2006 Chevrolet Cobalt engine problems

Filed Jul 25, 2025 · Engine, Fuel system · TN

The contact’s wife owns a 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated there was an abnormal fuel odor inside the cabin of the vehicle. While exiting the vehicle, the contact became aware that there was an oil leak underneath the rear end of the vehicle, and the fuel odor was more evident. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was jerking while accelerating and while driving from being stationary. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

Filed Jul 24, 2024 · Engine · OH

The car idles very low when stopped and sputters/putters like it's going to die. It has now actually died on me twice while driving, luckily when you put it in park and turn the car off and back on it starts right back up but you can see how this is a severe safety hazard. The first time it died I was stopped in the turning lane waiting on traffic to go by so I could turn left (this is the busiest street in town) I go to start turning left the car just shuts off mid turn crossing the other lane of the street, luckily I didn't get hit by oncoming traffic and was able to coast onto the side street that I was turning on and pull over and turn the car off and back on and drive it home. I took it to the mechanic and he can't figure out what's wrong with it so he gives it a tune up and now the check engine light won't turn off...fast forward to today it dies again at a stop sign with my [XXX] in the car. It is ESPECIALLY bad if you have the AC on it seems like it effects the electrical like the car is going to shut off when I am stopped and the ac is running, so I turned off the ac and it was still sputtering when I would stop but didn't die again. There is an entire thread of people with the same issue as me: [XXX] this car needs recalled it is a death trap. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Aug 4, 2022 · Electrical, Engine · LA

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.

Filed Mar 5, 2022 · Electrical, Engine · NC

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.

Filed Jan 25, 2022 · Electrical, Engine · WV

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

Filed Sep 17, 2021 · Engine, Steering · 126,000 miles · KY

The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle was shaking and loss motive power. The power steering became inoperable. The contact was able to restart the vehicle and the local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 126,000.

Filed Dec 18, 2020 · Electrical, Engine · CO

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

Filed Apr 27, 2020 · Engine, Steering · 100,000 miles · FL

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 chevrolet cobalt. The contact stated that while driving at 35 MPH, she heard a clunking sound. The power steering warning light illuminated and the rpms reeved up. The vehicle slowed down and the contact pulled off to side of the road. The contact was able to drive home very slowly and parked the vehicle in her driveway. The dealer and the manufacturer were not contacted to be notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 100,000.

Filed Apr 9, 2020 · Electrical, Engine · WA

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.

Filed Nov 13, 2019 · Engine, Steering · 80,000 miles · IL

2006 chevy cobalt. After coming to a stop ,at a stop sign, for example, steering wheel locks, engine shuts off, key sometimes sticks in the ignition lock, occurs randomly and with out warning. Car will restart and behave normally. Dealer replaced ignition switch under recall in late 2014. Went to dealer service department for help with sticking ignition switch. Currently dealer refuses to reinspect ignition switch with out agreement to diagnostic charge. Contacted gm customer service. Gm admits there is a extended warranty until 2020 for the ignition switch {warranty letter 14632) customer service rep further indicated that any parts replaced have a 1 year warranty only. And my ignition switch is past parts warranty. Gm customer service stated that the dealer is within there rights to demand a diagnostic fee if the dealer determines the problem is not the ignition switch. We indicated to the gm customer service that the ignition switch is locking up again. Its was my understanding that gm feels that the recall repair is a one time event. Gm refuses to look at the ignition switch again unless I agree to pay for diagnostics regardless of any safety issues involved.