Problems · NHTSA complaints

1999 Chevrolet Corvette problems

Owners filed 308 complaints about the 1999 Chevrolet Corvette with NHTSA between Feb 1999 and Feb 2024. The most-cited component is steering (193).

Complaints
308
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
14
Reported by owners
Fires
3
Reported by owners
Injuries
11
People reported injured
Deaths
1
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Steering193
  2. Electrical system29
  3. Seat belts19
  4. Power train12
  5. Seats11
  6. Service brakes10
  7. Electronic stability control (esc)9
  8. Service brakes, hydraulic8
  9. Fuel system, gasoline8
  10. Equipment6
  11. Exterior lighting6
  12. Parking brake6
  13. Vehicle speed control5
  14. Engine5

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
199930
200070
200129
200211
200331
200420
200510
20068
20073
200810
20097
20107
201111
20125
20139
20148
201511
20169
20173
20187
20192
20201
20213
20221
20231
20241

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Steering

193 reports5 crashes1 fire1 related recall
“The contact owns a 1999 Chevrolet Corvette. The contact stated that the vehicle was repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 04V060000 (Steering) in 2019. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, the message "Service - Steering Column Lock" was displayed. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, who informed the contact that he needed to pay for a diagnostic test to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that they would follow up with the dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 37,300.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 27, 2024SteeringODI 11574197

Electrical system

29 reports3 crashes
“Something is wrong where it will stall out when you start driving. Soon as I put the car in gear and start rolling forward it dies. And I’ve looked online and it’s quite common.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 31, 2023Steering, Electrical systemODI 11541907

Seat belts

19 reports1 related recall
“THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT WILL NOT RETRACT. IT IS EXTENDED ALL THE WAY OUT. THEREFORE, IT WILL NOT FIT NOR WILL IT PROTECT ANYONE FROM INJURY. I FIND THIS TO BE A SEATBELT DEFECT AND A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 30, 2017Seat beltsODI 10969522

Power train

12 reports1 crash
“Almost every C5 (1997-2004) Corvette is affected by a faulty electronic brake control module. When this module fails, the car illuminates the ABS and traction control light. And displays service abs and service traction control messages. This is a serious safety issue as when this happens, the abs brakes no longer work nor does the traction control. It blows my mind how this has never been recalled especially on a rear drive sports car.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 12, 2022Power train, Service brakesODI 11460530

Seats

11 reports1 crash
“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…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 30, 2015SeatsODI 10731145

Service brakes

10 reports
“MY CORVETTE AS WELL AS MANY OTHERS FROM 97-04 SUFFER FROM THE ACTIVE HANDLING ABS/TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM GOING BAD. THE PART IS KNOWN AS THE EBCM. WHEN IT GOES BAD (IF CRUISE IS ENGAGED) THE CAR WILL DISABLE CRUISE CONTROL SUDDENLY CAUSING CAR TO SLOW DOWN. ALSO, WHEN THE SYSTEM FAILS WHILE MOVING IT CAUSE CAUSE UNEVEN BRAKE FEELING AND YOU LOOSE THE ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEMS . GM HAS DISCONTINUED THE PARTS REQUIRED TO REPAIR THIS AND THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN MAJOR SAFETY CONCERNS FOR MANY YEARS NOW AFFECTING MANY 97-04 CORVETTES. ALSO A PART OF THIS SYSTEM IS THE STEELING WHEEL POSITION SENSOR WHICH IS ALSO DISCONTINUED. SWPS CAN SEND WRONG INFO TO THE OTHER COMPUTERS AND THE CAR WILL MAKE ERRONEOUS 'CORRECTIONS' THAT CAN LEAD TO BRAKES BEING APPLIED AT ANY MOMENT WHILE DRIVING.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 13, 2021Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, Service brakesODI 11416521
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.