2006 Chevrolet Cobalt: fire, smoke or burning smell

Filed Jan 28, 2021 · Airbags, Fuel system · 100,000 miles · AR

While driving on expressway, car went dead> had to make an emergency stop. Power steering went out, but after restarting the car it was ok. It keeps happening off and on- on occasions. I kept smelling gas, took it to car repair shop was told I could not drive the vehicle, was told the gas tank had to be replaced or whatever the part inside the gas tank. Note: when the power steering problem arrived I was leaving going to work. I started the car but the steering was hard to turn so I pulled back into parking space and turned off the engine. I restarted after a few minutes-was able to steer ok. Upon smelling gas this went on for serval days. I thought it was fumes from other cars. I would smell gas while driving it. One day as I pulled up to work I got out of the car and noticed something wet next to my front tire. I could smell gas fumes. I took it to repair shop the next day. Shop told me the car could have caught on fire.

Filed May 17, 2020 · Fuel system · 161,000 miles · TN · fire

Gas line is leaking on rear drivers side. Car was at the shop and the gas caught on fire on the ground and could have killed us and all the workers. I think gm needs to do something about this. Mine is not the only car with this issue.

Filed Aug 5, 2018 · Fuel system · 196,000 miles · MO

I was driving my car and I noticed a strong fuel odor coming from my car. I pulled into a parking lot. Left the car running and saw a huge puddle of fuel dripping down onto the ground from the top of the fuel tank. One of the lines right at the fitting into the fuel pump is cracked. They have this already recalled, but only in 15 states and mine isn't one of them. I want chevy to issue a 50 state recall for this issue. My car could of caught fire and I could of died. This is a very serious issue. A year ago I had to replace the fuel lines from the fuel filter to the fuel rail in the engine because the metal tubing rusted out and cracked. They need to be stainless steel not pot metal. Their is no recall on those fuel lines, but I read lots of complaints for the same issue. I don't have any photos only video of it dripping.

Filed Nov 16, 2014 · Electrical, Fuel system · CA · fire · 1 injury

Our 2006 chevy cobalt VIN was took in for repair in nov 2013, we were told we needed a starter but never why, it was because there was a gas leak,we found out in aug 2014 when it caught on fire. Again oct 2014 the auto did the same thing we were told the rest of the recall parts were in and to bring it in, all the time we were driving a unsafe car nd was never told. We took the car in nov 2014 with only the battery light on a new battery (less than 48 hrs old and the 3rd one in a year). When got the car back the engine light was on, the power steering light was on and the t/c lights were on the speed odometer nor gas hand works, nor A/C and heat, but they replaced the fuse when we took it back. The car will not change gears and is really loud. They has us to bring it back and did not again do a diagnostic test just say in his opinion the auto needs a new power steering monitor (power steering after recall replacement went out, drives sluggish like it is going to stop in traffic like it did before the recalls but worse. It is as loud as a 5th wheeler truck, therefore it is hard to heard emergency vehicles. None of these safety matter or issues were occurring before the recall parts were put on. The car would stop but would start up and drive however it had none of the problems. The auto we are told if we drive less than 15 MPH will be uncontrollable. We cannot control the speed now therefore it now drives at the sluggish gear. We are seniors and are afraid of the car. We did not know the danger of recall because the cards only stated the name of the part. The car as I previously stated would drive but in no way has these problems. The starter put on last year is am example of the safety issues that are hidden from us they replaced the starter we paid for it and never told us it was cause by a recall gas leak until it happen again in aug 2013. I submitted a complaint this time and the last time and they are not interested in recall issues.

Filed Apr 14, 2014 · Body, Brakes · 101,000 miles · MI · crash · fire

A vehicle in front of my 2006 chevrolet cobalt quickly applied their brakes which caused my daughter to quickly apply hers thus causing her to hit the rear of the vehicle in front of her. The air bags immediatly deployed. My son, who was in the passenger seat, noticed within seconds of the crash that the engine was on fire. He had to quickly unhook both his and my daughters seat belt so they could evacuate the vehicle before the cabin caught fire. Once my daughter was able to relax and gather herself and tell me what she had remembered about the accident, she told me that it was very difficult to apply the brakes and it didn't seem like it was stopping as quickly as usual. I ask her if she thought that the car had stalled prior to the accident and she stated that she didn't know what it would feel like to have a car stall while she was driving. I am unsure as to, number one, why the engine caught fire immediatly after a 35mph impact and two, why was it very difficult for my daughter to push on the brake pedal to stop at a time when you need to trust your vehicle the most????

