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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

Steering complaints

87 reports
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Mileage unknown · Oct 2, 2002
Steering

STEERING COLUMN LOCKED UP WHILE BACKING OUT OF MY GARAGE PREVENTING ME FROM TURNING STEERING WHEEL. CAR WAS TOWED TO MY NEAREST DEALERSHIP, PALM CHEVROLET WHO REPLACED THE LOCKING MECHANISM. MY CAR SUPPOSEDLY HAD THE LATEST IMPROVED FIX BY GM FROM THE FACTORY. THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH ALL CORVETTES SINCE 1997. GM HAS TAKE…

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STEERING COLUMN LOCKED UP WHILE BACKING OUT OF MY GARAGE PREVENTING ME FROM TURNING STEERING WHEEL. CAR WAS TOWED TO MY NEAREST DEALERSHIP, PALM CHEVROLET WHO REPLACED THE LOCKING MECHANISM. MY CAR SUPPOSEDLY HAD THE LATEST IMPROVED FIX BY GM FROM THE FACTORY. THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH ALL CORVETTES SINCE 1997. GM HAS TAKEN THE LOCKING MECHANISM OUT OF ALL AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION CORVETTE WHICH SHOWS THEY DO NOT HAVE CONFIDENCE IN ANY OF THEIR FIXES. THEY CANNOT REMOVE THEM FROM MANUAL TRANSMISSION SINCE THAT WOULD BE AGAINST FEDERAL LAW. ON THE FORUMS THIS IS A BIG TOPIC OF STEERIING COLUMNS LOCKING UP & I HAVE HEARD IT HAS BEEN DOING SO ON MOVING VEHICLES. MINE LOCKED UP WHILE BACKING OUT OF MY GARAGE. BEING LOCKED UP WHILE PARKED IS AN INCONVENIENCE BUT IT HAPPENING WHILE MOVING IS DEADLY. TS REF. IN EA02-031 *CJS

NHTSA ODI #767987

Mileage unknown · May 28, 2002
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingEquipment

SENSOR ON DRIVER'S DOOR HAS BEEN REPLACED NUMEROUS TIMES, INTERMITTENTLY DRIVERS DOOR WILL NOT RESPOND TO REMOTE OPTION.*AK CUSTOMER STATED THAT OIL LEAKED FROM ENGINE AREA. THE DRIVER DOOR RATTLES WHILE DRIVING AND WAS HARD TO CLOSE. THE RIGHT DOOR GLASS HAS WIND NOISE DUE TO DOOR GLASS FAILURE. BRAKES FAILED TO GRAB. THERE W…

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SENSOR ON DRIVER'S DOOR HAS BEEN REPLACED NUMEROUS TIMES, INTERMITTENTLY DRIVERS DOOR WILL NOT RESPOND TO REMOTE OPTION.*AK CUSTOMER STATED THAT OIL LEAKED FROM ENGINE AREA. THE DRIVER DOOR RATTLES WHILE DRIVING AND WAS HARD TO CLOSE. THE RIGHT DOOR GLASS HAS WIND NOISE DUE TO DOOR GLASS FAILURE. BRAKES FAILED TO GRAB. THERE WAS A NOISE WHILE DRIVING DUE TO LEFT SEAT BELT RETRACTOR FAILURE. CONSUMER STATES CD CHARGER WOULD NOT EJECT CD CARTRIDGE, THE STEERING TILT WAS INOPARTIVE, THE DOOR RATTLED, THE SEATS WOULD NOT HOLD PROGRAMMING. *YH

NHTSA ODI #8010559

Mileage unknown · Apr 17, 2002
Steering

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH WITHOUT WARNING THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED RESULTING IN CONSUMER LOSS OF STEERING THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED THREE TIMES DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN NOTIFIED MECHANIC STATES VEHICLE IS SAFE TO DRIVE. GM NOT WILLING TO DO NOTHING. *TT REF. IN EA02-031 *CJS

NHTSA ODI #8007882

Mileage unknown · Apr 17, 2002
Steering

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH THE STEERING WHEEL ON THE VEHICLE LOCKED UP AND THE CONSUMER COULD NOT STEER THE VEHICLE AT ALL. CONTACTED DEALER AND THE DEALER IS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING. NLM

NHTSA ODI #8007853

Mileage unknown · Jan 19, 2002
Electrical SystemSteeringVehicle Speed Control

ACTIVE HANDLING SYSTEM MALFUNCTION - ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS DURING A RECENT ROAD TRIP, I EXPERIENCED A MOMENTARY LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. ON EACH OCCASION, I WAS FORTUNATE TO QUICKLY REGAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AFTER IT INVOLUNTARILY VEERED TO THE LEFT AND CROSSED INTO THE…

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ACTIVE HANDLING SYSTEM MALFUNCTION - ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS DURING A RECENT ROAD TRIP, I EXPERIENCED A MOMENTARY LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. ON EACH OCCASION, I WAS FORTUNATE TO QUICKLY REGAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AFTER IT INVOLUNTARILY VEERED TO THE LEFT AND CROSSED INTO THE ADJACENT LANE OF TRAVEL. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, A DASH BOARD MESSAGE APPEARED : "SERVICE ACTIVE HANDLING". UPON ARRIVAL AT MY DESTINATION, I HAD MY VEHICLE SERVICED AT AN OUT OF TOWN CHEVEROLET DEALER. AFTER CONSULTING WITH GENERAL MOTORS, THE DEALER EXAMINED THE VEHICLE BUT WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE A "FIX" FOR THE PROBLEM. I ASKED THE DEALER IF THEY WERE AWARE OF ANY SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH OTHER CORVETTES - THEY RESPONDED - "NO". ACCELERATION DISRUPTION ISSUE - THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM SINCE DAY ONE AND CONTINUESS THROUGH TODAY. THE PROBLOEM IS MOST APPARENT WHEN I ATTEMPT TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC UPON ENTERING A FREEWAY. "EXCESSIVE HEAT" - AS WITH THE ACCELERATION ISSUE , THIS PROBLEM HAS EXISTED SINCE BUYING MY VEHICLE IN AUGUST OF 2000. I PLAN TO HAVE WARRANTY SERVICE WITH RESPECT TO THE ACCELERATION AND HEAT ISSUES SOMETIME IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #757075

Mileage unknown · Apr 25, 2001
Steering

STEERING COLUMN LOCKED, BRAND NEW CAR STRANDED.*AK REF. IN EA02-031 *CJS

NHTSA ODI #744526

Mileage unknown · Sep 7, 2000
Steering

ALL 1997-2001 CORVETTES ARE BEING SHIPPED WITH A DEFECTIVE COLUMN LOCK, CAUSING STEERING WHEEL TO LOCK AND LEAVE OWNERS OF $50,000 SPORTS CARS STRANDED! GM WILL NOT ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS SITUATION. YOU WILL FIND NUMEROUS CASES OF FAILURE AND FIXES BY GM WITH THE ORIGIONAL DEFECTIVE PART. THESE THINGS FA…

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ALL 1997-2001 CORVETTES ARE BEING SHIPPED WITH A DEFECTIVE COLUMN LOCK, CAUSING STEERING WHEEL TO LOCK AND LEAVE OWNERS OF $50,000 SPORTS CARS STRANDED! GM WILL NOT ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS SITUATION. YOU WILL FIND NUMEROUS CASES OF FAILURE AND FIXES BY GM WITH THE ORIGIONAL DEFECTIVE PART. THESE THINGS FAIL REPEATEDLY! THANK YOU. REF. IN EA02-031 *CJS

NHTSA ODI #730626

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.