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2005 Chevrolet Corvette Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 532 complaints with NHTSA about the 2005 Chevrolet Corvette, most often about the electrical (19% of complaints, typically around 46,500 miles). It is the 2nd most complained-about Corvette model year since 2000 and has 6 recalls.
Most common 2005 Chevrolet Corvette problems
Electrical
101 complaints · 19%Half of these problems showed up before 46,500 miles. Parts named most often: 12v/24v/48v battery, ignition.
On tuesday, february 23, 2010 I was driving under normal conditions and the electrical system on my 2005 Corvette shut down. Power to the car was cut off leaving me with no control over the vehicle. I could not steer, brake or even exit the car as everything is electrically controlled. In order to avoid an accident…
Constant electrical failures and problems with electronic stability control (traction control / active handling). Computer systems replaced, same failures return. Mirrors move by themselves, car wont start, traction control failure,
Stability control
91 complaints · 17%Half of these problems showed up before 40,000 miles. Parts named most often: automatic (asc).
My service active handling had been coming on for a couple weeks and then would go away. About a week ago I was driving at about 35 MPH and I slowed down to turn. It was about 10:00 not very many people on the road "thank god". After turning I returned to around 35mph and then my service active handling light came on…
Service stability control system llights came on and off multiple times, when I got home the brakes were completely locked up. I have rebuilt the braking system, calipers, rotors and pads and re bled the system and cannot move the car. Keep getting message to servivce the system. The local dealer just recently put a…
Lights
87 complaints · 16%Half of these problems showed up before 83,500 miles. Parts named most often: headlights.
At approximately 30mph the low beam headlights went out in auto mode. I immediately tried to go to manual mode but they were still out. I pulled over at an auto parts store, checked fuses (all fine) and finally had to resort to using fog lights. The next morning I took it to a repair shop, where they were found to be…
I started to have issues with my low beam headlights turning on in my 2005 c6 Corvette. The switch was turned to automatic and would not turn on. When the switch was turned to manual mode the low beam lights would still not turn on. The high beams and fog lamps work with regular success. When the car sits for long…
Steering
76 complaints · 14%Half of these problems showed up before 46,000 miles. Parts named most often: column, hydraulic power assist system, column locking.
Movement of steering column causes failure of wire connector harness for the steering wheel position sensor. This failure causes incorrect position readings in the active handling system.
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Corvette. The contact stated that the service active handling system warning light was illuminated in the vehicle. The contact later received notification of NHTSA campaign id number: 10v172000 (steering:column) and was awaiting a service appointment. In addition, the contact stated…
Transmission
70 complaints · 13%Half of these problems showed up before 38,000 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission, manual transmission, clutch assembly, axle assembly.
My 2005 Corvette has an automatic transmission. At times after I start the car, the shifter gets stuck in park. It has happened when the engine is cold in the morning and also in evening after driving for a while. It feels like it is locked into park.
A known gm defect exists on 2005 Chevrolet corvettes. My automatic shift was stuck in park, hundreds of Corvette owners have suffered this exact defect preventing the vehicle to be moved, stranding the driver for hours in parking lots, garages etc. On a highway 215 beltway in las vegas nevada my Corvette was stuck in…
Brakes
57 complaints · 11%Half of these problems showed up before 48,000 miles. Parts named most often: foundation components, antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, fluid.
Service active handling light came on and I was making a turn and right front wheel brake locked up. Checked and their was a recall on this year make and model recording malfunction of action handling issued in 2010. Chevrolet dealer ship told me my car wasn't covered under recall but wouldn't tell me why.
First occurrance was a month or two ago. We were exiting a parking lotat about 5mph when the car's active handling locked the right side brakes to where I could not keep the car straight. I could not accelerate without a heavy throttle to overcome the brakes. Service active handling icon lit. I had to shut the car…
Body and structure
52 complaints · 10%Half of these problems showed up before 14,000 miles. Parts named most often: body.
I have a 2005 Corvette coupe. The top is separating from the body of the car. The dealer refuses to replace the top even though the panel has completely separated from the frame and the car is unsafe to drive because the repair performed by the dealer has already failed once. The only solution is s new top, and they…
Car went to gm Chevrolet substitute dealer big island toyota kona for annual service. Discussed wind noise through roof. Weather stripping ordered through dealer. Top blew off at 40 MPH on way home. Chevrolet Corvette 13,200 miles. Dealer failed to notify of recall. Gm island Chevrolet where car had annual service…
Air bags
44 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 35,500 miles.
What are you waiting for? The c6 (2005-2013) Corvette has a serious check air bag light problem. There were 215,000 produced and most all of them have the problem and the dealers will not do anything. Many owners drive every day with the check air bag light on 100% of the time meaning the system will not work when…
I have complained to the NHTSA several times with no help. You are our last hope to correct this safety issue before someone is killed or seriously injured. The check air bag light on the c6 Corvette (2005 thru 2013) comes on often. I'm a member of the Corvette forum with over 25,000 post and I know that this is an…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2005 Chevrolet Corvette recalls
Lights: headlights
Risk: The loss of low beam headlamp illumination will decrease the driver's visibility, as well as the vehicle's conspicuity to other motorists, increasing the risk of a crash.
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 1-800-222-1020. Gm's number for this recall is 13146. Note: model year 2008-2013 chevrolet corvettes will be covered under customer satisfaction program number 14203 for the same issue.
Full defect summary
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 headlamp low beam relay control circuit wire to bend. If the wire is repeatedly bent, it may fracture causing a loss of low beam headlamp illumination.
