2003 CHEVROLET CORVETTE — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
N/A
Safety Rating
126
Owner Complaints
3
Recalls
23
Service Bulletins
0
Investigations
Overview of the 2003 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
The 2003 CHEVROLET CORVETTE has received a total of 126 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There have been 3 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, STEERING:COLUMN LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT DEVICE. 23 technical service bulletins have been issued by General Motors, LLC for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Steering (25 complaints), Electrical System (11 complaints), and Electronic Stability Control Esc (10 complaints).
Recalls for the 2003 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
NHTSA has recorded 3 recalls for the 2003 CHEVROLET CORVETTE, potentially affecting up to 185,434 vehicles.
Recall 09E025000 — EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
| 42,540 vehicles affected
Defect: DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
Consequence: DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.
View full details →Recall 09E012000 — EXTERIOR LIGHTING
| 16,270 vehicles affected
Defect: SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
Consequence: DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.
View full details →Recall 04V060000 — STEERING:COLUMN LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT DEVICE
| 126,624 vehicles 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 WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STARTED AND THE CUSTOMER TRIES...
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...
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 2003 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
126 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2003 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
Most Recent Complaints
Vehicle was part of mandatory recall for problems with steering column lock. The same identified and inherent problem happened so that the steering column lock is engaged and will not disengage. GM was contacted and refuses support and stated that I would have to take care of the problem and I would have to pay for the cost of the repair. Chevrolet created the problem, is well aware of the inherent problem and yet Chevrolet and it's local dealer will profit from the forcing the customer to pay and for customers safety. The steering column can lock up while the vehicle is moving which puts the operator and others including vehicles, pedestrians and structures in harms way.
Gm refuse to repurchase below is a overview. they are refusing engineering assitance to the dealership to fix the problem. Next week the car will be there a month again. This is the 7th time on this repair which was a recall by your org. The last repair last 153 days. This problem make the car unsafe to drive the dealer also agrees it is unsafe to drive. My car is back at the dealership for the same recall situation. The corvette has been rendered undrivable due to the number of recall repairs that have failed. They are again waiting for a GM engineer. A new case has been opened at the CEO’s office. It was submitted last year for repurchase they not to. The dealership says they should I agree. Gm decline yesterday to repurchase the car. The dealer ship feels it is unsafe to drive Saul Saldano who run the repair shop at Mission Bay chevy. Owned by his family Saldana auto group. When I emailed the CEO and she referred it to their exec team you can who I worked with to get an engineer on site at the dealership last year. I will describe more in my overview below. Overview: I purchased the car in 2013 black on black corvette convertible 6 speed on the floor fully loaded. The car worked perfectly until August 2011 that work order is attached. The dealer performed a recall repair on the steering harness and column lock. They left the lock nut for the steering column off it was found later under the driver’s side seat. The steering came off in my wife’s hands while driving on 4hth st downtown San Diego. The car sustained damage lucky no one was hurt this occurred in 12/01/2011 that work order is attached. The harness failed several times afterwards however I only have records back to 2014. The dealership purged records before 2014. Since 2014 the car has consistently had to return to the dealership to have another lock and harness installed. I can send those work orders on another email. What happens when the steering lock engages is you cannot drive the car. It kill
Gm refuse to repurchase below is a overview. they are refusing engineering assitance to the dealership to fix the problem. Next week the car will be there a month again. This is the 7th time on this repair which was a recall by your org. The last repair last 153 days. This problem make the car unsafe to drive the dealer also agrees it is unsafe to drive. My car is back at the dealership for the same recall situation. The corvette has been rendered undrivable due to the number of recall repairs that have failed. They are again waiting for a GM engineer. A new case has been opened at the CEO’s office. It was submitted last year for repurchase they not to. The dealership says they should I agree. Gm decline yesterday to repurchase the car. The dealer ship feels it is unsafe to drive Saul Saldano who run the repair shop at Mission Bay chevy. Owned by his family Saldana auto group. When I emailed the CEO and she referred it to their exec team you can who I worked with to get an engineer on site at the dealership last year. I will describe more in my overview below. Overview: I purchased the car in 2013 black on black corvette convertible 6 speed on the floor fully loaded. The car worked perfectly until August 2011 that work order is attached. The dealer performed a recall repair on the steering harness and column lock. They left the lock nut for the steering column off it was found later under the driver’s side seat. The steering came off in my wife’s hands while driving on 4hth st downtown San Diego. The car sustained damage lucky no one was hurt this occurred in 12/01/2011 that work order is attached. The harness failed several times afterwards however I only have records back to 2014. The dealership purged records before 2014. Since 2014 the car has consistently had to return to the dealership to have another lock and harness installed. I can send those work orders on another email. What happens when the steering lock engages is you cannot drive the car. It kill
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY CEASED AND THE DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL IN EITHER DIRECTION. THE STEERING COLUMN WAS LATER UNLOCKED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER HALL CHEVROLET LOCATED AT 3412 WESTERN BRANCH BLVD, CHESAPEAKE, VA 23321, WHO DIAGNOSED THE STEERING COLUMN LOCK PLATE WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE LOCK PLATE WAS REPLACED AND THE FAILURE WAS REMEDIED. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V060000 (STEERING) HOWEVER, THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,000.
