Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full
Data refreshed
Our database holds 44 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1996 Chevrolet Corvette. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Showing 1–25 of 44 · page 1 of 2
APPEARS THE ASR UNIT HARD SHORTED SENDING ELECTRICITY THROUGH ALL 3 THROTTLE CABLES AND SEBSEQUENTLY MELTING THEM. THANKFULLY THE VEHICLE DIDN'T START ON FIRE. THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED ON THE FIRST DRIVE OF THE DAY AFTER ABOUT 7 MINUTES OF LOW SPEED (CITY) OPERATION SINCE ENGINE START.
TRIED TO START VEHICLE, BUT 'SECURITY' LIGHT CAME ON & ENGINE WOULD NOT TURN OVER. RESEARCHED ISSUE ONLINE & FOUND THAT THIS IS DUE TO A KNOWN IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER PROBLEM. THE WIRES LEADING TO THE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER BREAK, AND WILL NOT ALLOW THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM TO PROPERLY READ THE SECURITY CODE FROM THE KEY. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD WHISTLING NOISE. SUDDENLY, THE REMOVABLE ROOF PANEL SEPARATED FROM THE MOUNTING FRAME OF THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACRYLIC REMOVABLE ROOF PANEL, WHICH WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR IDENTICAL FAILURES ON FOUR SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE MALFUNCTIONS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,500 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 72,500.
THE ACRYLIC TOP ON MY 1996 CORVETTE WAS REPLACED WITH A NEW ACRYLIC TOP FROM CHEVROLET. THE ACRYLIC PORTION OF THE TOP HAS SEPARATED FROM THE ALUMINUM MOUNTING FRAME. I HAVE PRESENTED GONE THROUGH 4 CONSECUTIVE TOPS. EVERY TOP SUPPLIED TO ME HAS DONE THE SAME THING. I CAN NO LONGER DRIVE MY VEHICLE DUE TO THIS FACT. IF I CONTINUE TO DRIVE MY VEHICLE, THERE IS A HIGH PROBABILITY THAT MY ROOF IS GOING TO COME OFF OF THE VEHICLE AND POSSIBLY CAUSE A ACCIDENT ON INJURE SOMEONE. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. THE CONTACT HEARD A VERY LOUD EXPLOSION AND HER HOME BEGAN TO SHAKE. SHE FOUND THE VEHICLE PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE FIRE SPREAD RAPIDLY AS THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED PRIOR TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT'S ARRIVAL. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE REGULATOR EXPLODED DUE TO PRESSURE BUILD-UP. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 100,000. UPDATED 03/17/09. *LJ THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. UPDATED 03/18/09. *JB
SNAP IN VALVE STEM HTTP://BLOGS.CONSUMERREPORTS.ORG/SAFETY/2008/06/TIRE-VALVE-STEM.HTML. *TR
UPON NORMAL AUTO START SEQUENCE, STARTER WOULD NOT DISENGAGE. REMOVED KEY FROM VEHICLE CYLINDER LOCK AND STARTER CONTINUED TO CRANK ENGINE. STARTER MOTOR BEGAN TO SMOKE AND CAUGHT FIRE BEFORE BATTERY COULD BE DISCONNECTED TO REMOVE POWER FROM VEHICLE. BURNED UP STARTER MOTOR AND O2 WIRING HARNESS AROUND LOCATION OF STARTER MOTOR. SAME FAILURE OCCURRED IN 1999. *TR
PASSIVE KEYLESS ENTRY LIGHT CAME ON AND THEN WHILE VEHICLE WAS MOVING HATCH RELEASED. ALTMOST LOSING CONTROL OF VEHICLE. *JB
WHILE OPERATING VEHICLE AT 10 MPH BRAKE PEDAL FELL TO FLOOR AFTER CONSUMER TOOK FOOT OFF BRAKE. HE WAS ABLE TO STOP VEHICLE WITHOUT AN INCIDENT. DEALERSHIP EXAMINED VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THAT BRAKE LINES HAD CORRODED, ALLOWING FAILURE OF BRAKE SYSTEM. *AK *JB
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON / DISTRIBUTOR FAILED WHILE DRIVING, ENGINE STALLED, LOST POWER STEERING. ENGINE REFIRED. ON WAY TO DEALER ENGINE STALLED IN TRAFFIC.*AK
VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN GARAGE DUE TO ELECTRICAL FAULT IN FACTORY WIRING. FIRE ORIGINATED ON DRIVER'S SIDE OF ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *AK
