1999 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Steeringcolumn Lockinganti Theft Device Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK ACTIVATED AND WOULD NOT TURN IN EITHER DIRECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC THAT LOCATED THE FAILURE AT THE STEERING. LOCK MODULE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY ADVISED THAT THE FAILURE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER A CUSTOMER SATISFACTION CAMPAIGN (01044) IN JULY 2002. THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED ANY FURTHER ASSISTANCE WITH THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 108,000. THE CONSUMER STATED THE STEERING LOCKED UP, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS STILL DRIVABLE. THE CONSUMER STATED A RECALL HAD BEEN ISSUED FOR THE PROBLEM, BUT THE DEALER STATED HER VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. GM THEN INFORMED THE CONSUMER, THE RECALL HAD ALREADY BEEN PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 08/30/11 UPDATED 10/18/11*LJ UPADTED 12/02/11

I WANT TO REPORT A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH CHEVY CORVETTES 97-04 MODEL YEARS. THE STEERING COLUMN LOCK ON THESE CARS MALFUNCTIONS AND RENDERS YOUR CAR IMMOBILIZED. MY 1999 MODEL WITH 46000 MILES HAS BEEN THROUGH 2 RECALLS IN 2001 AND 2004 AND LOCKED UP AGAIN THIS PAST SATURDAY. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A GM DEALER AND ACCORDING TO CHEVY I HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. WHAT IS THE USE OF A RECALL IF IT DOESN'T SOLVE THE PROBLEM. IT IS ALSO A SAFETY ISSUE. CAN YOU IMAGINE DRIVING AT INTERSTATE HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND YOUR STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP AND YOU HAVE NO CONTROL? THIS PROBLEM HAPPENS TO ALL CORVETTES IN THESE YEARS BUT IT IS MORE PREVALENT WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS. CHEVROLET NEEDS TO FIX AT THEIR EXPENSE THIS SERIOUS DEFECT BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED IF THEY HAVEN'T ALREADY. THIS IS A MAJOR INCONVENIENCE, EXPENSE AND SAFETY ISSUE...

CPSC# I1170451A 1999 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. CONSUMER STATED THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED NOT ALLOWING HIM TO TURN THE WHEELS. ALSO STATED THIS PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED ON TWO OTHER OCCASIONS. *LN THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS RECALLED AND COMPLETED AS DIRECTED BY GM. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER ABOUT THE STEERING DEFECT. HOWEVER, THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE RECALL HAD BEEN CORRECTED AND THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE STEERING DEFECT IS STILL IN EXISTENCE OR WAS NEVER ADEQUATELY REPAIRED. *JB

1999 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. CONSUMER STATES DURING A MAINTENANCE VISIT THE STEERING LOCK ASSEMBLY LIGHT WAS ON. HE WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE BY FRIENDS. *KB THE CONSUMER WAS UNAWARE THE STEERING LOCK ASSEMBLY HAD BEEN REPLACED TWICE BEFORE HE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 05/26/11*JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN DRIVING 30 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD SPORADICALLY LOCK AND BECOME TIGHT. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN WOULD LIKELY NEED REPLACING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V060000 (STEERING: COLUMN LOCKING: ANTI-THEFT DEVICE). WHEN THE CONTACT INQUIRED ABOUT THE PRIOR RECALL REPAIR, BOTH THE DEALER ADVISED THAT ANY FURTHER REPAIRS WOULD BE AT THE EXPENSE OF THE CONTACT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 49,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 53,000.

