Nearly 6,000 Corvettes Recalled for Weak Rear-Hatch Hinges

By Christopher Jensen on October 10, 2011, 12:06 PM

2011 Chevrolet Corvette coupe.

General Motors is recalling almost 5,800 of its 201112 Chevrolet Corvette coupes because the rear hatch could come off in a crash, the company told the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

In a report dated Oct. 3 and filed on the safety agency's Web site over the weekend, G.M. said the rear hinges were not strong enough to meet the federal safety standard for door locks and door-retention components.

One of the goals of that standard is to reduce the chance of an unbelted occupant being thrown from a vehicle during a crash.

The company said the problem was discovered by a supplier during testing for a European safety standard. G.M. investigated and found the defective hinges all came from a single roll of heat-treated steel.

In a news release, G.M. said that it was not aware of any crashes, injuries or complaints resulting from the problem.

About 200 vehicles are being recalled in Canada.