TroubleCAR
52
Trouble

2005 Chevrolet Corvette

Complaints: 531Avg mileage: 49,087 miSince: Nov 2004
CrashFire6 injured

Problem Areas

Electrical System
94
Electronic Stability Control (Esc)
90
Exterior Lighting
82
Steering
69
Power Train
66
Air Bags
44
Service Brakes
38
Body: Roof and Pillars
32
Fuel/Propulsion System
20
Traction Control System
17

Complaints Over Time

Recent Complaints

AIR BAGS
Dec 7, 2024Coweta, OK
Crash2 injured

This lead to an injury accident which totaled the car. I have documentation stating that the recall was fixed, but after I moved to Germany with the Army, the recall regularly activated the active handling when not needed (e.g parking) but then when we started slipping, the active handling did not engage and we crashed, totaling the car. The airbags did not engage even though the car played pinball on both sides of the autobahn. If we were going any faster, we would have died.

AIR BAGS
110,000 miJul 25, 2014POPLAR BLUFF, MO
Crash2 injured

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY SERVICE HANDLING TRACTION SYSTEM LIGHT CAME ON AND CAR WENT TO RIGHT AND L RAN IN A DITCH 11000 DOLLARS IN DAMAGE AND NOT ONE AIR OPEN. *TR

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
12,694 miJun 1, 2010SANTA CLARA, CA
Crash1 injured

I WAS ON THE TRIMBLE ROAD ON RAMP IN SAN JOSE, CA MERGING ONTO FREEWAY 101 AT APPROXIMATELY 1235 PM PST AND 793 FEET FROM THE DE LA CRUZ/TRIMBLE ROAD TRAFFIC LIGHT. TRAFFIC CONDITIONS WERE LIGHT, WEATHER WAS DRY AND ROAD CONDITIONS WERE EXCELLENT. THE ON RAMP IS APPROXIMATELY AN 1/4TH OF A MILE LONG. I PULLED INTO THE COMMUTER LANE TO PASS 2 VEHICLES THAT WERE TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 40-45 MPH. I PASSED THE FIRST VEHICLE AND WAS ABOUT TO PASS THE SECOND WHEN MY 2005 CORVETTE STEERED TO THE RIGHT CAUSING THE RIGHT FRONT OF MY CAR TO IMPACT A 1984 4 DOOR SEDAN TOYOTA ON THE LEFT REAR QUARTER PANEL/BUMPER, BEHIND THE LEFT REAR WHEEL. THE TOYOTA STARTED TO SLIDE RIGHT AND WHEN THE WHEELS WENT FROM ASPHALT TO DIRT CAUSED THE TOYOTA TO ROLL OVER COMING TO REST ON ITS' WHEELS IN THE MEDIAN ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ON RAMP. MY CAR CAME TO REST IN THE DIRT ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD APPROXIMATELY HALF WAY ON THE ON RAMP. THE DRIVER OF THE TOYOTA HAD A CUT ON ONE OF HER FINGERS AND WAS EXTREMELY EMOTIONAL. I WAS NOT INJURED. MY CAR IS EQUIPPED WITH ON-STAR WHICH DID NOT ACTIVATE DUE TO THE CRASH. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED IN MY CAR. ON OCTOBER 4TH, 2007 I TOOK MY CAR TO COURTESY CHEVROLET IN SAN JOSE, CA; I TOLD THE SERVICE REP THAT I HAD RECEIVED 2 NOTICES IN THE DRIVER INFORMATION CENTER DISPLAY TO SERVICE THE "ACTIVE HANDLING SYSTEM SOON" AND THAT I HAD IMPACTED A CURB. THE SERVICE REP ASKED ME IF THE MESSAGE RECURRED AFTER TURNING THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON AND I TOLD THEM NO BUT IT DID DISPLAY TWO DIFFERENT TIMES ABOUT A WEEK APART. I WAS TOLD THAT TURNING THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON CLEARED THE ERROR CODE SO THERE WAS NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT. I HAD THE CAR ALIGNED. I THOUGHT THE RIGHT FRONT A ARM BROKE CAUSING THE ACCIDENT DUE TO HITTING THE CURB IN OCTOBER UNTIL I RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE 10118. I SAVED ALL OF THE MECHANICAL PARTS REPLACED ON THE RIGHT FRONT OF MY CAR AND STILL HAVE THEM. THE STEERING SENSOR WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER ON 1-30-08. *TR

