NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
20 reportsClear category filter220,000 miles · May 20, 2014
Engine And Engine Cooling
I WAS DRIVING ON A FREEWAY AND ENGINE/POWER WENT DOWN WHILE DRIVING. AFTER STOPPING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FASTEST LANE IN THE FREEWAY, I WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE. THIS HAPPENED 3 TIMES SO FAR WHILE OWNING THIS CAR. I COULD HAVE BEEN HIT BY THE CARS BEHIND ME BUT LUCKILY ALL 3 TIMES I WAS FINE JUST UNHAPPY DRIVERS HO…
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I WAS DRIVING ON A FREEWAY AND ENGINE/POWER WENT DOWN WHILE DRIVING. AFTER STOPPING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FASTEST LANE IN THE FREEWAY, I WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE. THIS HAPPENED 3 TIMES SO FAR WHILE OWNING THIS CAR. I COULD HAVE BEEN HIT BY THE CARS BEHIND ME BUT LUCKILY ALL 3 TIMES I WAS FINE JUST UNHAPPY DRIVERS HONKING ME FROM BEHIND. SINCE THE REPAIR COST MIGHT BE SKY HIGH, I AM YET TO BRING MY CAR TO THE DEALER. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10592877
72,000 miles · May 29, 2009
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE OIL SENDING UNIT DISPLAYED NON-REALISTIC NUMBERS. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE OIL SENDING UNIT, THE COMPONENT THAT INDICATES THE AMOUNT OF PRESSURE IN THE VEHICLE, FAILED. THE MECHANIC CHANGED THE ENTIRE OIL SENDING UNIT…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE OIL SENDING UNIT DISPLAYED NON-REALISTIC NUMBERS. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE OIL SENDING UNIT, THE COMPONENT THAT INDICATES THE AMOUNT OF PRESSURE IN THE VEHICLE, FAILED. THE MECHANIC CHANGED THE ENTIRE OIL SENDING UNIT, WHICH REPAIRED THE ISSUE FOR 13 MONTHS. THROUGH RESEARCH, THE CONTACT FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THIS VEHICLE FOR THE IDENTICAL FAILURE. HE BELIEVES THAT A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR THE SECOND TIME. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 84,000. UPDATED 6/18/09 *CN THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE GAS GUAGE. UPDATED 06/22/09. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10272361
120,000 miles · Aug 5, 2008
Engine And Engine CoolingSeat Belts
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. THE SERVICE COLUMN LOCK WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS A MALFUNCTION WITH THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELTS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE C…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. THE SERVICE COLUMN LOCK WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS A MALFUNCTION WITH THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELTS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE CONTACT WAS DISPLEASED TO KNOW THAT HIS VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL THAT LISTS THIS SAME FAILURE. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 120,000.
NHTSA ODI #10237005
Mileage unknown · Jun 5, 2006
Engine And Engine Cooling
THE REAR WELDED FLANGES ON THE TAIL PIPES ON MY 1998 CORVETTE BOTH FAILED ON MY CAR CAUSING INCREASED HEAT AND EXHAUST FUMES TO BE PULLED INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10159051
44,000 miles · May 12, 2006
Engine And Engine Cooling
FAILURE OF EXAUST SYSTEM AT WELDS ON FLANGES. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10157462
26,000 miles · Sep 9, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling
WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE GARAGE ENGINE SHUT OFF. CONSUMER PULLED KEY OUT OF IGNITION, WAITED 10 SECONDS, AND TRIED TO RESTART VEHICLE. DASHBOARD LIT UP, AND VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS INVESTIGATION EA02031 THAT EXPLAINED THE EXACT PROBLEM.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10038536
