2002 Chevrolet Corvette Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2002 Chevrolet Corvette most often report two distinct problems: the steering column failing to unlock when the car is started, and cracks developing in the spokes of the factory rear wheels. Both are described repeatedly across ages and mileages, from cars barely broken in to cars past 100,000 miles. Fuel smell or leakage around the fuel tank after filling is the next most common theme, and owners also describe occasional electrical and ABS/traction-control warning issues.

1. 1
   Steering

   Steering column stays locked after starting (Service Column

   • 49 complaints (31%)
   • median 30,000 mi at 8.0 yrs old (44 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2002–2025

   Owners describe turning the key or starting the car and finding the steering wheel still locked, sometimes with a "Service Column Lock" or "Pull Key, Wait 10 Seconds" message on the driver display. Some say the column seized while the car was already moving, and others say the fuel supply shut off and the car could not be restarted. Several owners report that the column locked again after recall work (04V060000) had already been performed, and dealers reprogrammed the column control module or replaced locking components; a number of owners say further repair was declined or the car was left unrepaired. Reported from very low mileage up to 93,000 miles, on cars of all ages, often on startup or shortly after pulling away.

   Recall 04V0600001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask whether the car has the column-lock recall repair and whether the column has ever failed to unlock since. Start the car yourself and confirm the wheel turns freely, and ask whether the locking components or module programming were ever replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I had the same column-lock issue that has been widely reported on the c5 Corvette. I received my recall notice for my 2002 manual-transmission vette and had the recall performed. I had had no previous problem with the steering column locking. The dealer told me that they checked the column-lock mechanism and then reprogrammed the computer. However, several weeks later, my steering column locked upon startup.”

   NHTSA complaint #10090641, filed 2004-09, 11,300 miles

   “July 19th 2014 I purchased a 2002 Chevrolet Corvette z06 from autonation ford in littleton colorado.july 26th after returning home I parked the car in my garage. When I came out to move the car later that afternoon the steering column would not unlock. There was a message on the driver information center that said service column lock . I immediately called autonation Chevrolet, since the vehicle is Chevrolet, to see if I could get some advice on how to resolve the issue. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10622520, filed 2014-08, 33,167 miles
2. 2
   Wheels

   Cracks in factory rear wheel spokes

   • 32 complaints (20%)
   • median 40,000 mi at 6.8 yrs old (28 state mileage)
   • filed 2005–2018

   Owners report hairline or longer cracks at the base of the spokes on the factory rear wheels, usually the 18-inch rears, which can lead to the tire losing air. In several cases the crack was found during a tire change, after a low-pressure warning, or after noticing a vibration or a tire that would not hold air. Owners who contacted the dealer describe being offered partial coverage or being told the wheel was not covered, and many replaced the wheel at their own cost. Mostly reported between roughly 20,000 and 72,000 miles, often on unmodified original wheels without prior curb or impact damage.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Inspect the inner and outer spokes of both rear wheels closely for hairline cracks, especially where the spoke meets the rim, and check tire pressures and whether any wheel has been replaced. Ask whether the car still wears its original wheels.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Took my 2002 Corvette into dealer because left rear tire keeps going flat. Was shown where the wheel has three cracks of which one was allowing air to leek. Was advised it needed to be replaced, at my expense of course.they could not tell me how this happen. The car isn't take out in rain or snow and has not hit any wholes.”

   NHTSA complaint #10469983, filed 2012-08, 44,082 miles

   “The driver side rear wheel on my 2002 Corvette coupe has a crack in 2 of the spokes. I took it in to my chevy dealer (crest Chevrolet), they took pictures and submitted a claim to GM. The GM rep. Had the dealer take the tire off the wheel and see if the cracks go through to the inside and get the factory number off the inside & verify it was a GM wheel. The dealer service rep called me and said GM agreed to pay for half the cost of the wheel. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10166064, filed 2006-08, 35,500 miles
3. 3
   Electronic stability control

   ABS, traction control and active handling warning messages

   • 22 complaints (14%)
   • median 33,800 mi at 7.9 yrs old (17 state mileage)
   • filed 2002–2020

