1997 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Steering Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE IN REVERSE, THE ENGINE STALLED AND THE STEERING WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY SERVICED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V060000 (STEERING). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,000.

THE CHEVROLET CORVETTE WAS STARTED IN THE COURTHOUSE PARKING LOT MOVING IN REVERSE WITH THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED IN PLACE NARROWING AVOIDING PEDESTRIANS. THE VEHICLE COULD BE MOVED IN EITHER DIRECTION, BUT THE STEERING WHEEL COULD NOT BE UNLOCKED AND SUBSEQUENTLY TRANSPORTED TO PRINCETON CHEVROLET [FORMERLY KNOWN AS SUPERIOR CHEVROLET] IN LAWRENCEVILLE, NEW JERSEY FOR REPAIR. DURING PREVIOUS SERVICE, THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED FOR RECALLS INCLUDING THE STEERING DEFECT WITH THE MANAGER STATING THAT ALL RECALLS WERE COMPLETE. THE JUNE 26, 2013 DEALER STEERING REPAIR INVOICE MAKES NO MENTION OF THE SERVICE RECALL, THE MANAGER EXPLAINING THE JUNE 25, 2013 INCIDENT WAS UNRELATED TO THE STEERING DEFECT AND SAFETY RECALL. THE DEALERSHIP HAS REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE OR RESPOND TO OUR INQUIRIES REFERENCING THE "ELECTRONIC COLUMN LOCK SYSTEM" PRODUCT SAFETY RECALL [04006C] WHICH STATES;" GENERAL MOTORS HAS DECIDED THAT A DEFECT, WHICH RELATES TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY, EXISTS IN CERTAIN 1997-2004...

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STEERING LOCK BOX WAS NOT OPERATING PROPERLY AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE CONTROL STEERING LOCK WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER PREVIOUSLY FOR REPAIRS UNDER RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V060000 (STEERING:COLUMN LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT DEVICE). THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED WHO EXPLAINED THAT THE MANUFACTURER WAS ONLY REQUIRED TO PAY FOR RECALL REPAIRS ONCE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 268,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V060000 (STEERING:COLUMN LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT DEVICE); HOWEVER, THE CONTACT IS NOW EXPERIENCING THE SAME FAILURE STATED IN THE RECALL. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO BACK OUT OF HIS DRIVEWAY, THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. ALSO, A WARNING MESSAGED APPEARED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, STATING THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE STEERING BOX MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE SAME FAILURE HAS BEEN REPAIRED FIVE TIMES PRIOR TO THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 105,000.

WHEN BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVE WAY, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE, TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE CONSUMER STATED," THAT THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THE STEERING WHEEL HAD LOCKED UP".PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.

LOCK (2ND INCIDENT OCCURRED 2 MONTHS LATER FIRST INCIDENT (SEE VOQ 10044868): (ABOUT 3000 MILES AFTER 1ST INCIDENT) DRIVING CAR ABOUT 15 MINUTES AT ABOUT 35-40 MPH. TURNED RIGHT INTO RESTAURANT PARKING. WENT TO TURN RIGHT INTO PARKING SPACE, BUT WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN AT ALL. HAD TO PARK CAR IN ROADWAY OF PARKING LOT. ENGINE DID NOT TURN OFF. TURNED OFF ENGINE, RESTARTED CAR, BUT WHEEL WAS STILL LOCKED. HAD CAR FLAT-BEDDED TO DEALER (BOB HOOK CHEVROLET).DEALER HAD CAR A FEW DAYS AND SAID IT WAS REPAIRED. (DRIVER TO SEND PAPERWORK). PER PHONE CALL WITH CHERYL TUOSTO (CAT). *NLM

WHILE DRIVING TO WORK ON A 55 MPH ROAD CONSUMER GOT ONTO ANOTHER ROAD GOING ABOUT 35 MPH. TURNED RIGHT INTO WORK PARKING LOT AND STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. AFTER TRYING UNSUCCESSFULLY TO STRAIGHTEN OUT THE WHEELS HE APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES AND STOPPED THE VEHICLE. DISC DISPLAYED A MESSAGE. DID NOT HIT ANYTHING, BECAUSE NOTHING WAS IN VEHICLE'S PATH. SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED VEHICLE TO TRY TO GET WHEELS TO UNLOCK. ALSO TRIED TO TURN WHEEL BACK AND FORTH, BUT IT WOULD NOT MOVE. TOWED VEHICLE TO DEALER. DEALER SAID HE FIXED THE PROBLEM. CONSUMER SOLD VEHICLE SO HE DID NOT KNOW IF PROBLEM HAS RECURRED. *AK

ENGINE AND SERVICE TRACTION LIGHT ILLUMINATED. ANSWERING DUPLICATE LETTER, REFERENCE NUMBER 10009877 ANAMARI 3-27-03 THE BALANCER AND THE SERPENTINE BELT WAS REPLACED *TS. THE POWER STEERING BELT WAS REPLACED. *JB

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 5MPH ON FLAT SURFACE AND WITHOUT WARNING THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP CAUSING A DISTRACTION TO THE CONSUMER. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS REF. IN EA02-031 *CJS