RoadVitals

2006 Chevrolet Corvette Engine Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Engine reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
28
Latest May 11, 2025
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
8%
of 365 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
3
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2006 Chevrolet Corvette submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 28 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming engine

The 25 most recent of 28, in the owner's own words

ElectricalEngine
Filed May 11, 2025

We were driving 55 and the car stalled. This has happened several times. Been at dealer and the codes show fine they replaced what they thought was issue and it still does this. Very scary

NHTSA ID
11660289
Incident
May 11, 2025
ElectricalEnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Aug 14, 2023

Happened twice within a day. The main electric fan on the radiator stopped working and the car overheated. Once at idle, was able to shut the car off safely. The second time, there was traffic on the highway, and the fan stopped working and the car started to overheat. Had to shut the car off and wait for it to cool down on the side of the road. When I got the car home, I found the electrical connector of the fan to be melted and fused together. There was no indicator that the fan would stop running prior to the engine overheating.

NHTSA ID
11538312
Incident
Aug 13, 2023
Engine
Filed Jul 11, 2023

while driving at ~45mph and 3500 rpm, an exhaust valve dropped on the pass side cylinder head. vehicle lost motive power. there was a hole in the block on the passenger side and the vehicle needed a long block replacement. the vehicle had 79,000 miles

NHTSA ID
11531603
Incident
Mar 25, 2023
Engine
Filed Aug 2, 2022

The contact owned a 2006 Chevrolet Corvette. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the exhaust valve had fractured in cylinder # 6, damaging the piston, crankshaft, and engine block. The dealer informed the contact that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 34,678.

NHTSA ID
11477207
Incident
May 15, 2015
Mileage
34,678 mi
Engine
Filed Jul 15, 2022

2006 CHEVROLET CORVETTE, CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO DEFECTIVE CRANKSHAFT PULLY. THE CONSUMER WAS SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT FOR A CRANKSHAFT SAFETY RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DECLINED ANY ASSISTANCE.

NHTSA ID
11474043
Incident
Jul 15, 2022
Engine
Filed Feb 26, 2021

CHEVROLET CORVETTE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO A DEFECTIVE CRANKSHAFT PULLY. *LD THE CONSUMER REQUESTED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE'S REPAIR COST COVERED IN FULL BY THE MANUFACTURER.*JS

NHTSA ID
11398355
Incident
Dec 9, 2020
Engine
Filed May 6, 2020

VALVE GUIDES PRE-MATURE WEAR CAUSING ENGINE FAILURE. *TR

NHTSA ID
11323576
Incident
Sep 15, 2015
Engine
Filed May 6, 2020

WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE MOTOR LOCKED UP AND CAUSED A MASSIVE OIL SPILL DUE TO THE ENGINE EXPLODING.. ROOT CAUSE WAS DUE TO A DROPPED VALVE WHICH CAUSED THE WHOLE ENGINE TO BREAK INTO PIECES. THIS IS A WELL DOCUMENTED PROBLEM WITH THE LS7 MOTOR FROM GM. *TR

NHTSA ID
11323480
Incident
Jun 1, 2012
Mileage
29,000 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Apr 30, 2020

WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE, I CAN HEAR, AS IT SEEMS TO ME, EXCESSIVE VALVE TRAIN NOISE.

NHTSA ID
11322822
Incident
Jun 23, 2016
Mileage
1,850 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Apr 6, 2020

