RoadVitals

1991 Chevrolet Corvette

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

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.
24
Latest Jul 21, 2021
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
3
Latest Oct 24, 2007
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
1
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.
4
2 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 24 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1991 Chevrolet Corvette, most frequently naming the seat belts, electrical and brakes categories. 3 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 1 NHTSA investigation names it; and 4 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Seat belts829.6%
  • Electrical725.9%
  • Brakes518.5%
  • Driver assistance27.4%
  • Tires & wheels27.4%
  • Other / unspecified13.7%
  • Airbags13.7%
  • Powertrain (other)13.7%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

3 campaigns cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
07E088000

EQUIPMENT

Oct 24, 2007
121,680 units potentially affected
The defect: CERTAIN HONEYWELL FRAM RACING BRAND HP4 AND HP8 OIL FILTERS THAT WERE MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 25, 2006, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 14, 2007, AND SOLD FOR USE AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR VEHICLES LIST ABOVE. THE AFFECTED FILTERS ARE MARKED WITH A DATE CODE A61451 THROUGH A72571 SEQUENTIALLY. THE DATE CODE AND PART NUMBER APPEAR ON THE FILTER HOUSING. FRAM RACING HP4 AND HP8 OIL FILTERS NOT BEARING A DATE CODE IN THIS RANGE ARE NOT AFFECTED BY THIS RECALL. THE GASKET OF THE OIL FILTER BECOMES MORE PLIABLE UNDER HIGH TEMPERATURES AND PRESSURES.
The risk: THIS CONDITION MAY CAUSE INADEQUATE SEALING AND LOSS OF ENGINE OIL, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE.
The remedy: HONEYWELL WILL REPLACE THE AFFECTED OIL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN DURING NOVEMBER 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-890-2075.
HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL, INC.View on NHTSA.gov
06E043000

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

May 19, 2006
88,303 units potentially affected
The defect: CERTAIN REPLACEMENT FUEL FILTERS, FRAM BRAND NAME P/N G3727, WITH DATE CODES X52911 THROUGH X60801 SEQUENTIALLY OR X600141 AND A MEXICO COUNTRY OR ORIGIN MARKING ON THE FUEL FILTER HOUSING MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 18, 2005, THROUGH MARCH 21, 2006, SOLD FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE AND ON CERTAIN SCHOOL BUSES. (TO SEE THE SCHOOL BUS ENGINE SIZES, CLICK ON "DOCUMENT SEARCH" AND THEN "BUS APPLICATIONS"). THE CONNECTOR ON THE FUEL FILTER WAS NOT MANUFACTURED TO HONEYWELL'S SPECIFICATION. AS A RESULT, THE O-RING MAY NOT SEAT CORRECTLY ON THE FUEL LINE.
The risk: THIS CONDITION MAY CAUSE AN INADEQUATE SEAL AT THE CONNECTION, POTENTIALLY LEADING TO A FUEL LEAK. IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FIRE COULD OCCUR.
The remedy: HONEYWELL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FUEL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 18, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-890-2075 (OPTION 1).
HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL, INC.View on NHTSA.gov
91V143000

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE

Sep 4, 1991
231,833 units potentially affected
The defect: UNDER CERTAIN VEHICLE OPERATIONS AND OCCUPANT USAGE CONDITIONS, THE SAFETY BELTS CAN LOCKUP OR JAM IN THE SAFETY BELT RETRACTOR.
The risk: IF LOCKUP OCCURS, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PULL BELT OUT OFTHE RETRACTOR. THE OCCUPANT OF A SEAT WITH AN UNUSABLE SAFETY BELT ISSUBJECT TO INCREASED RISK OF INJURY OR DEATH IN THE EVENT OF A SUDDEN STOP ORACCIDENT.
The remedy: REPLACE THE SAFETY BELTS IF THE LOCKUP OCCURS.
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.View on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

DP96006ClosedDefect Petition

BRAKE PULL

Opened May 14, 1996
Closed Oct 18, 1996

THE PETITIONS STATED THAT:WE REPRESENT THE OWNER OF A 1990 CHEVROLET CORVETTE WHICH, WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, SUDDENTLY, VIOLENTLY, AND UNEXPECTEDLY PULLS TO THE LEFT.THIS IS A INTERMITTENT DEFECT WHICH DOES NOT OCCUR WITH AN REGULARITY.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

