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The 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt has 2,330 NHTSA owner complaints on file — not a small number. 1 active recall campaign.
The 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt has 2,330 NHTSA owner complaints and 1 recall on file (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). The most-reported system is steering at 1,291 complaints, typically surfacing around 71,398 miles (~$700 to repair). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.
| Model year | Owner complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 Cobalt | 1,649 | 1 |
| 2006 Cobalt (this page) | 2,330 | 1 |
| 2007 Cobalt | 1,564 | 1 |
| 2008 Cobalt | 938 | 0 |
| 2009 Cobalt | 900 | 1 |
Average for the segment. Some recurring trouble spots worth knowing about.
The data says walk unless this exact vehicle has documented proof the steering was repaired or replaced.
Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.
Here's what this model is known to do — so you can inspect for it, price it in, or make the seller fix it before you sign.
⚠ The one to take seriously: steering is flagged critical on this model , showing up around 71,398 mi. Inspect it closely on a test drive.
Run the VIN from the listing — 1 active recall on this model. Recall repairs are always free.
Verdict for buyers: 6.0/10 model. The priciest documented failure is engine (~$3,100) — get the seller's service records for it or inspect closely. Otherwise an average-risk used buy at a fair price.
We tell you what this model is known for and what to inspect — a vehicle-history report tells you what this exact car has been through. Smart buyers get both.
See the full pre-purchase inspection checklist →A noise, a warning light, a repair quote, "should I buy this?" — get an answer grounded in this vehicle's actual NHTSA record, not generic advice.
Answers use this vehicle's NHTSA complaint & recall record — owner-reported and unverified, not a diagnosis. Verify anything safety-critical with a mechanic.
When owners report each system failing, in actual miles — so you can see what's likely behind you, what's due around now, and what to budget for next. Enter your mileage to mark where you are.
"Typical" = median owner-reported failure mileage from the NHTSA complaint record for this exact year and model. Not a maintenance schedule — a heads-up on where this model's failures cluster.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet cobalt. While driving approximately 50 MPH, the engine stalled. The vehicle was not able to restart. The vehicle was towed to a mechanic where it was diagnosed that the timing belt needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The…
I have had alot of problems with my car, 1st my radio went out, it just went out and it would only work when I held the power button down and there were always things flashing on the screen, so after a few weeks of this happening my car wouldn't start, I would get it jumped and…
Tl*the contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet cobalt. The contact noticed issues with the power steering in her vehicle. While driving 20 MPH, the power steering would function for approximately .2 miles and then fail. She attempted to turn off the vehicle and restart it, but the…
2006 Chevy cobalt loses power steering while driving. I had just gotten off the highway and my car lost all power steering. Took it to a shop the next day and they said there was a bulletin out that these electric motors can overheat if you car sits idle for too long or you…
Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.
In a crash, head impact protection may be inadequate.
It's got known weak points. With a reliability score of 6.0 out of 10 based on 2,330 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt has a higher-than-average rate of reported issues. The areas to watch are listed above. Whether it's worth owning depends on price, condition, and how much repair exposure you can absorb.
On the NHTSA data, the 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt is one to avoid unless a specific vehicle proves otherwise. The data says walk unless this exact vehicle has documented proof the steering was repaired or replaced. The record behind that call: 3 fatality reports and 4 fire-related complaints on the steering; Electrical system: 229 complaints, classified critical, failures cluster 50,125–115,000 mi; Reliability score 6.0/10 — around the segment average; 1 recall campaign on file. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.
Inspect the steering first — it's the most-reported issue on this model, with 1,291 owner complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 71,398 miles. Average repair cost runs about $700 at an independent shop. Also confirm any open recalls have been completed by running the VIN, and ask for service records covering the problem areas listed above.
It scores 6.0 out of 10 on our NHTSA-based read of 2,330 owner complaints. The main thing to watch is steering. Typical failure occurs around 71,398 miles. Priced fairly and clean on inspection, it's a reasonable used buy. Our data covers what this model is known for — pair it with a vehicle-history report on the VIN to see what that specific car has been through.
Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is steering, with 1,291 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 71,398 miles. Average repair cost runs about $700 at an independent shop.
The steering is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $700 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 71,398 miles. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.
Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.
Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 2,330 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $700, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans are not always better value.