NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
157 reports58,000 miles · Sep 3, 2005
Steering
STEERING COLUMN LOCKUP ON 2002 CORVETTE WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSION. SCENARIO IS AS FOLLOWS: WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE THE STEERING COLUMN DOES NOT RELEASE THE STEERING WHEEL. THE STEERING WHEEL REMAINS LOCKED IN POSITION. THIS CAN BE EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS IF IT OCCURS AT STOP SIGN OR STOP LIGHT AFTER THE DRIVER HAS ACCIDENTALLY K…
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STEERING COLUMN LOCKUP ON 2002 CORVETTE WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSION. SCENARIO IS AS FOLLOWS: WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE THE STEERING COLUMN DOES NOT RELEASE THE STEERING WHEEL. THE STEERING WHEEL REMAINS LOCKED IN POSITION. THIS CAN BE EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS IF IT OCCURS AT STOP SIGN OR STOP LIGHT AFTER THE DRIVER HAS ACCIDENTALLY KILLED THE VEHICLE AND NEEDS TO RESTART. WHEN IT OCCURS THE ONLY COURSE OF ACTION IS TO CALL A TOW SERVICE AND GET THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD. GM STATES THAT THE VEHICLE IS FINE. THE EVENT DOES NOT LOG AN ERROR CODE SO WHEN THEY PLUG THEIR COMPUTER INTO THE CAR THEY FIND NO PROBLEMS. ITS SEEMS OVER TIME THE STEERING COLUMN WILL RELEASE WHEN RESTARTED. I HAD WAITED 30 MINUTES ON ONE OCCASION AND THE COLUMN RELEASED. FOR TODAY'S INCIDENT, AFTER FOUR HOURS THE COLUMN WOULD NOT RELEASE. MANY CORVETTE OWNERS HAVE OPTED TO DISABLE THE STEERING COLUMN LOCK "FEATURE" WITH AN AFTERMARKET DEVICE. I WILL BE DOING THE SAME SHORTLY. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10135271
29,000 miles · Aug 25, 2005
Equipment Adaptive/mobility
I WAS DRIVING MY 2002 CHEVROLET CORVETTE COUPE ABOUT 30 MPH AND THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL LOCKED UP. THE DISPLAY ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER READ "ACTIVE HANDLING". THIS HAS ACTUALLY HAPPENED 4 TIMES NOW. LUCKILY I WAS ONLY MOVING AT A STEADY SPEED AT ABOUT 30-35 MPH. HAD I BEEN DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY AT 70 MPH, I MAY HAVE WRECK…
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I WAS DRIVING MY 2002 CHEVROLET CORVETTE COUPE ABOUT 30 MPH AND THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL LOCKED UP. THE DISPLAY ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER READ "ACTIVE HANDLING". THIS HAS ACTUALLY HAPPENED 4 TIMES NOW. LUCKILY I WAS ONLY MOVING AT A STEADY SPEED AT ABOUT 30-35 MPH. HAD I BEEN DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY AT 70 MPH, I MAY HAVE WRECKED THE CAR INJURING OR KILLING MYSELF AS WELL AS POSSIBLY ANYONE ELSE INVOLVED. FOR NOW I HAVE TO TURN OFF THE ACTIVE HANDLING TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING.
NHTSA ODI #10134261
2,550 miles · Aug 22, 2005
Electrical SystemInterior LightingService Brakes, Hydraulic
DT: THE CALLER SAID THAT ON DASHBOARD A READOUT CAME ON THAT STATED THE ABS NEEDED SERVICING, SERVICE HANDLING, AND THE GAS WILL NOT REGISTER ON THE DASHBOARD. THE WIPER/WASHER MOTOR RAN ALL THE TIME AND HAD BE DISCONNECTED. SHE HAS TO REPLACE THE BATTERY A YEAR AFTER SHE BOUGHT THE VEHICLE. THE CALLER SAID THE DEALER STATE…
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DT: THE CALLER SAID THAT ON DASHBOARD A READOUT CAME ON THAT STATED THE ABS NEEDED SERVICING, SERVICE HANDLING, AND THE GAS WILL NOT REGISTER ON THE DASHBOARD. THE WIPER/WASHER MOTOR RAN ALL THE TIME AND HAD BE DISCONNECTED. SHE HAS TO REPLACE THE BATTERY A YEAR AFTER SHE BOUGHT THE VEHICLE. THE CALLER SAID THE DEALER STATED THE LIGHTS COME ON NORMALLY AT STARTUP BUT NOW THE VEHICLE CHIMED, AND WARNING LIGHTS STAYED ON. DEALER SAID THAT IT NEEDED FURTHER DIAGNOSIS. MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED YET. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10133696
37,000 miles · Aug 5, 2005
Steering
REGARDING A 2002 C5 CORVETTE. STEERING RANDOMLY LOCKS UP. THE CAR CAN ONLY BE TOWED THEN FIXED BY A DEALER. THIS CAN EVEN HAPPEN WHILE THE CAR IS IN MOTION. ANY CORVETTE ONLY FROM THE YEAR 97 TO PRESENT CAN BE AFFECTED. GM KNOWS THIS IS A PROBLEM AND WILL HAPPEN TO ALMOST EVERY VETTE OWNER. THIS IS EXTREMELY UNSAFE AND GM I…
