1999 Chevrolet Corvette Brakes Problems

Almost every C5 (1997-2004) Corvette is affected by a faulty electronic brake control module. When this module fails, the car illuminates the ABS and traction control light. And displays service abs and service traction control messages. This is a serious safety issue as when this happens, the abs brakes no longer work nor does the traction control. It blows my mind how this has never been recalled especially on a rear drive sports car.

NHTSA ID

11460530

Incident

Apr 12, 2022

MY CORVETTE AS WELL AS MANY OTHERS FROM 97-04 SUFFER FROM THE ACTIVE HANDLING ABS/TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM GOING BAD. THE PART IS KNOWN AS THE EBCM. WHEN IT GOES BAD (IF CRUISE IS ENGAGED) THE CAR WILL DISABLE CRUISE CONTROL SUDDENLY CAUSING CAR TO SLOW DOWN. ALSO, WHEN THE SYSTEM FAILS WHILE MOVING IT CAUSE CAUSE UNEVEN BRAKE FEELING AND YOU LOOSE THE ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEMS . GM HAS DISCONTINUED THE PARTS REQUIRED TO REPAIR THIS AND THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN MAJOR SAFETY CONCERNS FOR MANY YEARS NOW AFFECTING MANY 97-04 CORVETTES. ALSO A PART OF THIS SYSTEM IS THE STEELING WHEEL POSITION SENSOR WHICH IS ALSO DISCONTINUED. SWPS CAN SEND WRONG INFO TO THE OTHER COMPUTERS AND THE CAR WILL MAKE ERRONEOUS 'CORRECTIONS' THAT CAN LEAD TO BRAKES BEING APPLIED AT ANY MOMENT WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA ID

11416521

Incident

May 13, 2021

Mileage

51,000 mi

THE ECBM (ABS MODULE) GOES OUT ON A HUGE PERCENTAGE OF THESE CARS FROM 1997 - 1999 AND YOU LOSE ABS WITH YOUR BRAKING WHICH IS DANGEROUS AND YOU ALSO LOOSE TRACTION CONTROL WHICH IS ALSO DANGEROUS. THE EARLY C5 CORVETTES HAVE THIS PROBLEM WITH THE ECBM GOING OUT AND NOBODY WILL FIX IT NOR ARE THERE ANY PARTS AVAILABLE. CHEVROLET SHOULD TAKE CARE OF THIS ISSUE AS IT GREATLY AFFECTS SAFETY IN THEIR FLAGSHIP VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

10924186

Incident

Nov 1, 2016

Mileage

140,000 mi

"TAKATA RECALL" MY TRACTION CONTROL COMES ON ALL THE TIME AND I SOMETIMES HAVE A PULL ON THE RIGHT REAR TIRE. THE CAR IS IN MOTION. STREET.THIS HAPPENS CONTINUOUSLY. THIS STARTED AROUND EARLY PART OF 2013.I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT TYPE OF PHOTO YOU WANT.

NHTSA ID

10863160

Incident

May 4, 2016

Mileage

80,000 mi

1997 THRU 2000 CHEVY CORVETTES HAVE HAD ABS / TRACTION CONTROL PROBLEMS SINCE THEIR ORIGINAL PRODUCTION . THE PROBLEM IS GM NEVER FIXED THE PROBLEM UNTIL THE 2001 MODEL YEAR AND THIS PART DOES NOT FIT THE 1997 - 2000 AUTOS . THEY NO LONGER MAKE PARTS TO FIX THE PROBLEM, AND THE ABS MODULE CAN NOT BE REPAIRED BY AFTER MARKET REPAIR FACILITIES . SO NOW WE HAVE THOUSANDS OF VEHICLES ON THE ROAD WITH A PROBLEM THAT CAN NOT BE REPAIRED .THEIR ARE MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM ON THE GM FORUMS SITES .I FEEL A BIG PROBLEM WITH THIS IS SINCE THIS IS A CORVETTE THESE CARS ARE NOT GOING AWAY AND WILL BE ON THE ROAD FOR MANY DECADES TO COME AS THEY ARE A COLLECTIBLE VEHICLE .I DO BELIEVE GM HAS THE RESPONSIBILITY TO FIX THIS PROBLEM OR AT LEAST RELEASE INFO TO AFTERMARKET REPAIR FACILITIES SO THEY CAN BE REPAIRED .OR MAKE A PART SO THESE CARS CAN BE REPAIRED AND BE ON OUR HIGHWAYS SAFE .IN THEIR OWN WORDS IN THEIR OWNERS MANUAL THEY SAY IF THE ABS / TRACTION / HANDLING CONTROL LIGHT IS ON TO SEE A DEALER AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, THAT'S GREAT BUT THEY CAN NOT FIX THE PROBLEM AS THEY HAVE NO PARTS TO FIX IT . THANK YOU *TR

