2002 Chevrolet Corvette Owner Complaints

The contact owns a 2002 Chevrolet Corvette. The contact stated that while driving 5-10 MPH, the steering wheel locked-up, and the vehicle continued to drive in a circle. The steering column warning light was illuminated after the failure. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, where the contact was informed that the vehicle was previously repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 04V060000 (Steering), and the dealer determined that the electronic steering column lock replacement was needed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, and a case was filed. The contact was referred to the dealer for financial assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 51,491.

NHTSA ID

11678680

Incident

Jul 26, 2025

Mileage

51,491 mi

The ignition key started the car but the car continued to stall out when the clutch was released failing to propel the car leaving me stranded with a running(ideling) but non functional vehicle.I could not move the vehicle and it was subject to traffic crash. I need to have the vehicle retrieved by the dealer for repait. It is non-operable. There weree no warnings to me on the vehicle that the p roblem existed

NHTSA ID

11509749

Incident

Mar 1, 2023

STEERING WHEEL IS LOCKED AFTER PARKING IT AFTER WORK. THE RECALL ON ALL OTHER VEHICLES MY YEAR THAT HAS BEEN FIXED BY THE FACTORY HAS A WIRE RAN TO THE PCM ARE COMPUTER NOT SURE WHAT THEY ARE CALLING IT. BUT THE FIX WILL NOT LET THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK. AND I HAVE WATCHED A LOT OF YOUTUBE VIDEOS ON THIS IN ALL OF THE FACTORY FIXED RECALLS THE STEERING WHEEL DOESN'T LOCK. FROM WHAT I SEE IT TELLS ME THAT THE FIX IS COMPLETE. IT IS A 2002 WITH ONLY 68000 MILES. ANY HELP PLEASE?

NHTSA ID

11353464

Incident

Aug 20, 2020

Mileage

68,000 mi

I BOUGHT CAR OFF INTERNET NOT SURE IF ANY RECALLS HAVE BEEN DONE TRACTION CONTROLS SERVICE ABS STABILITY CONTROLS LIGHTS WILL NOT GO OFF TOLD THAT PARTS ARE DISCONTINUED YOU MAY REACH ME AT [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

11311431

Incident

Dec 11, 2019

Mileage

980,000 mi

DRIVING TO WORK (IN THE DARK) THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS SHUT OFF. PULLED THE CAR OVER AND TURNED THE HEADLAMP SWITCH TO ON AND THEY STARTED WORKING (WAS IN AUTO SENSOR MODE). NEXT DAY WHEN I WAS LEAVING THE HOUSE I TURNED THE HEADLAMP SWITCH ON, HEADLIGHTS POPPED UP BUT DID NOT COME ON. I COULD TURN THEM TO HIGH BEAM AND THEY WORKED BUT NOT ON LOW. AFTER DRIVING THE CAR AND SWITCHING BACK AND FORTH FROM HIGH TO LOW BEAM SEVERAL TIMES, THE LOW BEAMS STARTED WORKING AGAIN.

NHTSA ID

11252853

Incident

Aug 29, 2019

Mileage

125,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V060000 (STEERING). AFTER THE REPAIR, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING AND A WARNING MESSAGE APPEARED, INDICATING TO REMOVE THE KEY AFTER TEN SECONDS. THE RECALL REPAIR WAS PERFORMED BY PAPE CHEVROLET GEO (370 OAKWOOD RD, HUNTINGTON STATION, NY, (631) 427-0900), BUT WAS NO LONGER IN BUSINESS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ROBERT CHEVROLET (236 S BROADWAY, HICKSVILLE, NY 11801, (888) 619-7642) WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE REMEDY FAILED TO PROVIDE A PERMANENT SOLUTION. THE DEALER REPLACED THE STEERING COLUMN LOCK AND THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER INDICATED THAT THE RECALL REPAIR 15 YEARS AGO SHOULD HAVE PROVIDED A PERMANENT REMEDY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: EA02031 (STEERING); HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED THE SAME FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,000.

