1999 Chevrolet CORVETTE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
278 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
45,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1999 model year. Data snapshot: . 133 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Steering:Column Locking:Anti-Theft Device is the most frequently named component, appearing in 64 of 278 complaints (23.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 166 | 59.7% |
| Braking behavior | 33 | 11.9% |
| Transmission and shifting | 20 | 7.2% |
| Engine operation | 15 | 5.4% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 10 | 3.6% |
| Fuel system concerns | 4 | 1.4% |
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:Column Locking:Anti-Theft Device | 64 |
| Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar | 61 |
| Steering | 52 |
| Electrical System | 14 |
| Seats | 10 |
| Service Brakes | 10 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 9 |
| Steering:Column | 9 |
Steering:Column Locking:Anti-Theft Device: 64; Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar: 61; Steering: 52; Electrical System: 14; Seats: 10; Service Brakes: 10; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 9; Steering:Column: 9
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 23 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 57 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 22 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 17 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 13 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 23; 25,000 to 49,999: 57; 50,000 to 74,999: 22; 75,000 to 99,999: 17; 100,000 to 149,999: 13; 150,000 and above: 1
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (57). 145 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 | 70 |
| 2001 | 29 |
| 2002 | 11 |
| 2003 | 31 |
| 2004 | 20 |
| 2005 | 10 |
| 2006 | 8 |
| 2007 | 3 |
| 2008 | 10 |
| 2009 | 7 |
| 2010 | 7 |
| 2011 | 11 |
| 2012 | 5 |
| 2013 | 9 |
| 2014 | 8 |
| 2015 | 11 |
| 2016 | 9 |
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2018 | 7 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 3 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 1 |
2000: 70; 2001: 29; 2002: 11; 2003: 31; 2004: 20; 2005: 10; 2006: 8; 2007: 3; 2008: 10; 2009: 7; 2010: 7; 2011: 11; 2012: 5; 2013: 9; 2014: 8; 2015: 11; 2016: 9; 2017: 3; 2018: 7; 2019: 2; 2020: 1; 2021: 3; 2022: 1; 2023: 1; 2024: 1
Pattern summary
Steering:Column Locking:Anti-Theft Device leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 166 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 33 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 20 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 10001459 · 2002-12-24 (December 24, 2002)
WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH, THE VEHICLES STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. CONSUMER HAD TO FORCEFULLY BREAK STEERING WHEEL LOOSE AND DROVE TO THE NEAREST CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. REF. IN EA02-031 *CJS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10001459 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10002658 · 2003-01-14 (January 14, 2003)
THE STEERING COLUMN ON MY 1999 CHEVROLET CORVETTE LOCKED AFTER STARTING IT AND THE CAR WAS IN DRIVE. REF. IN EA02-031 *CJS
Owner-reported narrative. 17,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10002658 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10046600 · 2003-11-07 (November 7, 2003)
INTERMITTENTLY EMERGENCY HAND BRAKE DID NOT WORK. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THE HAND BRAKE HAD NOT BEEN SET. CONSUMER HAD TO RUN TO CATCH THE VEHICLE BEFORE IT COLLIDED WITH SOMETHING. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 1,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10046600 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10067129 · 2004-04-14 (April 14, 2004)
