1998 Chevrolet Corvette Electrical Problems

THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY. PROCEED TO START VEHICLE. STEERING COLUMN LOCKS UP. HAS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES. I AM THE THIRD OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE. IN RESEARCHING INFORMATION REGARDING PAST RECALLS APPARENTLY HEDRICK'S DEALERSHIP OF FRESNO, CA COMPLETED WORK BUT IN ASKING WHAT THEY COMPLETED, I WAS INFORMED THAT ALL PAST COMPUTER DATA WAS PURGED FROM THEIR FILES SO THEY CANNOT TELL ME WHAT WAS COMPLETED. I THEN CALLED GM TO GET INFORMATION BUT AFTER TALKING TO THREE DIFFERENT PEOPLE I WAS TOLD THEY WERE NOT ALLOWED TO GIVE ME ANY INFORMATION AS TO WHAT WAS COMPLETED. I REFERENCED A GM REPORT ENTITLED "04006C - PRODUCT SAFETY RECALL - FEBRUARY 8, 2006" IN TALKING WITH THE GM REPRESENTATIVES AND I WAS TOLD THE REPORT DIDN'T EXIST. THE REPORT WAS FOUND AT HTTPS://STATIC.NHTSA.GOV. THIS REPORT REPLACED BULLETIN 04006B - NOVEMBER 23, 2004. IN READING ON NHTSA, SEVERAL OTHER OWNERS EXPERIENCED THE SAME VEHICLE ISSUES WITH STEERING COLUMN. PLUS, WITH WORK BEING COMPLETED BUT STILL HAVING SAME ISSUES. CAN YOU ASSIST ME IN OBTAINING THE RECALL WORK COMPLETION REPORT ON MY VEHICLE? HEDRICK'S INDICATED THAT I WOULD HAVE TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN FOR A DIAGNOSTIC REVIEW AT THE COST OF $165.00 AND THEN GO FROM THERE. IN READING "04006C - PRODUCT SAFETY RECALL - FEBRUARY 8, 2006" IT INDICATES, "DEALERS ARE TO SERVICE ALL VEHICLES SUBJECT TO THIS RECALL AT NO CHARGE TO CUSTOMERS, REGARDLESS OF MILEAGE, AGE OF VEHICLE, OR OWNERSHIP, FROM THIS TIME FORWARD." PLUS, WHATEVER WORK HEDRICK'S COMPLETED THE WORK WASN'T SUFFICIENT AS THE ISSUE OF THE STEERING COLUMN LOCKING UP CONTINUES.

NHTSA ID

11377500

Incident

Aug 22, 2020

Mileage

84,000 mi

HAVE HAD MULTIPLE ISSUES WITH THIS CAR. HAD A SERVICE COLUMN LOCK DISPLAY. TOOK IT IN ON A RECALL. THEY FIXED IT AND 6 MONTHS LATER LEFT ME STRANDED AGAIN WITH SAME CODE. CHARGED ME 1000 DOLLARS TO TELL ME THE WHEEL LOCK BROKE. WE ALL KNOW THAT'S NOT TRUE. 2 WEEKS LATER HAVE A SERVICE POWER TRAIN WITH NUMEROUS CODES. HAVE TO RESET ALL CODES TO DRIVE CAR. THEY COME BACK WITH SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM AND HEATER BLOWS HOT ON ONE SIDE AND COLD ON OTHER. THEN NEXT DAY IT'S THE OPPOSITE. UNFORTUNATELY THIS IS THE ONLY CORVETTE THAT I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH AND ACCORDING TO THE REVIEWS. THE C5 CORVETTE HAS MANY DRIVE TRAIN ISSUES. THIS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED AND RECALLED IF THEY WANT BUYERS TO CHEVROLET VEHICLES.

NHTSA ID

10969843

Incident

Jan 1, 2013

Mileage

90,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL DEPRESSED INDEPENDENTLY AND THE TRACTION CONTROL INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, ALL THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT WAS INJURED AND RECEIVED MEDICAL ATTENTION FOR TORN MUSCLES IN HIS NECK, ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE HEAD THREE INCHES ABOVE THE EAR, ONE RIB ON THE LEFT SIDE WAS FRACTURED, AND TORN MUSCLES IN THE LOWER BACK. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED HOME. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,000.

NHTSA ID

10945796

Incident

Jan 6, 2017

Mileage

106,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. THE COLUMN LOCK FAILURE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HARNESS KIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, HOWEVER THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V060000 (STEERING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,000.

