This Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or updating operating software for the Tire Pressure Monitor, Active Fuel Injector tester, multi media tester, PICO Scope, GR8 starting/charging tester and Vehicle Data Recorder tools, giving website address and step by step instructions to complete the update.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2006 Chevrolet Cobalt brakes problems
severe 20 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $450 · see brakes across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
20
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$450
4crashes
2injuries
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering brakes on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about changing the tire and wheel size on vehicles. General Motors will only support a tire calibration for tires that have been sized, tested and designed for the vehicle in question and its applications. Technician should not use the information that is provided by the antilock braking system tire size selection.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This informational bulletin provides technicians with a brake lathe calibration procedure.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This informational bulletin provides technicians with a brake lathe calibration procedure.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have a Service Engine Soon Malfunction Indicator Lamp. Technician may find Diagnostic Trouble Code P0442. Technician will need to review Techlink article from May 2013 titled "Using the Evaporative Emissions System Tester" Technician will need to follow these steps to help diagnose the issue. First after the P0442 has been verified do not disturb any of the fuel system components. The technician now can use the scan tool to close the Evaporative Emissions System. If possible change the tank pressure sensor units from inch_H2O to milimeter_Hg for better resolution. Now the vehicle can be star
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2006 Cobalt brake system shows multiple patterns of failure across the 20 complaints. Warped or delaminated rotors are the most common complaint, appearing as early as 5,000 miles and recurring repeatedly even after dealer machine work. Owners describe steering wheel shimmy, shaking during braking, and brake dust accumulation on wheels. Dealerships often turn rotors under warranty early on, but the same problem returns within 5,000–10,000 miles. By 40,000 miles, several owners report rotors heavily grooved and brake pads nearly gone.
ABS light failures linked to pump relay motor problems occur intermittently and recur within weeks of repair. Several owners report brake failure during normal driving or at low speeds, with the pedal unresponsive and vehicles coasting into other cars or obstacles. Dealers cannot reproduce these failures and manufacturer diagnostics provide no answers. Brake lockup and seizure of rear calipers is reported, including one instance where a fractured spring holding brake pads caused wheel lock at 25,600 miles. One owner's parking brake calipers locked up three times over 15,000 miles.
Brakes also fail or respond slowly in wet weather, and one owner reports dragging brakes without pedal input that require a 1–2 hour rest to clear. Vehicle sliding and loss of road grip during braking is reported on multiple occasions on the same vehicle, with no defect found by dealers after three inspections. Collisions have occurred as a result of these failures.
Same Chevrolet Cobalt brakes reports on nearby years: 2005 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009
Failure modes owners describe
Warped/delaminated brake rotors with excessive wear
Front and/or rear brake rotors develop laminations, warp, or groove prematurely, causing shaking, vibration, and steering wheel shimmy during braking. Owners report repeated rotor turning/machining at dealerships, with failures recurring within 5,000–10,000 miles. Some report rotors worn down heavily by 40,000+ miles.
When: As early as 5,000 miles; recurring through 40,000+ miles
Symptoms owners cite: Shaking or pulsation during braking; Steering wheel shimmy; Brake dust on wheels and grooved rotor surfaces; Decreased braking power; Rotors fail shortly after machining
Codes mentioned: ABS light illumination (in some cases)
Repairs/costs cited: Dealerships turned/machined rotors under warranty early in ownership; later denied warranty coverage. One owner cited over $500 in diagnosis and repair costs. Rotor replacement eventually recommended but not always performed under warranty.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Some warranty coverage for rotor turning at 17,000 miles; later warranty denials cited by owners. GM 800-number support referenced hilly terrain as reason to deny coverage.
ABS pump relay motor failure
ABS light comes on intermittently or persistently; diagnostic codes point to pump relay motor faults. Dealer computer diagnostics required to capture the code. Issue recurs within weeks after repair.
When: Intermittent early on; recurring within 3–21 weeks of repair
Symptoms owners cite: ABS warning light on dashboard illuminating; Intermittent ABS light that is hard to duplicate
Codes mentioned: Pump relay motor codes (exact codes not specified in narratives)
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers performed repairs addressing pump relay motor; recurrence noted within 3 weeks and again at 21,000 miles.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No formal recall or TSB mentioned. One dealership technician and service manager escalated to manufacturer tech support without resolution.
Complete brake failure—pedal does not respond
Brake pedal fully depressed with no response or severe delay in stopping. Two separate incidents resulted in collisions. Dealers unable to reproduce the problem or identify the cause even after black-box data review.
