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.
2003 Chevrolet Corvette steering problems
32 complaints (38% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 35,000. 6 crashes reported.
- owner complaints
- 32
- of this car's complaints
- 38%
- typical mileage
- 35,000
- crashes
- 6
- recalls
- 1
Which part fails
- Column locking: anti-theft device7
- Column1
At what mileage
Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.
0k-25k
25k-50k
50k-75k
75k-100k
100k-125k
125k-150k
150k-175k
175k-200k
200k+
Chevrolet Corvette steering problems in other years
Specific symptoms reported on the 2003 Chevrolet Corvette steering
Phrases found in the owners' own descriptions, so one complaint can mention several symptoms.
Related recalls
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
Related 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
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.
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. The contact stated that the steering wheel seized without warning. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the steering wheel lock bypass needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and opened a case. The contact was also informed that an unknown recall repair was performed on the vehicle prior to the current owner. The failure mileage was 28,240. The VIN was not available.
I was backing out my driveway and my steering column locked and I could not control the car. I pulled up the emergency brake and stopped the car because I could not control the car. Myself and a neighbor was able to push the car back in the driveway. The computer gave the message ..steering column lock message and then the car would not start anymore...meaning it would crank but just immediately shut off. This is a recall safety problem with this car and chevorlet is aware recall number 4006 a, b, c and special provision policy 05081.
The electronic brake control module (ebcm) p/n 10343433 all of a sudden failed. As a result the dash computer error code c1214 for the anti-lock brake system, traction control has been coming on constantly. My wife has to press the reset button when she put the key in, when the car is started and when it is shut off. This ebcm is not available through any web site or dealer and is back ordered. The problem with this failure is that if you step too firmly on the gas peddle, the car will go out of control possibly causing an accident. Again without the ebcm, the traction control and anti-lock brake system are disabled. This is a very grave hazard should an owner not be aware of what happens if the ebcm module fails. A recall should be issued immediately.
The steering locking mechanism seized and locked the tires in place while parking it in our druveway making the vehicle impossible to drive. Had to have it towed to dealership and was told our specific car VIN was not on the recall for the locking for steering and they would not correct the problem without a charge to us.
Questions about the 2003 Chevrolet Corvette steering
Does the 2003 Chevrolet Corvette have steering problems?
Owners have filed 32 complaints about the steering of the 2003 Chevrolet Corvette, 38% of all its complaints, more than any other problem.
At what mileage do 2003 Chevrolet Corvette steering problems start?
The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 35,000 miles.
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).
Other 2003 Chevrolet Corvette problems
Electrical 15Driver assistance 12Fuel system 11Transmission 11Brakes 7Body 6Engine 6Seat belts 4Suspension 4Airbags 3Lights 2Seats 2Wheels 2Acceleration 1Locks 1Tires 1Visibility 1
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