Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
200–25K
6725–50K
2750–75K
2375–100K
12100–150K
4150K+
153 reports with mileage · 246 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
Steering. Review the 215 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 32 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Seats. Review the 28 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
12 crash reports1 fire reports3 injury reports
What owners actually said
399 reports
Mileage unknown · May 31, 2000
Power Train
I FIND THAT THE GEARS GRIND BETWEEN SHIFTS AT EITHER HIGH SPEED OR HIGH RPM'S. AT THE BEGINNING ONLY 5 GEAR HAD GRINDED NOW I FIND THAT GEAR 4 AND 6 GRIND. THE GRINDING OCCURS OCCURS AS THE RPM'S APPROACH 4,500 AND HIGHER. ALSO THE GEARS ALSO GRIND WHEN SPEEDS EXCEED 140KM/H OR 88 MILES/H. I HAVE ALREADY HAD 3 PRIOR MECHANIC…
Read full complaint
I FIND THAT THE GEARS GRIND BETWEEN SHIFTS AT EITHER HIGH SPEED OR HIGH RPM'S. AT THE BEGINNING ONLY 5 GEAR HAD GRINDED NOW I FIND THAT GEAR 4 AND 6 GRIND. THE GRINDING OCCURS OCCURS AS THE RPM'S APPROACH 4,500 AND HIGHER. ALSO THE GEARS ALSO GRIND WHEN SPEEDS EXCEED 140KM/H OR 88 MILES/H. I HAVE ALREADY HAD 3 PRIOR MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WITH MY 6 SPEED TRANSMISSION. THE FIRST WAS A TRANSMISSION LINK FAILURE. THE SECOND WAS A TRANSMISSION LEAK. THE THIRD WAS A BROKEN SHIFTER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TWICE DUE TO THE INCIDENTS. I FOUND COUNTLESS OTHERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AT WWW.C5-CORVETTE.COM IT SEEMS TO BE A SYNCRO PROBLEM. NO DEALER HAS BEEN ABLE TO RESOLVE MY PROBLEM TO DATE. I HAVE BEEN TO 3 DIFFERENT DEALERS FOR A TOTAL OF 5 TRIPS, NO CORRECTION HAS BEEN MADE THUS FAR. *AK
NHTSA ODI #723403
Mileage unknown · May 29, 2000
Seat Belts
SEAT BELT WILL NOT LATCH. *AK
NHTSA ODI #723310
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 · Apr 4, 2000
Steering
WHEN STARTING UP CAR STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED, CONSUMER TRIED ALL GEARS, IT STILL WOULD NOT UNLOCK . HAD TO HAVE CAR TOWED. CONSUMER FELT THAT THIS WAS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE IT COULD HAVE LOCKED UP WHILE DRIVING. TOOK TO DEALER, AND IT WAS A BAD SOLENOID SWITCH. *AK REF. IN EA02-031 *CJS
NHTSA ODI #859668
Mileage unknown · Feb 15, 2000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
VEHICLE SHAKES WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED BECAUSE ROTORS ARE WARPED. YH
NHTSA ODI #550937
Mileage unknown · Dec 22, 1999
Equipment
PE99066, STEERING COLUMN LOCK MODULE; CONSUMER IS RECEIVEING MESSAGES TO SERVICE THE STEERING COLUMN LOCK. THIS PROBLEM HAS NOT STOPPED CONSUMER FROM DRIVING THE VEHICLE. BUT, DEALER DOES NOT KNOW HOW TO CORRECT PROBLEM AT THIS TIME. *AK REF. IN EA02-031 *CJS
NHTSA ODI #854299
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…
Read full complaint
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
Mileage unknown · Nov 25, 1999
Steering
THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THE STEERING COLUMN HAS FAILED TO UNLOCK UPON STARTING THE ENGINE. FORTUNATELY, BOTH TIMES WERE IN THE GARAGE. THE COMPUTER DETECTS THE FAILED COLUMN LOCK AND PREVENTS THE CAR FROM BEING DRIVEN BY SHUTTING THE ENGINE DOWN AFTER MOVING A COUPLE OF FEET. MY CONCERN IS THIS HAS BEEN REPAIRED ONCE. IS THERE A…
Read full complaint
THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THE STEERING COLUMN HAS FAILED TO UNLOCK UPON STARTING THE ENGINE. FORTUNATELY, BOTH TIMES WERE IN THE GARAGE. THE COMPUTER DETECTS THE FAILED COLUMN LOCK AND PREVENTS THE CAR FROM BEING DRIVEN BY SHUTTING THE ENGINE DOWN AFTER MOVING A COUPLE OF FEET. MY CONCERN IS THIS HAS BEEN REPAIRED ONCE. IS THERE A POSSIBILITY THE COLUMN COULD LOCK WHILE DRIVING ? EVEN IF THE ENGINE SHUTS DOWN, I WOULD STILL BE IN A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. REF. IN EA02-031 *CJS
NHTSA ODI #715251
Mileage unknown · Nov 22, 1999
Steering
STEERING COLUMN LOCKED UP WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO BECOME UNDRIVEABLE. DEALER HAS REPLACED THE STEERING LOCK MODULE AND ROCKER STUDS. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK REF. IN EA02-031 *CJS
NHTSA ODI #852313
Mileage unknown · Nov 3, 1999
Seat Belts
SEATBELT BUCKLE LOCKS UP IN THE UPRIGHT POSITION WHICH WONT PROTECT THE OCCUPANT IN EVENT OF A CRASH. DEALER REPLACED PASSENGER'S SEATBELT 3 TIMES. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ELECTRONIC COLUMN LOCK SYSTEMS (ECL), WHEN THE IGNITION SWITCH IS TURNED TO "LOCK," THE ECL SYSTEM PREVENTS TURNING OF THE STEERING SYSTEM. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STARTED, THE ECL UNLOCKS THE STEERING SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE IS DESIGNED SO THAT IF THE COLUMN FAILS TO UNLOCK WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STARTED AND THE CUSTOMER TRIES TO DRIVE, THE FUEL SUPPLY WILL BE SHUT OFF SO THAT THE VEHICLE CANNOT MOVE WHEN THE VEHICLE CANNOT BE STEERED. IF VOLTAGE AT THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE IS LOW OR INTERRUPTED, HOWEVER, THE FUEL SHUT OFF MAY NOT OCCUR AND THE VEHICLE CAN BE ACCELERATED WHILE THE STEERING SYSTEM IS LOCKED. ALSO WHEN THE CONTROL SYSTEM SHOWS THAT THE ECL IS UNLOCKED AND THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN, THE LOCK PIN LOCATION CAN VARY. DEPENDING ON THE LOCATION OF THE LOCK PLATE RELATIVE TO THE SWITCH TRANSITION POINT, THERE COULD THEN BE CONTACT BETWEEN THE LOCK PLATE AND PIN CAUSING THE STEERING TO LOCK WHILE DRIVING .
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THIS OCCURS, A CRASH COULD OCCUR WITHOUT WARNING.
Remedy: ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, THE DEALER WILL DISABLE THE STEERING COLUMN LOCK BY REMOVING THE COLUMN LOCK PLATE. WHEN THE IGNITION KEY IS REMOVED, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTER WILL LOCK BUT THE STEERING COLUMN WILL NOT LOCK. ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A MANUAL TRANSMISSION, THE DEALER WILL REPROGRAM THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE, PERFORM A DIMENSIONAL CHECK OF THE COLUMN LOCK AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE LOCK PLATE. THE STEERING COLUMN ON THESE VEHICLES WILL CONTINUE TO LOCK WHEN THE KEY IS REMOVED. OWNER NOTIFICATION TO OWNERS OF 1997 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS BEGAN ON APRIL 26, 2004. OWNERS OF 1998 THROUGH 2004 VEHICLES (EXCEPT 1997-1998 MANUAL TRANSMISSION VEHICLES) WILL BE NOTIFIED BEGINNING ON AUGUST 2, 2004. THE REMAINING OWNERS (1997-1998 MANUAL TRANSMISSION VEHICLES) WILL BE NOTIFIED LATER IN 2004, WHEN PARTS ARE AVAILABLE. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438.
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
1998 Chevrolet Corvette Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
Illustration