NHTSA ID

10899726

Incident

Feb 25, 2016

Mileage

41,000 mi

I HAVE OWNED MY 1998 CORVETTE FOR TWO YEARS. THE PULL KEY AND WAIT 10 SECONDS AND THE SERVICE STEERING COLUMN LOCK ERRORS ARE CRIPPLING ME ENJOYMENT OF THE CAR. I HAVE INSTALLED AN LMC5 MODULE LAST YEAR AND THE PROBLEMS WILL NOT GO AWAY. THE RECALL ON THE SERVICE COLUMN LOCK WAS PERFORMED ON THE CAR WHICH REMOVED THE ACTUAL LOCKING MECHANISM ON THE STEERING COLUMN. BUT THE CAR WILL NOT MOVE OVER TWO MILES PER HOUR WITH THE ERROR MESSAGE AND I HAVE FOUND NO FIXED THAT HELP ME. WHAT IS GM DOING ABOUT THE HORRIBLE HORRIBLE PROBLEM ON THEIR MOST DISTINGUISHED CAR MODEL.... ? ALL INSTANCES HAPPEN WHEN FIRST STARITING THE CAR NO MATTER HOW LONG IT HAS SAT. BATTERY IS PERFECT. I VERY RARELY DIVE THE CAR, BUT WHEN I DO I HAVE THIS HORRIBLE PROBLEM AND IT IS GETTING WORSE.

NHTSA ID

10883365

Incident

Jul 6, 2016

Mileage

60,000 mi

THE DIC SHOWED "SERVICE STEERING WHEEL LOCK", REMOVE KEY AND WAIT 10 SECONDS. THERE WAS A RECALL ON 97-2004 CORVETTES FOR THIS. MY VIN DOES NOT SHOW UP BUT GM SERVICE BULLETIN LOUIEINLI #04006CC (ELECTRONIC COLUMN LOCK) COVERS VEHICLE VINS FROM W5100001 TO W5131069. MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP COMING OUT OF MY GARAGE. I HAVE LESS THAN 37,000 ON IT. WHY WAS MY VIN OMITTED FROM YOUR RECALL?? IT HAS COST BE $600 FOR REPAIRS.

NHTSA ID

10819483

Incident

Sep 4, 2014

Mileage

36,261 mi

A RECALL WAS TAKEN CARE OF 7/17/14. I AM HAVING THE SAME ISSUE AGAIN. STEERING COLUMN LOCKS, AND STALLS. CAR CANNOT BE MOVED. THE DEALER AND THEIR SUPPORT ADVISERS CANNOT FIND A FIX. THEIR SOLUTION IS TO REMOVE THE LOCK KIT, BYPASS THE SAFETY MECHANISMS, CHARGE ME $450.00. A HARNESS AND LOCK KIT ARE AT FAULT. THEY WILL NOT COVER THE ISSUE. I AM LEFT WITH THE CAR WITHOUT THE SAFETY FEATURE. CAR CAN BE EASILY STOLEN, STEERING WHEEL TURNS WITHOUT A KEY.

NHTSA ID

10787227

Incident

Oct 26, 2015

Mileage

71,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. PRIOR TO THE CONTACT OWNING THE VEHICLE, IT WAS REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V060000 (STEERING). THE REPAIR DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE SERVICE COLUMN LOCK WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED RANDOMLY AND THE VEHICLE STALLED SEVERAL TIMES. THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND WOULD NOT UNLOCK. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO DRIVE OVER 2 MPH EACH TIME THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE COLUMN LOCK BYPASS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES, BUT PROVIDED NO REMEDY. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

NHTSA ID

10723505

Incident

May 20, 2015

Mileage

110,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNEXPECTEDLY WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE POSI TRACTION AND ABS WARNING INDICATORS. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SLOW DOWN UNTIL THE GEAR WAS SHIFTED INTO THE PARK POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE STEERING HARNESS AND AN UNKNOWN PART RELATED TO THE FRONT ENGINE WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE PERSISTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DIFFERENT DEALER WHERE THE MASTER COMPUTER AND ALTERNATOR WERE BOTH REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,722.

NHTSA ID

10584423

Incident

Dec 30, 2013

Mileage

71,722 mi

APPROXIMATELY 3 YEARS AGO MY 1998 C5 CORVETTE COUPE EXPERIENCED FAULT CODES AND WARNING LIGHTS ASSOCIATED WITH A FAILURE OR FAILURES WITHIN THE ELECTRONIC BRAKE TRACTION CONTROL MODULE (EBTCM). I TRIED TO REPLACE THE ELECTRONIC MODULE THAT MOUNTS TO THE ABS PUMP A FEW TIMES WITH USED MODULES AND THE PROBLEM WAS NEVER RESOLVED. LAST SUMMER I PUT THE CORVETTE INTO THE SERVICE CENTER AT THE LOCAL CHEVY DEALERSHIP AND TOLD THEM TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND CLEAR THE FAULT CODES. WHEN I PICKED UP THE CAR AND STARTED IT THE CODES AND WARNING LIGHT WAS STILL THERE. I ENQUIRED WHY AND WAS TOLD THAT GM NO LONGER SUPPORTS THE ABS/TRACTION CONTROL MODULE FOR THE OLDER CORVETTES. I WAS TOLD BY THE CHEVY "CERTIFIED" TECHNICIAN THAT THE CAR WAS SAFE TO DRIVE WITHOUT ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL. I ADDED THAT IT WAS SAFE AS LONG AS I DIDN'T DRIVE IN RAIN OR SNOW. *TR

