2006 Chevrolet Corvette Problems, Recalls & Reliability
441 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2006 Chevrolet Corvette, alongside 5 recall campaigns and 4 defect investigations. It scores 62/100 on the trouble index — one of the years to avoid for this model. Electrical leads the reports, typically around 81,000 miles.
Avoid this year if you can. The 2006 Chevrolet Corvette sits at the top of this model's complaint rankings. Quieter picks in the same family: 1990, 1994–1996, 2010–2016, 2018–2020.
Avoid
Where 2006 sits among all Corvette years
What owners report
“Driving at night on my way home, my low beam headlights when out. High beams still worked, so when i got home i started checking the fuses and relays but they were all good. After 2 hours when the car cooled down i restarted the car and low beams were working fine, left the car running for 20…”— owner report to NHTSA, 2006 Corvette
“The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Corvette. The contact received recall notifications of NHTSA Campaign Number: 09V491000 (Structure) and would like to be removed from the recall distribution list because the vehicle was no longer equipped with the recalled part. The dealer and the manufacturer…”— owner report to NHTSA, 2006 Corvette
“Car will not shift out of park. Many owners have the same problem. The shift lock solenoid fails and you cannot get car into gear.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2006 Corvette
“After filling the gas tank and driving home there is a very strong smell of gasoline in my garage. I think the fuel is leaking out when the fuel tank is full.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2006 Corvette
“A recall on 2005/2006 corvettes for the 'service active handling system" exists. My car is not listed on that recall. My car has had this problem for over a year and i have noticed a difference. The light for "service" of the active handling system is now on all of the time.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2006 Corvette
“Vehicle would not shift in park or reverse and drive. Malfunction car was in traffic”— owner report to NHTSA, 2006 Corvette
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 363 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 41,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 19,680 and 74,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (5)
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…
Fix: 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…
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…
Fix: 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…
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…
Fix: 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.
ON CERTAIN 2005-2006 CHEVROLET CORVETTES EQUIPPED WITH PAINTED ROOFS, THE ADHESIVE BETWEEN THE ROOF PANEL AND THE FRAME MAY SEPARATE.
Fix: 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…
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.
Fix: 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,…
Federal defect investigations
Led to recall campaign 14V251000.
Led to recall campaign 10V172000.
Technical service bulletins
829 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on electrical and engine — are on file for the 2006 Chevrolet Corvette. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
See the 2006 Corvette TSB list →
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2006 Chevrolet Corvette reliable?
The 2006 Chevrolet Corvette drew 441 complaints in federal safety records — one of the years to avoid for this model. Its trouble index is 62/100, scored against the model's worst year (2005).
What are the most common 2006 Chevrolet Corvette problems?
The top reported problems for the 2006 Chevrolet Corvette are electrical (107 complaints), body & structure (63), and other (59).
At what mileage do 2006 Chevrolet Corvette problems show up?
Owners most often report 2006 Chevrolet Corvette problems around 41,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 19,680 and 74,000 miles.
Does the 2006 Chevrolet Corvette have recalls?
5 recall campaigns apply to the 2006 Chevrolet Corvette. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.