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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:
64,071 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 5 of 62)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #1153

Apr 062018

Cobalt 4-cyl

  • 150,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt. While driving 30 mph, the steering wheel became difficult to turn and the power steering warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the power steering assist failed. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified and informed the contact that the warranty on the vehicle had expired and the contact would be responsible for the cost of the repairs. The failure mileage was 150,000.

- Phoenix, AZ, USA

problem #1152

Mar 172018

Cobalt

  • 198,000 miles
Power steering completely not working/went out during driving 40 mph

- Palm Bay, FL, USA

problem #1151

Mar 162018

Cobalt

  • 89,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt. While driving approximately 20 mph, the vehicle lost steering ability and the steering wheel would not turn. The power steering indicator illuminated. The dealer and manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was 89,000.

- Tellcity, IN, USA

problem #1150

Mar 142018

Cobalt

  • 191,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt. While driving 10 mph, the steering wheel seized and the power steering warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was able to coast to the side of the road. The contact powered off the engine, restarted the vehicle, and continued driving. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or an independent mechanic to determine the cause of the failure. The manufacturer was not contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 191,000.

- Rockyford, CO, USA

problem #1149

Feb 212018

Cobalt

  • 164,000 miles
Was going to work and as I was backing up from my drive, I had no ability to turn my steering wheel and my notification on dash went off, I can not turn my wheel to drive and today I lost a day of work.

- Bardstown, KY, USA

problem #1148

Jan 132018

Cobalt

  • 88,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated that the warning indicator illuminated for the eps. Also, the power steering failed to function and the steering wheel was difficult to turn in either direction. The vehicle was not diagnosed by an independent mechanic or a dealer. The vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 10V073000 (steering). The manufacturer was notified and stated that the vehicle was excluded from a recall campaign. The approximate failure mileage was 88,000.

- Largo, FL, USA

problem #1147

Jan 092018

Cobalt

  • 114,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt. While driving 40 mph, the power steering failed. Smiths Chevrolet in hammond, Indiana diagnosed that the electronic power steering failed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that the VIN was not included in a recall. The failure mileage was 114,000. The VIN was not available.

- Hammond, IN, USA

problem #1146

Jan 072018

Cobalt

  • 134,000 miles
Takata recall. I have a 2006 Chevy Cobalt 2.2. the traction control light is on and the power steering is on the dash. When driving it has a hard shift to it and power steering at all. It all start with the traction control light come on. I cant not get it off.

- Linclon, DE, USA

problem #1145

Jan 042018

Cobalt

  • 70,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt. While driving 40 mph, the steering wheel became difficult to maneuver and the power steering warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the power steering and hose needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The failure recurred while driving various speeds. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer. The manufacturer was not contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 70,000.

- Riverdale, GA, USA

problem #1144

Dec 302017

Cobalt

  • 181,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt. When the vehicle was started, the power steering warning indicator illuminated on the instrument panel. The steering wheel failed to turn left or right. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 181,000.

- Grady, AR, USA

problem #1143

Dec 142017

Cobalt

  • miles

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

Takata recall: I recently purchased a vehicle from someone (private owner) and as the tags will soon expire so I decide to get what needs maintenance done to turn that check engine light off. I got a free estimate from O' reilly's and told me to go to Chevy and get the maintenance done to my safety recalls. Next morning I drive over to Chevy's dealership where I was denied any recall being done by an employee named sean popplewell. I told him to print me out a paper of what had been done, needing to be done and also took it up with the manager. The service manager confirms I cannot be denied for a maintenance but sees that the only maintenance open online is a service update and that there is nothing they can do salvaged or not. As I recently purchased the vehicle I am being denied my right to a safety recall, not only being denied while driving my 1 and a half year old son, in a vehicle who's check engine light is on due to the safety recalls that I am being denied to. I am within my right to 10 years after the recall is distributed to get the recall done within that time, they are not allowing me too. The car is 100% driveable but I need to get this taken care of so I am not denied in my smog test. I was also not the original owner and the law states that I am not held accountable for a previous owners lack of responsibility, I was not aware, I've never had received proper notification I should not be denied service. It's sad to know they have denied me these rights in front of myself and my 1 and a half year old who is in the car 24.7.

- Bakersfield, CA, USA

problem #1142

Dec 102017

Cobalt

  • 145,000 miles
Started car early in the morning 25 degrees out. Notice that says "power steering " came on on the display. Pulled out of driveway, didn't notice any trouble until I tried to turn the steering wheel (no power steering). It stayed on for about a half mile on neighborhood streets. Then display was gone and car drove fine. I drove for an hour and a half, on highway, and parked for 6 hours. Again, started the car and "power steering " displayed again. No power steering again. I was parked in a parking structure and after a couple of corners the display was gone. Drove home on freeway, everything was fine. Stopped a couple of times with no problem. Parked. A couple hours later husband drove to the gas station the on neighborhood street. " power steering " displayed again, it did not shot off. Gas station was only mile round trip. Car stayed parked from 5pm 12/10 till 12pm 12/11. No power steering again for about 6 blocks on neighborhood St.. went into store, left no power steering again. Power steering came back just after a block. Neighborhood street.

- Vancouver, WA, USA

problem #1141

Dec 042017

Cobalt

  • miles
Power steering failure and engine light came on dashboard. Car is drivable but power steering fails often at times when driving. Was almost in bad car accident if I had not pulled off the highway.

- Englewood, CO, USA

problem #1140

Oct 152017

Cobalt

  • miles
My rack and pinion which is part of the power steering has separated and I am having trouble steering. I had my car diagnosed recently and they mechanics at midas gave me an estimate saying I need to have my rack and pinion replaced. My rack and pinion is clanging together where it separated when I drive. The mechanics told me my steering could go out at any time

- Warren, OH, USA

problem #1139

Oct 102017

Cobalt

  • 140,000 miles
Electronic power steering locks

- Randallstown, MD, USA

problem #1138

Oct 102017

Cobalt

  • miles
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt. While driving 35 mph, the steering seized without warning. The vehicle was not taken to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. Bob johnson (1271 w ridge rd, rochester, NY 14615, (866) 915-9664) was contacted to check for a recall on the vehicle. The contact was informed that there were no recalls associated with the VIN. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 10V073000 (steering). The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was unknown.

- Brockport, NY, USA

problem #1137

Oct 032017

Cobalt

  • 175,944 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt. While driving various low speeds, the steering wheel became difficult to turn left or right. A dealer was not contacted about the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The VIN was invalid. The failure mileage was 175,944.

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #1136

Sep 252017

Cobalt

  • 36,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt. While driving 25 mph, the power steering failed and the steering wheel was unable to be turned. The power steering indicator illuminated. The contact called a local dealer (multi Chevrolet, 2675 us highway 22 w union, NJ 07083) and was informed to bring the vehicle in for service. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact called the manufacturer, but the call dropped. The failure mileage was 36,000.

- Elizabeth, NJ, USA

problem #1135

Sep 152017

Cobalt

  • 130,613 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt. While driving 35 mph, the steering wheel became difficult to maneuver and the power steering indicator illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the contact's home. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 130,613.

- Indianapolis, IN, USA

problem #1134

Sep 012017

Cobalt

  • 138,629 miles
Power steering contributed to a single vehicle wreck that call cause driver to slide into a ditch. Also electrical problems cause the wipers not to work in misty rainy conditions. Hood latch will not come up with out using extra force.

- Lexington, SC, USA

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