2005 Chevrolet Corvette Electrical Problems

The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Corvette. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the low-beam headlights malfunctioned and failed to illuminate as needed. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent. The vehicle was taken to the local mechanic, who was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The local dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V251000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING). The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 123,000.

NHTSA ID

11754498

Incident

Aug 3, 2026

Mileage

123,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

11629385

Incident

Dec 5, 2024

The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Corvette. The contact stated while driving 45 MPH, the headlights were flickering and then became inoperable. The fuse box was melted. There was smoke detected from underneath the hood. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V251000 (Electrical System, Exterior Lighting). The vehicle was towed to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the fuse box needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, and informed the contact that the part was no longer produced. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.

NHTSA ID

11603964

Incident

Jun 29, 2024

Mileage

80,000 mi

The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Corvette. The contact stated that the low-beam headlight failed to function properly. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing the fuse box to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. Upon investigation, the contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V251000 (Electrical System, Exterior Lighting) however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 30,458.

NHTSA ID

11540806

Incident

Aug 24, 2023

Mileage

30,458 mi

I purchased my 2005 Corvette C6 from a used car dealership on 4/30/2023. The car was fine for the first week. The second week I began getting a lot of error codes specifically: Service Active Handling System Service Traction Control Service ABS Shocks Inoperative Service Fuel System. At times it would go into limp mode. I would find a safe place to pull off. I would shut the car off and it would not restart. I would check the relays under the hood and the passenger floorboard. Eventually it would restart and drive again until the next time. I have replaced the following components: Battery cables with factory replacement New Battery, twice New high output alternator and a new belt. These items solved the many codes. Now I get Service Traction System, and the traction control shuts off. When this happened last, I got a P0101 MAF sensor error. Replaced the MAF Sensor 8/13. Has not happened as of yesterday. I have checked all of the grounds, added a new ground system called the Big Three. I should not have to put all this work into a well documented issue not only in the C6 but other models.

NHTSA ID

11538384

Incident

May 12, 2023

My car has been broken for over a year now. It has been to the dealership for the main engine wiring harness part number 19115750 which is unique to the 2005 and 2006 corvette. The failure causes several different problem. It keeps the TCM from which is the traction control module which adjust speed and traction to the wheels which is design to help drivers keep their cars under control. Without this system the car will loose traction and can cause it to go off the road. The second issue with the harness is it can put the car limp mode which restricts the speed to under 40mph which if you are driving and trying to excel into traffic this system will come in without notice and put you into a situation where if you are trying to merge or just go when the light changes it will only go like 5 mph causes the cars behind you to run into the rear of your vehicle and when if fail and you are pulling into traffic it causes your car to be in a direct line of impact with oncoming vehicle. The engine harness also provides power to the transmission via the ECM which keeps it from providing enough power to run the transmission control computer. This will make your car not go into gear or make it go completely out so without a transmission your car won’t move at all. This happens without notice. Now GM doesn’t make a replacement harness anymore making your vehicle unusable. GM also wants between 7k and 10k to make a harness for the vehicle. This doesn’t include installation. This makes the owners like myself have to seek other means to repair the vehicle. Like having a custom harness made for vehicle. Since GM only made this harness for 2 years it has been impossible for me to get my vehicle repaired at any cost. Making owner to make decisions that are unfair to owners. Like sell the car for scrap Paid the expensive repair which is like half the value of the car. Trade the car and lose thousands of dollars if you can find a dealership willing to take it

NHTSA ID

11484749

Incident

May 1, 2021

Service Column Lock, Service Active Handling System. Engine shut down (off) happened and avoided collision. Contacted GM and refused to issue a TSB (#18-NA-346, issued November 14, 2018).

NHTSA ID

11452279

Incident

Feb 12, 2022

WHEN TAKING THE CAR OUT OF PARK, THE SHIFTER IS STUCK, YOU HAVE TO TURN THE CAR BACK OFF AND THEN ON TO GET IT TO RELEASE SOMETIME IT TAKE 2-3 TIMES REPEATING FOR IT TO DISENGAGE. ALSO, THE BATTERY DRAINS IF IT STARTED EVERY WEEK. THIS CAR ONLY HAS 36,000 MILES IS NOT DRIVE BUT ON NICE DAYS.