   Owners describe "Service ABS", "Service Active Handling" and "Service Traction Control" messages appearing together, sometimes with the active handling system braking or the car pulling or swerving, and in a few cases loss of ABS function in wet weather. Dealers reportedly found moisture or corrosion at a wheel speed sensor connector, replaced the electronic brake control module or pump, or could not duplicate the concern; some owners say the problem returned after repair. Reported from a few hundred miles to over 110,000 miles, with symptoms often intermittent and sometimes appearing while driving at highway speed.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Turn the key on and confirm all warning lamps go out after the bulb check, and drive the car to see whether any ABS or active handling messages appear. Ask whether the brake control module or wheel speed sensors have been replaced and whether any warning messages recur.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The blinkers stop working sometimes while driving. The ABS lights comes on stability control. Headlights turn off and on while automatic twilight is on. The electrical system seems to have problems. The brakes, blinkers and gauges malfunction. I've looked on the internet and it seems a lot of Corvette owners from model year 1997-2004 are experiencing the same prolems. The alarm system also fails. I find this to be dangerous problem while driving when the electrical system fails to operate.”

   NHTSA complaint #10443387, filed 2012-01, 97,300 miles

   “2002 Chevrolet Corvette - ABS braking and traction control system failure. Systemic and recurring problem with ecbm electronic failure. Loss of vehicle control in wet weather and no ABS braking. Research shows repeated problem with c5 corvettes. Very dangerous situation with a high performance vehicle. This needs manufacturer's correction of this design and manufacturing flaw. Please investigate.”

   NHTSA complaint #10398586, filed 2011-05, 56,000 miles
4. 4
   Fuel system

   Fuel smell or leak around the tank after filling

   • 11 complaints (7%)
   • median 53,010 mi at 8.4 yrs old (10 state mileage)
   • filed 2009–2016

   Owners describe a strong gasoline smell after filling the tank, sometimes lasting for days or until the level drops, and in some cases visible fuel on the ground or on the side of the tank near the right rear. One owner reported the dealer finding the hard line at the top of the tank leaking at its connection and replacing the tank under warranty; others say they were told the car was out of warranty for the concern. Typically reported between about 25,000 and 54,000 miles, with symptoms appearing right after refueling.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: After a fill-up, check for a fuel smell around the right rear of the car and look for staining or dampness on and under the tank. Ask whether the tank, sending unit or filler neck lines have ever been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “After fueling vehicle and parking in garage the vehicle for days will smell very strongly of gasoline until gallons are consumed via driving to approx. 3/4 of tank. Vehicle is not over filled ! No visual indications of fuel leaking on ground. This also happened since on july 12, 2016 last time vehicle was fueled.”

   NHTSA complaint #10884633, filed 2016-07, 54,462 miles

   “1. Each time the fuel tank is filled up there is a strong fuel odor smell. 2. Recently there is fuel leakage on my garage floor directly in front of the right rear tire & fuel on the side and bottom of the fuel tank. 3. Gm said car was out of warranty for this issue.”

   NHTSA complaint #10298988, filed 2010-01, 54,020 miles
5. 5
   Electrical system

   Electrical glitches: warning lights, lighting and battery

   • 9 complaints (6%)
   • median 80,500 mi at 9.1 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2003–2019

   Owners report intermittent electrical oddities such as turn signals or hazard lights stopping, headlights cycling off and on in automatic mode or low beams failing, gauges misbehaving, and battery drain after several days parked. Some dealers told owners that the drain was normal for the car's computers, while other concerns were hard to reproduce and left unresolved. Scattered from under 1,000 miles to over 125,000 miles, with no consistent mileage pattern; several reports involve cars parked for extended periods or lights used in automatic mode.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check that all exterior lamps, turn signals and dash gauges work, and test drive with the lights in automatic mode. Ask how often the car is driven and whether it is kept on a battery maintainer, and whether any ground connections have been serviced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Driving to work (in the dark) the low beam headlights shut off. Pulled the car over and turned the headlamp switch to on and they started working (was in auto sensor mode). Next day when I was leaving the house I turned the headlamp switch on, headlights popped up but did not come on. I could turn them to high beam and they worked but not on low. After driving the car and switching back and forth from high to low beam several times, the low beams started working again.”

   NHTSA complaint #11252853, filed 2019-09, 125,000 miles

   “The battery will drain after 5 days after being parked. I have been told by john hall Chevrolet that this is normal due to the excessive power drain that the Corvette computers put on the battery. This despite 3 charge system fault messages that have come up on the display screen.”

   NHTSA complaint #10013988, filed 2003-04, 8,000 miles

Buying note. A 2002 Corvette is worth a careful pre-purchase inspection: confirm the steering column unlocks reliably on every start and ask about the column-lock recall history, and look closely at the rear wheel spokes for cracks. Also check for fuel smell after filling and for any ABS or active handling warnings on the test drive.

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.