Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1999 Chevrolet Corvette submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 30 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 30, in the owner's own words
Something is wrong where it will stall out when you start driving. Soon as I put the car in gear and start rolling forward it dies. And I’ve looked online and it’s quite common.
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.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. WHILE DRIVING 1 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SERVICE COLUMN LOCK INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE "PULL KEY TEN SECONDS" MESSAGE DISPLAYED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SHOWING THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS INDICATED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V060000 (STEERING). THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,300.
HEADLIGHTS RANDOMLY TURN OFF WHILE DRIVING. THIS WAS RECALLED ON MANY OTHER GM VEHICLES INCLUDING THE C6 MODEL, BUT HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED FOR THE SAME ISSUE ON MY 1999 C5, WHICH IS A LOW-MILEAGE, ALWAYS GARAGED VEHICLE. THERE ARE MANY OTHER OWNERS WITH THE SAME ISSUE, AND THERE ARE CERTAINLY OTHER COMPLAINTS. THIS IS A SERIOUS AND DANGEROUS SAFETY ISSUE AND THE RECALL SHOULD BE EXPANDED TO INCLUDE THIS VEHICLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE, THE SERVICE COLUMN LOCK WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V060000 (STEERING), HOWEVER THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,846.
WHILE PULLING MY CAR OUT OF THE GARAGE AND IN DRIVE THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AS IF THE KEY WAS REMOVED AND IN THE SECURITY MODE. I STOPPED THE CAR AND TRIED TO WIGGLE THE KEY TO REMEDY, IT WOULD NOT, I HAD TO STOP THE CAR, RETURN THE TRANSMISSION TO PARK, TURN THE KEY OFF AND REMOVE, AND WHEN I REINSTALLED AND STARTED THE CAR THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD UNLOCK. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER, WHOM INFORMED ME THIS WAS A SAFETY RECALL, HAD BEEN ADDRESSED ABOUT 3500 MILES PRIOR, AND IT WOULD NOW NEED TO BE REPEATED AND MY COST IS ALMOST $1000.00. IT APPEARS TO ME THE RECALL CORRECTION WAS EITHER NOT DESIGNED, INSTALLED, OR HAS CORRECTLY RESOLVED THE RECALL PROBLEM. IMAGINE HAD THIS OCCURRED WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS?? I CONTACTED GM AND REPORTED, THEY CHOSE TO DO NOTHING. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR*JB
SERVICE ACTIVE HANDLING MESSAGE ON DIC . IT COMES AND GOS . IT USUALLY SHUTS OFF AFTER TURNING IGNITION OFF AND RESTARTING . I DON'T KNOW IF IT IS WORKING OR NOT. THIS SAFETY CONCERN . GM SHOULD HAVE SERVICE PARTS FOR ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS OR HAVE SOME OTHER COMPANY HAVE THE RIGHTS TO MAKE THEM . WHAT ARE OWNERS SUPPOSED TO DO? WE NEED A LAW FOR THIS. THIS IS NOT A THROW A WAY CAR . THIS CAR HAS ONLY 24000 MILES. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON SHIFTING GEARS IN REVERSE OR DRIVE, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE ANTI-THEFT SENSOR ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN CLEARED A COMPUTER CODE AS A TEMPORARY REMEDY BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED NO REMEDY. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,750.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INOPERABLE BECAUSE THE LOCK PLATE FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION LOCK ACTUATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: NHTSA 04V060000 (STEERING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED BY THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43773. *TR