NHTSA ID

11219205

Incident

Feb 5, 2004

Mileage

22,000 mi

I HAVE RECEIVED SEVERAL NOTICES FROM AUTO NATION CHEVROLET DORAL FLORIDA TO BRING MY CAR IN FOR RECALL GM 04006. WHEN I TOOK MY CAR TO THEM FOR THE RECALL, I WAS TOLD "THE PARTS REQUIRED FOR THE RECALL ARE NO LONGER MADE". I JUST RECEIVED ANOTHER NOTICE FROM THEM. THEY SHOULD EITHER MAKE THE PARTS OR COME TO ANOTHER RESOLUTION . I MEANWHILE CAN'T DRIVE THE CAR BECAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP. HELP!!!

NHTSA ID

11202927

Incident

Apr 1, 2019

Mileage

16,800 mi

NOTICED A SLIGHT VIBRATION COMING FROM REAR OF CAR WHEN DRIVING ON A PAVED SMOOTH ROAD AT 65 MPH. UPON LATER INSPECTION, I DISCOVERED A 2" LONG CRACKED LR WHEEL THE CRACK IS LOCATED AT THE BASE OF ONE OF 5 SLENDER SPOKES WHERE IT CONNECTS TO THE BARREL OF THE WHEEL. ANY RETAILER WHO LISTS THIS 18" FORGED ALUMINUM WHEEL IS OUT OF STOCK AS THIS UPGRADED WHEEL WAS UNDER-DESIGNED FOR THE LOADING THAT HAPPENS TO A HIGH PERFORMANCE VEHICLE. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE C5 CORVETTES AND COULD RESULT IN A CATASTROPHIC ACCIDENT AT HIGH INTERSTATE SPEEDS.

NHTSA ID

11153414

Incident

May 15, 2018

Mileage

55,000 mi

BACKING UP FROM A PRIVATE PARKING PLACE I ALMOST CRASHED DUE TO THE STEERING COLUMN LOCKED ON ME. I TRIED TO FREE IT BUT IT WOULDN'T RELEASE. THE CAR COMPUTER INDICATED I SHOULD REMOVE KEY FOR 10 SECONDS AND REINSERT TO FREE THE LOCKED STEERING WHEEL, NO SUCCESS. HAD CAR TOWED TO THE CHEVY DEALER FOR A FIX. DEALER SAID THEIR WAS A RECALL ON THIS DEFECT BACK IN 2004. DEALER RECORDS INDICATE THAT I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR A RECALL BUT I DON'T REMEMBER WHAT THE RECALL WAS FOR. NONETHELESS, I HAVE NO RECORDS EXPLAINING WHAT WAS SPECIFICALLY DONE AT THAT TIME ON THE RECALL. THE DEALER ALSO HAS NO SPECIFIC RECORDS ON THAT RECALL. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER. THE DEALER HERE IN PAHRUMP NV FIXED THE PROBLEM AND SAID THAT THE PROBLEM WAS A COMPUTER DEFECT CAUSING THE ANTI THEFT PLATE TO LOCK THE STEERING PLATE. THEY REMOVE THE STEERING PLATE AND INSTALL A HARNESS KIT AND LOCK PLATE ELIMINATOR AND CHARGED ME $199.60 . I UNDERSTAND THAT RECALL DON'T EXPIRED, WHETHER THEY HAVEN'T BEEN PERFORMED OR IMPROPERLY REPAIRED. I OBJECT TO BEING CHARGED FOR A DEFECT THAT GMC INTERDUCE. THIS DEFECT IS DANGERIOUS. CLEARLY GMC DID NOT THINK OUT THE COMPARATIVE RISK OF A COMPUTER FAILURE CAUSING THE LOCKING PLATE TO DISENGAGE CAUSING THE CAR TO BE STOLEN; OR CAUSING THE PLATE TO LOCK WHILE DRIVING THE CAR INTO A DEADLY EVENT.

