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2006 Chevrolet Corvette

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2006 Corvette.

Body PASSENGER CAR

The 2006 Chevrolet Corvette is a rear-wheel-drive passenger car that requires 6 quarts of 5W-30 API-specified engine oil for maintenance, a straightforward spec that reflects its straightforward American sports car formula. This model year accumulated 413 owner complaints, placing it in the middle tier of the nameplate's complaint history spanning 1990 to 2025—well below the peak of 588 complaints recorded for the 2008 model but significantly above the lowest point of just 8 complaints in 1992. The top complaint area was structure-related, and the vehicle was subject to five recalls during its production cycle, indicating that while the 2006 falls neither at the height nor the nadir of the Corvette's reliability trajectory, prospective owners should be aware of its position within a broader historical pattern of structural and component issues that have cyclically affected the model.

Model year2026 2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2006

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity6 qtOEM · verified

Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified

Lug nut torque100 ft-lbsOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 90 · 590 CCA battery, OE oil filter 12690386. Note the factory cabin air filter is now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 90 · 590 CCAOEM · verified

Tire sizeFRONT P245/40ZR18; REAR P285/35ZR19OEM · verified

Wheel / rim8.5, 10 inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter	12690386 alt 12731172
Engine air filter	15776148 alt 10342024
Spark plug	12571165 alt 12621258
Battery	88866263
Front wiper blades	10306887 alt 10306888
Serpentine belt	12636225 alt 12585476
Thermostat	12600171 alt 12570307
Cabin air filter	15861929 discontinued

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	174.8 in
Overall width	72.4 in
Overall height	49.2 in
Wheelbase	104.7 in
Curb weight	3199 lb
Track (front / rear)	61.8 / 61 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)	52/48

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Corvette of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

3.4–4.6 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 3.40 sec — 2006 Z06 Coupe

Year	Trim / engine	0–60	¼ mile	HP	Drivetrain
2006	Z06 Coupe 7.0L V8	3.40 sec	11.80 sec	505 hp	RWD
2006	Z06 Coupe 7.0L V8	3.50 sec	11.70 sec	505 hp	RWD
2006	Z06 Coupe 7.0L V8	3.50 sec	11.50 sec	505 hp	RWD
2006	Z06 Coupe 7.0L V8	3.60 sec	11.70 sec	505 hp	RWD
2006	Z06 Coupe 7.0L V8	3.80 sec	11.60 sec	505 hp	RWD
2006	Z06 Coupe 7.0L V8	3.80 sec	11.70 sec	505 hp	RWD
2006	Z06 Coupe 7.0L V8	3.80 sec	11.90 sec	505 hp	RWD
2006	Z06 Coupe 7.0L V8	4.00 sec	12.00 sec	505 hp	RWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 6 qt of 5W-30 API engine oil, SYNTHETIC · 75W-90 · GL-5 in the differential, DOT 4 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 100 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 18.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-8-7-2-6-5-4-3. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission Fluid	ATF
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity	6.7
Brake Fluid	DOT 4
Differential Gear Oil	SYNTHETIC · 75W-90 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity	3.4 qt
Differential Gear Oil	SYNTHETIC · 75W-90 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity	5.5 qt
Engine Oil	5W-30 · API

Engine torques

Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug	18.0 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug	18.0 ft-lbs
Engine Valve Cover Bolts	9.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts	100 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel Hub	151 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order	1-8-7-2-6-5-4-3
Spark Plug Manufacturer	AC Delco
Spark Plug Type	AC 41-104
Spark Plug Gap	0.040 in
Spark Plug Torque	11.0 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

Refrigerant	R134a
Refrigerant Capacity	1.10 lbs
Oil Group	PAG
Oil Type	46
Oil Capacity	5.00 oz
Standard BCI Group Number	90
Standard BCI Cranking Performance	590 cca
Standard BCI Group Number	90

Service checks

Pressure Test	18, Pressure should not exceed 20 psi.
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief	18 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature	188-206 °F
Pressure Test	18, Pressure should not exceed 20 psi.
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief	18 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature	188-206 °F
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)	55-62
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)	55-62

