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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

What owners actually said

157 reports
16,000 miles · Oct 24, 2003
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

ABS SERVICE LIGHT GOES ON. ABS SYSTEM FAILURE. RESULTS IN DISABLING OF ABS, TRACTION CONTROL AND ACTIVE HANDLING. HAS HAPPENED 4 TIMES. CHEVY HAD INITIALLY ADVISED SHUTTING OFF CAR AND RESTARTING: IT GETS RID OF CODE AND CAR WILL FUNCTION NORMALLY. IF THE RANDOM EVENT OCCURS DURING EMERGENCY SITUATION IT CAN RESULT IN LOSS …

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ABS SERVICE LIGHT GOES ON. ABS SYSTEM FAILURE. RESULTS IN DISABLING OF ABS, TRACTION CONTROL AND ACTIVE HANDLING. HAS HAPPENED 4 TIMES. CHEVY HAD INITIALLY ADVISED SHUTTING OFF CAR AND RESTARTING: IT GETS RID OF CODE AND CAR WILL FUNCTION NORMALLY. IF THE RANDOM EVENT OCCURS DURING EMERGENCY SITUATION IT CAN RESULT IN LOSS OF CONTROL OF CAR, I.E., THAT BRAKES CAN LOCK. *LA

NHTSA ODI #10043525

Mileage unknown · Sep 12, 2003
Steering

THE STEERING COLUMN ON MY 2002 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 WOULD NOT UNLOCK. *PH

NHTSA ODI #10038758

13,590 miles · Aug 29, 2003
Steering

STEERING COLUMN LOCKUP ON 2002 CHEVROLET CORVETTE, A MODEL YEAR NOT COVERED UNDER CURRENT TSB/RECALL CAMPAIGN.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10036856

Mileage unknown · Jul 2, 2003
Seats

DRIVER SIDE POWER SEAT MOVES DURING MODERATE ACCERLERATION AND BRAKING. I ATTEMPTED TO GET IT CORRECTED UNDER CHEVY TECHANICAL BULLETIN NO. 02-08-50-002 DATED 3/13/02 BECAUSE I WAS UNAWARE UNTIL A FRIEND MENTIONED TO ME THAT HE HAD TO GET HIS SEAT FIXED ON HIS VETTE UNDER THE SAME BULLETIN NO. WHEN I TRIED TO GET IT FIXED THE DE…

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DRIVER SIDE POWER SEAT MOVES DURING MODERATE ACCERLERATION AND BRAKING. I ATTEMPTED TO GET IT CORRECTED UNDER CHEVY TECHANICAL BULLETIN NO. 02-08-50-002 DATED 3/13/02 BECAUSE I WAS UNAWARE UNTIL A FRIEND MENTIONED TO ME THAT HE HAD TO GET HIS SEAT FIXED ON HIS VETTE UNDER THE SAME BULLETIN NO. WHEN I TRIED TO GET IT FIXED THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT "COVERED" UNDER THAT BULLETIN NO. AND THAT I WOULD NEED TO CONTACT CHEVROLET. MY FRIEND OWNES THE EXACT SAME CAR AS I DO, HIS CAN GET FIXED BUT MINE CAN'T? I HAVE NEVER OWNED A CAR THAT THE SEAT MOVES UNDER THESE CONDITIONS. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE THING BREAKS ONE DAY IF I HAVE TO BREAK HARD? I END UP THRU THE WINDOW? I'M MORE CURIOUS WHY THE DEALER WOULD NOT FIX IT? THEY ADMITTED THAT MY SEAT MOVES BUT SAID IT DOES NOT MOVE ENOUGH TO WARRANT FALLING IN THE BULLETIN REPAIR. HOW MUCH DOES IT NEED TO MOVE? *AK

NHTSA ODI #10025273

8,700 miles · May 24, 2003
Engine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, Hydraulic

I HAVE A 2002 CHEVROLET CORVETTE THAT IS IN FOR REPAIR FOR ABS AND OTHER. THE PART A ABS MODULE DOES NOT SEEM TO BE AVAILABLE AND MAY NOT BE FOR ANOTHER 2 TO THREE WEEKS. THIS CAR HAS BEEN IN SINCE 5/5 AND I HAVE NO IDEA WHEN I MAY GET THE VEHICLE BACK. I DO NOT THINK IT IS REASONABLE TO HAVE A VEHICLE IN FOR SUCH A LONG TIM…

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I HAVE A 2002 CHEVROLET CORVETTE THAT IS IN FOR REPAIR FOR ABS AND OTHER. THE PART A ABS MODULE DOES NOT SEEM TO BE AVAILABLE AND MAY NOT BE FOR ANOTHER 2 TO THREE WEEKS. THIS CAR HAS BEEN IN SINCE 5/5 AND I HAVE NO IDEA WHEN I MAY GET THE VEHICLE BACK. I DO NOT THINK IT IS REASONABLE TO HAVE A VEHICLE IN FOR SUCH A LONG TIME. THE VEHICLE USES A LOT OF OIL ALSO, AND ENGINE NOISE IS A PROBLEM. *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10019223

8,000 miles · Apr 5, 2003
Electrical System

THE BATTERY WILL DRAIN AFTER 5 DAYS AFTER BEING PARKED. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY JOHN HALL CHEVROLET THAT THIS IS NORMAL DUE TO THE EXCESSIVE POWER DRAIN THAT THE CORVETTE COMPUTERS PUT ON THE BATTERY. THIS DESPITE 3 "CHARGE SYSTEM FAULT" MESSAGES THAT HAVE COME UP ON THE DISPLAY SCREEN. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10013988

17,000 miles · Mar 31, 2003
Steering

THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKING MECHANISM DID NOT DISENGAGE WHEN THE KEY WAS PLACED IN IGNITION. *JB *TT REF. IN EA02-031 *CJS

NHTSA ODI #10014743

Mileage unknown · Mar 31, 2003
Structure

THE WINDOW SEAL ON THE DRIVER SIDE MOLDED AND CRACKED, WHICH CAUSED WATER TO LEAK INSIDE THE VEHICLE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10014729

Mileage unknown · Mar 18, 2003
SuspensionCrashInjury

THE STABILIZER BAR AND SUPPORT ARM BROKE, VEHICLE SKIDDED INTO A MUDDY DITCH INTO AN EMBANKMENT. *AK *JB

NHTSA ODI #10010027

Mileage unknown · Mar 10, 2003
Exterior LightingSeatsSteering

THE STEERING COLUMN LOCKED UP, THE FRONT HEADLIGHTS DID NOT ELEVATE AND THE DRIVER'S SEAT BACK BROKE. *DT *JB REF. IN EA02-031 *CJS

NHTSA ODI #10009529

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.