NHTSA ID

10608214

Incident

Jul 4, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE GOING OVER A SPEED BUMP, THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE 58,000.

NHTSA ID

10583092

Incident

Apr 15, 2013

Mileage

46,000 mi

WHEELS LOCKED UP DURING PANIC BRAKING. ABS CAN NOT BE REPAIRED. EBCM IS BROKEN, PART IS DISCONTINUED AND CAN NOT BE REPAIRED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10560481

Incident

May 1, 2013

Mileage

45,000 mi

ELECTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL MODULE FAILED WHILE AT A CHEVY DEALER AND I WAS TOLD THAT GM NO LONGER PRODUCED THE PART. IN THE MEANTIME, I AM DRIVING A VEHICLE WITHOUT ANTI-LOCKS AND WITHOUT TRACTION CONTROL, SAFETY OPTIONS I PAID FOR THAT ARE NOW INOPERABLE. SHOULD AN ACCIDENT OCCUR AS A RESULT OF THESE FAILINGS, WOULD GM ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY?? *TR

NHTSA ID

10515456

Incident

May 1, 2013

Mileage

85,000 mi

MY WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON INDICATING CHECK ANTI-LOCK BRAKES AND TRACTION CONTROL. AFTER A VISIT TO A CHEVY DEALER, I WAS TOLD THAT THE SENSOR CONTROLLING THESE ITEMS WAS BAD AND GM NO LONGER PRODUCED THE PART. AFTER SEARCHING THE INTERNET WITHOUT SUCCESS FOR THE PART, I WAS TOLD BY ONE PART SUPPLIER THAT HE HAD 15 PEOPLE ON A WAITING LIST FOR THE PART AND NO IDEA WHEN HE WOULD HAVE ONE. IN THE MEANTIME, I AM DRIVING A VEHICLE WITHOUT ANTI-LOCKS AND WITHOUT TRACTION CONTROL, SAFETY OPTIONS I PAID FOR THAT ARE NOW INOPERABLE. SHOULD AN ACCIDENT OCCUR AS A RESULT OF THESE FAILINGS, WOULD GM ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY?? *TR

NHTSA ID

10479690

Incident

Jun 28, 2012

Mileage

26,598 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS WARNING LOSS ILLUMINATED UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT IT NEEDED A NEW EBT-ABS BRAKE MODULE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEALER INFORMED HIM THAT THE PARTS WERE DISCONTINUED AND THEY COULD NOT GET THE PARTS FROM THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

NHTSA ID

10460891

Incident

Apr 15, 2012

Mileage

40,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ANTI LOCK BRAKE AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ELECTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THE PARTS NECESSARY TO REMEDY THE FAILURE WERE NO LONGER MANUFACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

NHTSA ID

10432752

Incident

Jul 1, 2010

Mileage

80,000 mi

MY 1999 CHEVY CORVETTE DISPLAYED BRAKE FAILURE CODES. THE MECHANIC SCANNED IT AND TELLS ME IT NEEDS A BRAKE CONTROL MODULE. I CONTACTED A FEW DEALERS AND LEARNED THAT THE BRAKE CONTROL MODULE IS A DISCONTINUED PART AND NO LONGER AVAILABLE. WHAT DO I DO? *TR

