2004 Chevrolet CORVETTE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
217 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
33,100 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2004 model year. Data snapshot: . 180 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Fuel System, Gasoline is the most frequently named component, appearing in 78 of 217 complaints (35.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel system concerns | 109 | 50.2% |
| Steering behavior | 35 | 16.1% |
| Braking behavior | 12 | 5.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 5 | 2.3% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 1.4% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 0.9% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 78 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 52 |
| Steering | 26 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly | 12 |
| Electrical System | 8 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 8 |
| Service Brakes | 7 |
| Steering:Column Locking:Anti-Theft Device | 7 |
Fuel System, Gasoline: 78; Fuel/Propulsion System: 52; Steering: 26; Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly: 12; Electrical System: 8; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 8; Service Brakes: 7; Steering:Column Locking:Anti-Theft Device: 7
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 68 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 57 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 30 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 14 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 10 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 68; 25,000 to 49,999: 57; 50,000 to 74,999: 30; 75,000 to 99,999: 14; 100,000 to 149,999: 10; 150,000 and above: 1
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (68). 37 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 |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 7 |
| 2005 | 8 |
| 2006 | 4 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 8 |
| 2009 | 10 |
| 2010 | 64 |
| 2011 | 13 |
| 2012 | 7 |
| 2013 | 11 |
| 2014 | 12 |
| 2015 | 8 |
| 2016 | 15 |
| 2017 | 9 |
| 2018 | 7 |
| 2019 | 9 |
| 2020 | 3 |
| 2021 | 7 |
| 2022 | 4 |
| 2023 | 7 |
| 2024 | 2 |
2004: 7; 2005: 8; 2006: 4; 2007: 2; 2008: 8; 2009: 10; 2010: 64; 2011: 13; 2012: 7; 2013: 11; 2014: 12; 2015: 8; 2016: 15; 2017: 9; 2018: 7; 2019: 9; 2020: 3; 2021: 7; 2022: 4; 2023: 7; 2024: 2
Pattern summary
Fuel System, Gasoline leads the component reports. Fuel system concerns appears in 109 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 35 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 12 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 10078403 · 2004-06-17 (June 17, 2004)
I HAVE A BRAND NEW 2004 CORVETTE 1 1/2 MONTHS OLD WITH ONLY 1341 MILES ON IT. WHILE DRIVING HOME IN RUSH HOUR DALLAS TRAFFIC ON A VERY BUSY FAST MOVING ROAD, MY ENGINE DIED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. I COULD NOT RESTART THE CAR & WAS IN A VERY SERIOUS SITUATION RISKING THE POSSIBILITY OF BEING REAR ENDED. LUCKILY A POLICEMAN CAME BY AND PARKED BEHIND ME TO SHIELD ME FROM THE TRAFFIC. IF I HAD BEEN ON THE FREEWAY, I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. THE GM DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR (RAY HUFFINES CHEVROLET OF PLANO) IS ACTING LIKE IT IS NO BIG D…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,341 miles reported. Look up ODI 10078403 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10080367 · 2004-07-05 (July 5, 2004)
SMELL GAS ODOR OUTSIDE THE CAR, MOSTLY ON THE DRIVER SIDE. GAS LEAKS FOUND BY THE DEALERSHIP ON THE DRIVERSIDE FUEL TANK, SEAL ON THE FUEL PUMP, AND THE INTERCONNCTING HOSES FOR BOTH TANK. ALL PARTS REPLACED.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 7,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10080367 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10080250 · 2004-07-01 (July 1, 2004)
THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AS STATED IN NHTSA RECALL# 04V060000 WHICH STATES THAT ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ELECTRONIC COLUMN LOCK SYSTEMS (ECL), WHEN THE IGNITION SWITCH IS TURNED TO ?LOCK,? THE ECL PREVENTS TURNING OF THE STEERING SYSTEM. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STARTED, THE ECL UNLOCKS THE STEERING SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE IS DESIGNED SO THAT IF THE COLUMN FAILS TO UNLOCK WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STARTED AND THE CUSTOMER TRIES TO DRIVE, THE FUEL SUPPLY WILL BE SHUT OFF SO THAT THE VEHICLE CANNOT MOVE WHEN TH…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10080250 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10133128 · 2005-08-17 (August 17, 2005)
