YearToAvoid

2006 Chevrolet Cobalt Engine Problems

NHTSA has 171 owner complaints about engine problems in the 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt, 7% of all 2,330 complaints for this model year. That is the highest engine complaint count among 10 Cobalt model years. These complaints report 20 crashes, 5 fires, and 8 injuries. Median mileage at failure: 80,000 miles.

Engine complaints
171
7% of 2,330
Crashes reported
20
Fires reported
5
Injuries reported
8
Median mileage
80,000 mi
Related recalls
0

When 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt engine complaints were filed

First complaint Jan 3, 2006, latest Jul 25, 2025.

2006 Chevrolet Cobalt engine complaints: complaints filed per quarter192006 Q12008 Q22010 Q42013 Q12015 Q22017 Q32020 Q22025 Q3
171 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2006 Q1 to 2025 Q3; peak 2014 Q1 (19).

Engine recalls for the 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Engine complaints by Cobalt model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 2005154 (9%)
  2. 2006171 (7%)
  3. 200796 (6%)
  4. 200864 (8%)
  5. 200964 (9%)
  6. 201054 (9%)
  7. 20110 (0%)
  8. 20120 (0%)
  9. 20160 (0%)
  10. 20170 (0%)

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt have engine problems?
NHTSA has 171 owner complaints about the engine in the 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt, 7% of all complaints for this model year, including 20 that report a crash. Median mileage at failure is 80,000 miles.
Which Chevrolet Cobalt year has the most engine complaints?
The 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt has the most engine complaints (171), compared with 171 for the 2006.
Is there a engine recall for the 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt?
No NHTSA recall campaign for the 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt is classified under engine. Complaints alone do not trigger a recall; check the full recall list and your VIN.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.