Well I'm on my 3rd new car powered by an Ecotec 4 cylinder, my first car was a 04 Saturn Ion QC with a 2.2 5 speed, 2nd car was my 09 HHR SS with a 2.0 turbo 5speed (heavily modified and tuned) and my current car is a 2011 Bucik Regal Turbo with a 2.0 turbo and 6 speed automatic.
Hows this for real world results, I never had/have taken any of my Ecotec powered cars in for engine work.
04 Saturn Ion QC had the rotors replaced twice then finally broke down and bought aftermarket units. Traded in after paid off on HHR SS
09 HHR SS they had to fix the headliner and tighten a coolant hose that was dripping. Traded in on Buick Regal (broke even on trade in and what I owed because of all the discounts I got with the HHR SS new, GM discount $3k, GM rebate $3k).
2011 Buick Regal Turbo, not one thing has gone wrong with the car thus far and its been tuned since driving it right off the lot.
Some of you may not like the Ecotec powerplants but I've had nothing but excellent reliability out of all 3 of mine.
I'm a HUGE fan of the Ecotec powered engines, imo one of the best powerplants GM has ever produced so far.