NHTSA ID

10504304

Incident

Jun 30, 2009

VERY BAD FUEL ODOR WHEN GAS TANK IS FILLED..HAPPENS VERY TIME CAR IS FUELED..NO VISIBLE GAS LEAKS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10466711

Incident

Jul 1, 2007

Mileage

15,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. THE CONTACT STARTED THE IGNITION AND HEARD A LOUD NOISE. ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND REMAINED SO UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED. IN RAINY WEATHER CONDITIONS, WATER LEAKED FROM THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE WINDOWS. ALSO, THE TRUNK SUSTAINED WATER LEAKAGE AND CAUSED A STRONG ODOR AND MILDEW. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR THE WATER LEAKAGE FAILURES; HOWEVER, THE FAILURES STILL PERSIST. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 42,000.

NHTSA ID

10242425

Incident

Sep 12, 2008

Mileage

42,000 mi

STARTED CAR, ENGAGED AUTO TRANS AND ACCELERATED. CAR MOVED APPROX 10 FEET AND STALLED. REPEATED SEVERAL TIMES. CAR WAS TOWED TO DEALER. THE REPAIR WAS TO RE-INSTALL THE PARTS REMOVED ON 3/16/06 AS PART OF THE ELECTRONIC COLUMN LOCK SYSTEM RECALL ISSUED BY CHEVROLET. *NM

NHTSA ID

10177068

Incident

May 18, 2006

RECALL 04V060000, WHILE DRIVING, A WARNING NOTIFICATION DISPLAY ON THE DASHBOARD THAT READ REMOVE KEY AND WAIT 10 SECONDS APPEARED. DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THIS WAS A SYMPTOM THAT THE ELECTRONIC COLUMN LOCK FAILED. THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK *LA

NHTSA ID

10079513

Incident

Apr 7, 2004

Mileage

31,000 mi

UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE STEERING WHEEL WOULDN'T MOVE, AND VEHICLE FAILED TO START WHEN THE KEYS WAS TURNED IN THE IGNITION. THIS OCCURRED DUE TO A DEFECT DESCRIBED IN THE ELECTRONIC COLUMN LOCK RECALL 04V060000. BUT, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

NHTSA ID

10079999

Incident

Jun 25, 2004

Mileage

75,000 mi

CAR WHEN MOVING IN REVERSE APROX. 5MPH HAD STEERING WHEEL LOCK. STEERING WOULD NOT MOVE BUT CAR WOULD MOVE IN FORWARD OR REVERSE.CAR HAD REAR LEFT WHEEL RIM DAMAGED (SCRAPED) FROM CONTACT WITH CURB. FOLLOWED DIRECTIONS ON COMPUTER TO NO AVAIL. LET IT SET FOR 24 HR. AND EVERYTHING WAS BACK TO NORMAL ..THE CAR HAS SINCE DONE THIS TWICE MORE AND BEEN PUT IN STORAGE SINCE NOV.OF 2003

NHTSA ID

10058464

Incident

Jul 14, 2003

Mileage

15,000 mi

WHILE PULLING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. WHEN THIS OCCURRED IGNITION FAILED TO OPERATE WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO DIE. THERE WAS A CONSUMERS SATISFACTION CAMPAIGN ON THIS ISSUE.*AK AFTER THIS OCCURRED, CONSUMER COULD START THE VEHICLE AND DRIVE IT BUT THE STEERING COLUMN WOULD BE LOCKED. VEHICLE WOULD MOVE BUT NO STEERING. *PH *NLM

NHTSA ID

10041991

Incident

Sep 27, 2003

Mileage

73,000 mi

STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP ON 1998 CORVETTE.VIN NO # IS 1G1YY22GOW5114022. THIS OBVIOUSLY A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AND IS DOCUMENTED ON THE CORVETTE FORUM.COM WEBSITE. CAR RECOGNIZES THE PROBLEM AND SENDS MESSAGE SAYING TO TURN OFF,REMOVE KEY,WAIT 10 SEC.S AND RESTART. *AK

