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2002 Chevrolet Corvette

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Corvette years

Owner complaints for the 2002 Chevrolet Corvette are substantially higher than the model-year median of 29.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

130 reports with mileage · 27 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 59 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Wheels. Review the 35 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

3 crash reports0 fire reports1 injury reports

Wheels complaints

35 reports
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50,000 miles · Jun 17, 2011
Wheels

THIS CAR HAS HAD A PRIOR CRACKED RIM THAT WAS REPLACED OUT OF POCKET. NOW A SECOND RIM CRACKED. THERE ARE MULTIPLE REPORTS OF THE RIMS ON THE 2000-2004 CORVETTES MADE THAT HAVE NOT FOR WHAT EVER REASON SEEM TO NOT BE ADDRESSED BY THIS AGENCY BECAUSE THERE ARE NO RELATED DEATHS OR INJURIES. THERE IS LARGE AMOUNT OF INFORMATION ON…

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THIS CAR HAS HAD A PRIOR CRACKED RIM THAT WAS REPLACED OUT OF POCKET. NOW A SECOND RIM CRACKED. THERE ARE MULTIPLE REPORTS OF THE RIMS ON THE 2000-2004 CORVETTES MADE THAT HAVE NOT FOR WHAT EVER REASON SEEM TO NOT BE ADDRESSED BY THIS AGENCY BECAUSE THERE ARE NO RELATED DEATHS OR INJURIES. THERE IS LARGE AMOUNT OF INFORMATION ON THE CORVETTE FORUMS AND THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION AVAILABLE FROM AN EMAIL WHICH THE POSTER CLAIMS WAS SENT OUT BY NHTSA "CURRENTLY THERE ARE 9 REPORTS OF WHEELS CRACKING INVOLVING MODEL YEARS 2001 AND 2002 CHEVROLET CORVETTE VEHICLES IN OUR DATABASE. HOWEVER, AVAILABLE DATA INDICATES THAT THE CRACKS ARE MINOR AND THAT THERE NO REPORTS OF A DRIVER LOSING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE DUE TO CRACK WHEELS. THUS, THERE DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE A SAFETY-RELATED CONSEQUENCE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS PROBLEM. UNDER THESE CIRCUMSTANCES, THERE IS INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE TO WARRANT OPENING A SAFETY DEFECT INVESTIGATION AT THIS TIME. THE INFORMATION YOU HAVE PROVIDED HAS BEEN ENTERED INTO OUR DATABASE. WE WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THIS ISSUE AND WILL TAKE FARTHER ACTION AS NECESSARY." I MYSELF NOW HAVE A SECOND RIM THAT IS CRACKED AND GM IS REFUSING TO COVER THE REPLACEMENT DUE TO NON WARRANTY. DESPITE THE TSB 070310003 FROM NHTSA ITEM NUMBER : 10021451. IS IT THE POSITION OF NHTSA AND GM THAT A CRACKED RIM IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE AND IT IS OK TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE AT POSTED SPEEDS IN TEXAS UP TO 80 MILES PER HOUR WITH CRACKED RIMS? IS IT THE POSITION OF NHTSA THAT UNTIL THERE IS A LOSS OF LIFE OR SERIOUS BODILY INJURY THAT THERE IS NOT A SAFETY HAZARD OR IT IS NOT WORTH THE TIME TO INVESTIGATE AND RECALL THESE RIMS? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10407299

37,000 miles · May 5, 2011
Wheels

I HAVE A 2002 CHEVY CORVETTE. BOTH OF THE 18" REAR WHEELS HAVE CRACKS AT THE CORNERS OF THE FIVE SPOKES. THE VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 40,000 MILES. THE FRONT WHEELS ARE 17", THERE ARE NO APPARENT CRACKS ON THE FRONT WHEELS. THESE ARE FACTORY WHEELS WITH ORIGINAL TIRES, NO ABUSIVE DRIVING SINCE THE CAR WAS NEW. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10399273

75,649 miles · Apr 9, 2011
Wheels

2002 CORVETTE RIGHT REAR WHEEL CRACKED. RPO CODE QF5 STYLE WHEELS. IS A BIG SAFETY ISSUE. IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THESE STYLE WHEELS. CAR HAS APPROX 75,000 MILES ON IT WITH NO OTHER DAMAGE OR ABUSE TO CAR OR WHEEL. DISCOVERED VIA TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR INDICATING TIRE WAS FLAT. ON INSPECTION THE WHEEL WAS CRACKED THROUGH RIM…

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2002 CORVETTE RIGHT REAR WHEEL CRACKED. RPO CODE QF5 STYLE WHEELS. IS A BIG SAFETY ISSUE. IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THESE STYLE WHEELS. CAR HAS APPROX 75,000 MILES ON IT WITH NO OTHER DAMAGE OR ABUSE TO CAR OR WHEEL. DISCOVERED VIA TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR INDICATING TIRE WAS FLAT. ON INSPECTION THE WHEEL WAS CRACKED THROUGH RIM WHICH RESULTED IN THE FLAT TIRE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10395321

Mileage unknown · Mar 8, 2011
Wheels

2002 CORVETTE WHEELS CRACKING SPOKE UNDER DURESS WITH NOT EVEN 30,000 MILES ON WHEELS ALOT OF CORVETTE OWNERS HAVE THIS COMPLAINT CHEVY NEED TO RECALL BEFORE IT CAUSE A LOSS OF LIFE! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10386928

85,000 miles · Nov 7, 2010
Wheels

WHEEL HAS A MAJOR CRACK. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10364332

59,000 miles · Oct 3, 2010
Wheels

LOW TIRE PRESSURE WARNING FOR "RIGHT REAR" ON MY 2002 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. INSPECTION OF THE REMOVED TIRE AND "POLISHED ALUMINUM" WHEEL INDICATE A CRACK IN ONE OF THE SPOKES WHERE IT JOINS THE OUTSIDE OF THE WHEEL. A COMPLETE FAILURE COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS CONDITION INVOLVING PROPERTY DAMAGE, PERSONAL INJURY AND/OR DEATH. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10358912

77,120 miles · Sep 22, 2010
Wheels

2002 CHEVROLET CORVETTE COUPE. ORIGINAL POLISHED ALUMINUM 5-SPOKE WHEELS ARE DEVELOPING STRESS FRACTURES SEPARATING SPOKES FROM THE RIMS AND LEAKING AIR FROM TIRES. I REPLACED WITH SAME TYPE WHEELS FROM UNKNOWN YEAR'S CORVETTE. I FOUND THE PROBLEM BEFORE IT CAUSES ANY ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10357064

43,000 miles · Jun 13, 2009
Wheels

2002 CHEVROLET CORVETTE WITH LESS THAN 43,000 MILES HAS STRESS CRACKS IN REAR WHEELS. RIMS HAVE NO PHYSICAL DAMAGE & HAVE NOT BEEN IN ACCIDENT. FOUND PROBLEM DUE TO TIRE PRESSURE LOSS COMING FROM BOTH REAR RIMS. CAR IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION(WEEKEND DRIVING). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10273682

45,000 miles · Apr 6, 2008
Wheels

WHEELS ON MY 2002 CHEVY CORVETTE ARE CRACKED AND IT IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM. FAILURE OF THIS WHEEL WHILE DRIVING CAN HAVE DISASTROUS RESULTS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10223486

48,000 miles · Aug 18, 2007
Wheels

VEHICLE (2002 CHEVROLET CORVETTE) RIM CRACKING, NEEDED TO REPLACE ALL RIMS. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10200001

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

1

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.