Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
490–25K
5925–50K
3450–75K
1175–100K
16100–150K
4150K+
173 reports with mileage · 104 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 168 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 24 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Exterior Lighting. Review the 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
15 crash reports0 fire reports8 injury reports
What owners actually said
277 reports
30,000 miles · Dec 20, 2002
Steering
2000 CORVETTE STEERING LOCK PROBLEM. I RECEIVED A NOTE FROM GM SAYING THAT THEY WOULD DISCONNECT THE LOCK AND IF I DID NOT HAVE IT DONE IN A TIMELY MANNER THEY WOULD WASH THEIR HANDS OF THE PROBLEM. I PAID $45M FOR THE CAR AND THE SOLUTION WAS TO DISARM A SAFETY FEATURE. I COMPLIED BECAUSE I WAS AFRAID THE LOCK WOULD ENGAGE WHIL…
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2000 CORVETTE STEERING LOCK PROBLEM. I RECEIVED A NOTE FROM GM SAYING THAT THEY WOULD DISCONNECT THE LOCK AND IF I DID NOT HAVE IT DONE IN A TIMELY MANNER THEY WOULD WASH THEIR HANDS OF THE PROBLEM. I PAID $45M FOR THE CAR AND THE SOLUTION WAS TO DISARM A SAFETY FEATURE. I COMPLIED BECAUSE I WAS AFRAID THE LOCK WOULD ENGAGE WHILE DRIVING. I FELT I HAD NO CHOICE. TS REF. IN EA02-031 *CJS
NHTSA ODI #10000301
12,695 miles · Dec 17, 2002
Fuel System, Other
FUEL GAUGE INACCURACY. WHEN FUEL GAUGE GETS TO ABOUT 1/4 TANK, IT WILL DROP TO EMPTY SETTING OFF LOW FUEL ALARMS. GAUGE WAS REPAIRED 9/24/02. AGAIN ON 11/29/02 IT HAPPENED AGAIN. THE SAME COMPONENTS (SENDING UNITS) WERE REPLACED FOR THE SECOND TIME. I AM A MEMBER OF CORVETTEFORUM.COM AND SEE THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN ON GOING S…
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FUEL GAUGE INACCURACY. WHEN FUEL GAUGE GETS TO ABOUT 1/4 TANK, IT WILL DROP TO EMPTY SETTING OFF LOW FUEL ALARMS. GAUGE WAS REPAIRED 9/24/02. AGAIN ON 11/29/02 IT HAPPENED AGAIN. THE SAME COMPONENTS (SENDING UNITS) WERE REPLACED FOR THE SECOND TIME. I AM A MEMBER OF CORVETTEFORUM.COM AND SEE THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN ON GOING SINCE 1997 WHEN THE C-5 CORVETTE WAS INTRODUCED. IT IS STILL HAPPENING ON THE 2003 MODELS WITH ONE OWNER HAVING IT OCCUR AT 800 MILES ON A 2003 MODEL. CAN'T GET CHEVROLET TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM SO IT WON'T COME BACK. CHEVROLET DOESN'T SEEM TO HAVE A FIX FOR THE PROBLEM AFTER 7 YEARS OF BUILDING THE C-5! I NEED SOME HELP IN GETTING THIS ISSUE RESOLVED BEFORE MY WARRANTY EXPIRES IN APRIL 2003. TS
NHTSA ODI #10000154
Mileage unknown · Sep 30, 2002
Unknown Or OtherCrash
CAR INCIDENT, DATED DECEMBER 8, 2001. HIGHWAY EXIT, 8.00 P.M., ON A STRAIGHT STREET, START FROM THE STAND. AFTER ABOUT 100 METRES, GOING INTO THE SECOND GEAR WITH A SPEED OF ABOUT 80 KM/H, THE CAR SUDDENLY SKIDDED TO THE RIGHT AND ROTATED. CRASHED AGAINST THE GUARD RAIL WITH THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL. THUS, FINALLY STOPS WITH THE …
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CAR INCIDENT, DATED DECEMBER 8, 2001. HIGHWAY EXIT, 8.00 P.M., ON A STRAIGHT STREET, START FROM THE STAND. AFTER ABOUT 100 METRES, GOING INTO THE SECOND GEAR WITH A SPEED OF ABOUT 80 KM/H, THE CAR SUDDENLY SKIDDED TO THE RIGHT AND ROTATED. CRASHED AGAINST THE GUARD RAIL WITH THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL. THUS, FINALLY STOPS WITH THE FRONT REAR IN DRIVING DIRECTION IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROADWAY. MR
NHTSA ODI #767909
Mileage unknown · Aug 29, 2002
Equipment
WHILE DRIVING AND WITH NO WARNING AIR CONDITIONER WILL NOT WORK AND IS LEAKING FLUID ONTO PASSENGER'S SIDE RUG, CAUSING MILDEW TO ACCUMULATE, LEAVING A STRONG FUME SMELL IN VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #8017590
Mileage unknown · Aug 20, 2002
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingEquipment
AC DRAIN CLOGS CAUSING COMPUTER FAILURE, ENGINE FAILURE, AND VENTS TO TOTALLY FOG WINDOWS. ALMOST CAUSED SERIOUS HIGHSPEED ACCIDENT ON INTERSTATE. THIS HAS CLOGGED 5 TIMES ON MY CORVETTE. MANY OTHER CORVETTE OWNERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. SOMEONE WILL GET KILLED IF THIS KEEPS HAPPENING. GM HAS NOT HELPED A BIT. THEY CAN'T…
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AC DRAIN CLOGS CAUSING COMPUTER FAILURE, ENGINE FAILURE, AND VENTS TO TOTALLY FOG WINDOWS. ALMOST CAUSED SERIOUS HIGHSPEED ACCIDENT ON INTERSTATE. THIS HAS CLOGGED 5 TIMES ON MY CORVETTE. MANY OTHER CORVETTE OWNERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. SOMEONE WILL GET KILLED IF THIS KEEPS HAPPENING. GM HAS NOT HELPED A BIT. THEY CAN'T SEEM TO KEEP THE AC DRAIN LINES FROM GETTING CLOGGED ON THESE CARS. THE AC PLENUM FILLS WITH WATER AS YOU DRIVE, AND THEN STARTS DRIPPING ON THE FLOORBOARD COMPUTERS AND FRIES THEM.
NHTSA ODI #765957
32,518 miles · Aug 19, 2002
Steering
CONSUMER STATED THE STEERING COLUMN FAILED TO UNLOCK, THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED.*AK *JB REF. IN EA02-031 *CJS
NHTSA ODI #8016605
Mileage unknown · Aug 13, 2002
Exterior Lighting
BRAKE LIGHTS WORK INTERMITTENTLY, SOMETIMES GOING DAYS WITHOUT FUNCTIONING. VEHICLE CHECKED BY DEALER, WHO WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE CAUSE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #8016254
Mileage unknown · Aug 5, 2002
Steering
WHILE PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN CHECKED BY DEALER.*AK REF. IN EA02-031 *CJS
NHTSA ODI #8015565
Mileage unknown · Jul 24, 2002
Fuel System, Gasoline
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING A CONTINUING PROBLEM WITH FUEL SYSTEM FAILURES, THIS HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. *SLC
NHTSA ODI #566846
Mileage unknown · May 27, 2002
Steering
STEERING COLUMN LOCK MALFUNCTION - WAS LEFT STRANDED - HAD TO CALL TOW TRUCK. *AK REF. IN EA02-031 *CJS
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.
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