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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:
5 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
4 / 1
Average Mileage:
125,109 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 miscellaneous problems

miscellaneous problem

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2006 Chevrolet Cobalt Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #38

Jul 062023

Cobalt

  • miles

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

I took the vehicle in for a recall repair to the ignition. After the repair, my key did not open my trunk. This is a huge problem because the battery is located in the trunk. You need power to open the trunk without a key. If your battery fails, you have no way to access it for repairs. I e-mailed the dealer who responded by advising me to contact the service manager. I did this. The service manager told me they only rekey the ignition to the original key during a recall. If this is true, they key should unlock the trunk. We were able to unlock the trunk before the recall repairs. The service manager told me there was nothing he could do. I have e-mailed the dealer again but have recieved no answer.

- Lake Village, IN, USA

problem #37

Oct 092021

Cobalt

  • miles
While driving power steering message showed on dash, lost transmission control, and speedometer stopped working.

- Maricopa, AZ, USA

problem #36

Jul 182020

Cobalt

  • 180,000 miles
My gas tank is leaking fuel.from the top of my tank

- Houtzdale, PA, USA

problem #35

Jun 122020

Cobalt 4-cyl

  • 140,000 miles

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

While driving on the freeway the engine loses power and turns off. Technicians have scanned the vehicle and found no codes. They checked the fuel pump pressure and found it to be within specification (55 psi). They checked fuses and all check ok. Problem is intermittent. Has happened to me twice but technicians have been unable to duplicate the problem.

- Tucson, AZ, USA

problem #34

Nov 122019

Cobalt

  • 80,000 miles
2006 Chevy Cobalt. After coming to a stop, at a stop sign, for example, steering wheel locks, engine shuts off, key sometimes sticks in the ignition lock, occurs randomly and with out warning. Car will restart and behave normally. Dealer replaced ignition switch under recall in late 2014. Went to dealer service department for help with sticking ignition switch. Currently dealer refuses to reinspect ignition switch with out agreement to diagnostic charge. Contacted GM customer service. GM admits there is a extended warranty until 2020 for the ignition switch {warranty letter 14632) customer service rep further indicated that any parts replaced have a 1 year warranty only. And my ignition switch is past parts warranty. GM customer service stated that the dealer is within there rights to demand a diagnostic fee if the dealer determines the problem is not the ignition switch. We indicated to the GM customer service that the ignition switch is locking up again. Its was my understanding that GM feels that the recall repair is a one time event. GM refuses to look at the ignition switch again unless I agree to pay for diagnostics regardless of any safety issues involved.

- Wheeling, IL, USA

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problem #33

Nov 062019

Cobalt

  • 166,000 miles
While driving today door locks unlock and lock again randomly. It was scary. I was driving in town. Also traction control light and engine light came on. Began running rough and lunging. I am afraid to drive my own car.

- Aberdeen, MD, USA

problem #32

May 292019

Cobalt

  • miles

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

Every time it gets too hot outside my power steering comes on in my car switch makes it jerk the car and my engine light comes on...this problem happens when the car is moving and when it's stationary. When it's stationary it locks my steering wheel and it's moving it makes the car jerk

- Milledgeville, GA, USA

problem #31

May 202019

Cobalt

  • 175,000 miles
For the past three days driving to and from work my Chevy Cobalt has been putting me in danger. When I start to break, sometimes the symbol with a lock and key, and air bag lights will turn on and the car steering wheel would lock and the brakes would come up resulting in the car being turned off while I am on drive. This is dangerous because I cannot turn the wheel and the brake is also locked. I get out of my car in the middle of traffic to push it by myself then jump in it and try to start it. This method works sometimes but is dangerous to not only myself but more importantly others. I do not know what is the main cause for this issue however I did some research and did not see any recall on this problem. I need help fingering it out before I hurt myself or others in the middle of the road driving unable to steer or break

- Avondale, AZ, USA

problem #30

Mar 012017

Cobalt

  • 270,000 miles
Bought car in 2016 from silver Eagle auto mall in Missouri. Call randomly cuts out while driving on city streets in on highway and have to pull over. Have there very close to accidents on multiple occasions. Battery an alternator have been replaced it does not just dial industrial back up it starts right back up. Now as of August 1st 2018 I am currently smelling strong gas once I get out of car with children... can smell a lot from driver side it may seem also this car has started smelling like gas outside of car car won't start sometimes I'm playing multiple turns with keys and is now cutting out even more while driving... been having problems with car since I bought it far as random cutting out I don't know where the smell is coming from it is not from under hood....

