There are 15 owner-reported brakes complaints for the 2006 Chevrolet Cobaltin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
WHEN DRIVING THE CAR IT SEEMS TO FEEL LIKE THE BRAKES ARE BEING APPLIED AND THE CAR IS TOWING A HEAVY LOAD AND THE SPEED WILL DECREASE AS I CONTINUE TO DRIVE FORCING ME TO PARK THE VEHICLE. I TURN THE CAR OFF FOR AN HOUR OR TWO AND IT WILL DRIVE NORMALLY AGAIN BUT IF DRIVEN TO LONG IT WILL SLOW DOWN WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS IS A TYPICAL CITY DRIVING, STOP AND GO AT STOP LIGHTS OR UP AND DOWN SMALL HILLS. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT IT MAYBE THE THROTTLE BODY MODULE BUT WE ARE NOT SURE.
LETTER FROM SENATOR NELSON ON BEHALF OF CONSTITUENT CONCERNING THE CHEVY RECALL ON COBALTS FOR IGNITION KEY RECALLS; HE HANDLING FOR HIS DAUGHTER, THE OWNER OF THE CAR; SEND RESPOND DIRECTLY TO SENATOR OFFICE, PLEASE REF: CONSTITUENT. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING, HE LOST POWER MOMENTARY. THERE WAS NO STEERING ABILITY, AND WHEN HE APPLIED THE BRAKE, ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE THE CONTINUED AS NORMAL. HOWEVER, THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT AND THE BRAKE LIGHT REMAINED ON. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER, THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT AND ABS WERE NOT RELATED TO THE RECALL, HE THEN WENT TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP, WHERE THE FOUND THE ABS FUSE WAS BLOWN AND A WIRE WAS TRACED TO A SHORT IN THE IGNITION SWITCH. HOWEVER, THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE .
THE VEHICLE HAS A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH THE PARKING BRAKE. THE REAR BRAKE CALIPERS LOCK UP CAUSING THE PARKING BRAKE TO MALFUNCTION. THE VEHICLE ROLLS AWAY IF NOT LEFT IN GEAR. THE VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM THREE TIMES OVER THE PAST 15,000 MILES. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES DURING RAINY WEATHER, THE VEHICLE WOULD BE SLOW TO RESPOND. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED BUT DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRS TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 52,000. ....UPDATED 12/03/12 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED WITHOUT A DIPSTICK FOR THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, SO THERE WAS NO WAY FOR HIM TO CHECK THE FLUID. THE CONSUMER STATED THE TRANSMISSION PAN WAS FLIMSY AND HE WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION. UPDATED EVOQ 12/13/12
2006 COBALT LS. BRAKES SOMETIMES STICK. LIKE DRIVING WITH THE BRAKES SLIGHTLY APPLIED. *TR
BRAKES LOCKING UP ON 2006 CHEVY COBALT. VEHICLE IS NOT EQUIPPED WITH ANTI LOCK BRAKES. ALSO A FRIEND WITH 2005 COBALT BRAKES COMPLETELY LOCKED SEIZED. BRAKES BURNED UP. CAR TOWED, AND HAD TO REPLACE BRAKES. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING AT 10 MPH, THE REAR SPRING ON THE DRIVER SIDE WHEEL THAT HELD THE BRAKE PADS FRACTURED AND CAUSED THE WHEEL TO LOCK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY WHERE THE MECHANIC ADVISED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD CHANGED THE DESIGN OF THE PART FROM A STEM TO A SPRING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,600 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 26,000. UPDATED 10/13/10. *LJ UPDATED 10/19/10
FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WARPED TWICE HAD TO GET BRAKES AND STEERING WHEEL HAS A SHIMMY IN THE FRONT DUE TO WARPED ROTORS AND REAR ARE NOISY AND WEAR DOWN SAME AS FRONT HAD TO GET BRAKES DONE AGAIN AND ROTORS WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED NEXT BRAKE JOB OR WHEN ROTORS WARP AGAIN NOTICE ABLE AND I DON'T WANT TO PUT NEW STRUTS BECAUSE OF FRONT END CONSTANTLY SHAKING WHEN ROTORS WARP. *TR
DRIVING SOUTH ON THE RIGHT LANE OF I-270, ABOUT 3/4 MILE SOUTH OF INTERSECTION WITH MD 85 WITH SPEED OF 6-65MPH. PAVEMENT WAS WET. WHEN NOTICED THAT CARS AHEAD OH ME IN THE DISTANCE OF 100 YARDS WERE SLOWING DOWN, I STEPPED MODERATELY ON THE BRAKES. THE BRAKES AND STEERING INSTANTLY LOCKED UP AND CAR WAS VIOLENTLY POOLING TO THE LEFT AND HIT THE CONCRETE GUARDRAIL IN THE MEDIAN, AFTER PASSING THROUGH THE LEFT LANE. WITH A HEAVY MORNING TRAFFIC I WAS LUCKY NOT TO COLIDE WITH ANY OTHER VEHICLE AND TO COME OUT OF THIS ACCIDENT WITH THE FEW MINOR MUSCLE ACHES. *TR
ABS LIGHT CONTINUES TO COME ON FIRST COUPLE TIMES DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. FINALLY LIGHT CAME ON AS I WAS LEAVING I CALLED THE DEALER AND TOLD THEM I WAS COMING RIGHT THEN BEFORE I SHUT MY CAR OFF AGAIN FOR THEM TO PUT IT ON THE COMPUTER. PUT CAR ON COMP, AND GOT TO CODES BOTH WERE SOMETHING ABOUT A PUMP RELAY MOTOR. WAS FIXED AND THEN ABOUT 3 WEEKS LATER SCHEDULED 3 RD APPT FOR SHAKING PROBLEM AND OH THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. 1 ST APPT FOR SHAKING SAID ROTORS NEEDED TURNED WITH 17000 MILES TOLD THEM I WAS NOT PAYING FOR IT CALLED GM 800 NUMBER TOLD ME I LIVED IN A HILLY AREA ROUND FLAT AREA. TOOK IT TO ANOTHER DEALER AND THEY TURNED THEM UNDER WARRANTY. 4000 MILES LATER TOOK IT BACK FOR STEERING WHEEL SHAKING ON TUESDAY. WEDNESDAY THEY CALLED TO TELL ME I NEEDED 4 NEW TIRES, NEW PADS, OH AND NEW ROTORS, NOT UNDER MY WARRANTY WRONG AGAIN I WILL NOT PAY FOR ALL OF THESE NEW AT 21000 MILES CRAZY. TODAY FRIDAY I CALLED TO CHECK ON MY CAR AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE 30 YEAR TECHNICIAN AND SERVICE MANAGER HAVE BEEN ON THE PHONE WITH TECH SUPPORT FOR TWO DAYS AND THEY TOLD THEM THEY WERE ON THEIR OWN. IF THESE MECHANICS HAVE TO USE A PHONE TO GET INFORMATION ABOUT A CAR THEY ARE EITHER NOT A VERY GOOD MECHANIC OR MAYBE WE ARE RELYING TO MUCH ON COMPUTERS TO RUN OUR CARS. *JB
WITH ONLY 42,000 MILES ON THIS CAR THE BRAKE ROTORS HAVE DEEP GROOVES AS WELL AS LITTLE BRAKE PADS LEFT. *AK
I PURCHASED A 2006 CHEVY COBALT SS W/ 2.4 LITER NON-SUPERCHARGED ENGINE. AT ABOUT 5,000 MILES THE CAR BEGAN SHAKING WHILE BRAKING. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE FRONT ROTORS WERE DELAMINATED AND THEY MACHINED THEM DOWN SMOOTH AGAIN. THIS FIXED THE PROBLEM FOR ABOUT ANOTHER 5-600 MILES, THEN THE SHAKING STARTED AGAIN. MY CAR HAD TO GO BACK TO THE DEALER AGAIN AND THEY MACHINED THEM DOWN AGAIN WITHOUT REPLACING THE ROTORS-THEY SAID THEY JUST PASS INSPECTION. ALSO, THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE HEAD GASKET, THE VALVE COVERS AND THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD ALL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THIS IS THE SIXTH DAY THEY HAD MY CAR AND EVERYDAY IT IS SOMETHING ELSE THEY FIND WRONG WITH IT. MY CAR ONLY HAS 15,000 MILES ON IT AND IS WELL TAKEN CARE OF. I FEEL THAT THE BRAKING POWER OF THE CAR IS DECREASED, EVEN AFTER THE ROTORS ARE "FIXED", I FEAR I MAY GET INTO AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THIS AND NO ONE AT DENOYER CHEVROLET ON WOLF RD IN ALBANY, NY TELE#518-458-7700 CARES. THE PERSON THAT IS UPDATING ME WITH INFORMATION ON MY CAR IS JEFF WINNE AND HE IS VERY RUDE. I HOPE THIS MATTER CAN BE FURTHER INVESTIGATED TO PREVENT ANY FURTHER INJURY. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET COBALT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN SLIDING WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE LANDED IN A DITCH. THE CONTACT PLACED THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE OUT OF THE DITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR LEAKING FLUIDS. THE VEHICLE HAS GONE OFF THE ROAD ON THREE OCCASIONS WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES FOR THE BRAKES AND THEY FOUND NO FAILURES. THE POWERTRAIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 34,120.
I PURCHASED A 2006 COBALT LS LEVEL 2 USED IN OCTOBER OF 06. SHORTLY AFTER THE PURCHASE MY CAR STARTED A MODERATE TONE WHISTLING AND MY HEATER STARTED MAKING A CLICKING NOISE WHICH BOTH ARE VERY ANNOYING. I HAVE BROUGHT MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP WHALEN CHEVROLET IN GREENWICH NY MANY MANY TIMES AND ALL THEY EVER SAY IS THE NOISES ARE NORMAL THERE'S NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT. SHORTLY AFTER THOSE PROBLEMS CAME ABOUT MY WIPERS STOPPED WORKING IN A STORM FOR NO APPARENT REASON,WHEN I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THIS PROBLEM THEY BLAMED IT ON ME SAYING I WAS MIS-USING MY WIPERS ,APPARENTLY YOUR NOT SUPPOSED TO USE THEM. WITHIN DAYS OF THAT PROBLEM MY CAR STARTED TO BUMP WHEN I'D TOUCH THE BRAKES, ONCE AGAIN I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WHAT DO YOU KNOW THE DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS MY FAULT AND THE BRAKE ROTORS NEEDED TO BE PLANED DOWN. STILL TO THIS DAY THE CAR IS WHISTLING THE ENTIRE TIME IT RUNS AND THE HEATER IS CLICKING AWAY LIKE ALWAYS,IT IS APPARENT TO ME THAT THIS IS NO REPLACEMENT FOR THE LACK LUSTER CAVALIER,IT IS THE CAVALIER IT'S JUST PRETTIED UP A BIT. TO THIS POINT THE SHABBY ENGINEERING OF THIS CAR HAS COST ME WELL OVER $500 IN REPAIRS & DIAGNOSING TO TRY AND SOLVE A PROBLEM THE GM CERTIFIED MECHANICS AT WHALEN CHEVROLET IN GREENWICH NY CAN'T SEEM TO FIGURE OUT---OOPS I MEAN IT'S SUPPOSED TO SOUND LIKE IT'S FALLING APART. *TR
2006 CHEVROLET COBALT. CONSUMER REQUESTS REIMBURSEMENT FOR IGNITION KEY LOCK REPAIRS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE KEY BECAME STUCK IN THE IGNITION. THE IGNITION CYLINDER WAS REPLACED. ALSO, SHE HAD ONGOING PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES, WHICH ALMOST RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. *JB UPDATED 06/12/14 THE CONSUMER IS SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT. UPDATED 07/02/14
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026