TL THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE COMPUTER FAILURE CAUSED THE SERVICE COLUMN LOCK TO ENGAGE AND THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED. THE DEALER REPLACED DUE TO A RECALL; HOWEVER, THE WARNING LIGHT CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATE. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT HE WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COST; HOWEVER, HE DECLINED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,000. UPDATED 10/27/09 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED ON SEP 21, 2001. AT 42,227 MILES, THE COMPUTER FLASHED SERVICE COLUMN LOCK AND AGAIN AT 92,000 MILES. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED IT WOULD COST $740. GM STATED THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST AS THE RECALL WAS FIXED BACK IN 2001. UPDATED 10/29/09.*JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. WHILE PULLING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, THE STEERING LOCKED TO THE LEFT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN LOCK FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. A YEAR AND A HALF LATER, THE CONTACT WAS ATTEMPTING TO PULL OFF, BUT WAS UNABLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE. HE THEN NOTICED THAT A LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED, WHICH STATED "STEERING COLUMN LOCK FAILURE". THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS OF TAKING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR FURTHER INSPECTION. HE FILED A REPORT WITH THE MANUFACTURER, BUT WAS NOT OFFERED ANY COMPENSATION FOR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 43,000. UPDATED 08/14/09. *LJ UPDATED 08/14/09.*JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE WORDS "SERVICE STEERING COLUMN LOCK" APPEARED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND WAS INFORMED OF THE DANGERS OF DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT IF THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN, THE STEERING COLUMN WOULD LOCK AND THE FUEL PUMP DEVICE WOULD SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DRIVEN OR REPAIRED SINCE THE MESSAGE APPEARED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 20,700. UPDATED 07/08/08. *BF UPDATED *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. THE CONTACT PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND "SERVICE COLUMN LOCK" WAS DISPLAYED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ALSO ILLUMINATED. SHE THEN DISCOVERED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNDER RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS REPAIRED, HOWEVER, THE REPAIR WAS IMPROPERLY PERFORMED BECAUSE THE LIGHT CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SHOP REPEATEDLY FOR REPAIR, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUES TO RECUR. DURING THE MOST RECENT FAILURE, THE SECURITY LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH. THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO DRIVE FOR 15 MINUTES AND PARKED THE VEHICLE AT HER FRIEND'S HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED, BUT THE FUEL SUPPLY CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SHUT OFF. WHEN SHE RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, IT WOULD ONLY DRIVE 1 MPH. IF SHE TRIED TO ACCELERATE, THE VEHICLE WOULD AUTOMATICALLY SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HER...

STEERING COLUMN LOCKED UP FOR THE 3RD TIME SINCE I'VE HAD THE CAR (5 MOS). ON TWO OCASSIONS IT EVENTUALLY RELEASED ON ITS OWN. THE GM RECALL BULLETIN 04006C, ELECTRONIC COLUMN LOCK, WAS REFUSED BY BOBBY MURRAY CHEVROLET IN RALEIGH, NC, UNLESS I AGREED TO PAY $90/HR FOR DIAGNOSTICS. THEY STATE I HAVE ALREADY HAD A RECALL PERFORMED (AN OLDER RECALL, NOT 04006C ACCORDING TO THE VIS SERVICE DATE), SO THERE'S NOTHING THEY CAN DO WITHOUT PAYMENT. I CONTACTED GM AND THEY DISAGREE WITH THE DEALERSHIP'S ASSESMENT, AND TO THIS DATE HAVE NOT RESPONDED TO GM'S INQUIRIES.IT APPEARS TO ME TO BE ALL ABOUT THE MONEY AND THAT THEY COULD CARE LESS ABOUT THE SAFETY ISSUES INVOLVED. ACCORDING TO NHTSA AND GM, THE VEHICLE SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN RELEASED BACK TO ME WITHOUT THE RECALL PERFORMED. AT NO COST!

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE IS A SAFETY RECALL ON HIS VEHICLE. HE STATED THAT ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, HIS STEERING COLUMN FAILED. DURING THE FIRST TWO INSTANCES, IT AUTOMATICALLY UNLOCKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MOST RECENT STEERING COLUMN FAILURE WAS ON MAY 7, 2007 IN WHICH THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN REPAIRED. THE PURCHASE DATE AND ENGINE SIZE WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 63,401.