- Kansas City, MO, USA

problem #29

Jun 112018

Cobalt

  • 155,000 miles
Traction control light comes on. Difficult to control car due to rough year shifting, lose power steering. Car eventually loses power.dangerous cannot get out of traffic without causing accident. Turn off car and restart all lights are off and seems ok but will randomly happen again-- two times in same week!!!! this is crazy, afraid to drive vehicle but have no choice cannot lose my job.

- Aberdeen, MD, USA

problem #28

Mar 132018

Cobalt

  • miles

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

I had the ignition switch changed 3 years ago and it is now messed up. My car won't start and I need a new ignition switch

- Hattiesburg, MS, USA

problem #27

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 #26

Nov 052017

Cobalt

  • 1,700,000 miles
A few years ago I had my car sent in for the recall that caused the vehicle to shut off. Now I am having the exact same issue again! when I come to a stop or slow down at an intersection the vehicle will shut off and lose all power! I have done a lot of research and this is still happening for a lot of people. Mechanics cannot give a for sure answer as to what could possibly be causing this issue.

- Arlington Heights, IL, USA

problem #25

May 272017

Cobalt

  • 142,000 miles
After smelling gas I brought my car to the dealer and they said nothing was wrong. After smelling gas real bad years later I brought it to a repair shop and was told the fuel pump was leaking. This was a covered extended warranty from Chevy. The dealer I went to also told me it is definitely a free repair under warranty. I called Chevy and they were very rude and told me it is not covered. I would have brought it to a dealer for repair if they sent me a notice. The dealer printed a paper showing me it was covered with no limit in miles or years. Please help.

- Walden, NY, USA

problem #24

May 042017

Cobalt

  • 150,000 miles
I was locked inside of my vehicle because the doors would not unlock. While pressing the lock/unlock button from the inside of the vehicle, the locks would not move up/down. It took about 30minutes before the locks opened up and that was only on the passenger side. The driver side never opened. My vehicle was parked/stationery.

- St. Louis, MO, USA

problem #23

Apr 022017

Cobalt

  • 95,000 miles
Car smells like burning wire, locks unlock all day and all night, some electrical problem drains battery over night. I am terrified. GMC will not contact me.

- Newport News, VA, USA

problem #22

Oct 122016

Cobalt

  • 69,000 miles
I had gotten out of my vehicle and had locked the driver's side door manually. When I unlocked the door, and tried to get in my car, the door was stuck. It wouldn't open from either the outside or inside. I tried locking and unlocking the door again, but it is still stuck shut. It is very unsafe.

- Seattle, WA, USA

problem #21

May 102012

Cobalt

  • 75,000 miles
The tc light keeps coming on now also check engine light is on the car is her jerking really hard acts like it wants to cut off doesn't matter where I'm driving or what speed I have already spent a few thousand dollars on this problem Chevy needs to fix this problem this is dangerous.

- Bedford Hts., OH, USA

problem #20

Mar 192016

Cobalt

  • 106,400 miles
Takata recall. My car has been at a Chevy dealership about 7 times now and they cannot fix my car, and have no idea what's wrong with it. It just shuts off while I'm driving. The breaks land steering wheel lock up and I lose control of my car. I almost ran over children crossing the street when I made a turn. I had to use my ebreak and I barely stopped in time. This keeps happening and my ignition switch recall cannot be fixed. The car is unsafe to drive. I feel like I'm gambling with my life and the life of others if I drive my car. So I cannot drive it now. This has happened several times in the course of 2 years I've had this car.

- Holmes, PA, USA

problem #19

Feb 292016

Cobalt

  • miles
Ever since I purchased car it'seems been nothing but problems. First it was both control arm bushing after 1 month of purchasing my 06 Chevy colbalt. I've since had to replace the entire front end all except for the steering column.which makes a loud unsettling rattling noise when I go over the slightest bump or when I turn my wheel left to right while in the park position. But now even more scary my car has been stalling out randomly and I've seen other complaint's about this issue. I've had oil changes and tunes up and a diagnostic test and I've been told the car is okay.it's not okay! today it stalled out while accelerating at a green turn arrow and I got hit from the back by the car behind me turning as well. No huge damage but I'm afraid and would like to know what is the real issue.

- Rock Island, IL, USA

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