20 of the 3,056 complaints about the 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt are about the equipment — 1% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 53,916 miles.
20
Complaints
1
Crashes
1
Fires
0
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
2006 CHEVROLET COBALT WROTE GENERAL MOTORS ABOUT FIVE MONTHS AGO WHEN THE VEHICLE STOPPED RUNNING. *MW 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.
NHTSA complaint #10663873 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
2006 CHEVROLET COBALT. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO IGNITION SWITCH AND OTHER VEHICLE PROBLEMS AND UNSATISFACTORY CUSTOMER SERVICE AT DEALERSHIP. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHUT OFF FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES AFTER SHE SWITCHED THE IGNITION TO THE OFF POSITION AND REMOVED THE KEY. THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY RAN OUT OF GAS. THERE WAS NO WARNING. THE VERY SAME DAY, SHE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE IN THE MAIL REGARDING AN ISSUE WITH THE FUEL PUMP. ALSO, THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED THE BATTER EXPLODED, WHEN AN ODOR BEGAN TO COME INSIDE THE VEHICLE. ALSO, THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED, THE AC AND HEAT DID NOT WORK, THE DASH LIGHTS WORKED OCCASIONALLY, THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING AND THE INTERIOR WAS FALLING APART. *JB THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED, THE AC COMPRESSOR FAILED. WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THEN SOMETHING WENT WRONG WITH THE BATTERY AND TOXIC FUMES FROM THE BATTERY IN THE TRUNK WERE BEING SUCKED INTO THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER EXITED THE VEHICLE, OPENED THE TRUNK AND HOT BATTERY ACID WAS ALL OVER THE PLACE. UPDATED 09/08/14
NHTSA complaint #10615463 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART AND AFTER A MILE, THE VEHICLE STARTED SMOKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC AND DIAGNOSED THAT THE AC COMPRESSOR AND THE SERPENTINE BELT BURNED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
NHTSA complaint #10614546 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY
THE KEY GETS STUCK IN IGNITION AND WILL NOT COME OUT. THE KEY ACTS JAMMED AND WONT TURN AND CANT BE PULLED OUT. HAS BEEN DOING THIS FOR A WHILE AND HAS LEFT ME STRANDED MULTIPLE TIMES.
NHTSA complaint #10525248 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY
WHILE DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON. WHEN I SLOWED TO EXIT HIGHWAY MY VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHIFT FUNNY AND HARD AND BECAME SCARRY. I THEN LEFT STOP SIGN AND MY CAR WAS SHIFTING HARD AND FELT LIKE IT WAS JUMPING ERATICLY. I WAS SCARED TO DRIVE AT TIMES AND IT CONTINUED FOR ABOUT AN HOUR THEN I PULLED INTO GET SOMETHING TO EAT AND CALL MY HUSBAND. AFTER EATING AND TELLING MY HUSBAND, I GOT BACK INTO CAR AND IT WAS FINE. NO MORE LIGHTS ON THE DASH SAYING SERVICE ENGINE SOON OR TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT. IT WAS FINE FOR THE REST OF MY WAY HOME. I WENT TO WORK NEXT DAY AND ALL WAS BACK AGAIN, LIGHT FOR SERVICE ENGINE CAME ON AND SO DID TRACTION CONTROL. THEN MY CAR STARTED JERKING AGAIN AND SHIFTING REAL HARD. NOW MY CAR DOES THIS AT LEAST 4 TIMES A WEEK. I HAD IT LOOKED AT AND THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING THEY SAID. IT HAPPENED AGAIN AND I TOOK IT IN AND THEY SAID IT WAS A FRONT RIGHT WHEEL BEARING SHOWING UP ON CODE BUT NOTHING ELSE. HAD THE BEARING FIXED AND IT STILL DOES IT. I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN THAT WASN'T ALL IT WAS CAUSE IT FEELS LIKE THE TRANS SLIPPING AND GRABBING. TO THIS DAY IT STILL DOES IT WITH EVERYONE TELLING ME THEY CAN'T FIND PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10462751 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EQUIPMENT
MY HUSBAND AND I HAD BEEN SMELLING GAS COMING FROM OUR CAR FOR A WHILE. WE TOOK IT IN TO GET THE BRAKES REPLACED AND THEY TOLD US THAT WE HAD A FUEL PUMP LEAK AND WOULD NOT WORK ON THE BRAKES UNTIL IT WAS FIXED. THE COST TO FIX IS WELL BEYOND OUR MEANS AND NOW WE ARE GOING THROUGH A HALF A TANK OF GAS EVERY 3 DAYS FOR LESS THAN 30MILES OF TRAVEL. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE FUEL PUMP FOR THIS PROBLEM IN SEVERAL OTHER STATES, NOT INCLUDING THE ONE WE LIVE IN. WE HAVE A VERY YOUNG CHILD AND ONE ON THE WAY AND DO NOT WANT ANYTHING BAD TO HAPPEN.