1) AFTER PLACING THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION AND STARTING THE VEHICLE THEN PLACING THE MANUAL SHIFTER INTO REVERSE TO BACK AWAY FROM THE CURB THE STEERING COLUMN REMAINED IN THE "LOCK" POSITION. NO SERIES OF REMOVING AND REPLACING THE KEY AND SHAKING OF THE STEERING WHEEL COULD CURE THE STEERING LOCK SITUATION. 2) THE VEHICLE CANNOT BE DRIVEN THEREFORE I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO PERFORMED THE "STEERING LOCK RECALL" APPROXIMATELY 6 MONTHS PRIOR AT MY EXPENSE. 3) THE COLUMN LOCK MECHANISM WAS ISOLATED AS THE FAULT AND THE DEALER REQUESTS THAT I PAY THE REPAIR FEES. I HAVE REQUESTED THROUGH THE CHEVROLET COMPLAINT DEPARTMENT THAT I BE REIMBURSED FOR ALL THE REPAIRS AND TOWING.*JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE IGNITION IS STARTED THE COLUMN LOCK PLATE PREVENTS FUEL FROM ENTERING THE ENGINE. A NHTSA RECALL, # 04V060000 WAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE CONCERNING, THE COLUMN LOCK PLATE HOWEVER, THE RECALL DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT OFFER A SECOND REPAIR WITHOUT CHARGE UNDER THE RECALL.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED A RECALL LETTER WAS RECEIVED NHTSA #04V060000, CONCERNING THE ANTI-THEFT DEVICE. THE RECALL WORK WAS PERFORMED; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT'S COLUMN MOTOR FAILED. THE MOTOR WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, BUT THE MOTOR WAS THE CAUSE OF THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKING UP. *AK

1999 CHEVROLET CORVETTE ELECTRIC COLUMN SYSTEM WOULD NOT UNLOCK. THIS HAPPENED AFTER REPAIRS WERE MADE DUE TO RECALL. *TS WHEN THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED THE MECHANIC, HE WAS INFORMED THE PART WAS NEVER REPLACED. THE CONSUMER HAD THE INVOICE STATING THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED, BUT THE REPAIR SHOP STATED THEY HAD NO RECORD OF THE RECALL BEING PERFORMED. *JB

DT: CONTACT STATED THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED INTO POSITION WHEN THE CONSUMER TRIED TO START THE VEHICLE. A COMPUTER ERROR MESSAGE ON THE DASHBOARD STATED TO TAKE OUT THE KEY AND WAIT 10 SECONDS, AND THAT THE STEERING NEEDED TO BE SERVICED. THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL ON THE VEHICLE. IT WAS SERVICED, BUT THIS DID NOT TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TO THE SERVICE DEALER ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS, BUT THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE IS AT THE SERVICE DEALER NOW BECAUSE THE CONSUMER REFUSES TO TAKE THE VEHICLE. HE IS AFRAID THAT STEERING MAY LOCK WHILE DRIVING. THE CONSUMER HAS NOT CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER YET TO INFORM THEM OF THE PROBLEM.*AK

1999 CHEVROLET CORVETTE DEVELOPED PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR THE DEALER TOLD THE CONSUMER THE RECALL HAD ALREADY BEEN PERFORMED ON HIS VEHICLE, HOWEVER THE LATER PART OF JULY, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED WHEN THE CONSUMER WAS EXITING THE GARAGE. THE CONSUMER SHUT THE ENGINE OFF AND AFTER A COUPLE OF RESTARTS, THE CONSUMER MANAGED TO UNLOCK THE STEERING WHEEL. WHEN THE CONSUMER TRIED TO ROTATE THE STEERING WHEEL IT HAD A GRAB ABOUT EVERY INCH OR SO AND A CLICKING SOUND. THE CONSUMER FELT THE ENTIRE STEERING SYSTEM SHOULD BE DISMANTLED AND DOESN'T BELIEVE THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED CORRECTLY.*JB