View all 24
Tires & wheels
Filed Jul 21, 2021

I had 4 brand new Mickey Thompson Street Comp tires (2 of P275/40R17 for the front and 2 of P315/35R17 for the rear) mounted on factory rims and spun balanced by my local garage. I then mounted those tire/wheel combinations onto the vehicle. I then drove the vehicle to the same garage for a yearly state inspection, and on my way there the steering wheel shimmied half of the time. When I got there I checked the lug nuts for any looseness with a torque wrench. All lug nuts were accurate. After the inspection I drove the car back to my garage (under 25 miles round trip) and removed all 4 tire/wheel combos, loaded them into my truck and brought them back to the garage to drop them off to have them balance checked in between the mechanics other jobs ahead of me. The mechanic checked them and informed me that all 4 were balanced accurately, as a matter of fact, he did them in front of me so I could see. He recommended that I take them to a shop that has a "Road Force Balancer". I found such a shop and after they tested all 4 tires, in front of me, they indicated that the 2 front could not be balanced, that they were "out-of-round" beyond balancing. One rear combo was passable and the other was just barely out of reach, but could possibly be used. It may even out after so many miles. I asked him if the rims could be the problem and he indicated to me that the machine he uses also measures the wheel itself, and he showed me how it does it. All 4 rims measured true. Thank you

NHTSA ID
11425890
Incident
Jul 7, 2021
Other / unspecified
Filed Apr 23, 2019
Crash reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE REAR WHEELS SEIZED AND THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE DROVE INTO A YARD AND CRASHED INTO A BUSH. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,900. *TR STILL WAITING GM FOR 3 MONTHS NOW I HAVE CALL STILL THEY DON'T KNOW. I SAW ON FACEBOOK THAT A1992 VETTE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE REAR END AND THEY WRECKED TOO MY FILE NUMBER WITH GM IS [XXX]PHONE NUMBER FOR THE GUY I HAVE BEEN TALKING TO IS [XXX] NAME IS [XXX] I NEED ANSWERS I AM SITTING ON $10,000.00 THAT I HAVE INVESTED TO HELP ME I AM DISABLE AND NEED THE MONEY BACK. I WAS GOING TO SELL THE VETTE FOR $18000.00 I NEED ANSWERS I WILL GO ON NATION TV AND TELL WHAT HAPPENED AND LET THE PEOPLE KNOW THAT THEIR VETTE CAN DO THE SAME THE RECALL ON SEAT BELTS HAS NOT BEEN DONE YET TOO. THE SAME REAR END IS THE SAME AS THE ONE ON THE 1984 VETTED THAT HAVE BEEN RECALLED THE SAME PART NUMBER BUT HAS YEAR NUMBER CHANGED IN PART NUMBER AS ALL C4 VETTED HAS SAME REAR END. I NEED ANSWER NOW BUT CAN'T GET ANY ANSWERS !! I GUESS IT MAY COME DOWN TO A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT WITCH I DON'T WANT TO HAPPEN. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *JB *TR

NHTSA ID
11203044
Incident
Apr 16, 2019
Mileage
95,900 mi
Seat belts
Filed Aug 30, 2016

DEALER STATES THAT DUE TO AGE OF VEHICLE, RECALL CANNOT BE COMPLETED BECAUSE OF PARTS NO LONGER AVAILABLE. MANUFACTURER RECALL NUMBER N910058 & N910059.

NHTSA ID
10899390
Incident
Jun 16, 2016
Seat belts
Filed Sep 19, 2014

WHEN PULLING THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT OUT TO PUT IT ON, IT PULLS OUT ABOUT 12" AND LOCKS, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO PUT ON. EVEN THOUGH THERE IS AN OPEN RECALL ON THIS SEAT BELT PROBLEM, THE CHEVROLET DEALER WAS UNABLE TO GET THE PARTS TO FIX IT - THE PARTS ARE UNAVAILABLE. THIS IS A 1990 CORVETTE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10637441
Incident
Aug 30, 2014
Mileage
43,500 mi
Seat belts
Filed May 2, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE RETRACTABLE SEAT BELT BECAME JAMMED AND WOULD NOT FUNCTION, MAKING THE SEAT BELT UNUSABLE AND LEAVING THE DRIVER UNSECURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR WAS FAULTY. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS TO REPAIR THE DEFECT WERE NO LONGER AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT WAS RESPONDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 91V143000 (SEAT BELTS). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000.

