NHTSA vehicle safety data

2002 Chevrolet Corvette Recalls & Complaints

The 2002 Chevrolet Corvette has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns and 157 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Chevrolet dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2002 Chevrolet Corvette. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

Pre-purchase inspection checklist → Reliability & 5-year cost forecast →

2002 Chevrolet Corvette owner complaints

Owners have filed 157 complaints with NHTSA about the 2002 Chevrolet Corvette, describing incidents dated October 4, 2001 to July 26, 2025.

Most-cited components

Steering 59 complaints
Wheels 35 complaints
Fuel/Propulsion System 19 complaints
Electrical System 17 complaints
Service Brakes 12 complaints
Electronic Stability Control (ESC) 7 complaints

Of the 157 complaints on file, 3 report a crash; across all 157 complaints, owners report 1 injury (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #11678680 · Filed August 6, 2025
The contact owns a 2002 Chevrolet Corvette. The contact stated that while driving 5-10 MPH, the steering wheel locked-up, and the vehicle continued to drive in a circle. The steering column warning light was illuminated after the failure. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, where the contact…
ODI #11509749 · Filed March 1, 2023
The ignition key started the car but the car continued to stall out when the clutch was released failing to propel the car leaving me stranded with a running(ideling) but non functional vehicle.I could not move the vehicle and it was subject to traffic crash. I need to have the vehicle retrieved by…
ODI #11353464 · Filed September 7, 2020
STEERING WHEEL IS LOCKED AFTER PARKING IT AFTER WORK. THE RECALL ON ALL OTHER VEHICLES MY YEAR THAT HAS BEEN FIXED BY THE FACTORY HAS A WIRE RAN TO THE PCM ARE COMPUTER NOT SURE WHAT THEY ARE CALLING IT. BUT THE FIX WILL NOT LET THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK. AND I HAVE WATCHED A LOT OF YOUTUBE VIDEOS ON…

Read all 157 complaints

Owner-reported

2002 Chevrolet Corvette mileage at failure

129 of the 157 complaints on file for the 2002 Chevrolet Corvette give the vehicle's mileage when the problem happened.

Mileage at failure by component, from owners' complaints to NHTSA
Component	Median	Middle half	Based on
Steering	Median 30,000 miles	Middle half 20,000–60,000 miles	Based on 50 complaints
Wheels	Median 35,000 miles	Middle half 30,000–55,000 miles	Based on 31 complaints

A component's median is its 50th percentile, and its middle half runs from its 25th to its 75th percentile.

Owners give the mileage themselves, often as a round number, and NHTSA doesn't check it. A complaint that names several components counts under each one, and mileages that can't be right, such as 999,999, or 50 miles on a five-year-old car, are left out.

These figures describe the complaints owners filed. They don't predict when a particular vehicle will have a problem, and vehicles that never had one aren't counted.

Mileage from NHTSA's complaints file of October 31, 2026. How these figures are worked out

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2002 Chevrolet Corvette in 1 investigation. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.

Engineering Analysis EA02-031: STEERING COLUMN LOCKUP
Closed March 11, 2004
- Recall 04V-060

Open and recently closed NHTSA defect investigations

FMVSS 108/REPLACEMENT HEADLAMPS/AMBER REFLECTOR

NHTSA #09E025000 · Exterior Lighting — Headlights · NHTSA notice

Reported May 11, 2009 · DOPE, INC.

Potentially affected: 42,540 vehicles

Owners notified July 28, 2009

Defect description

DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

Safety consequence

DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.

Notes

THIS RECALL ONLY PERTAINS TO AFTERMARKET REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT AND HAS NO RELATION TO ANY ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT INSTALLED ON VEHICLES PRODUCED BY THE VEHICLE MANUFACTURER.IN ORDER TO DETERMINE IF YOUR AFTERMARKET LAMP ASSEMBLY IS AFFECTED BY THIS NONCOMPLIANCE, PLEASE REVIEW THE LIST OF MODEL NUMBERS PROVIDED TO US BY DOPE, INC.THE LIST CAN BE FOUND UNDER "DOCUMENT SEARCH" LOCATED AT THE BOTTOM OF YOUR SCREEN. OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV>HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV</A> .

FMVSS 108/AFTERMARKET COMBINATION LAMPS

NHTSA #09E012000 · Exterior Lighting · NHTSA notice

Reported April 7, 2009 · SABERSPORT

Potentially affected: 16,270 vehicles

Owners notified May 11, 2009

Defect description

SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

Safety consequence

DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.

Notes

THIS RECALL ONLY PERTAINS TO AFTERMARKET REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT AND HAS NO RELATION TO ANY ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT INSTALLED ON VEHICLES PRODUCED BY THE VEHICLE MANUFACTURER.IN ORDER TO DETERMINE IF YOUR AFTERMARKET LAMP ASSEMBLY IS AFFECTED BY THIS NONCOMPLIANCE, PLEASE REVIEW THE LIST OF MODEL NUMBERS PROVIDED TO US BY SABERSPORT.THE LIST CAN BE FOUND UNDER "DOCUMENT SEARCH" LOCATED AT THE BOTTOM OF YOUR SCREEN.OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV>HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV</A> .

GM/ELECTRONIC COLUMN LOCK

NHTSA #04V060000 · Steering — Column Locking — Anti-Theft Device · NHTSA notice

Reported February 9, 2004 · GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

Potentially affected: 126,624 vehicles

Manufacturer campaign 04006 · Owners notified April 26, 2004 · Vehicles built March 1, 2001 – June 30, 2002 (per NHTSA) · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation

Defect description

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ELECTRONIC COLUMN LOCK SYSTEMS (ECL), WHEN THE IGNITION SWITCH IS TURNED TO "LOCK," THE ECL SYSTEM 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. IF VOLTAGE AT THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE IS LOW OR INTERRUPTED, HOWEVER, THE FUEL SHUT OFF MAY NOT OCCUR AND THE VEHICLE CAN BE ACCELERATED WHILE THE STEERING SYSTEM IS LOCKED. ALSO WHEN THE CONTROL SYSTEM SHOWS THAT THE ECL IS UNLOCKED AND THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN, THE LOCK PIN LOCATION CAN VARY. DEPENDING ON THE LOCATION OF THE LOCK PLATE RELATIVE TO THE SWITCH TRANSITION POINT, THERE COULD THEN BE CONTACT BETWEEN THE LOCK PLATE AND PIN CAUSING THE STEERING TO LOCK WHILE DRIVING .

Safety consequence

IF THIS OCCURS, A CRASH COULD OCCUR WITHOUT WARNING.

Manufacturer remedy

ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, THE DEALER WILL DISABLE THE STEERING COLUMN LOCK BY REMOVING THE COLUMN LOCK PLATE. WHEN THE IGNITION KEY IS REMOVED, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTER WILL LOCK BUT THE STEERING COLUMN WILL NOT LOCK. ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A MANUAL TRANSMISSION, THE DEALER WILL REPROGRAM THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE, PERFORM A DIMENSIONAL CHECK OF THE COLUMN LOCK AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE LOCK PLATE. THE STEERING COLUMN ON THESE VEHICLES WILL CONTINUE TO LOCK WHEN THE KEY IS REMOVED. OWNER NOTIFICATION TO OWNERS OF 1997 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS BEGAN ON APRIL 26, 2004. OWNERS OF 1998 THROUGH 2004 VEHICLES (EXCEPT 1997-1998 MANUAL TRANSMISSION VEHICLES) WILL BE NOTIFIED BEGINNING ON AUGUST 2, 2004. THE REMAINING OWNERS (1997-1998 MANUAL TRANSMISSION VEHICLES) WILL BE NOTIFIED LATER IN 2004, WHEN PARTS ARE AVAILABLE. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438.

Notes

GM RECALL NO. 04006.CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

2002 Chevrolet Corvette 2-DR.

—

out of 5

Overall Safety Rating

Not Rated

Frontal Crash

Not Rated

Driver: Not Rated, Passenger: Not Rated

Side Crash

Not Rated

Driver: Not Rated, Passenger: Not Rated

Side Pole

Not Rated

Rollover

Not Rated

Safety Technology

Electronic Stability Control

1 investigation

157 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2002 Chevrolet Corvette.

Steering

ODI #11678680

Incident: July 26, 2025 · Filed: August 6, 2025

The contact owns a 2002 Chevrolet Corvette. The contact stated that while driving 5-10 MPH, the steering wheel locked-up, and the vehicle continued to drive in a circle. The steering column warning light was illuminated after the failure. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, where the contact was informed that the vehicle was previously repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 04V060000 (Steering), and the dealer determined that the electronic steering column lock replacement was needed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, and a case was filed. The contact was referred to the dealer for financial assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 51,491.

