2006 Chevrolet Corvette Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe low-beam headlights that quit intermittently, a fuel smell around the left rear wheel opening after refueling, and the removable roof panel separating or coming loose. Many complaints also mention the "Service Active Handling System" message, sometimes accompanied by a brake grabbing or the car pulling to one side. Reports span very low mileage up to well past 100,000 miles, and several owners say the same symptom returned after a dealer repair.

1. 1
   Exterior lighting

   Low-beam headlights quit or work intermittently

   • 62 complaints (17%)
   • median 84,750 mi at 8.1 yrs old (58 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $886 (median of 5 quotes)
   • filed 2011–2023

   Complaints describe low beams that fail to come on, go out while driving, or work on some trips and not others, while high beams, fog lamps and parking lamps still function. Several owners report the underhood fuse block or low-beam relay needed replacement, in some cases more than once, and the fuse box area felt hot. Some say the repair did not hold and the lights failed again afterward. Mostly reported between about 43,000 and 114,000 miles, with a few cases under 25,000 and one above 200,000 miles.

   Recall 14V2510003 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether recall 14V251000 was performed and whether the underhood fuse block or low-beam relay has been replaced. At dusk, switch the low beams on and off a few times, and look for a hot or discolored fuse box area.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My low beam lights stopped working. Got had driven to a location in daylight. 2 hours later (dark) I started the car and the low-beams didn't come on. I got home (on fog lamps) and inspects the fuse box. Thought the low beam relay was faulty so went in another vehicle to purchase one. Replacing the relay, the lights came back on. I thought the problem was fixed until the next day, the same thing happened. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10637072, filed 2014-09, 51,000 miles

   “I was driving down the road and the headlights just quit. This time I had high beams but no low beams. The next time I drove the car I had no low or high beams. The last time I drove the car both lights worked as I started the car but stopped working within about 2 minutes.”

   NHTSA complaint #10616236, filed 2014-07, 139,562 miles
2. 2
   Body and structure

   Roof panel separates or comes loose

   • 47 complaints (13%)
   • median 10,126 mi at 0.9 yrs old (38 state mileage)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2006–2025

   Owners of removable-roof cars describe creaking, popping or wind noise before the panel came loose, poor fit, and in some cases the roof detaching while driving. Complaints say the dealer replaced or re-bonded the roof, and some report the roof came off again after a prior recall repair, or that their vehicle was not covered by the recall. Reported from as little as 5,000 miles up to about 55,000 miles, often noticed on bumps, in high heat, or at highway speed.

   Recall 09V491000Recall 06V181000

   What to check: Confirm whether recalls 09V491000 and 06V181000 were completed for this car. Check the roof panel for a snug fit, listen for snapping or creaking over bumps, and check for wind noise or water entry with the windows closed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “2006 Corvette had the roof recall (ref. Nhtsa campaign id# 06v181000) done on 6/7/07. I returned vehicle for recheck of recall on 11/1/07 as the roof did have some noticeable creak noises. The dealer reported the roof was not loose and lubricated the weather strips. On 6/12/09, getting on the highway, my wife noticed wind noise and then suddenly the roof panel flew off and over a pick up truck that was following her. She was going approximately 50 MPH at the time the roof panel blew off. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10275172, filed 2009-06, 9,443 miles

   “For weeks prior to failure, I had heard popping sounds around the painted removable roof that I thought were due to the frame creaking. On the date the roof flew off, I had parked the car at work and it was over 100 degrees outside. I left the parking lot, turned onto a short street, and stopped at a light. When the light turned green, I turned left and the roof flew off at about 25 MPH. It landed in the left-turn lane of opposite traffic. I was able to make a u-turn and retrieve the top without anyone hitting it. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10161221, filed 2006-07, 8,200 miles
3. 3
   Electronic stability control

   Service Active Handling message and brake grabbing

   • 77 complaints (21%)
   • median 31,880 mi at 5.6 yrs old (68 state mileage)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2006–2025

   Owners report the "Service Active Handling System" or ride control message appearing, sometimes with stability control disabled. Some describe a front brake grabbing on its own, a sudden pull to one side, or a wheel locking briefly, and several say repairs were attempted several times without a lasting fix. Dealers reportedly replaced a steering column plug or connector in some cases. Reported from around 12,000 to 78,000 miles, often while turning, over bumps, or after moving the steering column.

