RoadVitals

1990 Chevrolet Corvette Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
34
Latest Mar 20, 2023
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
10
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
2

What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1990 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

  • Airbags1642.1%
  • Driver assistance25.3%
  • Electrical25.3%
  • Fuel system25.3%
  • Suspension25.3%
  • Visibility25.3%
  • Brakes25.3%
  • Transmission12.6%
  • Interior & seats12.6%

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

Airbags

Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.

16
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1990 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE AIR BAG AND SEAT BELT WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ID 10905075 · filed Sep 9, 2016

MY WIFE AND I WERE DRIVING DOWN 1-20 AT 70 MPH WHEN THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON KNOWN TO US. I WAS DRIVING AND WAS ABLE TO KEEP THE CAR UNDER CONTROL AND GET IT STOPPED. THE AIRBAG INJURED MY LEFT ARM AND MY CHEST. IT FILLED THE INTERIOR WITH SMOKE, WHICH AFFECTED OUR BREATHING (MY WIFE HAS ASTHMA) AND VISION.

NHTSA ID 10723870 · filed Jun 7, 2015
All 16 reports naming airbags

Seat belts

Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.

8
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

The Seatbelt Retractors failed per both of the safety belt recalls. The belts no longer function and GM refuses to provide a remedy to clear the safety recall.

NHTSA ID 11512759 · filed Mar 20, 2023

GM ORDERED THE INCORRECT SEAT BELTS WHICH WOULD SATISFY THE RECALL. THEY'VE IGNORED MY PHONE CALLS AND EMAILS. ACCORDING TO MY FINDINGS GM MUST EITHER SATISFY THE RECALL OR PROVIDE ME WITH A SUITABLE VEHICLE WHICH IS SAFE TO DRIVE.

NHTSA ID 11190245 · filed Mar 20, 2019
All 8 reports naming seat belts

Driver assistance

Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

SUDDEN ACCELERATION/VEHICLE COMING TO A STOP WHEN ACCELERATED INTO A BRICK HOUSE /STALLING PROBLEMS

NHTSA ID 709905 · filed Aug 12, 1999

SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHILE STOPPED. SYS WARNING LIGHT FLASHED AT THE TIME AND CHECK ENGINE SOON LIGHT FLASHES QUICKLY.

NHTSA ID 780582 · filed Sep 30, 1998

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.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

THE DIAGNOSTIC ENERGY RESERVE MODULE MALFUNCTIONED. CONSUMER REQUESTED ASSISTANCE IN REIMBURSEMENT. *TT *JB *TS

NHTSA ID 10007313 · filed Mar 5, 2003

A PROBLEM INHERENT TO ALL 1990 CORVETTES IS CORROSION OF THE AREA WHERE THE AIRBAG SENSORS ARE ATTACHED TO THE FRAME UNDER THE HOOD. THIS CAUSES A GROUNDING PROBLEM AND THE CONSTANT DISPLAY OF THE "INFL REST" WARNING LIGHT. IT ALSO DEACTIVATES THE AIRBAG. EVERYTHING I READ SAYS IT'S DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW. WHY WOULD SUCH AN IMPORTANT PROBLEM LIKE THIS NOT RESULT IN A RECALL?

NHTSA ID 712574 · filed Sep 30, 1999

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Fuel system

Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR LEAKED, CAUSING FIRE.

NHTSA ID 506810 · filed Apr 30, 1996

AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT WAS STUCK DUE TO A DEFECTIVE ELECTRONIC MODULE THAT CONTROLS THE SYSTEM. *SD

NHTSA ID 487454 · filed Sep 28, 1995

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.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

WITH ORIGINAL TYPE GOODYEAR TIRES, THE CAR SEEMS TO GO INTO AN OVERSTEER CONDITION WHEN FOOT TAKEN OFF OF ACCELERATOR AND STEERING TURNED SLIGHTLY. CAR SPINS OUT. FIRST TIME ACCIDENTAL. I CAN BE ON A FREEWAY GOING STRAIGHT, TURN THE STEERING SLIGHTLY TO THE RIGHT, THEN TO THE LEFT A LITTLE AND LET UP ON THE GAS AND THE CAR GOES INTO A SPIN DOWN THE FREEWAY. A FELLOW I WORKED WITH IN CALIFORNIA SAYS THIS IS NORMAL, NOT FOR THE YEAR, BUT FOR ALL CORVETTES OF THIS BODY STYLE. HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES. CONTACTED CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP, THEY SAID THERE IS NOT A PROBLEM WITH THE CAR.*AK

NHTSA ID 752044 · filed Sep 10, 2001

VEHICLE PULLS TO LEFT WHEN BRAKES APPLIED. (ATTORNEY FOR CLIENT) *DH

NHTSA ID 506078 · filed Jul 3, 1996

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Visibility

Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

WINDSHIELD DELAMINATION. *TR

NHTSA ID 10357292 · filed Sep 24, 2010

EXPERIENCING FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILURE DURING MODERATE / HEAVY RAINSTORMS, RESULTING IN POOR VISIBILITY AND POSSIBLE COLLISION. *YC

NHTSA ID 546082 · filed Jun 10, 1999

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Brakes

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

DURING BRAKE APPLICATION VEHICLE PULLS VIOLENTLY TO THE LEFT. TT

NHTSA ID 962337 · filed Mar 21, 1995

ANTI LOCK BRAKES MALFUCTIONED, DEALER OR MANUFACTURER CAN'T SEEM TO GET THE PART. TT

NHTSA ID 958512 · filed Jan 10, 1995

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.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

OIL COOLING LINES LEAK, CAUSING OIL TO COVER BOTTOM OF CAR/DRIP ON EXHAUST SYSTEM. *SD

NHTSA ID 483050 · filed Aug 15, 1995

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.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

PROBLEM: I HAVE A 1990 CHEVY CORVETTE AND THE SAFETY BELT ON THE DRIVES SIDE OF CAR HAS "LOCKUP OR JAMMED" IN THE SAFETY BELT RETRACTOR. CONSEQUENCE SUMMARY: IF LOCKUP OCCURS, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PULL BELT OUT OF THE RETRACTOR. THE OCCUPANT OF A SEAT WITH AN UNUSABLE SAFETY BELT IS SUBJECT TO INCREASED RISK OF INJURY OR DEATH IN THE EVENT OF A SUDDEN STOP OR ACCIDENT. CORRECTIVE SUMMARY: REPLACE THE SAFETY BELTS IF THE LOCKUP OCCURS. CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 91V143000 DATE: 1991-SEP-04 COMPONENT: SEAT BELTS: FRONT: ANCHORAGE CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 91V143000 DATE: 1991-SEP-04 COMPONENT: SEAT BELTS: FRONT: ANCHORAGE. I WHEN TO CHEVORLET IN WILKES BARRE, PA AND THEY TOLD ME MY CAR WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL AND WOULD NOT FIX THE DEFECTIVE SAFETY BELT RETRACTOR FREE OF CHARGE. I UNDERSTAND, (CORRECT ME IF I AM WRONG) THAN THE MANUFACTURER MUST REPLACE IT FREE OF CHARGE AS IT IS A DEFECTIVE SAFETY DEVICE ON THE VEHICLE. I FIND IT ODD THAT THERE WAS A RECALL OF THIS PART, BUT MY CAR WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. THAT WAS $154 PLUS LABOR TO REPLACE THE SAFETY BELT RETRACTOR. *JB

NHTSA ID 10187050 · filed Apr 4, 2007

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

Data on this page last refreshed .