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
22,000 miMar 4, 2010ELDERSBURG, MD
Crash1 injured

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR 2005 CORVETTE ON A STRAIGHT ROAD AT ABOUT 50 MILES PER HOUR WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY SHOT OFF TO THE LEFT LANE TOWARDS ANOTHER VEHICLE. SHE LOST ALL CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND RETURNED ACROSS THE TWO LANE ROAD HITTING THE CURB, WHICH WAS ABOUT 6" TALL, THE CAR THEN LEFT THE GROUND AND MADE CONTACT WITH A GUARD RAIL THAT WAS TWO RAILS HIGH. THE IMPACT ON THE GUARD RAIL WAS AT THE TOP ABOUT 3' FROM THE GROUND. BEHIND THE GUARD RAIL IS A 75' DROP TO A GROCERY STORE PARKING LOT. THE CAR THEN CAME BACK ACROSS THE ROAD AND STOPPED IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION TRAFFIC. THE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE NOW STANDS AT $20,000.00. SHE STATES THAT IT FELT AS IF THE FRONT LEFT TIRE LOCKED UP AND HAS NO IDEA WHAT HAPPENED FROM THAT POINT ON. SHE WAS JUST HOLDING ON FOR DEAR LIFE. BOTH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND SHE HAS HAD A SORE BACK SINCE THE ACCIDENT. I NOW LEARNED OF THE INVESTIGATION EA09-002 THAT HAS BEEN OPENED AND SOMETHING NEEDS TO DONE NOW!! *TR

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
11,800 miDec 19, 2011SPRINGFIELD, MA
Crash

THIS VEHICLE (CORVETTE) WAS PARKED , GEAR IN REVERSE, WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE FULLY ENGAGED , VEHICLE NOT RUNNING .WHILE REACHING IN TO PRESS ACESS. BUTTON INADVERTENTLY PRESSED THE START BUTTON WHICH PUT THE CAR INTO A STRONG VIOLENT MOVING REVERSE ACTION, THE CORVETTE HIT MY TRUCK WHICH WAS PARKED TWO-THREE FEET BEHIND CORVETTE AND DROVE MY VEHICLE A GOOD TEN FEET BEFORE THE CORVETTE STALLED, THE TRUCK WAS NOT RUNNING ,TRUCK WAS PARKED IN GEAR WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE APPLIED --THE SKID MARKS FROM MY TRUCK BEING PUSHED ARE STILL IN MY DRIVEWAY AND ROAD. *TR

STEERING
15,000 miJan 27, 2011CINCINNATI, OH
Crash

I JUST ENTERED THE FREEWAY AND TRAFFIC WAS SLOW 40 TO 45 MPH. I MOVED FROM FAR RIGHT TO CENTER LANE THEN FROM CENTER TO LEFT LANE. WHEN I MOVED FROM CENTER TO LEFT I WAS TRAVELING BETWEEN 45 AND 50 MPH WHEN THE REAR OF THE CAR BEGAN TO SLIDE OUT OF CONTROL. WHEN I BUT DID NOT UNDERSTAND WHY AS THE ROADS WHERE DRY AND CLEAR. AS I TRIED TO REGAIN CONTROL THE CAR DID NOT RESPOND AND CONTINUED TO SLIDE COMPLETELY OUT OF CONTROL 180 DEGREE AND SLID SIDEWAYS INTO A WALL OF PLOWED ICE AND SNOW IN THE LEFT SHOULDER AND FLIP ON ITS ROOF. THE LOSS OF UNDERSTANDING OF HOW THIS HAPPENED HAS GIVEN ME MUCH ANGUISH AS I KNOW I HAD THE TRACTION CONTROL HANDLING ON, UNTIL I FOUND OUT ABOUT A RECALL HAVING TO DO WITH THE STEERING AND HANDLING A FEW MONTHS LATER.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
25,000 miOct 17, 2010FORT LAUDERDALE, FL
Crash

