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Chevrolet Corvette loss of power problems

64 of the 5,049 owner complaints about the Chevrolet Corvette describe sudden loss of power, most of them for the 2005 model year.

owner complaints
64
worst model year
2005
typical mileage
33,321
Is there a fix? No recall or service bulletin covers this area of the car yet.

By model year

  • 2024
    2
  • 2023
    1
  • 2022
    2
  • 2020
    1
  • 2019
    1
  • 2017
    1
  • 2016
    3
  • 2014
    4
  • 2013
    1
  • 2010
    1
  • 2009
    5
  • 2008
    7
  • 2007
    2
  • 2006
    4
  • 2005
    9
  • 2003
    1
  • 2002
    3
  • 2001
    2
  • 2000
    1
  • 1999
    1
  • 1998
    7
  • 1997
    3
  • 1996
    2

Often reported together

Power steering loss 16Check engine light 8Engine failure 7Stalling 6Won't start 2Won't shift 2Jerking 2Fuel pump 2

Trouble codes mentioned

U164F 1P2135 1P2101 1P1955 1P1516 1P0869 1P0868 1B1A5F 1

What owners say

Filed Sep 20, 2026 · NY

Vehicle: 2022 Chevrolet Corvette C8 1LT VIN: [XXX] Mileage at time of defect: 5,359 miles Purchase Date:XXX ([XXX]) DEFECT DESCRIPTION: At approximately 5,359 miles, my vehicle developed a serious transmission defect. When placed in reverse gear and the brake pedal is released, the vehicle jerks backward abruptly and then shuts off completely. Additionally, when driving forward, the transmission skip-shifts unpredictably (e.g., jumping from 1st gear to 3rd gear to 5th gear without engaging intermediate gears). This creates a serious safety hazard, including sudden loss of power while driving and unpredictable/violent vehicle movement while reversing, which could cause a collision or injury to myself or others nearby. The vehicle was inspected by Alghanim Automotive, an authorized GM dealer in [XXX], on XXX, which confirmed the transmission required full replacement, at a cost of approximately $23,500 USD. I am requesting that the federal safety agency investigate this defect, as it appears to be a manufacturing/transmission defect that could affect other 2022 Corvette C8 owners and may warrant a recall. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Aug 8, 2026 · Electrical, Engine · CO

While driving normally, I was in the middle of a busy highway/intersection when the vehicle suddenly lost power and came to a complete stop. The vehicle shut itself off without warning, leaving the Corvette disabled in the roadway and causing a complete blockage of the road/intersection. Traffic was actively traveling around me, creating a serious safety hazard and putting both myself and other motorists at risk of a collision. After the vehicle stopped, it would not restart. The instrument cluster displayed a theft-deterrent/immobilizer warning and a lock/security symbol, along with a message stating that there could be a problem with the theft-deterrent system and referring to Immobilizer Operation. The vehicle has full electrical power, but when attempting to start it, it only clicks and the engine does not crank or start. I placed the key fob in the designated backup location as instructed in the owner’s manual, but the vehicle still would not start. The exact failed component has not yet been diagnosed or confirmed. The vehicle is available for inspection. The sudden and unexpected loss of power while I was in the middle of a busy highway/intersection caused an immediate and serious safety concern because the vehicle became completely disabled and blocked the roadway.

Filed May 12, 2026 · Transmission · SC

The dual clutch transmission on my 2020 C8 Corvette has a diagnostic code of p1955. This was determined after the service light on the vehicle illuminated and it was taken to service at the dealership. Other codes that stored included p0868 and p0869 which indicate low hydraulic pressure and high hydraulic pressure respectively. The p1955 code is an internal fault that requires complete replacement of the transmission according to GM service bulletins. This bulletin also advises that no repair attempts are to be made except for complete replacement. The vehicle has not shown any symptoms currently. Gears shift normally, there are no vibrations, etc. However, the dealership advised the transmission can go into limp mode, fail completely, or damage other components of the power train at any point. This issue is known to GM. They have investigated the matter since 2021 or earlier. There have been no recalls on the transmission despite the safety risks of sudden loss of power, being stranded, or catastrophic destructive failure without warning. These pose risks to occupants inside the vehicle and other vehicles or people on the road. My repeated questioning of this matter to the dealership and GM customer service have been ignored. They only advise the cost to replace is with the owner of the vehicle despite the root cause being at the level of engineering of the part. They are unwilling to admit this failure is at the level of a manufacturing/engineering defect as a financial cost mitigation strategy. The Issue with sudden failure of the transmission in these vehicles are widely known, investigated, and occurring at a high rate, especially in early model C8 Corvettes.

Filed May 8, 2026 · Acceleration, Engine · PA

I am a long time Corvette owner and have purchased many through the years. I recently purchased a 2008 Corvette Coupe with only 30k miles, one owner vehicle. Unbelievable to me, I have had to spend over $4,000 the past month replacing the ECM and most notably the Fuel Pump, to relieve the constant Fuel Smell, not to mention the rack and pinion steering gear needs to be replaced, with again, only 30k miles on the vehicle, and that part is discontinued. The failure of the ECM almost cost my wife and I our life when we were coming home to [XXX] from [XXX] . The car completely lost all power on the highway and we almost got railed by traffic. Not a good situation to say the least. I almost had a heart attack. So we had to have it towed and finally made it home, only to find out the next day after a nice ride, my entire garage was overwhelmed with a gas smell that evening which permeated through the whole house. I took notice that GM covered this exact situation with GM Bulletin # xxx back in 2017, so they KNEW there was a problem! My question is, how can GM not cover this NOW. Many 2008 Corvettes are still being bought and sold. I spent over $2800 for this last week! I am asking you and GM to at least cover 50% of this charge. I don't think that is too much to ask. It's much cheaper than having been sued by our family, should me wife and I have not survived that situation on the road, a case I know they would have won. We should definitely be compensated to say the least! Thanks INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Dec 4, 2025 · Electrical, Steering · VA

