2006 Chevrolet Cobalt: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 3056 complaints
3056
Total Complaints
68,000mi
Median Mileage
STEERING
Top Issue
272
Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

45,000 25th Percentile
68,000 Median Mileage
100,000 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

STEERING
1237
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
365
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
255
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
163
AIR BAGS
132
ENGINE
93
POWER TRAIN
76
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
52
STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
48
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
41

Severity Assessment

272
Crashes
25
Fires
358
Injuries
20
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"I AM WRITING THIS LETTER BECAUSE OF CONCERNS I HAVE WITH MY 2006 COBALT I PURCHASED 31 AUGUST 2005. (VIN#1G1AK55F767633 614) MY FIRST CONCERN IS THE SAFETY OF THE CAR. ON THE 25 OF OCTOBER WHILE DRIVING THE CAR THE TRANSMISSION STARTED TO GO OUT OF GEAR AND BACK IN CAUSING A JERKING MOTION AND WHEN ..."
"2-INCIDENTS OF SUDDEN ACCELERATION AT FREEWAY SPEEDS: THE FIRST TIME THE CRUISE WAS ACTIVATED AND ON HITTING RESUME THE CAR TOOK OFF ON IT'S OWN. THE COAST FUNCTION DID NOT SLOW THE CAR AND TURNING OFF THE CRUISE DID NOT SLOW THE CAR. I WAS IN FAIRLY LIGHT TRAFFIC AND WAS ABLE TO STEER AND BRAKE OUT..."
"2-INCIDENTS OF SUDDEN ACCELERATION AT FREEWAY SPEEDS: THE FIRST TIME THE CRUISE WAS ACTIVATED AND ON HITTING RESUME THE CAR TOOK OFF ON IT'S OWN. THE COAST FUNCTION DID NOT SLOW THE CAR AND TURNING OFF THE CRUISE DID NOT SLOW THE CAR. I WAS IN FAIRLY LIGHT TRAFFIC AND WAS ABLE TO STEER AND BRAKE OUT..."

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28