Total Complaints
2 filings
CHEVROLET OPTRA · model year
2006 CHEVROLET OPTRA
2 NHTSA complaints, and 2 active recalls for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2006CHEVROLETOPTRA carries 2 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2006 OPTRA is steering with 1 filings, followed by exterior lighting (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 2 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.
NHTSA currently has 57 investigation files overlapping the 2006 OPTRA, and 2 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
2
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
0 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| STEERING | 1 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | 1 |
Recalls (2)
07V32800020/07/2007
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
CERTAIN VEHICLES LOCATED IN GUAM AND SAIPAN WERE BUILT WITH A SEAT BELT BUCKLE WITH AN IMPROPER ULTRASONIC WELD OF THE SPRING RIB AND FIXATION RIB OF BUCKLE UNDERCOVER IN BOTH FRONT SEAT BELTS. A SPRING RIB OR FIXATION RIB COULD BREAK AND REMAIN INSIDE THE BUCKLE, AND THE SEAT BELT TONGUE MAY NOT B
07V48200016/10/2007
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
ON CERTAIN VEHICLES LOCATED IN GUAM AND SAIPAN, THE HEADLAMP LOW BEAM OR DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT (DRL) FUNCTION MAY BE INOPERATIVE DUE TO A MELTED SPLICE PACK (S201) ON THE IP HARNESS.
Recent Complaints
20171227EXTERIOR LIGHTING
BIG PROBLEM WITH LIGHT SWITCH, THE ONE FROM FACTORY MELTED, AT THE TIME I DID NOT KNOW ABOUT THE RECALL. THE REPLACEMENT MELTED TO. AT THAT TIME I DID FOUND OUT ABOUT THE RECALL FOR THIS CARS REGARDING THAT PROBLEM, THE DEALER DID NOT HELP WHIT THE PROBLEM DESPITE I TOOK DOCUMENTATION ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND WHAT THE FACTORY WAS DOING ABOUT IT. PLEASE CAN YOU HELP ME SO THE DEALERSHIP AT LEAS CHANGE THE LIGHT SWITCH. AT THE MOMENT I AM NOT USING THE SWITCH , I CAME UP WITH AN ALTERNATIVE. THANK YOU.
Mileage: 71,000
20091214STEERING
CONSTANT CLUNKING IN STEERING WHENEVER TURNING...... SUPPOSE TO BE GM CERTIFIED CAR WHICH ABSOLUTELY MEANS NOTHING.. WITHIN A YEAR OF DEALERSHIP DECLARING THIS TO BE GM CERTIFIED, EVERYTHING SEEMED TO FALL APART. I HAD TO REPLACE THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT, PART WAS $120 AND LABOR WAS $70. ALSO VALVE IN GAS TANK BAD, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WHICH ALSO COST MONEY, MONEY, MONEY. THANKS GM, I WILL BE SURE TO BUY ANOTHER IMPALA OR ANY OTHER GM PRODUCT. TIME TO GO TOYOTA OR HYUANDI. *TR
Mileage: 43,000
Compare 2006CHEVROLETOPTRA to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations 2 Open
EA25007Engineering AnalysisOpen
Loss of motive power due to engine failure
PE23022Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Loss of Motive Power due to the Battery Energy Control Module
PE20016Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Electric Vehicle Battery Fires
EA20002Engineering AnalysisClosed
Outboard Front Seat Belt Anchor Cable Failure
PE20011Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Fuel Line Leak
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 2006 CHEVROLET OPTRA have?▼
The 2006 CHEVROLET OPTRA has 2 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2006 CHEVROLET OPTRA?▼
Yes, the 2006 CHEVROLET OPTRA has 2 recall(s). The most common affected component is SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2006 CHEVROLET OPTRA?▼
The most-complained component for the 2006 CHEVROLET OPTRA is STEERING with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include EXTERIOR LIGHTING.
Is the 2006 CHEVROLET OPTRA safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.