IllustrationThe Seatbelt Retractors failed per both of the safety belt recalls. The belts no longer function and GM refuses to provide a remedy to clear the safety recall.
1990 Chevrolet Corvette
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1990 Chevrolet Corvette do not stand out strongly from 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
Limited mileage data: 6 of 34 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.
- Air Bags. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Seat Belts. Review the 8 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 →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
2 crash reports0 fire reports2 injury reports
Seat Belts complaints
8 reportsGM ORDERED THE INCORRECT SEAT BELTS WHICH WOULD SATISFY THE RECALL. THEY'VE IGNORED MY PHONE CALLS AND EMAILS. ACCORDING TO MY FINDINGS GM MUST EITHER SATISFY THE RECALL OR PROVIDE ME WITH A SUITABLE VEHICLE WHICH IS SAFE TO DRIVE.
I HAVE CALLED SEVERAL DIFFERENT DEALERS AND THEY SAY THEY CANNOT GET THE PARTS NEEDED TO REPLACE MY SEAT BELTS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1990 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE AIR BAG AND SEAT BELT WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE LISTED ABOVE IN DEC. 2012. I RECENTLY TOOK IT TO A CHEVROLET DEALER FOR SERVICE WHO AT THAT TIME RAN IT THROUGH THEIR DATABASE TO SEE IF THERE WERE ANY OUTSTANDING RECALLS. IN 1990 A RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT NOT WORKING AS EXPECTED. WHEN THEY CHECKED WITH THE MANUFACTURER THEY WER…
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I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE LISTED ABOVE IN DEC. 2012. I RECENTLY TOOK IT TO A CHEVROLET DEALER FOR SERVICE WHO AT THAT TIME RAN IT THROUGH THEIR DATABASE TO SEE IF THERE WERE ANY OUTSTANDING RECALLS. IN 1990 A RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT NOT WORKING AS EXPECTED. WHEN THEY CHECKED WITH THE MANUFACTURER THEY WERE INFORMED THAT THE REPLACEMENT PART WAS NO LONGER IN PRODUCTION SO THEREFORE COULD NOT BE REPLACED. MY QUESTION IS SHOULD THE MANUFACTURER STILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR FIXING THE DEFECTIVE PART OR HAS THE RECALL EXPIRED ON THIS ISSUE? THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME CONCERNING THIS MATTER. *TR
WHEN ATTEMPTING TO SEAT BELT MY SELF INTO MY CORVETTE THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT UPPER HARNESS WOULD NOT RELEASE AND ATTACH TO THE BOTTOM OF THE BELT CLASP. *TR
PROBLEM: I HAVE A 1990 CHEVY CORVETTE AND THE SAFETY BELT ON THE DRIVES SIDE OF CAR HAS "LOCKUP OR JAMMED" IN THE SAFETY BELT RETRACTOR. CONSEQUENCE SUMMARY: IF LOCKUP OCCURS, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PULL BELT OUT OF THE RETRACTOR. THE OCCUPANT OF A SEAT WITH AN UNUSABLE SAFETY BELT IS SUBJECT TO INCREASED RISK OF INJURY OR DE…
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PROBLEM: I HAVE A 1990 CHEVY CORVETTE AND THE SAFETY BELT ON THE DRIVES SIDE OF CAR HAS "LOCKUP OR JAMMED" IN THE SAFETY BELT RETRACTOR. CONSEQUENCE SUMMARY: IF LOCKUP OCCURS, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PULL BELT OUT OF THE RETRACTOR. THE OCCUPANT OF A SEAT WITH AN UNUSABLE SAFETY BELT IS SUBJECT TO INCREASED RISK OF INJURY OR DEATH IN THE EVENT OF A SUDDEN STOP OR ACCIDENT. CORRECTIVE SUMMARY: REPLACE THE SAFETY BELTS IF THE LOCKUP OCCURS. CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 91V143000 DATE: 1991-SEP-04 COMPONENT: SEAT BELTS: FRONT: ANCHORAGE CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 91V143000 DATE: 1991-SEP-04 COMPONENT: SEAT BELTS: FRONT: ANCHORAGE. I WHEN TO CHEVORLET IN WILKES BARRE, PA AND THEY TOLD ME MY CAR WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL AND WOULD NOT FIX THE DEFECTIVE SAFETY BELT RETRACTOR FREE OF CHARGE. I UNDERSTAND, (CORRECT ME IF I AM WRONG) THAN THE MANUFACTURER MUST REPLACE IT FREE OF CHARGE AS IT IS A DEFECTIVE SAFETY DEVICE ON THE VEHICLE. I FIND IT ODD THAT THERE WAS A RECALL OF THIS PART, BUT MY CAR WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. THAT WAS $154 PLUS LABOR TO REPLACE THE SAFETY BELT RETRACTOR. *JB
SEAT BELTS FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL (91V-143). *AK
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.
90V008000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
Jan 22, 1990
FUEL FEED AND RETURN LINE CONNECTORS HAVE INCORRECT LINE END FLARE CONFIGURATIONS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: LINE ENDS COULD CRACK CAUSING A FUEL LEAK THAT COULD RESULT IN AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE.
Remedy: INSTALL NEW FUEL LINES WITH CORRECT END FLARE CONFIGURATION.
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
5DP96006 · 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.
DP92011 · Airbag Failed To Deploy
Opened May 22, 1992 · Closed Oct 29, 1992
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags
AIRBAG FAILED TO DEPLOY
PE90040 · Parking Brake Failure
Opened Feb 6, 1990 · Closed Jun 11, 1990
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Parking Brake
There is no summary currently available
PE90038 · Under Dash Fire
Opened Feb 2, 1990 · Closed May 7, 1990
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System
There is no summary currently available
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