2002 Chevrolet CORVETTE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
157 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
42,750 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: . 130 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Steering is the most frequently named component, appearing in 29 of 157 complaints (18.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 60 | 38.2% |
| Braking behavior | 25 | 15.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 13 | 8.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 10 | 6.4% |
| Transmission and shifting | 4 | 2.5% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 2.5% |
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 | 29 |
| Steering:Column Locking:Anti-Theft Device | 25 |
| Wheels | 22 |
| Wheels:Rim | 15 |
| Electrical System | 13 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 9 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 7 |
| Steering:Column | 6 |
Steering: 29; Steering:Column Locking:Anti-Theft Device: 25; Wheels: 22; Wheels:Rim: 15; Electrical System: 13; Fuel System, Gasoline: 9; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 7; Steering:Column: 6
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 32 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 44 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 36 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 11 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 4 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 32; 25,000 to 49,999: 44; 50,000 to 74,999: 36; 75,000 to 99,999: 11; 100,000 to 149,999: 4; 150,000 and above: 3
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (44). 27 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 |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 2 |
| 2002 | 5 |
| 2003 | 10 |
| 2004 | 13 |
| 2005 | 11 |
| 2006 | 13 |
| 2007 | 13 |
| 2008 | 4 |
| 2009 | 4 |
| 2010 | 17 |
| 2011 | 15 |
| 2012 | 15 |
| 2013 | 3 |
| 2014 | 8 |
| 2015 | 8 |
| 2016 | 4 |
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 3 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2025 | 1 |
2001: 2; 2002: 5; 2003: 10; 2004: 13; 2005: 11; 2006: 13; 2007: 13; 2008: 4; 2009: 4; 2010: 17; 2011: 15; 2012: 15; 2013: 3; 2014: 8; 2015: 8; 2016: 4; 2017: 3; 2018: 2; 2019: 3; 2020: 2; 2023: 1; 2025: 1
Pattern summary
Steering leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 60 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 25 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 13 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 10001361 · 2002-12-20 (December 20, 2002)
THE VEHICLE WAS INSIDE OF THE GARAGE HE WAS BACKING OUT OF THE GARAGE ATTEMPT TO PULL BACK INSIDE . THE STEERING COLUMN LOCK. PLEASE PROVIDED ADDITIONAL INFORMATION DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. TS REF. IN EA02-031 *CJS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10001361 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10009529 · 2003-03-10 (March 10, 2003)
THE STEERING COLUMN LOCKED UP, THE FRONT HEADLIGHTS DID NOT ELEVATE AND THE DRIVER'S SEAT BACK BROKE. *DT *JB REF. IN EA02-031 *CJS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10009529 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10019223 · 2003-05-24 (May 24, 2003)
I HAVE A 2002 CHEVROLET CORVETTE THAT IS IN FOR REPAIR FOR ABS AND OTHER. THE PART A ABS MODULE DOES NOT SEEM TO BE AVAILABLE AND MAY NOT BE FOR ANOTHER 2 TO THREE WEEKS. THIS CAR HAS BEEN IN SINCE 5/5 AND I HAVE NO IDEA WHEN I MAY GET THE VEHICLE BACK. I DO NOT THINK IT IS REASONABLE TO HAVE A VEHICLE IN FOR SUCH A LONG TIME. THE VEHICLE USES A LOT OF OIL ALSO, AND ENGINE NOISE IS A PROBLEM. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 8,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10019223 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10025273 · 2003-07-02 (July 2, 2003)
DRIVER SIDE POWER SEAT MOVES DURING MODERATE ACCERLERATION AND BRAKING. I ATTEMPTED TO GET IT CORRECTED UNDER CHEVY TECHANICAL BULLETIN NO. 02-08-50-002 DATED 3/13/02 BECAUSE I WAS UNAWARE UNTIL A FRIEND MENTIONED TO ME THAT HE HAD TO GET HIS SEAT FIXED ON HIS VETTE UNDER THE SAME BULLETIN NO. WHEN I TRIED TO GET IT FIXED THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT "COVERED" UNDER THAT BULLETIN NO. AND THAT I WOULD NEED TO CONTACT CHEVROLET. MY FRIEND OWNES THE EXACT SAME CAR AS I DO, HIS CAN GET FIXED BUT MINE CAN'T? I HAVE NEVER OWNED A CA…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10025273 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10150413 · 2006-02-16 (February 16, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED CRACKS WERE DISCOVERED IN THE SPOKES ON BOTH REAR WHEELS OF THE VEHICLE. ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION, NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. UPDATED 3/9/2006 - THE WHEELS WERE INSPECTED BY FACTORY REPRESENTATIVE WHO AUTHORIZED THE DEALER TO REPLACE BOTH REAR WHEELS AT NO COST TO THE CONSUMER. THE ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP WAS ALSO REPLACED. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 55,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10150413 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10176269 · 2006-12-15 (December 15, 2006)
