2003 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Steering Problems

33 complaints about Steering

33
Complaints
6
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Deaths

High Severity Issue

This component has been associated with crashes, fires, or deaths.

This Problem Across All Years

All Steering Complaints (33)

Jul 15, 2025

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.

Oct 28, 2022 Crash

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

Aug 17, 2020

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 NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V060000 (STEERING) HOWEVER, THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,000.

Mileage: 56,000

Aug 23, 2019

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 NHTSA 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.

Mileage: 115,000

Feb 26, 2019

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.

Mileage: 42,000

Nov 29, 2017

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.

Mileage: 28,240

Jul 18, 2017

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.

Mileage: 153,000

Apr 27, 2017

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.

Mileage: 55,000

Apr 17, 2017

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.

Mileage: 6,100

Feb 10, 2016

I WAS TRAVELING 60 MPH ON A FREEWAY WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY WENT LEFT AND THEN RIGHT. IT FELT LIKE THE CAR WAS STEERING ITS SELF. WHEN THE PITCHED IT WENT INTO THE LEFT LANE THEN THE RIGHT LANE. I WAS IN THE CENTER LANE. I WAS ABLE TO BRING THE CAR UNDER CONTROL BUT IT SCARED ME. IT WAS SO DRAMATIC I COULD HAVE HAD A VERY NASTY ACCIDENT INVOLVING MY DEATH OR THE OTHER DRIVERS AN THE FREEWAY..I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR AND PUT THE CAR INTO THE SLOW LANE AND BACKED SPEED DOWN TO 50. THE WEATHER WAS NOT AN ISSUE.

Mileage: 45,000

Jul 29, 2015

I WAS DRIVING NORTH ON INTERSTATE 95 IN MIAMI, FLORIDA, I CHANGED LANES AND COULD NO LONGER CONTROL STEERING, CAR SEEM TO GO THE WAY IT WANTED TO. IT STEERED TO LEFT TO THE RIGHT BACK TO THE LEFT ACROSS 3 LANES OF TRAFFIC AND I ENDED UP GOING SOUTHBOUND IN THE NORTHBOUND LANES. WITH THE HELP OF GOD I WAS ABLE TO PUT THE CAR IN PARK, START IT UP AGAIN, BACK UP, TURN IT AROUND AND HEAD THE RIGHT WAY, WHICH WAS NORTHBOUND, CONSIDERING THE TRAFFIC ON I-95 I SHOULD HAVE BEEN HIT BY NUMEROUS CARS DURING THAT TIME, BUT WITH GOD'S HELP IT DIDN'T HAPPEN. I NOTICED ON DASHBOARD THAT IT STATED TO SERVICE ACTIVE HANDLING. I DECIDED TO DO SOME RESEARCH AND THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS RELATED TO THIS SAME INCIDENT AND SOME RECALLS ALSO. MY LIFE COULD HAVE TAKEN DURING THIS INCIDENT. I HAD JUST PURCHASED 2 NEW FRONT TIRES AND 2 REAR SHOCKS FOR MY CAR BEFORE THIS HAPPENED ONLY 6 DAYS BEFORE, CAR HAS ALWAYS BEEN KEPT IN GOOD RUNNING CONDITION.

Mileage: 252,000

Jun 5, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABE TO RESTART, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. IN ADDITION, THE SERVICE COLUMN LOCK WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTAC'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V060000 (STEERING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000.

Mileage: 15,000

Jun 4, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING COLUMN SEIZED, FAILED TO UNLOCK, AND THE STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS MADE AWARE OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V060000 (STEERING); HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 31,000.

Mileage: 31,000

Feb 6, 2015

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE IN FIRST GEAR, HE APPLIED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY JUMPED OUT OF GEAR. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE BUSHINGS WERE REPLACED IN THE TRANSMISSION BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE SERVICE STEERING COLUMN LOCK WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS MADE AWARE OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V060000 (STEERING) HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000.

