Chevrolet Issues Stop Sale Order Over Brake-By-Wire Issues

A production error by one of GM’s suppliers is to blame for this latest issue.

Your brakes are one of the most important parts of your car. In fact, along with your tires, they’re the most important safety features your car has. When Chevrolet announced that the C8 Corvette would use “brake by wire” technology, they justifiably raised a few eyebrows.

Chevrolet calls the system eBoost. It’s a convenient and clever way to work around some of the packaging issues inherent in building a small sports car with the engine in the middle. In the eBoost system, the brake master cylinder, vacuum booster and pump, and the electronic brake control module are all combined into one unit.

This saves space and simplifies both packaging and assembly. It also saves weight. With no mechanical link to the booster, Chevrolet can offer customizable brake pedal feel, tuned to what the driver finds most comfortable.

Trouble in Paradise

Now, Chevrolet is issuing a stop sale order for new Corvettes over a problem with one of the sensors involved in the system. According to Road & Track, Chevrolet is stating that the sensors were “contaminated” during production, causing intermittent failures.

Chevrolet Press Image

Occasionally, the sensor’s signal will be interrupted, causing the brake booster to supply insufficient pressure during braking. This means that additional pedal force could be required in a panic situation – more than the driver may expect to use. This could result in a crash.

Chevrolet’s fix involves a complete replacement of the electronic brake booster module. Owners will need to bring their C8s into the dealership for the repair. Unlike other electronic issues that the C8 has experienced, this one cannot be fixed with an over-the-air update.

As far as we know, this issue hasn’t caused any injuries or death, thankfully. This issue is concerning, but it’s not completely unexpected. The C8 Corvette is pushing the limits of technology in a mass-produced sports car. There’s bound to be teething issues.

Most cars face some first-year problems, and we expect that the C8 will have a tougher time due to its new mid-engine configuration and a bevy of fresh technology. Hopefully, GM will work all of the bugs out soon.

Photos: General Motors

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Cameron Vanderhorst

Cam VanDerHorst has been a contributor to Internet Brands’ Auto Group sites for over three years, with his byline appearing on Ford Truck Enthusiasts, Corvette Forum, JK Forum, and Harley-Davidson Forums, among others. In that time, he’s also contributed to Autoweek, The Drive, and Scale Auto Magazine.
He bought his first car at age 14 — a 1978 Ford Mustang II — and since then he’s amassed an impressive and diverse collection of cars, trucks, and motorcycles, including a 1996 Ford Mustang SVT Mystic Cobra (#683) and a classic air-cooled Porsche 911.
In addition to writing about cars and wrenching on them in his spare time, he enjoys playing music (drums and ukulele), building model cars, and tending to his chickens.
You can follow Cam, his cars, his bikes, and his chickens at @camvanderhorst on Instagram.