IllustrationWHILE DRIVING REAR SUSPENSION FRACTURED, ALMOST CAUSING CONSUMER TO HAVE A COLLISION. *AK
1989 Chevrolet Corvette
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
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
Limited mileage data: 3 of 15 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
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.
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
1 crash reports1 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
15 reportsABS FAILED DURING OPERATION OF VEHICLE.
IGNITON KEY CAN GET DIRTY OR SOILED WHICH CAN MAKE THE COMPUTER CHIP TO MALFUNCTION. VEHCILE WILL TURN ON AND THEN TURN OFF AND STAY OFF. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, CONSUMER HAS TO WAIT FOR ABOUT 4-30 MINUTES BEFORE CONSUMER CAN RETRY. THIS INFO CAN ALSO BE LOCATED IN THE CAR MANUAL. DEALER CANNOT EXPLAIN PROBLEM. THIS IS A INTERMITTEN…
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IGNITON KEY CAN GET DIRTY OR SOILED WHICH CAN MAKE THE COMPUTER CHIP TO MALFUNCTION. VEHCILE WILL TURN ON AND THEN TURN OFF AND STAY OFF. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, CONSUMER HAS TO WAIT FOR ABOUT 4-30 MINUTES BEFORE CONSUMER CAN RETRY. THIS INFO CAN ALSO BE LOCATED IN THE CAR MANUAL. DEALER CANNOT EXPLAIN PROBLEM. THIS IS A INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WHICH CAN RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. *AK
CLUTCH EXPLODED, SHATTERING COMPONENTS OF THE FUEL/ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. *SD
THE REAR IMPACT BUMPER IS DAMAGED.TT THE FRAME EXTENSION IS PARTIALLY MISSING DUE TO A PREVIOUS ACCIDENT BEFORE CONSUMER PURCHASED VEHICLE, WITHOUT THAT PART OF THE FRAME EXTENSION, THE ENERGY ABSORBER PAD CAN NOT BE ATTACHED THERESORE RENDERING IT USELESS IF SOMEONE WERE TO CRASH INTO THE BACK OF THE AUTOMOBILE, CONSUMER CONTA…
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THE REAR IMPACT BUMPER IS DAMAGED.TT THE FRAME EXTENSION IS PARTIALLY MISSING DUE TO A PREVIOUS ACCIDENT BEFORE CONSUMER PURCHASED VEHICLE, WITHOUT THAT PART OF THE FRAME EXTENSION, THE ENERGY ABSORBER PAD CAN NOT BE ATTACHED THERESORE RENDERING IT USELESS IF SOMEONE WERE TO CRASH INTO THE BACK OF THE AUTOMOBILE, CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP ASKING THEM TO REPAIR OR REPLACE THE DAMAGED PART AND THEY REFUSED, THEY STATED THAT THE IMPACT BAR EXTENSION AND PAD WERE NOT A SAFETY PROBLEM.*JB
Official recalls
291V143000 · Seat Belts:front:anchorage
Sep 4, 1991
UNDER CERTAIN VEHICLE OPERATIONS AND OCCUPANT USAGE CONDITIONS, THE SAFETY BELTS CAN LOCKUP OR JAM IN THE SAFETY BELT RETRACTOR.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF LOCKUP OCCURS, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PULL BELT OUT OFTHE RETRACTOR. THE OCCUPANT OF A SEAT WITH AN UNUSABLE SAFETY BELT ISSUBJECT TO INCREASED RISK OF INJURY OR DEATH IN THE EVENT OF A SUDDEN STOP ORACCIDENT.
Remedy: REPLACE THE SAFETY BELTS IF THE LOCKUP OCCURS.
90V032000 · Suspension:rear:springs:leaf Spring Assembly
Feb 12, 1990
REAR WHEEL TIE ROD ASSEMBLY MAY FATIGUE AND COULD FRACTURE AT THE INBOARD BEARING DUE TO HIGH INNER JOINT ROCKING TORQUE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: FRACTURE IN THIS ASSEMBLY COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND A CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
Remedy: REPLACE FAULTY TIE ROD ASSEMBLIES.
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
2DP96006 · Brake Pull
Opened May 14, 1996 · Closed Oct 18, 1996
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
THE PETITIONS STATED THAT:WE REPRESENT THE OWNER OF A 1990 CHEVROLET CORVETTE WHICH, WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, SUDDENTLY, VIOLENTLY, AND UNEXPECTEDLY PULLS TO THE LEFT.THIS IS A INTERMITTENT DEFECT WHICH DOES NOT OCCUR WITH AN REGULARITY.
PE90032 · Tie Rod Socket Failure
Opened Jan 12, 1990 · Closed Mar 22, 1990
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension
There is no summary currently available