2006 Chevrolet Corvette Powertrain (other) Problems

Happened twice within a day. The main electric fan on the radiator stopped working and the car overheated. Once at idle, was able to shut the car off safely. The second time, there was traffic on the highway, and the fan stopped working and the car started to overheat. Had to shut the car off and wait for it to cool down on the side of the road. When I got the car home, I found the electrical connector of the fan to be melted and fused together. There was no indicator that the fan would stop running prior to the engine overheating.

NHTSA ID

11538312

Incident

Aug 13, 2023

WHEN I START MY CORVETTE AND ATTEMPT TO SHIFT MY AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FROM PARK TO DRIVE, THE SHIFTER WILL NOT MOVE OUT OF THE PARK POSITION.

NHTSA ID

11354801

Incident

Jun 3, 2020

Mileage

23,142 mi

WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE, I CAN HEAR, AS IT SEEMS TO ME, EXCESSIVE VALVE TRAIN NOISE.

NHTSA ID

11322822

Incident

Jun 23, 2016

Mileage

1,850 mi

I WAS DRIVING IN S 35 MPH ZONE AND IT CHANGED TO 45 MPH. I WAS IN 2 OR 3RD GEAR AND HAS JUST STARTED UP A SLIGHT INCLINE AND I WAS INCREASING SPEED WHEN THE CAR MADE A SUDDEN JERK AND LOUD ALMOST A BANG. I DEPRESSED THE CLUTCH AND IT STAYED ON THE FLOOR. I THOUGH THAT THE CLUTCH HAD CAME APART AND I PULLED THE PEDAL UP TO SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON. THE ENGINE AT THAT POINT WAS RUNNING VERY ROUGH AND WOULD NOT HOLD SPEED OR ACCELERATE. I PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT AND GOT MY WIFE TO PICK ME UP. I THEN GOT MY PICKUP AND TRAILER AND TOOK THE CAR TO CLASSIC CHEVROLET. THEY FOUND WHERE THE VALVE HAD DROPPED INTO THE CYLINDER AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE PISTON AND ROD. I LOOKED AT THE ENGINE WHILE TORE DOWN AND NOTICED WHAT APPEARED TO ME TO BE A CRACK IN THE CYLINDER WALL AND POINTED IT OUT, THE FORMAN SAID THE HAD CHECKED IT AND DIDN'T FEEL THAT IT WAS A CRACK. THEY ADVISED ME TO GET A NEW HEAD AND HAVE THE OTHER HEAD WORKED ON AS WELL AS A PISTON, ETC. I DID THAT AND HAD THE CAR REPAIRED. WHEN THE CAR JERKED IT ALSO AFFECTED THE PRESSURE PLATE SO I HAD THAT REPLACED. AFTER I GOT THE CAR BACK I NOTICED IT WAS SMOKING WHITE VAPOR WHENEVER I STARTED IT. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE TESTED IT AND SURE ENOUGH IT WAS A CRACK IN THE CYLINDER. I THEN HAD THE MOTOR REPLACED AND THE DEALERSHIP WAS VERY FAIR AND CREDITED THE EARLIER WORK AGAINST THE MOTOR. WHEN THE MOTOR LET LOOSE, THE CAR LOCKED THE BACK WHEELS AND THE CAR BEHIND ME HAD TO MAKE A RATHER QUICK STOP AND DODGE ME SO AS NOT TO HAVE A WRECK.

NHTSA ID

11320338

Incident

Apr 5, 2019

Mileage

22,188 mi

THE SHIFTER IS CONNECTED TO THE TRANSMISSION WITH A 4 FOOT CABLE, THIS CABLE IS HOUSED IN THE DRIVE SHAFT TUNNEL, THE CABLE HAS A PLASTIC BUSHING ON BOTH ENDS, THE HEAT IN THE TUNNEL BAKES THE PLASTIC BUSHING THAT CONNECTS THE SHIFTER TO THE TRANSMISSION CABLE, MY BUSHING BROKE INTO PIECES AND THE CAR COULD NOT SHIFT INTO OR OUT OF GEAR. MANY CORVETTES IN THE C5,C6 & C7 MODES HAVE THIS SAME ISSUE AND ARE FAILING EVERYDAY. MY CAR WAS IN THE GARAGE IN PARK, I HAD DRIVEN IT EARLIER IN THE DAY, I STARED THE CAR AND THE SHIFTER WOULD MOVE, BUT THE PLASTIC BUSHING HAD BROKEN INTO PIECES DUE TO THE HEAT FAILURE. I KNOW OF THE HAPPENING TO 4 OTHER CORVETTES AND THE SHOP I TOOK MY CAR TO WAS RECEIVING OTHER CALLS ON THE SAME ISSUE.

