Exterior Lighting:headlights
NHTSA campaign 09E025000 · 2009 · reported 05/11/2009
DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
1997 Chevrolet Corvette Problems & Recalls
Built from official NHTSA complaint and recall data · data through 07/12/2026
High complaint levelIts most-reported problem — Steering: Steering Wheel/handle Bar — runs 10.7× the fleet median for that category across the 1655 model-years tracked on this site.
153Complaints
7Recalls
2Crashes
0Fires
1Injured
0Deaths
Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint & recall data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
Is this problem acknowledged?
The most-reported problem — Steering: Steering Wheel/handle Bar (31.4% of complaints) — is covered by 1 NHTSA recall campaign.
Steering: Steering Wheel/handle Bar complaints here are 10.7× the median for that category across the 1655 model-years tracked on this site.
| Complaint category | Reports | Official status | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steering: Steering Wheel/handle Bar | 48 · 31.4% | Recalled | Recall 04V060000 |
| Steering:column Locking:anti-theft Device | 33 · 21.6% | Recalled | Recall 04V060000 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline | 13 · 8.5% | not available | — |
| Steering:column | 11 · 7.2% | Recalled | Recall 04V060000 |
| Steering | 9 · 5.9% | Recalled | Recall 04V060000 |
| Seats | 7 · 4.6% | not available | — |
Recalled = an NHTSA safety recall covers this category, so a free repair exists. Under investigation = NHTSA has an open probe but no recall yet. Investigation closed = NHTSA examined it and closed the probe — this is not a defect finding; where a closed probe led to a recall we name the campaign. Not available = recall or investigation data could not be confirmed for this vehicle — it is not a “no”. Categories are matched by NHTSA's top-level component. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Complaints by component
Percentages are the share of the 153 complaints citing each component; one complaint can cite several components. “Unspecified / other” is NHTSA’s own catch-all category — we show it rather than hide it.
Recalls — 7 campaigns
Exterior Lighting
NHTSA campaign 09E012000 · 2009 · reported 04/07/2009
DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Seat Belts:front
NHTSA campaign 00V111000 · 2000 · reported 04/17/2000
WHEN THE BELT WEBBING BECOMES JAMMED IN THE RETRACTOR, THE SEAT BELT MAY BE UNUSABLE. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Steering:column Locking:anti-theft Device
NHTSA campaign 04V060000 · 2004 · reported 02/09/2004
IF THIS OCCURS, A CRASH COULD OCCUR WITHOUT WARNING. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly
NHTSA campaign 97V105000 · 1997 · reported 06/23/1997
FUEL LEAKAGE FROM A TORN SEAL CAN RESULT IN A FIRE IF AN IGNITION SOURCE IS PRESENT. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Seat Belts:front:anchorage
NHTSA campaign 97V104000 · 1997 · reported 06/28/1997
IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE ENERGY MANAGEMENT LOOP WILL NOT ABSORB ENOUGH ENERGY, AND INJURY TO THE SEAT OCCUPANT CAN OCCUR. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Suspension:rear
NHTSA campaign 97V044000 · 1997 · reported 03/20/1997
IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL CAN RESULT INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Park it Park outside Specimen badges — shown on a recall card only when NHTSA sets the flag. None of the campaigns above carries either flag. Always check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What owners report
“CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 5MPH ON A FLAT SURFACE AND WITH NO WARNING THE STEERING COLUMN LOCKED UP CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO HAVE…”NHTSA complaint 8020423 — filed 10/08/2002 · STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
“ON VARIOUS OCCASIONS, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AFTER STARTING THE CAR. A COMPUTER READ OUT SAYS, SERVICE COLUMN LOCK, AND PRIOR TO THAT, THE…”NHTSA complaint 767699 — filed 09/25/2002 · STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
“STEERING COLUMN LOCKS AND WON'T UNLOCK UNLESS TAKEN BACK TO DEALER FOR SERVICE,VEHICLE WILL ONLY DRIVE ON A STRAIGHT LINE. REF. IN EA02-031 *CJS”NHTSA complaint 8018468 — filed 09/12/2002 · STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.
Complaint trend by year filed
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1997 Chevrolet Corvette?
Steering: steering wheel/handle bar issues are the most-reported category, cited in 48 of 153 NHTSA complaints (31.4%), followed by steering:column locking:anti-theft device (33), engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline (13), steering:column (11). Complaints are unverified owner reports.
How many complaints does the 1997 Chevrolet Corvette have?
153 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Of those, 2 involved a crash, 0 involved a fire, and 1 reported injuries. No deaths were reported.
Does the 1997 Chevrolet Corvette have any recalls?
Yes — 7 NHTSA safety recall campaigns, including campaign 09E025000. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Has NHTSA acted on the 1997 Chevrolet Corvette's reported problems?
Recall or investigation data is partly unavailable for this vehicle right now — check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls for the authoritative answer.
Is a complaint proof of a defect?
No. Complaints are reports submitted by consumers to NHTSA. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints, and a complaint is not proof that a defect exists.
About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/12/2026.