Filed Dec 4, 2012 · Fuel system · 70,100 miles · IN

Gas smell coming from inside and outside of the vehicle, took my 2006 chevy cobalt to the dealership after gm said to do so, the fuel pump module has a crack in it due to manufactured parts being made of plastic. No help covering the cost although there are recalls in several warm weather states but not in indiana we had a very hot summer which caused parts to expand and crack. I think gm should cover the cost of repairs, but the only offered me a 10% discount! I really hope my vehicle doesn't catch on fire! I am so disappointed in gm, I am not going to give up on this I will keep complaining until some one helps me cover the cost!

Filed Nov 7, 2012 · Electrical, Engine · CA · fire

I was in the food for less market and my car - blow up or whatever it was on fire when I came out after someone state "a chevy volt was on fire, come to the front", then he said, "will the person with a chevy volt, come to the front - color purple" that's when I went to see what was going on. My car was on fire and the fire people was putting it out. Oh, my goodness!!!!!!

Filed Oct 3, 2012 · Fuel system · VA · fire

I was under my car inspecting it for a leak from spots I saw on the drive way. I found out the hard way it was a fuel leak near the gas tank when it decided to catch on fire with me underneath the car. I was not injured but the car was a total loss. I had previously asked the dealer to do any recall work needed when my power steering pump had gone bad. They told me the power steering pump was the only recall issued for my vehicle. I found out now, over a year later that some were recalled for a fuel line problem like this, and mine has a VIN that matches the recall, but since mine was not sold in a state covered my vehicle was not covered by the recall. Would have been nice to know before crawling under the car.

Filed Aug 8, 2012 · Body, Fuel system · KS

The plastic supply on the modular reservoir assembly has cracked on my 2006 cobalt. Fuel is leaking from the area. The crack is causing gas to leak to the ground. My mechanic has said this could lead to my vehicle catching on fire. It appears that cobalts in other areas of the country have been recalled for this same issue. I'm wondering why all cobalts have not been recalled as I have heard/seen many other '06 cobalt owners in others states are having the same issues.

Filed Aug 6, 2012 · Fuel system · 99,020 miles · VA

My car started smelling like gasoline, and I couldn't figure out why. The smell was inside and outside of the car. This didn't start till the temperature here in va was over 100 degrees. I was told could of been that my gas cap was not venting properly. The gas smell became so intense outside and inside the car even after I replaced the gas cap. I have received prices of 650.00 to over 1000.00 to have the defective fuel pump replaced (all one unit) according to the repair shops. I think that we elect officials to office and they should make gm fix the defective items (especially since they know about the recall) in all states before someone gets killed...oh yea that's right they got a bail out---we are just your average joes buying vehicles from them putting monies in their pockets and they wont fix what is a defective part that can and will eventually kill someone when their car catches on fire.

Filed Aug 4, 2012 · Fuel system · 106,000 miles · TN

I own a 2006 chevy cobalt. I seen that there was a recall for the fuel pump module recall # 090226. The recall was a few yrs ago before I owed my car, but I have smelled fuel and now its leaking fuel underneth my car. When I seen the recall I went to chevrolet and they said because my car was involved in an accident a few yrs ago that they wont honor the recall. I dont understand that.. Just because it was in an accident doesnt mean that the gas leak isnt because of there mistake when making my car!! It forsure isnt from an accident yrs before, the car has been fine after . Im not sure if theres anything you can do to help me out or anyway I can have them honor the recall and fix my car like it says they will fix free of charge in recall, but its dangerous to drive this way and can catch on fire, like I said it was there mistake when making car, and they want me to pay to fix it. I cant afford to.. I just think they find any excuss they can to get out of admitting to fault. Please if you have any suggestions for me let me know. Thanks.

Filed Oct 7, 2011 · Fuel system · 57,000 miles · IL

I was on my way home, and noticed the smell of gasoline from the outside of my vehicle. I initially thought it was from putting a couple of gallons of gas in the vehicle earlier, but the smell persisted into the inside of the vehicle while driving. When I arrived home, the smell of gasoline was stronger outside. I looked under the vehicle and saw the path that the gasoline has been traveling. I let the vehicle sit in the driveway until I was able to bring it to the dealership, for the fear of it catching on fire, or exploding while driving with my two children. It is currently at the dealership being worked on, and was told it is the fuel pump system. It has come to my attention that I am not the only one experiencing this, and it is known issue gm has had. I don't understand why my vehicle is not a part of the recall, it is not just. I dread the bill that I am about to face, due to a known safety issue. And I am certain the fumes of gasoline isn't healthy for my two children, a 6 month and a 2 year old.