Chevrolet · Known Issues
2006 Chevrolet Cobalt Problems: 14 Known Issues
2006 model year · 5,323+ owner reports · Updated September 2026
2006 · All trims · All engines
Choose the year and equipment for your written issues and visual request.
2006 model year · 5,323+ owner reports · Updated September 2026
2006 · All trims · All engines
Choose the year and equipment for your written issues and visual request.
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According to Au7o's analysis of 5,323+ owner reports, the 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt has 14 documented known issues, with 4 rated critical. The most serious are Defective Ignition Switch Causing Engine Shutoff and Airbag Failure ($0-$0 repair), Electric Power Steering Motor Sudden Failure ($0-$800 repair), 4T45-E Automatic Shift Solenoid Failure — Harsh Shifts and Limp Mode ($350-$900 repair) and Accelerator Pedal Position Sensor / Electronic Throttle Fault — "Engine Power Reduced" Limp Mode ($150-$500 repair). The most commonly reported issue is Defective Ignition Switch Causing Engine Shutoff and Airbag Failure with 4,503 owner reports. Across all issues with published estimates, repair costs range from $30 to $1,600. DIY maintenance guides at au7o.io.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2005-2010 Chevrolet Cobalt, 2006-2011 Chevrolet HHR, 2007-2010 Pontiac G5, 2006-2010 Pontiac Solstice, 2003-2007 Saturn Ion, and 2007-2010 Saturn Sky vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the key can be removed from the ignition when the ignition is not in the "Off" position.
STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2004-2006 and 2008-2009 Chevrolet Malibu, 2004-2006 Malibu Maxx, 2009-2010 HHR (non-turbo), 2010 Cobalt, 2008-2009 Saturn Aura and 2004-2007 Ion, and 2005-2009 Pontiac G6. In the affected vehicles, there may be a sudden loss of electric power steering (EPS) assist that could occur at any time while driving.
AIR BAGS
This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on February 10, 2014 that they are recalling 619,122 model year 2005-2007 Chevrolet Cobalt, and 2007 Pontiac G5 vehicles. On February 25, 2014, GM increased the recall to include an additional 748,024 model year 2006-2007 Chevrolet HHR and Pontiac Solstice vehicles and 2003-2007 Saturn Ion vehicles and 2007 Saturn Sky vehicles. In these models, the weight on the key ring and/or road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine. On March 27, 2014, GM notified the agency that the defective ignition switches may have been used as service replacement parts on other vehicles, and as a result GM will be recalling certain model year 2008-2010 Chevrolet Cobalt, Saturn Sky, and Pontiac G5 and Solstice, and 2008-2011 Chevrolet HHR vehicles. The part numbers for the service parts are 10392423 (a/k/a ACDelco D1461F), 10392737, 15857948, 15854953, 15896640, and 25846762. This expansion represents an additional 823,788 vehicles.
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According to Au7o's analysis of 5,323+ owner reports, the 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt has 14 documented issues. The most frequently reported are: Defective Ignition Switch Causing Engine Shutoff and Airbag Failure, Electric Power Steering Motor Sudden Failure, 4T45-E Automatic Shift Solenoid Failure — Harsh Shifts and Limp Mode. Of these, 4 are rated critical and should be addressed promptly.
The 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt has 14 known issues documented across 5,323+ owner reports. 4 issues are rated critical: Defective Ignition Switch Causing Engine Shutoff and Airbag Failure and Electric Power Steering Motor Sudden Failure and 4T45-E Automatic Shift Solenoid Failure — Harsh Shifts and Limp Mode and Accelerator Pedal Position Sensor / Electronic Throttle Fault — "Engine Power Reduced" Limp Mode. Prospective buyers should inspect for these issues and factor potential repair costs into their purchase decision. Regular maintenance following the manufacturer's schedule helps prevent many common problems.
Repair costs for known Chevrolet Cobalt issues range from $0 to $1,600, depending on the specific problem and whether you choose DIY or professional repair. The most critical issue, Defective Ignition Switch Causing Engine Shutoff and Airbag Failure, typically costs $0-$0 to repair. Au7o provides step-by-step DIY maintenance guides that can help reduce repair costs.
The Chevrolet Cobalt was at the center of the largest safety scandal in GM history. Defective ignition switches could turn from "Run" to "Accessory" or "Off" position while driving, triggered by heavy keychains, road vibrations, or knee contact. When the ignition turns off, the e… Repairs typically run $0-$0. Severity: high.
The Cobalt equipped with electric power steering (EPS) is subject to a recall for sudden loss of power steering assist while driving. The EPS motor can fail without warning at any speed, requiring significantly more effort to steer the vehicle. The 2005 model year alone has 128 c… Repairs typically run $0-$800. Severity: high.