NHTSA ID

11405016

Incident

Mar 23, 2021

Mileage

36,000 mi

VEHICLE STARTS BUT WILL NOT SHIFT OUT OF PARK WITH FOOT ON BRAKE. EVENTUALLY AFTER REPEATED ATTEMPTS OR LEAVING VEHICLE FOR A LITTLE WHILE, RE-TRY AND ISSUE GOES AWAY. ISSUE HAPPENS RANDOMLY AND CANNOT BE REPLICATED EASILY.

NHTSA ID

11404402

Incident

Mar 20, 2021

Mileage

52,000 mi

WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH WITHIN A LEFT CURVE, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST TRACTION IN THE REAR WHEELS SENDING THE VEHICLE ACROSS THE OPPOSITE LANE AND INTO THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC SHOULDER. CAR WAS TRAVELING ON A WARM SUNNY DAY ON A TWO LANE COUNTRY ROAD. IT IS MY BEST GUESS THAT THE VEHICLE APPLIED REAR BRAKES AS A MEANS OF ACTIVE HANDLING. I STRONGLY BELIEVE IF THE BRAKES DID NOT ELECTRONICALLY APPLY, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT HAVE LOST CONTROL.

NHTSA ID

11388422

Incident

Feb 15, 2020

Mileage

57,000 mi

35000 MILES .. TRANS OCCASIONALLY STICKS IN PARK. IF YOU "MESS" WITH IT IT WILL FIX ITSELF, TILL NEXT TIME. VERY DANGEROUS IF YOU ARE IN A POSITION TO HAVE TO START THE CAR IN A EMERGENCY. THANKS [XXX] REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *CC

NHTSA ID

11341913

Incident

Jul 9, 2020

Mileage

35,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING THE CAR IN THE BUSY ROAD ON JULY 5, 2005 THE DIC SHOWED SERVICE ACTIVE HANDLING SYSTEM, AND THE ENGINE ABS AND TCS WARNING LIGHTED UP IN THE DASHBOARD, SUDDENLY THE CAR SLOWED DOWN AND HAVE DIFFICULTY ACCELERATING.

NHTSA ID

11339163

Incident

Jul 5, 2020

Mileage

25,150 mi

VEHICLE OFTEN STUCK IN PARK ( AUTOMATIC ), WILL NOT MOVE TO OTHER GEARS. KNOWN ISSUE WITH BRAKE SOLENOID ( PART OF SHIFTER IN 2005 MODEL ). IT IS UNRELIABLE AND ALLOWS FOR DANGEROUS SITUATIONS - WOULD NOT MOVE DESPITE NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS AFTER SITTING ON A HIGHWAY DUE TO AN ACCIDENT TRAFFIC JAM. SYMPTOM HAS NO STANDARD OCCURRENCES - COLD, WARMED UP, FLAT GROUND, UP/DOWN HILL. REMEDY SHEER LUCK THAT IS UNLOCKS. THE SITUATION IS WORSENING, MAKING THE CAR UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THIS CONDITION HAS CONTINUED SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR IN JUNE 2006, CONTINUES TO WORSEN. GM APPARENTLY ADDRESSED THIS EARLY AFTER RELEASE IN 2005, HAS IGNORED IT SINCE. GM HAS A REPAIR OPTION - A NEW SHIFTER WITHOUT THE SOLENOID ( KNOWS THE PROBLEM ) FOR APPROX A $1000 REPAIR. *TR

NHTSA ID

11324934

Incident

May 4, 2020

Mileage

1,500 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS AT STAND STILL AND WAS UNABLE TO START THE IGNITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. ADDITIONALLY, THE STEERING WHEEL CEASED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THE DOOR UNLOCK BUTTON WAS INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO MOSS BROS CHEVROLET (12625 AUTO MALL DR, MORENO VALLEY, CA 92555), TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FUEL PUMP AND FUSE BOX NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

NHTSA ID

11320433

Incident

Apr 7, 2019

Mileage

70,000 mi

FREQUENTLY UNABLE TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK ONCE THE CAR IS STARTED. SHIFT INTERLOCK SOLENOID SEEMS TO BE FAULTY. VEHICLE IS ALWAYS STATIONARY IN A PARKING SPACE. SOMETIMES I TURN IT OFF AND TRY AGAIN AND IT WORKS. VERY ANNOYING.

