NHTSA Complaint #10241337 — 2001 CHEVROLET CORVETTE

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH INTO THE GARAGE AND SHUTTING OFF AND RESTARTING IT, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. THE WARNING LIGHT MESSAGE READ, "PULL KEY WAIT 10 SECONDS" FOLLOWED BY "SERVICE COLUMN LOCKED". THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AND SHIFTED INTO GEAR; HOWEVER, THE STEERING WHEEL REMAINED LOCKED. DURING A SCHEDULED APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER ON SEPTEMBER 3, 2008, THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE, BUT THE STEERING LOCKED AFTER DRIVING HOME. THE DEALER STATED AT THE APPOINTMENT THAT THERE WAS A $135 DIAGNOSTIC FEE. GM ADVISED THE CONTACT TO PAY THE FEE AND THEY WOULD NOTIFY HER IF THERE WAS A $100 DEDUCTIBLE OR A 50/50 SPLIT. THE MANUFACTURER ALSO STATED THAT THE RECALL REPAIR RELATED TO THE STEERING WAS PERFORMED. WHEN CONFIRMING THE DATE THAT THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED, THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE RECALL WAS NOT PERFORMED AND THAT THE STEERING COLUMN WAS REPLACED ON APRIL 23, 2002. THE CONTACT HAS PHOTOS, WHICH INDICATE THE WARNING LIGHT MESSAGES ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE APPROXIMATE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 85,000.