TURN SIGNAL BLINKERS FAIL TO WORK INTERMITTENTLY. *TR
1999 CORVETTE PULL KEY WAIT 10 SECONDS, COLUMN SHIFT LOCK, FUEL SYSTEM SHUT OFF, STALLED FOR THE SECOND TIME, FIRST TIME 2008, COST ME 550.00, THIS TIME 3 DAYS AGO, STALLED AGAIN, 2 TOW TRUCK BILLS, CHEVY GARAGE STATES THIS WAS FIXED ON RECALL, WHAT CAN I DO? [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
IN LIGHT OF ALL THE GAS PEDAL PROBLEMS WE HAVE SEEN LATELY, I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE ONE WHICH I ENCOUNTERED TWO YEARS AGO ON MY 1999 CORVETTE. BEING A PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER, I WAS ABLE TO PIN-POINT THE PROBLEM TO THE BRAKE PEDAL MUCH BETTER THAN MY DEALER. MY LOCAL CHEVY DEALER WANTED ME TO REPLACE THE CAR'S BATTERY, SINCE THAT WAS THE FIRST CODE HE SAW WHEN HE SCANNED THE COMPUTER. NATURALLY, THE CAR DIDN'T NEED A BATTERY SO I DROVE AWAY FROM THE DEALER. THE SYMPTOM WAS AT ANY TIME THE CAR WOULD POP-ON THE ENGINE TROUBLE LIGHT AND IMMEDIATELY SLOW DOWN. THE CAR COULD ONLY BE DRIVEN UP TO 20 MPH. THIS HAPPENED ABOUT SIX TIMES WITHOUT INCIDENT. I COULD RESET MY COMPUTER, BUT THE ISSUE SOON RETURNED. I REPLACED THE ELECTRONIC GAS PEDAL ASSEMBLY AND THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED. *TR
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND THE DIGITAL WAIT TEN SECONDS AND REMOVE KEY LIGHT ILLUMINATED. AFTER FOLLOWING THE DIGITAL DISPLAY COMMAND, THE STEERING WHEEL REMAINED IN THE LOCKED POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE WIRING HARNESS, STEERING MODULE, AND LOCK PLATE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ADDITIONALLY, THE COMPUTER CODE WAS REPROGRAMMED. AFTER THESE CORRECTIONS WERE MADE, THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED. *AK
ACCORDING TO YOUR RECALL#04V060000, DATED 02/09/04 THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKUP ON 97 THROUGH 2000 CORVETTES. MINE DID IT AND I HAD TO HAVE THE DEALER DISABLE THE WHEEL LOCK. THEY INFORMED ME THAT MY CAR WAS NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL, EVEN THOUGH I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. NOW A FRIEND OF MINE'S 99 CORVETTE JUST DID THE SAME THING AND HAD TO BE HAULED TO THE DEALER AND HE WAS TOLD HIS WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY WE WERE EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE EXPENSE. I AWAIT YOU REPLY. *JB
I WAS THE OWNER OF A 1999 C-5 CORVETTE SPORT COUP WITH 12,924 MILES AND IN MINT CONDITION. ON NOV.17,04 AT 7:50PM, I WAS PULLING AWAY FROM A STOP SIGN. AS I MADE A RIGHT HAND TURN AROUND A CORNER I ACCELERATED THE CAR IN A NORMAL MANNER. ALL OF A SUDDEN THE ENGINE WENT TO THE FULL THROTTLE POSITION AND THE REAR OF THE CAR JUMPED TO THE LEFT. I TRIED TO CORRECT AND THEN THE CAR JUMPED TO THE RIGHT AND I HIT A PALM TREE. DURING THIS RAPID ACCELERATION EVENT I LIFTED MY FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR WITH NO EFFECT TO THE ENGINE RPM. THE DISTANCE FROM THE STOP SIGN WHERE I MADE THE RIGHT HAND TURN TO THE PALM TREE WAS ABOUT 150-200 FEET. THE CAR WAS TOTALED BY MY INSURANCE COMPANY. A PASSENGER AND MYSELF ARE OK BUT WE HAVE SOME SEAT BELT BRUISING. I FEEL THAT THE SEAT BELT AND AIR BAGS SAVED OUR LIVES. I WOULD LIKE THE NSTB TO LOOK INTO THESE TYPES OF CRASHES AND ADVISE ME OF THE RESULTS. I AM SURE THERE ARE OTHER SIMILAR INCIDENTS THAT ARE NOT REPORTED. *JB
THE VEHICLES STEERING COLUMN LOCKED UP WITHOUT WARNING. THE PART WAS REPLACED, BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *NLM GM HAD NO CONCERN TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY MANY GM REPRESENTATIVES, THE STEERING COLUMN PROBLEM WAS AN ISSUE AND WOULD HAPPEN AGAIN. THE TEMPERATURE CONTROL HAD GOTTEN STUCK ON 69 DEGREES, THE FOUND THE SENSOR HAD SHORTED. *SCC *JB
