Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
200–25K
6725–50K
2750–75K
2375–100K
12100–150K
4150K+
153 reports with mileage · 246 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 215 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 32 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Seats. Review the 28 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
12 crash reports1 fire reports3 injury reports
What owners actually said
399 reports
Mileage unknown · May 25, 2004
Steering
WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH,THE STEERING COLUMN LOCKED UP. THE DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO STEER OR TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. 45 MINUTES LATER THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO UNLOCK THE COLUMN AND DROVE THE VEHICLE HOME. THE DRIVER CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THE DEALER INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT ON RECALL AT THIS TIME. THE DRIVE…
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WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH,THE STEERING COLUMN LOCKED UP. THE DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO STEER OR TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. 45 MINUTES LATER THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO UNLOCK THE COLUMN AND DROVE THE VEHICLE HOME. THE DRIVER CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THE DEALER INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT ON RECALL AT THIS TIME. THE DRIVER INFORMED THE DEALER THAT THIS PROBLEM HAD OCCURRED MORE THAN ONCE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10074247
160,000 miles · May 18, 2004
Steering
STEERING COLUMN LOCK FAILURE. (3RD EVENT) TODAY, MY STEERING COLUMN LOCK FAILED FOR THE THIRD TIME IN LAKE CITY FLORIDA. I CALLED THE CHEVROLETT DEALER IN THAT TOWN AND WAS UNABLE TO GET ASSISTANCE WITH THIS PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD TOW THE CAR IN ALTHOUGH IT WAS UNLIKELY THAT THE VENICLE WOULD BE REVIEWED ON THE NEXT DAY. THIS …
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STEERING COLUMN LOCK FAILURE. (3RD EVENT) TODAY, MY STEERING COLUMN LOCK FAILED FOR THE THIRD TIME IN LAKE CITY FLORIDA. I CALLED THE CHEVROLETT DEALER IN THAT TOWN AND WAS UNABLE TO GET ASSISTANCE WITH THIS PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD TOW THE CAR IN ALTHOUGH IT WAS UNLIKELY THAT THE VENICLE WOULD BE REVIEWED ON THE NEXT DAY. THIS IS A MAJOR DEFECT THAT CONTINUALLY CAUSES ME PROBLEMS IN THE MOST UNFAVORABLE AREAS FOR SERVICE. I INFORMED A SERVICE WRITER A BILL HEARD CHAVROLETT ABOUT A RECALL ON MY CAR FOR THIS PROBLEM AT LEAST THREE MONTHS AGO AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ON MY CAR FOR THIS MATTER. THIS IS A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS AND VERY INCONVIENT PROBLEMS THAT WARRANTS IMMEDIATE REPAIR.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10072832
Mileage unknown · Apr 29, 2004
Air Bags
CONSUMER HAD JUST RECEIVED THE PASSENGER AIR BAG ON/OFF SWITCH. *PH *JB
NHTSA ODI #10071925
Mileage unknown · Apr 29, 2004
Steering
CONSUMER INDICATED THAT DEALERSHIP PERFORMED ELECTRONIC COLUMN LOCK RECALL 04V060000 REPAIRED 3 TIMES, BUT THE STEERING WHEEL CONTINUED TO LOCK UP WHILE DRIVING. *AK *LA
NHTSA ODI #10066892
Mileage unknown · Apr 28, 2004
Steering
WHILE STARTING UP THE VEHICLE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO UNLOCK THE STEERING WHEEL. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND DEALER WAS UNABLE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10071773
Mileage unknown · Apr 13, 2004
Steering
UPON STARTING CAR, THE STEERING COLUMN REMAINED LOCKED, SO THAT I COULD ONLY DRIVE IN A CIRCLE. CAR HAD TO BE TOWED AND A DEALERSHIP INSTALLED A "STEERING KIT" TO REPAIR THE DEFECT AT A COST OF APPROXIMATELY $300.00. CHEVROLET ADVISES THAT MY VEHICLE'S IDENTIFICATION NUMBER IS NOT INCLUDED UNDER THE RECENT RECALL FOR THIS DEFE…
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UPON STARTING CAR, THE STEERING COLUMN REMAINED LOCKED, SO THAT I COULD ONLY DRIVE IN A CIRCLE. CAR HAD TO BE TOWED AND A DEALERSHIP INSTALLED A "STEERING KIT" TO REPAIR THE DEFECT AT A COST OF APPROXIMATELY $300.00. CHEVROLET ADVISES THAT MY VEHICLE'S IDENTIFICATION NUMBER IS NOT INCLUDED UNDER THE RECENT RECALL FOR THIS DEFECT. (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V06000)(GM RECALL NO. 04006)
NHTSA ODI #10066068
Mileage unknown · Apr 6, 2004
Steering
WHILE BACKING OUT GARAGE,THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. THE DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO UNLOCK THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DETERMINED.*MR INCIDENT OCCURRED THREE TIMES. *LA
NHTSA ODI #10066688
20,000 miles · Apr 1, 2004
Seats
CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A SEAT PROBLEM. THE SEAT SLID FORWARD AND BACKWARD WHEN ACCELERATING AND BRAKING. VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN EVALUATED AT THE DEALERSHIP. *AK *JB
NHTSA ODI #10057535
Mileage unknown · Mar 25, 2004
Steering
WHILE DRIVING THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10064889
Mileage unknown · Mar 24, 2004
Seats
ELECTRIC MOTOR FOR THE PASSENGER SEAT TURNED HOT ENOUGH TO BLISTER MY FINGER. NO ONE WAS WORKING THE SWITCHES. TOOK OFF ON IT'S OWN. VERY CLOSE TO A FIRE HAZARD. THE CAR WAS NOT RUNNING AT THE TIME. IGNITION WAS OFF. *JB
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.
PE99076 · Front Lap Belt Malfunction
Opened Dec 10, 1999 · Closed Mar 16, 2000
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts
There is no summary currently available
PE99066 · Steering Column Lock Module
Opened Nov 8, 1999 · Closed Jul 21, 2000
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering
There is no summary currently available
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