2003 Chevrolet Corvette Complaint Log

ABS TRACKING CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON WITH A FAILURE. IT THEN WENT OUT. THIS HAPPENED A COUPLE MORE TIMES DURING DRIVING IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS(CAR NOT DRIVEN THAT MUCH). OCTOBER OF 2008, ABS LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN AND STAYED ON. TOOK CAR IN TO BE SERVICED. WAS TOLD COMPUTER SYSTEM WAS BAD. TRIED TO LOCATE A USED SYSTEM TO SAVE MONEY. WAS INFORMED BY CHEVROLET SERVICE DEPARTMENT THAT COULD NOT USE A USED COMPUTER BECAUSE OF A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE COMPUTER. HAD TO HAVE REPLACED AND REPROGRAMMED ABS TRAC CONTROL MODULE FOR $1490.80. WAS TOLD TO HANG ON TO RECEIPT BECAUSE COULD BECOME RECALL. *TR

ACCIDENT ON 8/9/2008 FRONT IMPACT HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE IN VIRGINA, 2/2/2011 ACCIDENT LEFT SIDE IMPACT HIT A CURB, AND AN OBJECT. 12/15/2011 CONSUMER BOUGHT. FOUND OUT THAT COOLING FAN HAS BEEN GLUED, COOLING FAN HAS BEEN WIRED WHICH MAKES THE FAN TO BE ALWAYS ON, AIR FILTER MISSING BOLTS, STEERING WHEEL LOCKS AND CAR GIVES ERROR MESSAGE AND THEN JUST STOPS, INFORMED DEALER AND THEY STATED JUST TO DOUBLE CLICK UNLOCK B/C IS JUST A SECURITY ISSUE. CAR WAS SOLD WITH BROKEN RACK AND PINION. DEALER STATED THAT IS WHY YOU BOUGHT A 18K CAR AND NOT A 60K CAR, YOU GET IT AS IS. THEY ARE USING A BBB AWARD AND ON WEBSITE THEY ARE RATED AND F. HAD ONE OF THEIR APPLICATION PROCESSORS CHECK THE CAR AND STATED EVERYTHING WAS FINE, HE DOES NOT HAVE CERTIFIED MECHANIC LICENSE AND WAS TOLD THAT ON 12/28/2011. MORE ISSUES... *KB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE SERVICE BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED PERIODICALLY ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. A MECHANIC STATED THAT THE BRAKE PRESSURE MODULATOR VALVE HAD A SHORT, WHICH CAUSED THE BRAKE CONTROL MODULATOR TO FAIL. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 55,200.

A MESSAGE WAS RANDOMLY DISPLAYED SAYING THAT THE ACTIVE HANDLING SYSTEM HAD FAILED AND THAT SERVICE WAS NEEDED. WHEN THIS HAPPENED, THE CAR'S COMPUTER WOULD THEN SHUT OFF THE ACTIVE HANDLING SYSTEM, BUT WHEN THE IGNITION WAS TURNED OFF AND THEN BACK ON, THE ACTIVE HANDLING SYSTEM WOULD BE ACTIVE UNTIL THE NEXT FAILURE. I BELIEVE THAT THIS FAILURE CONSTITUTES A SAFETY PROBLEM. AFTER MANY MONTHS OF THIS (I WASN'T OVERLY CONCERNED SINCE I DON'T DRIVE ERRATICALLY AND RARELY ACTIVATE THE ACTIVE HANDLING SYSTEM), I TOOK THE CAR TO A DEALER (WEST CHEVROLET, ALCOA, TN) AND WAS TOLD (1) THEY HAVE SEEN THIS PROBLEM BEFORE ON CORVETTES AND (2) IT IS DUE TO THE WIRING HARNESS IN THE STEERING COLUMN BEING TOO SHORT. (THIS CAR HAS A POWER TELESCOPING STEERING WHEEL AND MEMORY SEATS SO THAT EVERY TIME THE DRIVER GETS IN AND OUT OF THE CAR, THE STEERING COLUMN AUTOMATICALLY MOVES OUT AND IN, EVIDENTLY TUGGING ON THE WIRING HARNESS EACH TIME.) THE DEALERS TECHNICIAN FOREMAN SAID THAT ONE OF SIGNALS CARRIED BY THE HARNESS IS THE ANGLE OF THE STEERING WHEEL WHICH IS USED IN CONJUNCTION WITH A YAW-RATE SENSOR TO DETERMINE IF THE CAR IS "SPINNING OUT" AND WHAT CORRECTIVE ACTION IS REQUIRED TO CORRECT THIS. HE ALSO SAID THAT DUE TO THE TOO-SHORT HARNESS, THE INTEGRITY OF THE HARNESS CONNECTOR DEGRADES OVER TIME CAUSING THE INTERMITTENT FAILURE OF THE ACTIVE HANDLING SYSTEM. (3) THE DEALER SAID THAT THIS PROBLEM IS FIXED BY EXTENDING THE HARNESS WITH A GM PART WHICH IMPLIES THAT GM KNOWS THAT THEY HAVE A PROBLEM AND HAVE DEVELOPED A PART TO FIX IT. (4) I ASKED THE DEALER WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF I DID NOT FIX IT. I WAS TOLD THAT EVENTUALLY THE CONNECTOR WOULD COMPLETELY FAIL RESULTING IN A LOSS OF THE POWER STEERING. THIS WOULD THEN BE ANOTHER SAFETY PROBLEM. SO I HAD TO HAVE IT FIXED BUT IT WASN'T CHEAP - $594.68. *TR

