FaultScore

2006 Chevrolet Corvette brake problems

28 of the 441 complaints about the 2006 Chevrolet Corvette are about the braking system — 6% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 45,500 miles.

A

28

Complaints

0

Crashes

0

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Service Brakes 21 75.0%
Service Brakes, Hydraulic 5 17.9%
Service Brakes, Electric 1 3.6%
Antilock 1 3.6%

Brakes across every Chevrolet Corvette year

1998 40 14.4%
1999 25 9.0%
2000 36 13.0%
2001 24 8.7%
2002 12 4.3%
2004 10 3.6%
2005 65 23.5%
2006 28 10.1%
2007 21 7.6%
2008 16 5.8%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

Port Charlotte, FL

SERVICE BRAKES

I purchased this car from a dealer in Sarasota Florida. Driving it home from the dealer, I was driving approximately 70 mph on [XXX] near Sarasota. The vehicle suddenly braked and pulled to the left simultaneously. I have taken it to a repair shop that specializes in Corvettes, and trying to ID the problem. In doing research, evidently it is related to the active handling system. There is a recall NHTSA Campaign Number: 10V172000 Manufacturer GENERAL MOTORS CORP. Components STEERING Potential Number of Units Affected 40,028 and a service bulletin 10118. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA complaint #11639257 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 50,000 miles Waukee, IA

SERVICE BRAKES

The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet Corvette. The contact stated while driving at speeds above 25 MPH, the ABS system failed, causing the front brakes to activate without the driver depressing the brake pedal. During the failure the active handling warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the active handling control module wiring harness was faulty and needed to be replaced. Additionally, while operating the vehicle the low beam headlights inadvertently turned off. The mechanic diagnosed that the wiring harness for the exterior lighting needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure. The contact was informed that the vehicle was previously repaired under 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 50,000. The contact stated that he pulled the fuse box and wiring from the car. In the photos, we can see a damaged wire around a tight bend that has created tension and caused a faulty connection.

NHTSA complaint #11545376 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lake Elsinore, CA

SERVICE BRAKES

my service active handling and traction control light will come on randomly and disappear, when it does come on usually my car will brake on one side of the car and skip and skid over to one side. when it happens I have zero control of the braking and steering and it has taken my car into another lane completely. it is terrifying and I've had the whole brake system replaced, along with ecm, ebcm, rack and pinion all suspension and steering components, wiring harness and just about everything I could think of that may cause it. I have a tilting telescope steering wheel and I've heard that they can cause this

NHTSA complaint #11492389 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Covington, GA

SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK

The service active handling and the traction control error is appearing on my cars instrument panel. Causing the cars ABS system to activate the front brakes while driving.This reaction causes the car to pull to the left, nearly causing an accident. It has random affected my car here recently. In that years that I have owned the car I have not had an issue. However, I see that this issue has been widely reported on this generation. Although I don’t see a recall for this issue. I do see that this is very dangerous. I feel lucky that this did not happen as I was traveling at a higher rate of speed or I probably would have wrecked the car.

NHTSA complaint #11463785 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

St George, UT

SERVICE BRAKES

I have a potential AH/TC (Active Handling) system problem. Today the “Service Active Handling System” light came on and upon search of the fix within my Corvette community I discovered that it is potentially a DEADLY issue where brakes may lock up on the freeway! PLEASE send me information on a fix with GM or where this is at in the process in regards to a recall. Thank you for your attention to this apparently deadly issue.

NHTSA complaint #11429339 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Converse, TX

SERVICE BRAKES

On numerous occasions the past two years the active handling system in the vehicle will take control for no reason and brake on one side causing the car to swerve out of its lane and other times applies the brakes on its own. Very dangerous.