I WAS DRIVING IN S 35 MPH ZONE AND IT CHANGED TO 45 MPH. I WAS IN 2 OR 3RD GEAR AND HAS JUST STARTED UP A SLIGHT INCLINE AND I WAS INCREASING SPEED WHEN THE CAR MADE A SUDDEN JERK AND LOUD ALMOST A BANG. I DEPRESSED THE CLUTCH AND IT STAYED ON THE FLOOR. I THOUGH THAT THE CLUTCH HAD CAME APART AND I PULLED THE PEDAL UP TO SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON. THE ENGINE AT THAT POINT WAS RUNNING VERY ROUGH AND WOULD NOT HOLD SPEED OR ACCELERATE. I PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT AND GOT MY WIFE TO PICK ME UP. I THEN GOT MY PICKUP AND TRAILER AND TOOK THE CAR TO CLASSIC CHEVROLET. THEY FOUND WHERE THE VALVE HAD DROPPED INTO THE CYLINDER AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE PISTON AND ROD. I LOOKED AT THE ENGINE WHILE TORE DOWN AND NOTICED WHAT APPEARED TO ME TO BE A CRACK IN THE CYLINDER WALL AND POINTED IT OUT, THE FORMAN SAID THE HAD CHECKED IT AND DIDN'T FEEL THAT IT WAS A CRACK. THEY ADVISED ME TO GET A NEW HEAD AND HAVE THE OTHER HEAD WORKED ON AS WELL AS A PISTON, ETC. I DID THAT AND HAD THE CAR REPAIRED. WHEN THE CAR JERKED IT ALSO AFFECTED THE PRESSURE PLATE SO I HAD THAT REPLACED. AFTER I GOT THE CAR BACK I NOTICED IT WAS SMOKING WHITE VAPOR WHENEVER I STARTED IT. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE TESTED IT AND SURE ENOUGH IT WAS A CRACK IN THE CYLINDER. I THEN HAD THE MOTOR REPLACED AND THE DEALERSHIP WAS VERY FAIR AND CREDITED THE EARLIER WORK AGAINST THE MOTOR. WHEN THE MOTOR LET LOOSE, THE CAR LOCKED THE BACK WHEELS AND THE CAR BEHIND ME HAD TO MAKE A RATHER QUICK STOP AND DODGE ME SO AS NOT TO HAVE A WRECK.

NHTSA ID
11320338
Incident
Apr 5, 2019
Mileage
22,188 mi
Engine
Filed Apr 5, 2020

ENGINE WAS FOUND TO HAVE VALVE GUIDE CLEARANCES EXTREMELY OUT OF ALLOWABLE SPECS. PROBLEM WAS DETECTED BY AMERICAN HERITAGE PERFORMANCE, A COMPANY THAT SPECIALIZES IN THESE TYPES OF ENGINES. IF THE PROBLEM HAD NOT BEEN CORRECTED AND A FAILURE HAD OCCURRED, IT COULD HAVE LOCKED UP THE ENGINE CAUSING THE REAR WHEEL TO LOCK UP AND SEND THE CAR OUT OF CONTROL.

NHTSA ID
11320246
Incident
Jan 15, 2015
Mileage
48,751 mi
Engine
Filed Mar 18, 2020
Crash reported

CYLINDER HEAD VALVE GUIDES WORN REQUIRING REPLACEMENT BEFORE WARRANTY EXPIRATION. IF NOT REPAIRED CATASTROPHIC MOTOR FAILURE CAN OCCUR. IF THIS HAPPENS CAR BECOMES UNCONTROLLABLE WITH OIL AND COOLANT FLOODING OUT OF MOTOR. NEW HEADS WERE ORDERED FROM THE FACTORY AND THEY WERE OUT OF SPECIFICATION AND NEEDED MODIFICATION BEFORE INSTALLED. PREVIOUS 2008 CORVETTE (UNKNOWN VIN BUT CAN BE FOUND AT DEALERSHIP WHERE SERVICED HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM LEADING TO THE ABOVE MENTIONED FAILURE AND UNCONTROLLED VEHICLE CONDITION. THIS HAPPENED ON AN OFFLOAD VENUE SO THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT REPORT. I DON NOT KNOW THE EXACT DATES BUT ENTERED A DATE AS REQUIRED BELOW.

