Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2002 Chevrolet Corvette, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Steering59
- Wheels35
- Electrical system17
- Service brakes, hydraulic9
- Fuel system, gasoline9
- Engine and engine cooling7
- Electronic stability control (esc)7
- Exterior lighting6
- Fuel/propulsion system5
- Fuel system, other5
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, 9 2002 Corvette vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 9 people died inside them, and 4 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 2002 Chevrolet Corvette failed the safety check 0.46% of the time — 77% less often than the average 2002 passenger car (2.00%). Median odometer at inspection: 44,243 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
In the Netherlands
31 first registered in 2002 are on Dutch roads; 100% arrived later as imports. Median list price when new: €89,831.
Most common APK defects
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde12
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen5
- Stofhoes fuseekogel beschadigd en dicht niet af4
- Waarschuwingsinrichting airbag- / gordelsysteem geeft defect4
- Stofhoes stuurinrichting beschadigd, dicht niet af4
- Dim-, grootlicht werkt niet (goed)4
- Band(en) aanwezig met een profieldiepte van 1,6 t/m 2,5 mm4
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld2
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In Finland
13 of these cars first registered in 2002 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 114,000 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
42 2002 cars are on the New Zealand register; 93% 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
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 2 variants: combined 11.9–12.8 L/100 km (about 18–20 mpg US), CO₂ 274–294 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Corvette · Two-seater · Premium gasoline | 13.9 | 9.4 | 11.9 |
| Corvette · Two-seater · Premium gasoline | 14.7 | 10.4 | 12.8 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
1 Transport Canada recall for the 2002 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… |
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 .
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 2002 Chevrolet Corvette: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 637191 | CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS OF RUSTING WASHERS WHERE THE REAR QUARTER PANEL ATTACHES AT THE HATCH OPENING. *TT |
| 637178 | THIS MESSAGE IS REGARDING THE ELIMINATION OF THE FORWARD HOOD BUMPERS. *TT |
| 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 |
| 636580 | A CONCERN HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED WHERE A SCREW THAT ATTACHES THE B-PILLAR WEATHER-STRIP RETAINER CONTACTS THE CONVERTIBLE TOP MATERIAL AND WEARS A HOLE IN THE TOP MATERIAL. *TT |
| 636535 | CUSTOMER COMPLAINT OF A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. *TT |
| 636473 | CUSTOMERS MAY COMPLAIN OF AN INOPERATIVE REVERSE LOCKOUT, ALLOWING SHIFT TO REVERSE WHEN ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A SHIFT INTO FIFTH GEAR. *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 |
| 634829 | SOME OWNERS MAY COMMENT ON HIGHER THAN EXPECTED OIL CONSUMPTION. *TT |
| 634788 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT ON A MILD TO SEVERE ENGINE PING (COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS SPARK KNOCK) USUALLY WORSE DURING ACCELERATION AND / OR AN ILLUMINATED MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP. *TT |
| 634725 | POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE (PCM) REPROGRAMMING AND DATA LINE DIAGNOSIS USING J42236A. *TT |
| 634723 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT ON A MILD TO SEVERE ENGINE PING (SPARK KNOCK) DURING ACCELERATION AND / OR ILLUMINATED MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE P0332 SET. *TT |
| 634665 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY NOTICE CORROSION OR RUSTING OF THE FLAT WASHERS USED TO SHIM THE REAR QUARTER PANEL. *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 |
| 629709 | A CONDITION HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED ON SOME VEHICLES WHERE THE SHIFTER MAY NOT SUCCESSFULLY PASS THROUGH NEUTRAL AND INTO FOURTH GEAR DURING THE SKIP SHIFT OPERATION. *TT |
| 629681 | CONCERNS WITH EXHAUST SYSTEM JINGLE NOISE. *TT |
| 629676 | SUBJECT REGARDING PARTICIPATION IN POWERTRAIN PROGRAM P CODES. *TT |
| 629605 | SUBJECT REGARDING WIND NOISE FROM UPPER B PILLAR AREA. *TT |
| 629509 | ERRATIC FUEL GAUGE READING. *JG |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
STEERING COLUMN LOCKUP
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation