1997 Chevrolet Corvette problems
Owners have filed 196 complaints with NHTSA about the 1997 Chevrolet Corvette. Steering is the most reported problem area, at 53% of complaints. Next are engine (8%) and electrical system (7%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 196 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Steering 53% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 4 and 0
- Injuries and deaths
- 2 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 41,000 miles 60 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 6 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 22 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 12 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 12 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 4 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 3 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 1 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 0 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 0 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 0 |
What the data shows
Of the 60 complaints that include odometer readings, half describe a problem before roughly 41,000 miles. For steering specifically, the median reported mileage is about 39,000 miles (32 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 4 complaints mention a crash; 2 injuries reported. Its complaints are less severe on average than those of 91% of model years in our database.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 1997 ranks 9th most-complained-about out of 32 model years of the Chevrolet Corvette with enough data (114 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 5 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
While driving at 65 MPH vehicle went onto an exit ramp, slowed down to about 35 MPH, and it turned right. Then, went to straighten out vehicle and steering locked up. Ran vehicle off the road into emergengy lane; did not hit anything, but hurt shoulder, popped it, trying to turn steering. Could not get steering unlocked. GMC sent investigator out to check out car, and they fixed everything. Replaced steering column e7680/ part 267460, column lock/10424050s wheel, and sc4x 267460 (count 2). Claim type e om.
I was making a right turn and the tracton control and anti-lock brakes disengaged and as I accelerated the vehicle spun out of control and slid into the curb and did extensive damage.
Steering column locked while driving at approximately 5 MPH in parking lot. This is the third time it has locked although the first two times the car was stationary. Ref. In ea02-031 *cjs
Tl* the contact owns a 1997 chevrolet corvette. The contact smelled a strong fuel odor coming from the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who stated that the gaskets around the fuel pump were loose. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 133,000.