Experiencing sudden loss of power steering while driving - unsafe condition. Experiencing sudden loss of electric power steering assist while driving. Loss of power steering persists until ignition recycling (stop, put car in park, turn ignition off, turn ignition back on), which seems to clear it. Problem re-occurs intermittently on subsequent drives. Issue has been experienced at multiple MPH (0 to 65 MPH) across more than a month of time. I believe my vehicle is experiencing the recall noted earlier this year (N182182760 in 2025) for power steering unit failures in Corvettes manufactured in my car's timeframe. The recall is still expanding the list of cars associated due to its nascent nature, and I believe mine is one of them. My car was manufactured in 2016 and the manufacturing defect in the power steering unit circuitry was not corrected until 2017. The recall investigation only occurred a few months ago, earlier this year in 2025. Request my vehicle be added to recall N182182760 to correct this unsafe condition. Thank you. REFERENCES: 1) https://www.roadandtrack.com/news/a64272254/chevrolet-camaro-corvette-recall-steering-failure/ 2) chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/

Filed Dec 4, 2025 · Electrical, Steering · VA

Experiencing sudden loss of power steering while driving - unsafe condition. Experiencing sudden loss of electric power steering assist while driving. Loss of power steering persists until ignition recycling (stop, put car in park, turn ignition off, turn ignition back on), which seems to clear it. Problem re-occurs intermittently on subsequent drives. Issue has been experienced at multiple MPH (0 to 65 MPH) across more than a month of time. I believe my vehicle is experiencing the recall noted earlier this year for power steering unit failures in Corvettes manufactured in my car's timeframe (safety recall N252497020 in 2025, expanding on N182182760 from 2019). The recall is still expanding the list of cars associated due to its nascent nature, and I believe mine is one of them. My car was manufactured in 2016 and the manufacturing defect in the power steering unit circuitry was not corrected until 2017. The recall investigation only occurred a few months ago, earlier this year in 2025. Request my vehicle be added to recall N252497020 / N182182760 to correct this unsafe condition. Thank you. REFERENCES: 1 – My request to Chevrolet through the dealership for a “good will extension” of the 2025 recall (N252497020 – Loss of Power Steering Assist) to this VIN. Includes a detailed description of the issue. 2 – Safety Recall N252497020 – Loss of Power Steering Assist 3 – Safety Recall N182182760 – Loss of Power Steering Assist 4 – Photo of my vehicle DIC with associated power steering failure error message. 5 – Article from 2025 detailing the nascent power steering failure recall, noting the defective part manufacturing timeline affects my VIN. 6 – Additional article from 2025 acknowledging the recall issue.

Filed Jan 9, 2025 · Steering · FL

The electric power-steering assist is failing while my vehicle is in motion. I lose power steering and have to use significantly more effort and may lead to a crash, at any speeds. I was driving on the highway when this happened, although it has happened at slower, neighborhood speeds. When this happens, I see a warning message on the dashboard stating the power-steering assist failed and service power steering, drive with caution and the steering is all non-power steering. At times, when I stop the car, and turn the power off, and re-start the car, the power steering works again for a short period of time, and then fails again. This is extremely dangerous. I cannot find any recalls on my car VIN # for this issue for the 2014 Corvette, but see the exact symptoms for the 2017 Corvette (GM' number for this recall is N182182760). Help....please!

Filed Sep 20, 2024 · Electrical, Engine · NY

When driving, car will falsely and intermittently get random error codes on BUS module; resulting in a false FRUNK or Front Latch Service warning under Body Control Module code B1A5F or U164F for gateway. Chevy has found electrical connectors for car built in Nov/Dec 2023 which have plastic or bits inside the connectors making the electrical system have issues. However, even after addressing those faulty connectors they now think its also related to bad software. No resolution after 8 months of attempted repairs, and Chevy forums show other people with the BUS errors around same build time of end 2023. If you are driving car when these errors randomly pop in or out, the car will go into reduced power and speed limit of 25 MPH as it thinks the front trunk latch is open (when its closed). If on a highway, this can result in death or major accident. Multiple safety concerns go unaddressed by Chevy since early 2024 reports of issues.

Filed Jul 18, 2024 · Acceleration, Fuel system · NY

Reoccurrences of car losing all accleration while driving on highway, creating near pile up accidents due again on 7/16. Car gets a false warning signal that the front trunk hatch is open, when it is actually not; others report false Neutral signal; The car front trunk is properly latched, and there is no actual safety concern. However, the car immediate and without warning has the driver lose all power. I have now nearly been in 3 deadly accidents due to this failure over the past few weeks. Dealers and GM have not been helpful at all. Issue is intermittent and definitely an electrical or firmware gremblin. Ive seen multiple people post about this issue on the Corvette Forum as well!

Filed Mar 13, 2023 · Steering · 9,488 miles · MI

The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Corvette. The contact stated while driving approximately 45 MPH on a straight roadway, the power steering warning light illuminated, and the vehicle lost power steering functionality. The contact drove the vehicle back to his residence and turned the vehicle off. When the contact restarted the vehicle, the vehicle regained power steering functionality. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent but had reoccurred several times. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer however, the cause of the failure could not be determined. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The contact researched online and related the failure to the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 19V086000 (Steering). The failure mileage was 9,488.

Related recalls

No recalls on record for this model year.

Questions about the Chevrolet Corvette loss of power

Which Chevrolet Corvette years have sudden loss of power problems?

The model years with the most reports are 2005 (9 complaints), 1998 (7 complaints) and 2008 (7 complaints).

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