2003 CHEVROLET CORVETTE 16,000 MILES WASHED CAR AND NOTICED A CRACK IN THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL. RESEARCHED ONLINE AND FOUND THIS TO BE A HIGHLY REPORTED PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD RECALL THESE WHEELS. *JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SERVICE IGNITION SWITCH WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 38,000. UPDATED 8/28/14*CN THE CONSUMER STATED A MESSAGE APPEARS ON THE DASH :SERVICE COLUMN LOCK" EACH THE VEHICLE IS STARTED. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONSUMER TO NOT BE CONCERNED. UPDATED 09/15/2014 *JS

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HORN FAILED. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE AIR BAG AS HAVING A SHORT WHICH CAUSED THE HORN TO STOP OPERATING. THE VEHICLE WAS CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN. *AK THE CONSUMER PROVIDED THE INVOICE FOR REPAIRS. THE CONSUMER STATED THERE HAD TO BE AN ACCIDENT IN ORDER FOR THE AIR BAGS TO DEPLOY. THE DEALER STATED THE DRIVERS DOOR WILL NOT LOCK, REPAIR WAS PERFORMED. UPDATED 06/08/07 *TR

MY 2003 Z06 CORVETTE BATTERY KEEPS DRAINING. I'M ON MY 3RD BATTERY AND THE SERVICE DEPT DOES NOT KNOW WHAT'S DRAINING THE BATTERY. THE PROBLEM IS FIXED WHEN I RECEIVE A NEW BATTERY, BUT IN 6 MONTHS THAT BATTERY BEGINS TO FAIL. IF THE CAR IS NOT STARTED WITHIN 3 DAYS THE BATTERY TENDS TO DIE. THE DEALERSHIP TELLS ME TO START THE CAR EVERY DAY, BUT I HAVE 2 OTHER CARS (GMC'S) THAT DON'T NEED TO BE STARTED EVERY DAY. THIS CAR IS ONLY 3 YEARS OLD AND I DON'T THINK IT NEEDS TO BE STARTED EVERY DAY. I BELIEVE SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THE CAR AND THE SERVICE DEPT, CAN'T FIGURE IT OUT. *JB

02 NOV 05 - STEERING COLUMN LOCKED; REPROGRAMMED AND REPAIRED UNDER FACTORY RECALL BULLETIN; CHARGED $17.96 FOR "SHOP SUPPLIES"; 10 APR 09 - STEERING COLUMN LOCKED AGAIN !; RELAY REPLACED; CHARGED $144.73 (PARTS & LABOR); 31 MAR 10 - STEERING COLUMN LOCKED AGAIN !!!; LOCK AND RELAY REPLACED; CHARGED $614.83 (PARTS & LABOR); 03 JUL 12 - STEERING COLUMN LOCKED AGAIN !!! (4TH TIME); RELAY REPLACED AGAIN !!!; CHARGED $245.00 (PARTS & LABOR). SUMMARY: FOUR ATTEMPTS TO CORRECT A "FACTORY RECALL" ISSUE AT A TOTAL CHARGE OF $1022.52 ! IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT A "FACTORY RECALL" IS COMPLETED AT NO COST, REGARDLESS OF THE NUMBER OF ATTEMPTS REQUIRED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. I RESENT BEING CHARGED OVER $1000. FOR WHAT SUPPOSEDLY IS A FACTORY RECALL PROBLEM ... THAT APPARENTLY THE SERVICE TECHS HAVE NO CLUE ABOUT RESOLVING. YOUR RESPONSE, PLEASE. *JS