NHTSA complaint #10395763 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EQUIPMENT
I BOUGHT MY 2006 COBALT BRAND NEW AND IT NOW HAS 66,000 MILES ON IT. AT ABOUT 15,000 MILES THE KEY LOCKED IN THE IGNITION AND SHIFTING GEARS BECAME ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE (AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION). IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY SO I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE SHIFTER ASSEMBLY. NOW TODAY (2/3/11) I WASN'T HAVING ANY PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR UNTIL I STARTED IT AND COULDN'T PRESS THE SHIFTER BUTTON IN TO PUT IT OUT OF PARK. IT STAYED STUCK IN PARK. WHEN I TRIED TO TAKE THE KEY OUT, IT STAYED STUCK IN ACC. I WAS ABLE TO MANUALLY TAKE IT OUT BY PRESSING THE "PLUNGER" UNDER THE STEERING WHEEL. CALLED THE DEALER AND HAD TO TOW MY CAR THERE. AGAIN, MY SHIFTER ASSEMBLY HAS TO BE REPLACED WITH A TOTAL COST (AFTER TOWING, DIAGNOSTICS, LABOR, AND PARTS) OF $450 OUT-OF-POCKET. DUE TO A CHEAP PLASTIC PIECE IN THE GEAR SHIFT. RIDICULOUS.
NHTSA complaint #10380803 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EQUIPMENT
STEERING: ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM - I HAVE A 2006 CHEVROLET COBALT. FOUR MONTHS AGO, I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER: PE10005 10V073000 COMPLETED. FOR THE LAST FOUR MONTHS THE VEHICLE PERFORMED AS IT HAD PRIOR TO EXPERIENCE THE POWER STEERING ISSUE THAT PROMPTED ME TO HAVE THE RECALL PERFORMED. FOR THE LAST WEEK, I HAVE EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT POWER STEERING LOSS. EACH TIME, WHILE DRIVING THE POWER STEERING LOSS WARNING MESSAGE APPEARS AND I HAVE A OVERALL LOSS OF POWER STEERING, THE BRAKING SYSTEM IS COMPROMISED AS IT IS SLOW TO RESPOND AND THE VEHICLE (AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION) SHAKES VIOLENTLY AS IF IT WAS TRYING TO SHIFT GEARS. THIS LOSS TYPICALLY SUBSIDES AT HIGHER SPEEDS. I BELIEVE THAT THE REPLACEMENT PART IS ALSO DEFECTIVE. THE POWER STEERING RETURNS IF THE VEHICLE IS STOPPED AND THE ENGINE IS TURNED OFF THEN BACK ON, HOWEVER AFTER LESS THAN 1/2 A MILE THE POWER STEERING LOSS WARNING MESSAGE APPEARS AGAIN AND THE ISSUES RETURN.
