EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
2001 Chevrolet Corvette
Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Overview
Our database contains 203 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2001 Chevrolet Corvette, most frequently naming the steering, fuel system and engine categories. 3 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 2 NHTSA investigations name it; and 402 manufacturer communications are on file.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Complaint activity over time
When owners filed reports about this model year
View as table
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| May 2008 | 1 | 125 |
| Jun 2008 | 3 | 128 |
| Aug 2008 | 1 | 129 |
| Sep 2008 | 3 | 132 |
| Oct 2008 | 1 | 133 |
| Nov 2008 | 1 | 134 |
| Sep 2009 | 1 | 135 |
| Oct 2009 | 1 | 136 |
| Dec 2009 | 2 | 138 |
| Feb 2010 | 1 | 139 |
| Apr 2010 | 3 | 142 |
| May 2010 | 1 | 143 |
| Jun 2010 | 1 | 144 |
| Jul 2010 | 1 | 145 |
| Aug 2010 | 1 | 146 |
| Oct 2010 | 2 | 148 |
| Mar 2011 | 1 | 149 |
| Apr 2011 | 2 | 151 |
| May 2011 | 2 | 153 |
| Feb 2012 | 2 | 155 |
| Apr 2012 | 1 | 156 |
| Jul 2012 | 1 | 157 |
| Aug 2012 | 1 | 158 |
| Apr 2013 | 1 | 159 |
| Jul 2013 | 1 | 160 |
| Mar 2014 | 3 | 163 |
| Apr 2014 | 1 | 164 |
| May 2014 | 2 | 166 |
| Jun 2014 | 2 | 168 |
| Jul 2014 | 1 | 169 |
| Aug 2014 | 1 | 170 |
| Nov 2014 | 1 | 171 |
| Jan 2015 | 1 | 172 |
| Feb 2015 | 2 | 174 |
| May 2015 | 1 | 175 |
| Jun 2015 | 2 | 177 |
| Sep 2015 | 1 | 178 |
| Oct 2015 | 1 | 179 |
| Nov 2015 | 1 | 180 |
| Apr 2016 | 1 | 181 |
| May 2016 | 1 | 182 |
| Feb 2017 | 1 | 183 |
| Apr 2017 | 1 | 184 |
| May 2017 | 1 | 185 |
| Jun 2017 | 1 | 186 |
| Sep 2017 | 1 | 187 |
| Nov 2017 | 1 | 188 |
| Feb 2018 | 1 | 189 |
| Mar 2018 | 1 | 190 |
| Aug 2018 | 2 | 192 |
| Apr 2019 | 2 | 194 |
| Sep 2019 | 1 | 195 |
| Nov 2019 | 1 | 196 |
| May 2020 | 1 | 197 |
| Jul 2020 | 1 | 198 |
| Dec 2020 | 1 | 199 |
| Oct 2021 | 1 | 200 |
| Dec 2021 | 1 | 201 |
| Feb 2022 | 1 | 202 |
| Jun 2022 | 1 | 203 |
What owners report
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
- Steering8732.8%
- Fuel system3212.1%
- Engine2710.2%
- Electrical238.7%
- Brakes228.3%
- Other / unspecified176.4%
- Seat belts93.4%
- Interior & seats83.0%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Safety recalls
3 campaigns cover this model year
Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.
Check a VIN on NHTSA.govEXTERIOR LIGHTING
STEERING:COLUMN LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT DEVICE
Safety investigations
NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.
STEERING COLUMN LOCKUP
IN 2001, GENERAL MOTORS (GM) ISSUED CUSTOMER SERVICE CAMPAIGNS 1044 AND 1044A TO ADDRESS A CONDITION WHERE THE STEERING COLUMN WOULD FAIL TO UNLOCK DURING THE INITIAL KEY-IN AND START-UP IN CERTAIN MY 1998-2000 CORVETTE VEHICLES.HOWEVER, ODI CONTINUED TO RECEIVE COMPLAINTS CONCERNING STEERING COLUMN LOCKUP ON CORVETTE VEHICLES.AS A RESULT, PE02-054 WAS OPENED AND LATER UPGRADED TO EA02-031 FOR MY 1997-2001 SUBJECT VEHICLES.ODI'S ANALYSIS IDENTIFIED CONCERNS WITH POST-REPAIR FAILURES IN VEHICLES SERVICED THROUGH THE CAMPAIGNS, AS WELL AS, FAILURES IN MY 1997-2003 SUBJECT VEHICLES NOT INCLUDED IN THE CAMPAIGNS.(NOTE: THE MANUFACTURER FAILURE DATA ABOVE IS LIMITED TO MY 1997-2003 VEHICLES THROUGH 10/17/2003.)ON FEBRUARY 6, 2004, GM NOTIFIED NHTSA OF A SAFETY DEFECT IN MY 1997-2004 CORVETTE VEHCLES EQUIPPED WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS AND MY 1997-2000 CORVETTE VEHICLES WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS.THE NOTIFICATION STATED THAT IF THE VOLTAGE AT THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE (PCM), WHICH WAS DESIGNED TO SHUT DOWN THE FUEL SUPPLY WHEN THE STEERING COLUMN FAILED TO UNLOCK AND THE CUSTOMER TRIED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE, IS LOW OR INTERRUPTED, THE FUEL SHUT OFF MAY NOT OCCUR.AS A RESULT, THE CUSTOMER COULD DRIVE THE VEHICLE WHILE THE STEERING COLUMN WAS LOCKED CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOSE STEERING CONTROL AND POSSIBLY CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.GM WILL INSTRUCT OWNERS TO BRING THEIR VEHICLES TO A DEALER TO HAVE THE PCM REPROGRAMMED FOR MANUAL TRANSMISSION VEHICLES AND THE ELECTRIC COLUMN LOCK DISABLED FOR AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION VEHICLES.ODI WILL MONITOR THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE REMEDY IN THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION VEHICLES AND TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED.
STEERING COLUMN LOCKUP
SEE RESUME IN REPOSITORY.
Recent owner complaints
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
My steering column lock has failed on my C5 Corvette. I understand that there was a previous recall for this, but I have been the owner of this car since 2001 and was never notified by mail of the recall by GM. When I contact GM, they indicate that the recall is expired and there is nothing that they can do. HELP!!!
- NHTSA ID
- 11469740
- Incident
- May 2, 2022
Chevy / GM recalled over 100,000 Corvettes built between 1997 and 2004 for a steering column lock issue, that renders the car un drivable. The fuel supply cuts off at 2 miles per hour. Many of the dealers did a faulty job fixing the problem, causing it to recur. My 2001 Corvette (with less than 17,000 miles) repeatedly experiences this problem. GM says they will not warrant this known defective design, due to the recall expiring. According to an internet search on “Corvette Steering Column Lock”, there no telling how many unhappy Corvette owners this has created. Need your help getting this $50,000 car back on the road.
- NHTSA ID
- 11451962
- Incident
- Feb 14, 2004
We purchased the car on 12/17/21. I went to Costco on 12/18/21 to get gas. I had a preset amount of $50 to put into the car. When I got to $50 I shut the pump off myself, the tank was not full enough for it to shut off automatically. As I look down on the ground I saw a fluid running out from underneath the car and rolling along the ground. I touched it with my finger and discovered it was gasoline. I put the nozzle back into the holder and I checked underneath the car and saw it was dripping from the drivers side in the area just behind the drivers door. I pulled the car over to the side to inspect it further. By now the gas had stopped dripping. Since the exhaust pipe is right next to the fuel tank I was afraid of a fire or explosion. Had some fuel vapors but they dissipated shortly after. My gas gauge was registering full at this time. Since then I have not had any gasoline leaks and or vapors present. I have not put any more gas in the car since then. (I contacted the previous owner and he said in an email response, if you overfill there is a vent hole that gas will leak out of at the top of the filler neck. It happened once when I put like 20 gallons in it.) I did some research and found that there is a problem with the Corvette gas tanks and or the crossover tube. I think this is a dangerous situation, thinking that if that gas ignited, the car and my passenger could have caught fire and possibly ignited the Costco gas station with an explosion. (This car will be going into the repair shop in January to have a diagnostic smoke test done to determine where the leak and or leaks are coming from.) I hope the NHTSA recognizes this as a very dangerous situation. All of this will be coming out of my own pocket for the repairs necessary to make this car safe to drive and not be dangerous to myself and family. I consider this a very serious dangerous situation.
- NHTSA ID
- 11445659
- Incident
- Dec 18, 2021
Have 2001 manual 6 speed corvette. Column locks up. Have no way to start car or steer. Worried car will lock up steering column while driving. Gm says there's no recall on this. Seems to be a problem on c5 Corvettes.
- NHTSA ID
- 11437839
- Incident
- Oct 4, 2021
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE STEERING WHEEL CEASED WITH THE SERVICE STEERING COLUMN WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO I.G. BURTON LEWES AUTOMALL (17861 COASTAL HWY, LEWES, DE 19958) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AND THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED THREE ADDITIONAL TIMES HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V060000 (STEERING) AS A POSSIBLE SOLUTION TO THE FAILURE HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO THE DEALER FOR THE REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 7,000.
- NHTSA ID
- 11385193
- Incident
- Aug 18, 2004
- Mileage
- 7,000 mi
I PULLED OUT INTO TRAFFIC AND ALMOST GOT KILLED! THE CONSOLE LOCK SCREEN CAME ON, AND MY CAR STOPPED AS WELL! THE WHEEL WAS NOT LOCKED. THE CAR THAT WAS SO VERY UNDERSTANDING, SUGGEST I GET A FORD. GM TRULY NEEDS TO RECALL EVERY CAR THEY HAVE TO BE RECALLED FOR THEIR LOYAL CUSTOMERS LIVES. I WILL BE CONTACTING A LAWYER AS WELL! I HAD JUST COME TO A STOP, AND PROCEEDED WITH THE TURN, WITH PLENTY OF DISTANCE HAD THIS FOOLISHNESS NOT HAVE HAPPENED. NOW I SEE THIS IN JUST ABOUT EVERYWHERE ON THIS COMPUTER! FIX THIS IDIOTS AT GENERAL MOTORS!!!
- NHTSA ID
- 11341435
- Incident
- Jul 24, 2020
- Mileage
- 88,000 mi
I HAVE OWNED THIS 2001 CORVETTE SINCE IT WAS NEW IT HAS LESS THAN 7000 MILES ON IT.ON FRIDAY MAY 8TH 2020 I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE DEALER CENTURY CHEVROLET IN BROOMFIELD COLORADO.THE SERVICE COLUMN LOCK IS ON AT THE DASH AND I CANNOT TURN THE STEERING WHEEL AND IF YOU TRY TO DRIVE IT THE VEHICLE WILL STALL.I HAD RECALL 04006 PERFORMED ON THE CAR ON 10/25/2004 WITH 1912 MILES ON IT AND THIS WAS A REPROGRAMMING OF THE PCM.I HAVE SINCE LEARNED THERE HAS BEEN 2-3 UPDATES FOR THIS CONDITION AND THERE IS A RECALL 04006C AND SPECIAL POLICY #05081 FOR A NEW WIRING HARNESS TO BE INSTALLED TO CORRECT THIS CONDITION.I WAS NEVER CONTACTED BY GM ABOUT THIS AND FEEL I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR A DEFECT THEY KNOW ABOUT! THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED OUT OF MY GARAGE /DRIVEWAY WE HAD TO PUSH IT OUT OF THE GARAGE ONTO A TOW TRUCK AND IT IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALERSHIP WAITING TO HERE WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO DO. I DON'T THINK THEY ARE GOING TO OFFER ANY HELP NOR DID THEY WANT TO PICKUP THE TOW CHARGES AND ADD IT TO THE BILL. REGARDLESS I HAVE TO FIX THE VEHICLE AS IT DOES ME NO GOOD THE WAY IT IS.WITH THIS SAID THE ORIGINAL FIX OF THE RECALL DID NOT FIX THE VEHICLE AND THE NOW KNOWN FIX SHOULD BE DONE AT NO CHARGE TO THE CONSUMER/CUSTOMER.THIS VEHICLE IS IN MINT CONDITION AND HAS NOT BEEN MODIFIED IN ANY WAY AND TAKEN CARE OF LIKE NEW SINCE OWNED. I AM REACHING OUT TO YOU BECAUSE THE RIGHT THING NEEDS TO HAPPEN AND GM SHOULD ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THERE ACTIONS AND KNOWINGLY THAT THERE IS A DEFECT. I AM LUCKY I WAS NOT DRIVING THIS VEHICLE AS I WAS PLANNING ON DRIVING THE MORNING THIS HAPPENED AS I COULD OF KILLED MYSELF OR SOMEONE ELSE.
- NHTSA ID
- 11324054
- Incident
- May 8, 2020
- Mileage
- 6,996 mi
2001 CORVETTE, PASSENGER SIDE FRONT WHEEL HAS AN APPROX 3" CRACK WHERE THE SPOKE MEETS THE RIM AND RUNS FROM WHERE THE TIRE MOUNTS TO INSIDE THE WHEEL AFFECTED WHEEL LOSES 20PSI OF AIR PER HOUR.
- NHTSA ID
- 11282836
- Incident
- Nov 29, 2019
- Mileage
- 192,141 mi
Manufacturer communications
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
This PI communicates the requirement to provide a pico file to receive diagnostic assistance from TAC.
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have an unusual noise and is difficult to identify, isolate or pinpoint. Technician should get record a sound clip or take a video of the noise for assessment by engineering. Technician will need to call General Motors Technical Assistance Center for further assistance.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
This Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or updating operating software for the Tire Pressure Monitor, Active Fuel Injector tester, multi media tester, PICO Scope, GR8 starting/charging tester and Vehicle Data Recorder tools, giving website address and step by step instructions to complete the update.
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that the Heater-Vent-Air Conditioning blows warm air. Before calling General Motors Technical Assistance Center technician will need to have high and low pressures, outside temperature, humidity, and vent temperature.
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that the Heater-Vent-Air Conditioning blows warm air. Before calling General Motors Technical Assistance Center technician will need to have high and low pressures, outside temperature, humidity, and vent temperature.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Vehicle Wide Programming (VWP) is a new process to update software on GM Vehicles. It provides the ability via a single selection within Techline Connect to first identify which modules need updating and then proceed to updating affected modules (with some exceptions). The updating of modules is completed in parallel instead of the technician needing to update one module at a time. This allows a more streamlined approach for dealers and customers.
Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.
Compare model years
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Investigations | Issue Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 62.5 |
| 2024 | 20 | 2 | 0 | 56.4 |
| 2023 | 24 | 1 | 0 | 52.5 |
| 2022 | 20 | 1 | 0 | 42.0 |
| 2021 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 54.1 |
| 2020 | 34 | 4 | 0 | 53.1 |
| 2019 | 147 | 1 | 0 | 42.7 |
| 2018 | 51 | 1 | 0 | 40.6 |
| 2017 | 255 | 4 | 0 | 51.5 |
| 2016 | 103 | 2 | 0 | 46.4 |
| 2015 | 64 | 5 | 0 | 47.6 |
| 2014 | 61 | 5 | 1 | 59.6 |
| 2013 | 82 | 0 | 0 | 35.8 |
| 2012 | 56 | 1 | 0 | 43.7 |
| 2011 | 85 | 1 | 0 | 41.3 |
| 2010 | 84 | 0 | 0 | 35.0 |
| 2009 | 151 | 0 | 0 | 34.6 |
| 2008 | 540 | 0 | 0 | 37.8 |
| 2007 | 340 | 2 | 2 | 49.4 |
| 2006 | 365 | 5 | 4 | 56.6 |
| 2005 | 532 | 6 | 4 | 56.2 |
| 2004 | 217 | 4 | 2 | 53.7 |
| 2003 | 85 | 3 | 1 | 57.2 |
| 2002 | 157 | 3 | 1 | 48.8 |
| 2001Viewing | 203 | 3 | 2 | 52.6 |
| 2000 | 277 | 4 | 3 | 58.2 |
| 1999 | 308 | 4 | 5 | 58.8 |
| 1998 | 399 | 4 | 5 | 57.3 |
| 1997 | 153 | 7 | 4 | 56.1 |
| 1996 | 44 | 1 | 2 | 51.1 |
| 1995 | 32 | 1 | 1 | 51.1 |
| 1994 | 29 | 1 | 2 | 45.5 |
| 1993 | 22 | 2 | 1 | 55.4 |
| 1992 | 7 | 2 | 2 | — |
| 1991 | 24 | 3 | 1 | 57.6 |
| 1990 | 34 | 4 | 5 | 60.3 |
| 1989 | 15 | 4 | 2 | 59.2 |
| 1988 | 16 | 5 | 3 | 51.3 |
| 1987 | 21 | 3 | 5 | 57.7 |
| 1986 | 15 | 5 | 5 | 59.6 |
| 1985 | 16 | 3 | 4 | 53.5 |
| 1984 | 14 | 6 | 2 | 58.6 |
| 1982 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 1981 | 6 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 1980 | 3 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 1979 | 3 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 1978 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 1977 | 1 | 3 | 0 | — |
| 1976 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 1975 | 4 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 1974 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — |
| 1973 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1972 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1971 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1970 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1969 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 1968 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 1967 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1966 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1965 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1964 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1960 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — |
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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.