FRONT END OF CAR FALLS DOWN DUE TO BROKEN LEAF SPRING WHEN TAKEN THROUGH A CAR WASH. SECOND OCCURRENCE. PART WAS JUST REPLACED A MONTH AGO AND BROKE AGAIN. *JB

DT: THE STEERING LOCKED WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THIS HAPPENED ON SEPTEMBER 18, 2005 WHILE GOING 30 MPH, THERE WAS RECALL, AND HAD THE RECALL REPAIRS PERFORMED ON JUNE 10, 2005. CONTACTED GM, AND LEFT A MESSAGE WITH THE GENERAL MANAGER. THIS HAPPENED BEFORE WHILE BACKING THE VEHICLE OUT. CONTACTED THE DEALER, AND THAT WAS WHEN THE CONSUMER FOUND OUT THERE WAS A RECALL. *AK

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS DARKENED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH UNDER NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SIX TIMES, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER.

EXPENSIVE RUN FLAT GOODYEAR TIRE ON CORVETTE FAILED WHEN A NAIL PIERCED IT. TOLD IT COULD NOT BE REPAIRED. HAD TO REPLACE WITH TWO NEW TIRES , GOODYEAR EAGLE, EACH OVER $300. WAS TOLD THERE WERE NO WARRANTY ON THE NEW TIRES BECAUSE THEY WERE RUN FLATS , AND THAT I COULD NOT SUBSTITUTE ANOTHER TYPE OF TIRE BECAUSE OF THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM. HOW SAFE ARE THESE TIRES IF THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO GIVE WARRANTY. NOW I AM TOLD THAT I COULD NOT HAVE JUST ANY GARAGE CHANGE THE TIRES IF I RECEIVE ANOTHER FLAT BECAUSE SPECIAL EQUIPMENT HAS TO BE USED TO PROTECT THE AIR PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM.*AK

THE CAR WAS FILLED WITH CHEVRON SUPREME GASOLINE ON THURSDAY, JUNE 16, 2005 ON MY WAY TO PICK UP MY WIFE AT THE PHOENIX INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. WHEN I COMPLETED THE TASK AND STARTED THE AUTOMOBILE THE FUEL GAUGE AND THE HUD DID NOT AGREE. THE FUEL GAUGE WAS ON EMPTY AND THE HUD AT ONE-HALF FULL. I DROVE TO THE AIRPORT AND PICKED UP MY WIFE. I RETURNED HOME AND PULLED INTO THE GARAGE FOR THE NIGHT AND THE FUEL GAUGE AND HUD DID NOT CHANGE. ONCE INSIDE MY HOME, I WROTE AN EMAIL TO MITCH CONGDON, WHO IS THE SERVICE DIRECTOR AT VAN CHEVROLET IN SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA, DESCRIBING MY DILEMA. IN ADDITION, I LET MR. CONGDON KNOW THAT MY WIFE WOULD BE BRINGING MY CAR IN ON FRIDAY SO THAT THE PROBLEM COULD BE INVESTIGATED. I ALSO TOOK DIGITAL PICTURES OF THE FUEL GAUGE AND HUD AFTER PULLING THE CAR INTO THE GARAGE FOR THE NIGHT. WHEN MY WIFE STARTED THE CAR IN THE MORNING THE FUEL GAUGE AND HUD READINGS MATCHED AT FULL. VAN CHEVROLET REPLACED THE LEFT FUEL TANK SENDING UNIT. PERHPAS IT WAS AN ERROR, BUT THE MILEAGE ON MY INVOICE #600182 WAS ~3,000 MILES MORE THAN THE ACTUAL READING. THE RIGHT ONE HAD BEEN REPLACED IN AUGUST 2004 AFTER THE IDENTICAL SYMPTOMS OCCURRED. IN ADDITION, I USED ONLY CHEVRON SUPREME GASOLINE AND ADDED A BOTTLE OF TECHRON TO THE TANK EVERY 3,000 MILES. ON SATURDAY, JUNE 18, 2005 I TOOK PICTURES OF THE FUEL GAUGE AND HUD TO FURTHER RECORD THE READINGS. THE PICTURES ARE TIME AND DATE STAMPED. IT IS DISCONCERTING TO ME THAT I OWN A WORLD CLASS SPORTS CAR THAT I HAVE TO USE THE TRIP ODOMETER TO GAUGE THE AMOUNT OF FUEL IN MY GAS TANKS. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT GM HAS BEEN AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM FOR QUITE SOME TIME, AND THAT THERE HAS BEEN A RECENT FIX INVOLVING NEW COMPUTER BOARS THAT ARE IN SHORT SUPPLY. THIS EVENING I AM GOING TO SEND AN EMAIL TO MITCH CONGDON OF VAN CHEVROLET TO INFORM HIM OF MY CONTINUING PROBLEM.

