1998 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Electrical System Problems

THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY. PROCEED TO START VEHICLE. STEERING COLUMN LOCKS UP. HAS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES. I AM THE THIRD OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE. IN RESEARCHING INFORMATION REGARDING PAST RECALLS APPARENTLY HEDRICK'S DEALERSHIP OF FRESNO, CA COMPLETED WORK BUT IN ASKING WHAT THEY COMPLETED, I WAS INFORMED THAT ALL PAST COMPUTER DATA WAS PURGED FROM THEIR FILES SO THEY CANNOT TELL ME WHAT WAS COMPLETED. I THEN CALLED GM TO GET INFORMATION BUT AFTER TALKING TO THREE DIFFERENT PEOPLE I WAS TOLD THEY WERE NOT ALLOWED TO GIVE ME ANY INFORMATION AS TO WHAT WAS COMPLETED. I REFERENCED A GM REPORT ENTITLED "04006C - PRODUCT SAFETY RECALL - FEBRUARY 8, 2006" IN TALKING WITH THE GM REPRESENTATIVES AND I WAS TOLD THE REPORT DIDN'T EXIST. THE REPORT WAS FOUND AT HTTPS://STATIC.NHTSA.GOV. THIS REPORT REPLACED BULLETIN 04006B - NOVEMBER 23, 2004. IN READING ON NHTSA, SEVERAL OTHER OWNERS EXPERIENCED THE SAME VEHICLE ISSUES WITH STEERING COLUMN. PLUS, WITH WORK BEING COMPLETED BUT STILL HAVING SAME ISSUES. CAN YOU ASSIST ME IN OBTAINING THE RECALL WORK COMPLETION REPORT ON MY VEHICLE? HEDRICK'S INDICATED THAT I WOULD HAVE TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN FOR A DIAGNOSTIC REVIEW AT THE COST OF $165.00 AND THEN GO FROM THERE. IN READING "04006C - PRODUCT SAFETY RECALL - FEBRUARY 8, 2006" IT INDICATES, "DEALERS ARE TO SERVICE ALL VEHICLES SUBJECT TO THIS RECALL AT NO CHARGE TO CUSTOMERS, REGARDLESS OF MILEAGE, AGE OF VEHICLE, OR OWNERSHIP, FROM THIS TIME FORWARD." PLUS, WHATEVER WORK HEDRICK'S COMPLETED THE WORK WASN'T SUFFICIENT AS THE ISSUE OF THE STEERING COLUMN LOCKING UP CONTINUES.

Mileage: 84,000

HAVE HAD MULTIPLE ISSUES WITH THIS CAR. HAD A SERVICE COLUMN LOCK DISPLAY. TOOK IT IN ON A RECALL. THEY FIXED IT AND 6 MONTHS LATER LEFT ME STRANDED AGAIN WITH SAME CODE. CHARGED ME 1000 DOLLARS TO TELL ME THE WHEEL LOCK BROKE. WE ALL KNOW THAT'S NOT TRUE. 2 WEEKS LATER HAVE A SERVICE POWER TRAIN WITH NUMEROUS CODES. HAVE TO RESET ALL CODES TO DRIVE CAR. THEY COME BACK WITH SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM AND HEATER BLOWS HOT ON ONE SIDE AND COLD ON OTHER. THEN NEXT DAY IT'S THE OPPOSITE. UNFORTUNATELY THIS IS THE ONLY CORVETTE THAT I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH AND ACCORDING TO THE REVIEWS. THE C5 CORVETTE HAS MANY DRIVE TRAIN ISSUES. THIS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED AND RECALLED IF THEY WANT BUYERS TO CHEVROLET VEHICLES.

Mileage: 90,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL DEPRESSED INDEPENDENTLY AND THE TRACTION CONTROL INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, ALL THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT WAS INJURED AND RECEIVED MEDICAL ATTENTION FOR TORN MUSCLES IN HIS NECK, ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE HEAD THREE INCHES ABOVE THE EAR, ONE RIB ON THE LEFT SIDE WAS FRACTURED, AND TORN MUSCLES IN THE LOWER BACK. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED HOME. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,000.

Mileage: 106,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. THE COLUMN LOCK FAILURE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HARNESS KIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, HOWEVER THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V060000 (STEERING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,000.