Power Train; Electrical System; Fuel/Propulsion System

ODI #11509749

Incident: March 1, 2023 · Filed: March 1, 2023

The ignition key started the car but the car continued to stall out when the clutch was released failing to propel the car leaving me stranded with a running(ideling) but non functional vehicle.I could not move the vehicle and it was subject to traffic crash. I need to have the vehicle retrieved by the dealer for repait. It is non-operable. There weree no warnings to me on the vehicle that the p roblem existed

Steering

ODI #11353464

Incident: August 20, 2020 · Filed: September 7, 2020

STEERING WHEEL IS LOCKED AFTER PARKING IT AFTER WORK. THE RECALL ON ALL OTHER VEHICLES MY YEAR THAT HAS BEEN FIXED BY THE FACTORY HAS A WIRE RAN TO THE PCM ARE COMPUTER NOT SURE WHAT THEY ARE CALLING IT. BUT THE FIX WILL NOT LET THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK. AND I HAVE WATCHED A LOT OF YOUTUBE VIDEOS ON THIS IN ALL OF THE FACTORY FIXED RECALLS THE STEERING WHEEL DOESN'T LOCK. FROM WHAT I SEE IT TELLS ME THAT THE FIX IS COMPLETE. IT IS A 2002 WITH ONLY 68000 MILES. ANY HELP PLEASE?

Steering; Exterior Lighting; Electronic Stability Control (ESC)

ODI #11311431

Incident: December 11, 2019 · Filed: February 25, 2020

I BOUGHT CAR OFF INTERNET NOT SURE IF ANY RECALLS HAVE BEEN DONE TRACTION CONTROLS SERVICE ABS STABILITY CONTROLS LIGHTS WILL NOT GO OFF TOLD THAT PARTS ARE DISCONTINUED YOU MAY REACH ME AT [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Exterior Lighting

ODI #11252853

Incident: August 29, 2019 · Filed: September 3, 2019

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.

Steering

ODI #11219205

Incident: February 5, 2004 · Filed: June 11, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V060000 (STEERING). AFTER THE REPAIR, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING AND A WARNING MESSAGE APPEARED, INDICATING TO REMOVE THE KEY AFTER TEN SECONDS. THE RECALL REPAIR WAS PERFORMED BY PAPE CHEVROLET GEO (370 OAKWOOD RD, HUNTINGTON STATION, NY, (631) 427-0900), BUT WAS NO LONGER IN BUSINESS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ROBERT CHEVROLET (236 S BROADWAY, HICKSVILLE, NY 11801, (888) 619-7642) WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE REMEDY FAILED TO PROVIDE A PERMANENT SOLUTION. THE DEALER REPLACED THE STEERING COLUMN LOCK AND THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER INDICATED THAT THE RECALL REPAIR 15 YEARS AGO SHOULD HAVE PROVIDED A PERMANENT REMEDY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: EA02031 (STEERING); HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED THE SAME FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,000.

Steering

ODI #11202927

Incident: April 1, 2019 · Filed: April 22, 2019

I HAVE RECEIVED SEVERAL NOTICES FROM AUTO NATION CHEVROLET DORAL FLORIDA TO BRING MY CAR IN FOR RECALL GM 04006. WHEN I TOOK MY CAR TO THEM FOR THE RECALL, I WAS TOLD "THE PARTS REQUIRED FOR THE RECALL ARE NO LONGER MADE". I JUST RECEIVED ANOTHER NOTICE FROM THEM. THEY SHOULD EITHER MAKE THE PARTS OR COME TO ANOTHER RESOLUTION . I MEANWHILE CAN'T DRIVE THE CAR BECAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP. HELP!!!

Wheels

ODI #11153414

Incident: May 15, 2018 · Filed: November 23, 2018

NOTICED A SLIGHT VIBRATION COMING FROM REAR OF CAR WHEN DRIVING ON A PAVED SMOOTH ROAD AT 65 MPH. UPON LATER INSPECTION, I DISCOVERED A 2" LONG CRACKED LR WHEEL THE CRACK IS LOCATED AT THE BASE OF ONE OF 5 SLENDER SPOKES WHERE IT CONNECTS TO THE BARREL OF THE WHEEL. ANY RETAILER WHO LISTS THIS 18" FORGED ALUMINUM WHEEL IS OUT OF STOCK AS THIS UPGRADED WHEEL WAS UNDER-DESIGNED FOR THE LOADING THAT HAPPENS TO A HIGH PERFORMANCE VEHICLE. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE C5 CORVETTES AND COULD RESULT IN A CATASTROPHIC ACCIDENT AT HIGH INTERSTATE SPEEDS.