NHTSA ID

10339680

Incident

Jun 17, 2010

Mileage

75,000 mi

TWO ISSUES: MOST IMPORTANT - ACTIVE HANDLING ACTIVATES INTERMITTENTLY WHEN THERE IS NO REASON FOR IT. WE HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO A DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR SEVERAL TIMES. EACH TIME THEY SAY IT'S REPAIRED. IT IS NOT. SECOND ISSUE: TRUNK LID OPENS ONLY WHEN IT FEELS LIKE IT. *NM

NHTSA ID

10176553

Incident

Dec 17, 2006

PARKING BRAKE FAILED TO HOLD ALLOWING VEHICLE TO ROLL BACKWARDS INTO A TREE DOING CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. THIS APPEARS TO BE AN EXTREMELY COMMON PROBLEM AS INDICATED BY THE NUMBER OF IDENTICAL COMPLAINTS ON THIS NHTSA SITE.*AK

NHTSA ID

10098280

Incident

Nov 3, 2004

Mileage

37,023 mi

WITHOUT WARNING STEERING WHEEL AND BRAKES LOCKED UP. CONSUMER DOWN SHIFTED, AND WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. CONSUMER CON HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

10067129

Incident

Apr 3, 2004

INTERMITTENTLY EMERGENCY HAND BRAKE DID NOT WORK. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THE HAND BRAKE HAD NOT BEEN SET. CONSUMER HAD TO RUN TO CATCH THE VEHICLE BEFORE IT COLLIDED WITH SOMETHING. *AK

NHTSA ID

10046600

Incident

Jun 20, 2000

Mileage

1,700 mi

PARKING BRAKE FAILS TO HOLD CAR EVEN ON LEVEL GROUND, CAR ROLLS AWAY WITH DRIVER UNTIL MANUAL TRANSMISSION IS PUT IN GEAR AND CLUTCH IS RELEASED. *AK

NHTSA ID

738376

Incident

Dec 24, 2000

THE NONFUNCTIONAL PARKING BRAKE IS ALSO A PROBLEM ON THE 1998 CORVETTE (I KNOW THIS FROM READING VARIOUS CORVETTE FORUMS WHERE OWNERS OF BOTH 1998 AND 1999 CORVETTES HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM). I HAVE ASKED PARTICIPANTS OF ONE SUCH FORUM TO LODGE THEIR COMPLAINTS WITH NHTSA SO SOMETHING CAN BE DONE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. IN MY CASE, I HAVE HAD MY 6-SPD COUPE IN FOUR TIMES TO HAVE A NONFUNCTIONAL PARKING BRAKE REPAIRED. THE PARKING BRAKE IS OFTEN ESSENTIAL WITH A MANUAL TRANSMISSION, AND I SURE WOULD LIKE ONE THAT IS OPERATIONAL. AFTER THE SECOND REPAIR ATTEMPT, I WAS TOLD THAT THE GOODWRENCH TECHNICIAN THAT WAS TRYING TO REPAIR MY BRAKE HAD CONTACTED GM ENGINEERS IN DETROIT AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT THAT THERE WAS NO FIX FOR IT. THIS WAS A YEAR AGO. I HAVE SINCE TAKEN IT IN TWO MORE TIMES AND HAVE FILED A LEMON LAW COMPLAINT WITH THE STATE OF MARYLAND. IT HAS BEEN IN THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE SINCE JUNE 2000. GM IS STRINGING MD ALONG, JUST AS THEY STRUNG ME ALONG WITH THE MULTIPLE REPAIR "ATTEMPTS". THE AG'S OFFICE WAS EVEN RECENTLY TOLD THAT A GM MANAGER MET WITH ME AND TRIED THE BRAKE AND THAT IT WAS FINE. THEY ARE EITHER DEALING WITH TOO MANY COMPLAINANTS TO KEEP THEM STRAIGHT OR ARE OUTRIGHT LIEING. NO SUCH MEETING EVER TOOK PLACE!*AK

