The contact owns a 2003 Chevrolet Corvette. The contact stated that while reversing from the driveway, the vehicle lost motive power. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously repaired under the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 04V060000 (Steering). The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who replaced the relay and wiring harness kit. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 5,111.
The worst 2003 Chevrolet Corvette problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Steering32
- Electrical15
- Driver assistance12
- Fuel system11
- Transmission11
- Brakes7
- Body6
- Engine6
- Seat belts4
- Suspension4
- Airbags3
- Lights2
- Seats2
- Wheels2
- Acceleration1
- Locks1
- Tires1
- Visibility1
Specific symptoms reported on the 2003 Chevrolet Corvette
Steering lock-up 10Fuel smell 7ABS 5Engine failure 5
Trouble codes owners of the 2003 Chevrolet Corvette mention
C1214 2
Recalls 1
Steering: column locking: anti-theft device
- What is wrong
- 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 .
- Risk
- 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.
Recall number 04V060000 · Recall details
See all 1 recalls for the 2003 Chevrolet Corvette
Defect investigations
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 corvette vehicles.as a result, pe02-054 was opened and later upgraded to ea02-031 for my 1997-2001 subject vehicles.odi's analysis identified concerns with post-repair failures in vehicles serviced through the campaigns, as well as, failures in my 1997-2003 subject vehicles not included in the campaigns.(note: the manufacturer failure data above is limited to my 1997-2003 vehicles through 10/17/2003.)on february 6, 2004, gm notified the federal safety agency of a safety defect in my 1997-2004 corvette vehcles equipped with manual transmissions and my 1997-2000 corvette vehicles with automatic transmissions.the notification stated that if the voltage at the powertrain control module (PCM), which was designed to shut down the fuel supply when the steering column failed to unlock and the customer tried to drive the vehicle, is low or interrupted, the fuel shut off may not occur.as a result, the customer could drive the vehicle while the steering column was locked causing the driver to lose steering control and possibly crash without warning.gm will instruct owners to bring their vehicles to a dealer to have the PCM reprogrammed for manual transmission vehicles and the electric column lock disabled for automatic transmission vehicles.odi will monitor the effectiveness of the remedy in the manual transmission vehicles and take further action if warranted.
EA02031
Technical service bulletins for the 2003 Chevrolet Corvette 456
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- This PI communicates the requirement to provide a pico file to receive diagnostic assistance from TAC.
- This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have...
- This Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or updating operating...
- This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that the...
- This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about changing the tire...
- Vehicle Wide Programming (VWP) is a new process to update software on GM Vehicles
- GM is receiving damaged (cracked or broken) transmission cores returned to the reman facilities
- This service bulletin advises of a new fuel injection cleaner kit used for decarbonizing the intake valves...
- This bulletin provides information for use on a Product Assistance Claim (PAC), which is formerly known as...
- This service bulletin provides information for dealers/technicians on Service Programming System (SPS)...
2003 Chevrolet Corvette fuel economy
Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.
| Engine | Drive | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5.7L 8‑cyl | RWD | 16-17 | 23-26 | 19-20 |
What 2003 Chevrolet Corvette owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
Vehicle was part of mandatory recall for problems with steering column lock. The same identified and inherent problem happened so that the steering column lock is engaged and will not disengage. GM was contacted and refuses support and stated that I would have to take care of the problem and I would have to pay for the cost of the repair. Chevrolet created the problem, is well aware of the inherent problem and yet Chevrolet and it's local dealer will profit from the forcing the customer to pay and for customers safety. The steering column can lock up while the vehicle is moving which puts the operator and others including vehicles, pedestrians and structures in harms way.
Gm refuse to repurchase below is a overview. they are refusing engineering assitance to the dealership to fix the problem. Next week the car will be there a month again. This is the 7th time on this repair which was a recall by your org. The last repair last 153 days. This problem make the car unsafe to drive the dealer also agrees it is unsafe to drive. My car is back at the dealership for the same recall situation. The corvette has been rendered undrivable due to the number of recall repairs that have failed. They are again waiting for a GM engineer. A new case has been opened at the CEO’s office. It was submitted last year for repurchase they not to. The dealership says they should I agree. Gm decline yesterday to repurchase the car. The dealer ship feels it is unsafe to drive Saul Saldano who run the repair shop at Mission Bay chevy. Owned by his family Saldana auto group. When I emailed the CEO and she referred it to their exec team you can who I worked with to get an engineer on site at the dealership last year. I will describe more in my overview below. Overview: I purchased the car in 2013 black on black corvette convertible 6 speed on the floor fully loaded. The car worked perfectly until August 2011 that work order is attached. The dealer performed a recall repair on the steering harness and column lock. They left the lock nut for the steering column off it was found later under the driver’s side seat. The steering came off in my wife’s hands while driving on 4hth st downtown San Diego. The car sustained damage lucky no one was hurt this occurred in 12/01/2011 that work order is attached. The harness failed several times afterwards however I only have records back to 2014. The dealership purged records before 2014. Since 2014 the car has consistently had to return to the dealership to have another lock and harness installed. I can send those work orders on another email. What happens when the steering lock engages is you cannot drive the car. It kill
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 chevrolet corvette. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40 MPH, the steering wheel suddenly ceased and the driver was unable to turn the steering wheel in either direction. The steering column was later unlocked and the vehicle was taken to the local dealer hall chevrolet located at 3412 western branch blvd, chesapeake, va 23321, who diagnosed the steering column lock plate was defective and needed to be replaced. The lock plate was replaced and the failure was remedied. The contact indicated that the vehicle was previously repaired under the federal safety agency campaign number: 04v060000 (steering) however, the failure occurred. The failure mileage was 56,000.
