IllustrationWHILE 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
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
What owners actually said
203 reportsINTERMITTENTLY ENGINE LIGHT BECOME INNOPERABLE AND OBSTRUCTING DRIVERS VIEW. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. MR
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
STEERING COLUMN LOCKED UP WHILE BACKING OUT OF MY GARAGE PREVENTING ME FROM TURNING STEERING WHEEL. CAR WAS TOWED TO MY NEAREST DEALERSHIP, PALM CHEVROLET WHO REPLACED THE LOCKING MECHANISM. MY CAR SUPPOSEDLY HAD THE LATEST IMPROVED FIX BY GM FROM THE FACTORY. THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH ALL CORVETTES SINCE 1997. GM HAS TAKE…
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STEERING COLUMN LOCKED UP WHILE BACKING OUT OF MY GARAGE PREVENTING ME FROM TURNING STEERING WHEEL. CAR WAS TOWED TO MY NEAREST DEALERSHIP, PALM CHEVROLET WHO REPLACED THE LOCKING MECHANISM. MY CAR SUPPOSEDLY HAD THE LATEST IMPROVED FIX BY GM FROM THE FACTORY. THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH ALL CORVETTES SINCE 1997. GM HAS TAKEN THE LOCKING MECHANISM OUT OF ALL AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION CORVETTE WHICH SHOWS THEY DO NOT HAVE CONFIDENCE IN ANY OF THEIR FIXES. THEY CANNOT REMOVE THEM FROM MANUAL TRANSMISSION SINCE THAT WOULD BE AGAINST FEDERAL LAW. ON THE FORUMS THIS IS A BIG TOPIC OF STEERIING COLUMNS LOCKING UP & I HAVE HEARD IT HAS BEEN DOING SO ON MOVING VEHICLES. MINE LOCKED UP WHILE BACKING OUT OF MY GARAGE. BEING LOCKED UP WHILE PARKED IS AN INCONVENIENCE BUT IT HAPPENING WHILE MOVING IS DEADLY. TS REF. IN EA02-031 *CJS
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AND HEARD A RATTLING NOISE COMING FROM LEFT WHEEL UPPER FORWARD CONTROL ARM. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK
SEAM IN RIGHT FUEL TANK DEVELOPED A LEAK WHILE SITTING IN MY GARAGE. NLM
VEHICLE CONSUMES TOO MUCH OIL DUE TO A DEFECTIVE A MOTOR. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO THE DEALER FIVE TIMES FOR COLD PISTON KNOCK PROBLEMS. THE DEALER REPLACED RINGS TWICE, BUT WAS UNABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE LOW OIL LIGHT CAME ON DUE TO EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION. THE CONSUMER HAD BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP …
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VEHICLE CONSUMES TOO MUCH OIL DUE TO A DEFECTIVE A MOTOR. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO THE DEALER FIVE TIMES FOR COLD PISTON KNOCK PROBLEMS. THE DEALER REPLACED RINGS TWICE, BUT WAS UNABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE LOW OIL LIGHT CAME ON DUE TO EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION. THE CONSUMER HAD BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP TEN TIMES FOR PROBLEMS RELATED TO EXCESSIVE OIL USE. THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR HAD FAILED, BUT THE DEALER REPLACED THE LEFT SIDE SHOULDER ASSEMBLY. THE PASSENGER DOOR OPENING WEATHER STRIP HAD GLUE COMING OUT. ARBITRATOR DENIED THE CONSUMERS REQUEST FOR THE MANUFACTURER REPURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE. *YH
SENSOR ON DRIVER'S DOOR HAS BEEN REPLACED NUMEROUS TIMES, INTERMITTENTLY DRIVERS DOOR WILL NOT RESPOND TO REMOTE OPTION.*AK CUSTOMER STATED THAT OIL LEAKED FROM ENGINE AREA. THE DRIVER DOOR RATTLES WHILE DRIVING AND WAS HARD TO CLOSE. THE RIGHT DOOR GLASS HAS WIND NOISE DUE TO DOOR GLASS FAILURE. BRAKES FAILED TO GRAB. THERE W…
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SENSOR ON DRIVER'S DOOR HAS BEEN REPLACED NUMEROUS TIMES, INTERMITTENTLY DRIVERS DOOR WILL NOT RESPOND TO REMOTE OPTION.*AK CUSTOMER STATED THAT OIL LEAKED FROM ENGINE AREA. THE DRIVER DOOR RATTLES WHILE DRIVING AND WAS HARD TO CLOSE. THE RIGHT DOOR GLASS HAS WIND NOISE DUE TO DOOR GLASS FAILURE. BRAKES FAILED TO GRAB. THERE WAS A NOISE WHILE DRIVING DUE TO LEFT SEAT BELT RETRACTOR FAILURE. CONSUMER STATES CD CHARGER WOULD NOT EJECT CD CARTRIDGE, THE STEERING TILT WAS INOPARTIVE, THE DOOR RATTLED, THE SEATS WOULD NOT HOLD PROGRAMMING. *YH
WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY SMELLED AN ODOR. IT WAS SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH VEHICLE.*AK
CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH WITHOUT WARNING THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED RESULTING IN CONSUMER LOSS OF STEERING THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED THREE TIMES DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN NOTIFIED MECHANIC STATES VEHICLE IS SAFE TO DRIVE. GM NOT WILLING TO DO NOTHING. *TT REF. IN EA02-031 *CJS
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.