The 1998 Chevrolet Corvette has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 198,193 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 466 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the steering. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
STEERING04V0600002004-02-09126,624 affected
Defect
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…
Consequence
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…
SEAT BELTS00V1110002000-04-1771,569 affected
Defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE LAP BELT WEBBING CAN TWIST ALLOWING THE WEBBING TO BECOME JAMMED IN THE RETRACTOR.
Consequence
WHEN THE BELT WEBBING BECOMES JAMMED IN THE RETRACTOR, THE SEAT BELT MAY BE UNUSABLE.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL INSTALL INSERTS TO THE BELT WEB GUIDE OF EACH LAP BELT RETRACTOR.
Complaints by component
STEERING:COLUMN LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT DEVICE
82
2crashes3injuries
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
80
1crashes
STEERING
37
1crashes
SEATS
23
STEERING:COLUMN
15
1crashes
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
13
1crashes1injuries
SERVICE BRAKES
11
1fires
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
8
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
7
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
7
Total complaints466
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“The contact owns a 1998 chevrolet corvette. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the steering column lock failed to unlock, preventing the vehicle from being driven. After turning the key, the vehicle returned to normal functionality, but the failure became a regular occurrence. The…”
“The contact owns a 1998 chevrolet corvette. The contact stated that while the vehicle was with a local transmission mechanic for service, the technician was reversing out of the service bay when the service column warning light illuminated. No other warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was…”
“The contact owns a 1998 chevrolet corvette. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, the steering column remained in the locked position and the steering wheel could not be turned in either direction. The contact stated that occasionally the message "remove key - wait 10 seconds" was…”
“I own a 1998 chevrolet corvette. The ebcm can have an issue. Complains of traction control, abs braking and ah active handling. This can cause issues when driving with no abs active. I have seen numerous complaints about this issue here and on various forums. Unfortunately the part needed to…”
“I own a 1998 chevrolet corvette. The ebcm can have an issue. Complains of traction control, abs braking and ah active handling. This can cause issues when driving with no abs active. I have seen numerous complaints about this issue here and on various forums. Unfortunately the part needed to…”
“On july 27, 2021, I was cruising in my 1998 convertible chevy maunal corvette with under 50k miles. I had it inspected around the end of june. I just driving pulled ahead of traffic and the clutch pedal went all the way down to floor as I approached a stop light!!! I lost all power. I didn't know…”
“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…”
“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…”
Defect investigations
InvestigationEA00009 Opened 2000-03-16 · closed 2000-04-18
FRONT LAP BELT MALFUNCTION
ODI OPENED THIS EA00-009 ON MARCH 16, 2000, TO CONTINUE ANALYSES BEGUN UNDER PRELIMINARY EVALUATION PE99-076.THE ALLEGED DEFECT: LAP BELT WEBBING IN BOTH SEATING POSITIONS TENDS TO FOLD OVER WHILE ENTERING THE RETRACTOR OPENING.THESE FOLDS FREQUENTLY IMPEDE PROPER WEBBING RETRACTION.IF THE RETRACTOR HAS BEEN…
InvestigationEA02031 Opened 2002-11-15 · closed 2004-03-11
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…
InvestigationEA02031 Opened 2002-11-15 · closed 2004-03-11
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…
InvestigationEA02031 Opened 2002-11-15 · closed 2004-03-11
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…
InvestigationPE02054 Opened 2002-07-01 · closed 2002-11-15
STEERING COLUMN LOCKUP
SEE RESUME IN REPOSITORY.
InvestigationPE99066 Opened 1999-11-08 · closed 2000-07-21
STEERING COLUMN LOCK MODULE
There is no summary currently available
InvestigationPE99076 Opened 1999-12-10 · closed 2000-03-16
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1998 Chevrolet Corvette as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.