2006 Chevrolet Cobalt problems
Owners have filed 3,056 complaints with NHTSA about the 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt. Steering is the most reported problem area, at 43% of complaints. After that come fuel system (16%) and electrical system (14%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 3,056 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Steering 43% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 272 and 25
- Injuries and deaths
- 358 and 20
- Typical mileage
- 68,000 miles 2,467 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 176 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 265 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 536 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 500 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 348 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 219 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 152 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 114 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 70 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 48 |
| 200k+ miles | 39 |
What the data shows
Among the 2,467 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 68,000 miles. For steering specifically, the median reported mileage is about 61,000 miles (1,128 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 272 complaints mention a crash; 25 complaints mention a fire; 358 injuries reported; 20 deaths reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2006 ranks 1st most-complained-about out of 6 model years of the Chevrolet Cobalt with enough data (1,693 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 5 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
It was a single car crash which happened at night during a rain shower. Their were no witnesses, but the car crossed the opposite lane of traffic and ran into the back end of a lowboy trailer ( a trailer used to transport heavy equipment ) the two 19 year old girls in the car were killed. Nothing about this accident made sense until I heard about the ignition issue with the cobalt.
I was stopped at a turn around east of garfield on 16 mile road in clinton township michigan. Proceeded to complete turn and go west on 16 mile road when I felt my vehicle (2006 chevrolet colbalt) had a loss of power. There was no response when I stepped on the gas pedal. The dashboard lights blinked. Then with in seconds I was struck by a vehicle in my passenger side rear, then I spun around and another vehicle hit me in the driver rear side. None of my air bags deployed.
The power steering lock up every time I drive the car. The key will not come out of the steering column. Cant drive the car.