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Corvette roof panels blow off

04/21/2006, 9:16 AM

By admin

A number of Corvette owners are experiencing bizarre roof panel separations while driving. On certain 2005-2006 models, the painted roof panel will separate from its frame “if it is exposed to stresses along with high temperature and humidity,” GM said. The occupants of the vehicle may notice one or more of these symptoms: a snapping noise when driving over bumps, wind noise, poor roof panel fit, roof panel movement/bounce when a door or hatch is closed, or a water leak in the headliner. “Dealers are to apply adhesive foam to ensure proper adhesion, or in a small number of vehicles, replace the roof panel,” the company said. The Leftlane Perspective: Tip: be sure to glue the roof of your flagship car on properly the first time at the factory. (More at the CorvetteForum).

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04/21, 9:45 AM

posted by:

Chris

OK.. If I had paid 60k or more for a car, I’d sure as hell like to think the manufacturer could come up
with a MUCH better solution than this! I’m thinkin’ a complete recall off all affected vehicles to hamper any further bad press. I honestly thought GM was interested in improving their image.. makes one wonder.

04/21, 9:50 AM

posted by:

Northeasterner

Ha ha ha. This is how sad GM cars are. I wish them well and they’ve been improving their cars, but come on, things like this should NEVER come up on a car like Corvette.

04/21, 9:57 AM

posted by:

S P

Sunroof anyone?

[...] GM Strikes Again OK, so I am a HUGE corvette fan, always have been. I hope to one day own a ‘vette and I have always been a supporter, and I try to support GM as a whole.  But this is just rediculous.  Apparently GM had some problems with the roof panels of the 2005-2006 Corvette blowing off!  Check out the article here. [...]

04/21, 10:05 AM

posted by:

D

Wow a 60k GM sports car is held together by glue.

04/21, 10:20 AM

posted by:

JK

Crap cars. Why buy American when the Germans do it better?

04/21, 10:26 AM

posted by:

Anonymous

“Crap cars. Why buy American when the Germans do it better?”

Because German cars aren’t very attractive (Save for Porsches).

[...] Another reason GM isn’t selling cars!   [...]

04/21, 10:37 AM

posted by:

JD

I’m going to disagree with you #7. Whole-heartedly.

04/21, 10:56 AM

posted by:

jit

shows how this company rather keep that little for profit then do the job properly. They deserve the bad press they get and should take it as a lesson to learn from

04/21, 11:00 AM

posted by:

Brian

Situations like this are the reason GM will never steal sales away from exotics. The Corvette has “world beating performance” but how many Ferrari and Porsche cars have their roof panels separating??? I mean COME ON!!!!!! THE ROOF PANEL!!!!

04/21, 11:52 AM

posted by:

Derek

Wouldnt stop me from buying one. I’d blow by your a$$ in a ZO6, roof or not.

04/21, 11:57 AM

posted by:

Dallas

and then your wheels would fall off. Have fun in you cheap ass plastic wedge

04/21, 12:03 PM

posted by:

Phil McCrackin

Since when does a Vette cost $60K? Must be Canadian dollars or something… the Z06 can cost that much in American dollars but it doesn’t have the removable roof panel.

You all would be very surprised at the problems Ferrari owners have, especially for cars that aren’t driven all that much. They just aren’t well publicized. But I doubt “adhesive foam” is part of any Ferrari mechainc’s toolbox.

Porsches, in comparison, are built like anvils.

04/21, 12:37 PM

posted by:

James

#4 “Wow a 60k GM sports car is held together by glue.”

…All cars use glue to secure many parts… Sometimes the glue is applied at the factory improperly. The Nissan Maximas and Altimas have this problem with bad glue.

The reason you don’t see a bunch of rivets and screws these days is because many things are held on by glue. Industrial glue is often stronger than rivets and screws. This isn’t Elmer’s glue you have at home.

04/21, 12:56 PM

posted by:

E M

Why do you blame GM as a whole for building a “crap car” when it is just one part that came off, put on by ONE person. Most likely a UAW pig who can’t seem to get through the day without a couple of hits of Crack in the bathroom, and thinks that $50/hr is not enough to pull the trigger on a glue gun.

Porsches and Ferraris have their share of problems too. AND Ferraris us MUCH more glue than you think, as most of the monocoque is extruded aluminum held together with adhesives…

04/21, 1:28 PM

posted by:

Chris G

Come on GM, most European autos are tested at high humidity and temperatures before they even hit the road. That’s really no excuse. I guess I won’t be able to drive a Corvette if I live in the South. And then again, maybe it’s the cranky UAW worker who doesn’t do his job right because he thinks he’s not getting a good retirement program (although he really is).

04/21, 1:43 PM

posted by:

87 635CSI

what 15 said. For example the entire front end of the 6 series is glued together.

