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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
4 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
47,722 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2003 Chevrolet Corvette steering problems

steering problem

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2003 Chevrolet Corvette Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #24

Dec 152011

Corvette

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Gm refuse to repurchase below is a overview. they are refusing engineering assitance to the dealership to fix the problem. Next week the car will be there a month again. This is the 7th time on this repair which was a recall by your org. The last repair last 153 days. This problem make the car unsafe to drive the dealer also agrees it is unsafe to drive. My car is back at the dealership for the same recall situation. The corvette has been rendered undrivable due to the number of recall repairs that have failed. They are again waiting for a GM engineer. A new case has been opened at the CEO-€™s office. It was submitted last year for repurchase they not to. The dealership says they should I agree. Gm decline yesterday to repurchase the car. The dealer ship feels it is unsafe to drive Saul Saldano who run the repair shop at Mission Bay chevy. Owned by his family Saldana auto group. When I emailed the CEO and she referred it to their exec team you can who I worked with to get an engineer on site at the dealership last year. I will describe more in my overview below. Overview: I purchased the car in 2013 black on black corvette convertible 6 speed on the floor fully loaded. The car worked perfectly until August 2011 that work order is attached. The dealer performed a recall repair on the steering harness and column lock. They left the lock nut for the steering column off it was found later under the driver-€™s side seat. The steering came off in my wife-€™s hands while driving on 4hth st downtown San Diego. The car sustained damage lucky no one was hurt this occurred in 12/01/2011 that work order is attached. The harness failed several times afterwards however I only have records back to 2014. The dealership purged records before 2014. Since 2014 the car has consistently had to return to the dealership to have another lock and harness installed. I can send those work orders on another email. What happens when the steering lock engages is you cannot drive the car. It kill

- San Diego, CA, USA

problem #23

Aug 012020

Corvette

  • 56,000 miles
The contact owns a 2003 Chevrolet Corvette. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40 mph, the steering wheel suddenly ceased and the driver was unable to turn the steering wheel in either direction. The steering column was later unlocked and the vehicle was taken to the local dealer hall Chevrolet located at 3412 western branch blvd, chesapeake, va 23321, who diagnosed the steering column lock plate was defective and needed to be replaced. The lock plate was replaced and the failure was remedied. The contact indicated that the vehicle was previously repaired under NHTSA campaign number: 04V060000 (steering) however, the failure occurred. The failure mileage was 56,000.

- Chesapeake, VA, USA

problem #22

Jul 152019

Corvette

  • 115,000 miles
The contact owns a 2003 Chevrolet Corvette. While driving 20 mph, the steering ceased to operate without warning. Prior to the failure, the vehicle was included in and repaired per NHTSA campaign number: 04V060000 (steering) by an unknown dealer. After the recent failure, the vehicle was towed to five star Chevrolet Buick GMC (495 watson blvd, warner robins, ga 31093, 478-273-8277) where the contact was informed that the vehicle was no longer under recall. The dealer informed her that she would be financially responsible for all repairs regarding the failure. The manufacturer was notified and did not assist. The vehicle remained at the dealer and had not been repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 115,000.

- Bonaire, GA, USA

problem #21

Jan 292019

Corvette

  • 42,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The car has developed a condition where the steering column lock fails to unlock the steering column when the vehicle is started. A message appears in the dic display telling you to pull the key and wait 10 seconds. It shuts off the fuel supply if you attempt to drive it. Chevrolet acknowledged this condition existed in 2006 via a letter. The car only had a little over 5K miles on it at the time and now has only 43K on the odometer. Per my phone call with them today they feel they are no longer responsible. The first time this happened I had backed into the road and the car died leaving me in dire jeapordy. Can anything be done to make them honor this defect in this very expensive automobile? note....this has been happening since the summer of 2018 intermittently.

- Ballston Lake, NY, USA

problem #20

Sep 282017

Corvette

  • 28,240 miles
The contact owns a 2003 Chevrolet Corvette. The contact stated that the steering wheel seized without warning. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the steering wheel lock bypass needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and opened a case. The contact was also informed that an unknown recall repair was performed on the vehicle prior to the current owner. The failure mileage was 28,240. The VIN was not available.

