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CarComplaints.com Notes: The 2006 Cobalt continued to carry the torch first lit by the 2005 model year. To be clear, that torch is burning bright with widespread power steering issues, electrical curiosities and a dangerous ignition switch defect which led to a massive recall by GM. This isn’t a great torch to carry.

The 2006 added it’s own special flare with gas leaks due to cracks in the “return portion of the modular reservoir assembly.” A recall of 2006 Cobalts was issued to fix the problem, but only to vehicles sold in or current registered in Arizona and Nevada, leaving other owners to pay for repairs themselves.

Between this car stalling while driving, giving owners fits with power steering failure and having it be a potential tinderbox because of gas leaks, we felt we had no other option than to award it our “Avoid Like the Plague” badge.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 3
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
81,125 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2006 Chevrolet Cobalt fuel system problems

fuel system problem

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2006 Chevrolet Cobalt Owner Comments (Page 6 of 13)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #154

Aug 072015

Cobalt

  • 136,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The fuel lines are leaking where the lines connect to the fuel pump. It is causing a significant amount of gas to saturate the top of the tank and run down the rear of the tank.

- Independence , MO, USA

problem #153

Jul 242015

Cobalt

  • 162,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated that while in park, strong fuel fumes emitted from the rear outer part of the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure recurred on numerous occasions. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 162,000.

- Tampa, FL, USA

problem #152

Aug 172015

Cobalt

  • 90,000 miles
Everytime we drive our Cobalt we have a hard time starting it. After a few days with it being hard to start we then started smelling a strong gas odor on the outside and inside of the car. I found there was a recall for the fuel pump, but for some reason it is only in certain states and of course my state (Michigan) is not included.

- Coldwater, MI, USA

problem #151

Aug 052015

Cobalt

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 40 mph, an abnormal smell of fuel emitted into the vehicle. The failure recurred constantly. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the modular reservoir assembly needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not included in the NHTSA campaign number: 09V419000 (fuel system, gasoline). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

- Hatboro, PA, USA

problem #150

Jul 202015

Cobalt

  • 124,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated that the vehicle emitted a strong odor of fuel. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 09V419000 (fuel system, gasoline). The failure mileage was 124,000.

- Cranston, RI, USA

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problem #149

Jul 132015

Cobalt

  • miles
I started to notice a strong smell of gas about 2 weeks ago. I thought nothing of it and assumed I had spilled gas on the side of my vehicle when I went to the gas station. But then I started to notice that the smell would not go away. I checked the ground for leaks and found nothing. I checked my fuel injectors and still no leaks. Then I stumbled on NHTSA - where there were complaints of fuel smell outside the car. I then found out there were recalls in certain states - but not mine. Why"?"

- Stafford, VA, USA

problem #148

Jul 132015

Cobalt

  • 100,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated that the key failed to release from the ignition switch and noticed strong fuel fumes emitting into the vehicle. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously serviced under NHTSA campaign number: 14V047000 (air bags, electrical system) and NHTSA campaign number: 14V171000 (electrical system). However, the failure persisted. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer after the recalls were preformed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 100,000.

- Mitchell , IN, USA

problem #147

Jul 132015

Cobalt

  • miles
Strong gas smell. There are recalls on fuel pump and parts in other states but not in. This should be on all Cobalts that have this problem. Indiana lives are important too! this is very dangerous and expensive to fix. I have seen many complaints due to this issue online. Why don't you step up and fix you mistakes GM?

- Mitchell, IN, USA

problem #146

May 012015

Cobalt

  • 108,463 miles
I noticed a very bad fuel leak from under my vehicle back in the beginning of May 2015. I kept my vehicle parked until I could get the problem fixed. The middle of may I jacked up my vehicle to see where the leak was, I noticed it was coming from two of my fuel lines that run the length of my vehicle, the leak was in the same spot on both lines, in a bent part of the lines held up by a clip. I took my vehicle to a mechanic shop on July 23 to get a price and to get it fixed. I didn't have as much as it cost to get fixed. But the owner of the shop didn't want me to drive off in my vehicle, he said the it was way to dangerous and could catch fire. The reason for my complaint, I called the GM dealership to get a price on the fuel lines. The guy I spoke with told me this wasn't a new problem, he said several people has been there with the same problem. I asked to check for any recalls, he said there wasn't yet. Like there was going to be. He told me not to drive my vehicle because it was extremely dangerous until it was fixed.

- Beech Grove , IN, USA

problem #145

Jun 292015

Cobalt

  • 175,000 miles
Strong gasoline fumes; now I'm told it is a cracked piece on the fuel pump assembly just as described in GM recall no. 090226. $750 to replace; and it is apparently yet another known problem with this vehicle.

- Laplace, LA, USA

problem #144

Jul 012015

Cobalt

  • 82,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Bad smell of gas coming from my vehicle my family mechanic took a look and noticed a leak coming from the top of my fuel pump. Saw recalls on the fuel pump for models in 2006 and 2007 my vehicle should be on that list and added to this recall. The vehicle is a 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt ls sedan 2.2 4cyl. Thank you

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #143

Jul 012015

Cobalt

  • 105,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt. While the vehicle was parked, the contact noticed a strong fuel odor and fuel leaking from the rear of the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The VIN was not included in any recall regarding the fuel system. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 105,000.

- New Plymouth, ID, USA

problem #142

Jul 172014

Cobalt

  • miles
I have had two of these models in our shop and both being 2006 models. The fuel lines are rusting out at the support clamp near the frame on the drivers side. This location is about 4 inches from the exhaust. Fuel sprays on to exhaust and vaporizes. This allows fumes to enter the interior of vehicle. Fumes are dangerous and causing driver to become weak and drowsy. The potential for accident is higher then that of a politician actually doing their job.... please investigate this.

- Indianapolis, IN, USA

problem #141

Jun 012015

Cobalt

  • 67,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated that there was an odor of fuel present inside and outside of the vehicle. The contact discovered fuel leaking from the rear of the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 67,000.

- Springdale, AR, USA

problem #140

Jun 042015

Cobalt

  • miles
I noticed the smell of gas, and my car hesitating to start. I took it to a local shop to get looked at and they told me that the fuel pump was cracked and leaking.

- Davison, MI, USA

problem #139

Dec 092014

Cobalt

  • 85,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt. While driving at 25 mph, the steering wheel became difficult to turn. The contact had to apply force to the steering wheel in order to steer the vehicle. The power steering was displayed across the message board. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact previously noticed a fuel odor and fuel leaking underneath the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the fuel pump modulator needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 85,000.

- Fall River, MA, USA

problem #138

May 112015

Cobalt

  • miles
Fuel started leaking from top of fuel tank only when running. I understand there was recall on other models registered in Florida and Nevada why not New Jersey?

- Millville , NJ, USA

problem #137

Apr 102015

Cobalt

  • 60,000 miles
After starting vehicle and driving approximately 5 miles, driver noticed a strong fuel smell coming from bottom of car. A puddle of fuel was noticed underneath driver's side of car about halfway between driver's side door and rear wheel. Fuel noticed to be leaking from fuel line.

- Parkersburg, WV, USA

problem #136

Mar 042015

Cobalt

  • 114,694 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for an oil change and the mechanic discovered that there was fuel leaking near the exhaust system. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 09V419000 (fuel system, gasoline). The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 114,694.

- Mclean, IL, USA

problem #135

Oct 062014

Cobalt 4-cyl

  • 68,110 miles
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.

- Tonawanda , NY, USA

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