1997 Chevrolet Corvette: recalls and complaints

NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 1997 Chevrolet Corvette. The newest campaign is 04V060000. NHTSA received the report on 9 Feb 2004. The NHTSA record gives the component Steering / Column Locking / Anti-Theft Device. NHTSA has 153 complaints on file for this model year. 4 NHTSA investigations name this model year.

The NHTSA recall file shows no do-not-drive advisory and no park-outside advisory on these campaigns.

This page cannot show if a recall applies to one vehicle. The NHTSA VIN lookup shows the unrepaired recalls of one vehicle.

Remedy of the newest campaign, 04V060000, in the NHTSA record

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 reprogram the powertrain control module, perform a dimensional check of the column lock and, if necessary, replace the lock plate. The steering column on these vehicles will continue to lock when the key is removed. Owner notification to owners of 1997 vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions began on april 26, 2004. Owners of 1998 through 2004 vehicles (except 1997-1998 manual transmission vehicles) will be notified beginning on august 2, 2004. The remaining owners (1997-1998 manual transmission vehicles) will be notified later in 2004, when parts are available. Owners should contact chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438.

NHTSA VIN lookup

Complaint information entered into NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation vehicle owner's complaint database is used with other data sources to identify safety issues that warrant investigation and to determine if a safety-related defect trend exists.
NHTSA publishes these words. Source: NHTSA Datasets and APIs, section Complaints, read on 1 Oct 2026. Complaint file through 30 Sep 2026. Recall file through 30 Sep 2026.

Since the last update

No tracked figure of this page changed in a data update. What the log tracks

All updates to the register

Recall campaigns

5 campaigns, newest first. 207,768 units in total.

04V0600009 Feb 2004Steering / Column Locking / Anti-Theft Device
00V11100017 Apr 2000Seat Belts / Front
97V10400028 Jun 1997Seat Belts / Front / Anchorage
97V10500023 Jun 1997Fuel System, Gasoline / Storage / Tank Assembly
97V04400020 Mar 1997Suspension / Rear

04V060000Received 9 Feb 2004. 126,624 units.
Steering / Column Locking / Anti-Theft Device
Defect, in the NHTSA record
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 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. If voltage at the powertrain control module is low or interrupted, however, the fuel shut off may not occur and the vehicle can be accelerated while the steering system is locked. Also when the control system shows that the ecl is unlocked and the vehicle is being driven, the lock pin location can vary. Depending on the location of the lock plate relative to the switch transition point, there could then be contact between the lock plate and pin causing the steering to lock while driving .
Consequence, in the NHTSA record
If this occurs, a crash could occur without warning.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
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 reprogram the powertrain control module, perform a dimensional check of the column lock and, if necessary, replace the lock plate. The steering column on these vehicles will continue to lock when the key is removed. Owner notification to owners of 1997 vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions began on april 26, 2004. Owners of 1998 through 2004 vehicles (except 1997-1998 manual transmission vehicles) will be notified beginning on august 2, 2004. The remaining owners (1997-1998 manual transmission vehicles) will be notified later in 2004, when parts are available. Owners should contact chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438.
Report filed by GENERAL MOTORS CORP.. Manufacturer campaign number 04006. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 26 Apr 2004.
00V111000Received 17 Apr 2000. 71,569 units.
Seat Belts / Front
Defect, in the NHTSA record
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The lap belt webbing can twist allowing the webbing to become jammed in the retractor.
Consequence, in the NHTSA record
When the belt webbing becomes jammed in the retractor, the seat belt may be unusable.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
Dealers will install inserts to the belt web guide of each lap belt retractor.
Report filed by GENERAL MOTORS CORP.. Manufacturer campaign number 00034. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 13 Nov 2000.
97V104000Received 28 Jun 1997. 4,369 units.
Seat Belts / Front / Anchorage
Defect, in the NHTSA record
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The seat belts in these vehicles incorporate an energy management loop. This loop is inadequate to absorb the necessary forces that can be exerted on it. Therefore, the vehicles fail to conform to the requirements of FMVSS no. 208, "occupant crash protection."
Consequence, in the NHTSA record
In the event of a vehicle crash, the energy management loop will not absorb enough energy, and injury to the seat occupant can occur.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
Dealers will replace the driver and passenger side seat belt retractor assemblies.
Report filed by GENERAL MOTORS CORP.. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 15 Jul 1997.
97V105000Received 23 Jun 1997. 3,792 units.
Fuel System, Gasoline / Storage / Tank Assembly
Defect, in the NHTSA record
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. These vehicles have a torn fuel tank sending unit/pump seal. This can cause fuel odor and/or leakage at the attachment location.
Consequence, in the NHTSA record
Fuel leakage from a torn seal can result in a fire if an ignition source is present.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
Dealers will replace the left and right hand fuel tank assemblies (including fuel sending unit and pump).
Report filed by GENERAL MOTORS CORP.. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 15 Jul 1997.
97V044000Received 20 Mar 1997. 1,414 units.
Suspension / Rear
Defect, in the NHTSA record
The rear suspension tie rod assembly can fracture.
Consequence, in the NHTSA record
If this were to occur while the vehicle was in motion, loss of directional control can result increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
Dealers will replace the left and right-hand rear suspension tie rod links.
Report filed by GENERAL MOTORS CORP.. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 31 Mar 1997.