STEERING COLUMN LOCKUP. *NM

CAMPAIGN NUMBER 04V060000 COMPLETED ON MY 1999 CORVETTE IN MARCH 2005 BY COURTESY CHEVROLET IN ORLANDO, FLORIDA. RECALL IS SAFETY RELATED WITH CONSEQUENCE SUMMARY, "IF THIS OCCURS, A CRASH COULD OCCUR WITHOUT WARNING." ON MAY 12, 2005, STEERING COLUMN LOCK ENGAGED WITH IGNITION ON AND CAR IN MOTION AT VERY LOW SPEED. NO ACCIDENT OCCURRED. CAR WAS TOWED TO CLASSIC CHEVROLET IN ALTAMONT SPRINGS, FL. RECALL WORK APPEARS INEFFECTIVE. GM SAYS THAT I HAVE TO PAY FOR TOWING AND POTENTIALLY FOR REPAIR WORK TO REDO THE "MECHANICAL FAILURE" IN THE STEERING COLUMN LOCK SYSTEM - APPROXIMATELY $800.

THE STEERING COLUMN LOCKED. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALER. THE PART HAD BEN REPAIRED THREE TIMES, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK

NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN O4V60000. AFTER BEING SERVICED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS STILL ON. DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE WHY THE LIGHT WAS STILL ON. BUT CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE DEFECT HAD BEEN SERVICED. WHEN TAKING THE VEHICLE RIGHT AFTER PICK UP CONSUMER STILL EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM.*AK

CONSUMER PLACED THE KEY INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND FAILED TO MOVE. CONSUMER TURNED THE STEERING COLUMN LEFT TO RIGHT, AND THE STEERING COLUMN UNEXPECTEDLY BECAME LOOSE. CONSUMER DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. *AK

COLUMN LOCK RECALL HAS BEEN PERFORMED ON MY MANUAL 1999 CORVETTE TWO TIMES AND HAS ONLY RESULTED IN THE COLUMN LOCKING UP MORE FREQUENTLY. THE AUTOMATIC CORVETTES RECEIVED A DIFFERENT RECALL IN WHICH THE COLUMN LOCKING MECHANISM WAS REMOVED SO IT COULD NO LONGER LOCK AND CAUSE PROBLEMS. THIS SAME PROCEEDURE SHOULD HAVE BEEN PERFORMED ON THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION CORVETTE.*AK

FROM READING THIS SITE THE STEERING COLUMN LOCK ISSUE WITH THE C5 CORVETTE IS A VERY COMMON ONE (MINE IS NO DIFFERENT) BUT I DID NOT HAVE ANY REAL PROBLEMS UNTIL THE RECALL WAS COMPLETED LAST YEAR. SINCE THEN THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP 5 TIMES. THE HISTORY ALSO SHOWS AN ADDITIONAL 4 PROBLEMS PRIOR TO PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE (18,000 MILES) AND IT WAS IN FACT A MANUFACTURERS BUY BACK BECAUSE OF THIS REASON. THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN WORKING WITH CHEVROLET IN TRYING TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM WITHOUT SUCCESS AND I HAVE BEEN TOLD THE CAR HAS BEEN FIXED THIS TIME (AFTER MORE THAN 2 WEEKS AT THE DEALERSHIP) BUT I HAVE SEVERE DOUBTS THIS IS THE CASE. THE IDEA OF BEING STRANDED IN SOUTHEAST HOUSTON AT NIGHT IS A VERY FRIGHTEN THOUGHT. *JB

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 04V060000 CONCERNING STEERING COLUMN LOCKING. CONSUMER WAS STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING COLUMN LOCKING UP AFTER RECALL REPAIRS WERE DONE. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. CLASSIC CHEVROLET, 817-421-7287.*AK

NHTSA RECALL NO. 04V-060000, ELECTRONIC COLUMN LOCK. STEERING COLUMN WOULD NOT UNLOCK WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STARTED. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *LA

CONSUMER'S VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME DEFECT AS MENTIONED IN NHTSA RECALLS 04V060000 ,THE STEERING COLUMN LOCKED. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

CONSUMER EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AS STATED ON NHTSA RECALL NO. 04V060000. DEALER INDICATED THE VEHICLE IS NOT UNDER THE SCOPE OF THE RECALL. *LA

WHILE PLACING THE KEY INSIDE, THE VEHICLE WILL START; HOWEVER, THE STEERING COLUMN WON'T UNLOCK. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM CANNOT BE DUPLICATE. *LA

WITHOUT WARNING STEERING WHEEL AND BRAKES LOCKED UP. CONSUMER DOWN SHIFTED, AND WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. CONSUMER CON HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

WHILE CONSUMER WAS ATTEMPTING TO START VEHICLE STEERING COLUMN WOULD NOT UNLOCK. CONSUMER SPENT ALMOST AN HOUR BUT COULD NOT GET THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION TO UNLOCK THE STEERING COLUMN. CONSUMER STATED HER HUSBAND LOOKED THIS PROBLEM UP ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND THAT THERE WAS A RECALL. CALLED DEALER, WHO INFORMED HER THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE GARAGE STEERING COLUMN LOCKED. CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO UNLOCK THE STEERING COLUMN, BUT IT WAS OF NO AVAIL. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT LOCK ASSEMBLY NEEDED REPLACEMENT. *AK

ON 7-3-02 AND 6-27-03 MY CORVETTE STEERING LOCKED UP. TOWED TO DEALER AND FIXED. DEALER COULD NOT GAURANTEE IT WOULD STAY FIXED. NOW, AFTER REPAIRS OR SERVICE THE DEALER WILL NOT TEST DRIVE MY CORVETTE ON THE ROAID ONLY AROUND DEALER LOT. I RISK MY LIFE EVERY TIME I DRIVE THE VETTE. WAITING FOR STEERING TO LOCK UP.I KNOW OTHER CORVETTE OWNERS WHO HAVE HAD SAME PROBLEM. I UNDERSTAND THAT NHTSA HAS RECEIVED THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKING UP. I UNDERSTAND THIS HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM. GM IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND RE-DESIGNED THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM IN THE 2002 OR 2003 MODELS. PLEASE ADVISE ON STEPS TO TAKE WITH GM TO CLEAR THIS MATTER UP. *AK

UPON RETURNING TO MY VEHICLE, THE STEERING COLUMN WAS LOCKED, AND THE DRIVER INFORMATION CENTER DISPLAYED A MESSAGE SAYING "SERVICE STEERING LOCK". I INITIALLY BROUGH MY VEHICLE TO TOM JUMPER CHEVROLET IN ROSWELL, GEORGIA. THE SERVICE ADVISOR CLAIMED IT WAS A DEFECTIVE BATTERY AND OFFERED TO CHANGE MY BATTERY FOR THE MEAGER SUM OF $357.00. HAVING NO CONFIDENCE WHATSOEVER THAT HIS DIAGNOSIS WAS PROPER, I REMOVED MY VEHICLE FROM HIS PREMISES AND TRANSFERRED IT TO NALLEY, CHEVROLET IN ATLANTA. IT TURNED OUT THAT THE STEERING COLUMN LOCK ACTUATOR HAD FAILED, AND HAD ALSO BLOWN FUSES IN THE CIC COMPUTER. THE REPAIR COST WAS $450.78. GIVEN THE STEERING COLUMN LOCK ACTUATOR IS THE SUBJECT OF NHTSA ACTION NUMBER EA02031, I DO NOT FEEL IT WAS APPROPRIATE FOR GM TO CHARGE ME FOR THE REPAIR GIVEN THE WIDESPREAD NATURE OF THE PROBLEM.*AK

THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD LOCK AFTER LEAVING THE VEHICLE IDLING FOR A PERIOD OF THREE TO FIVE MINUTES. WHEN PLACING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, THE WARNING INDICATOR SUGGESTED TAKING THE KEY OUT AND TRY AGAIN IN TEN SECONDS. THE DEALER MADE SOME REPAIRS TO THE STEERING COLUMN, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURRED. *AK OTHER PROBLEMS ARE AS FOLLOWED: THE RIGHT WINDOW LEAKED WATER WHERE THE TOP MEETS THE WINDSHIELD(BADLY), THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL AREA LEAKED FLUID WHEN SAT OVERNIGHT, THERE WAS A RATTLING NOISE UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE TRANSMISSION COOLER LINERS BEING MISADJUSTED, THERE WAS A RATTLE IN THE ENGINE WHEN ACCELERATED UP A HILL OR WHEN TAKING OFF, THE DRIVER DOOR LEAKED WHEN IT RAINED AND SCRAPES WHEN ROLLED DOWN, THERE WAS A GRINDING IN THE REAR END WHEN BACKED UP OR WHEN IT'S COLD, THE RIGHT DOOR GLASS RATTLED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, AND...

THE STEERING COLUMN HAS LOCKED UP TWICE IN MY 1999 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. I UNDERSTAND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND I BELIEVE CHEVROLET SHOULD PAY TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM RESOLVED. *LA

MY 1999 CHEVY CORVETTE HAS HAD THE STEERING COLUMN LOCK UP TWICE FOR NO REASON. ONCE MY HUSBAND WAS STRANDED LATE AT NIGHT AFTER A WORK MEETING AND TOOK HOURS TO GET HOME. NOW IT IS STUCK IN MY GARAGE BECAUSE A TOW TRUCK CAN'T GET TO IT. I UNDERSTAND THAT GM KNOWS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM FOR YEARS AND DID NOTHING TO FIX IT. *LA

STEERING COLUMN CONTINUOUSLY LOCKED UP AT ANYTIME WHILE DRIVING WITHOUT WARNING. CONSUMER INDICATED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE ON EARLIER MODEL YEAR, COULD NOT LOCATE IT IN ARTEMIS. *AK

STEERING COLUMN IS LOCKED UP AFTER HAVING THE RECALL PERFORMED.

THE STEERING COLUMN HAS LOCKED ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS AND I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED ALL THREE TIMES. I WAS TOLD BY THE FIRST TWO DEALERSHIPS THAT IT HAD BEEN REPAIRED AND I WAS NOT CHARGED FOR THE WORK. THIS TIME, HOWEVER, I HAVE BEEN CHARGED $297.41 AND DO NOT KNOW WHETHER IT HAS BEEN FIXED THIS TIME EITHER. I RESENT HAVING TO PAY FOR TOWING AND REPAIRS SO MANY TIMES AND WOULD LIKE A RESOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM AND A REFUND OF MY MONEY.*AK

WHEN TURNING RIGHT STEERING COLUMN SUDDENLY LOCKED UP AND CONSUMER LOST CONTROL.*AK

WHILE REVERSING STEERING COLUMN LOCK DEVICE FAILED, CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL TO LOCK UP. DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE FAILED PART, BUT THE PROBLEM REOCCURRED WHILE TURNING AT 10 MPH. THIS RESULTED IN DRIVER LOSING CONTROL AND CRASHING ONTO SIDEWALK. *AK

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING STEERING COLUMN LOCKED UP. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

1999 CHEVROLET CORVETTE, STEERING COLUMN LOCK MOTOR REPLACED ON RECALL IN 2002, LOCK MOTOR FAILED IN 2003 RENDERING COLUMN PERMANENTLY LOCKED. VEHICLE TOWED AND REPAIRED AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. CONCERN IS THAT DESIGN DEFECT EXISTS AND THAT FAILURE ON THE ROAD WILL RESULT IN ACCIDENT/INJURY.*AK

I HAVE A 1999 CORVETTE W/TARGA TOP. BOUGHT FROM A DEALERSHIP 6MOS AGO AND THIS EVENING WHILE TRYING TO BACK OUT AT A RESTRAUNT THE STEERING COLUMN LOCKED UP. CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE FOLLOWED ALL INSTRUCTIONS INCLUDING UNHOOKING THE BATTERY TO NO AVAIL. STEERING STILL DIDNT BUDGE. *AK

