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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 10 of 62)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #1050

Jul 012015

Cobalt

  • 65,000 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 vehicle was serviced under NHTSA campaign number: 10V073000 (steering); however, the power steering warning indicator illuminated intermittently. In addition, the check engine and anti theft warning lights illuminated on some occasions. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 65,000.

- Clifton Park, NY, USA

problem #1049

Aug 212015

Cobalt

  • 163,400 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt. While driving 55 mph, the steering wheel became very difficult to maneuver, the speedometer fluctuated, and the power steering indicator illuminated. The contact stated that the failure recurred on several occasions. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 163,400.

- Pine Knot, KY, USA

problem #1048

Aug 152015

Cobalt

  • 126,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt. While making a left or right turn, the steering wheel seized and required excessive force. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 126,000.

- Madison, IL, USA

problem #1047

Jul 132015

Cobalt

  • 68,500 miles

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

Power steering goes out. Its happened going 27 mph and its happened going 68 mph. Started accruing around 68,500 miles but when I reached my destination I turned it off and back on and the power steering turned back on. My car is a standard so it can be put into neutral and turned off and back on quickly but it still isn't safe for anybody to drive like this I got this car from an older lady and I see why she sold it because of how dangerous this matter is. To young people as well

- Phoenix, AZ, USA

problem #1046

Jul 292015

Cobalt

  • 120,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt. While making a right turn at 30 mph, the steering wheel became difficult to turn and the contact had to apply force to the steering wheel in order to steer the vehicle. In addition, the vehicle lost power and the accelerator pedal was depressed. The vehicle failed to accelerate, the rpms increased, and the power steering warning light illuminated. The contact independently replaced the power steering motor and the power steering module; however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 120,000.

- Little River, SC, USA

problem #1045

Jul 292015

Cobalt

  • 153,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated that the power steering failed without warning. The dealer stated that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 10V073000 (steering). The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 153,000.

- Hialeah, FL, USA

problem #1044

Jul 232015

Cobalt

  • 132,927 miles

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

The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt. While driving at 70 mph, the power steering warning light illuminated and the steering wheel became difficult to turn. When the vehicle was in the park position, it rolled forward and crashed into a fence. A police report was not filed and there were no injuries reported. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or diagnosed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The VIN was included in NHTSA campaign number:14V171000 (electrical system). The failure mileage was 132,927.

- Nettie, WV, USA

problem #1043

Jan 012014

Cobalt

  • 100,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt. While driving at 35 mph, the steering wheel became difficult to turn. The contact had to apply force to the steering wheel in order to steer the vehicle. The power steering was displayed across the message board. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure recurred on numerous occasions. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 100,000.

- Milwaukee, WI, USA

problem #1042

Jul 152015

Cobalt

  • 99,417 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt. While driving 40 mph, the vehicle decelerated and would not accelerate. The steering wheel seized. The failure recurred numerous times. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the ignition switch and two keys were replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 99,417.

- Laredo, TX, USA

problem #1041

May 042015

Cobalt

  • 195,000 miles
Electrical warning light (T/C) reappear does not turn off through normal drive. Tempature display not obtain data for outside hear index. Power steering warning is showing during usual operation small resistance with turning of wheel not noticeable if unaware of car capabilities. Power train possible transmission failure no power going up a vertical highway height causes stoppage of momentum while excelerator is being applied to the max. Taken car to dealer for professional opinion considering the asking price being huge that number of defects are large only having the car for two years these problems are exhausting.

- Seale, AL, USA

problem #1040

Jun 112013

Cobalt

  • 102,000 miles

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

First I had the control arm bushing replaced twice within the first year of owning it, the car was bought brand new. The last two years the car started to chug at stops display would read reduced power mil light would come on I had to stop the car, disconnect the battery then it would go away and could drive it. This last year the car will now upon starting the display will read power steering, security system locked this car does not have a security system, the gauges go haywire car dings low fuel, when trying to move the car shifts very hard, brake pedal hard to push, car surges and chugs when stopped.

- Jefferson, WI, USA

problem #1039

Jun 062015

Cobalt

  • 58,663 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated that while driving at 50 mph, the steering wheel seized making the vehicle hard to control. The failure recurred on multiple occasions. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the power steering module failed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 58,663.

- Marcedes, TX, USA

problem #1038

Dec 092014

Cobalt

  • 85,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt. While driving at 25 mph, the steering wheel became difficult to turn. The contact had to apply force to the steering wheel in order to steer the vehicle. The power steering was displayed across the message board. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact previously noticed a fuel odor and fuel leaking underneath the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the fuel pump modulator needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 85,000.

- Fall River, MA, USA

problem #1037

Oct 152014

Cobalt

  • 80,000 miles
My power steering failed at 80K miles. I tried to fix it myself but noticed it's electronic and can't be fixed unless you bring it to a dealer. I check online and lo and behold, there's a recall! excuse me if I wasn't the least bit surprised. And guess what, just like my former recall for the faulty fuel pump, my car's year wasn't included in the recall! I'm trying to get reimbursed for this but it's like pulling teeth talking to some foreign person with a thick heavy accent who doesn't want to reimburse me for the repair. I'm so sick of GM! why don't they just stop selling cars because they're no good at it. How many lives must they toy with before they realize this!? needless to say, I will keep pursuing them until I get reimbursed!

- Bethel, CT, USA

problem #1036

May 212015

Cobalt

  • 28,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt. While driving approximately 40 mph and turning left, the contact heard two warning beeps and the power steering failed. The failure recurred approximately fifteen times. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified. The approximate failure mileage was 28,000.

- Berkley Springs, WV, USA

problem #1035

May 122015

Cobalt

  • 153,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated that while driving approximately 10 mph, the steering wheel seized and the power steering warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 153,000.

- Miami, FL, USA

problem #1034

May 022015

Cobalt

  • 110,000 miles
Vehicle gave off 3 chimes while driving at approximately 20 mph and the T/C light and engine light went on. Various other lights on the dashboard started flashing and the car started to lose power. "power steering" read across the led readout and the vehicle became hard to turn. The vehicle ended up in the middle of an intersection facing oncoming traffic. A head-on collision ensued with oncoming traffic.

- Cleburne, TX, USA

problem #1033

Mar 072014

Cobalt

  • 117,000 miles
The electric steering assist failed and I was barely able to get the vehicle off the road safely. I have owned the car 16 months and have had two failures of the electric assist steering system. I have inquired at a local dealership about any update bulletins or repairs that would fix the problem and was told none existed yet at that time but there may be a recall. This has not happened.

- Napa, CA, USA

problem #1032

Apr 062015

Cobalt

  • 103,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt. While driving out of a driveway at low speeds, the steering wheel seized and excessive force was required to turn the wheel. The failure recurred multiple times. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 10V073000 (steering). The approximate failure mileage was 103,000.

- Ithica, NY, USA

problem #1031

Apr 022015

Cobalt

  • miles
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt. While turning into a parking space, the steering wheel seized and an unknown warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a dealer, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The VIN was included in NHTSA campaign number: 10V073000 (steering). The failure mileage was unknown.

- Bermingham, AL, USA

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