NHTSA ID

738315

Incident

Oct 23, 1998

THE PARKING BRAKE HAS NOT FUNCTIONED CORRECTLY SINCE PURCHASE. MULTIPLE SERVICE DEPARTMENTS HAVE STATED THAT IT IS IN "CORRECT FUNCTIONAL ORDER". *AK

NHTSA ID

736749

Incident

Nov 13, 2000

DISC BRAKE ROTORS WEAR PREMATURELY, 1ST TIME: <10,000 MILES, 2ND TIME: <2,000 MILES. "NOT COVED UNDER WARRANTY"

NHTSA ID

732260

Incident

Jan 1, 2000

ROTORS WARP EVERY 10,000 MILES. WELL KNOWN PROBLEM AMONG C5 OWNERS, RUMORED TO BE CHEAP ROTORS. *AK

NHTSA ID

725559

PARKING BRAKE DID NOT HOLD AND THE CAR, WHILE PARKED, ROLLED DOWN A SLIGHT INCLINE AND HIT ANOTHER PARKED CAR. THIS OCCURRED AT MY PLACE OF BUSINESS. UPON DEALER INSPECTION, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE CABLE BRACKETS THAT SUPPORT THE CABLE AT THE REAR DISC ASSEMBLY WERE FATIGUED AND BENT WHICH RENDERED THE BRAKE EFFECT INOPERABLE. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT MY CAR WAS ONE OF SEVERAL THAT THEY HAD SEEN WITH THIS PROBLEM. THEY WERE GOING TO ORDER REPLACEMENT BRACKETS AND SEEK AUTHORIZATION FROM GMC TO WELD SUPPORT GUSSETS TO THE BRACKET TO PREVENT IT FROM COLLAPSING AGAIN. THESE REPAIRS HAVE NOT YET BEEN MADE - PENDING PARTS. *AK

NHTSA ID

722698

Incident

May 5, 2000

STEERING WHEEL AND COLUMN ARE DEFECTIVE. YH REF. IN EA02-031 *CJS

NHTSA ID

551176

ACTIVE HANDLING SYSTEM SERVICE LIGHT FIRST CAME ON IN JUNE 1999. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS AND THEY REPLACED 2 ELECTRONIC BRAKE AND TRACTION CONTROL (EBTCM) MODULES. THEY FOUND AN INTERNALLY SHORTED EBTCM. IN JULY 1999, THE ACTIVE HANDLING SYSTEM SERVICE CAME ON AGAIN. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP AND AGAIN THEY FOUND AND REPLACED ONE INTERNALLY FAULTY ABS ELECTRONIC BRAKE AND TRACTION CONTROL MODULE (EBTCM). I PICKED THE CAR UP ON 07/29/99. ON 07/30/99 I STARTED THE CAR IN THE MORNING AND THE ACTIVE HANDLING SYSTEM SERVICE LIGHT CAME ON A FEW SECONDS AFTER STARTING. CONTACTED DEALERSHIP, BUT THEY DON'T KNOW THE CAUSE OR WHAT TO DO. APPEARS TO ME TO BE HEAT RELATED-COMBINATION OF OUTSIDE TEMP. AND TEMP. OF SYSTEM. THREE MODULES HAVE BEEN REPLACED TO DATE AND HAVE FAILED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. ALSO DESCRIBED AS "YAW RATE SENSOR CIRCUIT MALFUNCTION" ON SERVICE INVOICE.

NHTSA ID

709456

Incident

Jul 26, 1999

WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN THE ENIGINE DIES, AND THE BRAKES DO NOT FUNCTION. DEALER SAYS THAT BRAKES AR NORMAL, BUT CANT FIND SOLUTION FOR THE ENGINE STALLING. *AK

NHTSA ID

841447