2006 Chevrolet Cobalt Problems

Severe Issues

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt.

20052007
Complaints
3,056
Crashes
272
Fires
25
Injuries
358
Fatalities
20
Recalls
3

Worst 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#11,237 complaints

Steering Defects

Avg mileage:73,489 mi
Crash-related:70
Fires:4
#2365 complaints

Electrical Faults

Avg mileage:91,586 mi
Crash-related:32
Fires:3
#3255 complaints

Fuel System

Avg mileage:103,028 mi
Crash-related:1
Fires:3
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt.

Steering Defects
1,237
complaints
Crashes
70
Fires
4
Avg Miles
73,489
Electrical Faults
365
complaints
Crashes
32
Fires
3
Avg Miles
91,586
Fuel System
255
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
3
Avg Miles
103,028
Gasoline Fuel System
163
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
2
Avg Miles
81,152
Airbags
132
complaints
Crashes
49
Fires
1
Avg Miles
85,570
Engine Problems
93
complaints
Crashes
12
Fires
3
Avg Miles
103,999
Transmission / Drivetrain
76
complaints
Crashes
10
Fires
Avg Miles
106,083
Fuel Pump
52
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
79,268
Steering:Electric Power Assist System
48
complaints
Crashes
8
Fires
Avg Miles
61,182
Unintended Acceleration
41
complaints
Crashes
6
Fires
Avg Miles
89,881
Suspension Failures
36
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
Avg Miles
74,637
Electrical System:Ignition
34
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
1
Avg Miles
55,554
Automatic Transmission
34
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
53,578
Latches / Locks
31
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
71,550
Electronic Stability Control
29
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
Avg Miles
115,462
Engine & Cooling
28
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
47,123
Brakes
26
complaints
Crashes
12
Fires
2
Avg Miles
142,030
Body Structure
23
complaints
Crashes
5
Fires
1
Avg Miles
90,237
Hydraulic Brakes
16
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
Avg Miles
27,983
Structural Problems
14
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
82,761
Traction Control System
14
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
71,506
Headlight/Taillight Failures
13
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
97,716
Air Bags:Frontal
12
complaints
Crashes
9
Fires
Avg Miles
27,526
Other Equipment
11
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
62,418
Structure:Body:Door
11
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
75,332
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch
10
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
92,185
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
10
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
34,352
Steering:Column
10
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
38,011
Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System
10
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
34,541

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt

3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~5,432,837 vehicles.

14V171000Electrical System:ignition
~2,191,014 affected

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 removed from the ignition when the ignition is not in the "Off" position.

14V047000Airbags · Electrical System:ignition:switch
~2,190,934 affected

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. General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on February 10, 2014 that they are recalling 619,122 model year 2005-2007 Chevrolet Cobalt, and 2007 Pontiac G5 vehicles. On February 25, 2014, GM increased the recall to include an additional 748,024 model year 2006-2007 Chevrolet HHR and Pontiac Solstice vehicles and 2003-2007 Saturn Ion vehicles and 2007 Saturn Sky vehicles. In these models, the weight on the key ring and/or road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine. On March 27, 2014, GM notified the agency that the defective ignition switches may have been used as service replacement parts on other vehicles, and as a result GM will be recalling certain model year 2008-2010 Chevrolet Cobalt, Saturn Sky, and Pontiac G5 and Solstice, and 2008-2011 Chevrolet HHR vehicles. The part numbers for the service parts are 10392423 (a/k/a ACDelco D1461F), 10392737, 15857948, 15854953, 15896640, and 25846762. This expansion represents an additional 823,788 vehicles.

10V073000Steering:electric Power Assist System
~1,050,889 affected

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 DRIVING.

Other Chevrolet Cobalt Years

2006 Chevrolet Cobalt — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt reliable?
Verdict: Severe Issues. The 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt has 3,056 NHTSA complaints, 272 crash-related, and 3 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Steering Defects with 1,237 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt?
Top reported problems: Steering Defects (1,237 complaints, avg 73,489 mi); Electrical Faults (365 complaints, avg 91,586 mi); Fuel System (255 complaints, avg 103,028 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 81,289 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt?
NHTSA complaints for the 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt include 272 crash-related reports, 25 fire reports, 358 injuries, and 20 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt have any recalls?
Yes — 3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 5,432,837 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt?
Proceed with extreme caution. The 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt shows significantly more complaints than average for its class. If you're buying one, a pre-purchase inspection and a VIN history check are essential — skip them and you're gambling.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.

Wider context: See the full Chevrolet Cobalt reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

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