1998 Chevrolet Corvette problems
Owners have filed 466 complaints with NHTSA about the 1998 Chevrolet Corvette. Steering is the most reported problem area, at 48% of complaints. Next are brakes (9%) and electrical system (7%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 466 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Steering 48% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 16 and 1
- Injuries and deaths
- 7 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 49,000 miles 182 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 | 15 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 44 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 48 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 31 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 21 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 11 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 4 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 3 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 4 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 1 |
What the data shows
Of the 182 complaints that include odometer readings, half describe a problem before roughly 49,000 miles. For steering specifically, the median reported mileage is about 47,000 miles (91 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 16 complaints mention a crash; 1 complaint mentions a fire; 7 injuries reported. Its complaints are less severe on average than those of 87% 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 1998 ranks 1st most-complained-about out of 32 model years of the Chevrolet Corvette with enough data (257 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 2 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.
Parking brake was fully engaged, got out of car, brake let go, car rolled backwards into neighbors chain link fence. I was injured as the car hit me, almost running over me.
Tl* the contact owns a 1998 chevrolet corvette. While at a complete stop, the accelerator pedal depressed independently and the traction control indicator illuminated. In addition, all the instrument panel indicators illuminated. The contact depressed the brake pedal, lost control of the vehicle, and crashed into a tree. The air bags deployed. A police report was filed.
Tl*the contact owns a 1998 chevrolet corvette. While driving approximately 5 MPH, the engine shut off. The service column lock warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. In addition, there was a malfunction with the passenger and driver's side seat belts. The vehicle has not been taken to an authorized dealer. The contact was displeased to know that his VIN was excluded from the recall that lists this same failure. The recall number was unknown. The failure and current mileages were 120,000.
Tl*the contact owns a 1998 chevrolet corvette. When the contact started the vehicle, he moved backwards in the seat. When he stopped the vehicle, the seat moved forward. The seat track would not lock in position. He took the vehicle to the dealer and was informed that new seat tracs were needed in order to remedy the failure. He wrote a letter to the manufacturer, but received no response. He called the manufacturer and was advised to take the vehicle to the dealer.