2006 Chevrolet Corvette: what breaks, and at what mileage
What breaks on the 2006 Chevrolet Corvette
On the 2006 Chevrolet Corvette, the failure owners report most often is other body or interior problem, and the reports cluster around 12,500 miles. Across every failure mode on this year, half the dated reports were filed before 40,000 miles. Overall it scores 73 out of 100, high risk for a 2006.
High risk for a 2006 — 73rd riskiest of the 343 2006 vehicles we can rate. 441 owner reports; fleet size estimated from this year's own recall paperwork.
The failures owners actually file about
Owners have reported 44 named failure modes on the 2006 Chevrolet Corvette, and the three most-reported carry 33% of everything filed, which is an unusually even spread for one model year.
Other body or interior problem leads with 68 reports, about 4.0 per 1,000 vehicles and with the middle half of reports between 5k to 25,000 miles.
Headlight failure or clouding follows with 45 reports, usually reported between 65k to 100,000 miles.
Other steering problem follows with 34 reports, usually reported between 15k to 65,000 miles.
By system, the reports fall mostly into lighting (71), body (69) and steering (48).
At what mileage it happens
370 of the reports on the 2006 Chevrolet Corvette came with an odometer reading, and half of those were filed before 40,000 miles.
Cumulatively, 57% by 50,000 miles, 90% by 100,000 miles and 99% by 150,000 miles of the dated reports had been filed, with 1 filed above the top of the chart.
The busiest stretch is between 0 and 10,000 miles, which alone holds 14% of the dated reports.
48% of the dated reports were filed below 36,000 miles, which is early enough that a fair number of these cars were still under a factory warranty when the owner complained.
In the order they tend to show up: other body or interior problem around 12k, other driver assistance problem around 24k, other powertrain problem around 25k and other engine problem around 29k.
Tick median reported mileage Solid middle half of reports Faint 10th to 90th percentile Colour how bad the failure is when it happens
Showing the 12 most-reported failure modes of 44. The full list is in the table below.
How reports accumulate
Every report with an odometer reading, cumulative, from 0 to 200,000 miles. A further 1 report came in above that, which is why the line stops short of the top. A curve that climbs early is a car with early problems, whatever its total.
- Line share of reports filed by that mileage
- Dashed the median reported mileage
Severity, and what it costs
Across the named modes, 16 mention a crash, 2 a fire and 7 an injury. Those are the words owners used in their own complaints, and NHTSA does not verify them, but they are the closest thing in this data to a measure of what a failure actually did.
The average severity weight across every report on this year is 3.62, where a stalled engine or a failed airbag weighs many times more than a rattling trim panel, and a figure this high means the reports are dominated by failures with safety consequences rather than annoyances. The weighting is set out in full on the methodology page.
What the top failures cost to put right, as editorial estimates for an independent US shop rather than figures from NHTSA: other body or interior problem at $200–$2,000, headlight failure or clouding at $150–$1,800, other steering problem at $350–$2,400 and other driver assistance problem at $250–$1,800. Dealer labour, a seized bolt or a part that is no longer made can push any of these past the top of its range.
16% of the reports on this year sit in the engine, transmission, drivetrain or cooling systems — the four where a repair bill is usually four figures.