The campaign number opens the NHTSA record. Each quotation is the text of the NHTSA recall file.

Recall campaign: One recall in the NHTSA recall file, with one campaign number. A campaign can name many makes, models and model years.

Units: The number of vehicles or products that a recall can include. The manufacturer or the firm reports the number to the agency.

Complaints by component

153 complaints, 196 component mentions.

A complaint can name more than one component. Each component that a complaint names is one component mention. The figure per 1,000 component mentions shows how many of each 1,000 mentions name the component.

1997 Chevrolet Corvette
All 1997 vehicles

1997 Chevrolet Corvette: complaints by component, per 1,000 component mentions
Component	1997 Corvette	All 1997 vehicles	Corvette, all years	Mentions
Steering	525.5	69.9	180.9	103
Engine and Engine Cooling	76.5	128.6	21.1	15
Electrical System	66.3	81.7	80.7	13
Seats	51	13.3	13.3	10
Seat Belts	40.8	25.3	24.9	8
Fuel System, Gasoline	35.7	49.4	36.8	7
Service Brakes, Hydraulic	35.7	100.8	25.6	7
Unknown or Other	20.4	21.4	23.5	4
Vehicle Speed Control	20.4	43.7	13.9	4
Visibility	20.4	55.8	8.5	4

The table shows the 10 components with the most mentions, of 22.

Complaints that report a crash: 2
Complaints that report a fire: 0
Injuries in the complaints: 1
Deaths in the complaints: 0
Date of the newest complaint: 1 Apr 2020

These figures are the entries of the persons who sent the complaints.

Complaint: A report about a possible safety problem that a person sends to NHTSA. This site shows the number of complaints and not their text.

Complaints about the 1997 Chevrolet Corvette, by the year NHTSA received them. The largest year is 2002, with 30 complaints.

Investigations

NHTSA investigations that name the 1997 Chevrolet Corvette
Number	Type	Subject	Component	Opened	Closed	Campaign
EA02031	Engineering analysis	STEERING COLUMN LOCKUP	Steering / Column	15 Nov 2002	11 Mar 2004	04V060000
PE02054	Preliminary evaluation	STEERING COLUMN LOCKUP	Steering	1 Jul 2002	15 Nov 2002
EA00009	Engineering analysis	FRONT LAP BELT MALFUNCTION	Seat Belts	16 Mar 2000	18 Apr 2000	00V111000
PE99076	Preliminary evaluation	FRONT LAP BELT MALFUNCTION	Seat Belts	10 Dec 1999	16 Mar 2000

Investigation: A study of a possible safety defect by the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. An investigation with no closing date in the NHTSA file is open.

Other model years

The number under each year is the number of recall campaigns.

19600
19640
19660
19681
19691
19741
19750
19760
19771
19780
19790
19800
19810
19845
19851
19863
19871
19883
19892
19902
19911
19921
19931
19940
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19975
19982
19992
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20042
20056
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20111
20121
20130
20145
20155
20162
20174
20181
20191
20204
20212
20221
20231
20242
20253

A year without a link has fewer than 2 campaigns and fewer than 25 complaints. It has no page.

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Official channels

NHTSA VIN lookupNHTSA shows the unrepaired recalls of one vehicle from its VIN or its license plate.
NHTSA: report a safety problemThe NHTSA form for a complaint about a vehicle, a tire, a child seat or equipment.
NHTSA page of the 1997 Chevrolet CorvetteThe recalls, the complaints and the investigations that NHTSA shows for this model year.

Cite this page

Recall Register. 1997 Chevrolet Corvette: recalls and complaints. https://recallregister.com/vehicle/chevrolet/corvette/1997/. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, recall, complaint and investigation files. Data through 30 Sep 2026.

Sources

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation
Licence: US government work, public domain
Recall file through: 30 Sep 2026
Complaint file through: 30 Sep 2026
First complaint in the file: 1 Jan 1995
Manufacturer in the recall file: GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

The NHTSA record is the authority. A complaint count is the number of different complaint numbers for the make, the model and the model year. How the register is made. Report an error.

Questions

How many units are in the recall campaigns for the 1997 Chevrolet Corvette?: 207,768 units in 5 campaigns. A campaign can name other models and model years, and its units include them.
How many recall campaigns does the Chevrolet Corvette have for all model years?: NHTSA lists 48 recall campaigns for the Chevrolet Corvette, model years 1960 to 2025. 5 of them name the 1997 model year.
Which component do the complaints about the 1997 Chevrolet Corvette name most often?: Steering: 103 of 196 component mentions, or 525.5 per 1,000. For all 1997 vehicles the figure is 69.9 per 1,000.
Is an NHTSA investigation of the 1997 Chevrolet Corvette open?: No. Each of the 4 investigations that name this model year has a closing date in the NHTSA file.