Mileage unknown · May 7, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling
BOTH EXHAUST PIPES ARE SEPARATED FROM FLANGE IN FRONT OF REAR AXLE. PIPES KEEP MUFFLER OFF GROUND. WHEN SEPARATE AND MUFFLER HITS GROUND, IT CAN DAMAGE REAR OF VEHICLE, AND VEHICLE IN PATH. ALSO FUMES ARE LEAKING FROM EXHAUST PIPES. DEALER CONTACTED.*AKTHE INSPECTOR AT THE INPECTION STATION INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THIS WAS COMM…
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BOTH EXHAUST PIPES ARE SEPARATED FROM FLANGE IN FRONT OF REAR AXLE. PIPES KEEP MUFFLER OFF GROUND. WHEN SEPARATE AND MUFFLER HITS GROUND, IT CAN DAMAGE REAR OF VEHICLE, AND VEHICLE IN PATH. ALSO FUMES ARE LEAKING FROM EXHAUST PIPES. DEALER CONTACTED.*AKTHE INSPECTOR AT THE INPECTION STATION INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THIS WAS COMMON IN CORVETTES WITH THE SAME BODY STYLE, AND THE FAILURE IS DUE TO FAULTY EXHAUST WELDS ALLOWING EXHAUST PIPE SEPERATION. *JG
NHTSA ODI #8009332
Mileage unknown · Aug 7, 2000
Engine And Engine CoolingSteering
IM STARTED MY CAR, PUT IT IN DRIVE AND DROVE OFF. I NOTICED MY STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED. THE ENGINE DIED ALMOST RIGHT AWAY. I WAS GOING ABOUT 3 MPH. I RESTARTED THE ENGINE SEVERAL TIMES TRYING TO FREE THE STEERING. NOTHING WORKED. I HAD TO BACK MY CAR OUT OF THE STREET WITH NO STEERING. THE NEXT MORNING THE STEERING STAR…
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IM STARTED MY CAR, PUT IT IN DRIVE AND DROVE OFF. I NOTICED MY STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED. THE ENGINE DIED ALMOST RIGHT AWAY. I WAS GOING ABOUT 3 MPH. I RESTARTED THE ENGINE SEVERAL TIMES TRYING TO FREE THE STEERING. NOTHING WORKED. I HAD TO BACK MY CAR OUT OF THE STREET WITH NO STEERING. THE NEXT MORNING THE STEERING STARTED WORKING AGAIN. AFTER TALKING TO SOME CORVETTE CLUB MEMBER, I FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS VERY COMMON TO HAPPEN ON LATE MODEL CORVETTES. REF. IN EA02-031 *CJS
NHTSA ODI #726887
Mileage unknown · May 18, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 35 MPH, ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE WAS A LOSS OF POWER. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD SAFELY. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
NHTSA ODI #862097
Mileage unknown · Dec 10, 1999
Engine And Engine CoolingEquipmentUnknown Or Other
WHILE DRIVING DOWN ON INTERSTATE IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. THE INFORMATION WARNING SYSTEM DISPLAYED A MESSAGE THAT READ ACTIVE HANDLING SYSTEM WAS MALFUNCTIONING. ATER DISPLAY MESSAGE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, THEN ENGINE LOST POWER. CONSUMER FELT THAT IF SYSTEMS FAILED IT COULD LOCK UP THE BRAKES AND POSIBLE INJURIES C…
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WHILE DRIVING DOWN ON INTERSTATE IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. THE INFORMATION WARNING SYSTEM DISPLAYED A MESSAGE THAT READ ACTIVE HANDLING SYSTEM WAS MALFUNCTIONING. ATER DISPLAY MESSAGE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, THEN ENGINE LOST POWER. CONSUMER FELT THAT IF SYSTEMS FAILED IT COULD LOCK UP THE BRAKES AND POSIBLE INJURIES COULD OCCUR. *AK
NHTSA ODI #853987
NHTSA investigations
5EA02031 · Steering Column Lockup
Opened Nov 15, 2002 · Closed Mar 11, 2004
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering; Steering:column; Steering:column LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT Device
