Air Bag On-off Switch problems of the 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt

28 problems related to air bag on-off switch have been reported for the 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt based on all problems reported for the 2006 Cobalt.

1 Air Bag On-off Switch problem

Failure Date: 12/20/2018

Tl the contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt. After the vehicle was started, it shuddered and vibrated while idling. The vehicle stalled and the air bag warning indicator illuminated. The contact mentioned that the key switched back to the accessory position. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or independent mechanic for diagnostic testing or repairs. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 18,071.

2 Air Bag On-off Switch problem

Failure Date: 03/30/2018

"takata recall" on 3/30/18 I was involved in a wreck. I was traveling on a busy city street when the light turned red. I stopped and the person in front of me was driving a large SUV. When the light turned green and traffic began to move I started driving. Out of nowhere with no warning, the driver just stopped and my car ran into the back of the vehicle. We both stayed in our vehicles I called 911. Officers arrived and emergency services. Even though hardly any damage was done to the SUV, my car sustained a lot of damage to the hood and bumper of my car. The airbags didn't deploy. I thought my car was totaled by looking at it. I was able to have most of my car repaired out of pocket because I had liability only at the time. The passenger in front of me after giving information to the responders was able to drive away, I was not. I've also had another accident where the airbags didn't deploy in 2014. I am concerned that I might be in another accident that could be life-threatening and the airbags won't work. I contacted gm about my concerns regarding the airbags and nothing was done to have my airbags checked. I was able to have the switch changed when there was a recall for that. I hope by sharing my experience with you something can be done to have my airbags checked and give me a sense of security when driving my vehicle.

3 Air Bag On-off Switch problem

Failure Date: 03/13/2018

I had the ignition switch changed 3 years ago and it is now messed up. My car won't start and I need a new ignition switch.

4 Air Bag On-off Switch problem

Failure Date: 05/17/2017

Signal showing airbag needs servicing goes on and off while driving. Headlights, low beam (both of them) just stopped working. New bulbs and new fuses are not the problem. Now, I can't even keep my high beams in "on" position. Only if I hold the switch. I've had this car for under 3 months. Driver's side door lock sometimes works, sometimes doesn't. I have to unlock the door manually (sometimes). I find that odd. My largest problem is obviously headlights. I have 2 children and can't drive at night, even in an emergency.

5 Air Bag On-off Switch problem

Failure Date: 09/28/2016

My vehicle has been turning off while I have been driving. This abrupt "turning off" started occurring even before the ignition switch was changed by gm but now it is becoming more frequent. Prior to the ignition switch being change, each time the car would turn off the airbag sensor would flash repeatedly. After the ignition switch was changed I notified the dealer that the airbag sensor remained lit, and they just told me that it was a faulty sensor and that it had nothing to do with what was fixed on the ignition. The dealer also told me that if I chose to have it fixed, it would be an out of pocket expense. I never took the car back to the dealer to have that repair. This month I was in a car accident on the interstate and the airbags did not deploy. Although th accident did occur because of the car turning off on me, I am concerned that the airbags did not deploy that day and that my car continues to turn off on me. It doesn't matter what speed the vehicle is going either, the vehicle turns itself off. It's has happened in normal traffic after attempting to cross and intersection, on the highway and even while making a turn. I really feel this could cause a major car accident if not repaired soon. I have taken my car to the shop to have it diagnosed but they cannot find what is wrong with the car. One mechanic said it was an electrical problem. Another mechanic said it could be the transmission. I keep getting conflicting diagnoses.

6 Air Bag On-off Switch problem

Failure Date: 03/08/2015

Starting on Sunday I was driving down the highway and my car suddenly shut off. The power steering light flashed and then the service air bag light as well. I pulled over, stopped completely, and turned my car back on and took the back roads home. After turning the car back on the warning lights on the display were gone. The next day I was on a different highway and the same thing happened except when I turned my car back on the service air bag light stayed on until I returned home. I had the recall on the ignition switch replaced last year.

7 Air Bag On-off Switch problem

Failure Date: 09/01/2014

The activating switch for the passenger-side air bag failed around 78,000 miles. This seat switch activates the passenger airbag safety system when an occupant sits down in the front passenger seat. I was told at the time we had the ignition switch recall repair done to the car that the only way to replace the broken seat switch was to replace the passenger seat cover. To do this requires an initial outlay of $150. 00 dollars for the part( the switch is woven into the seat fabric)plus labor to install(price unknown)at the dealership. Without regard to age,weight or gender any front seat passenger may believe they are protected upon reading the dashboard 'airbag' sign when sitting in the car. The panel-mounted indicator for that airbag is a lighted display which, in daylight, is hard to see without cupping your hand over the annunciator-or wait until nightfall , get somebody to sit in the seat, and then check out the dash light.

8 Air Bag On-off Switch problem

Failure Date: 08/07/2014

At approximately 7:47am cst on August 7th 2014, I was making a right hand turn when the engine and all electrical components died. I was able to restart the car and safely drive, with no check engine lights/other dash warnings, approximately half a mile back home. There was no warning on the dash (ie check engine light) before the massive failure occurred; it was instantly dead. This fits the characterization of the ignition switch failure in the affected gm models. I was one turn from merging on the freeway. Had this incident occurred a minute later, the potential for severe injury/loss of life was great. I have been waiting on a list since April to get the defected ignition switch repaired. I have called several times for updates, and have been told up to 800 people were ahead of me for repairs. When I reported this incident to gm via the ignition switch recall hotline, they suddenly found the parts needed to repair my car. This is suspect to me. They are also claiming that this incident was not ignition switch related, but the fact remains that this was a near-miss incident with potential catastrophic implications that fits all descriptions of ignition switch failures. I have followed the instructions by gm to drive with only the key in the ignition and to avoid bumpy roads, but this incidents has made me feel extremely unsafe to drive this car. Gm is not treating this defect in the ignition switch as seriously as it needs to, as the possibility for severe injury/loss of light is great. There is no warning that power will be lost. I do not feel safe driving this car knowing that gm knew about this defect for over a decade and is insisting that cars with the defect are safe to drive.

9 Air Bag On-off Switch problem

Failure Date: 07/19/2014

When the company recalled the ignition switch, which affects the airbag system, we took the vehicle in for service and they replaced the ignition switch but didn't fix the airbag system problem. In the vehicle's dashboard display screen the service airbag light is still on. The mechanic said it wasn't related. He wrote on the service invoice for the ignition switch recall, "air bag warning related to no communication from airbag module".

10 Air Bag On-off Switch problem

Failure Date: 06/25/2014

The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact received a notification for recall NHTSA campaign number: 14v047000 (air bags, electrical system). The contact mentioned that after the recall repairs were performed the key would work in the ignition switch but failed to unlock the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was unknown.

11 Air Bag On-off Switch problem

Failure Date: 04/28/2014

After recall switch replacement, airbags light warning system is coming on in my 2006 chevy Cobalt. Spoke to gm local dealer customer service representative and he said it had nothing to do with the recall. Then what was the point in replacing switch? my airbags are still not working while I drive my car. My car is still not safe to drive but they gave it back to me anyways without fixing the airbag problem. Now they want me to pay to fix my airbags problem. Please help.

12 Air Bag On-off Switch problem

Failure Date: 04/26/2014

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. 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 .

13 Air Bag On-off Switch problem

Failure Date: 04/11/2014

2006 Chevrolet Cobalt. Consumer writes in regards to ignition switch recall issues. The dealer informed the consumer, the part was not available.

14 Air Bag On-off Switch problem

Failure Date: 04/02/2014

2006 Chevrolet Cobalt. Consumer writes in regards to ignition switch recall notice and states that vehicle was totaled. The consumer stated the vehicle was totaled on April 2, 2014.

15 Air Bag On-off Switch problem

Failure Date: 03/10/2014

2006 chevy Cobalt. Consumer writes in regards to ignition switch recall notice. The consumer stated the power steering light illuminated on the dashboard. The dealer informed the consumer, rodents had made their way underneath the hood. The consumer stated the dealer never mentioned the ignition switch problem. The consumer received the recall notice, the following day. When the consumer called the dealer to inquire about the recall, she was informed the parts were not available.

16 Air Bag On-off Switch problem

Failure Date: 02/24/2014

My wife and her mother were driving on a street in the city that we live in. This street does have a mild to moderate amount of traffic depending on the time of day. It is a two lane road that for the most part goes through the residential area of the city that we live in as well as the neighboring city. The speed limit predominately is 35 mph. At the time of the incident, my wife was traveling to the south in which the roadway proceeds down a short, mild downgrade in to a natural wash or stream bed and then back up an upgrade to the south side of town and the neighboring city. My wife was traveling downhill when suddenly she lost power to the vehicle and the steering locked up. The engine was still running but all the electrical components of the vehicle such as the gauges and the car stereo ceased to work. Due to the steering locking up and my wife being unable at the time to control the vehicle, she drifted in the opposite lane, bounced off a curb on that side of the road and then drifted back into the appropriate lane before coming to a stop. Fortunately for the safety and well-being of my wife and her mother, no other vehicle was in or approaching the opposite lane. When the vehicle came to a stop, the engine stalled when the key ignition was in the run position. My wife proceeded to switch the key in the off position and then proceeded to restart the vehicle. The vehicle then started up like normal. My wife proceeded to drive the vehicle to her original destination which was only a couple of miles away. She then notified me by cellphone in which we started the process of trying to get this issue resolved.

17 Air Bag On-off Switch problem

Failure Date: 02/21/2014

2006 Chevrolet Cobalt. Consumer writes in regards to ignition switch recall notice and unsatisfactory customer service at dealership. The consumer stated the vehicle shut off many times while driving, on a major highway. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, prior the announcement of the recall, only to be told there was nothing wrong. The consumer stated since the announcement, she felt as though she was lied to and advised to keep driving the vehicle.

18 Air Bag On-off Switch problem

Failure Date: 01/29/2014

My daughter was involved in a vehicle accident in the 2006 chevy Cobalt that we purchased. The accident was severe enough to render the vehicle totaled. She was pulling out into a lane of traffic and a car hit her car in the front driver side corner doing about 50mph, since she was just pulling out her speed wasn't more then 15-20mph. The airbags never deployed even though the collision was on the front corner and was strong enough to shift the engine block and break the motor mount. We recently received the recall information pertaining to the engine switch and having bulky key chains and how jarring could cause the car to shut off and not deploy the airbags. Neither of the airbags, the drivers or the passengers, deployed and the car shut off.

19 Air Bag On-off Switch problem

Failure Date: 10/01/2013

The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start and the key became stuck in the ignition. The vehicle was towed to the contacts residence where the battery was replaced. The contact later attempted to start the vehicle and the key because fractured in the ignition switch. The contact was able to remove the fractured key and resumed by utilizing the spare key. The contact stated that the vehicle would exhibit an abnormal noise when attempting to start, which required numerous attempts. The contact later received notification of NHTSA campaign id number: 14v047000 (air bags and electrical system). The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 58,000.

20 Air Bag On-off Switch problem

Failure Date: 09/18/2013

The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 mph, the engine stalled with the illumination of the warning indicator. The vehicle restarted and resumed normally. The failure recurred twice. There was a recall related to the failure under NHTSA campaign id number 14v047000 (air bags , electrical system). The dealer informed that the vehicle was included in the recall; however if the ignition switch was not faulty the owner would be responsible for the diagnostic expense. The contact was displeased to know of the diagnostic charge associated with the recall. The manufacturer was notified of the problem. The vehicle had not been repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 80. 000.

21 Air Bag On-off Switch problem

Failure Date: 07/15/2013

2006 Chevrolet Cobalt. Consumer writes in regards to ignition switch recall notice and requests reimbursement for repairs. The consumer stated the vehicle would shut off periodically, while driving. She was informed the issue was relay switch. She recently received a recall notice from gm, and is now seeking reimbursement.

22 Air Bag On-off Switch problem

Failure Date: 05/07/2013

The light on the dash switches over and says that it is on whenever the vehicle is running and someone is sitting in it but it will ding at them until they put their seat belt on. Whenever they put the seat belt on, the driver information center (dic) on my dash tells me to service airbag and the light that tells when the airbag is on or off says that it is off.

23 Air Bag On-off Switch problem

Failure Date: 03/01/2013

The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact received a notification for recall NHTSA campaign id number 14v047000 (air bags, electrical system) and NHTSA campaign id number: 14e021000 (ignition switch). The contact stated that the key failed to start the ignition. The dealer informed the contact that parts were not available. The manufacturer had been notified of the problem. The failure mileage was 72,000.

24 Air Bag On-off Switch problem

Failure Date: 03/01/2012

The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds the vehicle suddenly stalled. The engine was restarted and the vehicle resumed normally. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who replaced the battery, cleaned the fuel system and changed the spark plugs but the failure persisted. Additionally, the contact stated that the key would sporadically become stuck in the ignition switch. The manufacturer was notified and the contact was informed that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign number 14v047000(air bags , electrical system). The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced the same defect listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 85,000.