Every reported failure mode
| Failure mode | System | Reports | With reading | 25th | Median | 75th | Per 1,000 | Typical repair | Severity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other body or interior problem | body | 68 | 56 | 5k | 12k | 24k | 4.0 | $200–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Headlight failure or clouding | lighting | 45 | 44 | 65k | 85k | 100k | 2.6 | $150–$1,800 | Moderate |
| Other steering problem | steering | 34 | 30 | 15k | 32k | 66k | 2.0 | $350–$2,400 | High |
| Other driver assistance problem | adas | 31 | 30 | 15k | 24k | 35k | 1.8 | $250–$1,800 | High |
| Other electrical problem | electrical | 25 | 20 | 28k | 42k | 91k | 1.5 | $250–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Other lighting problem | lighting | 25 | 22 | 70k | 89k | 112k | 1.5 | $120–$1,200 | Moderate |
| Other engine problem | engine | 21 | 16 | 18k | 29k | 50k | 1.2 | $300–$4,000 | High |
| Other fuel system problem | fuel | 21 | 15 | 36k | 58k | 68k | 1.2 | $300–$2,200 | High |
| Other powertrain problem | transmission | 20 | 19 | 12k | 25k | 47k | 1.2 | $400–$4,500 | High |
| Other brake problem | brakes | 20 | 16 | 26k | 40k | 80k | 1.2 | $300–$1,800 | High |
| Shifter, linkage or stuck-in-park failure | transmission | 12 | 9 | 45k | 58k | 68k | 0.7 | $250–$1,400 | High |
| Steering column or shaft failure | steering | 11 | 11 | 30k | 38k | 59k | 0.6 | $600–$2,500 | Critical |
| Fuel leak or fuel odor | fuel | 10 | 7 | — | 44k | — | 0.6 | $300–$2,500 | Critical |
| Fuel tank, filler or EVAP failure | fuel | 10 | 8 | 44k | 73k | 86k | 0.6 | $250–$1,800 | Moderate |
| Wiring harness or short circuit | electrical | 7 | 5 | — | 50k | — | 0.4 | $400–$3,500 | High |
| Airbag warning light or occupant sensor fault | airbag | 7 | 3 | — | 13k | — | 0.4 | $300–$1,600 | High |
| Fuel pump failure | fuel | 6 | 5 | — | 54k | — | 0.3 | $600–$2,600 | High |
| Other wheel or tire problem | wheels | 5 | 5 | — | 12k | — | 0.3 | $200–$1,500 | High |
| Complete engine failure or seizure | engine | 3 | 1 | — | 36k | — | 0.2 | $4,500–$12,000 | Critical |
| No-start or intermittent start failure | engine | 3 | 3 | — | 12k | — | 0.2 | $200–$1,800 | Moderate |
| Radiator or coolant leak | cooling | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.2 | $350–$1,900 | High |
| ABS module or sensor failure | brakes | 3 | 2 | — | 10k | — | 0.2 | $500–$2,400 | High |
| Airbag failed to deploy in a crash | airbag | 3 | 3 | — | 20k | — | 0.2 | $1,000–$5,000 | Critical |
| Loss of power steering | steering | 3 | 3 | — | 33k | — | 0.2 | $600–$2,800 | Critical |
| Other visibility problem | glass | 3 | 2 | — | 2k | — | 0.2 | $150–$1,400 | Moderate |
| Engine bay fire | engine | 2 | 1 | — | 85k | — | 0.1 | $4,000–$20,000 | Critical |
| Piston, ring or cylinder wall damage | engine | 2 | 2 | — | 22k | — | 0.1 | $3,000–$9,500 | Critical |
| CV axle or driveshaft failure | drivetrain | 2 | 2 | — | 44k | — | 0.1 | $450–$2,200 | High |
| Ignition switch, key fob or immobilizer failure | electrical | 2 | 1 | — | 55k | — | 0.1 | $250–$1,500 | High |
| Brake line, hose or caliper failure | brakes | 2 | 2 | — | 52k | — | 0.1 | $250–$1,600 | Critical |
| Other suspension problem | suspension | 2 | 2 | — | 62k | — | 0.1 | $350–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Overheating | cooling | 1 | 1 | — | 74k | — | 0.1 | $400–$3,500 | High |
| Transmission will not engage a gear | transmission | 1 | 1 | — | 21k | — | 0.1 | $1,500–$6,000 | Critical |
| Manual clutch or hydraulics failure | transmission | 1 | 1 | — | 21k | — | 0.1 | $900–$2,800 | Moderate |
| Fuel gauge or level sensor failure | fuel | 1 | 1 | — | 51k | — | 0.1 | $300–$1,200 | Moderate |
| Alternator or charging system failure | electrical | 1 | 1 | — | 70k | — | 0.1 | $450–$1,600 | High |
| Control module (ECM/PCM/BCM) failure | electrical | 1 | 1 | — | 93k | — | 0.1 | $700–$3,000 | High |
| Instrument cluster or gauge failure | infotainment | 1 | 1 | — | 74k | — | 0.1 | $350–$1,400 | Moderate |
| Seat belt or retractor failure | airbag | 1 | 1 | — | 2k | — | 0.1 | $200–$900 | High |
| Tire pressure monitor failure | wheels | 1 | 1 | — | 78k | — | 0.1 | $80–$600 | Low |
| Sunroof failure or glass breakage | body | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.1 | $700–$4,500 | High |
| Air conditioning failure | hvac | 1 | 1 | — | 4k | — | 0.1 | $400–$2,800 | Moderate |
| Tail light, brake light or signal failure | lighting | 1 | 1 | — | 60k | — | 0.1 | $100–$900 | Moderate |
| Software fault or failed update | software | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.1 | $0–$600 | Moderate |
| Unclassified problem | other | 17 | 14 | 30k | 35k | 50k | 1.0 | — | Moderate |
Rate per 1,000 uses a fleet-size estimate derived from recall paperwork for this exact model year. It is a lower bound. Repair costs are typical independent-shop ranges for the failure, not figures from these reports.