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REGARDING A 2002 C5 CORVETTE. STEERING RANDOMLY LOCKS UP. THE CAR CAN ONLY BE TOWED THEN FIXED BY A DEALER. THIS CAN EVEN HAPPEN WHILE THE CAR IS IN MOTION. ANY CORVETTE ONLY FROM THE YEAR 97 TO PRESENT CAN BE AFFECTED. GM KNOWS THIS IS A PROBLEM AND WILL HAPPEN TO ALMOST EVERY VETTE OWNER. THIS IS EXTREMELY UNSAFE AND GM IS NOT TO DOING THERE JOB TO FIX THIS PROBLEM EVEN AFTER 8 YEAR FROM THE ORIGINAL DATE TO WHICH THIS FIRST OCCURRED. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10131746
Mileage unknown · Jul 21, 2005
Steering
WENT TO DRIVE CAR AND DIC INFORMED ME THAT THE SERVICE COLUMN WAS LOCKED. HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. DEALERSHIP REPLACED PART #26089807 (COLUMN LOCK ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY) TO THE COST OF $425. ACCORDING TO THEM (NEWSOME AUTOMOTIVE, FLORENCE S.C.) THIS PART # WAS NOT ONE IN THE APRIL 04 RECAL. I FIND THAT HARD TO BE…
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WENT TO DRIVE CAR AND DIC INFORMED ME THAT THE SERVICE COLUMN WAS LOCKED. HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. DEALERSHIP REPLACED PART #26089807 (COLUMN LOCK ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY) TO THE COST OF $425. ACCORDING TO THEM (NEWSOME AUTOMOTIVE, FLORENCE S.C.) THIS PART # WAS NOT ONE IN THE APRIL 04 RECAL. I FIND THAT HARD TO BELIEVE.
NHTSA ODI #10129638
Mileage unknown · Jul 5, 2005
Electrical SystemService Brakes, Hydraulic
DT: THE CONTACT HAD TRACTION CONTROL, HANDLING, AND ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. AS A RESULT THE BATTERY WENT DEAD, ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED, SERVICE TRACTION LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED HANDLING PROBLEMS. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10127553
Mileage unknown · Jan 5, 2005
Steering
WHILE PULLING INSIDE OF THE GARAGE AND WITHOUT WARNING THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. THE CONSUMER TRIED TO UNLOCK, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB *TC
NHTSA ODI #10105039
11,300 miles · Sep 8, 2004
Steering
I HAD THE SAME COLUMN-LOCK ISSUE THAT HAS BEEN WIDELY REPORTED ON THE C5 CORVETTE. I RECEIVED MY RECALL NOTICE FOR MY 2002 MANUAL-TRANSMISSION VETTE AND HAD THE RECALL PERFORMED. I HAD HAD NO PREVIOUS PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING COLUMN LOCKING. THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT THEY CHECKED THE COLUMN-LOCK MECHANISM AND THEN REPROGRAMMED…
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I HAD THE SAME COLUMN-LOCK ISSUE THAT HAS BEEN WIDELY REPORTED ON THE C5 CORVETTE. I RECEIVED MY RECALL NOTICE FOR MY 2002 MANUAL-TRANSMISSION VETTE AND HAD THE RECALL PERFORMED. I HAD HAD NO PREVIOUS PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING COLUMN LOCKING. THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT THEY CHECKED THE COLUMN-LOCK MECHANISM AND THEN REPROGRAMMED THE COMPUTER. HOWEVER, SEVERAL WEEKS LATER, MY STEERING COLUMN LOCKED UPON STARTUP.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10090641
25,000 miles · Jul 21, 2004
Steering
WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY THE STEERING COLUMN BECAME VERY STIFF. BEFORE THE VEHICLE COULD REACH THE STREET THE STEERING COLUMN LOCKED UP. THE WHEELS COULD NOT BE TURNED IN ANY DIRECTION. AFTER LETTING THE VEHICLE SET FOR A WHILE THE STEERING COLUMN WORKED AS IF NOTHING EVER HAPPENED. THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED TWICE W…
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WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY THE STEERING COLUMN BECAME VERY STIFF. BEFORE THE VEHICLE COULD REACH THE STREET THE STEERING COLUMN LOCKED UP. THE WHEELS COULD NOT BE TURNED IN ANY DIRECTION. AFTER LETTING THE VEHICLE SET FOR A WHILE THE STEERING COLUMN WORKED AS IF NOTHING EVER HAPPENED. THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED TWICE WITH THIS EHICLE. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10083416
6,000 miles · Jul 14, 2004
Steering
STEERING COLUMN WILL NOT UNLOCK.TRY TO MOVE CAR AND FUEL SHUTS OFF. PROBLEM WELL DOCUMENTED. DEALER CLAIMS VIN# NOT ON RECALL LIST HOWEVER IS UNDER WARRENTY. AS THIS HAPPENS RANDOMLY THE DEALER WILL DO NOTHING UNLESS IT IS LOCKED WHEN BROUGHT IN. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10081041
NHTSA investigations
1EA02031 · 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.
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