IN 2001, GENERAL MOTORS (GM) ISSUED CUSTOMER SERVICE CAMPAIGNS 1044 AND 1044A TO ADDRESS A CONDITION WHERE THE STEERING COLUMN WOULD FAIL TO UNLOCK DURING THE INITIAL KEY-IN AND START-UP IN CERTAIN MY 1998-2000 CORVETTE VEHICLES.HOWEVER, ODI CONTINUED TO RECEIVE COMPLAINTS CONCERNING STEERING COLUMN LOCKUP ON CORVETTE VEHICLES.AS A RESULT, PE02-054 WAS OPENED AND LATER UPGRADED TO EA02-031 FOR MY 1997-2001 SUBJECT VEHICLES.ODI'S ANALYSIS IDENTIFIED CONCERNS WITH POST-REPAIR FAILURES IN VEHICLES SERVICED THROUGH THE CAMPAIGNS, AS WELL AS, FAILURES IN MY 1997-2003 SUBJECT VEHICLES NOT INCLUDED IN THE CAMPAIGNS.(NOTE: THE MANUFACTURER FAILURE DATA ABOVE IS LIMITED TO MY 1997-2003 VEHICLES THROUGH 10/17/2003.)ON FEBRUARY 6, 2004, GM NOTIFIED NHTSA OF A SAFETY DEFECT IN MY 1997-2004 CORVETTE VEHCLES EQUIPPED WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS AND MY 1997-2000 CORVETTE VEHICLES WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS.THE NOTIFICATION STATED THAT IF THE VOLTAGE AT THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE (PCM), WHICH WAS DESIGNED TO SHUT DOWN THE FUEL SUPPLY WHEN THE STEERING COLUMN FAILED TO UNLOCK AND THE CUSTOMER TRIED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE, IS LOW OR INTERRUPTED, THE FUEL SHUT OFF MAY NOT OCCUR.AS A RESULT, THE CUSTOMER COULD DRIVE THE VEHICLE WHILE THE STEERING COLUMN WAS LOCKED CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOSE STEERING CONTROL AND POSSIBLY CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.GM WILL INSTRUCT OWNERS TO BRING THEIR VEHICLES TO A DEALER TO HAVE THE PCM REPROGRAMMED FOR MANUAL TRANSMISSION VEHICLES AND THE ELECTRIC COLUMN LOCK DISABLED FOR AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION VEHICLES.ODI WILL MONITOR THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE REMEDY IN THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION VEHICLES AND TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED.
Additional source detail variants (3)
Steering:column
IN 2001, GENERAL MOTORS (GM) ISSUED CUSTOMER SERVICE CAMPAIGNS 1044 AND 1044A TO ADDRESS A CONDITION WHERE THE STEERING COLUMN WOULD FAIL TO UNLOCK DURING THE INITIAL KEY-IN AND START-UP IN CERTAIN MY 1998-2000 CORVETTE VEHICLES.HOWEVER, ODI CONTINUED TO RECEIVE COMPLAINTS CONCERNING STEERING COLUMN LOCKUP ON CORVETTE VEHICLES.AS A RESULT, PE02-054 WAS OPENED AND LATER UPGRADED TO EA02-031 FOR MY 1997-2001 SUBJECT VEHICLES.ODI'S ANALYSIS IDENTIFIED CONCERNS WITH POST-REPAIR FAILURES IN VEHICLES SERVICED THROUGH THE CAMPAIGNS, AS WELL AS, FAILURES IN MY 1997-2003 SUBJECT VEHICLES NOT INCLUDED IN THE CAMPAIGNS.(NOTE: THE MANUFACTURER FAILURE DATA ABOVE IS LIMITED TO MY 1997-2003 VEHICLES THROUGH 10/17/2003.)ON FEBRUARY 6, 2004, GM NOTIFIED NHTSA OF A SAFETY DEFECT IN MY 1997-2004 CORVETTE VEHCLES EQUIPPED WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS AND MY 1997-2000 CORVETTE VEHICLES WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS.THE NOTIFICATION STATED THAT IF THE VOLTAGE AT THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE (PCM), WHICH WAS DESIGNED TO SHUT DOWN THE FUEL SUPPLY WHEN THE STEERING COLUMN FAILED TO UNLOCK AND THE CUSTOMER TRIED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE, IS LOW OR INTERRUPTED, THE FUEL SHUT OFF MAY NOT OCCUR.AS A RESULT, THE CUSTOMER COULD DRIVE THE VEHICLE WHILE THE STEERING COLUMN WAS LOCKED CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOSE STEERING CONTROL AND POSSIBLY CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.GM WILL INSTRUCT OWNERS TO BRING THEIR VEHICLES TO A DEALER TO HAVE THE PCM REPROGRAMMED FOR MANUAL TRANSMISSION VEHICLES AND THE ELECTRIC COLUMN LOCK DISABLED FOR AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION VEHICLES.ODI WILL MONITOR THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE REMEDY IN THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION VEHICLES AND TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED.