25 Air Bag On-off Switch problem

Failure Date: 07/01/2011

About 3 years ago I started to get a thumping noise in the front end of the 2006 Cobalt. I asked a mechanic what it could be and they gave me a couple things it might be also gave me idea on cost. Being a single mom of two and the thumping was not to bad I did not have the money to repair. As time went on got louder and worse. So, I brought it in to have problem fixed it was the lower tie arms and something else went bad and cost me almost $1000 to fix. I looked online and found many 2006 Cobalt owners say they have the same issue but was told by gm was not a safety issue so they were not recalling car it was our problem. I have noticed the lights on the dash sometime dim so low you can not see them then they will brighten again even after replacing the battery. Over this winter I started to get a humming in the steering column and asked my mechanic to look he told me I have electric power steering they could not fix. I got the recall about the ignition switch and was doing as they said and only driving with key and nothing else. But now every time I stopped I was checking key to make sure it was in place and a few times it had moved slightly but did not kick it out of the on position. If I had not checked it, it probably would have with all the pot holes. Then on April 6th 2014 on my way home from work (which is 24 miles away from home). When I was turning to go on the highway the steering wheel was humming again(I had no clue that there was any problems with steering columns at this point) I got onto the highway and the dash light came on and a dinging sound started and I had to fight, the car to the side of the road. I turned the car off then turned it on to see if it stopped and was able to get home. Looked online to see if others where having this issue and found tons of 2006 Cobalt owners having issue. That is when I saw they are recalling 2010's for it not 2006.

26 Air Bag On-off Switch problem

Failure Date: 12/31/2009

On December 31, 2009, my 25 year old daughter was driving along an interstate in her chevy Cobalt. She crashed into a tree along the side of the interstate. Her airbags did not deploy, and her seatbelt did not lock. She died on impact, according to the police on reviewing the scene of the accident, my son observed that the tracks left by the car before it crashed were in a straight line, suggesting that the brakes either had not been applied or had not worked. On doing research, he found information online suggesting that there had been other, similar crashes in Cobalts and that the ignition switch was thought to be defective. We have already addressed this with gm and completed our action, and, at the time, I filed a consumer complaint to document the issue. I just read that this agency will be investigating the issue, and I wanted to make sure you were aware of my daughter's death in a Cobalt in which the air bags did not deploy, the seatbelt did not lock, and that we strongly suspect, though gm never confirmed this, had a defective ignition switch.

27 Air Bag On-off Switch problem

Failure Date: 11/02/2009

I have owned my 2006 chevy Cobalt since 2008. Starting in 2009 all the way until now 2014 I have had issues with the car that are related to the ignition switch recall. I took my car in to the chevy dealer to take care of the ignition switch recall on November 5, 2014. I got my car back the same day, they replaced the ignition switch and gave me two new keys. Surprise! two days later on November 7, 2014 my car again had the exact same problems related to the ignition switch recall that it did before I took it in for the recall fix. Hence, chevy's "recall ignition switch fix" does not solve the problem with these cars! my car still does the following things even after the ignition switch fix that is supposed to solve these problems. Whenever it pleases it will lose electrical power and turn off the engine, leaving me stuck in the middle of a busy highway, this has happened on numerous occasions!! as if that isn't bad enough there's more! the power steering light flashes, the check engine light comes on, the service airbag light comes on, the gauges on the dash completely stop working properly the speedometer needle goes haywire moving from 0 mph to 60 mph back and forth non-stop when I'm not even accelerating to those speeds. The rpm gauge does the exact same thing. The car jolts forward uncontrollably,like it is having a problem shifting especially when the rpm is between 2000 and 3000. When you go to brake you have to slam the brakes all the way down because you lose your normal braking power the car skids as you're braking and continues to jolt forward uncontrollably. Oh and on top of all of this sometimes the power steering completely goes out leaving you with all of the problems mentioned above and you can't steer properly! something needs to be done immediately! the ignition switch recall fix does not work! these cars should not be on the road period.

28 Air Bag On-off Switch problem

Failure Date: 11/09/2006

2006 Chevrolet Cobalt. Consumer writes in regards to ignition switch recall repairs. The consumer stated the key would not release, from the ignition.



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