2006 Chevrolet Corvette Z06

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 of the conductor, a control circuit for the low beam headlights.After multiple thermal cycles, often taking several years of use, the conductor fractures resulting in an open circuit.When this occurs the low-beam headlights will not illuminate.After the engine is turned off and the UBEC cools, the conductor may temporarily reconnect and restore low-beam function, although subsequent failures will occur.This condition does not affect high-beam headlights, marker lamps, turn signals or fog lamps.Simultaneous loss of low-beam headlights could reduce the driver's visibility, increasing the risk of a crash. The ODI report counts noted above, involving the loss of low beam headlights, represents those received at the time of GM's recall filing; however NHTSA has since received additional complaints.GM submitted similar complaints in response to the agency's information request.Among the complaints reported to NHTSA, five alleged minor crashes in which the vehicle ran off the road or into roadside objects due to the sudden loss of headlights.Two of these complaints alleged minor injuries and three alleged property damage.Several other reports to NHTSA alleged close calls due to the loss of lighting.GM states that it has received no reports of crashes, injuries or fatalities as a result of this condition. GM's recall action appears to adequately address the safety risks in the subject vehicles of concern to ODI.Accordingly, the investigation is closed.In addition to recalling the subject vehicles, GM is covering MY 2008-2013 Corvettes, which contain essentially the same UBEC, under a customer satisfaction campaign.ODI notes that these vehicles exhibit a lower likelihood of failure due to their comparatively shorter service life. The VOQs cited above can be viewed at www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID under the following identification numbers: 10400308, 10415603, 10415867, 10416531, 10421639, 10424391, 10424543, 10445971, 10451733, 10454919, 10460674, 10460750, 10463546, 10466342, 10466857, 10468128, 10469057, 10470616, 10471595, 10474350, 10474368, 10475257, 10486597, 10491670, 10496592, 10496788, 10498100, 10502059, 10505606, 10508507, 10510052, 10511467, 10511517, 10511576, 10511696, 10511699, 10511789, 10511837, 10511994, 10512072, 10512093, 10512154, 10512292, 10512341, 10512856, 10513422, 10514576, 10514802, 10514978, 10515162, 10515311, 10515821, 10519426, 10519879, 10520155, 10521036, 10521585, 10522260, 10523059, 10523064, 10523190, 10525646, 10531602, 10531631, 10532221, 10532439, 10533227, 10533251, 10533339, 10536835, 10537561, 10537612, 10538184, 10541749, 10542468, 10542540, 10542576, 10542708, 10542726, 10543187, 10543970, 10544083, 10544810, 10545441, 10545516, 10547343, 10547561, 10547600, 10548492, 10548588, 10548687, 10548982, 10549272, 10549487, 10550079, 10550260, 10551233, 10551867, 10551926, 10551978, 10552019, 10553258, 10554456, 10554573, 10556002, 10556433, 10556844, 10556984, 1

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 beam circuit wire routing within the UBEC makes it susceptible to cyclical stress caused by thermal expansion.The investigation covers model years 2005-2007 Corvettes however ODI also has received four VOQs alleging the same condition in model year 2008 Corvettes. ODI is upgrading the investigation to an Engineering Analysis to further examine the consequences, frequency and scope of this problem. The ODI reports cited above can be reviewed at http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID under the following identification (ODI) numbers.For MY 2005-2007: 10400308, 10415603, 10415867, 10416531, 10421639, 10424391, 10424543, 10445971, 10451733, 10454919, 10460674, 10460750, 10463546, 10466342, 10466857, 10468128, 10469057, 10470616, 10471595, 10474350, 10474368, 10475257, 10486597, 10491670, 10496592, 10496788, 10498100, 10502059, 10505606, 10508507, 10510052, 10511467, 10511517, 10511576, 10511696, 10511699, 10511789, 10511837, 10511994, 10512072, 10512093, 10512154, 10512292, 10512341, 10513422, 10514802, 10514978, 10515162, 10515311, 10515821, 10519426, 10519879, 10520155, 10521036, 10521585, 10522260, 10523064, 10523190, 10525646, 10531602, 10531631, 10532439, 10533227, 10533251, 10533339For MY 2008: 10512856, 10514576, 10523059, 10532221

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 SWPS to calculate the driver's intended vehicle direction; this information is cross referenced to sensors that tell the system which direction the vehicle is actually going and the system will, if it determines a variance indicating the vehicle is in a over-steer or under-steer condition, reduce throttle control and apply braking to make a correction in vehicle direction towards what the system believes is the driver's intended path.GM dealers will inspect the SWPS connector of recalled vehicles and, if necessary, install a terminal position assurance clip to the connector.GM has advised NHTSA that its position is that the inappropriate activations of the VSC system do not present an unreasonable risk to safety because GM believes that the activations are low in occurrence, a rare set of conditions would need to be present, the driver has the ability to maintain direction control if the alleged condition were to occur, and that there are no reports of injuries.NHTSA does not agree.Based on interviews with complainants and testing performed at the NHTSA Vehicle Research and Testing Center in East Liberty, Ohio, ODI believes that the majority of the unwarranted activations of the VSC system occur when turning, in such scenarios as travelling highway entrance or exit ramps or in street traffic conditions.Complainants report the effect produced by the malfunction of the VSC system is sudden unexpected braking and in some cases a sudden unexpected change in vehicle direction which some complainants indicate was sufficient to cause a movement into an adjoining lane of traffic or in some cases into curbing or stationary objects.During the VSC event the brake lights of the Corvette are not illuminated, depriving trailing traffic from indication that braking is occurring and some complainants indicate the braking effect can be severe and last up to 10 seconds in length.Based on available information ODI counts four crashes due to a malfunction of the VSC system; GM is counting one crash due to the problem.In these circumstances NHTSA believes the defect presents an unreasonable risk to motor vehicle safety, and so advised GM when requesting this recall.This investigation is closed based on GM's recall.

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 CHEVROLET CORVETTE VEHICLES WITH THE TELESCOPING STEERING WHEEL OPTION.THE BULLETIN WAS INTENDED TO CORRECT A FRETTING CORROSION PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING WHEEL POSITION SENSOR CONNECTOR C202. AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS HAS BEEN OPENED (EA09-002) TO CONTINUE TO ASSES THE SCOPE, FREQUENCY, AND SAFETY-RELATED CONSEQUENCES OF THE ALLEGED DEFECT.

THE FRONT LIGHTS OF THE CAR ONE OF THEM ISN'T WORKING. I BELIEVE THIS ISN'T THE FIRST COMPLAIN ABOUT THIS KIND OF CAR. IT IS DANGEROUS TO BE DRIVING ON THE ROAD. I HAVE TO CONTINUE TO PUT MY HIGH BEAMS ON FOR THEM TO WORK. AT TIMES BOTH THE LIGHTS ARE ON AND WITH TIME DRIVING IT WILL TURN ONE OF THEM OFF. IT'S DANGEROUS BECAUSE THE VISIBILITY ON THE ROAD FOR ME AND OTHER DRIVERS.

NHTSA ID

11190642

Incident

Jan 1, 2018

Mileage

160,000 mi

VALVE RATTLE, NOT DRIVING VEHICLE TO KEEP FROM DROPPING VALVE......COSTS $4K FOR REPAIR TO HEADS....31000 MILES... IF I DRIVE IT AND DROP VALVE, WILL COST $18K TO REPLACE ENGINE ASSEMBLY.....LONG TERM VALUE OF VEHICLE DECREASES WITH NON-MATCHING NUMBERS VEHICLE. ONE HELLUVA WAY TO TREAT CUSTOMERS THAT SPEND $85K ON A VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

11047669

Incident

Jun 15, 2016

Mileage

31,000 mi

I NEVER RECEIVED ANY NOTICE FROM GM, BUT I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER'S ATTENTION WHILE I WAS IN FOR A RECALL REPAIR IN 2008. I TOLD THE TECH THAT MY TRACTION CONTROL, ACTIVE STABILITY CONTROL, WASN'T WORKING PROPERLY. WHEN I RECEIVED THE CAR BACK THE TECH SAID THE TRACTION CONTROL IS FIXED AND WORKING FINE. I DIDN'T SEE HOW HE COULD HAVE SAID THAT WHEN THE CAR NEVER LEFT THE SHOP. I REALIZE NOW THAT HE WAS AWARE OF SOMETHING THAT I WASN'T. THE TRACTION WASN'T FIXED, BUT I FELT THAT I CAN'T BRING IT BACK DUE TO INCOMPETENCE. I WENT TO FORUMS AND FOUND PLENTY OF COMPLAINTS FROM OTHERS. THEN I NOTICED THAT 2005-2006 CORVETTES WITH THE RPON37 STEERING COLUMN BUILT IN 2005 WERE RECALLED FOR THIS. NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER WAS 10V172000 AND GM'S CAMPAIGN # WAS N100118. I CALLED GM THEY SAID I AM MISTAKEN MY CAR IS NOT AFFECTED WHICH IS [XXX]. I THEN FOUND FROM THE INTERNET THAT PART #19179794, CLIP, WAS USED TO FIX THE ISSUE. I THEN ORDERED ONE OF THESE AND FOLLOWED THE INSTRUCTIONS TO REPAIR IT AND FOUND THIS CLIP WAS INSTALLED, BUT IMPROPERLY HENCE THE REASON IT WASN'T FIXED BY THE TECH, BUT HE WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION IT WAS SOLVED. I THEN REPLACED THE CLIP PROPERLY AND NOW IT'S OK. GM WAS VERY DIFFICULT AND DISMISSIVE DURING THE ENTIRE ORDEAL. LOOKING ON YOUR WEB SITE IT SPECIFICALLY STATES THAT MY VIN # DOES IN FACT FALL INTO THE SPECS OF YOUR RECALL. I AM GOING TO ENCLOSE A PHOTO OF THE BENT, IMPROPERLY, INSTALLED CLIP AND A PROPER PICTURE OF THE CLIP. ALSO THE HARNESS THAT NEEDS THE CLIP TO SHOW THAT THE BENT PRONG IS NEEDED TO REPAIR THE HARNESS. PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ID