   Recall 10V172000Recall 05V4550001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask whether recall 10V172000 was completed, and whether the steering column connector has been serviced. During a test drive, watch for the message on the driver display and for any pull or brake drag while turning or braking gently.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My 2006 Corvette has problems with the active handling system . The car has been taken back to the dealer 3 times when the service active handling system message appears on the dic. The dealer fix is only short term before the problem reappears. I feel that this could be a major safety issue and needs immediate attention. Thank-you.”

   NHTSA complaint #10280149, filed 2009-08, 19,100 miles

   “I own a 2006 Corvette manufactured in february of 2006. From early 2009 (just prior to the vehicle going out of warranty) I began experiencing problems with the service active handling system (sahs) warning light coming on. Initially this occurred when the vehicle was making a turn or when it hit a bump on the highway and the warning would clear itself periodically. I took the vehicle in to two separate Chevrolet dealerships (groth bros. Chevrolet, livermore, ca and dublin Chevrolet cadillac, dublin, ca). …”

   NHTSA complaint #10492262, filed 2013-01, 12,000 miles
4. 4
   Fuel system

   Gasoline odor from the left rear wheel area

   • 49 complaints (13%)
   • median 51,000 mi at 12.3 yrs old (35 state mileage)
   • filed 2015–2025

   Complaints describe a strong fuel smell inside the cabin, trunk and garage, most noticeable after filling the tank and easing once the level drops below about half. Owners say the odor comes from the left rear wheel opening or quarter panel, and some report a small fuel spot near the rear tire. Dealers reportedly replaced the fuel sending unit or gas cap without resolving it, and one complaint points to a plastic fitting on the primary fuel tank. Reported from about 20,000 to 97,000 miles, commonly right after refueling and worse in hot weather.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Sniff around the left rear wheel and inside the cabin right after a fill-up, and look for damp spots or staining near the tank and filler. Ask whether the tank fittings and sending unit seals have been inspected.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My vehicle with 85,000 miles began emmiting a continuous raw gas smell when I refill the fuel tank. Smell is coming from the left side, rear, wheel well. Smell is intense to the point I cannot store inside the garage as I fear a fire hazard and a toxic smell is coming into my house interior. Smell seems to end once fuel level goes below 1/2 full.”

   NHTSA complaint #11308096, filed 2020-02, 85,000 miles

   “After filling the gas tank and driving home there is a very strong smell of gasoline in my garage. I think the fuel is leaking out when the fuel tank is full.”

   NHTSA complaint #11349547, filed 2020-08, 30,000 miles
5. 5
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Shifter will not come out of Park

   • 25 complaints (7%)
   • median 40,177 mi at 10.6 yrs old (24 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2007–2020

   Owners of automatic cars describe the shifter refusing to move out of Park after startup, intermittently and without warning, requiring repeated attempts or a tow. Complaints mention the shifter cable or shift lock solenoid being replaced, with the problem returning in at least one case. A separate complaint describes trouble getting the car into Park or reverse. Reported from about 11,000 to 74,000 miles, typically at startup with the car in Park.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: With the engine running and your foot on the brake, shift from Park through the gears several times and confirm Park engages cleanly. Ask whether the shifter cable or shift lock solenoid has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I noticed that there's a recall on a number of GM cars due to a shift cable problem. I've known a number of fellow Corvette owners, with the year model 2005 thru 2009, that have had the cable break. I just wanted to make the NHTSA aware of the problem in case you've seen more complaints regarding it and a recall might be warranted.”

   NHTSA complaint #10592854, filed 2014-05, 114,000 miles

   “After starting car, it had trouble shifting in gear. After pulling on gear selector, it went in drive, but wouldn't go in reverse or park. The car wouldn't come out of accessory power mode, and I wasn't able to park the car on a hill as it had to stay in neutral or drive. There is no way to secure the car when this happens. The repair shop tells me this is a common issue on these cars.”

   NHTSA complaint #10597983, filed 2014-06, 48,480 miles

Buying note. Check that the open recalls for the roof panel, headlights and steering column were completed, and treat any lingering fuel smell or active-handling warning as a reason to have the car inspected before purchase. A pre-purchase inspection that includes a cold start, a test of the low beams and a look at the roof panel fit covers most of what owners report.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.