NHTSA ID

10032893

Incident

Aug 8, 2003

Mileage

43,000 mi

THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN LOCKED UP INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH. *NLM THE CONSUMER FELT THAT THIS PROBLEM WAS DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW AND THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL AND OR FIX, FREE OF CHARGE. SCC

NHTSA ID

10012347

Incident

Mar 24, 2003

Mileage

53,251 mi

WHILE DRIVING THE FUEL INDICATOR READ THE WRONG READING WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO RUN OUT OF FUEL. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10012140

Incident

Mar 11, 2003

Mileage

18,000 mi

THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED, THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THE AC DELCO BATTERY LEAKED ACID ALL OVER THE WIRING HARNESS.*JB

NHTSA ID

10011119

Incident

Mar 5, 2003

Mileage

37,000 mi

WHILE TRAVELING AT 75 MPH COMPUTER ILLUMINATED, TELLING DRIVER TO REDUCE SPEED. A SECOND LATER, VEHICLE'S SPEED DROPPED FROM 75 TO 30 MPH. CONSUMER HAD NO CONTROL OVER CHANGE IN SPEED. CONSUMER FELT THIS WAS UNSAFE, WAS ALMOST HIT BY ONCOMING VEHICLES. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID

8018042

Incident

Sep 2, 2002

VEHICLE WAS PARKED. AFTER STARTING THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN. DASHBORD MESSAGE STATED "REMOVE KEY WAIT TEN SECONDS." I DID AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE BUT THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN. DASHBOARD MESSAGE STATED "SERVICE STEERING COLUMN." AFTER REPEATED ATTEMPTS OF STOPPING, STARTING VEHICLE AND TRYING TO TURN THE WHEEL IT REMAINED LOCKED. I CALLED AAA FOR A TOW TRUCK - WHILE WAITING FOR IT TO ARRIVE I CONTINUED TO TRY TO UNLOCK THE WHEEL. AFTER AROUND TWENTY MINUTES OF TRYING IT FINALLY UNLOCKED. I CANCELLED THE TOW TRUCK AND DROVE TO THE DEALER. IF I HAD KNOWN THE STEERING WHEEL COULD LOCK AGAIN WHILE I WAS DRIVING, AS I DETERMINED BY SUBSEQUENT INTERNET RESEARCH, I WOULD NOT HAVE DRIVEN TO THE DEALER. MY OUT OF POCKET COST FOR THE DEALER'S REPLACEMENT OF THE STEERING COLUMN LOCK WAS $100 BECAUSE I HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN AND SHOULD BE THE SUBJECT OF A RECALL.*AK REF. IN EA02-031 *CJS

NHTSA ID

764556

Incident

Jul 19, 2002

THE CARS COMPUTER SHUTS DOWN THE CAR AT HIGH SPEEDS. MESSAGES THAT APPEAR INCLUDE LOW VOLTAGE, SERVICE ACTIVE HANDLING SYSTEM AND ABS FAILURE. THIS HAS OCCURED FOUR TIMES - 6/26/01, 8/8/01, 10/4/01, AND 10/25/01 AND I HAVE BROUGHT THE CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. DEALER CLAIMED TO HAVE FIXED PROBLEM ONLY TO HAVE IT REOCCUR. IT IS LIKE HAVING THE CAR SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL AT 70 MPH. IT CREATES A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AS I AM USUALLY ON A HIGHWAY WITH FAST MOVING TRAFFIC AROUND ME. THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THIS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME WITH THE CORVETTES AS IF IT IS NORMAL. I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT A CAR WOULD BE DESIGNED TO SHUT DOWN AT HIGH SPEEDS IF THE COMPUTER REGISTERED A VOLTAGE DROP. THE MANUFACTURER REPRESENTATIVE MICHAEL STEELE AT 800-222-1020 IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND TRIES TO HELP BUT HAS NO POWER TO DEAL WITH THIS ISSUE. THE CASE NUMBER AT CHEVROLET IS 05623088. THIS CAR IS DANGEROUS AND SHOULD BE SUBJECT TO REVIEW AND POSSIBLE RECALL BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED.*AK

NHTSA ID

753663

Incident

Oct 25, 2001

WHEN TURNING KEY TO START STEERING WHEEL WILL LOCK. CONSUMER FEELS THIS IS NOT SAFE BECAUSE IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION WON'T BE ABLE GET CAR STARTED.CONSUMER HAS TO HAVE VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER EVERY TIME THIS OCCURS. THIS VEHICLE WAS EXCLUDED FROM MANUFACTURER'S RECALL DUE TO VIN ALTHOUGH IT HAS SAME EXACT PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK REF. IN EA02-031 *CJS

NHTSA ID

896851

Incident

Aug 1, 1999