Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2005 Chevrolet Corvette owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
This lead to an injury accident which totaled the car. I have documentation stating that the recall was fixed, but after I moved to Germany with the Army, the recall regularly activated the active handling when not needed (e.g parking) but then when we started slipping, the active handling did not engage and we crashed, totaling the car. The airbags did not engage even though the car played pinball on both sides of the autobahn. If we were going any faster, we would have died.
Airbag warning light comes on and goes off each time the car is running. Sometimes it stays on for minutes, other times it May stay on the entire time the car is running. The car currently has 26000 miles. The light is on both when the car is sitting still in park and when it is being driven. Do I have airbag protection when this occurs ? The owners manual states that if the light is on the airbags May deploy for no reason. Very unsafe if car is being driven at highway speeds. Corvette owners need to be made aware of the risks involved in driving this car.
Air bag light goes on -- dealer tries to fix (at considerable expense) and said fix lasts for maybe a month or two. I have given up spending for this temporary fix -- I use my 3 point seat belt every time and hope it is good enough.... This problem is well known in the Corvette community and to GM, and has been for a long time. GM simply refuses to come up with an appropriate fix for this and it is a dangerous situation.
About every day while driving my Corvette. The service active handling light will come. And my brakes will start jerking. Also the air bag light keeps coming on and going off the whole time I drive it. I have seen many other people having the same problems with there 05 corvettes. Something needs done about this. GM needs to step up and recall for these problems before someone really gets hurt.. Please help.
Airbag warning light goes on, rendering airbag inoperative. Poor connectors below seat, a design flaw, lead to this. Recurs no matter how often you return to dealer. This is so common in 2005 corvettes, and so potentially dangerous, that all 2005 corvettes should be recalled to have this defect repaired...
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Corvette. While driving at any speed, the air bag warning light illuminated and blinked on and off intermittently. The dealer and manufacturer were notified; however, the vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 47,000.
My check air bag dash board light continues to go off and on. It was taken to the dealer several times and I was told unless it was on while I was there the problem could not be diagnosed. Finally in 2008 I was able to drive to the dealer with the check air bag light on. The code said the drivers pre-tensioner needed to be replaced. That was done a few days later and the light stayed off for several months. When it returned I was told if they couldn't see the light no code was set. I spend a lot of time on the Corvette forum. (over 24,000 post) this is a very common problem with the 2005 to current Corvette. The owners have diagnosed the problem as defective connectors under the seats. The automatic seats moving causes the connectors to loosen and the light will come on. I came up with a simple solution that many of us do our selves. We zip tie the connector together. …
I have complained about this several times with no luck. The c6 Corvette was produced from late 2004 until early 2013 and approximately 215,000 were produced. The check air bag light has been a problem from day one. Many owners have had or have the problem. Many dealers say they don't know what to do about it. In my case I took it to the dealer numerous times and was told if the light wasn't on when I took it in they couldn't help me. Finally after my thee years warranty was up they were able to get a code. A pre-tensioner was replaced and all was well for several months. By this time members of the Corvette forum diagnosed the problem as defective connectors under the seat. As the seat moved in and out they would come loose. I came up with a plan to zip tie the connectors. Many members used my method and were happy. …
I have complained to the NHTSA several times with no help. You are our last hope to correct this safety issue before someone is killed or seriously injured. The check air bag light on the c6 Corvette (2005 thru 2013) comes on often. I'm a member of the Corvette forum with over 25,000 post and I know that this is an issue with most if not all c6 corvettes. I have come up with a temporary fix. I install zip ties around the connector under the seat that is for the pre-tensioner. That will take care of the problem for awhile. Last time it was only a month but other times it will last for up to a year. Check out my previous complaints and you will see that I've had it in the dealers many times for this issue. They even charged me for a pre-tensioner that was not the problem. They know like my buddies on the Corvette forum know GM needs to design and install new and improved connectors. …
This is a letter sent to me about the check air bag light and that they know about it and have no plans on doing any thing about it. I hope things have changed. Please contact me for additional information. I have numerous emails from GM on the subject. [redacted] I am sorry that it has taken me sometime to get back to you about your air bag light, I had to speak with internal resources. The air bag light concern is caused by the seat belt connector under the drivers seat coming loose. There was a change made in 2008 that moved the connector that helps some but did not completely remedy it. It can also be seen in fewer numbers in 2008 ? 2010. It was driven by the connector being placed directly under the seat cushion. When a customer uses easy exit or memory so the seat moves at each door opening it will work the connector loose over time. …
Airbag complaints in other Corvette years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2005 Chevrolet Corvette?
NHTSA has 44 complaints about the air bags of the 2005 Chevrolet Corvette, 8% of the model year's 532 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2005 Chevrolet Corvette airbag problems?
No. NHTSA lists no air bags recall for the 2005 Chevrolet Corvette, though it has 6 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2005 Chevrolet Corvette airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 36,000 miles, and 31% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 2 crashes, 0 fires and 4 injuries to air bags problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.