The 2001 Chevrolet Corvette has 1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting an estimated 126,624 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 281 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the steering. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
STEERING04V0600002004-02-09126,624 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…
Complaints by component
STEERING
43
STEERING:COLUMN LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT DEVICE
29
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
17
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
16
1crashes
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
15
WHEELS
12
1crashes
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
11
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
10
STEERING:COLUMN
8
2crashes1fires1injuries
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
7
Total complaints281
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“My steering column lock has failed on my c5 corvette. I understand that there was a previous recall for this, but I have been the owner of this car since 2001 and was never notified by mail of the recall by gm. When I contact gm, they indicate that the recall is expired and there is nothing that…”
“We purchased the car on 12/17/21. I went to costco on 12/18/21 to get gas. I had a preset amount of $50 to put into the car. When I got to $50 I shut the pump off myself, the tank was not full enough for it to shut off automatically. As I look down on the ground I saw a fluid running out from…”
“Have 2001 manual 6 speed corvette. Column locks up. Have no way to start car or steer. Worried car will lock up steering column while driving. Gm says there's no recall on this. Seems to be a problem on c5 corvettes.”
“I pulled out into traffic and almost got killed! The console lock screen came on, and my car stopped as well! The wheel was not locked. The car that was so very understanding, suggest I get a ford. Gm truly needs to recall every car they have to be recalled for their loyal customers lives. I will…”
“I have owned this 2001 corvette since it was new it has less than 7000 miles on it.on friday may 8th 2020 I had to have it towed to the dealer century chevrolet in broomfield colorado.the service column lock is on at the dash and I cannot turn the steering wheel and if you try to drive it the…”
“I have owned this 2001 corvette since it was new it has less than 7000 miles on it.on friday may 8th 2020 I had to have it towed to the dealer century chevrolet in broomfield colorado.the service column lock is on at the dash and I cannot turn the steering wheel and if you try to drive it the…”
“I have owned this 2001 corvette since it was new it has less than 7000 miles on it.on friday may 8th 2020 I had to have it towed to the dealer century chevrolet in broomfield colorado.the service column lock is on at the dash and I cannot turn the steering wheel and if you try to drive it the…”
“2001 corvette, passenger side front wheel has an approx 3" crack where the spoke meets the rim and runs from where the tire mounts to inside the wheel affected wheel loses 20psi of air per hour.”
Defect investigations
InvestigationEA02031 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…
InvestigationEA02031 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…
InvestigationEA02031 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…
InvestigationPE02054 Opened 2002-07-01 · closed 2002-11-15
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2001 Chevrolet Corvette as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.