The 2002 Chevrolet Corvette has 1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting an estimated 126,624 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 191 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…
Complaints by component
STEERING
29
STEERING:COLUMN LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT DEVICE
25
1crashes
WHEELS
22
WHEELS:RIM
15
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
13
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
9
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
7
STEERING:COLUMN
6
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
5
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
4
Total complaints191
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“The contact owns a 2002 chevrolet corvette. The contact stated that while driving 5-10 mph, the steering wheel locked-up, and the vehicle continued to drive in a circle. The steering column warning light was illuminated after the failure. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, where the…”
“The ignition key started the car but the car continued to stall out when the clutch was released failing to propel the car leaving me stranded with a running(ideling) but non functional vehicle.I could not move the vehicle and it was subject to traffic crash. I need to have the vehicle retrieved…”
“The ignition key started the car but the car continued to stall out when the clutch was released failing to propel the car leaving me stranded with a running(ideling) but non functional vehicle.I could not move the vehicle and it was subject to traffic crash. I need to have the vehicle retrieved…”
“The ignition key started the car but the car continued to stall out when the clutch was released failing to propel the car leaving me stranded with a running(ideling) but non functional vehicle.I could not move the vehicle and it was subject to traffic crash. I need to have the vehicle retrieved…”
“Steering wheel is locked after parking it after work. The recall on all other vehicles my year that has been fixed by the factory has a wire ran to the pcm are computer not sure what they are calling it. But the fix will not let the steering wheel lock. And I have watched a lot of youtube videos…”
“I bought car off internet not sure if any recalls have been done traction controls service abs stability controls lights will not go off told that parts are discontinued you may reach me at [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6). *tr”
“I bought car off internet not sure if any recalls have been done traction controls service abs stability controls lights will not go off told that parts are discontinued you may reach me at [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6). *tr”
“I bought car off internet not sure if any recalls have been done traction controls service abs stability controls lights will not go off told that parts are discontinued you may reach me at [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6). *tr”
Defect investigations
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…
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2002 Chevrolet Corvette as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.