HAPPENED TWICE WITHIN 2 DAYS. TRAVELING AT 40 MPH. TRAFFIC CAME TO SUDDEN STOP. HAD 4 CAR LENGTHS AND FRONT CAR BRAKES LOCKED AND WENT INTO SKID AND HAD MINOR ACCIDENT. SECOND TIME TWO DAYS LATER. 5 MPH. TURNING RIGHT INTO A PARKING LOT AND FRONT BRAKES LOCKED AGAIN. THEY WOULD NOT RELEASE. I PUT CAR IN REVERSE. IT WOULD RELEASE, BUT AS SOON AS I PUT IT IN DRIVE IT WAS LOCKING. I MANAGED TO PARK CAR. WAITED ABOUT AN HOUR AND BRAKES DID NOT LOCK. ITS BEEN 2 WEEKS AND NO PROBLEM. *TR

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
26,000 miOct 4, 2010LA MIRADA, CA
Crash

02/13/2007 2005 CORVETTE CAR WAS COMPLETELY DEAD. WOULD NOT START OR LOCK. LEFT US STRANDED AFTER DINNER. CAR WAS TOWED TO HOME THAT NIGHT AND TOWED TO DEALER ON 02/14/07. 02/14/2007 INVOICE# CVCS117440 #1 CUSTOMER STATES VEHICLE WILL NOT START - BATTERY LEAKING ACID, NECESSARY TO REPLACE BATTERY, CLEAN ACID SPILL. CLEAN CABLES - CHECK ALT 145 AMP OUTPUT DIODES GOOD THE CONSUMER STATED SHE WAS IN AN ACCIDENT AS WELL AS HER SON AND ON BOTH OCCASIONS, WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, IT FELT AS IF THE BRAKES LOCKED UP. ALSO. THE SERVICE ACTIVE HANDLING SYSTEM LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER HAD TO REWORK THE CONNECTION TO SECURE AND PREVENT THE TILT TELESCOPE STEERING WHEEL FROM PULLING THE VEHICLE TO THE RIGHT. UPDATED IVOQ 10/08/10 *JB *TR

POWER TRAIN
32,000 miMar 30, 2010LEEDS, AL
Crash

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING UP A RAMP AT SPEEDS OF 45 MPH, THE LEFT REAR WHEEL LOCKED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SPIN AND VEER OFF OF THE ROAD. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS PRECEDING THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE DEACTIVATED THE MANUAL ACTIVE HANDLING PROGRAM AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS LEFT IN POSSESSION OF THE DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING A DIAGNOSIS OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,000.

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
76,000 miFeb 12, 2010KATY, TX
Crash

PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT I EXPERIENCED THE SERVICE TRACTION LIGHT WOULD COME ON MAYBE A HANDFUL OF TIMES A MONTH. UNTIL THE INCIDENT I HAD TO ACTUAL ISSUES AND FIGURED THAT MY EXHAUST BEING AS LOUD AS IT IS CAUSED SOMETHING TO SET IT OFF. *TR ON FEBRUARY 8TH THE SERVICE TRACTION LIGHT CAME ON ONCE AGAIN HOWEVER I HAD TO ISSUES THAT DAY. IT WASN'T TILL THE NEXT DAY THAT AS I WAS DRIVING NORMAL SPEEDS ABOUT 35MPH APPROACHING A STOP SIGN BEFORE I WOULD ENTER THE FEEDER ROAD TO ENTER THE HIGHWAY. THE ROAD I WAS ON HAD A VERY SLIGHT CURVE TO THE LEFT AND THE GROUND WAS COMPLETELY DRY/ ALL CONDITIONS WERE NORMAL. OUT OF NO WHERE I FELT MY VEHICLE BEING FORCED HARD TO THE LEFT AS IF I WAS HYDROPLANNING AND HAD LOST THE ABILITY TO CONTROL THE BRAKING OF MY CAR. MY VEHICLE CROSSED THE NEXT LANE OVER AND WITH ABSOLUTELY NO CONTROL WHAT SO EVER I WAS FORCED OVER A CURB AND INTO A STREET SIGN. NO ONE WAS INJURED AS IT WAS A MINOR ACCIDENT HOWEVER IT CAME WITH A PRICE. AT THIS POINT THERE IS ESTIMATED TO BE $6500.00 IN DAMAGES TO MY VEHICLE DUE TO THIS. NO WORK HAS BEGUN ON MY VEHICLE. I HAVE UNDERSTOOD THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM BEING INVESTIGATED ON OTHER CHEVROLET CORVETTE MODELS FROM 05 AND UP UNDER INVESTIGATION NUMBER EA09-002. I WOULD LIKE TO BETTER UNDERSTAND WHAT HAS HAPPENED AND BE SURE THAT MY VEHICLE IS SAFE AS IT WAS VERY FRIGHTENING TO HAVE LOST CONTROL IN PERFECTLY GOOD DRIVING CONDITIONS. LIKE I HAVE EARLIER STATED MY VEHICLE HAS NOT STARTED THE REPAIR PROCESS AND I WILL BE SURE TO INFORM CHEVY OF MY DISCOVERY SO THAT THIS POTENTIALLY LIFE THREATENING ISSUE BECOMES FIXED. *TR

STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS
11,000 miAug 7, 2006APOPKA, FL
Crash

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE ROOF ON THE VEHICLE HAS FLOWN OFF FOUR TIMES. THERE WAS A RECALL # 06V181000; PERTAINING TO THE STRUCTURE: BODY: ROOF AND PILLARS. THE CONTACT WAS UNSURE IF A RECALL LETTER WAS RECEIVED. THE FIRST THREE TIMES THE ROOF FLEW OFF, THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE ROOF. DURING ONE INCIDENT, THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE WAY AND NO ONE WAS INJURED. THERE WAS NOT A POLICE REPORT FILED. *AK

SERVICE BRAKES
44,310 miJul 6, 2015SAN JUAN, PR
Fire

A STRONG FUME ODOR ENTER MY HOUSE AS IF SOMETHING WAS BURNING, MY CORVETTE WAS IN MY GARAGE IT HASNT BEEN USED IN MORE THAN 3DAYS.....I NOTICED IT WAS COMING FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE CAR, AND IN EFFECT IT WAS! CONTACTED MY MECHANIC AND HE ADVISED ME THAT IT WAS THE ABS SYSTEM CAUGHT ON FIRE DAMAGING THE CONECTOR, MODULE AND REGULATOR. HE FOUND A LEAK OF BRAKE FLUID THRU THE MODULATOR THAT CAUSE THE MODULES CABLES BURNED THE CONNECTOR. HAD TO CHANGE ALL THE ABS SYSTEM SINCE CHEVROLET MODIFIED THE PREVIOUS ABS SYSTEM CAUSE IT WAS DEFECTIVE. HOWEVER NO RECALL HAS BEEN MADE TO THIS SYSTEM. AN APROX $3500. IN REPAIRS FOR A SYSTEM THAT THEY KNOW IS DEFECTIVE. WE WERE LUCKY NOTHING ELSE IN OUR GARAGE/HOUSE GOT DAMAGE IT WAS AN SCARY SITUATION.

SERVICE BRAKES
41,000 miMay 21, 2012BOW, NH
Fire

TL-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS DRIVING 65 MPH BEFORE RETURNING HOME. UPON RETURNING HOME AND EXITING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT SMELLED A BURNING ODOR COMING FROM THE BRAKES. THE CONTACT EXAMINED THE BRAKES AND NOTICED THAT THEY WERE SEIZED. THE SASC WARNING LIGHTS THEN BEGAN TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVEABLE AND COULD NOT BE TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,000. SM. DUPLICATE TO 10459095 *SMCH

STEERING
Jan 19, 2012SAN DIEGO, CA
Fire

STEERING WHEEL POSITION SENSOR CIRCUIT WIRE CONNECTORS FAILED AND SHORTED CAUSING PLASTIC HOUSING ON STEERING COLUMN TO IGNITE AND DESTROYED CAR AND MY HOME. *TT

EXTERIOR LIGHTING
19,617 miMar 2, 2011MATTHEWS, NC
Fire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH AND AS HE ATTEMPTED TO ENGAGE THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL PRIOR TO CHANGING LANES, THE TURN SIGNAL FAILED TO OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY INFORMED HIM THAT THE TURN SIGNAL BULB HAD OVERHEATED AND CAUSED THE WIRING HARNESS TO MELT. THE WIRING HARNESS, TURN SIGNAL BULB AND SOCKET WERE REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19,617. UPDATED 03/24/11*LJ UPDATED 1/5/12 *CN

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
5,500 miSep 26, 2010WEST HARTFORD, CT
Fire