Mileage: 12,000

Sep 2, 2014

2003 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO THE STEERING COLUMN LOCK RECALL AND SEEKS REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPAIRS. *SMD THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER, THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED ON JULY 13, 2005. HOWEVER, THE CONSUMER STATED IF THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED, HE SHOULDN'T HAVE HAD TO PAY $619.48 TO HAVE THE WIRING HARNESS AND RELAY REPLACED, DUE TO THE STEERING COLUMN LOCKING UP. *JB

Sep 2, 2014

2003 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO THE STEERING COLUMN LOCK RECALL AND SEEKS REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPAIRS. *SMD THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER, THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED ON JULY 13, 2005. HOWEVER, THE CONSUMER STATED IF THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED, HE SHOULDN'T HAVE HAD TO PAY $619.48 TO HAVE THE WIRING HARNESS AND RELAY REPLACED, DUE TO THE STEERING COLUMN LOCKING UP. *JB

Aug 5, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AND THE SERVICE STEERING COLUMN WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,000.

Mileage: 81,000

Jul 3, 2012

02 NOV 05 - STEERING COLUMN LOCKED; REPROGRAMMED AND REPAIRED UNDER FACTORY RECALL BULLETIN; CHARGED $17.96 FOR "SHOP SUPPLIES"; 10 APR 09 - STEERING COLUMN LOCKED AGAIN !; RELAY REPLACED; CHARGED $144.73 (PARTS & LABOR); 31 MAR 10 - STEERING COLUMN LOCKED AGAIN !!!; LOCK AND RELAY REPLACED; CHARGED $614.83 (PARTS & LABOR); 03 JUL 12 - STEERING COLUMN LOCKED AGAIN !!! (4TH TIME); RELAY REPLACED AGAIN !!!; CHARGED $245.00 (PARTS & LABOR). SUMMARY: FOUR ATTEMPTS TO CORRECT A "FACTORY RECALL" ISSUE AT A TOTAL CHARGE OF $1022.52 ! IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT A "FACTORY RECALL" IS COMPLETED AT NO COST, REGARDLESS OF THE NUMBER OF ATTEMPTS REQUIRED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. I RESENT BEING CHARGED OVER $1000. FOR WHAT SUPPOSEDLY IS A FACTORY RECALL PROBLEM ... THAT APPARENTLY THE SERVICE TECHS HAVE NO CLUE ABOUT RESOLVING. YOUR RESPONSE, PLEASE. *JS

Mileage: 10,300

May 24, 2012 Crash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 25 MPH WHEN THE POWER STEERING FAILED AS THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED A SLIGHT TURN. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 35,000. THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING, THE STEERING COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN. SINCE HE HAD NO STEERING, SO HE APPLIED THE BRAKES, AND SOON AFTER, THE VEHICLE WENT FROM 25 MPH TO 60 MPH. HE HIT A CURB AND THE VEHICLE WENT AIRBORNE. THE VEHICLE SPUN AROUND AND LANDED ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE DITCH. THREE TIRE WERE BLOWN OUT, THE FRAME WAS BENT AND THE AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. THE CONSUMER STATED HE NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL REGARDING A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING. ALSO, THE BATTERY WOULD GO DEAD, IF THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED ON A REGULAR BASIS. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE JUMP STARTED ON FIVE OCCASIONS. UPDATED 07/19/12

Mileage: 35,000

Feb 22, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 85 MPH, THE BRAKES WOULD ACTIVATE INDEPENDENTLY, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO VEER TO THE RIGHT. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V060000 (STEERING:COLUMN LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT DEVICE) BUT DID NOT RECEIVE CONFIRMATION THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE RECURRED FIVE TIMES WITHIN A THIRTY MINUTE PERIOD. THE DEALER PLACED AN AIR FLOW SENSOR INTO THE VEHICLE TO REMEDY THE FAILURE HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING FURTHER REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 104,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,000.

