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2006 Chevrolet Corvette Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 365 complaints with NHTSA about the 2006 Chevrolet Corvette, most often about the lights (17% of complaints, typically around 85,000 miles). It is the 3rd most complained-about Corvette model year since 2000 and has 5 recalls.
Most common 2006 Chevrolet Corvette problems
Lights
62 complaints · 17%Half of these problems showed up before 85,000 miles. Parts named most often: headlights.
After driving home approximately 30 miles from work with the low beam headlights working, they quit working after parking for a few minutes then returning to the vehicle to drive. All other lamps work including high beams fog lights and parking lamps. The low beams will not turn on with the control switch turned on or…
I have a 2006 Chevrolet Corvette, while driving along at night all of a sudden the headlights went off. I was lucky enough to be able to pull over without hitting anyone or being hit. I found the problem to be the low beam headlights only. The high beam still work and I was able to get it home .I found out on pc that…
Body and structure
59 complaints · 16%Half of these problems showed up before 9,500 miles. Parts named most often: body, frame and members.
2006 Corvette had the roof recall (ref. Nhtsa campaign id# 06v181000) done on 6/7/07. I returned vehicle for recheck of recall on 11/1/07 as the roof did have some noticeable creak noises. The dealer reported the roof was not loose and lubricated the weather strips. On 6/12/09, getting on the highway, my wife noticed…
- the contact received NHTSA recall 06v181000 on 11/30/06. The contact took vehicle to r k Chevrolet at 502 n. Delsea dr. Vineland, nj. With phone # [phone], and was told that they will not repair the vehicle. The contact informed the owner of the recall , but the owner was aware of the recall. However, he did inform…
Fuel system
50 complaints · 14%Half of these problems showed up before 51,000 miles.
Fuel gas fumes from left rear wheel opening and inside when vehicle is stationary. Had fuel sending unit in gas tank replaced and new gas cap but did not solve the problem. Dangerous gas fumes !! Fumes stronger when weather is hot.
Car smells of fuel while sitting with the engine off. From doing research it is a common problem where there is a crack in the top of the fuel pump.
Electrical
44 complaints · 12%Half of these problems showed up before 60,000 miles. Parts named most often: 12v/24v/48v battery, wiring.
Headlamps intermittent dues to what is reportedly a faulty circuitboard within the fuse-box... So far only the headlamps are affected (as well as the driver's door opening system)... Repair-shop and online forums indicate it a common-problem with many c6 corvettes and expensive: $600+.
My automatic shifter gets stuck in park. I already had the dealership replace the shifter a few years ago but the problem still remains. Once I start the car, the system does not tell the shifter to unlock and therefore I can not get it in gear. I have to play with it several time. It may take less than 1 minute to…
Steering
44 complaints · 12%Half of these problems showed up before 33,500 miles. Parts named most often: column, hydraulic power assist system, steering wheel/handle bar, column locking.
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…
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Corvette. The service active handling warning light illuminated on the dashboard. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer who replaced the steering wheel position sensor. The failure recurred within 10,000 miles. The dealer installed an unknown clip in the steering wheel position…
Stability control
38 complaints · 10%Half of these problems showed up before 24,000 miles. Parts named most often: automatic (asc).
The service active handling light appeared and almost lost control of the car because of a rf brake locking up. The car was going about 40 MPH in a city street.
Driving back from lunch to the office I was changing lanes on a heavily traffic area. Was going about 30mph when the car started to fish tail out of control going sideways into the side of the road and slamming into a electrical post. Both myself and my passenger were in awe. I could not control the car and it seems…
Transmission
33 complaints · 9%Half of these problems showed up before 31,000 miles. Parts named most often: axle assembly, automatic transmission, manual transmission.
Have excessive noise coming from valve train.called Chevrolet customer service to inquire about cause and information about repair.was told no known problems and vehicle was no longer under warrantyi took car to katech in michigan to have the motor checked and repaired if needed.the clearance on the valve guides were…
Automatic transmission shift lock solenoid fails, preventing trans. To lock into park and or can't place transmission in park. Gm corrected this condition starting with VIN number 75405780, VIN numbers before that still continue to have this safety condition
Engine
28 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 29,000 miles. Parts named most often: engine.
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.
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…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2006 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.
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 2006 Chevrolet Corvette
- What are the most common problems with the 2006 Chevrolet Corvette?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: lights (62 complaints, typically around 85,000 miles); body and structure (59 complaints, typically around 9,500 miles); fuel system (50 complaints, typically around 51,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2006 Chevrolet Corvette have?
- 5 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 2006 a bad year for the Chevrolet Corvette?
- It is the 3rd most complained-about Corvette model year since 2000, with 365 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.