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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:
70 / 4
Injuries / Deaths:
129 / 3
Average Mileage:
64,071 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 steering problems

steering problem

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2006 Chevrolet Cobalt Owner Comments (Page 11 of 62)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #1033

Mar 072014

Cobalt

  • 117,000 miles

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

The electric steering assist failed and I was barely able to get the vehicle off the road safely. I have owned the car 16 months and have had two failures of the electric assist steering system. I have inquired at a local dealership about any update bulletins or repairs that would fix the problem and was told none existed yet at that time but there may be a recall. This has not happened.

- Napa, CA, USA

problem #1032

Apr 062015

Cobalt

  • 103,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt. While driving out of a driveway at low speeds, the steering wheel seized and excessive force was required to turn the wheel. The failure recurred multiple times. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 10V073000 (steering). The approximate failure mileage was 103,000.

- Ithica, NY, USA

problem #1031

Apr 022015

Cobalt

  • miles
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt. While turning into a parking space, the steering wheel seized and an unknown warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a dealer, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The VIN was included in NHTSA campaign number: 10V073000 (steering). The failure mileage was unknown.

- Bermingham, AL, USA

problem #1030

Sep 052014

Cobalt

  • 160,000 miles

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

The first time this particular problem began, because there have been oh so many others, I turned on the car and a power steering messaged appeared. There was no check engine light or anything else, just the "power steering" message. This happened intermittently for about 2 months. Then one evening while accelerating from a stop light, the car started to hop, the "power steering" message came on with a dinging alarm, the car slowed down to about 5 mph, and the power steering was gone, along with the breaks. It was extremely difficult to turn or stop the car. We were able to get it off the road, where we turned the engine off and on a few times. Each time with no success in fixing the issue. Finally after letting it rest for about 15 min, we were able to turn it on and it returned to normal. Since then, intermittently the "power steering" message comes on and dings, the car hops, and the power steering goes out. I took it to the dealer and they said the steering column needs to be replaced at a cost of $800. I can't understand this, since my steering column has rarely been move, maybe a total of 30 since I bought the car in 2006. I am the original owner and very few people, outside of myself, have driven this car, lending to minimal adjusting of the steering column.

- Cedarpines Park, CA, USA

problem #1029

Jun 052014

Cobalt

  • 78,500 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated that while driving various speeds, the steering wheel seized. The contact had to apply force to the steering wheel in order to maneuver the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign id number: 10V073000 (steering). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 78,500.

- Philadelphia, PA, USA

problem #1028

Mar 082015

Cobalt

  • 116,427 miles
Starting on Sunday I was driving down the highway and my car suddenly shut off. The power steering light flashed and then the service air bag light as well. I pulled over, stopped completely, and turned my car back on and took the back roads home. After turning the car back on the warning lights on the display were gone. The next day I was on a different highway and the same thing happened except when I turned my car back on the service air bag light stayed on until I returned home. I had the recall on the ignition switch replaced last year.

- Portage, IN, USA

problem #1027

Mar 092015

Cobalt

  • 70,000 miles

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

I have made several attempts to get safety switch (recall) put in my vehicle. I have been told on several occasions I would be called when the part comes in. John elway Chevrolet Colorado 80110. I never heard back from them as the weeks went by. I went in with safety recall letter and again I was told they would call me. They were having problems getting the part. Thank you. [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Englewood, CO, USA

problem #1026

Apr 262013

Cobalt

  • 82,555 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated that while driving approximately 5 mph, the steering wheel became difficult to turn. The contact mentioned that the vehicle was repaired under NHTSA campaign number: 10V073000 (steering). The vehicle was taken to the dealer and diagnosed that the upper steering shaft had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 82,555.

- Columbus, OH, USA

problem #1025

Jan 262015

Cobalt

  • 141,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt. While driving various speeds, the power steering suddenly malfunctioned and made the steering wheel very difficult to turn. When the failure occurred, the power steering message would display. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed that the power steering gear box was faulty. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 141,000.

- North Charles, SC, USA

problem #1024

Feb 052015

Cobalt 4-cyl

  • 78,000 miles
I was driving home from work on the highway. When it suddenly became difficult to make a lane change. I exited the highway and it became clear that something was wrong with my steering. After getting home safely I found out about other GM owners issues with the electrical power steering and wondered why a recall was never issues for my vehicle.

- Worth, IL, USA

problem #1023

Feb 022015

Cobalt 4-cyl

  • miles

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

2006 Chevrolet Cobalt wrote General Motors about five months ago when the vehicle stopped running. The consumer had difficulty starting the vehicle, the window fell into the door, the power steering went out and there was a leak coming from the ac.

- Griffithsville, WV, USA

problem #1022

Sep 052014

Cobalt

  • miles
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated that the power steering warning light illuminated several times. The vehicle was repaired under NHTSA campaign id number: 10V073000 (steering) but months later the failure recurred. The contact stated that the power steering warning light illuminated and the steering wheel was making a clicking noise. In addition, when changing gears there was an abnormal noise. The contact also mentioned that the vehicle stalled several times when changing gears. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was not available.

- East Canton, OH, USA

problem #1021

Sep 032014

Cobalt 4-cyl

  • 180,000 miles
I was turning at a green light and my steering locked up and caused me to go over a median causing damage to my transmission pan, front engine mount.

- Johnson City, TN, USA

problem #1020

Feb 042015

Cobalt

  • 94,846 miles
The ignition switch locks up after I have put my vehicle in park. I then have to start my car again, foot on brake, move my shifter to neutral, back to park and hopefully im able to turn the key to off. The steering is a pain at times to deal with. Especially at slow speeds it jerks sporadically. Also im not sure if this issue has been recalled but I've read many forums of the ac leaking on the passengers floor leaving puddles of water. My car does this, through car washes and when it rains. I've also noticed that you can hear the remaining water flow left behind in the dashboard. I only had this car since November 2014 and have so many problems. If possible, can all recall repairs be performed on my car to prevent any issue in the future?

- Bakersfield , CA, USA

problem #1019

Feb 022012

Cobalt

  • 85,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the power steering sensor light illuminated and the power steering malfunctioned causing the steering wheel to become very difficult to turn. The contact indicated that after turning the engine off and back on the vehicle operated as normal. The vehicle was taken to a dealer. The technician was unable to diagnose the cause of the failure. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 85,000.

- Sterling Heights, MI, USA

problem #1018

Jan 282015

Cobalt

  • miles
This is an intermittent problem, the steering locks for no know reason. This is going to really hurt someone eventually!

- Springfield, MA, USA

problem #1017

Jan 252015

Cobalt

  • 137,000 miles
Was driving on highway at 65mph and car shut off with no warning and reading engine disabled. Pulled over turned it off and back on the same thing happened 5 minutes later.

- Dolgeville , NY, USA

problem #1016

Oct 032014

Cobalt

  • 141,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated that the power steering warning lamp illuminated and the power steering was extremely difficult to turn. The contact indicated that the steering wheel locked forcing the contact to merge over to the side of the road. The contact restarted the vehicle which reset the computer but the failure persisted. The contact was not included in NHTSA campaign id number: 10V073000 (steering). The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer who indicated that the power steering motor circuit failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 141,000.

- Edgerton, OH, USA

problem #1015

Jan 162015

Cobalt

  • miles
The power steering has gone out again. Even though it was recalled in 2011.

- Gilbert, AZ, USA

problem #1014

Jan 162015

Cobalt

  • 110,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 20 mph, the steering wheel seized. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 110,000. The VIN was not available.

- Northwood, AR, USA

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