2005 CHEVROLET CORVETTE BASE. DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY RT. 9 IN CONNECTICUT. CAR HAD ROUGHLY 5000 MILES ON IT. DATE AROUND SEPTEMBER 10. PRESSED FINGER ON POWER TELESCOPE STEERING WHEEL SWITCH TO MOVE WHEEL CLOSER TO ME. THE SWITCH FELT HOT SUDDENLY AND SMOKE WITH A STRONG BURNING ODOR STARTING TO FILL THE CABIN. I COULD NOT SEE AND PULLED OVER. THE STEERING COLUMN STOPPED SMOKING AFTER ABOUT 3 MINUTES. TOOK CAR TO DEALER. WAITED A WEEK FOR NEW SWITCH TO BE PUT IN. DEALER SAID SWITCH WAS FAULTY AND SHORTED OUT. CAR WAS SUPPOSEDLY FIXED AND I PICKED UP CAR A WEEK LATER. APPROXIMATELY $250.00. I STARTED DRIVING HOME FROM DEALER WITH NEW SWITCH AND DECIDED TO TRY NEW SWITCH. IN BUMPER TO BUMPER TRAFFIC ON HIGHWAY I-84 PULLED SWITCH AND ONCE AGAIN , HOT SMOKE BURNING FILLED THE CABIN. PULLED OVER WAITED FOR "FIRE" TO SUBSIDE AND THEN BROUGHT BACK CAR TO DEALER. DEALER SAID SWITCH IS NOW ON BACKORDER AS WELL AS SOME MODULE THAT ALSO NEEDED REPLACEMENT RELATED TO IT AND I HAVE CAR BUT HAVE TO WAIT FOR SWITCH TO BE MADE BEFORE I CAN BRING CAR BACK FOR REPAIR. *TR

POWER TRAIN
40,000 miAug 21, 2007GRAPEVINE, TX
Fire

CHEVROLET 2005 CORVETTE. APROX.40,000 MILES DRIVING UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS. DRY/SUNNY. DRIVING SLOWLY IN MORNING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. CHANGING FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR. PEDAL LOST PRESSURE, SANK TO THE FLOOR. SLAVE CYLINDER, HYDRAULIC CLUTCH FAILURE. LINE RUPTURED, SQUIRTIG BRAKE FLUID ALL OVER HOT EXHAUST MANIFOLD, BLOCK, HEADS, FIREWALL. FLUID CAUGHT FIRE . SEEN SMOKE WITHIN TWO SECONDS AFTER PEDAL SANK TO THE FLOOR. POPPED HOOD SEEN FLAMES. WAS ABLE TO PUT OUT. SEEMS TO BE VERY DANGEROUS , GENERIC DESIGN AND PARTS QUALITY. CAR IS AT THE SHOP AS I WRITE THIS. MECH REMOVED SLAVE MASTER LINE ASSEMBLY. IT SEEMED TO BE INFERIOR FOR HEAT AND PRESSURE. MOST WAS PLASTIC AND HELD TOGETHER WITH A PLASTIC CLIP. IF ANY OF THE PLASTIC CRACKS OR FAILS, BREAK FLUID COULD SPRAY ALL OVER YOUR HOT EXHAUST MANIFOLD. SUCH AS IN MY CASE. *TR

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
Oct 9, 2025Fargo, ND

As I'm driving, the brakes are deployed "hard" without any action on my part. "CHECK ACTIVE HANDLING SYSTEM" shows up on the screen. I have not het had the vehicle inspected.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Oct 9, 2025Fargo, ND

Sometimes (intermittently), when I push the start button to start the car, it just makes a "click" sound, the car does not start and the steering wheel will lock and all other functions of the car will be disabled. "CHECK COLUM LOCK" will be displayed on the screen. I have to take a battery cable off to reset the software before I can once again start and drive the car.

SERVICE BRAKES
Nov 22, 2024Graniteville, SC

The active handling applies itself with normal non aggressive driving. When activated the brakes apply and lock up, this has happened in low speed turns at intersections and even when driving straight. I have had the vehicle to the dealership to resolve as this is a major safety concern leaving the car locked up in the middle of an intersection. They stated it was the sensor behind the steering wheel and they fixed it but the problem still persists. Secondly the driver seat has begun moving on its own and inching me closer to the steering wheel with no interference with the button while driving. I have since disconnected the seat fuse to prevent collision from improper driver positioning.

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