Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt
NHTSA data on file today
The 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt has 6 NHTSA recall campaigns and 2,329 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #14E021000 Aftermarket Replacement Ignition Switches NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #14V171000 Key Can Be Removed when Ignition is not Off NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #14V047000 Ignition Switch may Turn Off NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #10V073000 ELECTRIC POWER STEERING NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #09V419000 FUEL PUMP MODULE NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #07V014000 FMVSS 201/HEADLINER TRIM NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Steering 1,298 complaints
- Electrical System 412 complaints
- Fuel/Propulsion System 255 complaints
- Fuel System, Gasoline 215 complaints
- Air Bags 146 complaints
- Power Train 137 complaints
Of the 2,329 complaints on file, 164 report a crash and 14 a fire; across all 2,329 complaints, owners report 196 injuries and 8 deaths (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $5,000–$7,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt has significant reliability concerns, evident in 2,330 owner complaints and six recall campaigns. The steering and electrical systems, with 1,299 and 412 complaints respectively, show frequent issues. The ignition switch recall indicates risks related to key switch weights affecting safety. Given these issues and the volume of complaints, this model year reflects below-average reliability.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| steering system | 60,000–100,000 miles | No reliable estimate | very common |
| electrical system | 50,000–90,000 miles | $300–$800 | common |
| fuel system | 70,000–110,000 miles | $200–$700 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter change
- Brake pad and rotor replacement
- Coolant flush
- Transmission fluid change
- Air filter replacement
- Spark plug replacement
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Steering wheel stiffness
- Ignition key sticking
- Fuel smell or leaks
- Sudden loss of power steering
- Dashboard warning lights
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.