04/21, 2:35 PM

posted by:

Geo

Simply put, it is embarrassing. Yes, all makes and models have their issues, but body panels flying off on a car with an MSRP of $65K? I had an 03 Z06 and it was fast but lacked in almost every other category. Considering the quality for the money, the dealers who treat folks like they bought a Cobolt, and no loaner car and it’s beyond me how they keep selling these things. I’m willing to bet the demographic for Corvette owners continues to increase in average age. Younger people that can actually (key point) afford buying a car at this price point want more for their money that just a huge amount of horsepower. At least the previous Z06 had an MSRP of $52K and could be had for a lot less. Those shopping at this price level would do very well looking at what Porsche has to offer.

04/21, 5:05 PM

posted by:

gsh

damn, are you kidding me? i would take a cayman S WITHOUT EVEN BLINKING for that money…what are you corvette guys smoking?

04/21, 5:50 PM

posted by:

Paul

ok mr Geo posy #18, #19 & 20 you are all Clueless and the typical bunch of Dumba$$es. First of all #18 the stock vettes are the ones with the problem NOT THE Z06. and the stock vette doesn’t cost 65k! second #19 you can pimp your Hyundai or Kia all you want…THEY DON’T HAVE TO DEAL WITH TEH AMOUNT OF CRAP THAT AMERICAN AUTO MAKERS DO WITH THE TYPICAL UAW worker! and if you think they have better quality you are as clueless as you are stupid! next # 20 I would smoke a camel after I banged your MOM! then spend the extra 15-30k I saved buying a vette.. that will smoke your German Sh$#box and buy a used truck and a boat t take your wife out on and Bang her too!
You all are clueless!!! and don’t have an engineering bone in your body..unless and engineer banged you??

04/21, 7:04 PM

posted by:

Vinny

to #21 – if you’re trying to sound smart or funny, you’re not succeeding. You sound like a typical piece of trash. The vette is NOT 15-30k cheaper than the cayman s. I am not gonna bust on vettes too much because I give them some props. BUT DO NOT label a porche or most any other German car a ****box. You criticize 18,19,20 for not knowing their engineering but in fact it is you who doesn’t. Engineering defines the entire car – engine, interior, body structure, suspension, ROOF, class, etc. So by you focusing your argument on SMOKING a porsche goes to show that that’s all you know and you sound like the typical dumbass. Oh and by the way, its spelled posse.

04/21, 8:18 PM

posted by:

bubba

GM has a recent history of using glue instead of welds or bolts to hold body panels on.
Have a look at any GM light duty truck built in the last 10 years. The entire door, not the door skin but the complete door, is glued onto the A-pillar. Many, and I mean MANY Chevy and GMC truck doors have fallen off when the adhesive failed under simple heat stress.
Don’t believe me? Look for yourself, open the door of a GM C-XXXX pickup truck built within the last 10 years and have a look at how the hinges are attached to the A-piller!!
You will not find one single bolt or one single weld mark on the hinge. Only adhesive.

04/22, 7:16 AM

posted by:

canut4ever

Lets get back to the topic, the discussion is getting fired up. It is good for GM to find this fault early before somebody drives this thing at high speed and then the roof panel comes off and whacks an innocent car trailing the Vette. Another lawsuit in the making to compound problems of GM. Has GM quality sunk so low that they let this happen on their “flagship” car?

04/22, 6:44 PM

posted by:

james

you are a bunch of morons, they guy had it wrapped up to almost 7K RPM the redline. meaning he was going WAY faster than the speed limit!!!

04/22, 6:47 PM

posted by:

SS4me

so now every import humping dumass is going to think the vette is bad too? Shall I point out the recalls the Imports have had lately?.

Scion with breaking sunroofs ring a bell. And those pieces fall on the driver/ passenger All they need to do is get better glue for when the Z06 owners are testing out the top speeds

04/23, 12:54 AM

posted by:

canut4ever

So this guy is saying that the Vette should not be driven at high speeds because the roof might fall off. Now that is an audible sign that the you are overspeeding in a Corvette…LOL…
You domestic- loving guys can’t seem to accept the truth that it is not an excuse for a topline GM car for the roof to come off- high speed or not. Lets see who is the real moron now?

04/23, 5:17 AM

posted by:

silv

OH SCHAP, literally!

04/23, 2:55 PM

posted by:

Sam B

cheap american cars for ya!?!?

10/03, 10:53 PM

posted by:

DeanH

Let’s face it, most all automakers have serious screw-ups from time to time. (Just ask Ford) I own an ‘86 vette and the design flaws are plentiful, but I still love it. I’m not going to sit here and bash foreign cars of any make, but rest assured , they’ve all had their fair share of problems. I simply prefer to buy American made products. Or to put it another way, I’d rather push my vette than drive a ricer.

 
 
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