NHTSA ID

11115846

Incident

Jun 28, 2018

Mileage

20,000 mi

I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR A STEERING COLUM LOCK RECALL, THE CAR WAS RUNNING FINE BEFORE I TOOK IT IN. ONCE I GOT THE CAR BACK TO MY HOUSE, TWO DAYS LATER THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED WHILE IN GEAR AND HAS NOT UNLOCKED TO THIS DAY. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP (WHICH WAS PENSKE CHEVROLET) AND SPOKE TO JOHN WHO TOLD ME "WELL WE ALREADY DID THE RECALL SO IT MUST'VE BEEN A PART OR SOMETHING ELSE". I WAS FURIOUS AND EXPLAINED THAT I'M NOT GOING TO PAY FOR SOME PART FOR THE SAME THING THAT SHOULD'VE BEEN FIXED. I COULD SEE IF MAYBE THEY FOUND SOME PART UNRELATABLE THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, BUT NOT THE EXACT SAME THING THAT WAS FOR THE RECALL!! WHAT IF THE WHEEL LOCKED UP ON ME WITH MY SON IN THE CAR ON THE FREEWAY OR SOMETHING? I DON'T KNOW IF THE DEALERSHIP IS JUST TRYING TO GET MONEY OUT OF CUSTOMERS LIKE THIS OR WHAT, BUT THE CAR ONLY HAS 6 MILES ON IT SINCE I TOOK IT HOME FROM THE DEALERSHIP THAT DAY. SO WITHIN THAT SIX MILES IT HAS BEEN LOCKED AND HASN'T UNLOCKED. I JUST SIMPLY WANT MY CAR TO BE SAFE TO DRIVE. ANY HELP YOU GUYS COULD GIVE ME I WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE IT. I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO. THANK YOU.

NHTSA ID

11039680

Incident

Aug 9, 2017

Mileage

5,928 mi

WARNING LIGHT OCCURRED ONCE I TRIED WHAT WAS SAID, REMOVE KEY & WAIT 10 SECONDS, DID THIS NUMEROUS TIMES TO NO AVAIL. TRIED TO MOVE CAR ONCE IT HIT 1 MILE PER CAR STALLS. UPON READING MANUAL SAYS IF DOESN'T UNLOCK GAS FLOW IS SHUT OFF & STALLS. CHECKED THE VIN # AGAINST THE RECALL LIST & MY CAR NOT LISTED.

NHTSA ID

11012589

Incident

Jul 8, 2017

Mileage

75,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SERVICE COLUMN LOCK WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V060000 (STEERING); HOWEVER, THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE RELATED TO THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE TO DETERMINE IF A DEALER COULD REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000. UPDATED 07/18/17*LJ THE CONSUMER SAID THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. UPDATED 08/15/2017*JS

NHTSA ID

10992653

Incident

Jun 1, 2017

Mileage

30,000 mi

PLASTIC FITTING ON COWL FOR RH WINDSHIELD WASHER BROKE AND DISABLED WASHER. ONLY SOURCE FOR THIS PART IS A USED ONE FROM A SALVAGE OPERATION. GM SHOULD SELL SAFETY RELATED PARTS, ESPECIALLY PLASTIC ONES WHICH ARE SUBJECT TO AGING AND BREAKAGE.

NHTSA ID

10905567

Incident

Apr 14, 2016

Mileage

150,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. WHEN THE CONTACT SHIFTED FROM PARK TO DRIVE, THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED TO UNLOCK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED PREVIOUSLY PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V060000 (STEERING); HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,500.

NHTSA ID

10898316

Incident

Aug 23, 2016

Mileage

73,500 mi

AFTER FUELING VEHICLE AND PARKING IN GARAGE THE VEHICLE FOR DAYS WILL SMELL VERY STRONGLY OF GASOLINE UNTIL GALLONS ARE CONSUMED VIA DRIVING TO APPROX. 3/4 OF TANK. VEHICLE IS NOT OVER FILLED ! NO VISUAL INDICATIONS OF FUEL LEAKING ON GROUND. THIS ALSO HAPPENED SINCE ON JULY 12, 2016 LAST TIME VEHICLE WAS FUELED.

NHTSA ID

10884633

Incident

Oct 5, 2015

Mileage

54,462 mi

BRAKES FAILED WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE GARAGE. AFTER INSPECTION IT WAS DETERMINED THE BRAKE LINE TO THE LEFT REAR WHEEL DEVELOPED A HOLE DUE TO EXCESSIVE RUSTING OF THE STEEL BRAKE LINE.

NHTSA ID

10855002

Incident

Apr 11, 2016

Mileage

80,765 mi

WHEN THE FUEL TANK IS FILLED THEIR IS AN ENORMOUS GAS SMELL IN AND OUT OF THE CAR.

