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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 →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

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

Electronic Stability Control (esc) complaints

3 reports
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6,996 miles · May 10, 2020
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Fuel/propulsion SystemSteering

I HAVE OWNED THIS 2001 CORVETTE SINCE IT WAS NEW IT HAS LESS THAN 7000 MILES ON IT.ON FRIDAY MAY 8TH 2020 I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE DEALER CENTURY CHEVROLET IN BROOMFIELD COLORADO.THE SERVICE COLUMN LOCK IS ON AT THE DASH AND I CANNOT TURN THE STEERING WHEEL AND IF YOU TRY TO DRIVE IT THE VEHICLE WILL STALL.I HAD RECALL 0400…

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I HAVE OWNED THIS 2001 CORVETTE SINCE IT WAS NEW IT HAS LESS THAN 7000 MILES ON IT.ON FRIDAY MAY 8TH 2020 I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE DEALER CENTURY CHEVROLET IN BROOMFIELD COLORADO.THE SERVICE COLUMN LOCK IS ON AT THE DASH AND I CANNOT TURN THE STEERING WHEEL AND IF YOU TRY TO DRIVE IT THE VEHICLE WILL STALL.I HAD RECALL 04006 PERFORMED ON THE CAR ON 10/25/2004 WITH 1912 MILES ON IT AND THIS WAS A REPROGRAMMING OF THE PCM.I HAVE SINCE LEARNED THERE HAS BEEN 2-3 UPDATES FOR THIS CONDITION AND THERE IS A RECALL 04006C AND SPECIAL POLICY #05081 FOR A NEW WIRING HARNESS TO BE INSTALLED TO CORRECT THIS CONDITION.I WAS NEVER CONTACTED BY GM ABOUT THIS AND FEEL I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR A DEFECT THEY KNOW ABOUT! THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED OUT OF MY GARAGE /DRIVEWAY WE HAD TO PUSH IT OUT OF THE GARAGE ONTO A TOW TRUCK AND IT IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALERSHIP WAITING TO HERE WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO DO. I DON'T THINK THEY ARE GOING TO OFFER ANY HELP NOR DID THEY WANT TO PICKUP THE TOW CHARGES AND ADD IT TO THE BILL. REGARDLESS I HAVE TO FIX THE VEHICLE AS IT DOES ME NO GOOD THE WAY IT IS.WITH THIS SAID THE ORIGINAL FIX OF THE RECALL DID NOT FIX THE VEHICLE AND THE NOW KNOWN FIX SHOULD BE DONE AT NO CHARGE TO THE CONSUMER/CUSTOMER.THIS VEHICLE IS IN MINT CONDITION AND HAS NOT BEEN MODIFIED IN ANY WAY AND TAKEN CARE OF LIKE NEW SINCE OWNED. I AM REACHING OUT TO YOU BECAUSE THE RIGHT THING NEEDS TO HAPPEN AND GM SHOULD ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THERE ACTIONS AND KNOWINGLY THAT THERE IS A DEFECT. I AM LUCKY I WAS NOT DRIVING THIS VEHICLE AS I WAS PLANNING ON DRIVING THE MORNING THIS HAPPENED AS I COULD OF KILLED MYSELF OR SOMEONE ELSE.

NHTSA ODI #11324054

37,000 miles · Aug 23, 2010
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service Brakes, ElectricTraction Control System

ELECTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL MODULE (EBCM) CONTROLS FAILED ON A 2001 CORVETTE WITH 37,000 MILES. TO CORRECT THIS MODULE, THE GM DEALER WILL CHARGE $1250 FOR THE REPLACEMENT PART AND 2.5 HOURS LABOR OR ABOUT $300 FOR A TOTAL OF $1650. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10351262

45,000 miles · Sep 4, 2008
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Fuel System, Gasoline

2001 CORVETTE. 2 YEARS AGO (1)ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ALWAYS ON (2)TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHTS ON (3)ABS WARNING LIGHTS ON (4)LOW FUEL WARNING LIGHT GOES ON IF UNDER 1/2 TANK AND GAUGE DROPS TO ZERO FUEL (5)DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT WILL NOT OPEN UP (6)LIGHTS DO NOT WORK ON HEATING ,A/C DIRECTIONAL FLOW THESE COMPLAINTS F…

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2001 CORVETTE. 2 YEARS AGO (1)ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ALWAYS ON (2)TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHTS ON (3)ABS WARNING LIGHTS ON (4)LOW FUEL WARNING LIGHT GOES ON IF UNDER 1/2 TANK AND GAUGE DROPS TO ZERO FUEL (5)DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT WILL NOT OPEN UP (6)LIGHTS DO NOT WORK ON HEATING ,A/C DIRECTIONAL FLOW THESE COMPLAINTS FROM WHAT I HAVE READ ON BLOG SITES FROM HUNDREDS OF OTHER CORVETTE OWNERS ARE VERY COMMONPLACE PROBLEM LIES IN THE FACT THAT WHEN MY WARNING LIGHTS ARE LIT UP I HAVE NO ANTILOCK BRAKES WORKING ON MY CAR NOR DO I HAVE TRACTION CONTROL. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. SOME TIME THE LIGHTS WORK SOMETIMES THEY GO OFF WELL I AM IN MOTION. THIS CAN CAUSE A DANGEROUS SITUATION IF I AM JUST HITTING THROTTLE AND THIS OCCURS CAUSING ME TO LOSE CONTROL AND RISKING A COLLISION. THESE ARE POWERFUL CARS EVEN WHEN DRIVEN IN A SAFE MANNER. I OWN AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND IT DOES NOT TAKE MUCH THROTTLE FOR THE ENGINE TO GEAR DOWN AND ACCELERATE. I STOP AT GEN. MOTORS DEALER FREQUENTLY HOPING FOR A CAMPAIGN. TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. THE SAME STORY ALWAYS IS THAT IT IS A DEFECTIVE COMPUTER BOARD AND THAT I AM LOOKING AT APPROX $4000.00 DOLLARS TO REPAIR. READING BLOG SITE IT IS THE SAME. SOME WOULD SAY THAT IF ONE CAN AFFORD A CORVETTE THEN THIS SHOULD NOT BE AN ISSUE. I SAY IT IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET. AM ONLY AN EMPLOYEE AT A DAYCARE AND SAVED FOR YEARS TO PURCHASE THIS CAR. THE OTHER COMMON COMPLAINT IS THE FUEL GAUGE BUT UNDERSTAND THAT WITH COMPUTER BOARD REPLACED THIS WILL ELIMINATE PROBLEM. POP UP HEADLIGHT COST TO REPAIR $300.00. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10240953

Official recalls

1

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.

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

2

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.