GM recalls 2005 and 2006 Corvettes

GM has issued a recall for 40,028 Corvette vehicles from the 2005 and 2006 model years, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The recall is for vehicles built between March 2004 and January 2006 that have a tilt and telescoping steering column. You can find a car’s build date listed on a sticker applied to the driver’s door or doorjamb.

Repeated movement of the steering column could interrupt the signal within the column, which will illuminate the message “Service Active Handling System.” In rare instances, this could apply one or more of the brakes and pull the Corvette to the right or left. If the driver is caught off guard, this could lead to a dangerous situation.

ESC is the system to controls the vehicle's engine power and brakes in an emergency situation.

If the problem occurs, the ESC system becomes inoperable. The system will come back on once the car is turned off and back on again, a GM spokesman said.

In a letter to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, GM described the braking problem as "observable but controllable." Drivers can keep the car in line with slight steering correction.

When the problem occurs, the message "Service Active Handling System" appears in the vehicles' gauge cluster. Active Handling System is GM's name for the ESC system in the Corvette.

The problem is rare and occurs only when the steering column is adjusted repeatedly, according to GM.

 To repair the problem, Corvette dealers will install a clip to the sensor connector to ensure that it does not come loose. The repair will be no cost to the owner.

Owners may contact Chevrolet at 800-630-2438 or GMC at 866-996-9463. They may also contact NHTSA’s vehicle safety hot line at 888-327-4236.