Model year guide

2006 Chevrolet Cobalt

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 325 on record.

2006 Chevrolet Cobalt — representative photo
Representative photo · via Wikimedia Commons

2006 Chevrolet Cobalt at a glance

Safety recalls6
Owner complaints2,330
Combined24 mpg
Typical price$2,617

Free: specs, open recalls for that exact car, build sheet and fair price.

2006 Chevrolet Cobalt recalls 6

Electrical System:ignition NHTSA Campaign #14V171000 · 10/04/2014

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2005-2010 Chevrolet Cobalt, 2006-2011 Chevrolet HHR, 2007-2010 Pontiac G5, 2006-2010 Pontiac Solstice, 2003-2007 Saturn Ion, and 2007-2010 Saturn Sky vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the key can be removed from the ignition when the ignition is not in the "Off" position.

Fix: General Motors will notify owners, and for vehicles that were built with the defective ignition cylinder and have not previously had the ignition cylinder replaced with the redesigned part, dealers will replace the ignition cylinder and cut and, if necessary, re-learn two ignition/door keys for ea…

Air Bags NHTSA Campaign #14V047000 · 10/02/2014

This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on February 10, 2014 that they are recalling 619,122 model year 2005-2007 Chevrolet Cobalt, and 2007 Pontiac G5 vehicl…

Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ignition switch, free of charge. An interim notification was issued to owners of 2007 and earlier models on March 10, 2014, informing them of the safety defect. Owners of 2008 and later vehicles will be mailed an interim letter on April 21, 2014…

Electrical System:ignition:switch NHTSA Campaign #14E021000 · 30/04/2014

UCI-FRAM Group is recalling certain LS1328 ignition Switches sold as Wells LS1328, Duralast LS1328, Airtex 1S6097, and Carquest 53-27479, and LS1497 Ignition Switches sold as Wells LS1497, Duralast LS1497, Airtex 1S10961, and Carquest 53-27967, for use on various General Motors model and model year vehicles during repair and replacement of the original ignition switch. The weight on the key ring and/or road conditi…

Fix: UCI-FRAM Group has notified its purchasers to quarantine and return all inventory. Any switches already installed in vehicles will be replaced by GM dealers as part of NHTSA recall 14V-047, free of charge. UCI-Fram's purchasers should contact UCI-FRAM Group at 1-800-890-2075. GM vehicle owners r…

Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump NHTSA Campaign #09V419000 · 29/10/2009

GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006 CHEVROLET COBALT AND SATURN ION VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF ARIZONA AND NEVADA; AND MODEL YEAR 2007 CHEVROLET COBALT, PONTIAC G5 AND SATURN ION VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF ARIZONA, CALIFORNIA, FLORIDA, NEVADA AND TEXAS. THE PLASTIC SUPPLY OR RETURN PORT ON THE MODULAR RESERVOIR ASSEM…

Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP MODULE FREE OF CHARGE. A SPECIAL COVERAGE WILL BE IMPLEMENTED IN THE SAME TIME FRAME FOR MODEL YEAR 2006 VEHICLES REGISTERED IN ALABAMA, ARKANSAS, CALIFORNIA, FLORIDA, GEORGIA, HAWAII, LOUISIANA, MISSISSIPPI, NORTH CAROLINA, NEW MEXICO, OKLAHOMA, SOUTH CAROLINA, …

Steering:electric Power Assist System NHTSA Campaign #10V073000 · 03/03/2010

GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2010 CHEVROLET COBALT AND MODEL YEAR 2007-2010 PONTIAC G5 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ELECTRIC POWER STEERING. THE DRIVER MAY EXPERIENCE A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST THAT COULD OCCUR AT ANY TIME WHILE DRIVING.

Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING MOTOR FREE OF CHARGE. OWNERS ARE BEING NOTIFIED ON A ROLLING BASIS BETWEEN MARCH 29 THROUGH NOVEMBER 2010. A COPY OF THE MAILING SCHEDULE IS LOCATED IN THE RECALL FILE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 AND PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668 O…

Structure NHTSA Campaign #07V014000 · 18/01/2007

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES NOT EQUIPPED WITH OPTIONAL ROOF-MOUNTED SIDE IMPACT AIR BAGS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 201, 'OCCUPANT PROTECTION IN INTERIOR IMPACT.'

Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL ENERGY ABSORBING PLASTIC TO THE HEADLINER TRIM TO REDUCE THE SEVERITY OF HEAD IMPACTS IN A CRASH. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 21, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438.

Source: U.S. NHTSA. A recall applies to a model year, but only a VIN check shows whether a specific car has had the repair done.

2006 Chevrolet Cobalt common problems

The most-reported problem areas from 2,330 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.

Steering
Steering should be tight and centered — no play, clunks or wandering. Test at low and highway speed; listen for power-steering whine.
Fuel/propulsion System
Check for fuel or battery warnings, hard starts and stalling. On a hybrid/EV, confirm charging and range behave normally.
Electrical System
Test every electrical feature: windows, locks, infotainment, charging and all lights. Watch for flickering, dead accessories or warning lights.
Fuel System
Sniff for fuel odor, check for leaks, hard starts or stalling, and confirm the fuel gauge reads correctly.
Gasoline
Have a trusted mechanic inspect this system as part of a pre-purchase inspection.
Engine
Listen for knocks or ticking, check for leaks and blue/white exhaust smoke, and make sure it doesn't overheat. No check-engine light should be on.

2006 Chevrolet Cobalt safety ratings

Frontal crash★★★★★
Side crash★★★★★

Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), tested as the 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt 2-DR w/SAB. Ratings can differ by body style and drivetrain.

2006 Chevrolet Cobalt MPG & running costs

Combined24 mpg
City21 mpg
Highway29 mpg
Est. annual fuel cost$2,900

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov, averaged across trims.

What's a 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt worth?

Low
$1,050
Typical price
$2,617
High
$4,500

From 319 comparable 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt listings.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$14,500
Fuel only$14,500
Per mile$0.19

How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. There aren't enough comparable listings to estimate depreciation for this model, so it is left out. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.

2006 Chevrolet Cobalt trims & engines on record

Trims
LS · LT · SS · LTZ · Lev1 - All models · Lev2 - All models · Lev2 - Luxury Edition · Lev3 - All models · Base
Engines
2.2L 4-cyl 170 hp · 2.4L 4-cyl · 2.0L 4-cyl 205 hp

2006 Chevrolet Cobalt vehicles on record

Other Chevrolet Cobalt model years

2006 Chevrolet Cobalt — frequently asked questions

Does the 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt have any safety recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 6 safety recalls for the 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.

What are the most common problems with the 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt?

Based on 2,330 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are steering, fuel/propulsion system, electrical system.

What is the 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt safety rating?

NHTSA gives the 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt crash-test ratings of frontal 4★, side 3★ (out of 5; this model year pre-dates NHTSA's overall score).

What gas mileage does the 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt get?

The U.S. EPA rates the 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt at about 24 mpg combined (21 city / 29 highway).

How much is a 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt worth?

Comparable 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt listings run roughly $1,050–$4,500, typically around $2,617 (from 319 vehicles).

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.