NHTSA ID

11234630

Incident

Jun 21, 2019

Mileage

64,000 mi

CAR WILL REFUSE TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK DURING NORMAL START. CAR WILL REFUSE TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK WHEN IN ACC MODE. PROBLEM IS NON DETERMINISTIC AND MAY BE RELATED TO VOLTAGES AND/OR RESISTANCES AND/OR FAULTY PARTS IN SYSTEM. CAR IS RENDERED NON-OPERABLE AND REQUIRES TOWING OR REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO RELEASE GEAR TRAIN OVER A VARIABLE PERIOD OF TIME. THIS SEEMS TO BE A WELL KNOWN MANUFACTURING DEFECT NOT ADDRESSED BY THE MANUFACTURER

NHTSA ID

11223021

Incident

Jun 27, 2019

Mileage

11,033 mi

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

NHTSA ID

11205667

Incident

May 4, 2019

Mileage

32,022 mi

SHIFTER STIFF AND IS VERY HARD TO SHIFT INTO GEAR ON AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

NHTSA ID

11204560

Incident

Apr 25, 2019

MY AUTOMATIC SHIFTER JAMMED IN THE D LOCATION AND WOULD ONLY GO TO NEUTRAL AND WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE OR PARK, AND THE DOORS WOULD NOT OPEN WITH THE BUTTON, THIS SHIFTER HAS JAMMED IN PARK IN THE PAST. THIS CAR ONLY HAS 26K MILES ON IT. AND IS NOT DRIVEN IN BAD WEATHER. NOT A GOOD FEELING TO BE TRAPED IN YOUR CAR.

NHTSA ID

11091419

Incident

May 2, 2018

Mileage

26,900 mi

VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT IN PARK OR REVERSE AND DRIVE. MALFUNCTION CAR WAS IN TRAFFIC

NHTSA ID

11065005

Incident

Oct 31, 2017

Mileage

80,000 mi

THE SHIFT LEVEL ON MY AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION LOCKS IN NUETRAL. BEEN READING THAT THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN. IT STARTS WHEN THE CAR IS IN PARK AND THEN WON'T LET THE SHIFTER MOVE

NHTSA ID

11013789

Incident

Aug 8, 2017

Mileage

50,200 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, THE CLUTCH PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO WILLIAMS CHEVROLET (2 AUTOMOTIVE BLVD, ELKTON, MD 21921) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLUTCH PLATE, PRESSURE PLATE, AND SLAVE CYLINDER FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE RECURRED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A STORAGE FACILITY. THE CONTACT DID NOT CONTACT OR TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER OR MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE CONTACT SHOULD TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER AND HAVE IT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 21,229 FOR THE FIRST FAILURE AND 24,000 FOR THE SECOND FAILURE.

NHTSA ID

11000865

Incident

Oct 15, 2011

Mileage

21,229 mi

WAITING IN TRAFFIC DUE TO ACCIDENT AHEAD. SHIFT AUTO TRANS. INTO PARK. THE TRANS. WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF PARK TO RESUME NORMAL OPERATION. PROBLEM DESCRIBED IN OWNER OPERATIONS MANUAL. FINALLY ABLE TO SHIFT TO DRIVE. NOW WILL NOT SHIFT OUT OF DRIVE CREATING POTENTIAL FOR CAR TO ROLL WITHOUT BREAK APPLIED. RESEARCH SHOWS THIS IS HAPPENING IN YEARS 2005 TO 2016.

NHTSA ID

10953979

Incident

Jan 3, 2017

Mileage

23,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT INTO THE PARK OR REVERSE POSITION WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT HAD TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY IN ORDER TO SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 51,000.

NHTSA ID

10925033

Incident

Nov 8, 2016

Mileage

51,000 mi

AFTER INITIAL START, AND WHILE HOLDING BRAKE PEDAL DOWN, THE AUTOMATIC SHIFT LEVER STAYS LOCKED IN "PARK," AND CANNOT BE SHIFTED TO OTHER GEARS. THE SOLENOID SEEMS NOT TO BE ENGAGING. THIS IS AN ANNOYING OCCURRENCE, WHICH HAPPENS TOO OFTEN. I CAN SEE SAFETY ISSUES ARISING FROM THIS PROBLEM. PROBLEM BEGAN @ 2,500 MILES. VEHICLE NOW HAS ONLY 3,100 MILES, AND STILL OCCURRING. VEHICLE IS ALWAYS STATIONARY, AND MOSTLY OCCURS DURING INITIAL START, WHEN OPERATION OF VEHICLE BEGINS. ALSO OCCURS AFTER A FEW HOURS OF VEHICLE OPERATION, WHEN PARKED, IGNITION TURNED OFF, THEN RESTARTED MINUTES OR HOURS LATER. VEHICLE IS ALWAYS GARAGED, AND THIS PROBLEM IS NOT WEATHER RELATED.