NHTSA ID
10586273
Incident
Apr 10, 2014
Mileage
83,000 mi
Electrical
Filed May 30, 2012

[XXX]: AT MY REQUEST, THE MVA DIVISION OF INVESTIGATIVE SERVICES HAS UNDERTAKEN TO RECONSTRUCT ITS INVESTIGATIVE REPORT ON YOUR COMPLAINT AGAINST [XXX] FROM 2006. THE REASON FOR HAVING TO RECONSTRUCT THE REPORT IS THAT THE EXHIBITS LISTED ON PAGE 4 OF THAT REPORT NO LONGER EXIST IN ORIGINALS OR COPIES WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO LOCATE WITHIN THE MVA OR OUR ARCHIVES. THAT BEING THE CASE, THE MVA INVESTIGATOR CONTACTED OURISMAN ROCKMONT CHEVROLET TO OBTAIN COPIES OF WHAT DOCUMENTATION STILL REMAINED IN ITS FILES. ATTACHED IS A PDF FILE CONTAINING COPIES OF THOSE RECORDS PROVIDED BY THE DEALERSHIP. THAT IS ALL WE HAVE AT THIS POINT. IF ANY MORE DOCUMENTS BECOME AVAILABLE, [XXX] OR I WILL PROVIDE THEM TO YOU. VERY TRULY YOURS, [XXX] WE STILL HAVE NO RECIEVED DOUCUMENTATION FROM THE ATTORNEY GENENERAL OFFICE AND THE CONFIDENCE WE HAVE IS BECAUSE THERE IS NO DOUCUMENTS CONSUMER PROTECTION LAWS GOVERNING ODOMETER FRAUD AND FALSE ADVERTISING. 10/20/11 SHOW DETAILS HIDE DETAILS [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID
10460074
Incident
Aug 1, 2004
Tires & wheels
Filed Jun 7, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 CHEVROLET CORVETTE WITH GOODYEAR EAGLE F1 ALL SEASON TIRES, SIZE 275/40ZR17 , DOT NUMBER: MKX26FHR10007. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL FOUR VALVE STEMS FRACTURED WHILE DRIVING OVER 5 MPH. AN AUTHORIZED GOODYEAR DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE VALVE STEMS WERE DEFECTIVE AND WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE FAILURE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,000 AND THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
10405471
Incident
May 6, 2011
Mileage
53,000 mi
Seat belts
Filed Aug 13, 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED HE ATTEMPTED TO USE THE SEAT BELT BUT IT WOULD NOT COME OUT OF THE RETRACTOR. HE CALLED AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THEY WOULD LOOK INTO THE FAILURE AND CALL HIM BACK. HE MADE SEVERAL CALLS TO THE DEALER AND NO ONE RETURNED HIS CALL. HE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS REFERRED BACK TO THE DEALER. THE CONTACT REFERENCE RECALL 91V143000, SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE. THE DEALER ADVISED HIM THAT THE PART FOR THE RECALL WAS NO LONGER AVAILABLE. THE DEALER VERIFIED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PART OF THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 106,100.

NHTSA ID
10349221
Incident
Jul 29, 2010
Mileage
106,000 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

020730024A

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT

DIAGNOSIS OF CRACKED OR BROKEN TRANSMISSION CASE. *TT 2006 AND PRIOR CARS AND LIGHT DUTY TRUCKS. *TT

01697

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL

NO SERIAL DATA COMMUNICATIONS USING THE TECH 1 WITH A 1986 OR NEWER CAMARO, FIREBIRD OR CORVETTE WITH A 5.0 OR 5.7 LITRE ENGINE. SIT BULLETIN 1450640. *TT

010729004

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

INFORMATION REGARDING CORVETTE ZF SIX SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION. NLM

9313110

VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR

REAR LIFT WINDOW HARD TO OPEN/HINGE LOOSE TO GLASS. *TW

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Chevrolet Corvette by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2025103062.5
2024202056.4
2023241052.5
2022201042.0
2021122054.1
2020344053.1
20191471042.7
2018511040.6
20172554051.5
20161032046.4
2015645047.6
2014615159.6
2013820035.8
2012561043.7
2011851041.3
2010840035.0
20091510034.6
20085400037.8
20073402249.4
20063655456.6
20055326456.2
20042174253.7
2003853157.2
20021573148.8
20012033252.6
20002774358.2
19993084558.8
19983994557.3
19971537456.1
1996441251.1
1995321151.1
1994291245.5
1993222155.4
1992722—
1991Viewing243157.6
1990344560.3
1989154259.2
1988165351.3
1987213557.7
1986155559.6
1985163453.5
1984146258.6
1982020—
1981620—
1980320—
1979320—
1978120—
1977130—
1976120—
1975420—
1974030—
1973010—
1972010—
1971010—
1970010—
1969020—
1968020—
1967010—
1966110—
1965010—
1964100—
1960100—

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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.