THE GAS GAUGE ON MY 2002 CORVETTE GOES TO EMPTY WHILE DRIVING, THE DIC FLASHES " LOW FUEL" & THE CHECK GAUGES LIGHT COMES ON. JUST AS SUDDENLY, IT WILL START WORKING AGAIN SEVERAL DAYS LATER. I PAID A LOCAL DEALER ~$700 TO REPLACE THE FUEL TANK SENSOR UNIT ABOUT A YEAR AGO. SINCE THEN THE PROBLEM HAS RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. NOW THE DEALERSHIP IS TELLING ME TO ADD A GAS ADDITIVE, ONLY AVAILABLE FROM CHEVROLET AT $25 A TREATMENT, TO FIX THE PROBLEM. AFTER ADDING A BOTTLE OF THE GAS TREATMENT, MY GAS GAUGE WENT TO EMPTY & STAYED THERE FOR 3 DAYS. …
Owner-reported narrative. 37,426 miles reported. Look up ODI 10176269 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10013988 · 2003-04-05 (April 5, 2003)
THE BATTERY WILL DRAIN AFTER 5 DAYS AFTER BEING PARKED. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY JOHN HALL CHEVROLET THAT THIS IS NORMAL DUE TO THE EXCESSIVE POWER DRAIN THAT THE CORVETTE COMPUTERS PUT ON THE BATTERY. THIS DESPITE 3 "CHARGE SYSTEM FAULT" MESSAGES THAT HAVE COME UP ON THE DISPLAY SCREEN. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 8,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10013988 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10127553 · 2005-07-05 (July 5, 2005)
DT: THE CONTACT HAD TRACTION CONTROL, HANDLING, AND ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. AS A RESULT THE BATTERY WENT DEAD, ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED, SERVICE TRACTION LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED HANDLING PROBLEMS. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10127553 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10090641 · 2004-09-08 (September 8, 2004)
I HAD THE SAME COLUMN-LOCK ISSUE THAT HAS BEEN WIDELY REPORTED ON THE C5 CORVETTE. I RECEIVED MY RECALL NOTICE FOR MY 2002 MANUAL-TRANSMISSION VETTE AND HAD THE RECALL PERFORMED. I HAD HAD NO PREVIOUS PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING COLUMN LOCKING. THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT THEY CHECKED THE COLUMN-LOCK MECHANISM AND THEN REPROGRAMMED THE COMPUTER. HOWEVER, SEVERAL WEEKS LATER, MY STEERING COLUMN LOCKED UPON STARTUP.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 11,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10090641 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10135271 · 2005-09-03 (September 3, 2005)
STEERING COLUMN LOCKUP ON 2002 CORVETTE WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSION. SCENARIO IS AS FOLLOWS: WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE THE STEERING COLUMN DOES NOT RELEASE THE STEERING WHEEL. THE STEERING WHEEL REMAINS LOCKED IN POSITION. THIS CAN BE EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS IF IT OCCURS AT STOP SIGN OR STOP LIGHT AFTER THE DRIVER HAS ACCIDENTALLY KILLED THE VEHICLE AND NEEDS TO RESTART. WHEN IT OCCURS THE ONLY COURSE OF ACTION IS TO CALL A TOW SERVICE AND GET THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD. GM STATES THAT THE VEHICLE IS FINE. THE EVENT DOES NOT LOG AN ERROR CODE SO…
Owner-reported narrative. 58,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10135271 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10061113 · 2004-03-02 (March 2, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING 85 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICED SEVEN TIMES DUE TO STALLING ONCE THE FUEL GAUGE REACHED 3/8. THE DEALERSHIP WAS GOING TO REPLACE THE FUEL GAUGE AGAIN.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10061113 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10347098 · 2010-08-03 (August 3, 2010)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. THE CONTACT STATED THE SERVICE COLUMN LOCK WARNING LIGHT WOULD SPORADICALLY ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FOLLOWED BY THE VEHICLE STALLING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE BUT THE FAILURE WOULD CONSISTENTLY RECUR. THE DEALER INSTALLED A RESISTOR HOWEVER THE FAILURE RECURRED WITHIN A FEW MONTHS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER AND AFTER TWO WEEKS, THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE DEALER WAS OVERWHELMED AND HAD NOT YET INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT INQUIRED WITH THE M…
Owner-reported narrative. 71,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10347098 at NHTSA ↗