NHTSA complaint #11425718 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 97,000 miles Ballwin, MO

SERVICE BRAKES

2006 CORVETTE, VIN IS [XXX] APPROXIMATELY 10 TIMES WHILE DRIVING ANYWHERE FROM 5 MPH TO 75 MPH THE STEERING WHEEL JERKS THE VEHICLE THE LEFT.......ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT MANY TIMES BY PULLING ME INTO THE MEDIAN. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA complaint #11350345 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 78,000 miles Blue JAY, CA

SERVICE BRAKES

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS DOWN A HILL THE BRAKES AND SERVICE ACTIVE HANDLING SYSTEM SPONTANEOUSLY ENGAGED. IN ADDITION, WHILE IN REVERSE THE BRAKES ACTIVATED INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE TPMS WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000. *DT

NHTSA complaint #11307772 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 130,000 miles Carson City, NV

SERVICE BRAKES

RECENTLY WHEN I MADE A TURN IN FRONT OF ON COMING TRAFFIC THE CORVETTE STEERING DID NOT RETURN TO CENTER I ALMOST HIT HE VEHICLE AT THE STOP SIGN !!!!!! I ALSO NOTICE THE ABS LIGHT ON

NHTSA complaint #11257789 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 110,000 miles Clovis, CA

SERVICE BRAKES

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE ACTIVE HANDLING SYSTEM ENGAGED AND THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE. WHILE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE BRAKES ENGAGED INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MICHAELS TOYOTA OF FRESNO, CALIFORNIA (50 WEST BULLARDS AVE, (559) 431-7576 93704), BUT THE SOURCE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10V172000 (STEERING) WAS A POSSIBLE EXPLANATION FOR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 110,000.

NHTSA complaint #11033138 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 22,700 miles SAN Antonio, TX

SERVICE BRAKES

HELLO MY NAME IS [XXX] I AM 64 YEARS OLD. ON SUNDAY 9/18/2016 WHILE DRIVING MY 2006 CORVETTE WITH MY WIFE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT WE NEARLY HAD AN ACCIDENT. I WAS GOING AROUND 70 WHEN THE CAR ALL OF A SUDDEN BRAKE AND PULLED TO THE LEFT. WE WERE BOTH SHOOK UP BY THIS. WE RIGHT AWAY PRESSED OUR ON-STAR BUTTON. WE HAD THEM RUN A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. ON-STAR WAS UNABLE TO GET A READING ON THE CAR. WE TOLD ON-STAR THAT THE DASH BOARD DISPLAYED THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE "SERVICE ACTIVE HANDLING SYSTEM". AS SOON AS WE GOT HOME MY WIFE LOOKED UP THIS ISSUES AND NOTICED THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM IN 2010 #[XXX]. MY CAR IS A 2006 CORVETTE VIN# [XXX]. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP THAT MONDAY 9/19. THE DEALERSHIP IS ANCIRA WINTON 6111 BANDERA RD SAT 78238. I WAS INFORMED THAT THE PREVIOUS OWNER HAD BROUGHT THE CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THIS RECALL FIXED. SO BASICALLY I WAS OUT OF LUCKY BECAUSE IT HAD BEEN FIXED. WELL I SAY NO IT HAS NOT BEEN FIXED I HAVE A PICTURE OF WHAT APPEARED ON MY DASH BOARD WHICH I HAVE ATTACHED. MY WIFE THEN CALLED THE NHTSA TO FILE A COMPLIANT AS TO THE FACT THE DEALERSHIP WILL NOT REPAIR THIS .I HAVE ONLY 22,700 MILE ON THIS CAR. I HAVE NOT DRIVEN IT SINCE THIS INCIDENT WHICH CAN BE CONFIRMED BY ON-STAR. MY WIFE WAS GIVEN A COMPLIANT CASE # 10908378. SHE WAS INFORMED TO SIGN ONTO WWW.SAFETYCAR.GOV. AS OF TODAY WE CAN NOT LOCATE THIS COMPLAINT. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA complaint #10909813 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 22,000 miles SAN Antonio, TX

SERVICE BRAKES

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE BRAKED INDEPENDENTLY AND "SERVICE ACTIVE HANDLING SYSTEM ERROR" ILLUMINATED ON THE MESSAGE BOARD. THE CONTACT HAD TO RESTART THE VEHICLE IN ORDER FOR IT TO OPERATE PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS AWARE THAT THE PREVIOUS OWNER REPAIRED THE VEHICLE PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10V172000(STEERING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,000.

