IllustrationSECURITY SYTEM STEERING COLUMN LOCKS. LIGHT IS ON ON DASHBOARD. CANNOT STEER CAR. CANNOT KEEP RUNNING IF I PUT IT IN GEAR. HAD TO CALL TOW TRUCK. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IN ONE YEAR I HAVE HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED AND "FIXED". WHATS THE DEAL?? WHY NO RECALL?*AK
2001 Chevrolet Corvette
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Corvette years
Owner complaints for the 2001 Chevrolet Corvette are substantially higher than the model-year median of 29.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Corvette years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
350–25K
5125–50K
2850–75K
1175–100K
4100–150K
3150K+
132 reports with mileage · 71 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 87 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 25 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 25 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
6 crash reports3 fire reports2 injury reports
Steering complaints
87 reportsSTEERING WHEEL LOCKED WHILE DRIVING.
NAR 06/19/2003. *MR THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE WAS IN NEED OF NUMEROUS REPAIRS. VOLUNTARY EMISSION RECALL- REPROGRAM THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE. EXCESSIVE ENGINE OIL CONSUMPTION. ENGINE KNOCKING NOISE. FUEL GAUGE DROPPED TO EMPTY, DRIVER SEAT IS COMING APART, STEERING COLUMN LOCK. AIR CONDITIONER HAS A BAD ODOR. INABILITY TO …
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NAR 06/19/2003. *MR THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE WAS IN NEED OF NUMEROUS REPAIRS. VOLUNTARY EMISSION RECALL- REPROGRAM THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE. EXCESSIVE ENGINE OIL CONSUMPTION. ENGINE KNOCKING NOISE. FUEL GAUGE DROPPED TO EMPTY, DRIVER SEAT IS COMING APART, STEERING COLUMN LOCK. AIR CONDITIONER HAS A BAD ODOR. INABILITY TO LOCK CAR DOORS. RADIO PRODUCES LOUD STATIC, AND SPEAKERS RATTLE. HEADLIGHTS HAVE A BAD BATTERY AND THE REAR VIEW MIRROR DOESN'T DIM. *CB *JB
AS WITH MANY OTHER CORVETTE OWNERS I KNOW, I WAS STRANDED BY THE DEFECTIVE COLUMN LOCK MECHANISM. THIS SHOULD BE A FACTORY RECALL ON ALL CORVETTES.*AK
MESSAGE "SERVICE STEERING COLUMN LOCK". DEALER SAID RECALL DOES NOT INCLUDE THE '01 CORVETTE, JUST PREVIOUS YEARS. APPARENTLY THE PROBLEM WAS NOT CURED, JUST DROPPED THE RECALL. REF. IN EA02-031 *CJS
JUST AFTER STARTING MY 2001 CORVETTE, I WAS PULLING OUT OF THE GARAGE AND THE STEERING LOCKED UP. I THINK THIS IS BECAUSE THE STEERING PIN SOLENOID DOESN'T PULL THE PIN WHEN THE VOLTAGE DROPS. MY BATTERY WAS APPARENTLY WEAK BECAUSE WHEN THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER BEAT THE STEERING COLUMN UNTIL THE PIN DROPPED, THE CAR WOULDN'T STA…
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JUST AFTER STARTING MY 2001 CORVETTE, I WAS PULLING OUT OF THE GARAGE AND THE STEERING LOCKED UP. I THINK THIS IS BECAUSE THE STEERING PIN SOLENOID DOESN'T PULL THE PIN WHEN THE VOLTAGE DROPS. MY BATTERY WAS APPARENTLY WEAK BECAUSE WHEN THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER BEAT THE STEERING COLUMN UNTIL THE PIN DROPPED, THE CAR WOULDN'T START WITHOUT A JUMP. REF. IN EA02-031 *CJS
WHILE PULLING OUT OF THE DRIVE WAY WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING THE STEERING COLUMN LOCKED UP. CAUSING HIM TO CRASH INTO THE NEIGHBOR NEXT DOOR HOUSE. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. REF. IN EA02-031 *CJS