A very strong smell of gasoline in the cabin area and in the trunk after filling the corvette with gasoline. The strong smell of gasoline was at it's strongest scent when the deck lid was open. I stood on the rear right of the corvette with my head barely inside the trunk. So basically rear right sector of the corvette, just passed the rear right wheel well. The corvette was parked on a level concrete pad at the gas station. I did not overfill. Pump nozzle stopped. Approximately 14.6 gallons of fuel was pumped into the corvette.
My car has 45,000 miles. There is a fuel smell coming from the car. I always fill the tank full when I plan on not driving it for a while. If I leave it parked for several months and don't drive it, the fuel tank will be empty when I start it up. The fuel smell appears to be coming from the middle of the car. This has been happening for the last four or five years. I will only park the vehicle in open areas and won't park it in a garage due to fear of build up of gas fumes.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 chevrolet corvette. While driving 20 MPH, the steering ceased to operate without warning. Prior to the failure, the vehicle was included in and repaired per the federal safety agency campaign number: 04v060000 (steering) by an unknown dealer. After the recent failure, the vehicle was towed to five star chevrolet buick gmc (495 watson blvd, warner robins, ga 31093, 478‑273‑8277) where the contact was informed that the vehicle was no longer under recall. The dealer informed her that she would be financially responsible for all repairs regarding the failure. The manufacturer was notified and did not assist. The vehicle remained at the dealer and had not been repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 115,000.
The car has developed a condition where the steering column lock fails to unlock the steering column when the vehicle is started. A message appears in the dic display telling you to pull the key and wait 10 seconds. It shuts off the fuel supply if you attempt to drive it. Chevrolet acknowledged this condition existed in 2006 via a letter. The car only had a little over 5k miles on it at the time and now has only 43k on the odometer. Per my phone call with them today they feel they are no longer responsible. The first time this happened I had backed into the road and the car died leaving me in dire jeapordy. Can anything be done to make them honor this defect in this very expensive automobile? Note....this has been happening since the summer of 2018 intermittently.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 chevrolet corvette. While driving various speeds, the column lock warning indicator illuminated and the vehicle seized. The contact stated that the vehicle was serviced per the federal safety agency campaign number: 14v400000 (electrical system) at great lakes chevrolet (310 s chestnut st, jefferson, oh), but the failure persisted. The vehicle was not taken back to the dealer for further diagnostic testing or repairs. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and stated that the vehicle was previously serviced per the recall and additional repairs would be the contact's responsibility. The failure mileage was approximately 21,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 chevrolet corvette. While entering the vehicle and attempting to start the ignition, the vehicle would not start and the anti-theft device indicator illuminated. The contact attempted to start the vehicle a few more times, but the vehicle would not start. The dealer (freedom chevrolet, 212 e 5th st s, big stone gap, va 24219) stated that the vehicle needed to be on the recall list to be repaired. There were no recalls associated with the vehicle. The manufacturer was contacted and was unable to provide assistance. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.
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Other model years
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Questions about the 2003 Chevrolet Corvette
Is the 2003 Chevrolet Corvette reliable?
Owners have filed 85 complaints about the 2003 Chevrolet Corvette, close to a typical Corvette model year.
What is the 2003 Chevrolet Corvette year score?
The 2003 Chevrolet Corvette scores 65 out of 100 (average). The score compares it with the other model years of the Chevrolet Corvette: 75 is a typical year, 50 means twice the usual complaints, and serious complaints and recalls lower it.
What is the most common problem with the 2003 Chevrolet Corvette?
Steering, with 32 complaints, typically around 35,000 miles. Next is electrical (15).
How many recalls does the 2003 Chevrolet Corvette have?
1 recall, covering steering.
Was there a recall on the 2003 Chevrolet Corvette steering?
Yes, 1 recall: 04V060000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.
What year does the Chevrolet Corvette have bad steering?
The Chevrolet Corvette model years with the most steering complaints are 1998 (215 complaints), 1999 (194 complaints) and 2000 (169 complaints).
What gas mileage does the 2003 Chevrolet Corvette get?
Official estimates for the 2003 Chevrolet Corvette range from 19 to 20 mpg combined. The most efficient version (5.7L 8-cyl, RWD) gets 16-17 city and 23-26 highway.
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