Mileage: 41,000

I HAVE OWNED MY 1998 CORVETTE FOR TWO YEARS. THE PULL KEY AND WAIT 10 SECONDS AND THE SERVICE STEERING COLUMN LOCK ERRORS ARE CRIPPLING ME ENJOYMENT OF THE CAR. I HAVE INSTALLED AN LMC5 MODULE LAST YEAR AND THE PROBLEMS WILL NOT GO AWAY. THE RECALL ON THE SERVICE COLUMN LOCK WAS PERFORMED ON THE CAR WHICH REMOVED THE ACTUAL LOCKING MECHANISM ON THE STEERING COLUMN. BUT THE CAR WILL NOT MOVE OVER TWO MILES PER HOUR WITH THE ERROR MESSAGE AND I HAVE FOUND NO FIXED THAT HELP ME. WHAT IS GM DOING ABOUT THE HORRIBLE HORRIBLE PROBLEM ON THEIR MOST DISTINGUISHED CAR MODEL.... ? ALL INSTANCES HAPPEN WHEN FIRST STARITING THE CAR NO MATTER HOW LONG IT HAS SAT. BATTERY IS PERFECT. I VERY RARELY DIVE THE CAR, BUT WHEN I DO I HAVE THIS HORRIBLE PROBLEM AND IT IS GETTING WORSE.

Mileage: 60,000

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.

Mileage: 36,261

A RECALL WAS TAKEN CARE OF 7/17/14. I AM HAVING THE SAME ISSUE AGAIN. STEERING COLUMN LOCKS, AND STALLS. CAR CANNOT BE MOVED. THE DEALER AND THEIR SUPPORT ADVISERS CANNOT FIND A FIX. THEIR SOLUTION IS TO REMOVE THE LOCK KIT, BYPASS THE SAFETY MECHANISMS, CHARGE ME $450.00. A HARNESS AND LOCK KIT ARE AT FAULT. THEY WILL NOT COVER THE ISSUE. I AM LEFT WITH THE CAR WITHOUT THE SAFETY FEATURE. CAR CAN BE EASILY STOLEN, STEERING WHEEL TURNS WITHOUT A KEY.

Mileage: 71,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. PRIOR TO THE CONTACT OWNING THE VEHICLE, IT WAS REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA 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.

Mileage: 110,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNEXPECTEDLY WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE POSI TRACTION AND ABS WARNING INDICATORS. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SLOW DOWN UNTIL THE GEAR WAS SHIFTED INTO THE PARK POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE STEERING HARNESS AND AN UNKNOWN PART RELATED TO THE FRONT ENGINE WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE PERSISTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DIFFERENT DEALER WHERE THE MASTER COMPUTER AND ALTERNATOR WERE BOTH REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,722.

Mileage: 71,722

APPROXIMATELY 3 YEARS AGO MY 1998 C5 CORVETTE COUPE EXPERIENCED FAULT CODES AND WARNING LIGHTS ASSOCIATED WITH A FAILURE OR FAILURES WITHIN THE ELECTRONIC BRAKE TRACTION CONTROL MODULE (EBTCM). I TRIED TO REPLACE THE ELECTRONIC MODULE THAT MOUNTS TO THE ABS PUMP A FEW TIMES WITH USED MODULES AND THE PROBLEM WAS NEVER RESOLVED. LAST SUMMER I PUT THE CORVETTE INTO THE SERVICE CENTER AT THE LOCAL CHEVY DEALERSHIP AND TOLD THEM TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND CLEAR THE FAULT CODES. WHEN I PICKED UP THE CAR AND STARTED IT THE CODES AND WARNING LIGHT WAS STILL THERE. I ENQUIRED WHY AND WAS TOLD THAT GM NO LONGER SUPPORTS THE ABS/TRACTION CONTROL MODULE FOR THE OLDER CORVETTES. I WAS TOLD BY THE CHEVY "CERTIFIED" TECHNICIAN THAT THE CAR WAS SAFE TO DRIVE WITHOUT ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL. I ADDED THAT IT WAS SAFE AS LONG AS I DIDN'T DRIVE IN RAIN OR SNOW. *TR

VERY BAD FUEL ODOR WHEN GAS TANK IS FILLED..HAPPENS VERY TIME CAR IS FUELED..NO VISIBLE GAS LEAKS. *TR

Mileage: 15,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. THE CONTACT STARTED THE IGNITION AND HEARD A LOUD NOISE. ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND REMAINED SO UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED. IN RAINY WEATHER CONDITIONS, WATER LEAKED FROM THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE WINDOWS. ALSO, THE TRUNK SUSTAINED WATER LEAKAGE AND CAUSED A STRONG ODOR AND MILDEW. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR THE WATER LEAKAGE FAILURES; HOWEVER, THE FAILURES STILL PERSIST. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 42,000.

Mileage: 42,000

UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE STEERING WHEEL WOULDN'T MOVE, AND VEHICLE FAILED TO START WHEN THE KEYS WAS TURNED IN THE IGNITION. THIS OCCURRED DUE TO A DEFECT DESCRIBED IN THE ELECTRONIC COLUMN LOCK RECALL 04V060000. BUT, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

Mileage: 75,000

CAR WHEN MOVING IN REVERSE APROX. 5MPH HAD STEERING WHEEL LOCK. STEERING WOULD NOT MOVE BUT CAR WOULD MOVE IN FORWARD OR REVERSE.CAR HAD REAR LEFT WHEEL RIM DAMAGED (SCRAPED) FROM CONTACT WITH CURB. FOLLOWED DIRECTIONS ON COMPUTER TO NO AVAIL. LET IT SET FOR 24 HR. AND EVERYTHING WAS BACK TO NORMAL ..THE CAR HAS SINCE DONE THIS TWICE MORE AND BEEN PUT IN STORAGE SINCE NOV.OF 2003

Mileage: 15,000

WHILE PULLING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. WHEN THIS OCCURRED IGNITION FAILED TO OPERATE WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO DIE. THERE WAS A CONSUMERS SATISFACTION CAMPAIGN ON THIS ISSUE.*AK AFTER THIS OCCURRED, CONSUMER COULD START THE VEHICLE AND DRIVE IT BUT THE STEERING COLUMN WOULD BE LOCKED. VEHICLE WOULD MOVE BUT NO STEERING. *PH *NLM

Mileage: 73,000

STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP ON 1998 CORVETTE.VIN NO # IS 1G1YY22GOW5114022. THIS OBVIOUSLY A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AND IS DOCUMENTED ON THE CORVETTE FORUM.COM WEBSITE. CAR RECOGNIZES THE PROBLEM AND SENDS MESSAGE SAYING TO TURN OFF,REMOVE KEY,WAIT 10 SEC.S AND RESTART. *AK

Mileage: 43,000

THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN LOCKED UP INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH. *NLM THE CONSUMER FELT THAT THIS PROBLEM WAS DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW AND THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL AND OR FIX, FREE OF CHARGE. SCC

Mileage: 53,251

WHILE DRIVING THE FUEL INDICATOR READ THE WRONG READING WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO RUN OUT OF FUEL. *NLM

Mileage: 18,000

THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED, THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THE AC DELCO BATTERY LEAKED ACID ALL OVER THE WIRING HARNESS.*JB

Mileage: 37,000

WHILE TRAVELING AT 75 MPH COMPUTER ILLUMINATED, TELLING DRIVER TO REDUCE SPEED. A SECOND LATER, VEHICLE'S SPEED DROPPED FROM 75 TO 30 MPH. CONSUMER HAD NO CONTROL OVER CHANGE IN SPEED. CONSUMER FELT THIS WAS UNSAFE, WAS ALMOST HIT BY ONCOMING VEHICLES. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

THE CARS COMPUTER SHUTS DOWN THE CAR AT HIGH SPEEDS. MESSAGES THAT APPEAR INCLUDE LOW VOLTAGE, SERVICE ACTIVE HANDLING SYSTEM AND ABS FAILURE. THIS HAS OCCURED FOUR TIMES - 6/26/01, 8/8/01, 10/4/01, AND 10/25/01 AND I HAVE BROUGHT THE CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. DEALER CLAIMED TO HAVE FIXED PROBLEM ONLY TO HAVE IT REOCCUR. IT IS LIKE HAVING THE CAR SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL AT 70 MPH. IT CREATES A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AS I AM USUALLY ON A HIGHWAY WITH FAST MOVING TRAFFIC AROUND ME. THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THIS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME WITH THE CORVETTES AS IF IT IS NORMAL. I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT A CAR WOULD BE DESIGNED TO SHUT DOWN AT HIGH SPEEDS IF THE COMPUTER REGISTERED A VOLTAGE DROP. THE MANUFACTURER REPRESENTATIVE MICHAEL STEELE AT 800-222-1020 IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND TRIES TO HELP BUT HAS NO POWER TO DEAL WITH THIS ISSUE. THE CASE NUMBER AT CHEVROLET IS 05623088. THIS CAR IS DANGEROUS AND SHOULD BE SUBJECT TO REVIEW AND POSSIBLE RECALL BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED.*AK