NHTSA ID

11174231

Incident

Jan 3, 2019

Mileage

50,000 mi

THE 2005 CHEVROLET CORVETTE DIM HEADLIGHT RECALL IS A SCAM. CHEVROLET DOES NOT FIX DIM HEADLIGHT FAILURE THEN DEMANDS OVER $750 TO REPAIR DIM HEADLIGHT FAILURE. FROM TIME OF DIM HEADLIGHTS COMING ON THEY FAIL AFTER ABOUT 10 MINUTES AND DO NOT FUNCTION AGAIN FOR HOURS AFTER CAR IS SHUT DOWN. (MOVING CAR HAS NO HEADLIGHTS UNTIL BRIGHT LIGHTS OR FOR LIGHTS ARE MANUALLY TURNED ON)

NHTSA ID

11172358

Incident

Jan 1, 2017

Mileage

147,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, IT FAILED TO CRANK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ELECTRONIC SIGNAL MALFUNCTIONED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO WALLY EDGAR CHEVROLET INC (3805 S LAPEER RD, LAKE ORION, MI 48360), BUT NO DIAGNOSTIC FAILURE CODES WERE FOUND AND THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO JEFFERSON CHEVROLET (2130 E JEFFERSON AVE, DETROIT, MI 48207) WHERE THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT NO RECALLS WERE ASSOCIATED WITH THE VIN. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V060000 (STEERING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 8-1941692497. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,000.

NHTSA ID

11080682

Incident

Mar 19, 2018

Mileage

53,000 mi

COLUMN LOCK FAILURE (4 TIMES) . CONVERTIBLE TOP 5+ TIMES RIB IN TOP BROKEN,TOP WILL NOT RAISE OR LOWER OR WILL MOVE AND STOP. PLASTIC INTERIOR PARTS DRY UP AND BREAK VISOR.ALL BEFORE 50K MILES.CAR IS IN THE DEALER SHOP (30+ DAYS AT THIS TIME)

NHTSA ID

11058396

Incident

Jan 1, 2007

Mileage

50,000 mi

SERVICE ACTIVE HANDLING SYSTEM MESSAGE APPEARS INTERMITTINGLY, VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. DIDN'T NOTICE ANY HANDLING ISSUE BUT I AM CONCERNED THAT THE CAR WILL BEHAVE IN AN UNSAFE MANOR.

NHTSA ID

10888874

Incident

Jul 27, 2016

Mileage

40,786 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET CORVETTE THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED EXCESSIVE BATTERY DRAIN. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE LO JACK SYSTEM HAD CAUSED THE BATTERY TO DRAIN AND IT NEEDED TO BE DISCONNECTED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BATTERY HAD BEEN REPLACED NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 14,000. UPDATED 02/03/17*LJ

NHTSA ID

10872980

Incident

Jul 1, 2008

Mileage

14,000 mi

IT HAS BEEN REPORTED NUMEROUS TIMES OF THE EXCESSIVE BATTERY DRAINAGE OF THESE VEHICLES. GM DECIDED THAT THE CAR WOULD NEED TO BE PLACED IN REVERSE WITH THE PARKING BRAKE ENGAGED FOR THE CAR TO BE TOTALLY TURNED OFF. THIS CAUSES THE BATTERY TO DRAIN EXCESSIVELY, I HAVE REPLACED 4 BATTERIES IN A YEAR. YOU WILL BE STRANDED WHEREVER YOU'RE AT. GM HAS NOT TRIED TO RESOLVE THIS MATTER. WHAT THEY DID WAS IN 2006 TOOK THE FUNCTION OFF THE CAR, SO THEY WOULDN'T HAVE TO DEAL WITH IT. THIS NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED BY GM, OR DOES IT TAKE A DEAD BATTERY, A JUMP ,AND A HALF CHARGED CAR TO SHUT DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD CAUSING AN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ID

10865130

Incident

May 16, 2016

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTER WILL LOCK IN PARK, CANNOT SHIFT FROM PARK TO REVERSE OR DRIVE. REFERRED TO OPERATORS MANUAL BUT NO RESOLVE. CONDITION BEGAN WITH LESS THAN 6,500 MILES ON THE CAR. WILL SHIFT OUT OF PARK SOMETIMES; AND IS UNPREDICTABLE; WILL OCCUR ANYWHERE AT ANYTIME WHICH IS A SAFETY ISSUE WITHOUT REGARD AS TO WHERE THE DRIVER MAY BE LOCATED. EXTENSIVE RESEARCH HAS PROVEN THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW WITH THE SHIFT INTERLOCK SOLENOID THAT WAS CORRECTED BY GM FOR THE 2006 MODELS. URGENT TO RECALL FOR ALL 2005 MODELS WITH THIS SHIFTER DESIGN.