PARKING BRAKE WILL NOT HOLD MY CAR ON A HILL IN NEUTRAL. MY LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALER HAD FOUR ATTEMPTS BUT IS UNABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THE DEALER THEN SAID THAT THE PARKING BRAKE IS NOT INTENDED TO HOLD THE CAR BUT ONLY TO ASSIST. SAM DANIEL FROM THE NHTSA TOLD ME TO PUT IN A COMPLAINT DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE STANDARD FOR PARKING BRAKES IS TO HOLD ON A 30 DEGREE HILL FOR 5 MINUTES.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10133128 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10414591 · 2011-07-21 (July 21, 2011)
I OWN A 2004 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE I SMELLED A STRONG FUEL ODOR. I CHECKED AND HE REPLACED THE GASOLINE CAP, AND NOTICED A GAS PUDDLE ON THE GROUND WASHED THE VEHICLE BUT COULD STILL SMELL FUEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A CHEVROLET MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE AND CONFIRMED THAT THE FUEL TANK PIPE CONNECTORS WERE DEFECTIVE. THE FUEL TANK CONNECTORS COULD NOT BE REPLACED; THEREFORE, THE FUEL TANK HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WASN'T REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,400 AND THE CURRENT MILEAG…
Owner-reported narrative. 35,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10414591 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10088646 · 2004-08-26 (August 26, 2004)
THE PRESENT SAFETY RECALL OF LATE MODEL CORVETTES TO RECTIFIY A POTENTIALLY CATASTROPHIC STEERING LOCK WHILE TRAVELLING DOES NOT ELIMINATE THE SAFETY RISK IN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS. GM'S SOLUTION FOR MANUAL TRANSMISSION VEHICLES IS TO SHUT OFF GAS TO THE ENGINE INSTEAD OF REMOVING THE COLUMN LOCK PLATE (AS IN THE RECALL FOR THE AUTOMATICS). THE STEERING ON CARS EQUIPPED WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS CAN STILL LOCK UP WHILE TRAVELLING AT HIGH SPEED - EVEN AFTER THE GM RECALL FIX. PLEASE ADDRESS THIS ISSUE - THIS IS STILL A PO…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10088646 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10144611 · 2005-12-06 (December 6, 2005)
SHIFTER POPS-OUT OF REVERSE WHEN FULLY ENGAGED IN REVERSE THE SHIFTER POPS OUT. THIS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND HAS TO DO WITH THE TRANSMISSION AND NOT THE SHIFTER, ALTHOUGH IT IS SLOPPY ALSO. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 25,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10144611 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10508063 · 2013-04-12 (April 12, 2013)
STEERING COLUMN LOCK RECALL: DEALER INSPECTED VEHICLE AND REPROGRAMMED AND PERFORMANCE TEST. DATE ACCOMPLISHED - AUGUST 31, 2004. APPROXIMATELY 6 MONTHS AGO, THIS VEHICLE BEGAN DISPLAYING COLUMN LOCK ERROR MESSAGE "REMOVE KEY FOR 10 SECONDS" WHICH CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO STALL IF YOU SHOULD TRY TO START IT. THE VEHICLE WILL START WITHOUT HAVING REMOVED THE KEY FOR 10 SECONDS,HOWEVER, IT WILL STALL UPON BEGINNING DRIVING. THIS MESSAGE OCCURS EVERY TIME VEHICLE IS STARTED AND MAY RECUR SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE CAR CAN BE DRIVEN. DEALER INF…
Owner-reported narrative. 8,370 miles reported. Look up ODI 10508063 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10903763 · 2016-09-06 (September 6, 2016)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE SHUT OFF AND A "SERVICE STEERING COLUMN" MESSAGE DISPLAYED. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO STALL. THE CONTACT ALSO OBSERVED A SECOND MESSAGE THAT READ "TAKE THE KEY OUT FOR 10 SECOND AND REINSERT". AFTER FOLLOWING THE INSTRUCTIONS, THE VEHICLE OPERATED NORMALLY. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUM…
Owner-reported narrative. 6,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10903763 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10297494 · 2009-12-30 (December 30, 2009)
I HAVE A 2000 CHEVROLET CORVETTE AND A 2004 CHEVROLET COMMEMORATIVE EDITION CORVETTE. BOTH OF MY VETTES HAVE HAD A ROOF LEAK AND BOTH CARS HAVE THE FIXED ROOF. NEITHER VEHICLES HAVE EVER BEEN WRECKED. IT HAS CAUSED MILDEW ON THE HEADLINER AS WELL AS NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH WIRING IN THE CAR DUE TO THE LEAK. BECAUSE MY 2000 CORVETTE HAD NO WARRANTY WE FIXED THE PROBLEM OURSELVES, BUT MY 2004 CORVETTE STILL IS HAVING A PROBLEM. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE IT IS UNDER WARRANTY BUT THE WARRANTY WOULD NOT COVER THE ROOF LEAK. I WAS WONDERING …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10297494 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10361244 · 2010-10-19 (October 19, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. THE CONTACT STARTED THE IGNITION AND WHEN THE GEAR WAS SHIFTED INTO "DRIVE" THE STEERING COLUMN LOCKED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE WIRING HARNESS KIT, AND STEERING COLUMN LOCK WERE REPLACED AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED AFTER A PREVIOUS REPAIR UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V060000 (STEERING: COLUMN LOCKING: ANTI-THEFT DEVICE). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,700.
Owner-reported narrative. 1,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10361244 at NHTSA ↗