NHTSA ID

10915128

Incident

Oct 8, 2016

Mileage

3,100 mi

1ST THE PLASTIC BUSHING THAT HOLDS THE SHIFT CABLE TO THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT LINKAGE BROKE AND LEFT THE CAR INOPERABLE ( UNABLE TO SHIFT ) PARKED IN MY CARPORT ABOUT 4 MOTHS AGO , 2ND THE PLASTIC BUSHING THAT HOLDS THE SHIFT CABLE TO THE CENTER CONSOLE SHIFTER BROKE AND LEFT MY CAR IN REVERSE AND TOOK OFF AND ROLLED BACK INTO CARPORT WITH BOTH DOORS OPEN , NEEDLESS TO SAY WHAT HAPPENED I'VE ONLY SEEN IN THE MOVIES UNTIL NOW , BOTH DOORS ARE TOTALED , AND CHEVROLET KNOWS THIS TO BE A PROBLEM BUT DOES NOT FIX CHEAP PLASTIC BUSHINGS , ONLY OFFERS WHOLE CABLE WITH SAME CHEAP PLASTIC BUSHINGS ...

NHTSA ID

10877026

Incident

Jun 19, 2016

Mileage

91,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, IT FAILED TO SHIFT FROM THE PARK POSITION WITHOUT WARNING. THE SHIFTER CABLE WAS REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,000.

NHTSA ID

10854115

Incident

Apr 3, 2015

Mileage

74,000 mi

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTER STUCK IN PARK. IN THE 2006 MODEL BOTH OF THESE ISSUES WILL EVENTUALLY LEAD TO BEING "STUCK IN PARK" AND YOU CANNOT CONTROL WHEN OR WHERE. IT IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH GM AND THEY HAVE FAILED TO ISSUE A RECALL BECAUSE OF THE CARS AGE. IT IS STARTING TO EFFECT NEWER MODELS AND LIKELY THE SAME OR SIMILAR PART. THE SAFETY LOCKING SOLENOID GOES BAD, AND THE PART IS NOT REPLACEABLE ON ITS OWN. YOU HAVE TO BUY AN ENTIRE SHIFTER ASSEMBLY. IT WILL COST UPWARDS OF 700.00 OR MORE. IF YOU FORCE IT INTO GEAR YOU CAN ALSO BREAK THE SHIFTER CABLE AT A HIGHER COST.

NHTSA ID

10849563

Incident

Mar 6, 2014

Mileage

45,000 mi

AUTOMATIC SHIFTER WILL NOT RETURN TO PARK OR REVERSE POSITION FROM NEUTRAL. ESSENTIALLY VEHICLE IS STUCK IN NEUTRAL. THE FAILURE IS IN THE SHIFTER MECHANISM AND NOT THE LINKAGE OR TRANSMISSION. THERE IS NO WAY TO SAFELY PARK THE VEHICLE IN THIS CONDITION OR RESTART THE CAR ONCE IT HAS BEEN TURNED OFF. ONCE IN THIS BAD STATE, THE VEHICLE REMAINS IN ACCESSORY MODE THEREFORE KILLING THE BATTERY.

NHTSA ID

10846300

Incident

Mar 10, 2016

Mileage

21,000 mi

HAS CRACK ON TOP OF FUEL PUMP SPRAYING GAS , SMELLS IN CAB

NHTSA ID

10824581

Incident

Feb 5, 2016

Mileage

96,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. WHILE APPROACHING A STOP, THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS NOT ABLE TO SHIFT OUT OF THE DRIVE POSITION. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED TO STOP THE VEHICLE'S MOVEMENT BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT THE GEAR SHIFTER. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE GEAR SHIFTER BECAME LOOSE AFTER CHANGING POSITION TO PARK. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE GEAR SHIFT CABLE WAS FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,211.