WHEN TURNING KEY TO START STEERING WHEEL WILL LOCK. CONSUMER FEELS THIS IS NOT SAFE BECAUSE IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION WON'T BE ABLE GET CAR STARTED.CONSUMER HAS TO HAVE VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER EVERY TIME THIS OCCURS. THIS VEHICLE WAS EXCLUDED FROM MANUFACTURER'S RECALL DUE TO VIN ALTHOUGH IT HAS SAME EXACT PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK REF. IN EA02-031 *CJS

WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START CAR, ENGINE WOULD NOT START AND DRIVER INFORMATION DISPLAY READ "REMOVE KEY AND WAIT 10 SECONDS". KEY WAS REMOVED, AND AFTER 15 SECONDS, ATTEMPTS MADE TO RESTART CAR. ENGINE THEN STARTED, BUT DRIVER INFORMATION DISPLAY READ "SERVICE STEERING COLUMN LOCK" AT WHICH TIME I ATTEMPTED TO TURN STEERING WHEEL AND FOUND IT WOULD NOT TURN IN EITHER DIRECTION. ENGINE THEN STOPPED RUNNING AFTER ABOUT 15 SECONDS. I ATTEMPTED TO RESTART CAR A NUMBER OF TIMES, BUT SAME PROBLEMS PERSISTED. I REMOVED AND CHECKED FUZE #23 PER CHEVROLET REPAIR MANUAL, BUT FUZE WAS OKAY. AGAIN ATTEMPTED TO RESTART CAR, BUT SAME PROBLEM WAS STILL PRESENT (STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED AND COULDN'T BE TURNED). TOW TRUCK OPERATOR LATER ADVISED THAT HE HAD TOWED FIVE CORVETTES WITH SMAE APPARENT PROBLEM IN LAST TWO WEEKS. CHEVROLET DELAER SUBSEQUENTLY ADVISED THAT CHEVROLET INITIATED A RECALL THIS WEEK, BUT FOR 1999 CORVETTES (AND POSSIBLY NEWER, ONLY). MY 1998 IS APPARENTLY NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL. THIS PROBLEM WOULD BE PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS IF IT OCCURRED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS MOVING.*AK REF. IN EA02-031 *CJS

FOR THIRD TIME WITHIN A YEAR APART BATTERY HAD TO BE REPLACED. VEHICLE WAS LEFT WITHOUT ELECTRICAL POWER, AND CONSUMER NOTICED THAT POSITIVE CABLE WAS CORRODED BY ACID OF BATTERY.*AK

1-STEERING LOOSE AND UNSAFE/2-ENG STUMBLES AND DIES/3-ENG RATTLES IN GEAR/4-DRIVERS SEAT LOOSE/5-GAS MILAGE DROPPING/6-ALL CODES ERRASED BY THEMSELF. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 75 MPH THE ACTIVE HANDLING WARNING CAME ON AND CAR SHUT DOWN TO AN IDLE WITH NO POWER AT ALL. THE 2ND INCIDENT OCCURRED ON 11/3/00. *AK

PE-99-066; WHEN DRIVING 5 MPH AND WHEN ATTEMPTING TO BACK UP VEHICLE STALLED AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP WHICH CAUSED CONSUMER TO HIT A CURVE. AFTER STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP, A MESSAGE WAS DISPLAYED ON DIAGNOSTIC CENTER WHICH INDICATED TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM IGNITION FOR A COUPLE OF MINUTES. CONSUMER NOTED THAT READING SHOULD HAVE DISPLAYED PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT IN ORDER TO PREVENT THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK REF. IN EA02-031 *CJS

UNDEDECTED WATER LEAK FROM PREVIOUS ELECTRONIC FAILURE CAUSING CAR TO NOT EXCEED 5 MPH. STILL NOT CORRECTED . CAR RETURNED TO DEALER WILL NOT START

STARTER.

TWO SPARK PLUG WIRES REPLACED, CAUSING ENGINE FAILURE. *YC

COMPUTER CHIP FAILED. NLM

WHILE TRAVELING AT 35 MPH, INSTRUMENT PANEL INDICATED A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO LOSE SPEED ALTHOUGH THE DRIVER PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR. AFTER PULLING OVER, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VIBRATE.