WITHOUT WARNING STEERING WHEEL AND BRAKES LOCKED UP. CONSUMER DOWN SHIFTED, AND WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. CONSUMER CON HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10067129 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10016529 · 2003-04-26 (April 26, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING MY 1999 CHEVROLET CORVETTE I TURNED OFF THE HIGHWAY & INTO THE PARKING LOT OF A STORE UPON DOING SO MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. I NEVER RECEIVED ANY WARNINGS IN MY DIC ABOUT STEERING PROBLEMS I ALSO HAD THIS REPLACEMENT PART PER A RECALL NOTICE LESS THAN A YEAR AGO & AT THAT TIME FOUND OUT IT HAD BEEN REPLACED PRIOR TO THAT. THE DEALERSHIP TOWED THE CAR IN & INFORMED US THAT THEY HAD FIXED IT AGAIN! THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS VEHICLE! THE NOTES I READ ON YOUR SITE EVEN 1997 THROUGH 2002 MODELS WITH THIS PROBLEM NONE OF THE RE…
Owner-reported narrative. 36,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10016529 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10031933 · 2003-08-01 (August 1, 2003)
CLUTCH INTERMITTENTLY WILL NOT RETURN TO THE HOUSING UNIT. TRANSMISSION WILL BECOME STUCK. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10031933 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10386894 · 2011-03-08 (March 8, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING APPROXIMATLEY 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY STALL APPROXIMATELY EVERY FIVE FEET. THE VEHICLE TRAVELED. THE SERVICE STEERING COLUMN WARNING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE FOLLOWING EVERY INSTANCE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER NOR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 3,000. UPDATED 4/4/11 *CN UPDATED 04/06/11
Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10386894 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10407107 · 2011-06-16 (June 16, 2011)
1999 CORVETTE PULL KEY WAIT 10 SECONDS, COLUMN SHIFT LOCK, FUEL SYSTEM SHUT OFF, STALLED FOR THE SECOND TIME, FIRST TIME 2008, COST ME 550.00, THIS TIME 3 DAYS AGO, STALLED AGAIN, 2 TOW TRUCK BILLS, CHEVY GARAGE STATES THIS WAS FIXED ON RECALL, WHAT CAN I DO? [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 42,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10407107 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10029228 · 2003-07-26 (July 26, 2003)
I HAVE A 1999 CORVETTE W/TARGA TOP. BOUGHT FROM A DEALERSHIP 6MOS AGO AND THIS EVENING WHILE TRYING TO BACK OUT AT A RESTRAUNT THE STEERING COLUMN LOCKED UP. CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE FOLLOWED ALL INSTRUCTIONS INCLUDING UNHOOKING THE BATTERY TO NO AVAIL. STEERING STILL DIDNT BUDGE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10029228 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10049432 · 2003-12-08 (December 8, 2003)
UPON RETURNING TO MY VEHICLE, THE STEERING COLUMN WAS LOCKED, AND THE DRIVER INFORMATION CENTER DISPLAYED A MESSAGE SAYING "SERVICE STEERING LOCK". I INITIALLY BROUGH MY VEHICLE TO TOM JUMPER CHEVROLET IN ROSWELL, GEORGIA. THE SERVICE ADVISOR CLAIMED IT WAS A DEFECTIVE BATTERY AND OFFERED TO CHANGE MY BATTERY FOR THE MEAGER SUM OF $357.00. HAVING NO CONFIDENCE WHATSOEVER THAT HIS DIAGNOSIS WAS PROPER, I REMOVED MY VEHICLE FROM HIS PREMISES AND TRANSFERRED IT TO NALLEY, CHEVROLET IN ATLANTA. IT TURNED OUT THAT THE STEERING COLUMN LOCK ACTUAT…
Owner-reported narrative. 39,962 miles reported. Look up ODI 10049432 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10229924 · 2008-06-04 (June 4, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE WORDS "SERVICE STEERING COLUMN LOCK" APPEARED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND WAS INFORMED OF THE DANGERS OF DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT IF THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN, THE STEERING COLUMN WOULD LOCK AND THE FUEL PUMP DEVICE WOULD SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DRIVEN OR REPAIRED SINCE THE MESSAGE APPEARED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 20,700. UPDATED 07/08/08. *BF UPDATED *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 20,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10229924 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11287766 · 2019-12-08 (December 8, 2019)
FUEL LEAK FROM THE PASSENGER FUEL TANK. THIS IS CREATING A FUEL VAPOR SMELL INSIDE THE CAR AND THE GARAGE WHERE PARKED. THIS IS A FIRE AND SAFETY HAZARD!
Owner-reported narrative. 130,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11287766 at NHTSA ↗