Skip to content
KLUNK
KLUNK

2001 Chevrolet Corvette

The Verdict

54 Proceed with Caution

The 2001 Chevrolet Corvette has 203 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are body (104 complaints) and engine (58 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 54/100, it earns a "Proceed with Caution" rating. If you're shopping for a Chevrolet Corvette, consider the 2025 model year which has 95% fewer complaints.

Safe Bet

The 2025 has 95% fewer complaints

View the 2025 Chevrolet Corvette dashboard →

54

Klunk Score: Proceed with Caution

About average for complaint volume. Research the specific issues before buying.

How is this calculated?

The Klunk Score ranks this vehicle year against all others in our database based on total owner complaints filed with NHTSA. 100 = fewest complaints (top tier), 0 = most complained-about. Scores above 60 are better than average; below 40 means more problems than most.

Get notified if a recall hits this car.

We email you when NHTSA issues a new recall on the 2001 Chevrolet Corvette. No spam, no marketing.

Under the Hood

Each number is a complaint. Darker = bigger problem.

YearBodyBrakesElectricalEngineTransmission
20001772733357
20011041918584
20021011423284
2003427272312
2004439121512
2005181621745267
200615828999730
200769197617447
200838127643229
2009122271056
20109019524
20115513529
20124318301
201313112542
20142709187
201523091418
201664072012
20172402661
2018472101
201912902610
2020163456
202100407
202242815
202383326
202482361
202561030

By Category

Body
104
Engine
58
Brakes
19
Electrical
18
Transmission
4

By Severity

1
98
2
97
4
8

Worst Problems

Complaints

Body 1

My steering column lock has failed on my C5 Corvette. I understand that there was a previous recall for this, but I have been the owner of this car since 2001 and was never notified by mail of the recall by GM. When I contact GM, they indicate that the recall is expired and there is nothing that they can do. HELP!!!

49mo ago
Engine 1

Chevy / GM recalled over 100,000 Corvettes built between 1997 and 2004 for a steering column lock issue, that renders the car un drivable. The fuel supply cuts off at 2 miles per hour. Many of the dealers did a faulty job fixing the problem, causing it to recur. My 2001 Corvette (with less than 17,000 miles) repeatedly experiences this problem. GM says they will not warrant this known defective design, due to the recall expiring. According to an internet search on “Corvette Steering Column Lock”, there no telling how many unhappy Corvette owners this has created. Need your help getting this $50,000 car back on the road.

53mo ago
Engine 2

We purchased the car on 12/17/21. I went to Costco on 12/18/21 to get gas. I had a preset amount of $50 to put into the car. When I got to $50 I shut the pump off myself, the tank was not full enough for it to shut off automatically. As I look down on the ground I saw a fluid running out from underneath the car and rolling along the ground. I touched it with my finger and discovered it was gasoline. I put the nozzle back into the holder and I checked underneath the car and saw it was dripping from the drivers side in the area just behind the drivers door. I pulled the car over to the side to inspect it further. By now the gas had stopped dripping. Since the exhaust pipe is right next to the fuel tank I was afraid of a fire or explosion. Had some fuel vapors but they dissipated shortly after. My gas gauge was registering full at this time. Since then I have not had any gasoline leaks and or vapors present. I have not put any more gas in the car since then. (I contacted the previous owner and he said in an email response, if you overfill there is a vent hole that gas will leak out of at the top of the filler neck. It happened once when I put like 20 gallons in it.) I did some research and found that there is a problem with the Corvette gas tanks and or the crossover tube. I think this is a dangerous situation, thinking that if that gas ignited, the car and my passenger could have caught fire and possibly ignited the Costco gas station with an explosion. (This car will be going into the repair shop in January to have a diagnostic smoke test done to determine where the leak and or leaks are coming from.) I hope the NHTSA recognizes this as a very dangerous situation. All of this will be coming out of my own pocket for the repairs necessary to make this car safe to drive and not be dangerous to myself and family. I consider this a very serious dangerous situation.

55mo ago
Body 2

Have 2001 manual 6 speed corvette. Column locks up. Have no way to start car or steer. Worried car will lock up steering column while driving. Gm says there's no recall on this. Seems to be a problem on c5 Corvettes.

57mo ago
Body 2

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE STEERING WHEEL CEASED WITH THE SERVICE STEERING COLUMN WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO I.G. BURTON LEWES AUTOMALL (17861 COASTAL HWY, LEWES, DE 19958) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AND THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED THREE ADDITIONAL TIMES HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V060000 (STEERING) AS A POSSIBLE SOLUTION TO THE FAILURE HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO THE DEALER FOR THE REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 7,000.