When: At 30 mph (two separate incidents on same vehicle); timing interval unspecified
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal depressed, no response or severe loss of braking; Vehicle coast or slow stop only after collision impact; ABS felt engaging but insufficient stopping power
Repairs/costs cited: Both incidents ended in minor collisions. Dealership unable to diagnose. Manufacturer sent representative to review black-box data (42 mph at impact, decelerating to 30 mph after brakes engaged); root cause remained undetermined.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer representative reviewed black-box data; no diagnosis or repair offered.
Brake lockup/seizure on non-ABS-equipped vehicles
Rear brake calipers or drum brakes lock up or seize, preventing normal braking or causing dangerous loss of control. One owner reported parking brake malfunction from locked calipers recurring three times over 15,000 miles. Another reported complete brake seizure requiring full replacement.
When: At 10 mph (wheel lock); recurring at 25,600 miles; 15,000-mile intervals for parking brake lockup
Symptoms owners cite: Brakes lock up during normal driving or backing; Wheel locks causing vehicle to skid or slide off road; Parking brake engages involuntarily; vehicle rolls if not in gear; Complete brake seizure in one case
Repairs/costs cited: One owner reported rear spring that held brake pads fractured, causing wheel lock at 25,600 miles; mechanic noted manufacturer changed part design from stem to spring. Parking brake caliper lockups required dealer visits three times in 15,000 miles. Brake seizure case required full brake replacement.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recalls or TSBs mentioned. One mechanic noted design change from stem to spring for brake-pad-holding component, but no formal manufacturer response documented.
Slow brake response or reduced braking power in wet weather
Brakes are slow to respond or feel less effective during rainy conditions. One owner at 52,000 miles reported brakes acting sluggish; another described brakes feeling as though constantly applied, causing unintended speed loss over time.
When: At 52,000 miles (wet weather); unspecified timing for drag sensation
Symptoms owners cite: Brakes slow to respond in rain; Reduced stopping effectiveness in wet conditions; Brakes feel partially applied even without pedal input
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs documented. Dealer denied assistance on wet-weather braking complaint.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer declined to assist or investigate wet-weather braking complaint.
Brakes stick or drag without pedal input
Owner reports brakes feel as though they are being partially applied during normal driving without foot on pedal, creating drag and forcing speed reduction. Condition clears after parking for 1–2 hours, then recurs during extended driving.
When: Intermittent; requires 1–2 hour rest between occurrences
Symptoms owners cite: Brakes feel applied without pedal depression; Vehicle slows as though pulling a load; Condition clears after rest, then recurs; Happens during typical stop-and-go city driving
Repairs/costs cited: Mechanic suspected throttle body module but was not certain. No repair documented.
Brake failure with loss of steering control on wet pavement
While braking at moderate speed on wet highway pavement, brakes and steering lock up simultaneously, causing violent skid into median barrier. Only minor injury reported due to lack of traffic collision.
When: 60–65 mph on wet I-270 pavement; conditions: wet, moderate braking input
Symptoms owners cite: Brakes lock up when moderately depressed; Steering locks simultaneously with brakes; Violent pull to left (opposite direction of actual input); Vehicle slides across lanes
Repairs/costs cited: No repair documented; vehicle towed to dealership.
Vehicle slides when braking, leaving road on multiple occasions
Vehicle begins sliding and leaves road when brake pedal is depressed during normal driving. Occurred at least three times over ownership; dealer inspected brakes three times and found no defect.
When: At 34,120 miles (current); 3 separate incidents over unknown timeframe
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle slides when braking; Loss of road grip during brake application; Vehicle veers into ditch on multiple occasions
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership inspected brakes three times and found no failures.
Ignition-switch-related short causing ABS fuse failure
Vehicle experienced momentary power loss while driving, followed by loss of steering ability and illumination of all warning lights including brake warning light and ABS. Independent shop traced problem to ignition-switch short causing ABS fuse to blow. Parts were unavailable at the time of diagnosis.
When: During normal driving; timing/mileage unspecified
Symptoms owners cite: Momentary power loss; Loss of steering ability; All dashboard warning lights illuminate; Traction control light and brake warning light remain on
Codes mentioned: ABS fuse blown
Repairs/costs cited: Independent repair shop found blown ABS fuse traced to ignition-switch short. Parts were not available at time of diagnosis.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer claimed brake warning light and ABS were not related to ignition-switch recall; independent diagnosis revealed otherwise.
Synthesized from 20 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had brakes trouble with your 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the brakes problem on the 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt?
It's a meaningful issue. 20 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $450.
At what mileage does the brakes typically fail?
Across the 15 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most brakes failures cluster between 4,100 and 44,500 miles, with the median around 25,600. A quarter of owners report trouble before 4,100; a quarter make it past 44,500. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $450 for brakes repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to brakes?
No active recalls currently cover brakes issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2006/Chevrolet/Cobalt.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.