NHTSA ID

10788629

Incident

Oct 22, 2015

Mileage

12,211 mi

ON AUGUST 13, 2015, MY 2006 CORVETTE WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF REVERSE. THE CAR WAS STUCK IN THAT REVERSE GEAR AND THE SHIFT LEVER WAS NOT ENABLING THE SELECTION OF ANOTHER GEAR. THE SHIFTER MECHANISM ON THIS AUTOMATIC EQUIPPED VEHICLE WAS OPERATIONAL, BUT THE LINKAGE TO THE TRANSMISSION WAS NO LONGER ENGAGED. THE CAR WAS BEING PULLED INTO THE GARAGE WHEN THIS HAPPENED, SO FORTUNATELY I WAS NOT IN A BUSY INTERSECTION, IN A PARKING LOT, OR IN SOME OTHER LOCATION WHERE I, OR SOMEONE ELSE, MIGHT HAVE BEEN IN HARM'S WAY DUE TO A VEHICLE THAT I COULD NO LONGER CONTROL. SINCE THE CAR COULD NOT BE PUT IN NEUTRAL OR PARK, I HAD TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE WITH IT IN REVERSE AND USE THE PARKING BRAKE TO KEEP THE CAR FROM MOVING. SINCE THE SHIFTER MECHANISM COULD STILL MOVE, THE SWITCH ACTIVATING THE "OK TO START" WOULD HAVE ALLOWED THE CAR TO START WHEN PUT IN THE PARK OR NEUTRAL POSITIONS - WHILE THE TRANSMISSION WAS STILL STUCK IN REVERSE; A REAL SAFETY ISSUE. THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM WAS A 50 CENT BUSHING THAT ATTACHES TO THE SHIFT LEVER. THIS BUSHING ALLOWS THE BALL END CONNECTOR OF THE SHIFTER TO ENGAGE A SHIFTER CABLE THAT ACTUATES THE LINKAGE TO THE TRANSMISSION. SO WHEN THAT BUSHING BREAKS, YOU CAN NO LONGER SHIFT THE CAR. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO MANY, MANY PEOPLE OWNING THE GENERATIONS OF C5 (1997-2004) AND C6 (2005-2013) CORVETTES. YOU CAN READ A SAMPLE THREAD WITH PICTURES HERE: HTTP://WWW.CORVETTEFORUM.COM/FORUMS/C6-CORVETTE-GENERAL-DISCUSSION/3482107-C6-AUTOMATIC-SHIFTER-BROKEN-NEED-HELP-REPLACING-TRANSMISSION-SHIFTER-MODULE.HTML OR HERE (AND THERE ARE MANY MORE!) HTTP://WWW.CORVETTEFORUM.COM/FORUMS/C5-GENERAL/2684621-BROKEN-SHIFTER-LINKAGE-FIX-WITH-PICS.HTML THE PART REPLACED (THE BUSHING) FAILED BECAUSE OF PLASTIC DETERIORATION, THE PICTURES IN THE ABOVE LINKS SHOW THE BROKEN PART AND THE PART OBTAINED TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. THIS PROBLEM NEEDS SERIOUS ATTENTION!

NHTSA ID

10748917

Incident

Aug 13, 2015

Mileage

42,355 mi

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 WAY BEYOND GM SPEC AND HAD DEFORMED MY VALVES WEAKENING THEM TO THE POINT OF CERTAIN FAILURE.I PAYED THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO REPAIR.I DO NOT FEEL THAT A CAR WITH SO LIITLE MILES SHOULD NEED SUCH AN EXPENSIVE REPAIR.CHEVROLET HAS REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS PROBLEM THAT IF LEFT UNCHECKED WOULD LEAD TO ENGINE FAILURE RESULTING IN AN UNSAFE CONDITION FOR DRIVER PASSENGER AND OTHER MOTORISTS. .

NHTSA ID

10747174

Incident

Apr 8, 2014

Mileage

31,000 mi

VEHICLE WILL NOT SHIFT TO PARK AFTER STARTING ENGINE AND ENGAGING THE BRAKE. TRIED RESTARTING AND SHIFTING THE CAR INTO REVERSE SEVERAL TIMES AND IT FINALLY WENT INTO REVERSE AFTER APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES OF TRYING. THE VEHICLE WAS ON A FLAT SURFACE. AFTER READING NEWS AND FORUM ARTICLES, THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMONLY KNOWN PROBLEM, WITH THE ONLY FIX BEING TO REPLACE THE SHIFTER ASSEMBLY. GM DOES NOT HOWEVER WANT TO ADDRESS THIS. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM.

NHTSA ID

10731029

Incident

Jun 26, 2015

Mileage

25,055 mi

CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF PARK. *TR

NHTSA ID

10712501

Incident

Apr 14, 2015

Mileage

54,000 mi