NHTSA complaint #10380150 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EQUIPMENT
I HAVE OWNED MY 2006 CHEVY COBALT SINCE JUNE 2006 AND HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS OUT OF THIS CAR. I HAVE HAD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR EVERY REPAIR BECAUSE THEY SEEM TO ALL HAPPEN BEFORE A RECALL IS ISSUED AND THE DEALERSHIPS WILL NOT REFUND MONEY ON THE REPAIRS. 1) A/C LEAKS WATER IN PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR BOARD. I HAVE HAD IT IN THE SHOP 3 TIMES AND IT IS STILL LEAKING. NO ONE CAN FIGURE OUT WHY THE WATER IS LEAKING INTO THE CAR. 2) GAS TANK HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO FUEL LINES CRACKING. 3) POWER STEERING WENT OUT WHILE MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AND WAS ABOUT 130 MILES FROM HOME. 4) THE CAR WOULD DIE IF THE RPM'S GOT TOO LOW, THIS WAS CAUSED BY A CARBON BUILD UP ON THE IDLER. 5) THERE IS NO WAY TO CHECK THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AND IT IS STARTING TO SLIP AND TAKE FOREVER TO UPSHIFT. 6) THE KEY GETS STUCK IN THE IGNITION AND WILL NOT COME OUT. 7) THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR GETS STUCK AND WILL NOT OPEN. 8) THE DOOR LATCH SOMETIMES MESSES UP AND THE DOOR DOES NOT CLOSE. 9) THE STEREO DISPLAY AND BUTTONS NO LONGER WORK. I CAN NOT USE THE CD PLAYER FOR FEAR OF LOSING THE CD FOR EVER SINCE THE EJECT BUTTON DOESN'T WORK. I CAN NOT SEE THE CLOCK OR WHAT STATION THE RADIO IS ON. THE CAR LOST ITS VALUE SO FAST THAT EVEN AFTER 4 YRS OF HAVING IT I STILL CAN NOT TRADE IT IN DUE TO THE AMT. I STILL OWE ON IT. SO I AM STUCK DRIVING THIS PIECE OF CRAP UNTIL IT IS PAID FOR. I HAVE ALREADY INVESTED SEVERAL THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS INTO THIS CAR FOR THESE PROBLEMS. I BELIEVE THAT THE CAR IS A LEMON AND I SHOULD BE REIMBURSED FOR THE CAR AND ALL OF THE OUT OF POCKET REPAIRS I HAVE HAD TO MAKE.
NHTSA complaint #10339844 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EQUIPMENT
2006 CHEVROLET COBALT, REMOTE CONTROL SYSTEM NOT GOOD QUALITY. I HAVE TWO KEYS WHEN BOUGHT THE CAR. JUST PASS THE 3 YEARS, ONE KEY CANNOT UNLOCK THE CAR WHILE CAN ONLY LOCK THE CAR. ANOTHER KEY WORKS WELL. COMPARED MY ANOTHER TOYOTA CAR, ALREADY 7 YEARS, THE KEY ONLY NEED REPLACE BATTERY AND WORK. BUT COBALT KEY ELECTRONIC PART WORN OUT.
NHTSA complaint #10327746 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EQUIPMENT
I HAVE SENT A LETTER TO CHEVY DIRECTLY AND I FEEL THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED TO YOU AS WELL. I PURCHASED A CHEVY COBALT A FEW YEARS BACK. THE COBALT IS AN 06. FOR ABOUT 4 MONTHS NOW MY KEY HAS BEEN GETTING STUCK IN THE IGNITION AT THE ACC POINT. IT WILL NOT ALLOW ME TO TURN PAST THAT POINT. I HAVE FOUND THE LITTLE PLUNGER TO REMOVE MY KEYS IN THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN. THE SECOND ISSUE THAT ARISES WITH THIS IS THAT MY GEARSHIFTER MOVES WHEN THE CAR IS OFF. THIS IS A HAZARD AS ONE DAY THE SHIFTER GOT SHIFTED OUT OF GEAR AND STARTED TO ROLL AWAY. MY CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY, BUT THIS SEEMS TO BE AN ISSUE I HAVE SEEN POSTED ON THE NET THAT MANY HAVE EXPERIENCED. MY MOTHER HAS AN 05 COBALT THAT HAD A SIMILAR PROBLEM SHE HAD THE KEY ASSEMBLY AND THE GEAR SHIFTER REPLACED. I'M A SOON TO BE MOM AND THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED. I DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER COMPLAINTS OTHER THAN THIS.
NHTSA complaint #10317901 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EQUIPMENT
JUST BOUGHT MY COBALT AT USED DEALERSHIP AND I HAVE ISSUES WITH THE POWER STEERING. IT FEELS REALLY HARD TO TURN AND IT MAKES NOISES THAT JUST DON'T SOUND RIGHT. I'M REALLY CONCERNED NOW READING THESE OTHER COMPLAINTS AND I THINK THE POWER STEERING NEEDS TO BE RECALLED BEFORE SOMEONE DOES GET HURT OR KILLED. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE!!
