Illustration2001 CORVETTE GAS TANK ODOR. I READ THAT YOU HAVE OPENED A CASE ON THE 2004 CORVETTES. MY 2001 IS IDENTICAL TO THE 2004 MODEL AND HAS THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. IF THE GAS TANK IS FILLED FULL, A VERY BAD GASOLINE ODOR IS PRESENT. THE ODOR GOES AWAY AS THE GAS TANK EMPTIES. *TR
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 →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
350–25K
5125–50K
2850–75K
1175–100K
4100–150K
3150K+
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
What owners actually said
203 reportsIN 2004 MY 2001 CHEVY CORVETTE WAS RECALLED DUE TO DEFECTS WHICH COULD CAUSE THE STEERING COLUMN TO LOCK UP WHILE DRIVING. I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR THE RECALLS AND WAS TOLD THE RECALLS WERE ACCOMPLISHED, BUT I DISCOVERED IN APRIL, 2010 THAT THE RECALLS HAD NOT BEEN ACCOMPLISHED. THE STEERING COLUMN OF THE CAR LOCKED UP WHILE BEIN…
Read full complaint
IN 2004 MY 2001 CHEVY CORVETTE WAS RECALLED DUE TO DEFECTS WHICH COULD CAUSE THE STEERING COLUMN TO LOCK UP WHILE DRIVING. I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR THE RECALLS AND WAS TOLD THE RECALLS WERE ACCOMPLISHED, BUT I DISCOVERED IN APRIL, 2010 THAT THE RECALLS HAD NOT BEEN ACCOMPLISHED. THE STEERING COLUMN OF THE CAR LOCKED UP WHILE BEING DRIVEN ON OR ABOUT APRIL 6, 2010. THE DEALER WHO CLAIMED TO HAVE ACCOMPLISHED THE RECALLS LIED AND PUT MY LIFE AND OTHER'S LIVES IN JEOPARDY. I DEMAND THAT ACTION BE TAKEN AGAINST THE DEALER AND AGAINST GM FOR THIS INTENTIONAL DISREGARD FOR HUMAN LIFE! *TR
ELECTRONIC COLUMN LOCK SYSTEM FAILURE. I GOT THE FAMOUS, "PULL KEY WAIT 10 SECOND" MESSAGE AND THEN THE COLUMN LOCKED. I LOOKED IT UP ON WWW.CORVETTEFORUM.COM AND FOUND A BUNCH OF INFORMATION REGARDING THIS ISSUE. APPARENTLY THIS IS BY FAR THE MOST COMMON SAFETY ISSUE WITH ANY C5 CORVETTE. AFTER UNHOOKING THE BATTERY AND SHAK…
Read full complaint
ELECTRONIC COLUMN LOCK SYSTEM FAILURE. I GOT THE FAMOUS, "PULL KEY WAIT 10 SECOND" MESSAGE AND THEN THE COLUMN LOCKED. I LOOKED IT UP ON WWW.CORVETTEFORUM.COM AND FOUND A BUNCH OF INFORMATION REGARDING THIS ISSUE. APPARENTLY THIS IS BY FAR THE MOST COMMON SAFETY ISSUE WITH ANY C5 CORVETTE. AFTER UNHOOKING THE BATTERY AND SHAKING THE STEERING WHEEL VIGOROUSLY, I GOT THE STEERING WHEEL TO UNLOCK. I CALLED THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP (HENDRICK DURHAM AUTO MALL) AND EXPLAINED WHAT WAS GOING ON. THEY TOLD ME I HAD ALREADY HAD THE RECALL PERFORMED IN 2005. I INFORMED THEM THAT THERE WAS ANOTHER RECALL THAT WAS RELEASED IN 2006 THAT REMOVES THE LOCKING PLATE FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THEY FOUND THE RECALL THAT I WAS REFERRING TO AND AGREED TO TAKE A LOOK AT MY CAR. I DROPPED IT OFF AT THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT THE RECALL HAD EXPIRED AND NEEDED TO PAY THE DEALERSHIP TO PERFORM THE RECALL. I WAS NEVER INFORMED OF THIS RECALL, I FOUND IT ON THE INTERNET AND INFORMED THE DEALERSHIP. THE RECALL I HAD WAS 04006B, AND THE NEWEST RECALL WAS 04006C. IT LOOKS LIKE IN ORDER FOR ANYONE TO GET THE RECALL PERFORMED THEIR STEERING WHEEL HAD TO LOCK UP FROM 2006-2008 AND TO TAKE IT TO A DEALERSHIP TO GET THE RECALL DONE, OR PAY THE DEALERSHIP TO DO IT. IT SEEMS LIKE JUST ABOUT EVERY C5 CORVETTE OWNER HAS TO DEAL WITH THIS DEFECTIVE STEERING COLUMN SYSTEM SOONER OR LATER. THERE'S EVEN AFTERMARKET PRODUCTS THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO TRY AND REMEDY THIS PROBLEM SINCE GM CAN'T SEEM TO. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE STEERING COLUMN LOCK INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL 04V060000 (STEERING COLUMN LOCKING, ANTI-THEFT DEVICE). THE CURRENT AND FAIL…
Read full complaint
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE STEERING COLUMN LOCK INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL 04V060000 (STEERING COLUMN LOCKING, ANTI-THEFT DEVICE). THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 64,000.
