GM recalls 2005, 2006 Corvettes after roofs fly off

[WB9MCW]

General Motors Corp. will recall more than 30,000 Corvettes after customers complained that the roof flew off while driving the $45,000 sports car.

The automaker received 21 reports of roofs detaching from 2005 and 2006 model-year Chevrolet Corvettes coupes, spokesman Alan Adler said today. The problem didn't cause any accidents or injuries, he said.

GM, the world's largest automaker, asked owners of 2005 models to bring their cars into dealerships last year to fix the problem. The company issued a formal recall today after learning roofs also flew off 2006 models, Adler said.

``It's a good thing that GM is doing this recall finally, because no roof is worse than a weak roof,'' said Joan Claybrook, president of the Washington-based consumer group Public Citizen. ``The roof endangers other highway users as it flies off.''

The recall applies only to 2005 and 2006 vehicles with roofs that are designed to be detachable by releasing latches. The unintentional separation occurs when adhesive that holds the base of the roof to the car frame weakens and fails, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said today on its Web site.

Owners with problem roofs may notice water leaks or a snapping noise when going over a bump, Adler said. GM received 395 reports of partial separating of the roof, in addition to the 21 cases of it flying off.

The Corvette roof weighs less than 10 pounds and is made of plastic that is molded into a magnesium frame, he said. The base price of a 2006 Corvette is about $45,000, according to Detroit- based GM's Web site.