How often, against how many were built
Scaled by an estimate of how many of these cars exist, the 2006 Chevrolet Corvette draws about 26 per 1,000 vehicles, which puts it in the 94th percentile of complaint rates among 2006 vehicles we can rate.
That denominator is the weakest number on the page and it is fair to say so plainly. Rate per 1,000 uses a fleet-size estimate derived from recall paperwork for this exact model year. It is a lower bound.
The working figure is 17,193 vehicles. If the true number is twice that, every rate on this page is half what it says; the ranking against other 2006 vehicles, which is what the risk score uses, is far more robust than the rate itself.
What owners wrote
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint narratives, trimmed for length. The odometer reading is the one the owner gave.
Other body or interior problem
I own a new 2006 corvette, VIN [xxx], purchased from maroone chevrolet, pembroke pines. The painted (silver) roof panel began to separate last week with no warning. There were no popping, creaking or other sounds. The only indication of the impending separation was increased wind noise at highway speed. The noise began one day while at 70 MPH, and would stop if speed was reduced to 60 MPH. By the time I arrived home from my 30-minute drive, however, speeds of 55-60 MPH were causing the noise, and obvious continued separation. I must use my car, and from an online forum, corvetteforum, I knew that those taking cars for repair by gm dealers are waiting up to several weeks for the repair, with no car, so I purchased a $1600 clear replacement panel from my own funds to use for now. I feel this is a serious safety issue, and extends far beyond the vehicles chevrolet will admit are affected. It seems obvious that someone will eventually be seriously injured, or if the circumstances are right there could even be death as an immediate or secondary result of roof separation while at speed. We owners deserve a prompt and effective fix. The…
This complaint is about a 2006 chevrolet corvette coupe with a painted roof. My roof had started making noises about 3 weeks prior to my complaint. Shortly after I had noticed that the rear part of the plastic roof had completely separated from the metal frame to which it was glued. I took the car in to the dealer for action and they informed me that they would order a new roof, but that it would take 4-5 weeks to get the new top and that it would take another week or so to get it painted to match my car. I informed them that there was a danger of the roof possibly flying off to which they replied "just go ahead and drive it, we haven't heard of anything like that and we've see much worse than yours" reluctantly and without choice I left the dealership and took the car home where it would sit unless there was zero chance of rain. Due to the separation, any rain would get right into the passenger cabin of the vehicle. This past friday, june 2, 2006, I brought the car back to the dealer because I received a letter stating my top was in stock. They told me it was in stock, but was being painted and that I would be called when it was…
Headlight failure or clouding
Low beam headlights shut off and will not turn back on. The high beams will come on, the fog lights work. Low beams will not work in auto mode, or manual. Tested dash board sensor, works correctly, changed low beam mini relay and fuses, twice, problem remains unresolved. Can sometimes leave car parked overnight, come out and low beams are working again. Never know when they will work and when they won't. Was driving on interstate the other day and low beam headlights shut off while I was driving, was unable to see. Had to drive with high beams, other drivers on roadway were not happy about it. This is a huge safety concern. Took to dealer, low beams were working at the time and they were unable to diagnose because problem was not present when the vehicle was there. *tt
Driving i95 temp about 80 f no rain dry very light traffic at about 70 MPH no moon light selector set on auto front lights both low beam went out flipped to high beam still in auto no lights braking turn off to side of road stop move selector to manual from auto no low beams but have high beams shut car off let it sit while checking fuses all fuse ck ok so changed them anyway close covers set light selector to auto light low and start the car light came on both high and low in 20 sec. Light s go out place light selector in manual no lows again then flipped to high beam drive home with high beams so now it is not light or relay it may very well be a temperature issue under the hood get warm lights go off. *tr
Other steering problem
Dt*: the contact stated while traveling at various speeds the service active handling light illuminated. This occurred five times the vehicle intermittently lost power steering, and it veered to right on one incident. The vehicle gave no prior warning, and could drive well until the safety light illuminated giving a false sense of security. The vehicle is part of a bbb lemon law claim. Updated 06/07/2006. *ak *ts
Dt*: the contact stated there was a vibration in the steering while driving 20mph or while in reversing. The vehicle was inspected by a dealer who was unable to determine the cause of the vibration. The manufacturer was alerted.
