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1998 Chevrolet Corvette

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Corvette years

Owner complaints for the 1998 Chevrolet Corvette are substantially higher than the model-year median of 29.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

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
79,988 miles · Aug 8, 2008
Steering

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. WHEN STARTING UP THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING COLUMN WOULD LOCK UP. IT WOULD OCCASIONALLY BE RELEASED IF THE KEY WAS REMOVED AND THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED. THE STEERING LOCK WAS REPAIRED TWICE ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V544000 (STEERING:COLUMN LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT DEVICE…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. WHEN STARTING UP THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING COLUMN WOULD LOCK UP. IT WOULD OCCASIONALLY BE RELEASED IF THE KEY WAS REMOVED AND THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED. THE STEERING LOCK WAS REPAIRED TWICE ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V544000 (STEERING:COLUMN LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT DEVICE), BUT IT CURRENTLY NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED AGAIN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,500 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,988. UPDATE 09/10/08 *CW UPDATED 09/15/08. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10237450

120,000 miles · Aug 5, 2008
Engine And Engine CoolingSeat Belts

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. THE SERVICE COLUMN LOCK WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS A MALFUNCTION WITH THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELTS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE C…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. THE SERVICE COLUMN LOCK WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS A MALFUNCTION WITH THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELTS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE CONTACT WAS DISPLEASED TO KNOW THAT HIS VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL THAT LISTS THIS SAME FAILURE. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 120,000.

NHTSA ODI #10237005

33,000 miles · Jul 31, 2008
Steering

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE STEERING COLUMN LOCKED UP WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN. SHE STOPPED VEHICLE, GOT OUT AND HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALER TOOK OUT A PLATE THAT CAUSED THE STEERING WHEEL TO LOCK TO REMEDY THE ISSUE. AGAIN IN 2002, THE SAME ISSUE OCCURRED IN 20…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE STEERING COLUMN LOCKED UP WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN. SHE STOPPED VEHICLE, GOT OUT AND HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALER TOOK OUT A PLATE THAT CAUSED THE STEERING WHEEL TO LOCK TO REMEDY THE ISSUE. AGAIN IN 2002, THE SAME ISSUE OCCURRED IN 2002 AND MOST RECENTLY IN 2008. THE DEALER IN 2002 PUT AN ECL RELAY HARNESS TO REMEDY THE ISSUE. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THEY REPAIRED THE ISSUE ACCORDING TO RECALL 04V060000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

NHTSA ODI #10236524

18,501 miles · Jan 10, 2008
Steering

ON APRIL4, 2006, WHILE PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY, MY 1998 CORVETTE, WHEN I TRIED TO START MY ENGINE, THE STEERING COLUMN FAILED TO UNLOCK AND WHEN I TRIED TO DRIVE THE ENGINE WOULD SHUT DOWN. I CALL THE LOCAL CHEVY DEALER, BILL BRANCH CHEVROLET LOCATED AT 3980 FOWLER ST, FT MYERS ,FL 33901. THEY SAID THEY UNDERSTOOD THE PROBLEM AND …

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ON APRIL4, 2006, WHILE PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY, MY 1998 CORVETTE, WHEN I TRIED TO START MY ENGINE, THE STEERING COLUMN FAILED TO UNLOCK AND WHEN I TRIED TO DRIVE THE ENGINE WOULD SHUT DOWN. I CALL THE LOCAL CHEVY DEALER, BILL BRANCH CHEVROLET LOCATED AT 3980 FOWLER ST, FT MYERS ,FL 33901. THEY SAID THEY UNDERSTOOD THE PROBLEM AND WOULD SEND A TOW TRUCK TO PICK UP THE VEHICLE AS I WAS UNABLE TO MOVE THE VEHICLE. THEY REPAIRED THE VEHICLE AT NO CHARGE BUT BILLED ME FOR TOWING. AS THE PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE WAS LISTED UNDER YOUR RECALL, NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID # 00V111000,AS OF FEB 6,2004 WHY WOULD I BE CHARGED FOR TOWING ???? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10214377

400 miles · Dec 3, 2007
Seats

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. THE DRIVER' S SEAT MOVES BACKWARDS DURING ACCELERATION AND FORWARD WHEN BRAKING. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE SEAT TRACK FAILED AND THE REPLACEMENT WOULD COST $900 PLUS LABOR. THE MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT NO RECALLS WERE AVAILABLE. HOWEVER, PARTS ARE AV…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. THE DRIVER' S SEAT MOVES BACKWARDS DURING ACCELERATION AND FORWARD WHEN BRAKING. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE SEAT TRACK FAILED AND THE REPLACEMENT WOULD COST $900 PLUS LABOR. THE MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT NO RECALLS WERE AVAILABLE. HOWEVER, PARTS ARE AVAILABLE, BUT THEY WOULD NOT OFFER FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 42,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 400. UPDATED 12/18/07 *TR