NHTSA ID

10807309

Incident

Aug 19, 2013

Mileage

102,500 mi

CAR HAS FUEL LEAK. ONCE I TURN ON THE CAR IT STARTS LEAKING GAS. I COULD BE STATIONARY OR IN MOTION, IT STILL LEAKS GAS. IT ALSO SMELLS TERRIBLE INSIDE MY CAR. I AM WORRIED ABOUT MY HEALTH AND OTHER CORVETTE OWNERS. SOME CORVETTE OWNERS MAY NOT EVEN NOTICE AND NEXT THING YOU KNOW THERE CAR IS ON FIRE. WORSE CASE SCENARIO THEY COULD BE INJURED OR EVEN DEATH. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND GM SHOULD RECALL THIS. IM LUCKY TO BE EVEN WRITING THIS I COULD'VE BLOWN UP WHILE DRIVING THE CAR.

NHTSA ID

10795286

Incident

Nov 20, 2015

THE PLASTIC PIECE ATTACHING THE HEADLIGHT VERTICAL ADJUSTING MECHANISM TO THE HEAQDLIGHT FRAME BROKE AND FELL OFF, CAUSING LARGE SHIFTS IN THE HEADLIGHT AIM DUE TO ROAD IRRREGULARITIES. CHEVROLET DOES NOT MAKE AVAILABLE DETAIL PARTS OF THIS RATHER COMPLICATED MECHANISM, MAKING IT NECESSARY TO BUY A COMPLETE RETRACTABLE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY FOR $1,000+. THIS DISCOURAGES PROPER REPAIR OF THIS SAFETY RELATED ISSUE.

NHTSA ID

10782109

Incident

Sep 14, 2015

Mileage

147,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,000.

NHTSA ID

10767553

Incident

Sep 20, 2015

Mileage

28,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 17 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AS THE SERVICE STEERING COLUMN, PULL KEY, AND WAIT 10 SECONDS WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON TWO OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE LOCK PLATE NEEDED TO BE TAKEN OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN FOR AN ELECTRONIC BYPASS HARNESS TO BE INSTALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,472.

NHTSA ID

10735131

Incident

Jul 19, 2015

Mileage

30,472 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SERVICE COLUMN LOCK AND SERVICE ACTIVE HANDLING WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE SERVICE COLUMN LOCK AND SERVICE ACTIVE HANDLING FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED PRIOR TO THE CONTACT OWNING THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000.

NHTSA ID

10683008

Incident

Jan 29, 2015

Mileage

62,000 mi

BOTH REAR WHEELS ARE CRACKED AND WILL NOT HOLD AIR FOR MORE THAN A DAY! AFTER CONTACTING GENERAL MOTORS ABOUT THE PROBLEM THEY STATED THAT THERE ARE NO RECALL'S ON THESE WHEELS. THIS IS A REAL SAFETY ISSUE FOR THESE WHEELS CAN BRAKE AT ANY TIME. *TR

NHTSA ID

10680826

Incident

Sep 1, 2014

Mileage

72,000 mi

WHILE MAKING A TIGHT LEFT TURN TO GAIN ENTRANCE TO THE I75 ON RAMP SOUTH OF GAINSVILLE FLA. THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT BRAKE CALIPER LOCKED UP CAUSING THE CAR TO SWERVE VIOLENTLY TO THE LEFT. FORTUNATELY NO OTHER CAR WAS ALONGSIDE SO AN ACCIDENT WAS AVOIDED.. SINCE THEN THIS MALFUNCTION HAS REPEATED ITSELF MULTIPLE TIMES BUT FORTUNATELY AT SLOWER SPEEDS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10676395

Incident

Dec 17, 2014

Mileage

317,201 mi

RUN FLAT TIRE WENT FLAT, COULD NOT FIND LEAK IN TIRE. FOUND THE PROBLEM WAS CRACKED RIM. SINCE CAR HAS NEVER BEEN ABUSED, THIS IS A FACTORY DEFECT. GM NEEDS TO ISSUE A RECALL TO FIX THIS LIABILITY, IT SEEMS TO BE A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM INVOLVING THOUSANDS OF C5 CORVETTES. PROACTIVE RECALL MAY SAVE LIVES !! *TR

NHTSA ID

10636932

Incident

Sep 17, 2014

Mileage

34,000 mi