MY FACTORY-INSTALLED DELCO BATTERY STARTED LEAKING ACID FROM THE POSITIVE TERMINAL RECENTLY. I DIDN'T REALIZE THE EXTENT OF THE LEAK UNTIL I DECIDED TO REPLACE THE BATTERY. UPON REMOVING MY OLD BATTERY, I NOTICED THE ACID HAD LEAKED UNDERNEATH THE TRAY. I DID SOME RESEARCH IN THE INTERNET, AND LEARNED THAT MANY CORVETTES (C5'S) SUFFER THE SAME PROBLEM. SOME OWNERS SPENT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN REPAIRS. GM WILL COVER THE REPAIRS ONLY IF THE CAR IS UNDER WARRANTY. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT DELCO IS PRODUCING A CAR BATTERY THAT CAN POTENTIALLY DAMAGE A CAR BY ACID LEAK AND CAUSE AN EXTREME HUMAN HEALTH HAZARD. IF SULFURIC ACID, WHICH IS CONTAINED IN THESE BATTERIES, COMES IN CONTACT WITH SKIN, IT WITHDRAWS WATER, LEAVING A BLACK CHARRED CARBON RESIDUE IN PLACE OF LIVING TISSUE. THE HIGHER THE CONCENTRATION, THE GREATER THE DANGER. IF SULFURIC ACID COMES IN CONTACT WITH LARGE AREAS OF HUMAN TISSUE, DEATH CAN OCCUR. IF ACID FUMES ARE INHALED, SERIOUS LUNG AND BRONCHIAL DAMAGE CAN OCCUR. I BELIEVE THIS ISSUE SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED FOR ITS POTENTIAL HEALTH HAZARD. GM AND DELCO SHOULD BE LIABLE FOR ALL DAMAGES AS A RESULT OF THESE BATTERIES.*AK
REMOVE KEY WAIT 10 SEC; SERVICE COLUMN LOCK DISPLAYED ON DIC. UNABLE TO MOVE CAR. HAPPENED 3 TIMES IN 2 DAYS. DEALER CAN'T FIX. TOLD ME THAT THIS CANNOT HAPPEN IN MOTION AND RELEASED CAR BACK TO ME. CAR BEING TOWED BACK TODAY FOR SAME PROBLEM. *AK
THE LEATHER ON THE SEATS EXPERIENCE EXCESSIVE WEAR AND THE LEATHER REQUIRES REPLACEMENT, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FOR THE DRIVERS SEAT MALFUNCTIONED. *MJS
I INSERTED THE KEY AND THE DIS STATED "REMOVE KEY WAIT 10 SECONDS". AFTER WAITING 10 SECONDS I INSERTED THE KEY AGAIN AND THE DIS STATED "SERVICE COLUMN LOCK". I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. *AK
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION, INSURANACE INVESTIGATOR BELIEVED CAUSE WAS DUE TO LOSS OF CONTROL BECAUSE OF STEERING COLUMN FAILURE/ OR ELECTRICAL FAILURE. DEALER/MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
VEHICLE EXPERIENCING PROBLEM WITH STEERING COLUMN LOCKING UP. 1ST INCIDENT REPAIRS CAUSED ENGINE TO STALL. CURRENTLY, PROBLEM REOCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER CONTACTED FOR APPOINTMENT. *AK PCM FAILED. *YH REF. IN EA02-031 *CJS
PE 99066; CONSUMER WAS BACKING OUT ABOUT 20 FEET CONSUMER REALIZED STEERING WHEEL HAD LOCKED IN A FIXED POSITION. CONSUMER UNHOOKED BATTERY TO UNLOCK THE STEERING. NOW THE STEERING WHEEL WILL NOT LOCK AFTER VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF. CONSUMER FEELS THE POSSIBLE CAUSE MIGHT BE WITH THE COMPUTER.*AK REF. IN EA02-031 *CJS
PER DEALER, THE ACTUATOR CAN GO OUT AT ANY TIME FOR UNKNOWN REASONS. THE OWNER'S MANUAL STATES THAT THE VEHICLE MUST BE TOWED AND WORKED ON ONLY BY THE DEALER. IF THE ACTUATOR GOES OUT, THE VEHICLE'S STEERING COLUMN LOCKS UP AS AN ANT-THEFT FEATURE OF THE VEHICLE. UNFORTUNATELY, THERE IS NOTHING THE OWNER CAN DO TO PREVENT IT. IT COSTS AN AVERAGE OF $450 TO REPLACE THE ACTUATOR, WHICH THE DEALER REALIZES CAN'T BE PREVENTED. I'VE LEARNED THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AMONG CORVETTE (1997-2000) OWNERS. *AK REF. IN EA02-031 *CJS
STERING COLUMN DID MOVE, BUT DRIVERS INFORMATION CENTER (DIC) ON DASH REPORTED STEERING COLUMN LOCKED/FAILED. FIXED BY DEALER, BUT NOT FIRST COMPLAINT I HAVE HEARD OF. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS MAY OCCUR WHEN THE VEHICLE IS MOVING. *AK REF. IN EA02-031 *CJS
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.
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