THE FUEL TANK LEAKS WHEN FILLED TO THE NORMAL CUTOFF POINT WHEN FILLING. THERE WAS NO EVENT LEADING TO THE FAILURE, IT OCCURS WHEN THE FUEL TANK IS FILLED. THE FUEL TANK NEEDS TO BE REPLACED TO CORRECT THE DEFECTIVE FUEL TANKS. GM/CHEVY DOES NOT STAND BEHIND THE DEFECTIVE TANKS AND THE COSTS ARE BORN BY THE OWNER. GM DID NOT RES…
Read full complaint
THE FUEL TANK LEAKS WHEN FILLED TO THE NORMAL CUTOFF POINT WHEN FILLING. THERE WAS NO EVENT LEADING TO THE FAILURE, IT OCCURS WHEN THE FUEL TANK IS FILLED. THE FUEL TANK NEEDS TO BE REPLACED TO CORRECT THE DEFECTIVE FUEL TANKS. GM/CHEVY DOES NOT STAND BEHIND THE DEFECTIVE TANKS AND THE COSTS ARE BORN BY THE OWNER. GM DID NOT RESPOND TO THE ISSUE WHILE IT WAS UNDER EITHER THE VEHICLE'S EXTENDED GMPP WARRANTY NOR THE EMISSIONS WARRANTY, BOTH NOW JUST EXPIRED. *TR
IMMEDIATELY AFTER GAS FILL-UPS, CAR AND GARAGE SMELLS OF GASOLINE. CONTINUES TO SMELL UNTIL APPROXIMATELY 50 MILES ARE REGISTERED ON VEHICLE. HAS BEEN A CONSTANT PROBLEM SINCE PURCHASE OF PRE-OWNED 2001 VEHICLE IN SEPTEMBER OF 2007 FROM GM DEALERSHIP. *TR
LEAKY GAS TANK OR CROSS OVER. WHEN TANK IS FILLED GAS LEAKS AND FUMES CAN BE SMELLED FOR DAYS. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 2 MPH IN REVERSE, THE "STEERING ANTI-THEFT" WARNING LIGHT INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. WITHIN MINUTES, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED; ALTHOUGH, THE STEERING SYSTEM WAS LOCKED THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATIONAL. THE CONTACT SHUT THE ENGINE OFF AND N…
Read full complaint
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 2 MPH IN REVERSE, THE "STEERING ANTI-THEFT" WARNING LIGHT INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. WITHIN MINUTES, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED; ALTHOUGH, THE STEERING SYSTEM WAS LOCKED THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATIONAL. THE CONTACT SHUT THE ENGINE OFF AND NOTIFIED AN THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER OF THE FAILURES; HOWEVER, THERE WERE NO RESOLUTIONS. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V060000 (STEERING;COLUMN LOCKING;ANTI-THEFT DEVICE) REPAIR WAS PERFORMED AND THE RECALL REMEDY WAS INSUFFICIENT. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONTACT HAD CONCERNS OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 42,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE HE NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE OPERATING THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE COLUMN LOCK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEA…
Read full complaint
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE HE NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE OPERATING THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE COLUMN LOCK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 80000.
2001 CORVETTE MANUAL TRANSMISSION--HAD CAMPAIGN 004006 DONE FOR COLUMN LOCKING PROBLEM JAN 06--ONE MONTH LATER, THE SERVICE PROCEDURE FOR MANUAL TRANSMISSION CARS WAS CHANGED, AND THE NEW PROCEDURE NOT OFFERED TO ME/NEW INFORMATION NOT GIVEN TO ME. NOW NOV '08, COLUMN LOCKING PROBLEM RETURNS, AND DEALERSHIP IN SCOTTSDALE WILL …
Read full complaint
2001 CORVETTE MANUAL TRANSMISSION--HAD CAMPAIGN 004006 DONE FOR COLUMN LOCKING PROBLEM JAN 06--ONE MONTH LATER, THE SERVICE PROCEDURE FOR MANUAL TRANSMISSION CARS WAS CHANGED, AND THE NEW PROCEDURE NOT OFFERED TO ME/NEW INFORMATION NOT GIVEN TO ME. NOW NOV '08, COLUMN LOCKING PROBLEM RETURNS, AND DEALERSHIP IN SCOTTSDALE WILL NOT PERFORM THE NEWER RECALL PROCEDURE UNTIL THEY "FIND OUT WHAT'S WRONG WITH IT THIS TIME" THAT IS NOT APPROPRIATE. *TR
Official recalls
104V060000 · 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
2EA02031 · 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.