THE TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR (THE LEFT FRONT SENSOR, ALSO KNOWN AS GREEN #44 OR PART NUMBER 1016 1856) IS NOT AVAILABLE NEW OR USED ANYWHERE IN THE COUNTRY. REFERRING TO PAGE 6-47 OF THE MANUAL, THE FOLLOWING WARNING APPEARS: WHEN THE LOW/FLAT TIRE WARNING LIGHT IS ON YOUR VEHICLE'S HANDLING CAPABILITIES WILL BE REDUCED DURING SEVERE MANEUVERS. IF YOU DRIVE TOO FAST, YOU COULD LOSE CONTROL OF YOUR VEHICLE. YOU OR OTHERS COULD BE INJURED. DON'T DRIVE OVER 55 MPH (90 KM/H) WHEN THE LOW/FLAT TIRE WARNING LIGHT IS ON. DRIVE CAUTIOUSLY AND CHECK YOUR TIRE PRESSURE AS SOON AS YOU CAN." NOW, NOTING THE RECENT HEADLINES ABOUT FIRESTONE TIRE FAILURES AND THE RESULTING TRAGIC CONSEQUENCES, IT WOULD SEEM HIGHLY APPROPRIATE FOR CHEVROLET TO IMMEDIATELY ADDRESS THE FACT THAT THIS PART IS DISCONTINUED AND NO LONGER AVAILABLE. BASICALLY, ALL WE (MY WIFE JOY RENDE, WHO ACTUALLY OWNS THE CAR, AND I) ARE LOOKING FOR IS FOR CHEVY TO START MANURAFTURING THE PART AGAIN.*AK
STEERING GOES OUT INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER REPLACED POWER STEERING RACK AND PUMP, PROBLEM STILL THERE. *AK
CAR WAS VEERING OUT OF CONTROL-AT 45MPH, IN A ONE LANE WORK ZONE. TIRE RIPPED RIGHT DOWN THE MIDDLE-NEARLY SPLIITING IN HALF. YOU COULD SEE RIGHT TROUGH TO THE BRAKES. INSIDE OF TIRE UNRAVELLED-RUBBER HANGING. *AK (DOT NUMBER: M6Y2 6BDR TIRESIZE: P25545ZR17)
LEFT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT ,BELT TREADPACKAGE SEPERATED TOTALLY,LEAVING BEAD/SIDEWALL ONLY ON RIM( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P28540ZR17 )
TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP AND WENT INTO SKID,SENT CAR INTO ONCOMMING TRAFFIC,SECOND REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION. *AK
HAD TO FORCE TRANSMISSION TO SHIFT INTO GEAR, TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. *AK
WHERE CAN I FIND THE REPAIR HISTORY OF MY CAR. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN SUMMARY.*AK
INTERMITTENTLY THE VEHICLE LOOSES POWER STEERING WHEN TURNING LEFT AND RIGHT AT VERY LOW SPEEDS. NLM
FIRST WHEEL BEARING HUB FAILED ON MARCH 26, 1999. SERVICE TECHNICIAN REPORTED THAT WHEEL COULD HAVE COME OFF OF VEHICLE DURING TRANSPORTATION. REPLACED BY DEALER AT CONSUMER'S COST. LETTER SENT TO VEHICLE MANUFACTURER WITH FAILED PART. NO RESPONSE RECEIVED BY CONSUMER. REPLACEMENT DIAGNOSED AS FAILED ON JANUARY 12, 2000. DURING DIAGNOSIS, DEALER REPORTS THAT ALL UNIVERSAL JOINTS (ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT) ARE FAILING. ALL ASSEMBLIES SHOULD LAST MUCH LONGER THAN 3 YEARS/55,000 MILES. *AK
TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR SERIVCE. WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR PART IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE. THE PART IS #10161856. COMPANY WENT OUT OF BUSINESS. RECEIVED WARNING WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE. *AK
CAR CAME FACTORY EQUIPPED WITH EMT (RUN-FLAT) TIRES. MANUFACTURER HAS DISCONTINUED PART NUMBER 10161856 "TIRE SENSOR" NEEDED TO INDICATE IF A TIRE LOSES PRESSURE. AS THERE IS NO OUTWARD INDICATION OF A LOSS OF PRESSURE IN A TIRE, LOSS OF PRESSURE WILL EVENTUALLY RESULT IN CATASTROPHIC TIRE FAILURE WHICH MAY RESULT IN A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. CHEVROLET CUSTOMER CARE HAS CONFIRMED THE PART HAS BEEN DISCONTINUED AND THAT THERE ARE CURRENTLY NO PLANS FOR A REPLACEMENT PART. *AK
THE TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR HAS BROKEN, AND THE PART HAS BEEN DISCONTINUED BY THE MANUFACTURER. *AK
WHEN MAKING A RIGHT OR LEFT TURN VEHICLE WILL UNEXPECETEDLY LOSE POWER STEERING CONTROL, CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER CANNOT IDENTIFY ANY PROBLEM. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAIL. *AK
WHILE PARKED AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE COMPUTER SYSTEM CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT THERE WAS ALSO STRUCTURAL DAMAGE TO FURNITURE AND PROPERTY. *SLC
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
Data on this page last refreshed .