1998 Chevrolet Corvette Problems

What owners report

Complaints for this model year are dominated by the electronic steering column lock, which owners describe locking the wheel and sometimes shutting the engine down, often at low speed and often on cars whose VINs were outside the column-lock recall. Other recurring themes in the sample are seat tracks that slide slightly under braking and acceleration, ABS and traction-control module problems, seat belts that jam, and fuel tank pressure or leaks.

1. 1
   Steering

   Steering column locks and will not release

   • 197 complaints (49%)
   • median 46,140 mi at 6.7 yrs old (93 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $500 (median of 15 quotes)
   • filed 1999–2024

   Owners describe starting the car and finding the steering wheel will not turn, sometimes with a "Service Column Lock" or "Pull Key, Wait 10 Seconds" message on the display. Some report the engine cutting out when they try to drive away, and several had the car towed. Complaints describe dealers removing the lock plate or fitting a harness kit under recall 04V060000, with some owners saying the problem came back afterward and others being told their VIN was not covered. Reported across a wide mileage range in the sample, from under 20,000 to over 150,000 miles, often on start-up or when backing out of a parking space.

   Recall 04V0600004 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask for documentation showing whether the column-lock recall work was done and when, and check that the wheel turns freely after starting; if the display shows a column lock message, treat it as unfinished business.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Early this year I got in my car and started it up and started to back up and the steering wheel locked up on me and the engine shut down.I had it toe in and repaired at a cost of over $500.00.I later found out about the recall on the inter-net contacted general motor's about getting some of my money back they refused.I will never buy another chevy if that is the way they treat people.”

   NHTSA complaint #10093521, filed 2004-10, 47,000 miles

   “The vehicle is stationary. Proceed to start vehicle. Steering column locks up. Has occurred several times. I am the third owner of this vehicle. In researching information regarding past recalls apparently hedrick's dealership of fresno, ca completed work but in asking what they completed, I was informed that all past computer data was purged from their files so they cannot tell me what was completed. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11377500, filed 2020-12, 84,000 miles
2. 2
   Brakes

   ABS and traction control warnings, module faults

   Mentioned in 8 of 60 sampled complaints

   Complaints describe ABS, traction control and active handling lights coming on, sometimes with the system engaging on its own and pulling the car to one side. Several owners were told the ABS and electronic brake module was no longer available or could not be repaired, and one reported smoke and fire at the module and wiring harness. Others describe brake pedal pulsation traced to worn front rotors. Mostly reported between roughly 45,000 and 150,000 miles, though one owner noted rotor vibration starting near 5,000 miles.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Scan for ABS and traction control codes before buying, and ask whether the ABS module has been replaced or repaired and whether replacement parts are still obtainable.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Sitting idle, all warning lights illuminate on dash board, in dash display shows service engine soon . Made it home when smoke bellowed from under hood. Abs module shorted out and started fire at module and wiring harness. Thankfully, I am a body man and knew what to do by disconnecting the battery. If my wife was driving there would have been a full blown fire. My research shows, this is a very common problem with the 1997 to 2000 Corvette with j 04 active brake control option. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10486740, filed 2012-12, 148,000 miles

   “I know I am not the 1st to report this same condition. You should have several 100 of us if not 1000's, who are experiencing ABS failures which affects the traction control modules (also called electronic brake traction control model)( ebtcm) on all Corvette's made from 97-2007 that I am aware of. We continue to experience the ABS & traction control module failures and GM says they can't fix it due to lack of parts. My vehicle does not have the active handling system but others do and this has to be a safety concern for the NHTSA. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10488907, filed 2012-12, 67,000 miles
3. 3
   Seats

   Seat tracks slide under braking and acceleration

   • 21 complaints (5%)
   • median 33,000 mi at 7.9 yrs old (12 state mileage)
   • filed 2001–2017

   Owners report the driver and passenger seats shifting forward or back by roughly half an inch to an inch and a half when stopping or accelerating. Some say the movement made them press the accelerator unintentionally. Dealers variously replaced the seat tracks or adjuster, and some owners were told the movement was normal until a dealer agreed otherwise. Appears at low mileage as well, with several reports under 30,000 miles and others in the 40,000 to 55,000 mile range.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Sit in both seats and push back and forth against the cushion while holding the brake; ask whether the seat tracks or adjusters have been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I see a few folks had the same problem with the seats moving a 1/4 to a 1/2 inch when stopping and going. I purchased my car from carmax and they told me that was normal. I told them to take it to the chevy dealer and they did and chevy agreed with me that it was not normal. Chevy replaced the tracks and all id good.”

   NHTSA complaint #10433096, filed 2011-10, 53,000 miles

   “I purchased my 98 vette as a used vehicle in 2001. Soon after driving it I noticed that there was some slack in the seat position whether accelerating or stopping. I would say about 1.5 inches from its set position. I carried it to the chevy dealership and was told that there had been some complaints, but that no bulletins had been sent by chevy. I was told that if I moved the seat to its maximum leg room setting that they felt that it would not move when accelerating and in stopping situation. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10465714, filed 2012-07, 40,000 miles

Buying note. Focus the inspection on the steering column lock and its recall history, since that dominates the complaints for this year, and on the ABS and traction control module, seat tracks and seat belts. A pre-purchase scan for stored codes and a look at service records for the column-lock work will tell you more than mileage alone.

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.