1999 Chevrolet Corvette Interior & seats Problems

WHEN THE VEHICLE TAKES OFF FROM A DEAD STOP OR COMES TO A STOP THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT MOVE IN THE TRACK ABOUT A QUARTER INCH OR SO CREATING AN UNEASY AND UNSAFE FEELING WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE. AFTER DOING EXTENSIVE ONLINE RESEARCH I HAVE FOUND THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT PLAGUES JUST ABOUT EVERY 1997-2004 CHEVROLET CORVETTE EQUIPPED WITH POWER SEATS. I DISCOVERED THAT THE BUSHINGS THAT WERE USED IN THE SEAT TRACKS WERE MADE FROM INFERIOR MATERIALS AND DISINTEGRATE OVER A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME AND ALLOW THE SEAT TO MOVE IN THE TRACK WHILE TAKING OFF OR STOPPING. IT'S NOT A QUESTION OF IF IT WILL HAPPEN BUT WHEN IT WILL HAPPEN. TO MY UNDERSTANDING GENERAL MOTORS HAS MADE NO EFFORT TO FIX THIS PROBLEM ON THEIR OWN. I UNDERSTAND THAT SOME WERE REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY BY REPLACING THE SEAT TRACK BUT THE NEW TRACK WOULD DO THE SAME THING IN TIME. I PURCHASED THIS CAR USED AND WELL OUT OF WARRANTY AND IF IT WERE AN ISOLATED PROBLEM THEN I WOULD ACCEPT THAT AND TRY TO HAVE IT REPAIRED, BUT IT'S NOT. IT HAS HAPPENED TO JUST ABOUT ALL CORVETTES BUILT BETWEEN 1997-2004. IN FACT THERE IS AN AFTERMARKET REPAIR KIT FOR THIS BUT IT REQUIRES THE REMOVAL OF THE SEAT AND DISASSEMBLY OF THE SEAT TRACK AND A VERY CAREFUL REASSEMBLY AFTER THE BUSHINGS ARE REPLACED. WE ARE NOT ALL MECHANICS NOR CAN WE ALL AFFORD THE 600.00 PER SEAT TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. SOME OF US DO WELL JUST TO BE ABLE TO BUY A CAR LIKE THAT. THAT'S WHY IT'S A 1999 AND NOT A 2015. I LOVE THIS CAR, IT SEEMS A SHAME THAT A CAR THAT COST 40,000.00 WHEN IT WAS NEW SHOULD HAVE SUCH A PROBLEM THAT COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED WITH SLIGHTLY BETTER QUALITY. THANK YOU FOR READING THIS AND I HOPE THAT YOU WILL LOOK INTO THIS MATTER. THE PARTS COST FOR G.M. ON THIS REPAIR WOULD NOT BE OUT OF THE QUESTION FOR THEM, HOWEVER THE LABOR INVOLVED FOR THEM TO DO THE REPAIRS WOULD PROBABLY BE WHAT THEY WOULD BALK AT. THANK YOU AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10731145

Incident

Jun 15, 2015

Mileage

53,330 mi

BOTH SEATS MOVE ALITTLE BIT WHILE DRIVING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10525331

Incident

Jul 17, 2013

Mileage

51,000 mi

1999 CHEVY CORVETTE 49000 MILES DRIVER SIDE SEAT BRACKET IS BROKEN. BROKE WITH A 170 LBS DRIVER. NO REASON NO ACCIDENT. THIS MAKES THE DRIVERS SEAT ROCK BACK AND FORTH. IT IS UNSTABLE UNDER BRAKING AND MOVES WHILE TURNING AND ACCELERATING. THIS OCCURS EVERY TIME THE CAR IS DRIVEN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10405342

Incident

Jun 2, 2011

Mileage

49,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THE DRIVER SEAT WAS LOOSE AND WOULD JERK BACK AND FORTH WHEN HE ACCELERATED OR APPLIED THE BRAKES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE TECHNICIANS STATED THERE WAS NO RECALL AND THE SEAT BRACKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.

NHTSA ID

10393640

Incident

Jun 1, 2005

Mileage

30,000 mi

1999 C5 CORVETTE SEAT FRAME BRACKET BROKEN. I HAVE SEEN ON THE INTERNET THAT THIS IS AN ISSUE WITH THE SEAT FRAME 1997-2004 . THE BRACKET IS CAST ALUMINUM THAT IS OF POUR QUALITY. YOU CAN SEE WHERE IT WAS BROKEN FOR SOME TIME. I CAN'T GET GM TO CALL ME BACK. IF I WAS HIT IN THE REAR THIS PART WOULD FAIL. THIS PART JUST HAPPEN TO FAIL WHEN IS WAS DRIVING SLOW WHEN THE SEAT FELL DOWN. I HOPE YOU CAN HELP THANKS*TR