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket	125.
Torque to Knuckle	125.
Minimum Pad Thickness	Front: 0.030; Rear: 0.030 in
Rotor Max Parallel Variation	0.001 in
Rotor Runout Limit	0.002 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From	1.26 in / 1.024 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To	1.26 in / 1.024 in
Rotor Minimum Machining	1.205 in / 0.98 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

installation, 111 ft. lbs, step 2: 360 degrees, step 3: 59 ft. lbs., step 4: 200

111 ft. lbs

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 3 stages

Prep M11 bolts:

1	22 ft. lbs.	22 ft. lbs
2	90 degrees	90 degrees
3	70 degrees; M8 bolts: 22	70 degrees

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 2 stages

Prep Bolts 1-10:

1	22 ft. lbs.	22 ft. lbs
2	Turn an additional 90 degrees; Final - Turn an additional 70 degrees; Bolts 11-15	90 degrees
1	22 ft. lbs. Starting from the center and work outward.	22 ft. lbs

Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

3.7 ft. lbs., step 2: 7.4

3.7 ft. lbs

Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

11 ft. lbs., step 2: 15

11 ft. lbs

Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

3.7 ft. lbs., step 2: 7.4

3.7 ft. lbs

Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

11 ft. lbs., step 2: 15

11 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the spark plugs every 100,000 mi; coolant at 150,000 mi. The big-interval services (at 150,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 25,000 mi	Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Fuel System (inspect)
Every 50,000 mi	Engine Air Filter Element (replace)
Every 100,000 mi	Spark Plug Wires (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace) · Transmission Fluid & Filter (replace)
At 150,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2006 Chevrolet Corvette sits in the early phase of the 2005–2013 model run, with 413 complaints, 5 recalls, 4 investigations, and 830 technical service bulletins. Compared with 2005 (536 complaints, 6 recalls), 2006 shows a meaningful decline in complaints and recalls, though TSB volume continued climbing toward 953 in 2007. The leading complaint areas were structure (61), fuel/propulsion system (47), exterior lighting (45), and electronic stability control (35), with 15 crash-related and 4 fire-related complaints; the federal data does not specify root causes. Across the broader record, complaints spiked in 2005 and remained elevated through 2008, while recalls trended downward after 2006 and TSB volume climbed steadily through the early years. Because 2006 carries fewer complaints and recalls than 2005 yet still shows elevated activity relative to later model years, it is a reasonably acceptable but not standout year to buy; a careful pre-purchase inspection focusing on structure, fuel system, lighting, and ESC systems is advisable.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

830

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

413

Owner complaints

15 involved a crash · 4 a fire

NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars

Rollover★★★★★

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’90 ’91 ’92 ’93 ’94 ’95 ’96 ’97 ’98 ’99 ’00 ’01 ’02 ’03 ’04 ’05’06’07 ’08 ’09 ’10 ’11 ’12 ’13 ’14 ’15 ’16 ’17 ’18 ’19 ’20 ’21 ’22 ’23 ’24 ’25

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 413 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Structure61

Fuel/Propulsion System47

Exterior Lighting45

Electronic Stability Control (Esc)35

Engine32

Steering27

Power Train26

Electrical System,Exterior Lighting17

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 5 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

14V251000Electrical System:WiringReported 14/05/2014

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)… 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…

10V172000Steering:ColumnReported 26/04/2010

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… 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…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 830 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
PIP5601C	2025-07-18	Unknown Or Other	This PI communicates the requirement to provide a pico file to receive diagnostic…
PIT5074R	2025-05-30	Unknown Or Other	This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about…
PIT5074R	2025-05-30	Unknown Or Other	This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about…
PIT5074R	2025-05-30	Unknown Or Other	This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about…
PIP5358D	2025-02-19	Unknown Or Other	This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420

Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1

P0300

Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected

P0171

System too lean — Bank 1

P0455

Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak

P0128

Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature

P0442

Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN

Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Corvette. OEM

Build data

Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.

Recalls

Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Group 90 battery Vehicles taking 6 qt Engine oil filter 12690386 Engine air filter 15776148 Spark plug 12571165 Battery 88866263

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBs OBD-II trouble codes Torque specifications Maintenance schedules Fluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2006 Corvette take?

6 qt of 5W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 2006 Corvette have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 5 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.