Recalls on the 2006 model year
NHTSA has issued 5 recall campaigns covering the 2006 Chevrolet Corvette, affecting an estimated 41,860 vehicles. A recall is a different kind of evidence from a complaint: it is the regulator and the manufacturer agreeing that something has to be fixed, and the fix is free for as long as the car exists.
The campaigns cover electrical system:wiring, steering:column and structure:body:roof and pillars. Whether the work was actually done on the car in front of you is a question only the VIN can answer, and the manufacturer or NHTSA will answer it free.
One caution about reading these together: a recall usually raises the complaint count for the same part, because owners who read about it go and file. The mileages stay informative; the counts get noisy.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
103,158 vehicles 2014-05-14- Defect
- General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2005-2007 Chevrolet Corvette vehicles manufactured March 29, 2004, through June 22, 2007. In the affected vehicles, the underhood bussed electrical center (UBEC) housing can expand and cause the headlamp low beam relay control circuit wire to bend. If the wire is repeatedly bent, it may fracture causing a loss of low beam headlamp illumination.
- Consequence
- The loss of low beam headlamp illumination will decrease the driver's visibility, as well as the vehicle's conspicuity to other motorists, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- GM will notify owners, and dealers will install a jumper wire to correct this condition, free of charge. The recall began January 2, 2015. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 13146. Note: Model year 2008-2013 Chevrolet Corvettes will be covered under customer satisfaction program number 14203 for the same issue.
STEERING:COLUMN
40,028 vehicles 2010-04-26- Defect
- Gm is recalling certain model year 2005 and 2006 chevrolet corvette passenger cars manufactured between march 2004 and january 2006 equipped with a tilt and telescoping steering column (rpo n37). In rare cases, repeated movement of the steering column may cause a signal interruption within the column. If this occurs, the message, "service active handling system" will appear in the driver information center, and one or more of the brakes may apply, possibly causing the vehicle to pull to the right or left.
- Consequence
- If the driver does not respond to the change in vehicle movement, a crash could occur.
- Remedy
- Gm will notify owners and dealers will repair the vehicles free of charge. The safety recall began on april 30, 2010. Owners may contact chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438 and gmc at 1-866-996-9463 or at the owner center at www.gmownercenter.com.
STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS
22,090 vehicles 2009-12-23- Defect
- General motors is recalling certain model year 2005 through 2007 corvette vehicles equipped with a removable roof and model year 2006 and 2007 corvette z06 vehicles. The adhesive between the roof panel and the frame may separate. If there is a partial separation, the driver may notice one or more symptoms, such as a snapping noise when driving over bumps, wind noise, poor roof panel fit, roof panel movement/bounce when a door or hatch is closed, or a water leak in the headliner.
- Consequence
- If there is a complete separation, the roof panel may detach from the vehicle. If this were to occur while the vehicle was being driven, it could strike a following vehicle and cause injury and/or property damage.
- Remedy
- Dealers will install a new design roof panel free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin during april 2010. Owners may contact chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438 or at www.gmownercenter.com.
STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS
30,793 vehicles 2006-05-24- Defect
- On certain 2005-2006 chevrolet corvettes equipped with painted roofs, the adhesive between the roof panel and the frame may separate.
- Consequence
- If there is a complete separation, the roof panel may detach from the vehicle and it could strike another vehicle and cause injury and property damage.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect vehicles free of charge for potential roof panel-to- frame separation and add the specified adhesive foam or replace the roof with one having adhesive foam. The recall began on october 19, 2006. Owners may contact chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438.
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS
123,592 vehicles 2005-10-05- Defect
- Certain passenger vehicles may have been built with a power steering hose that is not to specification. Under extreme steering maneuvers, such as turning the steering wheel fully to the left or right while braking, the hose may fracture and leak fluid.
- Consequence
- If this were to occur, power steering assist would be lost and increased steering effort would be required. On vehicles equipped with hydro-boost power brakes, it could also result in loss of power brake assist and increased braking effort would be required. If the power steering fluid spray were to spray onto hot engine parts, an engine compartment fire could occur.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect the power steering hose(s) for two suspect date codes and replace them if required. The recall will begin on october 14, 2005. Owners may contact chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438, gmc at 1-866-996-9463, buick at 1-866-608-8080, cadillac at 1-866-982-2339, isuzu at 1-800-255-6727, or hummer at 1-800-732-5493.