NHTSA ID

10294307

Incident

Nov 22, 2009

Mileage

45,000 mi

HI, WE HAVE A 1999 CORVETTE AND WHEN WE WENT TO START IT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED AND WOULD NOT RELEASE FOR SOMETIME. I HAD RECEIVED A LETTER DATED FEBRUARY 2006 FROM GM STATING THEY WOULD FIX A PROBLEM IN THE EVENT THIS WAS A PROBLEM, BUT IT WAS NOT A RECALL!!!! WE CHECKED ON THE RECALLS AND SUPPOSEDLY THE PROBLEMS WERE FIXED. I TOOK THE CAR TO A GM DEALER AND TO NO AVAIL THE LETTER HAD AN EXPIRATION DATE OF FEBRUARY 29, 2008. NOW IF THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED WHY ARE WE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING COLUMN FAILURE? IT DOES STATE THAT IF THE STEERING COLUMN FAILS THAT THE VEHICLE COULD CAUSE THE FUEL SUPPLY TO SHUT OFF AND CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. THE DIC DISPLAYS THIS MESSAGE ALL THE TIME. THE GM DEALER WOULD NOT FIX IT ONLY IF I WAS GOING TO PAY. I FEEL WE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR A PROBLEM WITH THIS GM ISSUE. IF THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED THE RIGHT WAY WHEN IT WAS TAKEN FOR THE RECALL THEN THIS PROBLEM SHOULD NOT EXISTING RIGHT NOW. WE WERE NOT THE OWNERS AT THE TIME THIS VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL. I ALSO CALLED GM AND THEY SAID IT WAS ALSO NOT COVERED NOW BECAUSE THERE WAS AN EXPIRATION DATE ON THE LETTER WE RECEIVED EVEN THOUGH THE PROBLEM JUST OCCURRED THIS YEAR AFTER WE PUT THE CAR BACK ON THE ROAD FOR THE SUMMER. WHAT OPTIONS TO I HAVE RIGHT NOW AS WE ONLY DRIVE THE CAR AROUND TOWN AND WE DON'T DARE DRIVE TO FAR? *TR

NHTSA ID

10279425

Incident

Jun 14, 2009

Mileage

23,000 mi

ROCKING SEAT UNDER ACCELERATION AND BRAKING. CAN MAKE CONTROL MORE DIFFICULT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10252664

Incident

Dec 20, 2008

Mileage

70,000 mi

ON 03/28/08 MY 1999 CORVETTE WAS NOT ABLE TO DRIVE AS REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO START & DRIVE FAILED WITH DASH DISPLAY INDICATING "SERVICE STEERING SYSTEM, REMOVE KEY WAIT 10 SECONDS". AT THAT POINT WE HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALER. SEVERAL DAYS LATER THE DEALER CALLED AND SAID A WIRE HARNESS WITH A RELAY HAD TO BE REPLACED AT A COST TO ME OF $500.00+. I MENTIONED TO THE SERVICE WRITER THAT THIS CAR WAS INVOLVED IN A NHTSA RECALL # 04V060000 AND A GM TSB # 01-02-35-008 AND HAD BEEN PERFORMED TWICE SINCE NEW. HE SAID GM WILL ONLY DO RECALL ONCE AND THAT I HAD TO PAY FOR THIS WORK. HE GAVE ME A 800 NUMBER AT GM TO CALL, OF WHICH I DID AND GOT NO SATISFACTION. I THEN AUTHORIZED THE DEALER TO DO THE REPAIR AND PICKED THE CAR UP ON 04/14/08 PAYING THEM $546.99 + AN $85.00 TOW BILL. ON 04/19/08 SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED AFTER PULLING OUT OG MY GARAGE. I PULLED THE KEY WAITED 10 SECONDS AND IT WORKED ON SECOND ATTEMPT. ON 4/21 PROBLEM RECURRED ANY AFTER MANY ATTEMPTS WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR GOING AND DROVE TO THE DEALER AND LEFT THE CAR TO BE CHECKED (7:45 AM). AFTER WAITING A DAY TO HEAR FROM DEALER I VISITED THEM (4/22/08) AND WAS TOLD THEY COULD NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. I REQUESTED THEY RELEASE THE CAR TO ME AT THAT POINT, HOWEVER AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS THEY COULD NOT GET THE CAR TO OPERATE. AFTER A WAIT OF 20 MINUTES I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR TO DRIVE AND TOOK IT HOME. AT THIS POINT I HAD BEEN ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND AN AFTER MARKET PART CALLED STEERING LOCK SIMULATOR KIT PURCHASED IT AND INSTALLED IT ON 04/24/08. TO DATE 05/07/08 PROBLEM HAS NOT RECURRED AND I'M HAPPY WITH THE RESULTS. MY MAIN CONCERNS ARE: WHY DIDN'T GM COVER THE COST OF REPAIR ON THIS AS A SAFETY RECALL? WHY THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP COULD NOT FIX OR KNOW HOW TO FIX THE PROBLEM? I PAID LESS THAN $50.00 FOR THE PART THAT CURED THE PROBLEM! I HAVE SENT OFF A COMPLAINT LETTER TO CHEVROLET STATING ALL OF THE ABOVE, AND REQUESTED MY CREDIT CARD COMPANY NOT PAY THE DEALER. SIGNED, LOU CARDOZA *TR