- Great Valley, NY, USA

problem #19

Jun 302017

Corvette

  • 153,000 miles
I was backing out my driveway and my steering column locked and I could not control the car. I pulled up the emergency brake and stopped the car because I could not control the car. Myself and a neighbor was able to push the car back in the driveway. The computer gave the message..steering column lock message and then the car would not start anymore...meaning it would crank but just immediately shut off. This is a recall safety problem with this car and chevorlet is aware recall number 4006 a, B, C and special provision policy 05081.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #18

Jan 112017

Corvette

  • 55,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The electronic brake control module (ebcm) P/N 10343433 all of a sudden failed. As a result the dash computer error code C1214 for the anti-lock brake system, traction control has been coming on constantly. My wife has to press the reset button when she put the key in, when the car is started and when it is shut off. This ebcm is not available through any web site or dealer and is back ordered. The problem with this failure is that if you step too firmly on the gas peddle, the car will go out of control possibly causing an accident. Again without the ebcm, the traction control and anti-lock brake system are disabled. This is a very grave hazard should an owner not be aware of what happens if the ebcm module fails. A recall should be issued immediately.

- Lynn Haven, FL, USA

problem #17

Apr 132017

Corvette

  • 6,100 miles
The steering locking mechanism seized and locked the tires in place while parking it in our druveway making the vehicle impossible to drive. Had to have it towed to dealership and was told our specific car VIN was not on the recall for the locking for steering and they would not correct the problem without a charge to us.

- Albuquerqur, NM, USA

problem #16

Feb 092016

Corvette

  • 45,000 miles
I was traveling 60 mph on a freeway when the car suddenly went left and then right. It felt like the car was steering its self. When the pitched it went into the left lane then the right lane. I was in the center lane. I was able to bring the car under control but it scared me. It was so dramatic I could have had a very nasty accident involving my death or the other drivers an the freeway..I took my foot off the accelerator and put the car into the slow lane and backed speed down to 50. The weather was not an issue.

- Edmonds, WA, USA

problem #15

Jul 152015

Corvette

  • 252,000 miles
I was driving North on interstate 95 in miami, Florida, I changed lanes and could no longer control steering, car seem to go the way it wanted to. It steered to left to the right back to the left across 3 lanes of traffic and I ended up going southbound in the northbound lanes. With the help of god I was able to put the car in park, start it up again, back up, turn it around and head the right way, which was northbound, considering the traffic on I-95 I should have been hit by numerous cars during that time, but with god's help it didn't happen. I noticed on dashboard that it stated to service active handling. I decided to do some research and there have been numerous complaints related to this same incident and some recalls also. My life could have taken during this incident. I had just purchased 2 new front tires and 2 rear shocks for my car before this happened only 6 days before, car has always been kept in good running condition.

- Americus, GA, USA

problem #14

May 012015

Corvette

  • 15,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2003 Chevrolet Corvette. While driving at approximately 35 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was abe to restart, but the failure recurred. In addition, the service column lock warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the contac's residence. The vehicle was previously repaired under NHTSA campaign number: 04V060000 (steering). The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 15,000.

- Federal Way, WA, USA

problem #13

Jun 032015

Corvette

  • 31,000 miles
The contact owns a 2003 Chevrolet Corvette. When the contact attempted to start the vehicle, the steering column seized, failed to unlock, and the steering warning light illuminated. The contact was made aware of NHTSA campaign number: 04V060000 (steering); however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 31,000.

- Dunedin, FL, USA

problem #12

Jun 152004

Corvette

  • 12,000 miles
The contact owns a 2003 Chevrolet Corvette. The contact stated that while in first gear, he applied the accelerator pedal and the vehicle immediately jumped out of gear. The failure recurred multiple times. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where the bushings were replaced in the transmission but the failure recurred. The contact also stated that the service steering column lock warning light illuminated. The contact was made aware of NHTSA campaign id number: 04V060000 (steering) however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 12,000.

- Jonesbough , TN, USA

problem #11

Mar 162014

Corvette 8-cyl

  • miles
2003 Chevrolet Corvette. Consumer writes in regards to the steering column lock recall and seeks reimbursement for repairs. The dealer informed the consumer, the recall was performed on July 13, 2005. However, the consumer stated if the problem was fixed, he shouldn't have had to pay $619.48 to have the wiring harness and relay replaced, due to the steering column locking up.

