1997 Chevrolet CORVETTE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
128 owner complaints analyzed
5 distinct recall campaigns
42,258 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1997 model year. Data snapshot: . 46 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar is the most frequently named component, appearing in 45 of 128 complaints (35.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 78 | 60.9% |
| Braking behavior | 11 | 8.6% |
| Engine operation | 5 | 3.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 5 | 3.9% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 2.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 1.6% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar | 45 |
| Steering:Column Locking:Anti-Theft Device | 31 |
| Steering:Column | 11 |
| Steering | 9 |
| Seats | 7 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 6 |
| Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery | 3 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 3 |
Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar: 45; Steering:Column Locking:Anti-Theft Device: 31; Steering:Column: 11; Steering: 9; Seats: 7; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 6; Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery: 3; Fuel/Propulsion System: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 6 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 19 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 12 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 5 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 4 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 6; 25,000 to 49,999: 19; 50,000 to 74,999: 12; 75,000 to 99,999: 5; 100,000 to 149,999: 4; 150,000 and above: 0
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (19). 82 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 20 |
| 2001 | 16 |
| 2002 | 30 |
| 2003 | 27 |
| 2004 | 12 |
| 2005 | 5 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2010 | 5 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2014 | 3 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 1 |
2000: 20; 2001: 16; 2002: 30; 2003: 27; 2004: 12; 2005: 5; 2006: 1; 2007: 2; 2008: 2; 2010: 5; 2011: 2; 2012: 1; 2014: 3; 2019: 1; 2020: 1
Pattern summary
Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 78 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 11 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 5 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10000970 · 2003-01-12 (January 12, 2003)
WHILE BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVE THE STEERING COLUMN LOCKED UP AND WOULD NOT ALLOW THE WHEEL TO TURN. ALL I COULD DO IS PULL STRAIGHT FORWARD INTO MY GARAGE AND TURN OFF THE CAR. REF. IN EA02-031 *CJS
Owner-reported narrative. 24,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000970 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10001648 · 2002-12-30 (December 30, 2002)
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 5MPH ON FLAT SURFACE AND WITHOUT WARNING THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP CAUSING A DISTRACTION TO THE CONSUMER. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS REF. IN EA02-031 *CJS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10001648 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10033927 · 2003-08-13 (August 13, 2003)
REIMBURSEMENT OF REPAIR EXPENSES FOR BRAKE FAILURE.*MR ACCIDENT OCCURRED. *CB
Owner-reported narrative. 62,782 miles reported. Look up ODI 10033927 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10048209 · 2003-11-18 (November 18, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING TO WORK ON A 55 MPH ROAD CONSUMER GOT ONTO ANOTHER ROAD GOING ABOUT 35 MPH. TURNED RIGHT INTO WORK PARKING LOT AND STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. AFTER TRYING UNSUCCESSFULLY TO STRAIGHTEN OUT THE WHEELS HE APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES AND STOPPED THE VEHICLE. DISC DISPLAYED A MESSAGE. DID NOT HIT ANYTHING, BECAUSE NOTHING WAS IN VEHICLE'S PATH. SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED VEHICLE TO TRY TO GET WHEELS TO UNLOCK. ALSO TRIED TO TURN WHEEL BACK AND FORTH, BUT IT WOULD NOT MOVE. TOWED VEHICLE TO DEALER. DEALER SAID HE FIXED THE PRO…
Owner-reported narrative. 7,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10048209 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10219613 · 2008-02-28 (February 28, 2008)