NHTSA ID

10226926

Incident

Mar 28, 2008

Mileage

41,252 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

DRIVERS SEAT MOVES FORWARD ON BRAKING AND BACK ON ACCELERATION. THIS IS A COMMON COMPLAINT ON ALL CHEV. C5 CORVETTES. *NM

NHTSA ID

10152283

Incident

Apr 30, 2004

Mileage

1,000 mi

THE LEATHER ON THE SEATS EXPERIENCE EXCESSIVE WEAR AND THE LEATHER REQUIRES REPLACEMENT, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FOR THE DRIVERS SEAT MALFUNCTIONED. *MJS

NHTSA ID

785380

DRIVER & PASSENGER SEATBACKS HAVE A 6-8 INCH PLAY IN THEM. DEALER INDICATES THEY CAN'T DUPICATE PROBLEM. VEHICLE HAS A BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY. SEATS DON'T LOCK IN PLACE WHICH IS A HAZARD WHILE DRIVING.*AK

NHTSA ID

880769

Incident

Dec 1, 1999

BOTH FRONT SEATS BROKE UPON IMPACT WITH TREE. A DEER JUMPED OUT AND CAR WENT INTO A SKID AT 28MPH. IT HIT A TREE WHILE GOING IN REVERSE. BOTH SPORT SEAT FRAMES BROKE AT THE UPPER OPENING IN SEAT BACK AND WERE TORN OFF TRACKS. SINCE REAR BACK SEAT FAILURE IS IN THE NEWS, THIS REPORT WAS SUBMITTED. CAR WAS NOT REPAIRED AND WAS TOTALLED. THE INSURANCE SOLD IT OFF FOR 'PARTS'

NHTSA ID

735304

Incident

Dec 23, 1998

STEERING LOCKED, HEADLIGHTS STUCK OPEN, SHORT CIRCUITED AND MELTED REARVIEW MIRROR, DEAD BATTERY IN A BRAND NEW CAR REASONS UNDETERMINED BY DEALER JUST REPLACED 2 BATTERIES, SMOKE COMING FROM VENTS SMELL OF BURNING WIRES, KEY FOB INOPERABLE, MULTIPLE COMPUTER WARNINGS FOR NO APPARENT REASON, TIRE PRESSURE WARNINGS, FUEL GAUGE WARNINGS, CHECK ENGINE WARNINGS, DRIVER SEAT MOTOR GROANS LOUDLY LIKE ITS STRAINING TO MOVE, STEERING WHEEL HAS A GRINDING/SQUEALING NOISE WHEN TURNED HARD LEFT OR RIGHT, COMPUTER MEMORY INOPERABLE, SEATBELTS GET STUCK IN OR RETRACT BACK, REARVIEW MIRROR GETS SO HOT YOU CAN'T TOUCH IT, DRIVERS SEAT WON'T MOVE FORWARD AT TIMES UNLESS MANUALLY PLACED THERE THEN IT WILL MOVE BACK WHILE I AM DRIVING MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR MY FEET TO TOUCH THE PEDALS. THIS CAR HAS MAJOR ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS AND I WOULD LIKE GM TO TAKE RESPONSIBLITIY FOR THE DEFECTS AND REFUND MY MONEY. I DON'T BELIEVE THESE PROBLEMS ARE FIXABLE. THE CAR IS FLAWED AND NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. WHAT ARE WE WAITING FOR SOMEONE TO DIE IN THE PROCESS. IT WILL HAPPEN IF SOMETHING ISN'T DONE PROMPTLY. YOU CAN'T EXPECT TO PAY THIS KIND OF MONEY OR ANY MONIES FOR SOMETHING THAT IS NOT SAFE TO PUT ON THE ROAD WITH ALL THESE PROBLEMS. ESPECIALLY STEERING AND ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS THAT COULD POSSIBLY START A FIRE. IF YOU CAN'T DRIVE IT DEPENBABLY AND SAFELY WHAT GOOD IS THIS ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL CAR TO ITS OWNERS.

NHTSA ID

730803

Incident

Mar 13, 2000

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

711203

Incident

Aug 27, 1999

1: DRIVERS SEAT WANDERS/FLOATS/MOVES WHILE DRIVING. 2: TRUNK DOOR WARPED? DAMAGE HAS/IS RESULTING. 3: DASH IS SHIFTING/COLLAPSING.

NHTSA ID

703120

Incident

Jan 20, 1999