KnownCarProblemsHome › Chevrolet › Corvette › 2003
2003 Chevrolet Corvette Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 85 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 Chevrolet Corvette, most often about the steering (38% of complaints, typically around 35,000 miles). It is 13th of 26 Corvette model years by number of complaints and has 1 recall.
Most common 2003 Chevrolet Corvette problems
Steering
32 complaints · 38%Half of these problems showed up before 35,000 miles. Parts named most often: column locking, column.
Tl contact owns a 2003 Chevrolet Corvette. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40 MPH, the steering wheel suddenly locked up. After applying the brake to stop the vehicle, it continued to accelerate at higher speeds when he then crashed into a ditch, went airborne and landed on the opposite side of the…
The contact owns a 2003 Chevrolet Corvette. The contact was driving 25 MPH when the power steering failed as the contact attempted a slight turn. The contact crashed into the side of the road and the air bags did not deploy. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence and was not taken to the dealer. The…
Electrical
15 complaints · 18%Half of these problems showed up before 21,000 miles. Parts named most often: 12v/24v/48v battery, instrument cluster/panel, horn, ignition.
The contact owns a 2003 Chevrolet Corvette. While driving various speeds, the column lock warning indicator illuminated and the vehicle seized. The contact stated that the vehicle was serviced per NHTSA campaign number: 14v400000 (electrical system) at great lakes Chevrolet (310 s chestnut st, jefferson, oh), but the…
The contact owns a 2003 Chevrolet Corvette. The contact stated that the service ignition switch warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic. The technician was unable to diagnose the problem. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure…
Transmission
11 complaints · 13%Half of these problems showed up before 1,500 miles. Parts named most often: manual transmission, automatic transmission, driveline.
While driving at higher speeds and when shifting from fourth to fifth gear gear shift wanted to go into reverse. When this happened, there was a grinding sound coming from the gear mechanism. This problem occurred six times in the last three weeks.
Tl contact owns a 2003 Chevrolet Corvette. The contact stated that while in first gear, he applied the accelerator pedal and the vehicle immediately jumped out of gear. The failure recurred multiple times. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where the bushings were replaced in the transmission but the failure recurred.…
Fuel system
11 complaints · 13%Half of these problems showed up before 40,500 miles. Parts named most often: storage.
Strong smell of gasoline after filling the fuel tank. I do not see any drips or puddles, but the odor is very strong. I do not notice the odor while driving. I can only detect it if the vehicle is parked in the garage. I had the car parked in the garage the day before with a nearly empty tank, and there was no odor.…
The car has developed a condition where the steering column lock fails to unlock the steering column when the vehicle is started. A message appears in the dic display telling you to pull the key and wait 10 seconds. It shuts off the fuel supply if you attempt to drive it. Chevrolet acknowledged this condition existed…
Stability control
10 complaints · 12%Half of these problems showed up before 40,000 miles.
Abs tracking control light came on with a failure. It then went out. This happened a couple more times during driving in the next couple of weeks(car not driven that much). October of 2008, ABS light came on again and stayed on. Took car in to be serviced. Was told computer system was bad. Tried to locate a used…
The electronic brake control module (ebcm) p/n 10343433 all of a sudden failed. As a result the dash computer error code c1214 for the anti-lock brake system, traction control has been coming on constantly. My wife has to press the reset button when she put the key in, when the car is started and when it is shut off.…
Brakes
7 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 55,000 miles.
Tl contact owns a 2003 Chevrolet Corvette. While driving 45 MPH, the service brake light illuminated periodically on the instrument panel. A mechanic stated that the brake pressure modulator valve had a short, which caused the brake control modulator to fail. The current and failure mileages were 55,200.
The electronic brake control module (ebcm) p/n 10343433 all of a sudden failed. As a result the dash computer error code c1214 for the anti-lock brake system, traction control has been coming on constantly. My wife has to press the reset button when she put the key in, when the car is started and when it is shut off.…
Engine
6 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 34,000 miles. Parts named most often: engine.
There really wasn't any events leading up to our accident that I was aware of. I have not contacted general motors as of yet,my internet has been down and was only fixed this evening around 4:00. But back to my accident,my steering locked up on me and all lost all control of my car. Sorry I don't have more…
While driving my 2003 corvettez06 down the highway on vacation, it broke a valve spring, the engine then totally self destructed, ruining even the block. Gm denied any help because it was out of warranty time wise. It had only 30,000 miles on it. The defective springs are a known defect on 02,03 year z06s.
Body and structure
6 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 41,500 miles. Parts named most often: body.
The contact owns a 2003 Chevrolet Corvette. The contact stated that while driving approximately 65 MPH, the roof detached from the vehicle and fell onto the freeway. The vehicle was inspected by an independent mechanic, who stated that the hinges were faulty and caused the failure. The vehicle was repaired. The…
Accident on 8/9/2008 front impact hit another vehicle in virgina, 2/2/2011 accident left side impact hit a curb, and an object. 12/15/2011 consumer bought. Found out that cooling fan has been glued, cooling fan has been wired which makes the fan to be always on, air filter missing bolts, steering wheel locks and car…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2003 Chevrolet Corvette recalls
Steering: anti-theft device
Risk: If this occurs, a crash could occur without warning.
Fix: On vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission, the dealer will disable the steering column lock by removing the column lock plate. When the ignition key is removed, the transmission shifter will lock but the steering column will not lock. On vehicles equipped with a manual transmission, the dealer will reprogram the powertrain control module, perform a dimensional check of the column lock and, if necessary, replace the lock plate. The steering column on these vehicles will continue to lock when the key is removed. Owner notification to owners of 1997 vehicles equipped with automatic tran
Full defect summary
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
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Steering column lockup
Summary
In 2001, general motors (gm) issued customer service campaigns 1044 and 1044a to address a condition where the steering column would fail to unlock during the initial key-in and start-up in certain my 1998-2000 corvette vehicles.however, odi continued to receive complaints concerning steering column lockup on corvette vehicles.as a result, pe02-054 was opened and later upgraded to ea02-031 for my 1997-2001 subject vehicles.odi's analysis identified concerns with post-repair failures in vehicles serviced through the campaigns, as well as, failures in my 1997-2003 subject vehicles not included in the campaigns.(note: the manufacturer failure data above is limited to my 1997-2003 vehicles throu
Questions about the 2003 Chevrolet Corvette
- What are the most common problems with the 2003 Chevrolet Corvette?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: steering (32 complaints, typically around 35,000 miles); electrical (15 complaints, typically around 21,000 miles); transmission (11 complaints, typically around 1,500 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2003 Chevrolet Corvette have?
- 1 recall listed by NHTSA, the latest from February 9, 2004 (steering). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2003 a bad year for the Chevrolet Corvette?
- It is 13th of 26 Corvette model years by number of complaints, with 85 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.