see a recall done.

- Smyrna , DE, USA

problem #303

Oct 312009

Cobalt

  • 63,000 miles
My power steering is going in and out. My car is only a few years old. I went on the computer and did some research and I am not the only one that is having problems. Apparently there is some kind of defect because a ton of people are having this problem. I am one of the lucky ones that did wreck or cause injury to anyone. I am doing this complaint in order for this not to happen to others and maybe GM will do a recall on this defect.

- Abilene, TX, USA

problem #302

Oct 272009

Cobalt

  • 51,373 miles
Electronic power steering goes out, first happen in Oct, had it checked and was told it is a motor circuit that is on the steering column and would cost $1000 to $1500 to fix because they have to take column out to get to it, it goes out driving down the road at anytime one or 2 time a day, so you have to stop and turn off motor and restart and it will work for a few more miles or not! it makes it very hard to steer and I cant keep driving it like this so am taking it in to repair, I don't really want to pay for something I think Chevy should fix that a lot of cars are having but don't have a choice as I cant keep driving it this way.

- Modesto, CA, USA

problem #301

Nov 072009

Cobalt

  • 44,180 miles
While driving car suddenly pulls hard to the right or left. It happens sporadically steering problem.

- Triadelphia, WV, USA

problem #300

Nov 092009

Cobalt

  • 46,000 miles

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

Still having problems with steering on 2006 Chevy Cobalt. Power steering goes out randomly if it is stopped recranked it will reset. On going problem for myself and lots of other Cobalt owners. I have searched many online forums and found others that have the same problem. GM needs to recall this and fix what they know is wrong. Two websites are fixya.com and Chevy Cobalt forum, please do something before there is death or injuries involved.

- Fieldale, VA, USA

problem #299

Nov 082009

Cobalt

  • 60,842 miles
Hi I drive a 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt with around 60,000 miles. Recently I was driving down the road and a message appeared in the display reading "power steering." Seconds later the power steering quit working. I was turning into a gas station and almost ran over someone because of this. I parked the car and shut it off. After checking the fuse box and seeing no obvious signs of what could be the problem I started my car and the message was gone and the power steering worked fine. Thinking that this may have been an intermittent glitch I drove back home and sure enough, 2 miles down the road the message re-appeared and the power steering stopped working. After doing some research this appears to be a consistent issue among the majority of Cobalt owners. This is a safety hazard if I've ever seen one. How many close calls is it going to take for GM to repair this obvious problem" or is it actually going to take a few deaths for someone to open their eyes and realize there's a serious issue at hand"

- Jacksonville, NC, USA

problem #298

Nov 052009

Cobalt

  • 78,567 miles
I just bought a 2006 Chevy Cobalt and on my way from the dealers, the "power steering" light illuminated on the communication center. I then looked online and found out that this is an ongoing safety issue. Does the GM company know about this issue, and are they now recalling and fixing this problem?

- Hampton, VA, USA

problem #297

Jul 092009

Cobalt

  • 58,000 miles
Power steering failure on Chevy Cobalt 2005 and later models. The power steering completely fails and the steering wheel locks while driving. Please type "Chevy Cobalt power steering" in search engine and see the thousands that are having the same issue.

- Marietta, GA, USA

problem #296

Nov 032009

Cobalt

  • 60 miles
Power steering keeps going out. Several times while driving. Once while steering I had a very hard time turning and a car was coming fast on incoming traffic. This is a terrible safety hazard and I see tons of complaints out on the web. Why isn't something being done about this" is someone waiting for people to die" this is so widespread, I really don't understand why no one has done anything.

- Middleburg, FL, USA

problem #295

Nov 032008

Cobalt

  • 65,363 miles
I have a 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt that just came out of warranty. I was driving home when my power steering light came on and my steering wheel became really tight and very hard to move. Luckily when it happened I was going about 60mph on a highway on a straight stretch heading towards a turning lane that leads to my main road connecting me to my subdivision. This incident just happened about twenty minutes ago and I am fortunate I was not far away from home or was not driving a curvy side road. I am going to have to have my car towed to a dealer to get an estimate on having my car fixed. I had my car in to my dealer less then 3000 miles ago for electronical issues.

- High Ridge, MO, USA

problem #294

Oct 262009

Cobalt 4-cyl

  • 80,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt. Intermittently while driving the power steering warning light illuminates on the instrument control panel, and then the vehicle loses power steering. As a consequence steering because extremely difficult. The vehicle has not been inspected by the dealer, because she will have to pay a $100 for a diagnostic fee. The failure and current mileages were 80,000. Updated 12/07/09. Updated 12/08/09.

- Portage, IN, USA

problem #293

Oct 232009

Cobalt 4-cyl

  • 9,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt. While driving she experiences difficulty when turning the steering column. A mechanic concluded that the power steering motor has failed. The dealer nor the manufacture has been notified. The failure mileage was 9,000. Updated 03/10/10 updated 07/28/10

- Staten Island , NY, USA

problem #292

Oct 192009

Cobalt

  • 83,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt. The power steering warning light will illuminate on the instrument control panel and then the power steering fails. Usually after waiting for several minutes the vehicle will restart. The manufacturer nor the dealer has been notified.. the failure mileage was 83,000.

- Fresno, CA, USA

problem #291

Sep 272009

Cobalt

  • 28,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt. The power steering warning light intermittently illuminates on the instrument control panel, and then there was a lost of power steering. Usually after waiting for several minutes the power steering will reset itself.. the dealer nor the manufacturer has been notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 28,000.

- Rome, NY, USA

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