Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
"Takata recall" on 3/30/18 I was involved in a wreck. I was traveling on a busy city street when the light turned red. I stopped and the person in front of me was driving a large SUV. When the light turned green and traffic began to move I started driving. Out of nowhere with no warning, the driver just stopped and my car ran into the back of the vehicle. We both stayed in our vehicles I called 911. Officers arrived and emergency services. Even though hardly any damage was done to the SUV, my car sustained a lot of damage to the hood and bumper of my car. The airbags didn't deploy. I thought my car was totaled by looking at it. I was able to have most of my car repaired out of pocket because I had liability only at the time. The passenger in front of me after giving information to the responders was able to drive away, I was not. …
Tl* the contact owned a 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt. While the contact was driving approximately 40 MPH in the rain, another vehicle made an illegal turn. As a result, the contact crashed into the rear of the other vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. The driver sustained face, head, mouth, chest, back, neck, and right shoulder injuries as well as bruises from the seat belt. Medical attention was required. The front passenger sustained neck, back, head, and leg injuries that required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a towing lot. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer and the dealer were contacted and made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 115,000....updated 11/15/17 updated 11/28/2017
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact was involved in a front end collision and the air bags failed to deploy. In addition, the seat belt pretensioner failed to retract. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard. A police report was filed. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The driver sustained a sprained shoulder, facial abrasions, and minor cuts. The passenger sustained a laceration to the chin. Both occupants required medical attention. The failure mileage was approximately 180,000.
Tl* the contact owned a 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt. While driving approximately 50 MPH, the driver lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a cement road divider. During the crash, the front end was severely damaged. The air bags did not deploy. The driver sustained an injured leg. It was unknown if medical attention was received. A police report was filed. The vehicle was destroyed. The cause of the failure was not determined. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 90,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt. While driving 30 MPH, the steering wheel became difficult to maneuver without warning. As a result, the contact crashed into a ditch and the air bags failed to deploy. A police report was not filed. The contact sustained facial injuries that required medical attention. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 138,287.
Tl* the contact owned a 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt. While driving approximately 20 MPH over a hill on a railroad track, the contact crashed into the rear of the preceding vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. A police report was filed. The contact sustained injuries to the forehead, a bruise on the hairline, and whiplash that did not require medical attention. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 103,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 45 MPH, the contact crashed into another vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact sustained whiplash, a sprained shoulder, and lower back injuries that required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 67,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt. While driving 55 MPH, another vehicle crashed into the front of the contact's vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. The driver sustained bruises, cuts, and chest injuries that required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed from the scene, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 120,000.
I was driving the car at about 32 MPH when the engine shut down. I traveled across four lanes hitting the curb head on then hitting a concrete flower bed( approximate hit 12-14 inches), traveling over this again hitting a curb in a parking lot and then the car came to a rest. The airbags did not deploy and the car was not running. This is not the first time the car has stopped running like this. When I first purchased it in February 0f 2006 within the first week the ignition would not turn over requiring a trip to the dealership. The ignition has been replaced at least 5 times. About three months into owing it I was driving down the road and the engine was trying to restart it self. It then stopped and I ended up in a ditch. Again the airbags did not deploy. Finally, in 2012 a school bus backed into the front of the car with it running and the airbags did not deploy. …
My vehicle has been turning off while I have been driving. This abrupt "turning off" started occurring even before the ignition switch was changed by GM but now it is becoming more frequent. Prior to the ignition switch being change, each time the car would turn off the airbag sensor would flash repeatedly. After the ignition switch was changed I notified the dealer that the airbag sensor remained lit, and they just told me that it was a faulty sensor and that it had nothing to do with what was fixed on the ignition. The dealer also told me that if I chose to have it fixed, it would be an out of pocket expense. I never took the car back to the dealer to have that repair. This month I was in a car accident on the interstate and the airbags did not deploy. …
Related recalls
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.
Airbag complaints in other Cobalt years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt?
NHTSA has 146 complaints about the air bags of the 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt, 6% of the model year's 2,330 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (12 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt airbag problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 14V-047 (air bags, Feb 10, 2014). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 80,000 miles, and 19% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 59 crashes, 1 fire and 47 injuries and 4 deaths to air bags problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.