STEERING WHEEL HAS LOCKED UP ABOUT 10 OR 15 TIMES. USUALLY IMMEDIATELY AFTER STARTING THE CAR. IT HAS HAD ME STRANDED FOR ANYWHERE FROM 5-60 MINUTES. TWO DEALERS HAVE LOOKED AT THE CAR AT LEAST 5 OR 6 TIMES. I THOUGHT THE PROBLEM WAS RESOLVED UNTIL I WAS DRIVING TO WORK A FEW WEEKS AGO ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY AT A RATE OF SPEED O…
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STEERING WHEEL HAS LOCKED UP ABOUT 10 OR 15 TIMES. USUALLY IMMEDIATELY AFTER STARTING THE CAR. IT HAS HAD ME STRANDED FOR ANYWHERE FROM 5-60 MINUTES. TWO DEALERS HAVE LOOKED AT THE CAR AT LEAST 5 OR 6 TIMES. I THOUGHT THE PROBLEM WAS RESOLVED UNTIL I WAS DRIVING TO WORK A FEW WEEKS AGO ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY AT A RATE OF SPEED OF ABOUT 65MPH WHEN THE DIGITAL DISPLAY ON THE COMPUTER SAID TO "SERVICE STEERING COLUMN LOCK". THIS IS THE USUAL NOTIFICATION I GET ON MY CAR WHEN THE WHEEL HAS LOCKED UP IN THE PAST. FORTUNATELY THE STEERING DIDN'T LOCK UP BUT IT REALLY FRIGHTENED ME. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO IDENTIFY ANY PROBLEM IN THE DEALERSHIP AND NOW I'M SCARED TO DRIVE THE CAR FOR FEAR THE STEARING WHEEL WILL LOCK UP WHILE I'M DRIVING. ABOUT A WEEK AFTER THIS HAPPENED I WAS MADE AWARE OF AN INVESTIGATION INTO THIS PROBLEM BY NHTSA . I HAVE A 2001 CHEVY CORVETTE. CAN YOU PLEASE UPDATE ME ON THE INVESTGATION AND WHAT SHOULD I DO NOW?? REF. IN EA02-031 *CJS
WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP, AND THE WARNING BUZZER SOUNDED. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER AND THE STEERING ACTUATOR WAS REPLACED. MR *TT *JB
STEERING COLUMN LOCKED UP. IF YOU GO TO HTTP://WWW.CORVETTEFORUM.COM & DO A SEARCH FOR COLUMN LOCK YOU WILL SEE THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM. A LOT OF PEOPLE ON THIS FORUM HAVE REMOVED THE LOCK & INSTALLED A COLUMN LOCK BYPASS INSTEAD OF PRESSING THE ISSUE WITH GM. TO ME GM DOES NOT HAVE A PROPER & CORRECT FIX FOR IT AS THEY HAV…
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STEERING COLUMN LOCKED UP. IF YOU GO TO HTTP://WWW.CORVETTEFORUM.COM & DO A SEARCH FOR COLUMN LOCK YOU WILL SEE THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM. A LOT OF PEOPLE ON THIS FORUM HAVE REMOVED THE LOCK & INSTALLED A COLUMN LOCK BYPASS INSTEAD OF PRESSING THE ISSUE WITH GM. TO ME GM DOES NOT HAVE A PROPER & CORRECT FIX FOR IT AS THEY HAVE REMOVED THE LOCKING MECHANISM ON THE CARS WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS BUT DUE TO FEDERAL LAW CAN NOT REMOVE IT FROM THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION. GM JUST PUT THEIR HANDS UP & GAVE UP AS IT SHOWS THEY HAVE NO ANSWER OTHERWISE THEY WOULD NOT HAVE REMOVED THE LOCK FROM THE AUTOMATIC CARS. I HAVE HEARD IT LOCKS UP WHILE MOVING & THAT IS ON THE BACK OF MY MIND WHILE DRIVING, VERY DANGEROUS. PLEASE GET GM TO CORRECT THIS UNSAFE CONDITION & IF THEY TELL YOU THEY HAVE A FIX ASK THEM WHY THEY REMOVED THE LOCK FROM THE AUTOMATIC CARS. DT
Official recalls
104V060000 · Steering:column LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT Device
Feb 9, 2004
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.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
2EA02031 · 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.