RecallRepo

1997 Chevrolet Corvette Recalls

Recalls on record Updated July 2026

The 1997 Chevrolet Corvette has 5 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 207,768 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 196 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the steering. Last updated July 5, 2026.

Recall campaigns

STEERING 04V060000 2004-02-09 126,624 affected
Defect

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…

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…

SEAT BELTS 00V111000 2000-04-17 71,569 affected
Defect

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE LAP BELT WEBBING CAN TWIST ALLOWING THE WEBBING TO BECOME JAMMED IN THE RETRACTOR.

Consequence

WHEN THE BELT WEBBING BECOMES JAMMED IN THE RETRACTOR, THE SEAT BELT MAY BE UNUSABLE.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSTALL INSERTS TO THE BELT WEB GUIDE OF EACH LAP BELT RETRACTOR.

SEAT BELTS 97V104000 1997-06-28 4,369 affected
Defect

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE SEAT BELTS IN THESE VEHICLES INCORPORATE AN ENERGY MANAGEMENT LOOP. THIS LOOP IS INADEQUATE TO ABSORB THE NECESSARY FORCES THAT CAN BE EXERTED ON IT. THEREFORE, THE VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION."

Consequence

IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE ENERGY MANAGEMENT LOOP WILL NOT ABSORB ENOUGH ENERGY, AND INJURY TO THE SEAT OCCUPANT CAN OCCUR.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR ASSEMBLIES.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 97V105000 1997-06-23 3,792 affected
Defect

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES HAVE A TORN FUEL TANK SENDING UNIT/PUMP SEAL. THIS CAN CAUSE FUEL ODOR AND/OR LEAKAGE AT THE ATTACHMENT LOCATION.

Consequence

FUEL LEAKAGE FROM A TORN SEAL CAN RESULT IN A FIRE IF AN IGNITION SOURCE IS PRESENT.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LEFT AND RIGHT HAND FUEL TANK ASSEMBLIES (INCLUDING FUEL SENDING UNIT AND PUMP).

SUSPENSION 97V044000 1997-03-20 1,414 affected
Defect

THE REAR SUSPENSION TIE ROD ASSEMBLY CAN FRACTURE.

Consequence

IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL CAN RESULT INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LEFT AND RIGHT-HAND REAR SUSPENSION TIE ROD LINKS.

Complaints by component

STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
48
STEERING:COLUMN LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT DEVICE
33
1injuries
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
13
STEERING:COLUMN
11
1injuries
STEERING
9
SEATS
7
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
4
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
4
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
4
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
4
Total complaints196

What owners report

Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.

“Filled gas tank..next day gas leaking with heavy gas fumes..moved car out of garage and parked in the street..”

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM · reported 2019-12-21

“Tl* the contact owns a 1997 chevrolet corvette. While attempting to drive in reverse, the engine stalled and the steering warning indicator illuminated. The failure occurred on multiple occasions. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer stated that the vehicle was previously…”

STEERING · reported 2014-09-13

“Tl* the contact owns a 1997 chevrolet corvette. While attempting to drive in reverse, the engine stalled and the steering warning indicator illuminated. The failure occurred on multiple occasions. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer stated that the vehicle was previously…”

ENGINE · reported 2014-09-13

“The chevrolet corvette was started in the courthouse parking lot moving in reverse with the steering wheel locked in place narrowing avoiding pedestrians. The vehicle could be moved in either direction, but the steering wheel could not be unlocked and subsequently transported to princeton…”

STEERING · reported 2013-06-25

“Tl* the contact owns a 1997 chevrolet corvette. The contact smelled a strong fuel odor coming from the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who stated that the gaskets around the fuel pump were loose. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the…”

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM · reported 2012-01-18

“Tl* the contact owns a 1997 chevrolet corvette c5. The contact was traveling 55 mph when the vehicle decelerated independently and failed to accelerate over 30 mph. The service engine warning light also illuminated intermittently. The failure was resolved temporarily when the engine was restarted.…”

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL · reported 2011-08-15

“There appear to be many verified complaints about the seats moving under acceleration and/or braking in the 1997-2004 corvettes. Why haven't you required chevrolet to fix this? *tr”

SEATS · reported 2011-04-10

“The gas gauge in the 1997 corvette, as well as all other c5 corvettes built from 1997 through 2004, will suddenly fall to empty with no warning, even though there is fuel remaining. Driving on highways without the ability to quickly stop for fuel can cause a serious problem since the driver will…”

FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER · reported 2010-09-17

Defect investigations

Investigation EA00009 Opened 2000-03-16 · closed 2000-04-18

FRONT LAP BELT MALFUNCTION

ODI OPENED THIS EA00-009 ON MARCH 16, 2000, TO CONTINUE ANALYSES BEGUN UNDER PRELIMINARY EVALUATION PE99-076.THE ALLEGED DEFECT: LAP BELT WEBBING IN BOTH SEATING POSITIONS TENDS TO FOLD OVER WHILE ENTERING THE RETRACTOR OPENING.THESE FOLDS FREQUENTLY IMPEDE PROPER WEBBING RETRACTION.IF THE RETRACTOR HAS BEEN…

Investigation EA02031 Opened 2002-11-15 · closed 2004-03-11

STEERING COLUMN LOCKUP

IN 2001, GENERAL MOTORS (GM) ISSUED CUSTOMER SERVICE CAMPAIGNS 1044 AND 1044A TO ADDRESS A CONDITION WHERE THE STEERING COLUMN WOULD FAIL TO UNLOCK DURING THE INITIAL KEY-IN AND START-UP IN CERTAIN MY 1998-2000 CORVETTE VEHICLES.HOWEVER, ODI CONTINUED TO RECEIVE COMPLAINTS CONCERNING STEERING COLUMN LOCKUP ON…

Investigation EA02031 Opened 2002-11-15 · closed 2004-03-11

STEERING COLUMN LOCKUP

IN 2001, GENERAL MOTORS (GM) ISSUED CUSTOMER SERVICE CAMPAIGNS 1044 AND 1044A TO ADDRESS A CONDITION WHERE THE STEERING COLUMN WOULD FAIL TO UNLOCK DURING THE INITIAL KEY-IN AND START-UP IN CERTAIN MY 1998-2000 CORVETTE VEHICLES.HOWEVER, ODI CONTINUED TO RECEIVE COMPLAINTS CONCERNING STEERING COLUMN LOCKUP ON…

Investigation EA02031 Opened 2002-11-15 · closed 2004-03-11

STEERING COLUMN LOCKUP

IN 2001, GENERAL MOTORS (GM) ISSUED CUSTOMER SERVICE CAMPAIGNS 1044 AND 1044A TO ADDRESS A CONDITION WHERE THE STEERING COLUMN WOULD FAIL TO UNLOCK DURING THE INITIAL KEY-IN AND START-UP IN CERTAIN MY 1998-2000 CORVETTE VEHICLES.HOWEVER, ODI CONTINUED TO RECEIVE COMPLAINTS CONCERNING STEERING COLUMN LOCKUP ON…

Investigation PE02054 Opened 2002-07-01 · closed 2002-11-15

STEERING COLUMN LOCKUP

SEE RESUME IN REPOSITORY.

Investigation PE99076 Opened 1999-12-10 · closed 2000-03-16

FRONT LAP BELT MALFUNCTION

There is no summary currently available

Sources & methodology

Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1997 Chevrolet Corvette as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.