Steering: column
Risk: If the driver does not respond to the change in vehicle movement, a crash could occur.
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 the owner center at www.gmownercenter.com.
Full defect summary
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 cause a signal interruption within the column. If this occurs, the message, "service active handling system" will appear in the driver information center, and one or more of the brakes may apply, possibly causing the vehicle to pull to the right or left.
Body and structure: roof and pillars
Risk: If there is a complete separation, the roof panel may detach from the vehicle. If this were to occur while the vehicle was being driven, it could strike a following vehicle and cause injury and/or property damage.
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.
Full defect summary
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 separation, the driver may notice one or more symptoms, such as a snapping noise when driving over bumps, wind noise, poor roof panel fit, roof panel movement/bounce when a door or hatch is closed, or a water leak in the headliner.
Body and structure: roof and pillars
Risk: If there is a complete separation, the roof panel may detach from the vehicle and it could strike another vehicle and cause injury and property damage.
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 october 19, 2006. Owners may contact chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438.
Full defect summary
On certain 2005-2006 chevrolet corvettes equipped with painted roofs, the adhesive between the roof panel and the frame may separate.
Steering: hose, piping, and connections
Risk: If this were to occur, power steering assist would be lost and increased steering effort would be required. On vehicles equipped with hydro-boost power brakes, it could also result in loss of power brake assist and increased braking effort would be required. If the power steering fluid spray were to spray onto hot engine parts, an engine compartment fire could occur.
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, gmc at 1-866-996-9463, buick at 1-866-608-8080, cadillac at 1-866-982-2339, isuzu at 1-800-255-6727, or hummer at 1-800-732-5493.
Full defect summary
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.
Brakes: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Risk: If the brake fluid boils in a rear brake line, the effectiveness of the rear brake system would be reduced which could result in a brake line leak and loss of brake fluid. If enough fluid leaks from the rear brake system so that brake pedal application can no longer build pressure to the rear brakes. The operator of the vehicle will experience limited braking which could result in a crash.
Fix: Dealers will (1) inspect the left engine exhaust manifold clip for proper alignment and placement on the body-mounted stud. If incorrect, they will reposition the clip on the brake lines and reinstall the clip on the stud; (2) the dealer will verify that both rear brake lines have the proper clearance to the left exhaust pipe. They will reposition the lines by bending as necessary; (3) dealers will remove the machining tab from the rear differential housing. Also, dealers are to inspect the brake lines for wear in these related areas and repair or replace if there is any sign of wear-through o
Full defect summary
Certain passenger vehicles were produced with one or both rear brake hydraulic lines that can come in contact with or be affected by heat from the left engine exhaust manifold and the left exhaust pipe. The brake fluid could reach elevated temperatures and boil.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Simultaneous loss of low-beam headlights
Summary
On may 14, 2014, general motors (gm) submitted a part 573 defect information report initiating NHTSA safety recall 14v-251 to remedy the subject vehicles.gm will remedy a defect condition in the underhood bussed electrical center (ubec) by modifying the vehicle's electrical harnessing.gm also announced a customer satisfaction bulletin to address this issue on model year (my) 2008-2013 chevrolet corvettes.both programs will be conducted free of charge.according to gm, when the engine heats up and cools down (from normal use), the plastic material in the ubec housing expands at a different rate than an electrical conductor routed within it.the difference in expansion rates results in bending o
Loss of low beam headlights
Summary
The office of defects investigation (odi) opened this investigation based on 30 reports from consumers alleging that, after driving for a short time (5 to 30 minutes), both low beam headlights stopped working simultaneously and without warning. The low beam headlights remained inoperative for the remainder of the drive cycle, however no other lighting is affected.general motors (gm) provided information in response to odi's information request letter explaining that the loss of headlights is caused by a fractured low beam circuit wire in the underhood bussed electrical center (ubec), a device that is similar to a fuse box. The ubec is located in a high heat area near the engine, and the low
Electronic stability control
Summary
On april 26, 2010, at NHTSA's request following this investigation, general motors submitted a defect information report to NHTSA to correct a defect associated with the vehicle stability control (vsc) system in approximately 40,000 model year (my) 2005 and 2006 chevrolet corvette vehicles (NHTSA recall no. 10v-172).according to the report, these vehicles may have a problem with the steering wheel position sensor (swps) connector created by a fretting condition in the connector (small movement of the pins back and forth creating a residue build up) which could change the electrical resistance and corrupt the information signal to the vsc computer.the vsc system uses the information from the
Electronic stability control malfunction
Summary
On september 17, 2008, odi opened preliminary evaluation pe08-056 to investigate allegations of inappropriate activation of the electronic stability control (ESC) system in model year (my) 2005 and 2006 chevrolet corvette vehicles.some reports received by odi and some reports to general motors (gm) contained in gm's response to pe08-056 allege that the ESC system malfunctioned causing a sudden and inappropriate braking action without illumination of the brake lights and causing the vehicle to swerve left or right unexpectedly. Gm issued a technical service bulletin in january 2006, later revised in october 2007 (bulletin no. 06-02-35-002b) concerning ESC problems in my 2005 and 2006 chevrole
Questions about the 2005 Chevrolet Corvette
- What are the most common problems with the 2005 Chevrolet Corvette?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: electrical (101 complaints, typically around 46,500 miles); stability control (91 complaints, typically around 40,000 miles); lights (87 complaints, typically around 83,500 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2005 Chevrolet Corvette have?
- 6 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from May 14, 2014 (lights). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2005 a bad year for the Chevrolet Corvette?
- It is the 2nd most complained-about Corvette model year since 2000, with 532 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.