2006 Chevrolet Cobalt: jerking or lurching

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 21, 2023 · Brakes, Electrical · TX

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

Filed Jul 12, 2020 · Driver assistance, Electrical · 200,000 miles · OH

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.

Filed May 31, 2019 · Steering · GA

Every time it gets too hot outside my power steering comes on in my car switch makes it jerk the car and my engine light comes on...this problem happens when the car is moving and when it's stationary. When it's stationary it locks my steering wheel and it's moving it makes the car jerk

Filed Jan 17, 2019 · Electrical, Steering · TN

Takata recall the car will randomly lose power steering. The power steering message will display on the dash and the steering wheel will lock up. You will then hear a clicking sound as if the transmission is going bad. The car will jerk forward really hard and as you bring the car to a stop, the car will shake and you will hear all kinds of rattling. The gauges on the dash will all jump up & down! And you have no idea of the speed you're going. The check engine light will come on as well as the car with the lock light. Sometimes the steering wheel will unlock itself but you will also have all of the other symptoms. As I stated earlier it happens randomly so I have to constantly pull over to avoid an accident! If you attempt to keep driving it there's a chance the car will completely shut off and you will lose control of the gas pedal and brake pedal. I contacted general motors and they stated the car had already been fixed and I got it after the warranty so it's all in my hands. Why does the customer have to literally pay for the mistakes of the company I've literally read thousands of reviews of people having these same issues. It's an extremely dangerous car!! And we need to be compensated. This happens when the car is stationary, in motion, on the street, and on the highway.

Filed Jun 14, 2017 · Acceleration, Steering · 150,000 miles · GA

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 chevrolet cobalt. While driving various speeds, the steering wheel became difficult to maneuver when making left or right turns and the power steering warning indicator illuminated. In addition, the speedometer failed to display the actual speeds. The failures recurred numerous times. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact also stated that the vehicle would jerk and hesitate to accelerate when depressing the accelerator pedal. When the accelerator pedal was depressed again, the vehicle would accelerate without warning. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 150,000.

Filed May 1, 2017 · Electrical · 55,699 miles · MI

Engine started jerking.malfuntion engine block light came on the dashboard.car was in motion on a city street going on a straight line.after dealer inspection diag-needs code p0300-#1 misfires-needs ignition coil and module.

Filed Jun 24, 2016 · Acceleration, Engine · 182,000 miles · NJ

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 chevrolet cobalt. While driving 40 MPH, the power steering seized and the engine light illuminated without warning. Directly after, the vehicle jerked and accelerated without warning and the speedometer malfunctioned. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was 182,000.

Filed Jun 17, 2016 · Driver assistance · 168,372 miles · GA

It doesn't matter of I'm driving at just sitting at the traffic light but the t/c, engine lights come on n make my car jerk like it's the transmission kicking back so in march 2016 it got so bad to the point I could no longer even put my car in reverse so I had to have a brand new transmission which cost me $1500 then the same day I got it back all the lights came right back and I've taken it several times to the mechanic and it gives him a p1174, p0014 code. I'm afraid one day while I'm driving my car is just going to fall apart with how badly it jerks but once the t/c light does go off it stops jerking and will drive smooth but the engine light may or not still come on and makes my car drive sluggish n the RPM guages go crazy like I can accelerate but the car doesn't seem to be accelerating.

Filed May 18, 2016 · 75,000 miles · OH

The tc light keeps coming on now also check engine light is on the car is her jerking really hard acts like it wants to cut off doesn't matter where I'm driving or what speed I have already spent a few thousand dollars on this problem chevy needs to fix this problem this is dangerous.

Filed May 3, 2016 · Driver assistance, Electrical · 134,000 miles · IN

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 chevrolet cobalt. While driving approximately 70 MPH, the vehicle suddenly would not accelerate and came to a complete stop; however, the engine did not shut off. Prior to the incident, the traction control and check engine lights illuminated. When the traction control light illuminated, the transmission jerked really hard. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the ECM needed reprogramming. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 134,000.

Filed Nov 9, 2015 · Steering, Transmission · 80,600 miles · LA

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 chevrolet cobalt. While driving approximately 20 MPH, the vehicle jerked and the power steering warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who was unable to diagnose the failure. The failure recurred several times. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 80,600.