NHTSA ID
11318652
Incident
Jan 1, 2019
Mileage
70,000 mi
Engine
Filed Apr 15, 2019

LS7 ENGINE MAKES LOUD "TICKING" SOUND AT IDLE TO ~ 2,000 RPM CAUSED BY DEFECTIVE CYLINDER HEADS WHICH WERE IMPROPERLY MACHINED BY GM'S SUBCONTRACTOR. LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALERS SAID THE NOISE IS "NORMAL"... BUT WHEN HEADS OPENED AND VALVE AND VALVE GUIDES MEASURED, EXCESSIVE VALVE AND VALVE GUIDE WEAR DOCUMENTED. LOCAL GM DEALER & $4,350 GM PROTECTION PLAN (EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT I HAD TO BUY TO COVER THIS $5,000 REPAIR) REFUSED TO REPAIR SO I HAD TO DRIVE IT 5 HOURS TO ANOTHER GM DEALER TO GET IT REPAIRED UNDER MY GMPP EXTENDED WARRANTY. MANY OTHER 2006 TO 2015 CORVETTE OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS SAME EXCESSIVE VALVE WEAR INCLUDING SOME OWNERS VALVES BREAKING AND DESTROYING THEIR $16,000 LS7 MOTORS WHILE SPEWING OIL AND METAL EVERYWHERE. THIS ALSO RESULTED IN A FEAR OF DRIVING THIS CAR, A SIGNIFICANT "DIMINISHMENT OF VALUE" OF THIS VEHICLE, AND COMPLICATED ITS RESALE (BUYERS HAD HEARD ABOUT THESE CATASTROPHIC LS7 MOTOR FAILURES.

NHTSA ID
11196516
Incident
Jun 21, 2013
Mileage
20,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jul 1, 2016

THE CYLINDER HEADS HAVE VALVES THAT ARE OUT OF SPEC WITH 23,000 MILES. THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY DUE TO AGE, AND I WAS FORCED TO PURCHASE AFTERMARKET CYLINDERS HEADS TO FIX THE WORN VALVE ISSUE TO INSURE I DON'T DROP A VALVE AND HAVE A CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE.

NHTSA ID
10882185
Incident
Jul 1, 2016
Engine
Filed Jun 26, 2016

Z06 7.0L ENGINE VALVE GUIDES OUT OF SPEC AFTER 12K MILES. THIS IS DUE TO A MANUFACTURER DEFECT IN MACHINING AND OR MATERIALS. FAILURE OF THE GUIDES RESULTS IN DROPPING A VALVE AND CATASTROPHIC ENGINE DAMAGE. AS A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OFTEN CAUSES THE REAR WHEELS TO LOCK AND/OR THE ENGINE TO OIL DOWN THE ROAD AND POSSIBLY THE REAR TIRES WHICH COULD LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT OR INJURY TO OTHERS. THIS IS AN EXTREME SAFETY CONCERN.

NHTSA ID
10876662
Incident
Jun 20, 2016
Mileage
12,000 mi
Engine
Filed Feb 1, 2016

EXCESSIVE VALVE TRAIN NOISE, ENGINE NOISE, KNOCKING.

NHTSA ID
10823566
Incident
Jan 4, 2016
Mileage
54,000 mi
Engine
Filed Aug 28, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE ENGINE SHOOK AND THE HARMONIC BALANCER WOBBLED. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HARMONIC BALANCER NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,100.

NHTSA ID
10759990
Incident
Aug 17, 2015
Mileage
6,100 mi
Engine
Filed May 15, 2015

