2006 Chevrolet Cobalt steering problems

The 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt has 1,308 steering complaints filed with NHTSA — 43% of the year's total, and roughly flat versus the prior model year.

1,308

Steering complaints

43%

Share of year

Crash-involved

Related recalls

Steering complaints by year

Cobalt steering complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

Related recalls

10V073000SteeringMarch 3, 2010 · 1,050,889 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

IF POWER STEERING ASSIST IS LOST, IT WOULD REQUIRE GREATER DRIVER EFFORT AT LOW VEHICLE SPEEDS, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy

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 OR AT THE OWNER CENTER AT WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.

What owners report

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A CURB AS A RESULT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED.…”
Complaint filed with NHTSA · Steering · December 19, 2011 · crash

Common questions

How many steering complaints does the 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt have?

NHTSA has 1,308 complaints about the 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt steering — 43% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Are there recalls for the 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt steering?

Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign for this model year is tied to the steering: 10V073000.

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.