NHTSA ID

10851514

Incident

May 5, 2015

Mileage

6,500 mi

THIS CAR WILL DRAIN THE BATTERY AFTER THREE DAYS OF SITTING AND SOMETIMES AFTER ONE DAY OF SITTING. THIS A A MANUAL SHIFT CAR AND THOUSAND OF FELLOW C-6 CORVETTE OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM AND THE DEALER DOES NOT KNOW HOW TO SOLVE THE ISSUE. EVERY THING HAS BEEN CHECK IN MY CAR AND IS LISTED AS WORKING CORRECTLY FROM THE DEALERSHIP. MY CAR ONLY HAS 39,000 MILE AND IS FACTORY ORIGINAL. CARFAX HAS DOCUMENTATION OF ALL REPAIRS AND ISSUES. AS STATED THIS IS A 6 SPEED MANUAL SHIFT CAR. THE AUTOMATIC CARS ARE NOT EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM. I HAD TO HAVE THIS CAR JUMP STARTED 6 TIMES WITHIN 30 DAYS. HELP PLEASE!!!!

NHTSA ID

10816300

Incident

Dec 1, 2015

Mileage

39,000 mi

THERE IS A BATTERY DRAINING ISSUE WHICH THE DEALERSHIP AND THOUSANDS OF C-6 CORVETTE OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING, PARTICULARLY THE 2005 YEAR. I HAVE OWNED THIS CAR FOR ONE MONTH AND HAVE HAD TO HAVE IT JUMPED NUMEROUS TIMES.. CARFAX HAS DOCUMENTATION ON FILE.

NHTSA ID

10816299

Incident

Dec 1, 2015

Mileage

39,000 mi

MY PROBLEM IS VERY SIMILAR TO BELOW. MY 2005 CHEVY CORVETTE WILL RUN FINE FOR A WHILE. THEN FOR NO PARTICULAR REASON, THE DIC WILL FLASH - CHECK TRACTION CONTROL, CHECK ABS, ETC. IF I SHUT OFF THE CAR, THEN RESTART, THIS MESSAGE WILL STOP, BUT THE SECURITY LAMP WILL STAY ON. THE TIME BETWEEN INSTANCES WILL DECREASE UNTIL THE CAR WILL NOT START PERIODICALLY. I HAVE HAD THE BCM AND ECM CHANGED. THIS FIXES THE PROBLEM FOR A WHILE, BUT THE PROBLEM COMES BACK. I HAVE ALSO SEEN THE ERROR "NO FOB" EVEN WHEN A NEW BATTERY HAS BEEN PUT IN THE FOB AND IT WORKED JUST FINE AN HOUR AGO. THIS IS GETTING EXPENSIVE. I HAVE PUT NEW BATTERIES IN, NOTHING SEEMS TO PREVENT THIS FROM EVENTUALLY HAPPENING. THE CORVETTE FORUM HAS MANY POSTS ON THIS ISSUE. FROM ANOTHER POST: I HAVE HAD SEVERAL INCIDENTS OF DEAD BATTERY SYNDROME (DBS) SINCE I BOUGHT MY 2005 CORVETTE IN OCTOBER 2008. THE BATTERY HAS BEEN REPLACED AT LEAST 4 TIMES. I HAVE BOUGHT THIS TO THE DEALERS AND GM'S ATTENTION AND THEY SAY THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. THEY REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS CONDITION AFFECTS VERY MANY 2005 MANUAL TRANSMISSION CARS WITH MUCH DATA ON THE INTERNET ON FORUMS AND BLOGS. MANY OF US HAVE FOUND ALTERNATIVE METHODS TO KEEP THE CAR OPERABLE. GM NEEDS TO FINALLY ACKNOWLEDGE THIS CONDITION AND ISSUE A FIX.

NHTSA ID

10807204

Incident

Nov 26, 2015

Mileage

85,000 mi