General Motors announced its recall of nearly 6,000 Chevrolet 2011-2012 Corvette Coupes, 5,755 in the US to be exact, all of whom were built between January 24, 2011 and September 1, 2011. Of the 2011 models, 4,064 are being recalled. As for the 2012 model year coupes, 1,691 are being recalled.
The problem lies in the rear hatch back hinges. These hinges do not pass Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard #206, which standardizes door lock and door-retention components, one of the goals of which is to lessen the likelihood of an occupant not wearing a seat-belt being ejected from a vehicle in a car accident or rollover. The defective hinges could break, leading to a serious injury and the chance that an unsecured passenger could be ejected from the vehicle.
All of the affected Chevrolet Corvette Coupes have one similarity – the defective hinges were traced back to a single roll of heat-treated steel that was used during these vehicles manufacturing process. General Motors is notifying dealerships to inspect and replace the defective hinges for FREE.