NHTSA complaint #10908378 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 87,000 miles Nashville, NC

SERVICE BRAKES

MY ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL COMES ON REGULARLY ESPECIALLY WHEN I HIT SAND IN DRIVEWAY AND TIRE SPINS WHICH I EXPECT BUT AT OTHER TIMES THE WARNING LIGHT COMES ON WITHOUT ANY TIRE SPIN OR CONDITION THAT WOULD WARRANT THIS. TURNING FROM A STAND STILL IS ANOTHER TIME THE LIGHTS WILL COME ON WITHOUT ANY TIRE SPIN. MY WIFE DRIVES THIS CAR NOW AND I GOT A NEWER ONE. I AM WORRIED ABOUT HER SAFETY AS SHE IS AN OLDER LADY [XXX] AND IF BRAKES LOCKED UP OR STEERING SHE WOULD NOT KNOW HOW TO HANDLE THE SITUATION.

NHTSA complaint #10886040 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Roseburg, OR

SERVICE BRAKES

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. WHEN THE ENGINE WAS STARTED, A "SERVICE ACTIVE HANDLING" MESSAGE APPEARED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE ERROR MESSAGE WAS CLEARED BY THE CONTACT. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE BRAKES ACTIVATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10V172000 (STEERING). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA complaint #10884130 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 32,461 miles Speonk, NY

SERVICE BRAKES

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE LEFT AND THE RIGHT BEFORE COMING TO A HALT. IN ADDITION, WHILE IN PARK, THE GEAR SHIFTER FAILED TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK AND "SERVICE ACTIVE HANDLING SYSTEM" DISPLAYED ACROSS THE MESSAGE BOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,461.

NHTSA complaint #10808691 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 60,000 miles Escondido, CA

SERVICE BRAKES

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE PASSENGER SIDE BRAKE CALIPER ENGAGED AND THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT UNKNOWN WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

NHTSA complaint #10733005 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 50,000 miles Roseburg, OR

SERVICE BRAKES

BRAKES CAME ON CAR SWERVED.

NHTSA complaint #10706486 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 78,000 miles Canton, GA

SERVICE BRAKES

"SERVICE ACTIVE HANDLING SYSTEM" AND "SERVICE VEHICLE SOON" LIGHT BOTH CAME ON TODAY. RESEARCHED ON-LINE AND DETERMINED THAT THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS ISSUE, POTENTIALLY FATAL.

NHTSA complaint #10654315 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 93,400 miles Sapulpa, OK

SERVICE BRAKES

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE FRONT BRAKES SEIZED AS THE SERVICE ACTIVE HANDLING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE SPUN OUT OF CONTROL AS THE CONTACT TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT. THE VEHICLE RESUMED AND FUNCTIONED NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,400 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 93,500.

NHTSA complaint #10595195 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 39,000 miles Clearlake Oaks, CA

SERVICE BRAKES

MY BRAKES LOCKED UP AND I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED.

NHTSA complaint #10553718 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 18,000 miles Marlton, NJ

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

ACTIVE HANDLING WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR SUDDENLY PULLED TO THE RIGHT WITH NO WARNING AND PUT THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE ON.

NHTSA complaint #10525698 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 41,000 miles Phoenix, AZ

SERVICE BRAKES

ACTIVE HANDLING SYSTEM APPEARED AND MY BRAKES FELT DIFFERENT. THE CAR IDLED DIFFERENTLY TOO. FELT LIKE IT WAS MISSING A CYLINDER. I BELIEVE THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM AND IS DANGEROUS.

NHTSA complaint #10524052 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 50,000 miles Roseburg, OR

SERVICE BRAKES

SERVICE ACTIVE HANDLING.

NHTSA complaint #10523288 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 19,680 miles Osceola, AR

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

EA09-002 MY CAR SUDDENLY PULLS TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT AND BRAKES REALLY HARD SOMETIMES DURING NORMAL DRIVING, AND A SERVICE ACTIVE HANDLING LIGHT COMES ON. VERY DANGEROUS!! AFTER RESTARTING EVERYTHING SEEMS FINE UNTIL OUT OF THE BLUE IT HAPPENS AGAIN.

