2003 Chevrolet CORVETTE: complaints, problems and recalls

THE TRANSMISSION MADE A LOUD NOISE. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10015094 at NHTSA ↗

THE VEHICLE MAD A TURN ON ITS OWN WITHOUT WARNING. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10015113 at NHTSA ↗

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING THE ENGINE WILL REV CAUSING AND DISTRACTION TO THE CONSUMER. DEALER NOTIFIED

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10018127 at NHTSA ↗

WHEN ANY LIGHT SHINES ON THE WINDSHIELD THE DASHBOARD REFLECTS AND CAUSE AN ILLUSION THAT'S BLINDING.

Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10018170 at NHTSA ↗

CONSTANT LEAK AND FAILURE OF REAR DIFFERENTIAL AND SUSPENSION SYSTEM BECOMING NON OPERATIONAL. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 2,750 miles reported. Look up ODI 10025989 at NHTSA ↗

WHEN INITIALLY MOVING THE VEHICLE AT 1000 RPMS MANUAL TRANSMISSION MADE A TERRIBLE RATTLE NOISE. DEALER STATED THAT WAS THE WAY THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION WAS DESIGNED.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10037891 at NHTSA ↗

THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT LOCKE UP. THE PREVIOUS OWNER HAD THIS ISSUE TAKEN CARE OF ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS AND THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *PH *JB *NM

Owner-reported narrative. 22,223 miles reported. Look up ODI 10047814 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHER SPEEDS AND WHEN SHIFTING FROM FOURTH TO FIFTH GEAR GEAR SHIFT WANTED TO GO INTO REVERSE. WHEN THIS HAPPENED, THERE WAS A GRINDING SOUND COMING FROM THE GEAR MECHANISM. THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED SIX TIMES IN THE LAST THREE WEEKS. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10055980 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2004-02-09 (February 9, 2004)

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ELECTRONIC COLUMN LOCK SYSTEMS (ECL), WHEN THE IGNITION SWITCH IS TURNED TO "LOCK," THE ECL SYSTEM 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 THE VEHICLE CANNOT BE STEERED. IF VOLTAGE AT THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE IS LOW OR INTERRUPTED, HOWEVER, THE FUEL SHUT OFF MAY NOT OCCUR AND THE VEHICLE CAN BE ACCELERATED WHILE THE STEERING SYSTEM IS LOCKED. ALSO WHEN THE CONTROL SYSTEM SHOWS THAT THE ECL IS UNLOCKED AND THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN, THE LOCK PIN LOCATION CAN VARY. DEPENDING ON THE LOCATION OF THE LOCK PLATE RELATIVE TO THE SWITCH TRANSITION POINT, THERE COULD THEN BE CONTACT BETWEEN THE LOCK PLATE AND PIN CAUSING THE STEERING TO LOCK WHILE DRIVING .

Consequence: IF THIS OCCURS, A CRASH COULD OCCUR WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy: ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, THE DEALER WILL DISABLE THE STEERING COLUMN LOCK BY REMOVING THE COLUMN LOCK PLATE. WHEN THE IGNITION KEY IS REMOVED, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTER WILL LOCK BUT THE STEERING COLUMN WILL NOT LOCK. ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A MANUAL TRANSMISSION, THE DEALER WILL REPROGRAM THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE, PERFORM A DIMENSIONAL CHECK OF THE COLUMN LOCK AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE LOCK PLATE. THE STEERING COLUMN ON THESE VEHICLES WILL CONTINUE TO LOCK WHEN THE KEY IS REMOVED. OWNER NOTIFICATION TO OWNERS OF 1997 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS BEGAN ON APRIL 26, 2004. OWNERS OF 1998 THROUGH 2004 VEHICLES (EXCEPT 1997-1998 MANUAL TRANSMISSION VEHICLES) WILL BE NOTIFIED BEGINNING ON AUGUST 2, 2004. THE REMAINING OWNERS (1997-1998 MANUAL TRANSMISSION VEHICLES) WILL BE NOTIFIED LATER IN 2004, WHEN PARTS ARE AVAILABLE. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438.