STEERING COLUMN LOCK UP. ON 7/17/03 I WENT TO START MY 1999 CORVETTE AND THE STEERING COLUMN WOULD NOT UNLOCK, AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS IT UNLOCK. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN BECAUSE IF IT DOESN'T UNLOCK FULLY IT MAY ENGAGE WHILE THE CAR IS MOVING. CHEVY KNOWS THIS IS A PROBLEM ,THEY REPLACED IT ONCE ALL READY, IF IT WAS A SAFETY CONCERN THEN IT SHOULD BE A SAFETY CONCERN NOW BY LOOKING AT THE NHTSA WEB SITE YOU HAVE GOTTEN A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ,IT'S NOT AN ASHTRAY OR THE RADIO THIS IS A MAJOR CONTROL PART OF THE VEHICLE GM SHOULD BE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS BEFORE SOMEONE GETS INJURED OR KILLED. *JB

STEERING COLUMN LOCKING UP REQUIRING THAT THE CAR BE TOWED INTO THE DEALERSHIP TO BE FIXED. THIS IS A KNOW ISSUE AND HAS HAPPENED TWICE IN THE PAST THREE YEARS. *AK

MY SON WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND HE CROSSED THE MEDIAN AND WAS HIT BY ANOTHER CAR AND WAS KILLED, HIS PASSENGER WAS INJURED CRITICALLY AND REMEMBERS THAT AN INSTANT BEFORE THE CRASH AND THE CROSSING OF THE MEDIAN THAT THE CAR STEERING WAS LOCKED. *JB

PURCHASED USED 1999 CHEVROLET CORVETTE COUPE (C5) IN FEBRUARY 2002 FROM DEALER. IN APRIL OF 2002, I GOT IN THE CAR, STARTED IT AND PROCEEDED TO DRIVE OFF. NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED UP AND I COULDN'T STEER THE VEHICLE. HAD TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE UPON THEY HAD TO REMOVE THE STEERING LOCK TO ALLOW THE CAR TO BE STEERABLE. THEY FIXED THE PROBLEM BUT AFTER READING AN ARTICLE IN THE FEBRUARY 2003 ISSUE OF CORVETTE FEVER, I THOUGHT IT BEST TO LET NHTSA KNOW OF THIS PARTICULAR INCIDENT. I WAS NOT HURT OR INJURED AND AM FILING THIS ONLY FOR THE PURPOSE TO MAKE YOU AWARE OF IT AND MAYBE TO HELP SOMEONE ELSE WHO OWNS ONE OF THESE VEHICLE TO BECOME AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM REF. IN EA02-031 *CJS

1999 CHEVROLET CORVETTE COUPE STEERING COLUMN LOCK PROBLEMS: TWICE IN TWO YEARS THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED, I FOLLOWED ALL PROCEEDURES SHARED BY FELLOW CORVETTE OWNERS AND THE MANUAL, I HAD TO REPEAT THIS PROCEDURE SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE IT WOULD UNLOCK. I THEN TOOK THE CAR INTO THE DEALER, THEY REPLACED THE STEERING COLUMN LOCK SYSTEM BUT TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS NO OFFICAL RECALL ON THIS. ONE YEAR LATER, SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN, I TRIED AND TRIED TO GET THE STEERING COLUMN TO UNLOCK. IT WOULD NOT, CALLED THE DEALERSHIP, THEY WANTED THE CAR TO BE TOWED IN. THEY TOLD ME THAT SINCE THEY HAD ALREADY REPLACED THE SYSTEM, THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE IT AGAIN. (BY THE WAY THE CAR WAS STILL UNDER GM EXTENDED WARRANTY.) I DID NOT HAVE THE CAR TOWED RIGHT AWAY, BUT LATER THAT DAY I TRIED ALL OF THE SAME PROCEDURES AGAIN, WITHOUT SUCCESS....