NHTSA ODI #10210714

Mileage unknown · Nov 15, 2007
Steering

RECALL ON COLUMN LOCK SYSTEM ON GM/CHEVY CORVETTE WAS PERFORMED ON 2-14-05 & NOT DONE PROPERLY. THE SOLUTION IS TO DISABLE THIS ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM AS IT CAN LOCK-UP ON YOU WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING. ON MY CORVETTE THIS WAS PERFORMED BUT NOT DISABLED, MY CAR LOCKED UP IN MY GARAGE 11/07...LUCKY ME! SO FOR WELL OVER 2 YEARS …

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RECALL ON COLUMN LOCK SYSTEM ON GM/CHEVY CORVETTE WAS PERFORMED ON 2-14-05 & NOT DONE PROPERLY. THE SOLUTION IS TO DISABLE THIS ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM AS IT CAN LOCK-UP ON YOU WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING. ON MY CORVETTE THIS WAS PERFORMED BUT NOT DISABLED, MY CAR LOCKED UP IN MY GARAGE 11/07...LUCKY ME! SO FOR WELL OVER 2 YEARS I WAS DRIVING A CAR THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE FIXED PUTTING MY LIFE AS WELL AS MY FAMILY MEMBERS IN DANGER. NOW GM WANTS ME TO EAT THE COST OF REPAIRS BECAUSE OF THE TIME & MILES SINCE. I'M TALKING ABOUT $371.00, NOT MUCH REALLY BUT IT'S THE PRINCIPLE. THEY SHOULD BE MORE WORRIED THAT I'LL SUE FOR NEGLIGENCE! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10209081

108,225 miles · Apr 28, 2007
Fuel System, Gasoline

1) STARTED THE VEHICLE AND WAITED TO WARM UP 2) SMELLED GAS AFTER I STARTED TO BACK UP THEN STOPPED TO SEE GAS ON THE GROUND THAT WAS ORIGINATING FROM UNDER THE CAR AT THE DRIVERS SIDE GAS TANK 3) I'M PRESENTLY TRYING TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO A CERTIFIED GM DEALER FOR ANALYSIS AND REPAIR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10189165

Mileage unknown · Apr 3, 2007
Steering

1998 CHEVROLET CORVETTE CUSTOMER STATES THAT THE STEERING COLUMN SUDDENLY LOCKED UP AND WAS UNABLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE**CC THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE PROBLEM HE EXPERIENCED WAS A RECALL ISSUE. THE PROBLEM WAS CORRECTED FREE OF CHARGE, HOWEVER THE CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE TOWING CHARGES. THE CLAIM FOR REIMBUR…

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1998 CHEVROLET CORVETTE CUSTOMER STATES THAT THE STEERING COLUMN SUDDENLY LOCKED UP AND WAS UNABLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE**CC THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE PROBLEM HE EXPERIENCED WAS A RECALL ISSUE. THE PROBLEM WAS CORRECTED FREE OF CHARGE, HOWEVER THE CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE TOWING CHARGES. THE CLAIM FOR REIMBURSEMENT WAS DENIED BECAUSE THE CONSUMER DIDN'T HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A GM DEALER. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10187910

Mileage unknown · Dec 27, 2006
Steering

STARTED CAR, ENGAGED AUTO TRANS AND ACCELERATED. CAR MOVED APPROX 10 FEET AND STALLED. REPEATED SEVERAL TIMES. CAR WAS TOWED TO DEALER. THE REPAIR WAS TO RE-INSTALL THE PARTS REMOVED ON 3/16/06 AS PART OF THE ELECTRONIC COLUMN LOCK SYSTEM RECALL ISSUED BY CHEVROLET. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10177068

135,000 miles · Dec 12, 2006
Steering

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED AFTER THE RECALL REMEDY REPAIR #04V060000 REGARDING THE STEERING; COLUMN LOCKING; ANTI THEFT DEVICE WAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE ANOTHER PROBLEM APPEAR. WHILE DRIVING ANY SPEEDS THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THIS OCCURRED ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED OFF THE ROAD AND …

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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED AFTER THE RECALL REMEDY REPAIR #04V060000 REGARDING THE STEERING; COLUMN LOCKING; ANTI THEFT DEVICE WAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE ANOTHER PROBLEM APPEAR. WHILE DRIVING ANY SPEEDS THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THIS OCCURRED ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED OFF THE ROAD AND RESTARTED. THE DEALER WAS ALERTED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10175951

Official recalls

2

04V060000 · 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.

00V111000 · Seat Belts:front

Apr 17, 2000

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE LAP BELT WEBBING CAN TWIST ALLOWING THE WEBBING TO BECOME JAMMED IN THE RETRACTOR.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: WHEN THE BELT WEBBING BECOMES JAMMED IN THE RETRACTOR, THE SEAT BELT MAY BE UNUSABLE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL INSERTS TO THE BELT WEB GUIDE OF EACH LAP BELT RETRACTOR.

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

5

EA02031 · 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.

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