Problems · NHTSA complaints

2003 Chevrolet Corvette problems

Owners filed 112 complaints about the 2003 Chevrolet Corvette with NHTSA between Apr 2003 and Jul 2026. The most-cited component is steering (34).

Complaints
112
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
10
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
4
People reported injured
Deaths
1
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Steering34
  2. Electrical system24
  3. Power train12
  4. Electronic stability control (esc)10
  5. Fuel/propulsion system8
  6. Structure7
  7. Engine and engine cooling7
  8. Air bags5
  9. Exterior lighting5
  10. Suspension5
  11. Seat belts5
  12. Fuel system, gasoline5
  13. Service brakes4
  14. Service brakes, hydraulic3

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
200310
200412
200510
20064
200714
20082
20099
20106
20116
20123
20132
20146
20156
20163
20179
20182
20194
20201
20210
20221
20230
20240
20251
20261

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

34 reports6 crashes1 related recall
“The contact owns a 2003 Chevrolet Corvette. The contact stated that while reversing from the driveway, the vehicle lost motive power. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 04V060000 (Steering). The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who replaced the relay and wiring harness kit. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 5,111.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 17, 2026SteeringODI 11751111

Electrical system

24 reports2 crashes
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE COLUMN LOCK WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE SEIZED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) AT GREAT LAKES CHEVROLET (310 S CHESTNUT ST, JEFFERSON, OH), BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER FOR FURTHER DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY SERVICED PER THE RECALL AND ADDITIONAL REPAIRS WOULD BE THE CONTACT'S RESPONSIBILITY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 21,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 8, 2018Electrical systemODI 11100522

Power train

12 reports1 crash
“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…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 28, 2022Steering, Power trainCrash reportedODI 11491331

Electronic stability control (esc)

10 reports1 crash
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 27, 2017Steering, Electronic stability control (esc), Service brakesODI 10981072

Fuel/propulsion system

8 reports
“A VERY STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE IN THE CABIN AREA AND IN THE TRUNK AFTER FILLING THE CORVETTE WITH GASOLINE. THE STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE WAS AT IT'S STRONGEST SCENT WHEN THE DECK LID WAS OPEN. I STOOD ON THE REAR RIGHT OF THE CORVETTE WITH MY HEAD BARELY INSIDE THE TRUNK. SO BASICALLY REAR RIGHT SECTOR OF THE CORVETTE, JUST PASSED THE REAR RIGHT WHEEL WELL. THE CORVETTE WAS PARKED ON A LEVEL CONCRETE PAD AT THE GAS STATION. I DID NOT OVERFILL. PUMP NOZZLE STOPPED. APPROXIMATELY 14.6 GALLONS OF FUEL WAS PUMPED INTO THE CORVETTE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 24, 2019Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11270918

Structure

7 reports2 crashes
“AGENCY INVOLVED: OTHER OTHER AGENCY, IF SPECIFIED: KY ATTORNEY GENERAL TYPES OF FRAUD: WASTE OR MISMANAGEMENT OF AGENCY FUNDS OR RESOURCES, CONTRACT OR PROCUREMENT FRAUD, EMPLOYEE MISCONDUCT OR ABUSE OF AUTHORITY, ETHICS VIOLATIONS, BANK FRAUD OR OTHER FINANCIAL CRIMES CONCERNING BOARD OR CFPB-REGULATED INSTITUTIONS, OTHER - PLEASE SPECIFY: OTHER TYPE OF COMPLAINT, IF ANY: CROOKED DECEPTIVE CAR SALES NAME OF WRONGDOER: KY ATTORNEY GENERAL/ALLEN AUTO/PADUCAH FORD/ COUNTRY CHEVROLET LOCATION OF EVENT: KY EVENT DATES: 5/17/2016 TIL PRESENT SUMMARY OF ALLEGATION: JIMMY ALLEN, ALLEN AUTO SALES RUNS SEVERAL STATE DEALER CRIME RING,I'VE HAD TROUBLE WITH CAR DAY ONE AND NO DEALERS WILL TOUCH IT THERE ARE SEVERAL DIAGNOSIS WITH PROVEN FACT WATER DAMAGE, HIRED ATTORNEY 2000.00 TO GET THIS CROOK TO BUY THE CAR BACK, DID NOTHING TO HELP ME, ANDREW ASBRIDGE LARRY STOVESAND, PADUCAH, COMMITTED ELDER ABUSE AGAINST MY 81 YEAR OLD FATHER HAVING HIM COME TO HIS DEALERSHIP TO COSIGN A LOAN FOR MY DAUGHTER,INSTEAD, CAR CAME BACK IN HIS NAME. SERVICE DEPT ERIC TOLD ME MILEAGES,DATES, NONE MATCHED, ODOMETER FRAUD. HE WAS THREATENED FOR TAKING TO ME! THEY KEPT MY CAR A MONTH WITH…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 6, 2017Electrical system, Air bags, StructureODI 10983821
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.