Content on this page was compiled with AI assistance using NHTSA complaints, TSBs, owner reports, and public automotive data. While we strive for accuracy, this information may contain errors. Always verify repair procedures and specifications with your vehicle's service manual or a qualified mechanic.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
UCI-FRAM Group is recalling certain LS1328 ignition Switches sold as Wells LS1328, Duralast LS1328, Airtex 1S6097, and Carquest 53-27479, and LS1497 Ignition Switches sold as Wells LS1497, Duralast LS1497, Airtex 1S10961, and Carquest 53-27967, for use on various General Motors model and model year vehicles during repair and replacement of the original ignition switch. The weight on the key ring and/or road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the affected ignition switches to move out of the run position, turning off the engine and disabling the air bags.
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt vehicles manufactured January 4, 2010, to June 23, 2010. The affected vehicles may be equipped with an improperly routed Side-Impact Sensor (SIS) wiring harness in the driver side front door. The misrouted wiring harness could cause an electrical short that disables the driver side curtain air bag.
+ 5 more recalls. Check all on NHTSA.gov
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The 4T45-E four-speed automatic used behind the 2.2L and 2.4L Ecotec relies on 1-2 and 2-3 shift solenoids mounted on the valve body under the transmission side cover. The solenoid windings and valve pintles wear and stick, so the TCM cannot command the shift on time: owners repo… Repairs typically run $350-$900. Severity: high.
The Cobalt is drive-by-wire: the pedal module houses two redundant APP sensors, and the PCM compares them against the electronic throttle body's two TPS signals. When one signal drifts out of correlation the PCM drops the car into Reduced Engine Power mode — throttle authority is… Repairs typically run $150-$500. Severity: high.
The 2.2L and 2.0L Ecotec engines in the Cobalt develop timing chain stretch and timing chain guide deterioration. The plastic timing chain guides wear over time, causing the chain to become slack and noisy. If left unaddressed, the timing chain can skip teeth, causing valve timin… Repairs typically run $400-$1,500. Severity: medium.
The Cobalt is a repeat offender for P0420 (Catalyst System Efficiency Below Threshold, Bank 1). The Ecotec's two chronic upstream problems — random misfire from failing ignition coils/coil-pack modules, and oil consumption past worn rings and valve seals — poison and overheat the… Repairs typically run $400-$1,600. Severity: medium.
On the 2.2L/2.4L Ecotec the thermostat is integrated into a plastic housing on the back side of the engine facing the firewall, and the water pump sits behind the timing cover on the passenger side. Both are recurring leak points. The rear thermostat housing seal hardens and the… Repairs typically run $150-$600. Severity: medium.
Front wheel hub bearings commonly fail prematurely, sometimes as early as 50,000 miles. The sealed bearing units develop excessive play and noise due to poor sealing that allows water intrusion. Road salt environments accelerate failure dramatically. Repairs typically run $200-$400. Severity: medium.
The Delta-platform intermediate steering shaft (the splined slip-joint between the column and the rack pinion) was under-lubricated from the factory. The splines fret and dry out, so every reversal of steering load produces a metallic clunk or knock felt in the steering wheel and… Repairs typically run $180-$450. Severity: medium.
On the 2005-2007 supercharged Cobalt SS with the 2.0L LSJ, the Eaton M62 blower is driven through a nylon isolator coupler inside the snout that cushions torsional pulses from the crank. Belt-driven torsional oscillation at idle repeatedly loads and unloads the metal drive pins a… Repairs typically run $150-$900. Severity: medium.
Sunroof-equipped Cobalts route water from the sunroof tray through four drain tubes, one at each corner, with the front pair running down inside the A-pillars. The front tubes commonly either clog with debris or slip completely off the barb at the sunroof tray — a repeatedly docu… Repairs typically run $0-$300. Severity: medium.
The in-tank fuel pump assembly is prone to failure, often due to deteriorating fuel pump wiring harness connections or internal pump motor wear. Symptoms appear gradually with intermittent stalling before complete failure. Hot weather exacerbates the problem as heat-soaked pumps… Repairs typically run $400-$700. Severity: medium.
The Cobalt's front stabilizer bar end links (the common Delta-platform link, aftermarket P/N K80252, shared with HHR, Malibu, Aura and ION) wear out early — often by 60-80k miles. The ball sockets develop play and the rubber stabilizer bar bushings harden and split, so the bar kn… Repairs typically run $90-$320. Severity: low.
The Cobalt's interior door handles and several trim inserts use a metallic-look coating sprayed over plastic rather than plated metal. The coating loses adhesion and flakes off in sheets, starting on the driver's inner door handle where hands contact it, and spreading to the surr… Repairs typically run $30-$200. Severity: low.