67mo ago
Body 2

I PULLED OUT INTO TRAFFIC AND ALMOST GOT KILLED! THE CONSOLE LOCK SCREEN CAME ON, AND MY CAR STOPPED AS WELL! THE WHEEL WAS NOT LOCKED. THE CAR THAT WAS SO VERY UNDERSTANDING, SUGGEST I GET A FORD. GM TRULY NEEDS TO RECALL EVERY CAR THEY HAVE TO BE RECALLED FOR THEIR LOYAL CUSTOMERS LIVES. I WILL BE CONTACTING A LAWYER AS WELL! I HAD JUST COME TO A STOP, AND PROCEEDED WITH THE TURN, WITH PLENTY OF DISTANCE HAD THIS FOOLISHNESS NOT HAVE HAPPENED. NOW I SEE THIS IN JUST ABOUT EVERYWHERE ON THIS COMPUTER! FIX THIS IDIOTS AT GENERAL MOTORS!!!

72mo ago
Engine 2

I HAVE OWNED THIS 2001 CORVETTE SINCE IT WAS NEW IT HAS LESS THAN 7000 MILES ON IT.ON FRIDAY MAY 8TH 2020 I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE DEALER CENTURY CHEVROLET IN BROOMFIELD COLORADO.THE SERVICE COLUMN LOCK IS ON AT THE DASH AND I CANNOT TURN THE STEERING WHEEL AND IF YOU TRY TO DRIVE IT THE VEHICLE WILL STALL.I HAD RECALL 04006 PERFORMED ON THE CAR ON 10/25/2004 WITH 1912 MILES ON IT AND THIS WAS A REPROGRAMMING OF THE PCM.I HAVE SINCE LEARNED THERE HAS BEEN 2-3 UPDATES FOR THIS CONDITION AND THERE IS A RECALL 04006C AND SPECIAL POLICY #05081 FOR A NEW WIRING HARNESS TO BE INSTALLED TO CORRECT THIS CONDITION.I WAS NEVER CONTACTED BY GM ABOUT THIS AND FEEL I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR A DEFECT THEY KNOW ABOUT! THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED OUT OF MY GARAGE /DRIVEWAY WE HAD TO PUSH IT OUT OF THE GARAGE ONTO A TOW TRUCK AND IT IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALERSHIP WAITING TO HERE WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO DO. I DON'T THINK THEY ARE GOING TO OFFER ANY HELP NOR DID THEY WANT TO PICKUP THE TOW CHARGES AND ADD IT TO THE BILL. REGARDLESS I HAVE TO FIX THE VEHICLE AS IT DOES ME NO GOOD THE WAY IT IS.WITH THIS SAID THE ORIGINAL FIX OF THE RECALL DID NOT FIX THE VEHICLE AND THE NOW KNOWN FIX SHOULD BE DONE AT NO CHARGE TO THE CONSUMER/CUSTOMER.THIS VEHICLE IS IN MINT CONDITION AND HAS NOT BEEN MODIFIED IN ANY WAY AND TAKEN CARE OF LIKE NEW SINCE OWNED. I AM REACHING OUT TO YOU BECAUSE THE RIGHT THING NEEDS TO HAPPEN AND GM SHOULD ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THERE ACTIONS AND KNOWINGLY THAT THERE IS A DEFECT. I AM LUCKY I WAS NOT DRIVING THIS VEHICLE AS I WAS PLANNING ON DRIVING THE MORNING THIS HAPPENED AS I COULD OF KILLED MYSELF OR SOMEONE ELSE.

75mo ago
Body 2

2001 CORVETTE, PASSENGER SIDE FRONT WHEEL HAS AN APPROX 3" CRACK WHERE THE SPOKE MEETS THE RIM AND RUNS FROM WHERE THE TIRE MOUNTS TO INSIDE THE WHEEL AFFECTED WHEEL LOSES 20PSI OF AIR PER HOUR.

80mo ago
Electrical 2

RECALL NUMBER 04V060000 RECALL DATE 02/09/2004 COMPONENT STEERING:COLUMN LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT DEVICE SUMMARY. STEERING LOCKED AT EXITING FREEWAY. THE FUEL SUPPLY SHUT OFF SO THE VEHICLE CANNOT MOVED. THE VEHICLE CANNOT BE STEERED.

83mo ago
Engine 2

WHEN I FILL UP MY GAS TANK THERE ARE STRONG GAS FUMES IN THE GARAGE. THE FUMES ARE NOT THERE WHEN THE TANK IS 3/4 FULL OR LESS. THIS IS A CONTINUING ISSUE.

87mo ago
Engine 2

WHEN YOU FILL UP THE FUEL TANKS YOU GET A VERY STRONG SMELL OF GAS IN THE CAR AS WELL AS IN THE GARAGE. GENERAL MOTORS KNOWS ABOUT THIS COMPLAINT AND WILL HELP THEIR CUSTOMERS. IN FACT THERE IS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST GM FOR YEAR CORVETTE 2004. IT WILL COST ABOUT $ 2,000.00 TO $ 2,500.00 TO MAKE THE REPAIRS. A LOT OF TIMES THE RIGHT TANK IS CRACKED OR THE CROSSOVER TUBE IS CRACKED . I HAVE CALLED GM AND ASKED FOR HELP AND THEY WILL NOT ACCEPT THIS AS A WARRANTY ISSUE. THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE . BY THE WAY ALL THE GM DEALERS ARE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. CAN YOU HELP ME OUT ? YOU SMELL THE FUEL WHEN THE CAR IS STOPPED.