Steering:column LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT Device
IN 2001, GENERAL MOTORS (GM) ISSUED CUSTOMER SERVICE CAMPAIGNS 1044 AND 1044A TO ADDRESS A CONDITION WHERE THE STEERING COLUMN WOULD FAIL TO UNLOCK DURING THE INITIAL KEY-IN AND START-UP IN CERTAIN MY 1998-2000 CORVETTE VEHICLES.HOWEVER, ODI CONTINUED TO RECEIVE COMPLAINTS CONCERNING STEERING COLUMN LOCKUP ON CORVETTE VEHICLES.AS A RESULT, PE02-054 WAS OPENED AND LATER UPGRADED TO EA02-031 FOR MY 1997-2001 SUBJECT VEHICLES.ODI'S ANALYSIS IDENTIFIED CONCERNS WITH POST-REPAIR FAILURES IN VEHICLES SERVICED THROUGH THE CAMPAIGNS, AS WELL AS, FAILURES IN MY 1997-2003 SUBJECT VEHICLES NOT INCLUDED IN THE CAMPAIGNS.(NOTE: THE MANUFACTURER FAILURE DATA ABOVE IS LIMITED TO MY 1997-2003 VEHICLES THROUGH 10/17/2003.)ON FEBRUARY 6, 2004, GM NOTIFIED NHTSA OF A SAFETY DEFECT IN MY 1997-2004 CORVETTE VEHCLES EQUIPPED WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS AND MY 1997-2000 CORVETTE VEHICLES WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS.THE NOTIFICATION STATED THAT IF THE VOLTAGE AT THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE (PCM), WHICH WAS DESIGNED TO SHUT DOWN THE FUEL SUPPLY WHEN THE STEERING COLUMN FAILED TO UNLOCK AND THE CUSTOMER TRIED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE, IS LOW OR INTERRUPTED, THE FUEL SHUT OFF MAY NOT OCCUR.AS A RESULT, THE CUSTOMER COULD DRIVE THE VEHICLE WHILE THE STEERING COLUMN WAS LOCKED CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOSE STEERING CONTROL AND POSSIBLY CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.GM WILL INSTRUCT OWNERS TO BRING THEIR VEHICLES TO A DEALER TO HAVE THE PCM REPROGRAMMED FOR MANUAL TRANSMISSION VEHICLES AND THE ELECTRIC COLUMN LOCK DISABLED FOR AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION VEHICLES.ODI WILL MONITOR THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE REMEDY IN THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION VEHICLES AND TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED.