11030440

Incident

Sep 18, 2017

Mileage

2,500 mi

I RECENTLY HAD MY VALVES TESTED BY A LOCAL SHOP SINCE IVE HEARD FROM OTHER OWNERS THAT THE LS7 VALVES DROP AT ANY GIVEN TIME. I HAD TWO VALVES OUT OF SPECS AND HAVE TO GET IT FIXED IN ORDER TO SAVE ENGINE FROM FUTURE DAMAGE. MY CAR CURRENTLY HAS 52,241 MILES.

NHTSA ID

10954824

Incident

Feb 10, 2017

Mileage

52,241 mi

I HAD A FRIEND WHO HAD AN ENGINE FAILURE ON THIS SAME ENGINE DUE TO A FAILED EXHAUST VALVE. THE VALVE GUIDES WERE EXTREMELY WORN ON HIS CAR CAUSING THE VALVE FAILURE. DUE TO HIS FAILURE AND MANY OTHERS LIKE IT, I REMOVED MY HEADS AND INSPECTED. SURE ENOUGH, THEY WERE SIGNIFICANTLY BEYOND GENERAL MOTORS PUBLISHED TOLERANCES AND REQUIRED MACHINING TO REPAIR. THIS WAS AT SIGNIFICANT COST TO ME AND OUT OF POCKET. GM KNOWS OF THIS ISSUE AND REFUSES TO PARTICIPATE IN REPAIR COSTS FOR CARS OUT OF WARRANTY EVEN THOUGH IT'S A DESIGN FLAW AND SAFETY CONCERN. IF AND WHEN THE VALVE CATASTROPHICALLY FAILS, THE ENGINE WILL HAVE A COMPLETE SHUT DOWN, LARGE AMOUNTS OF SMOKE OUT THE EXHAUST CLOUDING THE OTHER DRIVERS VISION, AND HAS THE POSSIBILITY OF LEAVING OIL SLICKS ON THE ROAD SURFACE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10919211

Incident

Jan 1, 2014

Mileage

55,000 mi

VALVE GUIDES OUT OF WEAR WITH POSSIBLE FAILURE INCLUDING VALVE TO DROP INSIDE COMBUSTION CHAMBER

NHTSA ID

10862094

Incident

Apr 23, 2016

Mileage

22,269 mi

I WAS INTERNING THE INTERSTATE 15 IN CALIFORNIA AND WAS PICKING UP SPEED TO INTER THE HWY AND MY CORVETTE Z06 STARTING MAKING A KNOCKING SOUND AND LOST POWER AND I TURNED IT OFF AND HAD IT LOOKED AT MY A VERY WELL KNOW AUTOMOTIVE SHOP WHO SPECIALIZES IN GM VEHICLES. THEY TOLD ME IT DROP AN EXHAUST VALVE.

NHTSA ID

10818469

Incident

Oct 29, 2012

Mileage

51,051 mi

I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT A NOISE THAT I WAS HEARING IN MY 2006 Z06 THAT IS UNLIKE ANY OTHER NOISE I HAVE HEARD WHILE CURRENTLY OWNING MY THREE OTHER GM VEHICLES. I DECIDED TO BRING IT TO A WELL KNOW CORVETTE SPECIALITY SHOP NEAR ME. THE TOLD ME ABOUT THE VALVE GUIDE ISSUE THAT HAS BEEN LINKED TO THE LS7 HEADS. I IMMEDIATELY TOLD HIM TO TAKE THE HEADS OFF THE CAR AND CHECK THEM. I HAD 4 EXHAUST VALVES THAT WERE WAY OUT OF GM SPECS. I HAD THE HEADS RE-MACHINED PROPERLY AND INSTALLED NEW INTAKE AND EXHAUST VALVE GUIDES, VALVE SPRINGS AND SEALS.

NHTSA ID

10818294

Incident

Oct 13, 2015

Mileage

29,400 mi

This PI communicates the requirement to provide a pico file to receive diagnostic assistance from TAC.

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about the use of J-35616-64B and Mini 50 terminal test probe, replacement terminals, and terminated leads.

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about the use of J-35616-64B and Mini 50 terminal test probe, replacement terminals, and terminated leads.

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about the use of J-35616-64B and Mini 50 terminal test probe, replacement terminals, and terminated leads.

This service bulletin provides information on Characteristics of Wide Low Aspect Ratio Tires, Vehicle Pulls Left or Right, Wanders, Follows Depressions in Road Surface, Tramlining.

This service bulletin provides information for dealers/technicians on When and How to Submit a Field Product Report (FPR) (U.S. and Canada Dealers Only).