88mo ago
Body 2

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. WHEN THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING COLUMN SEIZED AND THE CHECK STEERING COLUMN WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS TSB NUMBER: 04006C. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO CALL NHTSA. THE MANUFACTURER PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 8-4532782724. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 40,000.

96mo ago
Body 2

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. WHILE RESTARTING THE ENGINE, A "SERVICE STEERING COLUMN" MESSAGE APPEARED AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE LOCAL DEALER (DAVE MCDERMOTT CHEVROLET, 655 MAIN ST, EAST HAVEN, CT) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN LOCKING MECHANISM FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN ACTUATOR WAS FAULTY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE WAS REMEDIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,996.

96mo ago
Engine 1

AFTER FILLING FUEL TANK. PARKED VEHICLE IN GARAGE AND NOTICED A FUEL LEAK ON PASSENGER SIDE UNDERNEATH FUEL TANK.

101mo ago
Brakes 4

WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR I NOTICED THE ANTENNA STOPPED WORKING BUT I HEAR THE MOTOR RUNNING AFTER I TURN THE CAR ON AND OFF . ALSO MY PARK LIGHTS COME ON AND OFF AND KEEPS GOING OUT WITH GOOD FUSES, ALSO MY HORN WON'T BLOW AND IT HAS GOOD FUSES ALSO MY SEAT WILL ONLY MOVE FORWARD AND BACKWARD BUT NOT UP TO GIVE ME HEIGHT THIS IS BOTH IN MOTION AND PARKED

102mo ago
Body 1

SERVICE STEERING COLUMN LOCKED

105mo ago
Body 2

THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK DOES NOT RELEASE. I BELIEVE THIS WAS ALREADY A RECALL ISSUE

107mo ago
Engine 2

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN REVERSE, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE ENGINE STALLED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT CALLED A DEALER (JOHN L SULLIVAN CHEVROLET 350 AUTOMALL DR, ROSEVILLE, CA 95661 (916) 782-1243), BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT NO RECALL WAS ASSOCIATED WITH THE VIN AND DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 134,000.

111mo ago
Body 2

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING DOWN A BUSY ROAD AND STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC SIGNAL. AFTER MOVING ABOUT 10' THE CAR STALLED AND THE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR FLASHED "PULL KEY AND WAIT 10 SECONDS" THEN "SERVICE STEERING COLUMN LOCK". THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES BLOCKING TRAFFIC AND CAUSING A SAFETY HAZARD. SHE WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE HOME AND IT WORKED FOR A FEW DAYS AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO ME WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC, THE CAR STALLED REPEATEDLY FROM A DEAD STOP UPON MOVING ABOUT 10' AND THEN AFTER SEVERAL RESTARTS I WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE HOME AND HAD IT TOWED TO A CHEVROLET DEALER. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT GM HAD PERFORMED RECALLS 04006B AND NO. 04006C ON THIS VEHICLE SEVERAL YEARS AGO TO ADDRESS THE COLUMN LOCK ISSUE AND THAT RECALL INCLUDED REPROGRAMMING THE PCM TO SHUT OFF THE FUEL AT 2MPH - THIS VEHICLE WILL RUN INDEFINITELY SO LONG AS IT ISN'T PUT IN GEAR AND DRIVEN OVER 2MPH. THE CHEVROLET DEALER INDICATED THAT THIS SAFETY ISSUE ISN'T THEIR CONCERN AND THAT GM EXPECTS IT'S CUSTOMERS TO COVER THE COST - I PHONED GM'S RECALL DEPARTMENT AND TOLD THEM THE SAFETY ISSUE IS RECURRING AND THEY CONFIRMED THAT THEY EXPECT THEIR CUSTOMERS TO COVER THE COST OF THIS SAFETY DEFECT. I ALSO TOLD GM THAT I INTENDED TO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH THE NHTSA AND BBB IF THEY DIDN'T PROPERLY ADDRESS THIS SAFETY ISSUE AND THEY ENCOURAGED ME TO FILE THOSE COMPLAINTS. BUYER BEWARE

111mo ago
Body 2

SEAT BELT DOES NOT LOCK,CAN NOT BUY A REPLACEMENT.MFG DOES NOT MAKE THESE ANYMORE WHY?THEY SHOULD MAKE REPLACEMENT PARTS ,THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE.YOU CANNOT DRIVE CAR WITHOUT SEATBELT!

112mo ago

203 total

1/ 11
Report a Klunk