2006 Chevrolet Cobalt Problems, Recalls & Reliability
3,056 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt, alongside 6 recall campaigns and 1 defect investigation. It scores 100/100 on the trouble index — a below-average year for this model. Steering leads the reports, typically around 60,775 miles.
Below average
Where 2006 sits among all Cobalt years
What owners report
“Power steering light came on now I have no speedometer and it will not shift right”— owner report to NHTSA, 2006 Cobalt
“There is a fuel pump leak. Also there is a recall on other cobalts for this problem, but according to the website my car is not covered.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2006 Cobalt
“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.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2006 Cobalt
“The car isn't drivable. Electric power steering out, electric plugs and wires, won't start at all. No clicks, nothing. If you turn the key nothing happens, but a light that is a car with a lock through it. This is my daughter's only transportation. I saw there was a recall on the power steering and…”— owner report to NHTSA, 2006 Cobalt
“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…”— owner report to NHTSA, 2006 Cobalt
“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.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2006 Cobalt
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 2,435 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 69,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 46,000 and 100,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (6)
UCI-FRAM Group is recalling certain LS1328 ignition Switches sold as Wells LS1328, Duralast LS1328, Airtex 1S6097, and Carquest 53-27479, and LS1497 Ignition Switches sold as Wells LS1497, Duralast LS1497, Airtex 1S10961, and Carquest 53-27967, for use on…
Fix: UCI-FRAM Group has notified its purchasers to quarantine and return all inventory. Any switches already installed in vehicles will be replaced by GM dealers as part of NHTSA recall 14V-047, free of…
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2005-2010 Chevrolet Cobalt, 2006-2011 Chevrolet HHR, 2007-2010 Pontiac G5, 2006-2010 Pontiac Solstice, 2003-2007 Saturn Ion, and 2007-2010 Saturn Sky vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the key can be…
Fix: General Motors will notify owners, and for vehicles that were built with the defective ignition cylinder and have not previously had the ignition cylinder replaced with the redesigned part, dealers…
This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring.…
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ignition switch, free of charge. An interim notification was issued to owners of 2007 and earlier models on March 10, 2014, informing them of the…
GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2010 CHEVROLET COBALT AND MODEL YEAR 2007-2010 PONTIAC G5 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ELECTRIC POWER STEERING. THE DRIVER MAY EXPERIENCE A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST THAT COULD OCCUR AT ANY TIME WHILE…
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING MOTOR FREE OF CHARGE. OWNERS ARE BEING NOTIFIED ON A ROLLING BASIS BETWEEN MARCH 29 THROUGH NOVEMBER 2010. A COPY OF THE MAILING SCHEDULE IS LOCATED…
GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006 CHEVROLET COBALT AND SATURN ION VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF ARIZONA AND NEVADA; AND MODEL YEAR 2007 CHEVROLET COBALT, PONTIAC G5 AND SATURN ION VEHICLES ORIGINALLY…
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP MODULE FREE OF CHARGE. A SPECIAL COVERAGE WILL BE IMPLEMENTED IN THE SAME TIME FRAME FOR MODEL YEAR 2006 VEHICLES REGISTERED IN ALABAMA, ARKANSAS, CALIFORNIA,…
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES NOT EQUIPPED WITH OPTIONAL ROOF-MOUNTED SIDE IMPACT AIR BAGS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 201, 'OCCUPANT PROTECTION IN INTERIOR IMPACT.'
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL ENERGY ABSORBING PLASTIC TO THE HEADLINER TRIM TO REDUCE THE SEVERITY OF HEAD IMPACTS IN A CRASH. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 21, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT…
Federal defect investigations
Led to recall campaign 10V073000.
Technical service bulletins
795 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on electrical and engine — are on file for the 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
See the 2006 Cobalt TSB list →
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt reliable?
The 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt drew 3,056 complaints in federal safety records — a below-average year for this model. Its trouble index is 100/100, scored against the model's worst year (2006).
What are the most common 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt problems?
The top reported problems for the 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt are steering (1,308 complaints), fuel system (482), and electrical (445).
At what mileage do 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt problems show up?
Owners most often report 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt problems around 69,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 46,000 and 100,000 miles.
Does the 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt have recalls?
6 recall campaigns apply to the 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.