THE REMOVABLE CLEAR TOP OF MY 2003 CORVETTE HAS A CRACK BEGINNING AT THE RIGHT AND EXTENDING ABOUT 3 INCHES AND THE ENTIRE TOP LOOKS AS IF THE CLEAR MATERIAL IS DISINTEGRATING. THESE ARE CONDITIONS WHICH HAVE OCCURRED WITHOUT ANY KNOWN DIRECT DAMAGE TO THE TOP. *TR

THE SEAT RECLINER OF MY 2003 CHEVROLET CORVETTE ALLOWS THE SEAT BACK TO DROP BACK UNEXPECTEDLY, WHEN PRESSURE IS APPLIED. THIS CAN OCCUR WHEN LEANING ON THE SEAT, WHEN ACCELERATING OR TURNING AND WITHOUT WARNING. THIS HAPPENS ON THE DRIVER'S SEAT AND THE PASSENGER SEAT. YOU CAN FEEL THE RECLINER RATCHET SKIP A TOOTH OR MULTIPLE TEETH, AND THIS USUALLY ONLY HAPPENS ON ONE SIDE OF THE SEAT(THE SIDE OPPOSITE THE RECLINER HANDLE), RESULTING IN THE BACK OF THE SEAT BEING SKEWED SIDEWAYS. THIS IS MOST CONCERNING WHEN ACCELERATING OR CORNERING. TO HAVE THE SEAT "TWIST" BEHIND YOU, RESULTING IN A PULL ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND UNINTENTIONAL CHANGE IN DIRECTION. SINCE MAY OF 2005, THE DEALERSHIP HAS REPLACED THE MECHANISM, AND ATTEMPTED TO ADJUST THE MECHANISM ON FOUR OR FIVE OCCASION SINCE THE REPLACEMENT, INCLUDING ALTERATIONS PERFORMED BASED ON A GM TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN. NONE OF THESE EFFORTS HAVE HAD ANY SIGNIFICANT EFFECT ON THE PROBLEM.

AFTER RECALL WAS DONE ON 2003 CHEVROLET CORVETTE THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED WHILE IN MOTION. *TS THE RECALL THAT WAS PERFORMED ON 8/18/2004 WAS INTENDED TO PREVENT THE STEERING WHEEL FROM LOCKING UP. THERE WAS NO RESULTING ACCIDENT OR INJURY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER ON 12/21/2004. THE REPAIR ORDER SHOWED THAT THE PROGRAMMING DID NOT TAKE ON RECALL REPAIR.(RECALL NUMBER 04V060000, RECALL 04006). *NM

VEHICLES OIL PAN GASKET, APPARENTLY DEFECTIVE ON 2003 CORVETTE WITH ONLY 2,000 MILES. LOSS OF OIL POSSIBLY LEADIING UP TO SEIZED MOTOR WHILE DRIVING ENDANGERING OTHER MOTORISTS. PRESENTLY BEING REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY. *AK