Mileage: 101,000

Dec 29, 2011 Crash

ACCIDENT ON 8/9/2008 FRONT IMPACT HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE IN VIRGINA, 2/2/2011 ACCIDENT LEFT SIDE IMPACT HIT A CURB, AND AN OBJECT. 12/15/2011 CONSUMER BOUGHT. FOUND OUT THAT COOLING FAN HAS BEEN GLUED, COOLING FAN HAS BEEN WIRED WHICH MAKES THE FAN TO BE ALWAYS ON, AIR FILTER MISSING BOLTS, STEERING WHEEL LOCKS AND CAR GIVES ERROR MESSAGE AND THEN JUST STOPS, INFORMED DEALER AND THEY STATED JUST TO DOUBLE CLICK UNLOCK B/C IS JUST A SECURITY ISSUE. CAR WAS SOLD WITH BROKEN RACK AND PINION. DEALER STATED THAT IS WHY YOU BOUGHT A 18K CAR AND NOT A 60K CAR, YOU GET IT AS IS. THEY ARE USING A BBB AWARD AND ON WEBSITE THEY ARE RATED AND F. HAD ONE OF THEIR APPLICATION PROCESSORS CHECK THE CAR AND STATED EVERYTHING WAS FINE, HE DOES NOT HAVE CERTIFIED MECHANIC LICENSE AND WAS TOLD THAT ON 12/28/2011. MORE ISSUES... *KB

Mileage: 56,592

Mar 31, 2011 Crash

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY LOCKED UP. AFTER APPLYING THE BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE, IT CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE AT HIGHER SPEEDS WHEN HE THEN CRASHED INTO A DITCH, WENT AIRBORNE AND LANDED ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. THE POLICE WERE CALLED AND A REPORT WAS AVAILABLE. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO A INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THEY WERE ADVISED THAT A GM INVESTIGATOR WOULD COME AND INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THEY ARE WAITING THE OUTCOME, BUT IT WAS DEEMED DESTROYED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 35,000. UPDATED06/07/11*LJ UPDATED 08/17/11

Mileage: 35,000

Mar 22, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WOULD LOCK SPORADICALLY. AFTER RECEIVING NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V060000(STEERING:COLUMN LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT DEVICE) AND AFTER HAVING THE RECALLED REPAIR PERFORMED TWICE, THE FAILURE RECURRED A THIRD TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THEY CORRECTED THE ISSUE FOR THE RECALL AND WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO PERFORM ANY FURTHER REPAIRS UNDER THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 18,700.

Mileage: 18,700

Dec 31, 2009 Crash

THIS IS AN AMENDMENT TO YOUR ODI NUMBER 10297619. OUR 2003 CHEVROLET CORVETTE HAS SUSTAINED SEVERE UNDERCARRAIGE DAMAGE AS WELL AS PASSENGER SIDE BODY DAMAGE AND WHEEL AND TIRE DAMAGE. PASSENGER DOOR WILL NOT OPEN AND DRIVERS DOOR WILL OPEN WHEN MUCH STRENGTH APPLIED TO PULL IT OPEN. THERE WERE A COUPLE OF MINUTES AFTER THE CRASH THAT IT WAS APPARENT THE DOORS WERE NOT GOING TO OPEN WITHOUT SOME KIND OF ASSISTANCE. JUST PRIOR TO THE CRASHWE EXPERIENCED A SMALL FISHING OF OF THE REAR OF THE CAR AT WHICH TIME THE ACCELERATOR WAS DISENGAGED AND THE BRAKES APPLIED HARD. THE STEERING WAS LOCKED IN THE POSITION WE WERE DRIVING IN AT THE TIME WHICH WAS ON A CURVE. THE BRAKES FAILED TO STOP US, AND AT THIS TIME THE RPM WAS RACING UPWARD ON THE CAR WHICH WAS ACCELERATING WHEN NO GAS WAS BEING APPLIED AT ALL. ONE OTHER TIME WHEN WE HAD TO APPLY THE BRAKES QUICKLY, FOR A CHANGING LIGHT, THE RPM RACED WAY UP WHILE WE WERE STOPPED. OUR COMPUTER SAID NOTHING AT THIS TIME WHICH INDICATED TO US THAT THERE WAS NOTHING NOTED ABOUT THE INCIDENT THAT WE COULD SEE. ALSO AIRBAGS FAILED TO OPEN! WITHOUT OUR SEATBELTS, THE 37 INCIDENT AMONG CORVETTES WOULD HAVE BEEN THE FIRST CASUALITY IN THE STEERING LOCK FAILURE. MOST NOTABLY AND CRITICAL OF THE FAILURES IS THE STEERING LOCK FIAILURE NO.1, NO 2 IS BRAKES FAILING TO STOP VEHICLE AND NO. 3 IS AIRBAGS FAILING TO DEPLOY. NO 4 IS THE RPM ACCELERATING WHEN BRAKES ARE TO THE FLOOR. THE VEHICLE IS NOT DRIVEABLE AT THIS TIME AND IS CURRENTLY IN STORAGE UNTIL THERE ARE RESOLUTIONS TO THESE FAILURES. DATE OF CRACH DEC. 11, 2009 ABOUT 9:30 AM. *TR

Mileage: 34,000

Dec 30, 2009 Crash

THERE REALLY WASN'T ANY EVENTS LEADING UP TO OUR ACCIDENT THAT I WAS AWARE OF. I HAVE NOT CONTACTED GENERAL MOTORS AS OF YET,MY INTERNET HAS BEEN DOWN AND WAS ONLY FIXED THIS EVENING AROUND 4:00. BUT BACK TO MY ACCIDENT,MY STEERING LOCKED UP ON ME AND ALL LOST ALL CONTROL OF MY CAR. SORRY I DON'T HAVE MORE INFORMATION. I JUST KNOW MY WIFE AND I ARE LUCKY TO BE ALIVE. THANK YOU! *TR

Mileage: 34,000

Dec 29, 2009

2003 CORVETTE MANUAL TRANS. I HAD THE WORK DONE FOR THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK RECALL PROGRAM #04V060000 BACK IN 2006. ON DEC. 24TH 2009, THE VEHICLE WOULD START BUT NOT MOVE FORWARD. POSSIBLE FUEL SHUT OFF DUE TO HARNESS LOCK FAILURE. WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE GMC DEALER IN WATSONVILLE CALIF. THEY ADVISED ME THAT THIS ITEM WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. MY QUESTION IF THE RECALL ITEM HAS FAILED AGAIN WHY ISN'T THE DEALER OR GM RESPONSIBLE FOR REPLACEMENT AT NO COST TO THE CUSTOMER? I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS ONLY FOR THE FIRST 12,000 MILES OR 12 MONTHS. SEEMS ODD THAT THIS PART THAT WAS REPLACED IN 2006 HAS ALREADY FAILED WHEN THE CAR HAS HAD ONLY 7,000 MILES APPROX. PUT ON THE VEHICLE SINCE THE RECALL WORK WAS COMPLETED. THE TOTAL MILES FOR THIS VEHICLE IS ONLY 15,900 MILES. HAS THERE BEEN ANY REPORTS THAT THE REPLACEMENT PART WAS DEFECTIVE AS WELL? *TR

Mileage: 15,900

Dec 29, 2009

2003 CORVETTE MANUAL TRANS. I HAD THE WORK DONE FOR THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK RECALL PROGRAM #04V060000 BACK IN 2006. ON DEC. 24TH 2009, THE VEHICLE WOULD START BUT NOT MOVE FORWARD. POSSIBLE FUEL SHUT OFF DUE TO HARNESS LOCK FAILURE. WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE GMC DEALER IN WATSONVILLE CALIF. THEY ADVISED ME THAT THIS ITEM WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. MY QUESTION IF THE RECALL ITEM HAS FAILED AGAIN WHY ISN'T THE DEALER OR GM RESPONSIBLE FOR REPLACEMENT AT NO COST TO THE CUSTOMER? I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS ONLY FOR THE FIRST 12,000 MILES OR 12 MONTHS. SEEMS ODD THAT THIS PART THAT WAS REPLACED IN 2006 HAS ALREADY FAILED WHEN THE CAR HAS HAD ONLY 7,000 MILES APPROX. PUT ON THE VEHICLE SINCE THE RECALL WORK WAS COMPLETED. THE TOTAL MILES FOR THIS VEHICLE IS ONLY 15,900 MILES. HAS THERE BEEN ANY REPORTS THAT THE REPLACEMENT PART WAS DEFECTIVE AS WELL? *TR

Mileage: 15,900

Oct 1, 2009

WHILE DRIVING, MY VEHICLE'S WARNING SYSTEM FOR THE ACTIVE HANDLING & ABS SYSTEM ACTIVATES DURING NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. IT IS HIGHLY UNLIKELY THAT BOTH OF THESE SYSTEMS WOULD DEVELOP A PROBLEM AT THE SAME TIME. UPON RESEARCHING THIS, I DISCOVERED THAT GM REALIZED A FLAW IN THE DESIGNING OF THE WIRING HARNESS THAT IS CONTAINED WITHIN THE STEERING COLUMN THAT IS RESPONSIBLE. GM HAS DESIGNED A PART TO FIX THIS, BUT AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. IN THESE TYPES OF VEHICLES, THE ACTIVE HANDLING & ABS IS A SAFETY FEATURE, AND I CAN ONLY ASSUME THAT WHENEVER THE WARNINGS ARE ACTIVATED THESE SAFETY FUNCTIONS ARE NO LONGER FUNCTIONING AS THE COMPUTER BELIEVES THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THEM WHEN THERE ISN'T. THE WARNINGS DO NOT COME ON AT THE TIME OF START UP, BUT ONLY AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE FOR ABOUT 5 MILES. IF THERE IN FACT WAS A PROBLEM WITH THESE FEATURES, A WARNING WOULD COME ON AT START UP. GM HAS FOUND THAT THE WIRING HARNESS BECOMES STRETCHED FROM CONTINUED USE OF THE TELESCOPING STEERING COLUMN OVER THE YEARS WHICH CAUSES THE FALSE WARNINGS. OTHER DRIVERS HAVE REPORTED POWER STEERING FAILURE AND OTHER PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS. THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW THAT COULD CAUSE DRASTIC PROBLEMS IF THE COMPUTER FALSELY DISENGAGES THESE FEATURES, ESPECIALLY THE ABS DURING DRIVING IN THE RAIN OR SNOW. THESE VEHICLES RELY ON THESE SYSTEMS FOR SAFE OPERATIONS. ONCE THE WARNING COMES ON, THERE IS NO WAY TO CHECK TO SEE IF THE ACTIVE HANDLING FEATURE IS ON OR OFF, AS THE COMPUTER WILL NOT ALLOW THE SYSTEM TO BE CHECKED. *TR