ANY QUICK SEARCH OF THE WEB WILL SHOW THAT THIS CAR ENGINE, THE LS2 OR 6.2 L ENGINE HAS HAD A DEFECT THAT GM HAS DENIED OVER THE YEARS AND FAILS TO STAND BEHIND AFTER WARRANTY; CRANK SHAFT PULLEY WOBBLE AND WORN RUBBER GASKETS ON THE HARMONIC BALANCER OF THE 2006 MODEL YEAR. TECH BULLETINS HAVE BEEN ISSUED AND THIS TOPIC OF PULLEY WOBBLE AND RUBBER GASKET FAILURE AND IS QUITE THE TALK ON VARIOUS CORVETTE FORUMS. SINCE I AM WELL BEHIND WARRANTY, I HAD TO HAVE THIS DIAGNOSED THROUGH MY LICENSED CERTIFIED AUTO MECHANIC. THIS REPAIR REQUIRES EXTENSIVE LABOR TIME TO REPAIR. SCARED TO SEE THE BILL TOMORROW. GM'S RESPONSE IS I SHOULD OF TAKEN IT TO AN AUTHORIZED CHEVY DEALER. THAT IS HOG WASH BECAUSE SHOULD I HAD DONE THAT, I WOULD PROBABLY STILL HAD TO PAY THEIR EXORBITANT LABOR COSTS AND STILL NOT BE COVERED ON THIS SERIOUS ENGINE DEFECT. IN FACT, I BELIEVE GM HAS RE-DESIGNED THE PART SO WHAT DOES THAT TELL YOU. FAILURE TO FIX WILL JUST HARM THE ENGINE FOR THE FUTURE AND REPLACE BELT AFTER BELT WHEN THE TRUE PROBLEM IS IGNORED BY GM

NHTSA ID
10716800
Incident
May 8, 2015
Mileage
23,111 mi
Engine
Filed Feb 26, 2015

THE EXHAUST VALVE BROKE AND DESTROYED THE MOTOR

NHTSA ID
10690852
Incident
Feb 12, 2011
Mileage
29,000 mi
Engine
Filed Feb 9, 2015

I STARTED THE CAR WHEN IT WAS COLD, IT BEGAN TO SQUEAL FROM THE BELTS. I GAVE IT A SMALL REV AND IT SQUEALED INTENSELY, I MEAN VERY LOUDLY! I OPENED THE HOOD AND BELTS WERE NOT MOVING. I COULD NOT MOVE THE CAR. THE HARMONIC BALANCER HAD LOST IT'S BOND. I AM JUST GLAD I WAS SITTING STILL. AT SPEED, THE STEERING WOULD HAVE BEEN LOST, IT COULD HAVE KILLED ME! I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE SHOP, AND IT COST ME $1000.00. NOT GOOD! I READ THAT THIS HAPPENS ALOT. BAD DESIGN FOR SURE. I SHOULD BE REIMBURSED. WHAT CAN I DO? CHEVY WON'T EVEN TALK TO ME ABOUT IT. IT'S A SHAME BECAUSE I LOVE MY CAR, BUT NOW I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT! *TR

NHTSA ID
10682184
Incident
Dec 1, 2014
Mileage
42,507 mi
Engine
Filed Jan 13, 2015

I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT EXCESSIVE VALVE TRAIN NOISE AND AFTER READING SEVERAL ACCOUNTS OF IMPROPERLY MACHINED HEADS BY GM'S SUPPLIER LINAMAR, AND THAT NUMEROUS VEHICLES HAVE HAD VALVES DROP, RESULTING IN ENGINE FAILURE. AS A RESULT, AFTER HAVING BEEN REBUFFED BY CHEVROLET, I TOOK MY CAR WITH 36,000 MILES ON IT TO A CORVETTE SPECIALTY SHOP TO HAVE MY VALVE GUIDE CLEARANCE TESTED. I HAD SEVERAL EXHAUST VALVE GUIDES OUTSIDE THE MAXIMUM SERVICE SPECIFICATIONS, INDICATING THAT A CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE WAS IMMINENT. THE CAR WAS REPAIRED WITH PROPER RE-MACHINING OF THE HEADS TO MAKE THE VALVE GUIDES CONCENTRIC, NEW INTAKE AND EXHAUST VALVE GUIDES INSTALLED, AS WELL AS NEW SEALS, VALVES, SPRINGS, ETC. 88% OF THE CORVETTE FORUM MEMBERS WHO HAVE HAD THEIR CYLINDER HEADS TESTED FOR EXCESSIVE VALVE GUIDE WEAR, WERE OUT OF SERVICE SPECIFICATIONS. SOURCE: HTTP://WWW.CORVETTEFORUM.COM/FORUMS/...-REGISTRY.HTML GM NEEDS TO ISSUE A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE, THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS ENGINE FAILURES AS A RESULT OF A DROPPED VALVE INTO A CYLINDER WHICH CAN CAUSE LOSS OF STEERING, BRAKING CAPABILITY, AND WHICH CAN RESULT ACCIDENTS AND FIRES. GM IS VERY AWARE OF THIS ISSUE, BUT REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS HUGE SAFETY RISK TO DRIVERS, PASSENGERS, AND NEARBY VEHICLES IF THE ENGINE FAILS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS UNDERWAY ON PUBLIC ROADWAYS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10672332
Incident
Jan 6, 2014
Mileage
36,000 mi
EngineSteering
Filed Jul 6, 2014