Steering

ODI #11115846

Incident: June 28, 2018 · Filed: August 5, 2018

BACKING UP FROM A PRIVATE PARKING PLACE I ALMOST CRASHED DUE TO THE STEERING COLUMN LOCKED ON ME. I TRIED TO FREE IT BUT IT WOULDN'T RELEASE. THE CAR COMPUTER INDICATED I SHOULD REMOVE KEY FOR 10 SECONDS AND REINSERT TO FREE THE LOCKED STEERING WHEEL, NO SUCCESS. HAD CAR TOWED TO THE CHEVY DEALER FOR A FIX. DEALER SAID THEIR WAS A RECALL ON THIS DEFECT BACK IN 2004. DEALER RECORDS INDICATE THAT I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR A RECALL BUT I DON'T REMEMBER WHAT THE RECALL WAS FOR. NONETHELESS, I HAVE NO RECORDS EXPLAINING WHAT WAS SPECIFICALLY DONE AT THAT TIME ON THE RECALL. THE DEALER ALSO HAS NO SPECIFIC RECORDS ON THAT RECALL. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER. THE DEALER HERE IN PAHRUMP NV FIXED THE PROBLEM AND SAID THAT THE PROBLEM WAS A COMPUTER DEFECT CAUSING THE ANTI THEFT PLATE TO LOCK THE STEERING PLATE. THEY REMOVE THE STEERING PLATE AND INSTALL A HARNESS KIT AND LOCK PLATE ELIMINATOR AND CHARGED ME $199.60 . I UNDERSTAND THAT RECALL DON'T EXPIRED, WHETHER THEY HAVEN'T BEEN PERFORMED OR IMPROPERLY REPAIRED. I OBJECT TO BEING CHARGED FOR A DEFECT THAT GMC INTERDUCE. THIS DEFECT IS DANGERIOUS. CLEARLY GMC DID NOT THINK OUT THE COMPARATIVE RISK OF A COMPUTER FAILURE CAUSING THE LOCKING PLATE TO DISENGAGE CAUSING THE CAR TO BE STOLEN; OR CAUSING THE PLATE TO LOCK WHILE DRIVING THE CAR INTO A DEADLY EVENT.

Steering

ODI #11039680

Incident: August 9, 2017 · Filed: October 25, 2017

I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR A STEERING COLUM LOCK RECALL, THE CAR WAS RUNNING FINE BEFORE I TOOK IT IN. ONCE I GOT THE CAR BACK TO MY HOUSE, TWO DAYS LATER THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED WHILE IN GEAR AND HAS NOT UNLOCKED TO THIS DAY. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP (WHICH WAS PENSKE CHEVROLET) AND SPOKE TO JOHN WHO TOLD ME "WELL WE ALREADY DID THE RECALL SO IT MUST'VE BEEN A PART OR SOMETHING ELSE". I WAS FURIOUS AND EXPLAINED THAT I'M NOT GOING TO PAY FOR SOME PART FOR THE SAME THING THAT SHOULD'VE BEEN FIXED. I COULD SEE IF MAYBE THEY FOUND SOME PART UNRELATABLE THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, BUT NOT THE EXACT SAME THING THAT WAS FOR THE RECALL!! WHAT IF THE WHEEL LOCKED UP ON ME WITH MY SON IN THE CAR ON THE FREEWAY OR SOMETHING? I DON'T KNOW IF THE DEALERSHIP IS JUST TRYING TO GET MONEY OUT OF CUSTOMERS LIKE THIS OR WHAT, BUT THE CAR ONLY HAS 6 MILES ON IT SINCE I TOOK IT HOME FROM THE DEALERSHIP THAT DAY. SO WITHIN THAT SIX MILES IT HAS BEEN LOCKED AND HASN'T UNLOCKED. I JUST SIMPLY WANT MY CAR TO BE SAFE TO DRIVE. ANY HELP YOU GUYS COULD GIVE ME I WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE IT. I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO. THANK YOU.

Other Chevrolet Corvette model years

Check your 2002 Chevrolet Corvette VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Chevrolet Corvette at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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