SERVICE BULLETIN 05081 JUST PERFORMED ON MY CORVETTE TO FIX A STEERING COLUMN LOCK PROBLEM. AFTER WORK PERFORMED I GET A MESSAGE TO REMOVE KEY AND WAIT 10 SEC. TGM COMPLETED A SERVICE BULLETIN ON MY CAR THAT LEAVES ME WITH A CAR THAT STALLS IMMEDIATELY AFTER STARTING. IN THE MANY YEARS I OWNED THE CAR I HAD ONLY GOTTEN THE MESSAGE ONCE, WHICH RELATED TO THE STEERING COLUMN LOCK. NOW SINCE THE SERVICE BULLETIN WAS DONE TO FIX THE PROBLEM I GET THE MESSAGE EVERY OTHER TIME I START THE CAR. I FEEL AS THOUGH THE CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE I HAVE ALRE…
Owner-reported narrative. 58,420 miles reported. Look up ODI 10219613 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10474064 · 2012-09-06 (September 6, 2012)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STEERING LOCK BOX WAS NOT OPERATING PROPERLY AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE CONTROL STEERING LOCK WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER PREVIOUSLY FOR REPAIRS UNDER RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V060000 (STEERING:COLUMN LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT DEVICE). THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED WHO EXPLAINED THAT THE MANUFACTURER WAS ONLY REQUIRED TO PAY FOR RECALL REPAIRS ONCE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE …
Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10474064 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10006782 · 2003-02-07 (February 7, 2003)
THE FUEL TANK IS LEAKING GASOLINE. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. PH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10006782 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10330864 · 2010-05-17 (May 17, 2010)
FUEL LEAKING FROM THE GAS TANK ALONG WITH STRONG ODOR OF GAS. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IN FEB 2010 I DO SEE A RECALL FOR OTHER CORVETTES SAME YEAR, BUT DIFFERENT VIN#'S. I AM CONCERNED THERE ARE MORE VEHICLES WITH THE SAME PROBLEM THAT THE GM HAS NOT LOOKED AT . THIS CAR WAS MADE IN THE SAME PLANT AS THE OTHERS AND MY CAR HAS OTHER RECALLS THAT HAVE BEEN TAKEN CARE THAT WERE FROM THAT PLANT BOWLING GREEN PLANT CODE 5. I AM CERTAIN THAT THOSE VIN #'S ARE NOT THE ONLY VEHICLES WITH THIS PROBLEM. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 59,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10330864 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10071978 · 2004-05-03 (May 3, 2004)
RECEIVED RECALL 04V060000 CONCERNING STEERING COLUMN LOCKING MECHANISM. WHEN THE CONSUMER STARTS THE VEHICLE THE STEERING WHEEL WILL NOT UNLOCK. THIS VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL BECAUSE IT IS AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 37,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10071978 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10079058 · 2004-06-30 (June 30, 2004)
I OWN A 1997 CORVETTE WITH A MANUAL TRANSMISSION THAT HAS HAD TWO INSTANCES OF THE ELECTRONIC CLOLUMN LOCK SYSTEM FAILING. THE FIRST FAILURE OCCURRED IN JUNE OF 2000 AND GM REPLACED THE MODULE AT NO CHARGE. THE SECOND FAILURE OCCURRED IN AUGUST OF 2003. I UNDERSTAND THAT GM HAS DONE A RECALL ON 1997 CORVETTE'S FOR THIS PROBLEM (RECALL CAMPAIGN #04V060). I WROTE A LETTER TO GM REQUESTING INFORMATION AND REINBURSEMENT FOR MY COSTS DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE ECM IN AUGUST OF 2003, BUT WAS TOLD BY THE GM CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER THAT MY PARTICULA…
Owner-reported narrative. 32,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10079058 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10000254 · 2002-12-19 (December 19, 2002)
BATTERY LEAKED ACID ON TO PCM UNDER BATTERY TRAY AND ON TO A/C VACCUM HOSE.
Owner-reported narrative. 66,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000254 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10028754 · 2003-07-21 (July 21, 2003)
BATTERY LEAKAGE CAUSED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO WIRING HARNESS AND TCM COMPONETS.THE BATTERY POST FAILED AND ACID WAS RELEASED THRU BATTERY HOLDER TO COMPONETS BELOW.THIS ITEM IS A HAZARD SINCE IT TOTAL DISABLE CAR ELECTRONICS.AND IS OF POOR DESIGN PUTTING COMPUTER AND MAIN WIRING HARNESS DIRECTLY BELOW BATTERY CASE. AFTER SOME RESEARCH I FIND THIS HAS BEEN MANY SUCH INSTINCES OF THIS HAPPENING AND THE COST IS NOT CHEAP AT ABOUT $3000 TO $4000.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 28,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10028754 at NHTSA ↗