THE HARMONIC DAMPER ON 2006 CORVETTE WITH LS2 ENGINE FAILED RESULTING IN POWER STEERING DRIVE BELT COMING OFF PULLEY CAUSING LOSS OF POWER STEERING. THE HIGH EFFORT REQUIRED TO STEER VEHICLE ALMOST RESULTED IN CRASH. THIS HARMONIC DAMPER ISSUE IS DOCUMENTED IN NUMEROUS INTERNET FORUMS AND IS BELIEVED TO BE A WIDESPREAD ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE RECALLED AND CORRECTED BY THE MANUFACTURER. *JS

NHTSA ID
10608479
Incident
Jul 3, 2014
Mileage
33,321 mi
Engine
Filed Jan 2, 2014
Fire reported

I HAVE 2006 CHEVY CORVETTE WHAT A JOKE THIS CAR HAS BEEN. I HAVE HAD A NEW ENGINE I HAVE SPENT 40,000 ON REPAIRS TO THIS CAR ITS NEVER ENDING.I HAVE REPLACED EVERYTHING ON IT TWICE. I JUST GOT IT OUT OF THE SHOP YESTERDAY AGAIN FOR THE THOUSANDS TIME AND NOW THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT THE BRAKE LIGHT THE TIRE LIGHT ON THE DASH IS ON. THIS CAR IS A NIGHTMARE. I HAVE PAID SO MUCH MONEY TO NEVER ENDING DRAMA. HELP I BEG YOU. THE CAR HAS CAUGHT ON FIRE DUE TO THE CLUTCH FLUID LEAKING EVERYTHING YOU CAN THINK HAS HAS BEEN REPLACED.TALK ABOUT A LEMON. NO LEMON LAW WILL HELP. *TR

NHTSA ID
10558157
Incident
Jan 1, 2014
Mileage
60,000 mi
EngineOther / unspecified
Filed May 15, 2013

ACCORDING TO CORVETTE FORUM, THIS IS ANOTHER WIDESPREAD PROBLEM- THE HARMONIC-BALANCER BECOMES WARPED AND REQUIRES REPLACEMENT... IF NOT DONE TIMELY, OTHER "PARTS" COULD BE NEGATIVELY IMPACTED AS WELL... *TR

NHTSA ID
10512065
Incident
May 6, 2013
Mileage
67,500 mi
Engine
Filed Sep 16, 2012

STARTED HEARING SQUEALING SOUNDS A FEW WEEKS AGO. NOTICED THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY HAD A NOTICEABLE WOBBLE. DID A GOOGLE SEARCH & FOUND MULTIPLE REPORTS ON FORUMS, YOUTUBE AND SUCH OF OF OTHERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. ALSO MY FRIEND WITH THE SAME CAR BUT A NEWER YEAR JUST HAD IT REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. MY CAR IS OFF WARRANTY BUT A HARMONIC BALANCER SHOULD NOT WEAR OUT IN SIX YEARS WITH JUST 7,500 MILES (YES, SEVEN THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED). MY 2000 FORD EXPEDITION HAS 151K. CHEVROLET WANTS ABOUT $1,000 TO REPLACE IT. *TR *JS

NHTSA ID
10475565
Incident
Sep 3, 2012
Mileage
7,500 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .