Owner-reported complaints naming the steering system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2001 Chevrolet Corvette submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 87 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 87, 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!!!
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.
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.
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.
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!!!
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.
RECALL NUMBER 04V060000 RECALL DATE 02/09/2004 COMPONENT STEERING:COLUMN LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT DEVICE SUMMARY. STEERING LOCKED AT EXITING FREEWAY. THE FUEL SUPPLY SHUT OFF SO THE VEHICLE CANNOT MOVED. THE VEHICLE CANNOT BE STEERED.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. WHEN THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING COLUMN SEIZED AND THE CHECK STEERING COLUMN WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS TSB NUMBER: 04006C. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO CALL NHTSA. THE MANUFACTURER PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 8-4532782724. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 40,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. WHILE RESTARTING THE ENGINE, A "SERVICE STEERING COLUMN" MESSAGE APPEARED AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE LOCAL DEALER (DAVE MCDERMOTT CHEVROLET, 655 MAIN ST, EAST HAVEN, CT) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN LOCKING MECHANISM FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN ACTUATOR WAS FAULTY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE WAS REMEDIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,996.
SERVICE STEERING COLUMN LOCKED
THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK DOES NOT RELEASE. I BELIEVE THIS WAS ALREADY A RECALL ISSUE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN REVERSE, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE ENGINE STALLED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT CALLED A DEALER (JOHN L SULLIVAN CHEVROLET 350 AUTOMALL DR, ROSEVILLE, CA 95661 (916) 782-1243), BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT NO RECALL WAS ASSOCIATED WITH THE VIN AND DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 134,000.
MY WIFE WAS DRIVING DOWN A BUSY ROAD AND STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC SIGNAL. AFTER MOVING ABOUT 10' THE CAR STALLED AND THE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR FLASHED "PULL KEY AND WAIT 10 SECONDS" THEN "SERVICE STEERING COLUMN LOCK". THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES BLOCKING TRAFFIC AND CAUSING A SAFETY HAZARD. SHE WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE HOME AND IT WORKED FOR A FEW DAYS AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO ME WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC, THE CAR STALLED REPEATEDLY FROM A DEAD STOP UPON MOVING ABOUT 10' AND THEN AFTER SEVERAL RESTARTS I WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE HOME AND HAD IT TOWED TO A CHEVROLET DEALER. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT GM HAD PERFORMED RECALLS 04006B AND NO. 04006C ON THIS VEHICLE SEVERAL YEARS AGO TO ADDRESS THE COLUMN LOCK ISSUE AND THAT RECALL INCLUDED REPROGRAMMING THE PCM TO SHUT OFF THE FUEL AT 2MPH - THIS VEHICLE WILL RUN INDEFINITELY SO LONG AS IT ISN'T PUT IN GEAR AND DRIVEN OVER 2MPH. THE CHEVROLET DEALER INDICATED THAT THIS SAFETY ISSUE ISN'T THEIR CONCERN AND THAT GM EXPECTS IT'S CUSTOMERS TO COVER THE COST - I PHONED GM'S RECALL DEPARTMENT AND TOLD THEM THE SAFETY ISSUE IS RECURRING AND THEY CONFIRMED THAT THEY EXPECT THEIR CUSTOMERS TO COVER THE COST OF THIS SAFETY DEFECT. I ALSO TOLD GM THAT I INTENDED TO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH THE NHTSA AND BBB IF THEY DIDN'T PROPERLY ADDRESS THIS SAFETY ISSUE AND THEY ENCOURAGED ME TO FILE THOSE COMPLAINTS. BUYER BEWARE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN REVERSE, THE SERVICE COLUMN LOCK WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V060000 (STEERING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 183,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE SERVICE STEERING COLUMN LOCK WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT AN ERROR MESSAGE ADVISING TO "WAIT TEN SECONDS AND PULL KEY" DISPLAYED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN LOCK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE ERROR MESSAGE DISPLAYED AGAIN. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT AN UNKNOWN COMPUTER MODULE RELATED TO THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V060000 (STEERING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 29,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE STEERING COLUMN LOCK INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND DISPLAY "SERVICE NEEDED". THE CONTACT COASTED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE ENGINE, BUT IT FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND THEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V060000 (STEERING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES AND WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AFTER EACH OCCURRENCE. THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD EVENTUALLY RESET OVER A PERIOD OF TWENTY FOUR HOURS OR GREATER. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V060000 (STEERING); HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED AFTER THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
WELL MY 2001 CORVETTE GOT THE DREADED "SERVICE COLUMN LOCK" MESSAGE AFTER SITTING FOR A WHILE DURING MY SUMMER VACATION. THE BATTERY DIED AND I REPLACED THE BATTERY WITH FACTORY/GM RECOMMENDATION CCA AND SIZING. AFTER CHANGING THE BATTERY I FIRST GOT THE "PULL KEY WAIT 10 SEC" MESSAGE, THEN AFTER DOING AS TOLD, "SERVICE COLUMN LOCK" CAME ONTO THE DISPLAY. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS STILL EASILY TUNABLE, SO THIS VETTE MUST HAVE HAD THE RECALL SERVICE DONE BY ITS PREVIOUS OWNER; HOWEVER THE DIGITAL WARNING OR DISPLAY CONTINUES TO SHOW AND WHEN I PRESS CLEAR DISPLAY, IT IS REMOVED. I HAVE CHECKED WITH A NUMBER OF CORVETTE OWNERS, AND AFTER HEARING FROM A COUPLE GUYS ON CORVETTEFORUM THAT THE ISSUE COULD CONTINUE AND CAUSE MAJOR ISSUES WITH ACCELERATION, ETC... A DEVICE NAMED THE LMC5 FROM COMPLIANCEPARTS.COM IS A FIX AND POSSIBLY THE WAY TO GO, I HAVE NOT DECIDED TO GIVE IT A SHOT AS I BELIEVE THIS IS A MANUFACTURE ISSUE AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED THROUGH GM. IF I PLACE THIS DEVICE INTO THE SYSTEM, WHAT OTHER ISSUES WOULD I FACE, AND NONE OF THE OTHER OWNERS KNEW THE ANSWER AND ALL AGREED THAT THIS COULD CREATE OTHER ISSUES. I ASK THAT YOU HAVE GM FIX THIS ISSUE BASED ON A RECALL. *TR
STARTED THE VEHICLE, IN THE DISPLAY PANEL WERE THE WORDS, "STEERING COLUMN LOCKED." ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING, THE STEERING COLUMN WAS IN FACT LOCKED. RESTARTED VEHICLE AND THE DISPLAY READ..."SERVICE COLUMN LOCKED" HOWEVER THIS WAS NOT THE CASE. THE STEERING WHEEL MOVED FREELY. THE PROBLEM NOW IS; THE STEERING WHEEL WILL NOT LOCK WHEN THE IGNITION IS TURNED OFF. MY CONCERN IS...CAN THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION? *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE KEY WAS ABLE TO BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE LOCK PLATE AND MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.
