1989 Chevrolet Corvette Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1989 Chevrolet Corvette, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Brakes321.4%
- Suspension214.3%
- Seat belts214.3%
- Powertrain (other)17.1%
- Steering17.1%
- Tires & wheels17.1%
- Body & structure17.1%
- Transmission17.1%
- Electrical17.1%
- Interior & seats17.1%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
COMPLETE FAILURE OF DOT APPROVED STAINLESS BRAIDED TEFLON BRAKE LINE, THE LINE CAME APART ON THE CONNECTION WHERE IT ENTERS INTO THE CALIPER. THIS CAUSED ALL BRAKE FLUID TO LEAVE THE SYSTEM, LEAVING LITTLE TO NO BRAKES. PEOPLE TEND TO BUY THESE TYPE OF BRAKE LINES BECAUSE THEY DO NOT FAIL, AS THE OME RUBBER LINE CAN. THE MAKER OF THESE BRAKE LINE ARE RUSSELL PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS AT 2645 GUNDRY AVE., SIGNAL HILL, CA 90806. THEY ARE SOLD UNDER THE NAME "STREET LEGAL STAINLESS BRAIDED TEFLON BRAKE LINES. THANK YOU.*AK
FRONT BRAKE PADS HAVE BEEN SHORTENED BECAUSE OF THE EFFECTS OF POOR STAMPING. THIS CONDITION CAUSES EXCESSIVE WEAR OF THE PLATES AND FRACTURING OF THE BRAKE SHOE HOLDER. CONTACTED RETAILER AND MANUFACTURER. *ML
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
I HAVE A RECALL ON MY 1989 CHEVROLET CORVETTE AND WHEN I TOOK IT IN TO THE LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALER THEY SAID THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE THAT RECALL. IT WAS THE ONE FOR THE REAR SUSPENSION.*AK
WHILE DRIVING REAR SUSPENSION FRACTURED, ALMOST CAUSING CONSUMER TO HAVE A COLLISION. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1989 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT HAD SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, THE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RETRACT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 91V143000 (SEAT BELTS) HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 65,000. PART DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. UPDATED 10/18/16*LJ UPDATED 10/19/16.*JB
CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT DID NOT RETRACT. THE RETRACTOR WAS JAMMED. CONSUMER WILL CONTACT THE DEALERSHIP. *AK MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT AUTHORIZE DEALERSHIP TO REPLACE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS A SAFETY RECALL 91V143000 FOR THE JAMMING SEAT BELT RETRACTOR. *TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
THERE WAS A RECALL ON MY CAR IN 1991 AND ALL I WANT TO KNOW IS THERE ANY WAY I CAN FIND OUT IF THEY FIXED MY CAR AND IF THEY DIDN'T FIX IT ARE THEY STILL RESPONSIBLE FOR FIXING THE PROBLEM...I BOUGHT MY CAR USED IN LATE 1991 AND NEVER HEARD OF THE RECALL.....MAYBE IT WAS FIXED BEFORE I BOUGHT IT....
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1989 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. WHILE DECELERATING, THE CONTACT HEARD A CLUMPING SOUND COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE U JOINTS. THE FAILURE RECURRED AFTER THE VEHICLE LEFT THE DEALER. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE REAR WHEEL TIE ROD ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE SPEED AND POWERTRAIN WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 149,000.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1989 CHEVROLET CORVETTE EQUIPPED WITH MICHELIN TIRES, TIRE LINE SIZE: 275/40Z/R17. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE BLEW, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SPIN AROUND AND CRASH INTO A DITCH. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT SHE WAS ABLE TO TEMPORARILY REPAIR THE TIRE USING FIX-A-FLAT SOLUTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT ALL FOUR TIRES HAD DEVELOP BUBBLES AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DOT NUMBER WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,700. THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,000. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE REAR IMPACT BUMPER IS DAMAGED.TT THE FRAME EXTENSION IS PARTIALLY MISSING DUE TO A PREVIOUS ACCIDENT BEFORE CONSUMER PURCHASED VEHICLE, WITHOUT THAT PART OF THE FRAME EXTENSION, THE ENERGY ABSORBER PAD CAN NOT BE ATTACHED THERESORE RENDERING IT USELESS IF SOMEONE WERE TO CRASH INTO THE BACK OF THE AUTOMOBILE, CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP ASKING THEM TO REPAIR OR REPLACE THE DAMAGED PART AND THEY REFUSED, THEY STATED THAT THE IMPACT BAR EXTENSION AND PAD WERE NOT A SAFETY PROBLEM.*JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
CLUTCH EXPLODED, SHATTERING COMPONENTS OF THE FUEL/ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. *SD
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
IGNITON KEY CAN GET DIRTY OR SOILED WHICH CAN MAKE THE COMPUTER CHIP TO MALFUNCTION. VEHCILE WILL TURN ON AND THEN TURN OFF AND STAY OFF. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, CONSUMER HAS TO WAIT FOR ABOUT 4-30 MINUTES BEFORE CONSUMER CAN RETRY. THIS INFO CAN ALSO BE LOCATED IN THE CAR MANUAL. DEALER CANNOT EXPLAIN PROBLEM. THIS IS A INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WHICH CAN RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
CONSUMER HAS NO INSIDE LIGHTS ON DASHBOARD. AT NIGHT GAUGES AREN'T VISIBLE . DEALER REFUSES TO FIX THE LIGHTS UNLESS CONSUMER IS PAYING FOR IT.*AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .