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Transmission and drivetrainPart report

2006 Chevrolet Cobalt Transmission and drivetrain Problems

Complaints
137about this part
Share
6%of 2,330 total for the year
Median mileage
65,000miles
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

NHTSA recorded 137 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt, 6% of the 2,330 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 65,000 miles. 12 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“When the accident happen, my son and his friend were going to his other friend house to stay. His friend that lived said he was having trouble controlling the steering they ran off the road hitting the side of the road flipping the car, my son was thrown out of the car and was dead on the scene.”

NHTSA complaint #10573272, filed 2014-03, 22,000 miles

“2006 chevy Cobalt ls: power steering failure, as well as tach & speedometer fluctuations. Transmission shifts rough. Engine light is on, as well as an icon that looks like a car with a lock on it. All this happened at one time...between the time I parked it after work (no problems), til I went out and started it again to go to the store.”

NHTSA complaint #10340170, filed 2010-06, 48,000 miles

“My 2006 chevy cobalts stalls and shuts off while accelerating or while stopped at red lights. This has almost cause driver behind me to rear end my car. Thank goodness, I nor my children have been injured due to this malfunction. I've had the car served numerous times to no avail. The repair shop says, they cant find a problem. Although this happens almost daily.”

NHTSA complaint #10345421, filed 2010-07, 68,000 miles

“While traveling at highway speeds, approximately 40 MPH a message appears in the message center in my dash indicating the power steering has gone out. I feel no difference in steering, but when the car switches gears (it is an automatic ) it is very rough and almost dies. It occurs randomly and has happened twice this week local repair shop couldn't find any problem.”

NHTSA complaint #10279290, filed 2009-08, 30,000 miles

“Whether the vehicle is being driven (at any speed) or in park, the traction control light comes on and the vehicle makes very hard/jumpy shifts. I bought the vehicle new and this started happening no more than 4 months after the purchase. Though I've brought the vehicle in numerous times 2 repairs have been made. I've kept some of the service orders but I do have all with noted repairs.”

NHTSA complaint #10363635, filed 2010-11, 8,742 miles

Related service bulletins

Transmission and drivetrain: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
2010315%
2009294%
2008293%
2007433%
20061376%
2005996%

Other parts of the 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt

Steering
1,299 complaintsFuel system
466 complaintsElectrical system
412 complaintsAir bags
146 complaintsEngine
93 complaintsOther or unknown
55 complaintsBrakes
51 complaintsBody and structure
51 complaintsSuspension
51 complaintsVehicle speed control
48 complaintsEngine cooling
43 complaintsLatches, locks and linkages
38 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology