Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1997 Chevrolet Corvette, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Steering95
- Engine and engine cooling15
- Seats10
- Electrical system9
- Seat belts8
- Fuel system, gasoline7
- Service brakes, hydraulic6
- Unknown or other4
- Structure4
- Vehicle speed control4
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 1 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 6 1997 Corvette vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 5 people died inside them, and 2 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 1997 Chevrolet Corvette failed the safety check 0.97% of the time — 39% less often than the average 1997 passenger car (1.60%). Median odometer at inspection: 68,727 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
In Finland
60 of these cars first registered in 1997 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 158,000 km on the odometer at their last inspection.
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use · CC BY 4.0
In New Zealand
33 1997 cars are on the New Zealand register; 100% arrived as used imports, 0% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Recalls in Canada
5 Transport Canada recalls for the 1997 Chevrolet Corvette.
| 2004052 9 Feb 2004 | Steering On certain vehicles equipped with Electronic Column Lock systems (ECL), when the ignition switch is turned to "Lock", the ECL prevents turning of the steering s… |
| 2000107 17 Apr 2000 | Seats And Restraints Certain vehicles may exhibit a condition in which the lap belt webbing may twist, allowing the webbing to become jammed in the retractor. When the belt webbing… |
| 1997126 26 Jun 1997 | Fuel System THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE A TORN SEAL BETWEEN THE FUEL TANK AND SENDING UNIT PUMP. THIS MAY CAUSE A FUEL ODOUR AND/OR LEAKAGE AT THE ATTACHMENT LOCATION. IN THE P… |
| 1997127 26 Jun 1997 | Seats And Restraints THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH C.M.V.S.S. 208 - SEAT BELT INSTALLATIONS. THE SEAT BELTS ON THESE VEHICLES INCORPORATE AN ENERGY MANAGEMENT LOOP THAT MAY NOT… |
| 1997063 26 Mar 1997 | Suspension THESE VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A CONDITION IN WHICH A REAR SUSPENSION TIE ROD ASSEMBLY MAY FRACTURE AT THE INBOARD BEARING. IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR WHILE THE VEHICLE… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
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 .
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE LAP BELT WEBBING CAN TWIST ALLOWING THE WEBBING TO BECOME JAMMED IN THE RETRACTOR.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE SEAT BELTS IN THESE VEHICLES INCORPORATE AN ENERGY MANAGEMENT LOOP. THIS LOOP IS INADEQUATE TO ABSORB THE NECESSARY FORCES THAT CAN BE EXERTED ON IT. THEREFORE, THE VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION."
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES HAVE A TORN FUEL TANK SENDING UNIT/PUMP SEAL. THIS CAN CAUSE FUEL ODOR AND/OR LEAKAGE AT THE ATTACHMENT LOCATION.
THE REAR SUSPENSION TIE ROD ASSEMBLY CAN FRACTURE.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Chevrolet told its dealers about the 1997 Chevrolet Corvette: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 636688 | COMPLAINTS OF THE CLUTCH PEDAL NOT RETURNING WHEN DEPRESSED. *TT |
| 636671 | SUBJECT REGARDING DISCOLORED HYDRAULIC CLUTCH FLUID. *TT |
| 636639 | CUSTOMERS WITH THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION OPTION MAY HAVE CONCERNS WITH NOISE WHN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP IN FIRST. *TT |
| 636632 | COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE DRIVER SEATBACK RECLINER NOT MAINTAINING THE SET POSITION. *TT |
| 636599 | INFORMATION ON PROPER ENGINE OIL LEVEL USAGE. *TT |
| 634999 | DIAGNOSIS OF CRACKED OR BROKEN TRANSMISSION CASE. *TT 2006 AND PRIOR CARS AND LIGHT DUTY TRUCKS. *TT |
| 634897 | SUBJECT REGARDING REVISED SIDE COVER AND GASKET REPLACEMENT (RH) / DIFFERENTIAL CARRIER COVER AND SEAL REPLACEMENT - RIGHT. *TT |
| 634815 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT ON A HARSH 1-2 UPSHIFT AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT OR SERVICE ENGINE SOON INDICATOR IS ILLUMINATED AND DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE P1870 SET. *TT |
| 634725 | POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE (PCM) REPROGRAMMING AND DATA LINE DIAGNOSIS USING J42236A. *TT |
| 634651 | SUBJECT REGARDING GENERAL WATERLEAK GUIDE. *TT |
| 634625 | SUBJECT REGARDING GENERAL WATERLEAK GUIDE. *TT |
| 631297 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT ON EXCESSIVE MOVEMENT IN THE DRIVER SEAT DURING ACCELERATION AND BRAKING. *SLC |
| 629605 | SUBJECT REGARDING WIND NOISE FROM UPPER B PILLAR AREA. *TT |
| 627839 | INFORMATION REGARDING HARSH 1-2 UPSHIFT, SERVICE ENGINE SOON, MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP, OR CEL ILLUMINATED, DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE P1870 SET. (1996-2000 CHEVROLET AND GMC LIGHT DUTY TRUCK MODELS) *YH |
| 626213 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE ONE OR BOTH OF THE POWER WINDOWS NOT OPERATING. *SLC |
| 623793 | SUBJECT REGARDING ENGINE OIL REQUIREMENTS. *TT |
| 623665 | INFORMATION CONCERNING 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 AND 2002 CORVETTES WITH BODY CONTROL MODULE CONCERNS ON VEHICLES USING AFTERMARKET ELECTRONIC COLUMN LOCK BYPASS SYSTEM. NLM |
| 622930 | SOME OWNERS WITH VEHICLES BUILT BEFORE JANUARY 15,1999 MAY COMMENT ON A HARSH 1-2 UPSHIFT AND MAY ALSO HAVE A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. *ET |
| 619742 | THIS TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN STATES THAT TECHNICIANS MAY EXPERIENCE DIFFICULTY IN REMOVING THE CONNECTORS FROM THE PARK / NEUTRAL POSITION SWITCH, USUALLY WHEN TRYING TO REMOVE THE SWITCH DURING TRANSMISSION SERVICE. *TT |
| 619725 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT ON AN INTERMITTENT ACCESSORY DRIVE RUMBLE NOISE WHEN PERFORMING A GARAGE SHIFT AND / OR DURING PARKING LOT MANEUVERS, SUCH AS TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LOCK POSITION. *TT |
| 619392 | SOME OWNERS MAY COMMENT ABOUT INACCURATE / ERRATIC FUEL LEVEL GAGE READING CONDITIONS SUCH AS THE FUEL GAGE SUDDENLY DROPS TO E (EMPTY) AND CHECK GAGES MESSAGE ILLUMINATES; FUEL GAGE DOES NOT GO TO F (FULL) AFTER FILLING FUEL TANK AND / OR VEHICLE RUNS OUT OF FUEL WHILE THE GAGE STILL INDICATES FUEL IS AVAILABLE. *TT |
| 618141 | A NO REVERSE, NO SECOND GEAR, OR NO FOURTH GEAR CONDITION. *TT UPDATED *EH |
| 617712 | THIS MESSAGE IS CONCERNING CUSTOMER COMMENTS OF EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION. *TT |
| 617611 | GENERAL MOTORS HAS DECIDED THAT A DEFECT WHICH RELATES TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY EXISTS IN CERTAIN VEHICLES. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES EXHIBIT A CONDITION IN WHICH THE LAP BELT WEBBING MAY TWIST, ALLOWING THE WEBBING TO BECOME JAMMED IN THE RETRACTOR. *TT |
| 616382 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A CONDITION IN WHICH THE LAP BELT WEBBING MAY TWIST, ALLOWING THE WEBBING TO BECOME JAMMED IN THE RETRACTOR. WHEN THE BELT WEBBING BECOMES JAMMED IN THE RETRACTOR, THE BELT MAY BE UNUSABLE. *TT |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
STEERING COLUMN LOCKUP
STEERING COLUMN LOCKUP
FRONT LAP BELT MALFUNCTION
FRONT LAP BELT MALFUNCTION
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation