Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 413 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 413, in the owner's own words
All of these failed again after repair, the car hes been disabled for over 2 years with the same failures. < Dealer Recalls 14115 Dec 5, 2014 Product Safety - Electric Power Steering Assist 14113C Jul 17, 2014 Product Safety - Replace Ignition Lock Cylinder and Ignition Key 14113 Jul 17, 2014 Product Safety - Replace Ignition Lock Cylinder and Ignition Key
The fuel tank has an evap leak that somehow breaks on top the tank so it leaks the gas vapors and could potentially start a fire but the part that breaks is a non serviceable part so it can’t be fixed without purchasing a whole new gas tank that isn’t cheap. My other concern is the infamous grounding issue with the wires on the ground g105 I believe right next to oil filter that grounds the transmission and engine control modules well it shorts at times when driving and suddenly your car dies while driving how scary it could cause a wreak and kill somebody it’s a very scary issue that constantly comes back even after trying to re ground it needs to be recalled and fixed it’s going to kill somebody and it’s a well known issue for this make and model that should have already gotten attention to be resolved.
While driving the car, it will suddenly stall w the engine running but won’t react the use of the brakes, steering or gear shifter. It’ll suddenly jerk and the following lights will appear on dash :ABS, Power steering, no brake fluid warning, low fuel warning and check engine. All of the areas have been check and have all their fluids so this doesn’t make sense. We bought this car for our 16 year old daughter and the first time she drive it, a truck almost wrecked into her
Before I get into all of it there has never been an accident not yet at least. I do everything I can to try an stop that from happening, (but accidents do happen) only because I know my car could kill on me so I’m extra careful. 1) After I get gas I’m my car the car won’t start right away. I have to restart it a couple times an step in the gas an rev up wasting the gas I just put in to get it to start. 2) When I stop an start to pull out of somewhere on to a main road the car will just die on me so I’m stuck pulling out in traffic trying to get my car to start again. It’s when I come to a stop an pull out it just kills on me. So I have to make sure no one else is coming an I have enough time to be able to restart it otherwise I’m worried when I pull out of anywhere or stop an go that another car will smack into me because my car just died on me in the middle of the road/ pulling out an crossing lanes. SUPER SCARY! 3) Let get into the next issue so anytime I run my ac my car starts to do this jumping thing like it wants to kill on me not to mention it has killed on me with the ac on (I live in Louisiana an it’s too hot not to have ac plus I have 3 kids) what’s sad is the ac works fine but if you want the car to maybe not die then turn it off an you have a better chance of it not killing off on you but not always a guarantee. So ill run it for second to try an cool down so I’m not drenched in sweat but I have no other choice to turn it off so the car doesn’t just die on me. This refers back to the 2nd problem I make sure it’s off anytime I pull out of anywhere thinking that would help it from killing on me while trying to get out of anywhere but it doesn’t but I can tell you If the ac is on when I pull out when I start to go it dies right as I’m in the middle of the road every time never fails. Mechanics have replaced parts trying to fix the issue, but it still happens I can’t keep buying/fixing things for nada, ongoing problems since buying.
The problem that sent it to a different mechanic than the chevy dealer where it came from after a month and 900.00 bill for 550.00 ecm and diagnostic test they did without my permission, there labor for the test and ecm was a total of 900.00. Plus claimed it was throwing a code for a peddle that it needed. We just put a brand new peddle and brand new throttle body on it, it was idled to high, so reason for them getting it was to get the old ecm and new throttle sinked up to reduce the idle , at the time of it leaving me it started and ran just idle to high. Throwing no codes. They got it, claim it wouldn't start so did a diagnostic claimed it needed a new peddle. I said I'm coming to get it, they didn't tell me at any time I couldn't drive it home. I left there lot and pulled about 150 feet off the side of road because it wouldn't shift. Called them , botched did no good. Called same tow truck to tow it home. Got here it was idled normal but was throwing a different codes, I turned the car off it wouldn't stop running for about 3 to 4 minutes, then it died. I had it towed to different mechanic for the ignition to be replaced. He said it was throwing a couple codes still ignition not fixed yet, and it ran for about 15 minutes after shutting off the key. At no time here or at the new place did it throw a code for a defective peddle. So now it's be gone for 2 months , new ecm , new throttle body ,new peddle, idle is fixed and car runs but won't shift. Codes its throwing is now are just needing coil on #4 checked and throttle position sensor adjusted. So far that's it. 2 months later. Still not ready for pick up.
My power steering alert came up and immediately I start having trouble driving as the steering wheel got tight. Almost had a accident and there is other problems with my 2006 chevy cobalt lt that have been on recall and I cannot get any help at local dealership
My headlight an blinker quit working new bulbs an all new wiring it it still will not work My trunk button also just stopped working an the fuse is not blown. I even replaced it just to make sure still nothing. Door panel clips won’t stay in bought new ones same thing so now my handle is coming apart an my door doesn’t want to shut bc it thinks I’m still holding the handle.. Fuel everytime I get gas I have to crank my car a few times and press on the gas before I can get it to go otherwise it just dies on me I’ve had it looked at they said it was something about how my car does not know when to stop releasing air I think. My blinkers don’t turn off unless I do it manually. The seals on my door is no good anytime it rains it’s coming inside of my car an since the door panel won’t stay on it’s coming straight into my car
While driving power steering message showed on dash, lost transmission control, and speedometer stopped working.
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the power steering assist failed to operate as the power steering warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact also stated that the speedometer also failed to operate as needed. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000.
The contact's daughter owns a 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the power steering failed, and the steering wheel was difficult to turn. Additionally, the door locks would lock and unlock independently, and the speedometer was not functioning properly. The electric power steering warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 155,000.
HAD TO CHANGE MY FUEL PUMP DUE TO A CRACK ON IT. MY KEY GETS STUCK IN THE IGNITION SWITCH IN ORDER TO TAKE IT OUT I HAVE TO PUSH A BUTTON UNDER THE STEERING WHEEL. I TO CHANGE MY STEERING SHAFT BECAUSE IT DOES A CLACKING NOISE.
INSTRUMENT CLUSTER LIGHTS DO NOT WORK AND ELECTRIC POWER STEERING DOSE NOT WORK
POWER STEERING WARNING CAME ON WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AN THE SPEEDOMETER STOP WORKING NOW THE CAR WON'T START I HAVE CHECKED FUSES AN RELAYS UNHOOKED BATTERY TO RESET COMPUTER NOTHING WORKS
1.GAS SMELL - FUEL LEAKS AFTER LEAK FIX STILL SMELL GAS (EVEN AFTER SETTING FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS. 2-DOOR LOCK ISSUES-EVEN AFTER FIXED BY GM-NOW WON'T LOCK AT ALL 3.AIR BAGS- GM STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT GET PARTS IN 4.ELECTRONIC ISSUES -START AUTO NOW SHOW-POWER STEERING, HAD CHECKED BY GM WONT ECM WON'T CUMMUNICATE WITH TCM. I HAVE HAD ALL OF THIS CHECKED BY ANTHONY CHEVROLET AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE! STATE THEY CANNOT GET PARTS AND OR NOT WORTH FIXING.
YESTERDAY WAS ON WAY HOME FROM WORK AND CAR JUST DIED ON CITY STREET WITH NO WARNING. I SOMEHOW MANAGED TO GET THE CAR TO A PARKING LOT AND OUT OF TRAFFIC. I TRIED TO START THE CAR AND NO THE CAR WONT START BACK UP SO I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED HOME. LAST WEEK I LOST POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING ON A RURAL ROAD AND THEN CAR STARTED ACTING LIKE IT WAS GOING TO DIE. I STOPPED AND WHEN I STOPPED THE CAR JERKED INTO A FORWARD POSITION. I SHUT THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTED THE CAR AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS SHIFTING REALLY HARD GOING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR WHEN GETTING READY TO SLOW DOWN IT SEEMED LIKE THE CAR WAS A MANUAL AND I HAD IT IN 5TH GEAR BECAUSE IT WAS SEEMING LIKE IT WAS GOING TO STALL OUT BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION WAS IDLING IN THE WRONG GEAR AS I WAS SLOWING DOWN. SOMETIME THE KEY WILL GET STUCK IN THE IGNITION AND I HAVE THE STEERING COLUMN COVER OFF SO I CAN PUSH THE WHITE BUTTON TO RELEASE THE KEY. WHEN THE KEYS ARE NOT IN THE IGNITION THE SPEEDOMETER AND THE RPM AND EVERYTHING ELECTRICAL IN THE CAR JUMPS BACK AND FORTH LIKE THE CAR WAS ON.
THE CAR ISN'T DRIVABLE. ELECTRIC POWER STEERING OUT, ELECTRIC PLUGS AND WIRES, WON'T START AT ALL. NO CLICKS, NOTHING. IF YOU TURN THE KEY NOTHING HAPPENS, BUT A LIGHT THAT IS A CAR WITH A LOCK THROUGH IT. THIS IS MY DAUGHTER'S ONLY TRANSPORTATION. I SAW THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE POWER STEERING AND ELECTRICAL. THANK YOU KATHY KEY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH UP HILL, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE POWER STEERING CEASED. THE ABS AND BATTERY LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS JUMP STARTED AND THE DRIVEN TO THE RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT STATED AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC USED A KILL SWITCH TO DRAIN THE BATTERY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER NOR WAS THE MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT APPEARS THE CAR IDLES AND SHIFTS HARD TRIES TO SHIFT OFF. THE LOCKS UNLOCK AND RELOCK IN A FAST PACE. THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT FLASHES. IT DOES NOT MATTER MY SPEED OF THE VEHICLE IT HAPPENS EVEN WHEN DRIVING 10 MILES AN HOUR. IT IS VERY SCARY. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS CAR. WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL IT IS ROUGH TO TURN. *TR
POWER STEERING GOES OUT WHILE DRIVING MAKING IT HARD TO STOP OR STEER
WHILE DRIVING TODAY DOOR LOCKS UNLOCK AND LOCK AGAIN RANDOMLY. IT WAS SCARY. I WAS DRIVING IN TOWN. ALSO TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT AND ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. BEGAN RUNNING ROUGH AND LUNGING. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE MY OWN CAR.