A VERY STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE IN THE CABIN AREA AND IN THE TRUNK AFTER FILLING THE CORVETTE WITH GASOLINE. THE STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE WAS AT IT'S STRONGEST SCENT WHEN THE DECK LID WAS OPEN. I STOOD ON THE REAR RIGHT OF THE CORVETTE WITH MY HEAD BARELY INSIDE THE TRUNK. SO BASICALLY REAR RIGHT SECTOR OF THE CORVETTE, JUST PASSED THE REAR RIGHT WHEEL WELL. THE CORVETTE WAS PARKED ON A LEVEL CONCRETE PAD AT THE GAS STATION. I DID NOT OVERFILL. PUMP NOZZLE STOPPED. APPROXIMATELY 14.6 GALLONS OF FUEL WAS PUMPED INTO THE CORVETTE.
Safety Rating for the 2003 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
NHTSA has not yet tested the 2003 CHEVROLET CORVETTE in its New Car Assessment Program.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 2003 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
General Motors, LLC has issued 23 technical service bulletins (TSBs) for the 2003 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.
PIC5491J — EQUIPMENT
THIS PRELIMINARY INFORMATION COMMUNICATION PROVIDES INFORMATION TO THE TECHNICIAN ABOUT VEHICLES THAT HAVE AN ONSTAR SYSTEM THAT WILL NOT POWER UP. TECHNICIAN SHOULD TURN OFF THE IGNITION AND CANCEL RETAINED ACCESSORY POWER. AFTER THE VEHICLE HAS POWERED DOWN REMOVE POWER TO THE ONSTAR MODULE FOR FIVE MINUTES. AFTER THE POWER...
050310004 — TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS
TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING (TPM) SYSTEM - TIRE MOUNTING AND DISMOUNTING. *TT
04006A — STEERING:COLUMN LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT DEVICE
ELECTRONIC COLUMN LOCK SYSTEM. THIS BULLETIN CANCELS AND REPLACES BULLETIN 04006A, ISSUED JULY 2004. *TT
611 — TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS
TIRE PRESSURE MONITOR RESET/LEARN-WHEN THE PRESSURE IN THE AFFECTED TIRE WAS SET TO SPECIFICATION ON SOME VEHICLES, THE CHECK TIRE PRESSURE AND OR XX TIRE HIGH/LOW DISPLAY IS CANCELED WITHIN 20 SECONDS OF THE PRESSURE ADJUSTMENT. *SC
040235003 — STEERING
REVISED STEERING WHEEL AND COLUMN DIAGNOSTICS. *TT
3020 — POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
6SP MANUAL TRANSMISSION STUCK IN FOURTH GEAR WILL NOT SHIFT OUT OF FOURTH. *TT
3018 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
ENGINE CYLINDER HEAD CUP PLUG COOLANT LEAK. *MJ
01363A — POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
REAR AXLE SIDE COVER OIL LEAK. *TT
030729006 — POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAK AT REAR OF VEHICLE WITH 6-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION. *TT
091803 — FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER
NEW FUEL SYSTEM THAT CONSISTS OF NEW TANKS AND NEW FUEL LINE ASSEMBLIES. GM VOICEMAIL LOG. *TT
Showing 10 of 23 technical service bulletins.
NHTSA Investigations for the 2003 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.
Other Model Years of the CHEVROLET CORVETTE
- 1998 CHEVROLET CORVETTE — 466 complaints
- 1999 CHEVROLET CORVETTE — 389 complaints
- 2000 CHEVROLET CORVETTE — 359 complaints
- 2001 CHEVROLET CORVETTE — 281 complaints
- 2002 CHEVROLET CORVETTE — 191 complaints
- 2003 CHEVROLET CORVETTE (current)
- 2004 CHEVROLET CORVETTE — 257 complaints
- 2005 CHEVROLET CORVETTE — 716 complaints
- 2006 CHEVROLET CORVETTE — 441 complaints
- 2007 CHEVROLET CORVETTE — 433 complaints
- 2008 CHEVROLET CORVETTE — 620 complaints
Other CHEVROLET Models
- CHEVROLET MALIBU — 28,991 total complaints
- CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500 — 22,175 total complaints
- CHEVROLET IMPALA — 15,197 total complaints
- CHEVROLET TAHOE — 12,511 total complaints
- CHEVROLET EQUINOX — 12,135 total complaints
- CHEVROLET BLAZER — 11,032 total complaints
- CHEVROLET SILVERADO — 10,928 total complaints
- CHEVROLET SUBURBAN — 10,375 total complaints