TL- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET COREVETTE. HE STATED THAT AFTER THE REPAIR FOR RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V060000 COMPONENT(S): STEERING. THE FAILURE REOCCURED AND THE DEALER HAD TO REPROGRAM THE ELECTRONIC LOCK WIRING HARNESS AND LOCK KIT WERE REPLACED. THE SECOND REMEDY HAS CEASED THE FAILURE FROM HAPPENING. SR
FOR THE PAST YEAR AND HALF I HAVEN'T DRIVEN MY CORVETTE MUCH DUE TO STEERING WHEEL MODULE INFLATABLE COVER BEING STICKY. ONCE YOU TOUCH IT WITH YOUR FINGER ITS ATTACHES TO THE STEERING WHEEL COVER. I WENT TO MY LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALER TO SEE WHAT COULD BE DONE. NOT A THING. HIS REMARK WAS THIS IS (PART OF LIVING IN FLORIDA) IF YOU THINK YOU HAVE PROBLEMS YOU SHOULD HEAR HOW MANY COMPLAINTS WE GET ON OUR TRUCK STEERING WHEELS. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE A RECALL SINCE IT INVOLVES STEERING THE VEHICLE AND INFLATABLE AIR RESTRAINT. THE VEHICLE HAS 39,135 MILES. I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH MY 2006 SRX CADILLAC. *TR
I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE PURCHASED IN 2001 WHEN I WAS LEAVING IN TORONTO-CANADA AND MOVED TO WASHINGTON STATE IN 2011 (CAR WAS LEGALLY IMPORTED AND REGISTERED IN USA). IN JULY 2012 THE STEERING WHEEL/COLUMN LOCKED AS I WAS PULLING OUT (WITH THE CAR IN MOTION) OF A PARKING SPOT RENDERING THE CAR NOT DRIVABLE. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND I PAID FOR REPAIRS TO BE DONE TO REPLACE THE LOCKING MECHANISM OF THE STEERING COLUMN. AT THE SAME TIME I CONTACTED NUMEROUS TIMES G.M. CUSTOMER SERVICE AND ASKED THEM TO AUTHORIZED THE WORK UNDER RECALL NUMBER 4006C ISSUED IN FEB 08 2006 (REMOVE THE LOCKING MECHANISM), HOWEVER GM FAILED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY TO ASSURE THAT THIS LATEST RECALL IS PROVIDED TO MY VEHICLE. THEIR ARGUMENT WAS THAT ALL WORK DONE IN CANADA ON THIS ISSUE HAD BEEN PERFORMED (ALTHOUGH THE CANADIAN RECALL NOTICE RESOLUTION IS DIFFERENT THAN THE USA RECALL RESOLUTION AND UNDER CANADIAN RECALL NOTICE THE LOCKING MECHANISM IS NOT REMOVED, JUST A WIRE HARNESS IS BEEN REPLACED) SINCE THIS REPAIR WAS PERFORMED I AM DRIVING JUST A FEW SHORT TRIPS BACK AND FORTH FROM THE OFFICE AND NOT AT ALL ON THE HIGHWAY AS I AM AFRAID BECAUSE THE THEFT DETERRENT SYSTEM IS STILL IN OPERATION, MEANING THE STEERING COLUMN MAY LOCK WHEN DRIVING AND CRASH ( HIS IS FROM GM'S OWN SERVICE RECALL NUMBER 4006C). *TR
THIS VEHICLE OFTEN WOULD NOT START. THEN THE NEXT MORNING IT WOULD START FINE. OCCASIONALLY IT WOULD SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING - TURNING OFF ALL POWER. IT HAPPENED ONCE AT 70 MPH: THE CAR LOST ALL POWER, AND ONLY BY THE GRACE OF GOD WAS I ABLE TO RESTART IT AND REGAIN CONTROL. EVENTUALLY IT WOULD NOT START AT ALL, AND I FINALLY HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. IT TOOK TWO WEEKS FOR THEM TO DETERMINE IT WAS THE IGNITION SWITCH SHUTTING OFF ALL POWER TO THE ENGINE, AND CHARGED ME $520 TO REPLACE IT. THEY TOLD ME TO REMOVE THE CAR KEY FROM MY KEYRING AND KEEP IT SEPARATE BECAUSE IT WAS CAUSING A PROBLEM WITH THE SWITCH. I WOULD LIKE TO RECOVER THE MONEY THAT THIS COST ME SINCE WE CAN NOW SEE IT IS RELATED TO THE PERVASIVE IGNITION SWITCH RECALL. I HAVE ASKED THEM AND THEY HAVE REFUSED. *TR
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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