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).
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.
I already had a recall on the fuel pump or modular and then on the ignition switch. The check engine light has always been on. They couldn't get it to go off even when they did those repairs, then one day the turn signals stopped turning off after making a turn. The newest problem and the scariest one to me is now a gas leak. I went out and started my car, started to reverse and then smelled a strong odor of gas. I stopped and noticed my gas gauge actually going down. So I shut the car off hurried up and got my kids out and then saw the gas pouring on the road from under my car. I can't believe the problems that I've had with this car. Chevy needs to be held accountable for these problems. It's their cheap mistakes. The only reason I have continued to keep the car is because it belonged to my little brother who died in a tragic car cash with his pregnant fianc and my father. …
Yesterday was on way home from work and car just died on city street with no warning. I somehow managed to get the car to a parking lot and out of traffic. I tried to start the car and no the car wont start back up so I had to have the car towed home. Last week I lost power steering while driving on a rural road and then car started acting like it was going to die. I stopped and when I stopped the car jerked into a forward position. I shut the car off and restarted the car and the transmission was shifting really hard going from 1st to 2nd gear when getting ready to slow down it seemed like the car was a manual and I had it in 5th gear because it was seeming like it was going to stall out because the transmission was idling in the wrong gear as I was slowing down. …
Had ignition switch replaced for recall about a yr ago. While driving on interstate car showed power steering in info line. Then odometer , speed, info numbers all stopped working. Pulled in gas station, car won't start, key won't come out of ignition. After a few mins, car started back up and now anti-theft light is on. Managed to drive tha car 100 mi. Back home but noise like lawnmower coming from front and felt like transmission stuck or slipping. Was terrified that car was gonna blow up or just stop and get hit by semi. The car has also just stopped a couple of times after having the ignition switch replaced. I had no problems with this until it was replaced. I did have the fuel leak happen and the electrical lights stop working and dim or get brighter with braking. …
I was driving the car on the highway, going about 38 MPH and the power steering warning beeped and displayed on my dash. The steering tightened up a bit, and the car slowed down, as I was driving (I don't know what the car slowed down to because the speedometer then dropped to zero, but the tachometer continued to rev (I want to say) between 2 & 3 RPM, while the car was still in motion. The locks were clicking up and down too while this was all happening. Then the car bucked and the speedometer began working. The power steering warning light remained lit during the whole time. I was able to pull into a parking lot for safety. This was clearly a driving safety issue due to the vehicle slowing down when the power steering warning light came on. …
It doesn't matter of I'm driving at just sitting at the traffic light but the t/c, engine lights come on n make my car jerk like it's the transmission kicking back so in March 2016 it got so bad to the point I could no longer even put my car in reverse so I had to have a brand new transmission which cost me $1500 then the same day I got it back all the lights came right back and I've taken it several times to the mechanic and it gives him a p1174, p0014 code. I'm afraid one day while I'm driving my car is just going to fall apart with how badly it jerks but once the t/c light does go off it stops jerking and will drive smooth but the engine light May or not still come on and makes my car drive sluggish n the RPM guages go crazy like I can accelerate but the car doesn't seem to be accelerating.
I live in buffalo, ny so this is more of a problem than not. During the cold months went he temperature goes below 20 degrees the car fails to start. I have replaced the fuel pump, spark plugs, intake, mass air flow sensor, and battery. I will be trying the crankshaft position sensor next. The car will crank strong, and continue to crank for several minutes. It will then stop, and begin to crank again when the key is again turned. However the car never turns over. The only thing I can imagine is that something is communicating with the ECM or ECU, not to start. This only occurs when it is very cold out as I purchased the car in late September, therefore I have to experience with the vehicle in warm temperatures.
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.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt. While driving approximately 70 MPH, the vehicle suddenly would not accelerate and came to a complete stop; however, the engine did not shut off. Prior to the incident, the traction control and check engine lights illuminated. When the traction control light illuminated, the transmission jerked really hard. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the ECM needed reprogramming. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 134,000.
I was driving 60mph down main highway when all the sudden the rpms went really high and the power steering indicator light came on. I pulled to the side of the road as soon as possible, turned the car of and back on started driving again. The car would not shift out of first gear and was hard to steer. Started going up a small hill to try and get it of main road and it stalled in the middle of the hill. These cars are nothing but a safety hazard and something needs to be done!
Traction Control complaints in other Cobalt years
Frequently asked questions
How common are traction control problems on the 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt?
NHTSA has 42 complaints about the stability & traction control of the 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt, 2% of the model year's 2,330 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt traction control problems?
No. NHTSA lists no stability & traction control recall for the 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt, though it has 5 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt traction control problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 100,000 miles, and 6% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 4 crashes, 0 fires and 2 injuries to stability & traction control 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.