- Hillsdale, NJ, USA

problem #10

Nov 022005

Corvette 8-cyl

  • 10,300 miles
02 Nov 05 - steering column locked; reprogrammed and repaired under factory recall bulletin; charged $17.96 for "shop supplies"; 10 Apr 09 - steering column locked again !; relay replaced; charged $144.73 (parts & labor); 31 Mar 10 - steering column locked again !!!; lock and relay replaced; charged $614.83 (parts & labor); 03 Jul 12 - steering column locked again !!! (4th time); relay replaced again !!!; charged $245 (parts & labor). Summary: Four attempts to correct a "factory recall" issue at a total charge of $1022.52 ! it is my understanding that a "factory recall" is completed at no cost, regardless of the number of attempts required to correct the problem. I resent being charged over $1000. For what supposedly is a factory recall problem... that apparently the service techs have no clue about resolving. Your response, please.

- Tybee Island, GA, USA

problem #9

Dec 042011

Corvette

  • 101,000 miles
The contact owns a 2003 Chevrolet Corvette. The contact stated that while driving 85 mph, the brakes would activate independently, causing the vehicle to veer to the right. The contact referenced NHTSA campaign id number: 04V060000 (steering:column locking:anti-theft device) but did not receive confirmation that the vehicle was included in the recall. The failure recurred five times within a thirty minute period. The dealer placed an air flow sensor into the vehicle to remedy the failure however, the failure continued to occur. The manufacturer was aware of the failure and the contact was awaiting further repairs to the vehicle. The current mileage was 104,000 and the failure mileage was 101,000.

- Tucson, AZ, USA

problem #8

Aug 092008

Corvette 8-cyl

  • 56,592 miles
Accident on 8/9/2008 front impact hit another vehicle in virgina, 2/2/2011 accident left side impact hit a curb, and an object. 12/15/2011 consumer bought. Found out that cooling fan has been glued, cooling fan has been wired which makes the fan to be always on, air filter missing bolts, steering wheel locks and car gives error message and then just stops, informed dealer and they stated just to double click unlock B/C is just a security issue. Car was sold with broken rack and pinion. Dealer stated that is why you bought a 18K car and not a 60K car, you get it as is. They are using a BBB award and on website they are rated and F. had one of their application processors check the car and stated everything was fine, he does not have certified mechanic license and was told that on 12/28/2011. More issues...

- Aurora, CO, USA

problem #7

Feb 222010

Corvette

  • 18,700 miles
The contact owns a 2003 Chevrolet Corvette. The contact stated that the steering would lock sporadically. After receiving notification of NHTSA campaign id number 04V060000(steering:column locking:anti-theft device) and after having the recalled repair performed twice, the failure recurred a third time. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and they advised him that they corrected the issue for the recall and would not be able to perform any further repairs under the recall. The manufacturer was contacted and they offered no assistance. The failure and current mileages were approximately 18,700.

- Tulsa, OK, USA

problem #6

Dec 112009

Corvette

  • 34,000 miles
This is an amendment to your ODI number 10297619. Our 2003 Chevrolet Corvette has sustained severe undercarraige damage as well as passenger side body damage and wheel and tire damage. Passenger door will not open and drivers door will open when much strength applied to pull it open. There were a couple of minutes after the crash that it was apparent the doors were not going to open without some kind of assistance. Just prior to the crashwe experienced a small fishing of of the rear of the car at which time the accelerator was disengaged and the brakes applied hard. The steering was locked in the position we were driving in at the time which was on a curve. The brakes failed to stop us, and at this time the RPM was racing upward on the car which was accelerating when no gas was being applied at all. One other time when we had to apply the brakes quickly, for a changing light, the RPM raced way up while we were stopped. Our computer said nothing at this time which indicated to us that there was nothing noted about the incident that we could see. Also airbags failed to open! without our seatbelts, the 37 incident among Corvettes would have been the first casuality in the steering lock failure. Most notably and critical of the failures is the steering lock fiailure no.1, no 2 is brakes failing to stop vehicle and no. 3 is airbags failing to deploy. No 4 is the RPM accelerating when brakes are to the floor. The vehicle is not driveable at this time and is currently in storage until there are resolutions to these failures. Date of crach Dec. 11, 2009 about 9:30 am.

- Overland, MO, USA

problem #5

Dec 112009

Corvette

  • 34,000 miles
There really wasn't any events leading up to our accident that I was aware of. I have not contacted General Motors as of yet, my internet has been down and was only fixed this evening around 4:00. But back to my accident, my steering locked up on me and all lost all control of my car. Sorry I don't have more information. I just know my wife and I are lucky to be alive. Thank you!

- Overland, MO, USA

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