NHTSA complaint #10324655 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 12,000 miles Livermore, CA

SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC

FOR THE PAST YEAR MY 2006 CORVETTE HAS PERIODICALLY DISPLAYED A WARNING ON THE DRIVER INFORMATION SCREEN WHICH READS "SERVICE VEHICLE SOON" FOLLOWED NEARLY IMMEDIATELY BY "SERVICE ACTIVE HANDLING SYSTEM." WHEN THE PROBLEM FIRST OCCURRED THE VEHICLE WAS UNDER WARRANTY WITH APPROXIMATELY 12,000 MILES. THE VEHICLE NOW HAS ROUGHLY 20,000 MILES AND IS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN INTO OUR LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALER IN LIVERMORE, CA FIVE TIMES FOR THIS ISSUE (JAN 09, MAR 09, MAR 09, DEC 09, JAN 10) THE DEALER TRIED A NUMBER OF REPAIRS BUT THE WARNING CONTINUED. THE DEALER AND GM ARE NOW STATING THAT THE PROBLEM IS RELATED TO DEFECTIVE BPMV AND EBCM UNITS WHICH CONTROL THE ANTILOCK BRAKING SYSTEM AND THE STABILITRACK SYSTEM. THEY ARE REFUSING TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. MY CONCERN IS THAT THIS IS APPARENTLY A CHRONIC PROBLEM FOR THESE VEHICLES WHICH COULD POTENTIALLY RESULT IN A SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH IF THE BRAKES WERE TO LOCK UP AT THE WRONG TIME.

NHTSA complaint #10301731 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 29,500 miles Floral Park, NY

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

I WAS PULLING OUT OF A DRIVEWAY ONTO A MAIN ROAD MAKING A LEFT TURN. SUDDENLY MY FRONT BRAKES GRABBED WITH FULL FORCE AND STOPPED THE CAR. THE ACTIVE HANDLING LIGHT CAME ON. I STEPPED ON THE GAS HARD AND OVER POWERED THE BRAKES TO MOVE THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I TURNED OFF THE CAR WAITED A MINUTE AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. THE ACTIVE HANDLING LIGHT WENT OFF AND I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE NORMALLY AGAIN. IT WAS RAINING AND ABOUT 60 DEGREES AT THE TIME. I AM THE SECOND OWNER OF THE CAR AND THIS IS THE ONLY TIME IT HAS HAPPENED IN THE YEAR I HAVE OWNED IT. I SAW A BULLETIN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM FOR MANY 2006 CHEVROLET CORVETTES AND DECIDED TO SEND THIS LETTER ABOUT IT. I NEVER BROUGHT THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE BECAUSE I THOUGHT IT WAS A TEMPORARY MALFUNCTION.

NHTSA complaint #10290033 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 27,300 miles Lynnwood, WA

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

6 MONTHS AGO MY SERVICE ACTIVE HANDLING SYSTEM LIGHT CAME ON WENT TO DEALER THEY SAID IT WAS NO BIG DEAL AND SHUT THE LIGHT OFF, A MONTH LATER BACK ON ,SAME THING FROM THE DEALER NOW SUNDAY 7/19/2009 WITH MY SON IN THE CAR AT 55MPH LIGHT CAME ON CAR DARTED RIGHT LUCKY I SAVED IT SHUT THE CAR OFF WHEN WE STARTED BACK HOME IT WAS OFF BUT SOON CAME BACK ON SINCE THEN THIS HAS HAPPENED FOUR TIMES. CALLING THE DEALER TODAY 2006 CORVETTE COUPE MANUAL TRANS W/27K ON IT.

NHTSA complaint #10277432 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 26,130 miles Lexington, SC

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

2006 CHEVROLET CORVETTE- SERVICE ACTIVE HANDLING LIGHT COMES ON, RIGHT FRONT BRAKE LOCKS WHEN TURNING RIGHT. DEALER INSTALLED A CLIP TO HARNESS UNDER STEERING COLUMN TO FIX. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS.

NHTSA complaint #10261126 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2006 Chevrolet Corvette problems

← Full 2006 Chevrolet Corvette report