Recall work is free at a franchised dealer regardless of the car's age. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before assuming it was done.
How it ranks in the 2006 field
The score at the top of the page, placed among its peers. The zones are the same thresholds the scorer applies, read out of the scorer itself, so the picture and the band word cannot disagree.
Scores are ranked within the model year, never across years, because an older car has had longer to accumulate reports.
- Left fewer and less serious reports
- Right more, or worse
- Marker this vehicle
How 2006 compares with the other years
High risk for a 2006 — 73rd riskiest of the 343 2006 vehicles we can rate. Because the ranking is against the same model year only, age cancels out of it.
Across the 29 model years of this car that carry enough reports to score, 1996 comes out best at 65 and 2023 worst at 84, with 2006 itself at 73.
If the model year is negotiable, 1996, 2007 and 2008 score lower than 2006 by a margin worth acting on. Same body, same engines, different luck — usually a supplier change or a mid-cycle fix, which the complaint data can show but never explain.
Within the 2005–2013 generation specifically, 2007 is the strongest year at 70 and 2011 the weakest at 77.
Scores compare each year against other cars of the same model year, so a low number on an older car is a real result and not an artefact of age.
Shorter is better. Years with too few reports to score are shown without a bar rather than as a zero, because no data is not good news.
Within the 2005-2013 generation, 2007 Chevrolet Corvette scores best at 70 and 2011 Chevrolet Corvette worst at 77.
What the numbers say to check
The mileages below are where the first quarter of reports for each mode had already been filed, which makes them the point at which a fault is worth looking for rather than the point at which it happens: other body or interior problem from about 5k, other powertrain problem from about 12k, other driver assistance problem from about 15k and other steering problem from about 15k.
On a 2006 Chevrolet Corvette with more miles than that on it, the useful question to put to a seller or a mechanic is whether other body or interior problem has been dealt with, and if so with what parts and at whose expense. A car that has already had the repair is in a different position from one that has not.
Treat it as where to point the inspection, not as a prediction. A well-maintained example can sail past every mileage on this page, and a neglected one can fail well before the first of them.
The limits of complaint data
441 owner reports; fleet size estimated from this year's own recall paperwork. Every count on this page is therefore a floor: it is the number of owners who went to the trouble of filing with a federal agency, which is a small and self-selected fraction of the owners who had the fault.
Of those 441 reports, 370 carried an odometer reading, so the mileages here describe 84% of the sample rather than all of it. Owners also round: readings pile up on multiples of ten thousand, which is why this site publishes "about 90,000 miles" and not "91,438".
The failure modes are assigned by software reading the owner's own words, which is accurate in bulk and wrong in individual cases. A mode with a handful of reports may contain a misfiled one.
And nothing here predicts what one car will do. These are other people's complaints, filed years apart, on cars maintained by strangers. Read the page as a map of where this model year has previously gone wrong, then have the specific car in front of you inspected.
Questions this page answers
What are the most common problems with the 2006 Chevrolet Corvette?
The most-reported failures are other body or interior problem (68 reports, median 12,500 miles), headlight failure or clouding (45 reports, median 85,000 miles) and other steering problem (34 reports, median 32,500 miles). Counts come from owner complaints filed with NHTSA, which are voluntary, so they show what owners bothered to report rather than every fault that occurred.
At what mileage do 2006 Chevrolet Corvette problems start?
Other body or interior problem is the earliest failure mode to show up, with a median reported mileage of 12,500 miles and a quarter of reports before 5,000 miles. Across all failure modes on this year, the median report sits at 40,000 miles.
Is the 2006 Chevrolet Corvette reliable?
It scores 73 out of 100 on our risk index, which is high — 73rd riskiest of the 343 2006 vehicles we can rate. The score is a comparison against other 2006 vehicles, not a prediction about any individual car, and it is built from complaint rates, severity and how early failures appear.
Which year of the Chevrolet Corvette is best?
Within the 2005–2013 generation, 2007 scores best at 70 out of 100 and 2011 worst at 77. Same body, same engines, different luck.
Where this comes from. Every figure above is computed from NHTSA owner complaints and recall records for this exact make, model and year. Complaints are voluntary and self-selected, so treat counts as a floor. The methodology page writes out each formula, and the same numbers are available as JSON.
What breaks at my mileage Compare with another car
Source Owner complaints and recall records published by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, model years 1996–2027 Figures rebuilt Published by AtWhatMileage How every figure is computed