Most common 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt problems
Share of the 2,330 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Chevrolet Cobalt complaints by model year
Best Cobalt years: 2010, 2009, 2008. Years to avoid: 2006, 2005, 2007. Compare all years →
2006 Chevrolet Cobalt recalls (5)
Electrical system › Ignition
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.
Remedy: 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 will replace the…
Air bags
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.
Remedy: 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 safety defect.
Steering › Electric power assist system
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.
Remedy: 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 in the recall file.
Fuel system, gasoline › Delivery › Fuel pump
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 sold in or currently registered in the states of arizona, california,…
Remedy: 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, florida, georgia, hawaii,…
Structure
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.'
Remedy: 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 1-800-630-2438.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt:
Electric Power Steering Failure
In a March 1, 2010 letter, General Motors Corporation (GM) provided a defect information report to NHTSA regarding a problem that could result in sudden loss of power steering assist in certain model year (MY) 2005 through 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt and MY 2007 through 2010 Pontiac G5 vehicles equipped with electric power steering (EPS).The letter indicates that the loss of steering assist could occur at any time while…
What 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt owners say
Steering all 1,299 →
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel inadvertently lost power. The power steering warning light illuminated. The contact veered to the side of the road and turned off the vehicle for a moment. Then the contact restarted the vehicle and she was able to drive to her residence. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who advised the contact that they could not diagnose the vehicle as the OBD reader was unable to read the codes. The contact notified the dealer of the failure and scheduled an appointment for the diagnostic test on the vehicle. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 126,000.
The contact's daughter owns a 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the power steering would intermittently fail as the power steering warning message would appear on the instrument panel. The contact stated that his daughter would reset the battery to correct the power steering; however, the failure would always return. The contact had taken the vehicle to several dealers to be repaired; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed. The contact then took the vehicle to Mohawk Chevrolet (639 NY-67, Ballston Spa, NY 12020) where it remained in their possession. The manufacturer had been notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 48,000.
Fuel & propulsion system all 466 →
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated while standing outside the vehicle a fuel odor was detected. The contact also stated that while driving, there was a fuel odor detected inside the vehicle. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or independent mechanic to be diagnosed or repaired. The dealer was contacted and the contact was awaiting an appointment. The contact was also informed that the VIN was not under recall. The manufacturer was contacted and made aware of the issue. The manufacturer informed the contact of a fuel pump module replacement coverage under Manufacturer Communication Number: 09275. Future Chevrolet (4811 Madison Ave, Sacramento, CA 95841) was contacted and the contact was still awaiting a callback. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 09V419000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) however, the VIN was not included. …
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact became aware that fuel had been puddling underneath the vehicle. The contact had previously noticed an abnormal gasoline odor inside the cabin of the vehicle. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer or independent mechanic. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The contact researched online and determined that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 09V419000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The failure mileage was approximately 59,410.
Electrical system all 412 →
The contact's daughter owns a 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the power steering failed, and the steering wheel was difficult to turn. Additionally, the door locks would lock and unlock independently, and the speedometer was not functioning properly. The electric power steering warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 155,000.
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the power steering assist failed to operate as the power steering warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact also stated that the speedometer also failed to operate as needed. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000.
2006 Chevrolet Cobalt engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.2L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 22 / 31 / 25 |
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 22 / 31 / 25 |
| 2.2L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 21 / 29 / 24 |
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 21 / 29 / 24 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl supercharged | 5-speed manual | FWD | 20 / 27 / 23 |
EPA ratings. Class: Subcompact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt a good car?
Based on 2,330 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2006 Cobalt rates avoid: 2.7× as many complaints as a typical year of the Cobalt at the same age. It is one of the Cobalt years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt?
The steering — 1,299 complaints, 56% of all complaints for this model year, most often about electric power assist system. Next are the fuel & propulsion system (466) and electrical system (412).
How many recalls does the 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt have?
There are 5 recalls for the 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt, the most recent from April 10, 2014 (ignition). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Chevrolet Cobalt?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2010, 2009 and 2008. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2006, 2005 and 2007. See the full Chevrolet Cobalt years comparison.
At what mileage do 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 66,000 miles; 30% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.