1998 Chevrolet Corvette: steering wheel locks up

Filed Sep 27, 2019 · Steering · 96,000 miles · TN

Tl* the contact owns a 1998 chevrolet corvette. While turning into the driveway, the steering wheel seized without warning. The contact stated that he powered off and restarted the engine multiple times, shook the steering wheel, and removed the battery so the computer could reprogram; however, the steering wheel remained locked. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle was not included in a warranty. The approximate failure mileage was 96,000.

Filed Nov 16, 2017 · Steering · 79,500 miles · NJ

Tl* the contact owns a 1998 chevrolet corvette. The contact stated that while driving at 45 MPH, the power steering lock warning light illuminated. The contact was able to drive home safely. The vehicle was then taken to schumacher buick gmc of north palm beach dealer located at 3720 northlake blvd suite c, lake park, fl 33403 where it was diagnosed that the steering lock, the steering plate, the steering shaft and the steering wheel needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was contacted at 866‑790‑5600 and was made aware of the failure. The manufacturer stated that the VIN was not part of the recall and that the contact had to pay for the repair. A case number 8-3480612551 was provided. The approximate failure mileage was 79,500.

Filed Jun 28, 2016 · Steering · 41,000 miles · MI

Tl* the contact owns a 1998 chevrolet corvette. While attempting to start the vehicle, the steering wheel seized and the steering wheel lock light illuminated. The contact also mentioned that if the vehicle was started and the steering wheel locked, the engine would stall. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The VIN was included in the federal safety agency campaign number: 04v060000 (steering). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 41,000. Updated 12/01/16*lj udated 12/05/16.

Filed Jan 11, 2016 · Electrical · 36,261 miles · NC

The dic showed "service steering wheel lock", remove key and wait 10 seconds. There was a recall on 97-2004 corvettes for this. My VIN does not show up but gm service bulletin louieinli #04006cc (electronic column lock) covers vehicle vins from w5100001 to w5131069. My steering wheel locked up coming out of my garage. I have less than 37,000 on it. Why was my VIN omitted from your recall?? It has cost be $600 for repairs.

Filed Jun 4, 2015 · Electrical, Steering · 110,000 miles · MI

Tl* the contact owns a 1998 chevrolet corvette. Prior to the contact owning the vehicle, it was repaired according to the federal safety agency campaign number: 04v060000 (steering). The repair did not correct the failure. The service column lock warning lamp illuminated randomly and the vehicle stalled several times. The steering wheel locked and would not unlock. The contact was unable to drive over 2 MPH each time the failure occurred. The vehicle was towed to a certified mechanic who replaced the column lock bypass. The manufacturer was notified of the failures, but provided no remedy. The approximate failure mileage was 110,000.

Filed Sep 23, 2014 · Steering · 36,000 miles · NC

Tl* the contact owns a 1998 chevrolet corvette. While driving approximately 5 MPH, the steering wheel seized and the power steering warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a dealer for diagnostic testing and the harness kit was replaced. The VIN was excluded from the federal safety agency campaign number: 04v060000 (steering). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 36,000.

Filed Jul 17, 2014 · Engine, Steering · 86,263 miles · NY

While driving, the steering wheel suddenly locked and the engine shut off. The car was stuck in the roadway. The car was towed to the local dealer, who said a critical recall was never done. Although I am the original owner, I never received a recall notice from gm. The recall, which I later found to possibly affect 120,000 corvettes from 1997 to 2004, was performed according to gm instructions. However, the recall only consisted of removing the steering lock pins. The likelihood of fuel system shut off still existed. The dealer said the gm recall was ineffective, gm was aware that the recall was insufficient, and said the entire mechanism needed to be replaced in order to prevent future recurrence. The replacement was then done at my cost. As a licensed professional engineer I believe the inadequate gm recall remediation is a serious safety defect. I was told by the dealer that the defect usually occurs after 60,000 to 80,000 miles. However, most corvettes are driven well beyond this point. I wrote to gm, but they are not taking this potentially dangerous condition seriously.

Filed Jun 18, 2013 · Steering · 51,000 miles · NY

Tl* the contact owns a 1998 chevrolet corvette. The contact stated that the steering wheel seized and could not be turned. The vehicle was shut off and restarted but the failure recurred. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for inspection. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 51,000.

Filed Oct 29, 2011 · Steering · 89,000 miles · CA

My steering lock would not disengage under any condition. Car would drive but would not steer.

Filed Aug 24, 2009 · Steering · 38,000 miles · MD

I have experienced for the 2nd time a problem with the steering column lock system. I had previously had my car towed (2008) after attempting to back out of a parking space and the steering wheel locked in place and I could not turn at all. The problem was suppose to be corrected after notifying the dealership of a service bulletin that spoke directly to this problem. The remedy was disabling the steering column lock by removing the lock plate. I have again experienced this problem! However, this time, the column no longer locks, since the column lock plate was removed, but when you try to accelerate the fuel cuts off. My son towed the car to a local dealership for me last week and informed them of the problem. They say they can correct it for $915.00, stating they have to replace a motor in the steering column, and that it is not related to the previous problem at all. Sounds like pure bull to me! I have read that others have experienced this problem as many as 5 times, and have been told that it is not covered because of the year of the car. I have under 40k miles on this car, and have not put more than 10k on the vehicle since the problem was initially repaired. It is a defect that they need to correct at their cost and hopefully permanently this time. Please help!!!!

Filed Aug 8, 2008 · Steering · 79,988 miles · MO

Tl*the contact owns a 1998 chevrolet corvette. When starting up the vehicle, the steering column would lock up. It would occasionally be released if the key was removed and the vehicle was restarted. The steering lock was repaired twice according to the federal safety agency campaign id number 07v544000 (steering:column locking:anti-theft device), but it currently needs to be repaired again. The current mileage was 80,500 and failure mileage was 79,988. Update 09/10/08 *cw updated 09/15/08.

Filed Jan 21, 2006 · Steering · 109,310 miles · CA · crash · 3 injuries

I own a 98 m/t corvette & I am an automobile expert. The c5 corvette has an engineering safety defect with the electo-mechanical steering column lock system. There had been many instances of the steering column lock engaging while driving on these c5 & has happened 3 times on my c5 before the accident on 12/25/05. No fail safe system for the column lock exists and the bcm or body control module has total control over this column lock. Many vehicle malfunctions will cause this steering lock to engage while driving. Gms recall for vehicles equipped with an a/t the column lock was eliminated. Gms supposed fix for the m/t vehicles was to reprogram the PCM's with new software & this software change did not prevent the column lock from engaging; it just made sure that the engine shuts off should the steering lock engage. About 07/05 the steering column lock had engaged while driving & had left the car stuck in traffic. The recall was performed at his time. I was told the steering locking problem had been resolved. On 12/25/05 while driving on a wet road, without warning, my c5 skidded when the engine suddenly stopped & I was unable to correct the skid because the steering lock had engaged & the car went a crossed a divided roadway into oncoming traffic, stopped & then got hit. The other vehicles that hit my c5 were destroyed & the occupants were injured. This accident will happen eventually with all c5 s. If the steering lock had just engaged this would have of not caused an accident. If it had just locked, & the engine had not shut off, the car could still be stopped safely just blocking traffic. However, if the road is wet when the engine stops & the vehicle is rear wheel drive with a m/t the rear wheels will skid. If a skid occurs it can be easily corrected by turning the steering wheel to keep the vehicle in a straight path unless the steering is locked. If the recall had not been performed this accident wouldn't have happened.