1997 Chevrolet Corvette Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year report the electronic steering column lock most often by a wide margin: the wheel stays locked after starting, typically in parking lots, driveways or while reversing, and some say it recurred after the recall work was done. A second theme is fuel smell and leakage from the tank sending unit or pump area, plus seat tracks that let the seat rock or slide. Most of these appear at relatively low mileage, and the reports thin out in later years.

1. 1
   Steering

   Steering column stays locked after start

   • 76 complaints (50%)
   • median 40,500 mi at 7.0 yrs old (26 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $500 (median of 5 quotes)
   • filed 2000–2014

   Owners describe starting the car and finding the steering wheel locked, with the driver information center showing messages such as 'Service Column Lock' or 'Pull Key, Wait 10 Seconds'. It most often happens while backing out of a driveway or parking space or at very low speed, and several say the car had to be towed. Complaints describe the dealer pointing to the electronic column lock or replacing the lock module, actuator or column assembly, in some cases at the owner's cost and in some cases recurring afterward. Widely reported from under 10,000 miles through roughly 60,000 miles, and often on the first start after the car has been parked.

   Recall 04V0600004 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the electronic column lock recall or service bulletin work was done and whether the lock plate or actuator was replaced, and confirm the wheel unlocks freely after starting. A lock that sticks or a recurring 'Pull Key' message on the display is a reason to look closer.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My 1997 c-5 Corvette has a problem with the steering wheel locking up. The first time it happen when my wife had it at work, when she went to leave she started out but could not steer. The dashboard reader display said column failure . When checking the owners manual we found column failure and it said to have vehicle towed to repair shop for service. The vehicle was repaired at my expense because general motors would not admit to a problem. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10023253, filed 2003-06, 41,000 miles

   “Last summer,while backing out of a parking spot, my column lock failed to release and nearly caused a collision w/2 other cars. I called the local chev. Dealer and they informed me that my Corvette didn't fall within certain VIN numbers for that recall for that very same problem and that it shouldn't have that problem. Well, it does have this potentially dangerous problem, but GM wont fix their faulty design/parts and want to charge me $500 minimum to fix! …”

   NHTSA complaint #10005306, filed 2003-02, 30,000 miles
2. 2
   Seats

   Driver seat rocks or slides on its tracks

   • 9 complaints (6%)
   • median 36,000 mi at 7.5 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2001–2020

   Owners describe the driver seat moving back and forth or lurching forward under braking because the seat track or its rubber bushings have worn, and some mention power seat motor mounts coming loose. Complaints say the dealer acknowledged the looseness as a known condition but quoted several hundred dollars or more to replace the track. A related bulletin addresses a seat back that does not hold its set position. Reported from about 20,000 miles upward, and often described as a long-standing looseness noticed gradually.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: With the car parked, push the seat firmly forward and back and rock it side to side to feel for play in the track, then repeat while braking gently on a test drive. Ask whether the seat track bushings or track assembly were ever replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Driver side seat moves back and forth while driving. This was first noticed about a year ago and the dealer response was that it would cost $1400.00(approx) to fix. This car is a weekend car. It has 22,000 mi. Now and only had about 20,000 at the time of the first report. Same complaint this year same response.”

   NHTSA complaint #10018528, filed 2003-05, 19,000 miles

   “Loose seat tracks on c5 corvettes (1997-2004). Chronic issue with that model of Corvette. Leaves seats in a rocking chair mood and affects safety by distracting driver and seat not being secure in crashes. Seats have to be removed from car to get to tracks. Then tracks have to be removed and rubber bushings that deteriorate easily and they have to be replaced more durable bushings of a different material.”

   NHTSA complaint #10344136, filed 2010-07, 50,000 miles
3. 3
   Electrical system

   Traction control cuts power unexpectedly

   • 14 complaints (9%)
   • median 44,926 mi at 10.2 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
   • filed 1997–2011

   Owners report the traction control engaging when the wheels are not slipping, with the engine losing power and speed dropping sharply, sometimes to 15-30 mph. Complaints describe warning messages such as 'Service Traction System', 'Reduced Engine Power' and 'Check Engine', and repairs ranging from the accelerator pedal sensor to the air pump and brake pressure module, with the problem returning in some cases. Reported from a few thousand miles up to about 90,000 miles, often intermittently at first and then more frequently.

   What to check: Drive the car at steady speed and watch for the traction control or check engine light and any sudden loss of power. Ask whether the pedal sensor, throttle actuator or ABS/TCS module has been replaced and whether stored codes were cleared.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Traction system check engine light comes on, no power steering,engine will not run acts like its out of gas . On 4 occasions the same system has occurred 1st occurrence 5/06 replaced shorted air pump assembly 2nd occurrence 1/07 replaced shorted air pump assembly under warranty 3rd occurrence 6/09 replaced bad tb sensor at tbi 4th occurrence 9/10 replacing accumulator module I work nights and freeway way driving approximately 45 minutes each way my question what could happen if this system would have occurred during rush hour. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10353860, filed 2010-09, 89,000 miles

   “While driving traction control comes on at any speed, and then vehicle's speed drops to 40 MPH or below. ... Accelerator pedal sensor was replaced. However problem reoccurred.”

   NHTSA complaint #10002502, filed 2003-01, 41,853 miles
4. 4
   Fuel system

   Fuel smell or leak at tank sending unit

   • 8 complaints (5%)
   • median 59,000 mi at 13.4 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • filed 1998–2019

   Owners report a strong gasoline smell around the car and, in some cases, visible fuel leaking from the top or rear of the tank, sometimes with fuel odor reaching the cabin. Complaints describe the sending unit seal, gasket or pump attachment as the source, and several owners note their vehicle was outside the recall population identified by VIN. Repairs reported include resealing or replacing the sending unit, gasket or tank components. Mostly reported between roughly 40,000 and 60,000 miles, with a few reports at higher mileage.

   Recall 97V105000

   What to check: Smell around the rear of the car and the filler area after it has sat, and look for dampness or staining on top of the tank. Ask whether the tank sending unit seal was ever replaced under the recall and whether the work was done on this particular car.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Fuel leaking from the gas tank along with strong odor of gas. I purchased this vehicle in feb 2010 I do see a recall for other corvettes same year, but different VIN#'s. I am concerned there are more vehicles with the same problem that the GM has not looked at . This car was made in the same plant as the others and my car has other recalls that have been taken care that were from that plant bowling green plant code 5. I am certain that those VIN #'s are not the only vehicles with this problem.”

   NHTSA complaint #10330864, filed 2010-05, 59,000 miles

   “After parking my car in my garage one evening and going in the house realized I needed to get something out of the car when I went back to the car I smelled gasoline. I thought I had spilled some when I fueled up, so I rinsed off the area of the filler neck and put the car back inside. The day I still smelled fuel so I looked under the car and saw a leak at the back of the fuel tank. The previous owner told me that both tank and units had been replaced under a recall in 10/97. …”

   NHTSA complaint #710114, filed 1999-08

Buying note. Because the column lock is by far the most common report, verify that the recall and any later service bulletin work were actually performed on the car and that the wheel unlocks cleanly every time it is started. Check for fuel odor around the tank and movement in the driver seat, since both are common and can be costly to put right.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.