NHTSA complaint #10308636 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER
06 COBALT POWER STEERING.
NHTSA complaint #10308175 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EQUIPMENT
MY 2006 CHEVROLET COBALT HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH A FUEL PUMP MODULAR FAILURE RECENTLY AND I GOT QUOTED 1100 FOR THE REPAIR AND NOW MY VEHICLE IS INOPERABLE. I NOTICED YOUR CAMPAIGN NUMBER 09V419000 IN REFERENCE TO THE RECALL AND OUR VEHICLE WAS BOUGHT AND REGISTERED IN ARIZONA (I AM MILITARY) IN 2006. WE CONTACTED CHEVY AND THEY NOW TELL US THAT OUR VIN DOES NOT FIT THE DESCRIPTION AND THAT THEY WILL ONLY PAY FOR THE PART AND PART OF THE LABOR WITH OUR TOTAL BEING BETWEEN $400-$500 EVEN THOUGH IT IS THE EXACT SAME THING AS THE RECALL STATES. I DO NOT HAVE THAT KIND OF MONEY TO BE PAYING FOR A PART I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR.
NHTSA complaint #10294039 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EQUIPMENT
WE ARE BUYING A USED 2006 CHEVY COBALT LS & THE KEY HAS STUCK IN THE IGNITION. WE HAVE FOUND OUT THROUGH RESEARCH THAT THIS HAS BEEN A HUGE PROBLEM WITH OTHERS & THE AUTOMATIC SHIFTER ASSEMBLY HAS TO BE REPLACED. WE HAVE NO WARRANTY NOW & STILL OWE TOO MUCH ON THE CAR. WHY IS THERE NO RECALL ON THIS SINCE THERE ARE SO MANY COMPLAINTS? EVERY SINGLE WEB SITE WE WERE ON PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS. THIS IS A ROTTEN DEAL. . EVERY WEBSITE HAS TOO MANY COMPLAINTS. THERE ABSOLUTELY SHOULD BE A RECALL TO FIX THIS PROBLEM.----THIS WAS A MESSAGE SENT TO CHEVROLET OF WHICH THEY REPLIED: THANK YOU FOR CONTACTING THE CHEVROLET CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER. I HAVE PROCESSED THE INFORMATION ON YOUR VEHICLE AND AFTER THOROUGHLY RESEARCHING ALL THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO ME; I WAS NOT ABLE TO FIND ANY RECALL ASSOCIATED TO YOUR VEHICLE. RECALLS ARE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER SPECIFIC SO NOT ALL VEHICLES OF A MODEL YEAR ARE AFFECTED. I EMAILED BACK THAT THEY NEED TO HAVE A RECALL FOR THIS. IT IS COSTLY TO REPLACE & NOT FAIR TO THE CONSUMER. PLEASE HELP.
NHTSA complaint #10293699 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EQUIPMENT
MY HUSBAND AND I PURCHASED TO 2006 CHEVY COBALT IN SEPTEMBER OF 06. SINCE THE PURCHASE OF MY , "BRAND NEW" CAR THE AIR CONDITIONING, POWER LOCKS, AND POWER STEERING HAVE ALL CEASED TO WORK. MY AIR CONDITIONING ONLY WORKED FOR ONE SUMMER. THE POWER LOCKS WENT OUT ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO. NOW, THE MOST CONCERNING IS THAT MY POWER STEERING HAS NOW FAILED. I TURN THE CAR ON AND HAVE POWER STEERING FOR APPROXIMATELY 2-3 MINUTES, THEN THE CARS POWER STEERING FAILS. I WILL NEVER HAVE THE MONEY TO REPLACE ANY PARTS BECAUSE OF THE HIGH PAYMENTS AND INSURANCE. MY POOR HUSBAND IS A PIZZA DELIVERY PERSON! THIS IS THE WORST THING TO HAPPEN. I TRIED TO BUY AN AMERICAN MADE CAR HOPING THAT I WOULD AT LEAST GET TO DRIVE IT FOR A FEW YEARS WITHOUT HAVING IT BREAK DOWN. NOW GM IS GETTING MY PAYCHECK AND THE TAXES THEY TOOK OUT OF IT!! THIS IS PLAIN WRONG! I WILL NEVER BUY GM AGAIN.