Mileage: 24,500

May 2, 2008

A MESSAGE WAS RANDOMLY DISPLAYED SAYING THAT THE ACTIVE HANDLING SYSTEM HAD FAILED AND THAT SERVICE WAS NEEDED. WHEN THIS HAPPENED, THE CAR'S COMPUTER WOULD THEN SHUT OFF THE ACTIVE HANDLING SYSTEM, BUT WHEN THE IGNITION WAS TURNED OFF AND THEN BACK ON, THE ACTIVE HANDLING SYSTEM WOULD BE ACTIVE UNTIL THE NEXT FAILURE. I BELIEVE THAT THIS FAILURE CONSTITUTES A SAFETY PROBLEM. AFTER MANY MONTHS OF THIS (I WASN'T OVERLY CONCERNED SINCE I DON'T DRIVE ERRATICALLY AND RARELY ACTIVATE THE ACTIVE HANDLING SYSTEM), I TOOK THE CAR TO A DEALER (WEST CHEVROLET, ALCOA, TN) AND WAS TOLD (1) THEY HAVE SEEN THIS PROBLEM BEFORE ON CORVETTES AND (2) IT IS DUE TO THE WIRING HARNESS IN THE STEERING COLUMN BEING TOO SHORT. (THIS CAR HAS A POWER TELESCOPING STEERING WHEEL AND MEMORY SEATS SO THAT EVERY TIME THE DRIVER GETS IN AND OUT OF THE CAR, THE STEERING COLUMN AUTOMATICALLY MOVES OUT AND IN, EVIDENTLY TUGGING ON THE WIRING HARNESS EACH TIME.) THE DEALERS TECHNICIAN FOREMAN SAID THAT ONE OF SIGNALS CARRIED BY THE HARNESS IS THE ANGLE OF THE STEERING WHEEL WHICH IS USED IN CONJUNCTION WITH A YAW-RATE SENSOR TO DETERMINE IF THE CAR IS "SPINNING OUT" AND WHAT CORRECTIVE ACTION IS REQUIRED TO CORRECT THIS. HE ALSO SAID THAT DUE TO THE TOO-SHORT HARNESS, THE INTEGRITY OF THE HARNESS CONNECTOR DEGRADES OVER TIME CAUSING THE INTERMITTENT FAILURE OF THE ACTIVE HANDLING SYSTEM. (3) THE DEALER SAID THAT THIS PROBLEM IS FIXED BY EXTENDING THE HARNESS WITH A GM PART WHICH IMPLIES THAT GM KNOWS THAT THEY HAVE A PROBLEM AND HAVE DEVELOPED A PART TO FIX IT. (4) I ASKED THE DEALER WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF I DID NOT FIX IT. I WAS TOLD THAT EVENTUALLY THE CONNECTOR WOULD COMPLETELY FAIL RESULTING IN A LOSS OF THE POWER STEERING. THIS WOULD THEN BE ANOTHER SAFETY PROBLEM. SO I HAD TO HAVE IT FIXED BUT IT WASN'T CHEAP - $594.68. *TR

Mileage: 40,000

Oct 26, 2005

AFTER RECALL WAS DONE ON 2003 CHEVROLET CORVETTE THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED WHILE IN MOTION. *TS THE RECALL THAT WAS PERFORMED ON 8/18/2004 WAS INTENDED TO PREVENT THE STEERING WHEEL FROM LOCKING UP. THERE WAS NO RESULTING ACCIDENT OR INJURY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER ON 12/21/2004. THE REPAIR ORDER SHOWED THAT THE PROGRAMMING DID NOT TAKE ON RECALL REPAIR.(RECALL NUMBER 04V060000, RECALL 04006). *NM

Sep 19, 2005

DT: THE STEERING LOCKED WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THIS HAPPENED ON SEPTEMBER 18, 2005 WHILE GOING 30 MPH, THERE WAS RECALL, AND HAD THE RECALL REPAIRS PERFORMED ON JUNE 10, 2005. CONTACTED GM, AND LEFT A MESSAGE WITH THE GENERAL MANAGER. THIS HAPPENED BEFORE WHILE BACKING THE VEHICLE OUT. CONTACTED THE DEALER, AND THAT WAS WHEN THE CONSUMER FOUND OUT THERE WAS A RECALL. *AK

Jun 25, 2004

CONSUMER VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AS STATED IN THE NHTSA RECALL 04V06000 CONCERNING STEERING COLUMN LOCKING. PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ELECTRONIC COLUMN LOCK SYSTEMS (ECL), WHEN THE IGNITION SWITCH IS TURNED TO ?LOCK,? THE ECL 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. MANUFACTURER INDICATED THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

Apr 3, 2003

THE VEHICLE MAD A TURN ON ITS OWN WITHOUT WARNING. *JB