NHTSA Complaint #10460450 — 2005 CHEVROLET CORVETTE

WHILE TURNING IN A CORNER ON THE HIGHWAY, I LOST POWER STEERING AND I HAD SMOKE AND DEBRIS FLYING OUT OF THE BACK OF THE CAR. LUCKILY THERE WAS NOBODY NEAR ME, AND I MANAGED TO STEER OFF THE ROAD SAFELY. LOOKED IN THE ENGINE AND THE ACCESSORY BELT WAS SHREDDED, WHICH ALSO DESTROYED THE HEAT SHIELD MATERIAL ON THE INSIDE OF THE HOOD. GOT A FRIEND TO PICK ME UP AND WE INSTALLED A NEW BELT. DROVE 0.5 MILES AND THE BELT FLEW COMPLETELY OFF THIS TIME. POWER STEERING COMPLETELY DIED, AND I COULD BARELY TURN THE WHEEL WHILE BEING TAILGATED BY CARS. COOLING SYSTEM FAILED, COOLANT FLYING ALL OVER THE ENGINE BAY, UNDER THE CAR, AND ON THE HIGHWAY. I'M GLAD I WASN'T KILLED. CHECKED ALL THE PULLEYS AND FOUND THAT THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT HAD BACKED OUT, WHICH I LATER FOUND OUT CAUSED WOBBLE ON THE BELT AND LED THE ENGINE/CAR TO FAIL. GOT A TOW TO THE NEAREST GM DEALER. THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ON INTERNET CORVETTE FORUMS, AND GM IS AWARE OF THE ISSUE (TSB #05-06-01-001A). IT SEEMS LIKE CRASHING AND CAUSING ACCIDENTS WOULD WARRANT A RECALL. *TR