CONSUMER VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AS STATED IN THE NHTSA RECALL 04V06000 CONCERNING STEERING COLUMN LOCKING. PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ELECTRONIC COLUMN LOCK SYSTEMS (ECL), WHEN THE IGNITION SWITCH IS TURNED TO ?LOCK,? THE ECL 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 TO DRIVE, THE FUEL SUPPLY WILL BE SHUT OFF SO THAT THE VEHICLE CANNOT MOVE WHEN THE VEHICLE CANNOT BE STEERED. MANUFACTURER INDICATED THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE IN FIRST GEAR, HE APPLIED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY JUMPED OUT OF GEAR. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE BUSHINGS WERE REPLACED IN THE TRANSMISSION BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE SERVICE STEERING COLUMN LOCK WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS MADE AWARE OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V060000 (STEERING) HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000.

WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP INTO AN INTERSECTION THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT FROM FIRST GEAR INTO SECOND GEAR. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE BECAME INOPERATIVE. *AK *NM

WHEN USING THE LANE CHANGE FEATURE, THERE WAS RAPID FLASHING OF EITHER THE RIGHT R LEFT TURN SIGNAL, INDICATING A BURNED OUT BULB. (NAR) *PH *CB

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHER SPEEDS AND WHEN SHIFTING FROM FOURTH TO FIFTH GEAR GEAR SHIFT WANTED TO GO INTO REVERSE. WHEN THIS HAPPENED, THERE WAS A GRINDING SOUND COMING FROM THE GEAR MECHANISM. THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED SIX TIMES IN THE LAST THREE WEEKS. *AK

THE CAR HAS NEVER BEEN HIT OR ANY TYPE OF PROPERTY DAMAGE. THE CORVETTE HAS VERY LOUD RATTLES COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION. IT CAN BE HEARD 45 FEET AWAY FROM THE CAR. CHEVY IS STATING IT'S NORMAL ADN ARE IGNORING ALL COMPLAINTS BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO DEAL WITH IT. THE DEALER HAS GIVEN ME A NOTE FROM GM JUSTIFING THE EXCESSIVE NOISE. WEBSITE (SERVICE.GM.COM/SERVLETS/BLOBSHTM1?SHM1FILE=1297757&PUBID=319) I HAVE A $57,000 RATTLE BOX... WHAT CAN I DO? *AK

WHEN INITIALLY MOVING THE VEHICLE AT 1000 RPMS MANUAL TRANSMISSION MADE A TERRIBLE RATTLE NOISE. DEALER STATED THAT WAS THE WAY THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION WAS DESIGNED.

CONSTANT LEAK AND FAILURE OF REAR DIFFERENTIAL AND SUSPENSION SYSTEM BECOMING NON OPERATIONAL. *AK

THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT LOCKE UP. THE PREVIOUS OWNER HAD THIS ISSUE TAKEN CARE OF ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS AND THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *PH *JB *NM

WHEN ANY LIGHT SHINES ON THE WINDSHIELD THE DASHBOARD REFLECTS AND CAUSE AN ILLUSION THAT'S BLINDING.

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING THE ENGINE WILL REV CAUSING AND DISTRACTION TO THE CONSUMER. DEALER NOTIFIED

THE VEHICLE MAD A TURN ON ITS OWN WITHOUT WARNING. *JB

THE TRANSMISSION MADE A LOUD NOISE. *JB

THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION MAKES "MARBLES IN A CAN" TYPE NOISES. THE TRANSAXLE WAS REPLACED AT 465 MILES FOR EXCESSIVE NOISE. THE NOISE IS BACK, I HAVE TAKEN IT BACK INTO THE DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES OVER THE LAST YEAR FOR THIS AND THE DEALER NOW SAYS IT IS NORMAL AND REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I HAVE ELEVATED THIS TO CHEVROLET CORVETTE OWNER ASSISTANCE BUT WITH NO RESOLUTION.*AK

NHTSA CAMPAIGN 04V060000.*MR THE CONSUMER FEEL THAT THE SOLUTION FOR THE RECALL REPAIR OF THE LOCK PLATE MAY NOT BE ADEQUATE FOR MANUAL TRANSMISSION. *NM

WHILE SHIFTING FROM FIRST GEAR TO SECOND GEAR VEHICLE JERKED. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK