2001 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Fuel System, Gasoline Problems

THE VEHICLE IS A 2001 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. UPON DRIVING THE STEERING COLUMN LOCKED PREVENTING THE CAR FROM BEING CONTROLLED AT SPEED. AFTER RESEARCHING THE ISSUE AND INVESTIGATING THE MATTER WITH CHEVROLET CUSTOMER SERVICE I FOUND THAT THIS STEERING LOCK ANTITHEFT DEVICE WAS FOUND TO BE DANGEROUS AS I DESCRIBED. THE NHTSA FORCED GM TO RECALL VEHICLES, MINE IN 2003, RECALL NUMBER 4006. SUBSEQUENTLY GM CONCLUDED THAT THIS RECALL WAS NOT EFFECTIVE AND ISSUED TWO MORE RECALLS HOWEVER CUSTOMERS WERE NEVER NOTIFIED BY MAIL. RECALL NUMBER 4006C ISSUED IN FEB 08 2006 SUPERSEDES ALL PREVIOUS RECALLS INSTRUCTING DEALERS AND SERVICE TECHNICIANS TO REMOVE THE LOCKING MECHANISM. HOWEVER GM FAILS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY TO ASSURE THAT THIS LATTER RECALL IS PROVIDED TO MY VEHICLE. AFTER NUMEROUS CALLS TO CUSTOMER SERVICE 866 790 5700 THEY WILL NOT AUTHORIZE REPAIR OF MY VEHICLE. AFTER $1700 OUT OF POCKET EXPENSES MY CAR IS STILL IN A SITUATION THAT THE STEERING COLUMN CAN LOCK WHILE BEING DRIVEN AND GM FAILS TO RESPOND. I HAVE BEEN BOUNCED AROUND TO 8 TO 9 REPRESENTATIVES IN CUSTOMER SERVICE FROM PERU , TEXAS AND DETROIT ALL WITH NO ACTION. ALL OWNERS OF 1999 TO 2004 CORVETTES WHOSE THEFT DETERRENT SYSTEM IS STILL IN OPERATION, MEANING THE STEERING COLUMN LOCKS WHEN THE KEY IS REMOVED SHOULD BE AWARE THAT THE CAR MAY LOCK WHEN DRIVING AND CRASH. THIS IS FROM GM'S OWN SERVICE RECALL NUMBER 4006C. THESE VEHICLE SHOULD NOT BE DRIVEN. *TR

Mileage: 92,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. THE CONTACT STATED THE FUEL TANK WOULD LEAK AND EXHIBITED GASOLINE FUMES INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ONE YEAR PRIOR TO THE MOST RECENT FAILURE WHERE THE DEALER SEALED THE FUEL TANK TO STOP THE LEAK BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE FUEL SENDING UNIT AND PUMP SEAL REPLACED A SECOND TIME. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 55,000.

Mileage: 55,000

GAS TANKS LEAKING FROM THE TOP

Mileage: 87,000

TOPPED OFF GAS TANK AND DETECTED STRONG GASOLINE ODOR WITHIN VEHICLE. PARKED CAR IN GARAGE AND STRONG GASOLINE ODOR EMANATING FROM REAR HALF OF VEHICLE. UNABLE TO DETECT ANY GASOLINE LEAKS FROM VEHICLE ON THE FLOOR OR VISIBLE PARTS OF THE UNDERSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. OPENED GARAGE DOORS TO VENT OUT THE FUMES. FUMES DISSIPATED AFTER SEVERAL HOURS. I NO LONGER TOP OFF THE TANK IN AN EFFORT TO AVOID A POTENTIALLY VOLATILE SITUATION. ORIGINAL OWNER REPORTED FUEL TANK RELATED PROBLEMS AROUND 15,000 MILES BUT REFUSED TO FILL UP THE TANK DURING SERVICE AT DEALERSHIP.

Mileage: 36,184

FUEL TANK LEAK RIGHT SIDE TOP OF TANK. *TR

Mileage: 60,000

DEFECTIVE/CRACKED RIGHT FUEL TANK (WHERE FUEL PUMP CONNECTED TO FUEL TANK). STRONG FUEL SMELL NOTICED THIS PAST SUMMER, WHILE PARKED IN HOME GARAGE - SMELL WOULD ONLY BE NOTICEABLE AFTER TANK WAS FILLED. TANK REPLACED BY CARR CRAFT, INC., OF PORTAGE, MI., WITH 'ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT' TANK FROM CHEVROLET. CAR OWNER CALLED CHEVROLET CUSTOMER SERVICE AND DELIVERED TANK TO KRUM/COLE CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP IN VICKSBURG, MI FOR INSPECTION AND CONFIRMATION OF CRACK (AT REQUEST OF CHEVROLET CUSTOMER SERVICE). CHEVROLET SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE ADVISED THAT IT WAS DUE TO "NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR", RATHER THAN A MANUFACTURING ISSUE AND WOULD NOT CONSIDER COMPENSATION FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE TANK. VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN IN ANY KIND OF ACCIDENT AND IS OWNED BY ORIGINAL PURCHASER.

FUEL LEAK AT THE FUEL TANK. *TR

Mileage: 64,000

I HAVE A 2001 CORVETTE THAT HAS LEAKED GAS FROM AROUND THE GAS TANK AREA AT THE REAR OF THE CAR. I HAVE READ NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ONLINE THAT OTHER CORVETTES OF THAT ERA ALSO HAVE FAULTY FUEL COMPONENTS THAT LEAK. WHAT IS MY RECOURSE? *TR

Mileage: 32,296

2001 CORVETTE GAS TANK ODOR. I READ THAT YOU HAVE OPENED A CASE ON THE 2004 CORVETTES. MY 2001 IS IDENTICAL TO THE 2004 MODEL AND HAS THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. IF THE GAS TANK IS FILLED FULL, A VERY BAD GASOLINE ODOR IS PRESENT. THE ODOR GOES AWAY AS THE GAS TANK EMPTIES. *TR

THE FUEL TANK LEAKS WHEN FILLED TO THE NORMAL CUTOFF POINT WHEN FILLING. THERE WAS NO EVENT LEADING TO THE FAILURE, IT OCCURS WHEN THE FUEL TANK IS FILLED. THE FUEL TANK NEEDS TO BE REPLACED TO CORRECT THE DEFECTIVE FUEL TANKS. GM/CHEVY DOES NOT STAND BEHIND THE DEFECTIVE TANKS AND THE COSTS ARE BORN BY THE OWNER. GM DID NOT RESPOND TO THE ISSUE WHILE IT WAS UNDER EITHER THE VEHICLE'S EXTENDED GMPP WARRANTY NOR THE EMISSIONS WARRANTY, BOTH NOW JUST EXPIRED. *TR

Mileage: 47,000

IMMEDIATELY AFTER GAS FILL-UPS, CAR AND GARAGE SMELLS OF GASOLINE. CONTINUES TO SMELL UNTIL APPROXIMATELY 50 MILES ARE REGISTERED ON VEHICLE. HAS BEEN A CONSTANT PROBLEM SINCE PURCHASE OF PRE-OWNED 2001 VEHICLE IN SEPTEMBER OF 2007 FROM GM DEALERSHIP. *TR

Mileage: 46,500

LEAKY GAS TANK OR CROSS OVER. WHEN TANK IS FILLED GAS LEAKS AND FUMES CAN BE SMELLED FOR DAYS. *TR

Mileage: 24,500

2001 CORVETTE. 2 YEARS AGO (1)ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ALWAYS ON (2)TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHTS ON (3)ABS WARNING LIGHTS ON (4)LOW FUEL WARNING LIGHT GOES ON IF UNDER 1/2 TANK AND GAUGE DROPS TO ZERO FUEL (5)DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT WILL NOT OPEN UP (6)LIGHTS DO NOT WORK ON HEATING ,A/C DIRECTIONAL FLOW THESE COMPLAINTS FROM WHAT I HAVE READ ON BLOG SITES FROM HUNDREDS OF OTHER CORVETTE OWNERS ARE VERY COMMONPLACE PROBLEM LIES IN THE FACT THAT WHEN MY WARNING LIGHTS ARE LIT UP I HAVE NO ANTILOCK BRAKES WORKING ON MY CAR NOR DO I HAVE TRACTION CONTROL. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. SOME TIME THE LIGHTS WORK SOMETIMES THEY GO OFF WELL I AM IN MOTION. THIS CAN CAUSE A DANGEROUS SITUATION IF I AM JUST HITTING THROTTLE AND THIS OCCURS CAUSING ME TO LOSE CONTROL AND RISKING A COLLISION. THESE ARE POWERFUL CARS EVEN WHEN DRIVEN IN A SAFE MANNER. I OWN AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND IT DOES NOT TAKE MUCH THROTTLE FOR THE ENGINE TO GEAR DOWN AND ACCELERATE. I STOP AT GEN. MOTORS DEALER FREQUENTLY HOPING FOR A CAMPAIGN. TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. THE SAME STORY ALWAYS IS THAT IT IS A DEFECTIVE COMPUTER BOARD AND THAT I AM LOOKING AT APPROX $4000.00 DOLLARS TO REPAIR. READING BLOG SITE IT IS THE SAME. SOME WOULD SAY THAT IF ONE CAN AFFORD A CORVETTE THEN THIS SHOULD NOT BE AN ISSUE. I SAY IT IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET. AM ONLY AN EMPLOYEE AT A DAYCARE AND SAVED FOR YEARS TO PURCHASE THIS CAR. THE OTHER COMMON COMPLAINT IS THE FUEL GAUGE BUT UNDERSTAND THAT WITH COMPUTER BOARD REPLACED THIS WILL ELIMINATE PROBLEM. POP UP HEADLIGHT COST TO REPAIR $300.00. *TR

Mileage: 45,000

2001 CORVETTE CONVERTIBLE, WITH LESS THAN 66K MILES -- DEFECT/CRACK IN GASOLINE TANK -- RESULTING IN STRONG SMELL OF FUEL AND VISIBLE LEAKING FROM UNDER REAR OF VEHICLE -- IN FRONT OF LEFT REAR WHEEL. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR PROBLEM ON AUGUST 21 2006 FOR REPAIR. CUSTOMER WAS TOLD BY BOTH DEALERSHIP AND GM THAT NO 2001 GASOLINE TANK AVAILABLE FOR IMMEDIATE REPAIR. GM AND DEALERSHIP INFORMED CUSTOMER THAT 2001 GASOLINE TANK MANUFACTURERS WERE SWITCHED -- BUT NO GAS TANKS HAVE PASSED INSPECTION, AS YET, TO ALLOW FOR CUSTOMER REPAIR. IT HAS NOW BEEN 4.5 MONTHS THAT MY 2001 CORVETTE IS STILL SITTING AT THE DEALERSHIP -- AWAITING A SAFE GASOLINE TANK TO BE INSTALLED. *JB

Mileage: 64,573

WE PURCHASED A 2001 C5 AND ON A 2 HOUR TRIP THE FUEL GAUGE DROPPED TO ZERO, THE CHECK GAUGES LIGHT CAME ON AND THEN THE LOW FUEL' WARNING CAME ON. THIS HAPPENED TO THE VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES. I HAVE REACHED OUT TO SEVERAL OTHER CORVETTE OWNERS BECAUSE OUR LOCAL GM DEALER CANNOT IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM IS THE RIGHT AND LEFT SENDING UNITS ARE FAULTY IN THE FUEL SYSTEM. BOTH NEED TO BE REPLACED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM AND YOU CANNOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES RUN ANYTHING BUT CHEVRON SUPREME IN THE TANK OR IT WILL BLOW OUT THE FUEL SENDING UNIT AGAIN. THIS ITEM IS OVER $1000 TO FIX AND NO GM RECALL IN SIGHT. THE PROBLEM BECOMES WHEN THE CAR QUITS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD AND SOMEONE REAR ENDS YOU AND TOTALS YOUR C5 BECAUSE OF GM'S ERROR! *NM

Mileage: 79,610

ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS I HAVE HAD THE FUEL GAUGE READ FROM OVER A HALVE OF A TANK TO IMMEDIATELY READING NOTHING. WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT STATED TO ME "WELL IT'S NOT A PERFECT SCIENCE YOU KNOW" AND PROCEEDED TO DO NOTHING TO INVESTIGATE IT OR REPAIR IT. I HAVE ALSO BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE LIGHTS IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE MPH LIGHT IS BLINKING ON AND OFF AND JUST THE OTHER DAY THE LIGHT INFO BAR WENT COMPLETELY OFF AND I COULDN'T READ MY COMPUTER INFO. I HAVE ADDRESSED SEVERAL TIMES WITH THE DEALER ABOUT THE SEVERE FRONT END VIBRATION WHEN THE VEHICLE REACHES SPEEDS OF 70MPH, BUT THE DEALER WON'T LOOK INTO IT BECAUSE THEY SAY THEY CAN;T DRIVE IT THAT FAST. WHAT! IF THE LAW ALLOWS ME TO GO THAT FAST, WHY CAN'T THEY? THE DRIVES SEAT BELT CONSTANTLY LOCKS ON ME NOT ALLOWING ME TO LOOK OUT MY SIDE OR REAR WINDOW. IN THE CONVERTIBLE YOU REALLY HAVE TO STRETCH TO SEE OUT THAT SMALL WINDOW IN THE TOP, THE SEAT BELT DOES NOT ALLOW ME TO AND I FIGHT TO GET IT TO RELEASE. THE LAST THING I WANT TO DO IT TAKE MY SEAT BELT OFF WHEN I'M DRIVING! PLEASE LOOK INTO THESE PROBLEMS. THANK YOU. *CB

Mileage: 4,000

I HAVE A 2001 CORVETTE. SINCE I'VE OWNED IT, SEVERAL PROBLEMS HAVE OCCURRED. THE FIRST BEING THE DRIVERS DOOR LOCK. THE CAR DEALER REPLACED THE MODULE TWICE AND THEN IT SWITCH ITSELF. THEN THE ELECTRONIC SYSTEM DEFAULTED WHERE I COULDN'T START THE CAR (TWICE). HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEN DRIVING ONE DAY THE FUEL GAUGE WENT FROM SHOWING HALF A TANK ALL THE WAY TO ZERO. ALL THE FUEL WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. TOOK IT INTO SERVICE AND THEY REPROGRAMMED THE COMPUTER. THE VERY NEXT DAY I STARTED THE CAR AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK ENGAGED AFTER THE CAR FIRST STARTED, (I HAVEN'T HAD IT IN GEAR YET). THIS PROBLEM CONCERNED ME AND I STATED THAT TO THE SERVICE MANAGER WHO IMMEDIATELY STATED IT COULDN'T HAPPEN IF I WAS DRIVING THE CAR. (REALLY?) THEY REPAIRED THAT. THEN THE GAS GAUGE DID IT AGAIN. TOOK IT IN AGAIN AND THEY REPLACED SEVERAL ITEMS IN THE FUEL SYSTEM. NOW, ONE TANK OF GAS LATER, THE GAUGE DOESN'T READ PROPERLY. THE LOW LEVEL LIGHT CAME ON AND IT ONLY TOOK 10 GALLONS. TOOK IT BACK INTO THE DEALER AND THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO FIX IT SO THEY'RE TALKING WITH GM ENGINEERS. ALSO THERE WERE SEVERAL OTHER 2001 CORVETTE'S IN FOR THE IDENTICAL PROBLEM. NOW (10/3/03) I HAVE A RENTAL CAR AND DON'T HAVE ANY IDEA WHEN THEY WILL BE ABLE TO FIX MINE. *LA

Mileage: 2,000

SEAM IN RIGHT FUEL TANK DEVELOPED A LEAK WHILE SITTING IN MY GARAGE. NLM

RAW FUEL LEAK FROM LINE NEAR FIREWALL INSIDE ENGINE COMPARTMENT