Steering
IN 2001, GENERAL MOTORS (GM) ISSUED CUSTOMER SERVICE CAMPAIGNS 1044 AND 1044A TO ADDRESS A CONDITION WHERE THE STEERING COLUMN WOULD FAIL TO UNLOCK DURING THE INITIAL KEY-IN AND START-UP IN CERTAIN MY 1998-2000 CORVETTE VEHICLES.HOWEVER, ODI CONTINUED TO RECEIVE COMPLAINTS CONCERNING STEERING COLUMN LOCKUP ON CORVETTE VEHICLES.AS A RESULT, PE02-054 WAS OPENED AND LATER UPGRADED TO EA02-031 FOR MY 1997-2001 SUBJECT VEHICLES.ODI'S ANALYSIS IDENTIFIED CONCERNS WITH POST-REPAIR FAILURES IN VEHICLES SERVICED THROUGH THE CAMPAIGNS, AS WELL AS, FAILURES IN MY 1997-2003 SUBJECT VEHICLES NOT INCLUDED IN THE CAMPAIGNS.(NOTE: THE MANUFACTURER FAILURE DATA ABOVE IS LIMITED TO MY 1997-2003 VEHICLES THROUGH 10/17/2003.)ON FEBRUARY 6, 2004, GM NOTIFIED NHTSA OF A SAFETY DEFECT IN MY 1997-2004 CORVETTE VEHCLES EQUIPPED WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS AND MY 1997-2000 CORVETTE VEHICLES WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS.THE NOTIFICATION STATED THAT IF THE VOLTAGE AT THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE (PCM), WHICH WAS DESIGNED TO SHUT DOWN THE FUEL SUPPLY WHEN THE STEERING COLUMN FAILED TO UNLOCK AND THE CUSTOMER TRIED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE, IS LOW OR INTERRUPTED, THE FUEL SHUT OFF MAY NOT OCCUR.AS A RESULT, THE CUSTOMER COULD DRIVE THE VEHICLE WHILE THE STEERING COLUMN WAS LOCKED CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOSE STEERING CONTROL AND POSSIBLY CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.GM WILL INSTRUCT OWNERS TO BRING THEIR VEHICLES TO A DEALER TO HAVE THE PCM REPROGRAMMED FOR MANUAL TRANSMISSION VEHICLES AND THE ELECTRIC COLUMN LOCK DISABLED FOR AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION VEHICLES.ODI WILL MONITOR THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE REMEDY IN THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION VEHICLES AND TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED.
PE02054 · Steering Column Lockup
Opened Jul 1, 2002 · Closed Nov 15, 2002
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering
SEE RESUME IN REPOSITORY.
EA00009 · Front Lap Belt Malfunction
Opened Mar 16, 2000 · Closed Apr 18, 2000
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts
ODI OPENED THIS EA00-009 ON MARCH 16, 2000, TO CONTINUE ANALYSES BEGUN UNDER PRELIMINARY EVALUATION PE99-076.THE ALLEGED DEFECT: LAP BELT WEBBING IN BOTH SEATING POSITIONS TENDS TO FOLD OVER WHILE ENTERING THE RETRACTOR OPENING.THESE FOLDS FREQUENTLY IMPEDE PROPER WEBBING RETRACTION.IF THE RETRACTOR HAS BEEN INADVERTENTLY TOGGLED INTO AUTOMATIC LOCK RETRACTOR (ALR) MODE BY BEING EXTENDED TO ITS FULL LENGTH, IT MAY FAIL TO RESET ITSELF TO THE NORMAL EMERGENCY LOCK RETRACTOR (ELR) MODE.SUCH A CONDITION HAS BEEN SHOWN TO RENDER THE ACTIVE RESTRAINT UNUSABLE.CONCLUSION: GM WILL REMEDY THE ALLEGED DEFECT IN 71,569 SUBJECT VEHICLES BUILT PRIOR TO AUGUST 1999 BY ADDING WEBBING GUIDE INSERTS TO THE LAP RETRACTOR OPENINGS OF BOTH SEATING POSITIONS TO PREVENT THE ADMISSION OF FOLDED WEBBING ONTO THE RETRACTOR SPOOL.THIS ENGINEERING ANALYSIS HAS BEEN CLOSED.
PE99076 · Front Lap Belt Malfunction
Opened Dec 10, 1999 · Closed Mar 16, 2000
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts
There is no summary currently available
PE99066 · Steering Column Lock Module
Opened Nov 8, 1999 · Closed Jul 21, 2000
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering
There is no summary currently available