NHTSA complaint #10273497 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
MY HUSBAND AND I PURCHASED TO 2006 CHEVY COBALT IN SEPTEMBER OF 06. SINCE THE PURCHASE OF MY , "BRAND NEW" CAR THE AIR CONDITIONING, POWER LOCKS, AND POWER STEERING HAVE ALL CEASED TO WORK. MY AIR CONDITIONING ONLY WORKED FOR ONE SUMMER. THE POWER LOCKS WENT OUT ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO. NOW, THE MOST CONCERNING IS THAT MY POWER STEERING HAS NOW FAILED. I TURN THE CAR ON AND HAVE POWER STEERING FOR APPROXIMATELY 2-3 MINUTES, THEN THE CARS POWER STEERING FAILS. I WILL NEVER HAVE THE MONEY TO REPLACE ANY PARTS BECAUSE OF THE HIGH PAYMENTS AND INSURANCE. MY POOR HUSBAND IS A PIZZA DELIVERY PERSON! THIS IS THE WORST THING TO HAPPEN. I TRIED TO BUY AN AMERICAN MADE CAR HOPING THAT I WOULD AT LEAST GET TO DRIVE IT FOR A FEW YEARS WITHOUT HAVING IT BREAK DOWN. NOW GM IS GETTING MY PAYCHECK AND THE TAXES THEY TOOK OUT OF IT!! THIS IS PLAIN WRONG! I WILL NEVER BUY GM AGAIN.
NHTSA complaint #10273497 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EQUIPMENT
I WAS DRIVING ON A STRAIGHT ROAD WHEN ALL THE SUDDEN ON MY 06 COBALT THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT AND THE DASHBOARD SAYS POWER STEERING. IT WOULD NOT WORK AND HAD TO MANUALLY TURN IT. THIS IS A DANGER FOR MANY REASONS. THERE IS OVER 5000 COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET AND THIS NEEDS TO BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY!!
NHTSA complaint #10244296 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
MY A/C LEAKS HORRIBLY ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FLOORBOARD, I HAD IT BLOWN OUT 4 TIMES AND IT IS GOOD FOR ABOUT A WEEK. THESE MODELS ARE MISSING A SEAL BETWEEN THE AC HOUSING . IT SHOULD BE A RECALL. MY LOCKS ARE ALSO FREAKING OUT. THEY LOCK/UNLOCK BY THEMSELVES, MY CAR IS ONLY 2 YRS OLD!!!!!!!!!!!
NHTSA complaint #10235163 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
I WAS DRIVING TO WORK ON RT 8 IN BUTLER, PA. A DEER RAN INTO MY CAR, HITTING THE FRONT END. I WAS GOING ABOUT 50 MPH. I SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES AND GOT OUT TO LOOK AT MY CAR. THE FRONT BUMPER WAS COMPLETELY SMASHED, ALONG WITH THE BUMPER BEING FOLDED, AC CONDENSER BROKE, GRILLE BROKE,RADIATOR BROKE. I GOT BACK IN MY CAR AND NOTICED THE AIR BAG SYMBOL WAS ON BUT BY AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. I WASN'T WEARING A SEAT BELT AND I WAS THE ONLY ONE IN THE CAR. MY SEAT BELTS LOCKED UP FOR SOME REASON AND THE AIR BAGS DIDN'T GO OFF. I CALLED THE CHEVY COMPANY AND ASKED THEM WHY, AND THEY TOLD ME THAT YOU NEED TO HIT THE CAR IN A CERTAIN SPOT ON THE CAR, BUT A MECHANIC TOLD ME USUALLY IF THE REBAR IS CRACKED THE AIR BAGS GO OFF. THEY SAID THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT. I PAID THE CAR OFF AND I DIDN'T HAVE FULL COVERAGE. SO MY CAR IS PRACTICALLY GARBAGE. I THINK THEY SHOULD AT LEAST FIX THE AIR BAG PROBLEM AND THE SEAT BELTS.
NHTSA complaint #10204308 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.