Problems · NHTSA complaints

2002 Chevrolet Corvette problems

Owners filed 170 complaints about the 2002 Chevrolet Corvette with NHTSA between Nov 2001 and Aug 2025. The most-cited component is steering (61).

Complaints
170
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
5
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
2
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Steering61
  2. Wheels35
  3. Electrical system21
  4. Service brakes, hydraulic11
  5. Fuel system, gasoline10
  6. Exterior lighting8
  7. Engine and engine cooling8
  8. Electronic stability control (esc)7
  9. Power train5
  10. Fuel/propulsion system5
  11. Fuel system, other5
  12. Service brakes3
  13. Suspension3
  14. Traction control system3

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
20012
20026
200311
200413
200517
200614
200715
20084
20094
201019
201115
201215
20133
20148
20158
20164
20173
20182
20193
20202
20210
20220
20231
20240
20251

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

61 reports1 crash1 related recall
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 6, 2025SteeringODI 11678680

Wheels

35 reports
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 23, 2018WheelsODI 11153414

Electrical system

21 reports
“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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 1, 2023Power train, Electrical system, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11509749

Service brakes, hydraulic

11 reports1 crash
“ELECTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL MODULE (EBCM) CONTROLS THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM, TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM, & STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM. MY EBCM MODULE HAS FAILED, AS WITH THE VAST MAJORITY OF MOST ALL CORVETTES MADE FROM 1997 THROUGH 2004. THE MODULE REQUIRES ELECTRONIC RE-SOLDERING OF THE PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD. MODULE FAILURE HAS NO CORRELATION WITH CARE OF CAR, AGE OF CAR, USE OF CAR, MILEAGE OF CAR, OR ANY OTHER KNOW FACTORS, JUST A BAD ELECTRONIC COMPONENT. GENERAL MOTORS CHARGES APPROXIMATELY $ 2000.00 FOR THE REPAIR. THERE ARE NOW MANY "AFTER MARKET COMPANIES" THAT WILL DO THE REPAIR, THOUGH GENERAL MOTORS DENIES THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THIS ELECTRONIC MODULE. THIS COMPANY: HTTP://WWW.ABSFIXER.COM CAN DO THE REPAIR. CONTACT THIS COMPANY FOR MUCH MORE INFORMATION SUCH AS THE PROBLEM NATURE & HOW MANY CAR EBCM MODULES HAVE BEEN REPAIRED BY THEM SO FAR ... THANK YOU *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 10, 2012Service brakes, hydraulicODI 10443369

Fuel system, gasoline

10 reports
“JULY 19TH 2014 I PURCHASED A 2002 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 FROM AUTONATION FORD IN LITTLETON COLORADO.JULY 26TH AFTER RETURNING HOME I PARKED THE CAR IN MY GARAGE. WHEN I CAME OUT TO MOVE THE CAR LATER THAT AFTERNOON THE STEERING COLUMN WOULD NOT UNLOCK. THERE WAS A MESSAGE ON THE DRIVER INFORMATION CENTER THAT SAID "SERVICE COLUMN LOCK". I IMMEDIATELY CALLED AUTONATION CHEVROLET, SINCE THE VEHICLE IS CHEVROLET, TO SEE IF I COULD GET SOME ADVICE ON HOW TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE. THE SERVICE MANAGER CHECKED WITH A TECHNICIAN AND I WAS TOLD THAT THE CAR WOULD NEED SERVICE. AUTONATION CHEVROLET REFERRED ME TO AUTONATION BUICK GMC. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO AUTONATION BUICK GMC ON THE MORNING OF JULY 27TH 2014. AFTER DETERMINING THAT THEIR DEALERSHIP WAS INCAPABLE OF DOING THE REPAIR AUTONATION BUICK GMC HAD THE CAR TOWED TO ED BOZARTH CHEVROLET PARK MEADOWS FOR REPAIR. I RESEARCHED THE ISSUE & FOUND OUT THAT THE "SERVICE COLUMN LOCK" ISSUE WAS A RECALL ISSUE IN 2004 FOR CORVETTES. THE "SERVICE COLUMN LOCK ISSUE ALSO EFFECTS THE FUEL SYSTEM AND LIMITS THE CAR TO 2 MPH. FIRST NOTIFICATION OF THE RECALL WENT OUT TO OWNERS ON AUGUST 2ND 2004. I CONTACTED GM ON AUG. 1ST 2014, 1…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 15, 2014Steering, Fuel system, gasolineODI 10622520

Exterior lighting

8 reports2 related recalls
“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] *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 25, 2020Steering, Exterior lighting, Electronic stability control (esc)ODI 11311431
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.