"TAKATA RECALL" THE CAR CUTS OFF AS I'M DRIVING, OR SLOWING DOWN, THE IGNITION SWITCH DOESN'T WORK TOO WELL, IT ALSO STALLS, GOES LONG PERIODS OF TIME WHERE IT WON'T START OR EVEN TURN OVER. MY POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT COMES NEARLY EVERYTIME I DRIVE BUT ALL MY FLUIDS IN THE CAR ARE FULL, SO IT MAKES DRIVING KINDA SCARY. IT JUST FEELS UNSAFE AND I WASN'T AWARE OF THESE PROBLEMS AND SITUATIONS WHEN I HAD GOTTEN THE 2006 COBALT. PLEASE HELP.
AIR BAG LIGHTS COME ON CAR IS HARD TO STEER AIR CONDITIONING DOES NOT WORK ANY MORE AND I GET AN ENGINE REDUCE POWER LIGHT COMES ON
"TAKATA RECALL" ON 3/30/18 I WAS INVOLVED IN A WRECK. I WAS TRAVELING ON A BUSY CITY STREET WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED RED. I STOPPED AND THE PERSON IN FRONT OF ME WAS DRIVING A LARGE SUV. WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN AND TRAFFIC BEGAN TO MOVE I STARTED DRIVING. OUT OF NOWHERE WITH NO WARNING, THE DRIVER JUST STOPPED AND MY CAR RAN INTO THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE. WE BOTH STAYED IN OUR VEHICLES I CALLED 911. OFFICERS ARRIVED AND EMERGENCY SERVICES. EVEN THOUGH HARDLY ANY DAMAGE WAS DONE TO THE SUV, MY CAR SUSTAINED A LOT OF DAMAGE TO THE HOOD AND BUMPER OF MY CAR. THE AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. I THOUGHT MY CAR WAS TOTALED BY LOOKING AT IT. I WAS ABLE TO HAVE MOST OF MY CAR REPAIRED OUT OF POCKET BECAUSE I HAD LIABILITY ONLY AT THE TIME. THE PASSENGER IN FRONT OF ME AFTER GIVING INFORMATION TO THE RESPONDERS WAS ABLE TO DRIVE AWAY, I WAS NOT. I'VE ALSO HAD ANOTHER ACCIDENT WHERE THE AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY IN 2014. I AM CONCERNED THAT I MIGHT BE IN ANOTHER ACCIDENT THAT COULD BE LIFE-THREATENING AND THE AIRBAGS WON'T WORK. I CONTACTED GM ABOUT MY CONCERNS REGARDING THE AIRBAGS AND NOTHING WAS DONE TO HAVE MY AIRBAGS CHECKED. I WAS ABLE TO HAVE THE SWITCH CHANGED WHEN THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THAT. I HOPE BY SHARING MY EXPERIENCE WITH YOU SOMETHING CAN BE DONE TO HAVE MY AIRBAGS CHECKED AND GIVE ME A SENSE OF SECURITY WHEN DRIVING MY VEHICLE.
FOR THE PAST THREE DAYS DRIVING TO AND FROM WORK MY CHEVY COBALT HAS BEEN PUTTING ME IN DANGER. WHEN I START TO BREAK, SOMETIMES THE SYMBOL WITH A LOCK AND KEY, AND AIR BAG LIGHTS WILL TURN ON AND THE CAR STEERING WHEEL WOULD LOCK AND THE BRAKES WOULD COME UP RESULTING IN THE CAR BEING TURNED OFF WHILE I AM ON DRIVE. THIS IS DANGEROUS BECAUSE I CANNOT TURN THE WHEEL AND THE BRAKE IS ALSO LOCKED. I GET OUT OF MY CAR IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC TO PUSH IT BY MYSELF THEN JUMP IN IT AND TRY TO START IT. THIS METHOD WORKS SOMETIMES BUT IS DANGEROUS TO NOT ONLY MYSELF BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY OTHERS. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT IS THE MAIN CAUSE FOR THIS ISSUE HOWEVER I DID SOME RESEARCH AND DID NOT SEE ANY RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM. I NEED HELP FINGERING IT OUT BEFORE I HURT MYSELF OR OTHERS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD DRIVING UNABLE TO STEER OR BREAK
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY WAS STUCK IN THE IGNITION AND COULD NOT BE REMOVED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT HAD TO LEAVE THE VEHICLE UNLOCKED OVERNIGHT. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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