1998 Chevrolet Corvette Engine Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. AFTER FILLING THE VEHICLE WITH FUEL, THE CONTACT STARTED THE ENGINE, DROVE THREE FEET, AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, WAITED A FEW MINUTES, RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE THREE MORE FEET BEFORE THE ENGINE CUT OFF AGAIN. THE STEERING COLUMN WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S HOME. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,253.

NHTSA ID

11161169

Incident

Dec 12, 2018

Mileage

48,253 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

WHILE DRIVING, THE STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY LOCKED AND THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. THE CAR WAS STUCK IN THE ROADWAY. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE LOCAL DEALER, WHO SAID A CRITICAL RECALL WAS NEVER DONE. ALTHOUGH I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER, I NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FROM GM. THE RECALL, WHICH I LATER FOUND TO POSSIBLY AFFECT 120,000 CORVETTES FROM 1997 TO 2004, WAS PERFORMED ACCORDING TO GM INSTRUCTIONS. HOWEVER, THE RECALL ONLY CONSISTED OF REMOVING THE STEERING LOCK PINS. THE LIKELIHOOD OF FUEL SYSTEM SHUT OFF STILL EXISTED. THE DEALER SAID THE GM RECALL WAS INEFFECTIVE, GM WAS AWARE THAT THE RECALL WAS INSUFFICIENT, AND SAID THE ENTIRE MECHANISM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED IN ORDER TO PREVENT FUTURE RECURRENCE. THE REPLACEMENT WAS THEN DONE AT MY COST. AS A LICENSED PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER I BELIEVE THE INADEQUATE GM RECALL REMEDIATION IS A SERIOUS SAFETY DEFECT. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THE DEFECT USUALLY OCCURS AFTER 60,000 TO 80,000 MILES. HOWEVER, MOST CORVETTES ARE DRIVEN WELL BEYOND THIS POINT. I WROTE TO GM, BUT THEY ARE NOT TAKING THIS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS CONDITION SERIOUSLY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10611206

Incident

Apr 30, 2014

Mileage

86,263 mi

I WAS DRIVING ON A FREEWAY AND ENGINE/POWER WENT DOWN WHILE DRIVING. AFTER STOPPING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FASTEST LANE IN THE FREEWAY, I WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE. THIS HAPPENED 3 TIMES SO FAR WHILE OWNING THIS CAR. I COULD HAVE BEEN HIT BY THE CARS BEHIND ME BUT LUCKILY ALL 3 TIMES I WAS FINE JUST UNHAPPY DRIVERS HONKING ME FROM BEHIND. SINCE THE REPAIR COST MIGHT BE SKY HIGH, I AM YET TO BRING MY CAR TO THE DEALER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10592877

Incident

May 18, 2014

Mileage

220,000 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

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE OIL SENDING UNIT DISPLAYED NON-REALISTIC NUMBERS. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE OIL SENDING UNIT, THE COMPONENT THAT INDICATES THE AMOUNT OF PRESSURE IN THE VEHICLE, FAILED. THE MECHANIC CHANGED THE ENTIRE OIL SENDING UNIT, WHICH REPAIRED THE ISSUE FOR 13 MONTHS. THROUGH RESEARCH, THE CONTACT FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THIS VEHICLE FOR THE IDENTICAL FAILURE. HE BELIEVES THAT A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR THE SECOND TIME. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 84,000. UPDATED 6/18/09 *CN THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE GAS GUAGE. UPDATED 06/22/09. *JB

NHTSA ID

10272361

Incident

May 1, 2008

Mileage

72,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. THE SERVICE COLUMN LOCK WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS A MALFUNCTION WITH THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELTS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE CONTACT WAS DISPLEASED TO KNOW THAT HIS VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL THAT LISTS THIS SAME FAILURE. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 120,000.

NHTSA ID

10237005

Incident

Jul 14, 2008

Mileage

120,000 mi

THE REAR WELDED FLANGES ON THE TAIL PIPES ON MY 1998 CORVETTE BOTH FAILED ON MY CAR CAUSING INCREASED HEAT AND EXHAUST FUMES TO BE PULLED INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. *JB

NHTSA ID

10159051

Incident

Sep 15, 2005

FAILURE OF EXAUST SYSTEM AT WELDS ON FLANGES. *NM

NHTSA ID

10157462

Incident

May 2, 2006

Mileage

44,000 mi

WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE GARAGE ENGINE SHUT OFF. CONSUMER PULLED KEY OUT OF IGNITION, WAITED 10 SECONDS, AND TRIED TO RESTART VEHICLE. DASHBOARD LIT UP, AND VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS INVESTIGATION EA02031 THAT EXPLAINED THE EXACT PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID

10038536

Mileage

26,000 mi

BOTH EXHAUST PIPES ARE SEPARATED FROM FLANGE IN FRONT OF REAR AXLE. PIPES KEEP MUFFLER OFF GROUND. WHEN SEPARATE AND MUFFLER HITS GROUND, IT CAN DAMAGE REAR OF VEHICLE, AND VEHICLE IN PATH. ALSO FUMES ARE LEAKING FROM EXHAUST PIPES. DEALER CONTACTED.*AKTHE INSPECTOR AT THE INPECTION STATION INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THIS WAS COMMON IN CORVETTES WITH THE SAME BODY STYLE, AND THE FAILURE IS DUE TO FAULTY EXHAUST WELDS ALLOWING EXHAUST PIPE SEPERATION. *JG

NHTSA ID

8009332

Incident

May 30, 2001

IM STARTED MY CAR, PUT IT IN DRIVE AND DROVE OFF. I NOTICED MY STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED. THE ENGINE DIED ALMOST RIGHT AWAY. I WAS GOING ABOUT 3 MPH. I RESTARTED THE ENGINE SEVERAL TIMES TRYING TO FREE THE STEERING. NOTHING WORKED. I HAD TO BACK MY CAR OUT OF THE STREET WITH NO STEERING. THE NEXT MORNING THE STEERING STARTED WORKING AGAIN. AFTER TALKING TO SOME CORVETTE CLUB MEMBER, I FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS VERY COMMON TO HAPPEN ON LATE MODEL CORVETTES. REF. IN EA02-031 *CJS

NHTSA ID

726887

Incident

Aug 5, 2000

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 35 MPH, ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE WAS A LOSS OF POWER. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD SAFELY. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID

862097

Incident

May 14, 2000

WHILE DRIVING DOWN ON INTERSTATE IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. THE INFORMATION WARNING SYSTEM DISPLAYED A MESSAGE THAT READ ACTIVE HANDLING SYSTEM WAS MALFUNCTIONING. ATER DISPLAY MESSAGE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, THEN ENGINE LOST POWER. CONSUMER FELT THAT IF SYSTEMS FAILED IT COULD LOCK UP THE BRAKES AND POSIBLE INJURIES COULD OCCUR. *AK

NHTSA ID

853987

Incident

Dec 10, 1998

STEERING LOCK MODULE SHORTED OUT CAUSING STEERING WHEEL TO LOCK. MJS (DID NOT COUNT IN NUMBERS FOR EA02-031; DUPLICATE OF ODI# 852313.)

NHTSA ID

549439

Incident

Oct 27, 1999

VEHICLE HAS A CRACKED ENGINE BLOCK, RESULTING IN COOLANT LEAKAGE. THE DEALER HAS INSPECTED AND WILLL REPAIR VEHICLE. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID

848195

ENGINE--OIL COOL LINE TO FILTER IS DEFECTIVE.

NHTSA ID

609685

Incident

Apr 30, 1998

RADIATOR LEAK.

NHTSA ID

609561

Incident

Dec 20, 1998

EGR VALVE.

NHTSA ID

609524

Incident

Oct 28, 1998

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT COMES ON/ STEERING WHEEL COLUMN LOCKS UP, AND VEHICLE STALLS UNEXPECTEDLY. CURRENTLY AT THE DEALERS. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK REF. IN EA02-031 *CJS CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MOVE VEHICLE ABOUT 1 FT.

NHTSA ID

844272

Incident

Jul 28, 2019

THE LEFT SIDE OF THE EXHAUST AT THE FLANGE IS ALSO READY TO BREAK. WHEN THE EXHAUST BREAKS, THE EXHAUST PIPE STRIKES THE REAR AXLE AND THE MUFFLER DROPS DOWN AND COULD FLY OUT THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE AT A FREEWAY SPEED.

NHTSA ID

707286

Incident

Jun 7, 1999

ENGINE FAILED. *YC

NHTSA ID

607750

ENGINE NOISE.

NHTSA ID

781503

VEHICLE HAS A FLAPPING AIR VENT MEMBER THAT HITS AGAINST THE COMPUTER. ALSO THE VEHICLE PULLS TO THE LEFT WHEN DRIVING. DEALER CONTACTED, ALIGNMENT HAS BEEN DONE. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. AK

NHTSA ID

828923

Incident

Jun 30, 1998