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2004 Chevrolet Corvette Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 217 complaints with NHTSA about the 2004 Chevrolet Corvette, most often about the fuel system (68% of complaints, typically around 34,000 miles). It is 7th of 26 Corvette model years by number of complaints and has 2 recalls.
Most common 2004 Chevrolet Corvette problems
Fuel system
148 complaints · 68%Half of these problems showed up before 34,000 miles. Parts named most often: storage, delivery.
2004 Chevrolet Corvette all... Faulty fuel tank crossover connector cracks and allows fuel to spill profusely onto the ground and vaporizes on components near the exhaust system. Limited to 2004 due to mfg change in that year.
On june 25, 2009 I posted the following thread on the Corvette forum website: I began pumping fuel slowly and when the fuel started to spill under the car I stopped and I could not detect the leak point. The fuel gauge read of a tank. After a short time period the fuel quits leaking. I am guessing that I have a crack…
Steering
36 complaints · 17%Half of these problems showed up before 33,000 miles. Parts named most often: column locking, column, linkages.
The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Corvette. The contact stated that the steering column was malfunctioning. The locking pin for the anti-theft device for the steering column was not working and stopped the vehicle from moving. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was contacted and stated that there were no…
While driving my 2004 Corvette the active handling message come on at the dash and while driving this causes the brakes to pull the car from one side or the other suddenly and this happens very often. I am afraid this could cause the car to have a serious accident.
Electrical
11 complaints · 5%Half of these problems showed up before 30,000 miles. Parts named most often: ignition, instrument cluster/panel, wiring.
The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Corvette. The contact stated while driving, the vehicle failed to move farther than five feet before the vehicle stalled and lost motive power. The pull-out key and wait-ten-seconds message were displayed. The contact had to release the key from the ignition and restart the vehicle.…
Driving 65 MPH on interstate 90 wisconsin. Car just died,could not get to restart. 1 hour on the side the road. Cars flying inches from US. Police officer finally stoped and called tow truck and stayed behind US with lights on so we wouldnt get hit. To find out this is a common problem on low milage corvettes. Should…
Brakes
10 complaints · 5%Half of these problems showed up before 41,000 miles. Parts named most often: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip.
Consumer writes in regards to safety issues for 2002 and 2004 Chevrolet corvettes. The consumer stated he experienced a failure of a module which controlled the ABS and traction control systems.
While driving my 2004 Corvette the active handling message come on at the dash and while driving this causes the brakes to pull the car from one side or the other suddenly and this happens very often. I am afraid this could cause the car to have a serious accident.
Stability control
9 complaints · 4%Half of these problems showed up before 56,500 miles. Parts named most often: automatic (asc).
Tl contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Corvette. While driving 40 MPH on slick pavement, the traction control warning light illuminated for approximately three seconds and then dimmed at one point, the contact deactivated the traction control in order to control the vehicle. Suddenly, the vehicle lost complete power, and…
When using telescoping steering wheel the active handling light a came on and the car pulled hard to the left into oncoming traffic lane while driving . I had never used the telescoping sterling wheel feature prior to this .
Traction Control System
5 complaints · 2%At different speeds my traction control warning light comes on for no reason, and the vehicle feels like its trying to engage the ABS system. It now comes on just abut everytime I get I drive my vehicle. I have since learned that this is happening to thousands of corvettes at an alarming rate.
Electronic stability control, traction control system at different speeds my traction control warning light comes on for no reason, and the vehicle feels like its trying to engage the ABS system. It now comes on just abut everytime I get I drive my vehicle. I have since learned that this is happening to thousands of…
Engine
4 complaints · 2%Parts named most often: exhaust system, engine.
Tl contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Corvette. While starting the vehicle, the check engine light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an emissions stations and the contact was informed that the secondary air duct ion system was the cause of failure. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealership where the dealer…
This request involves a safety bulletin [#0400c6], dated 2/8/2006 relating to the electronic column lock (ecl) for approximately 96% of all 220,000+ c-5 generation corvettes. 2004 was the last year of production for the c-5 generation. Total production in 2004 is estimated to have been about 35,000: out of this…
Visibility and wipers
4 complaints · 2%Parts named most often: power window devices and controls.
There was no noticeable reason for the passenger window to fail. I don't have children that would have been playing with the windows to have caused the failure. The passenger window regulator or associated parts just ceased working. In fact I use the driver's side window 5 times as often as the passenger window, and I…
Our Corvette convertible had a "rattle" in the back we id as the back window from the convertible top had become separated from the adhesive and fell out into the back of the car. This seems to be a problem that is being handled through the recall.
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2004 Chevrolet Corvette recalls
Steering: linkages
Risk: If the control arm separates from the knuckle, the affected corner of the vehicle will drop and the control arm would be forced downward, contacting the wheel. The affected wheel could tilt outward and create a dragging action that would tend to slow the vehicle and create a tendency for the vehicle to turn in the direction of the affected wheel. In extreme situations, the affected wheel assembly could separate from the vehicle. Separation of the wheel assembly would also sever that wheel;s hydraulic brake hose and result in diminished braking performance of the vehicle, which could result in
Fix: Dealers will inspect the ball stud joints and measure the torque of the nut for all front lower control arms in all models affected as well as the rear lower control arms on the xlr and corvette. If the torque is not at specification, the dealers will replace the ball stud, the knuckle, and the nut. If the torque is at specification, the dealers will replace the nut/washer assembly only. The recall will begin on august 25, 2004. Owners should contact cadillac at 1-866-982-2339 or chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438.
Full defect summary
On certain passenger vehicles involved in this campaign, the lower control arm ball stud nut/washer assemblies with washers were made of the wrong material. The washers may fracture and become loose or fall away from the vehicle, reducing clamp load. Separation of the control arm ball stud and steering knuckle, due to disengagement of the tapered attachment and retaining nut, is possible.
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
Fuel tank leak
Summary
In its june 30, 2010 response to odi's information request letter, general motors (gm) identified the leak source as cracks in either the fuel tank cross-over tube quick connector (connector) and/or the hot-plate weld joint of the connector to the tank.the root causes are attributed to errors in connector material processing, variations in the welding process, and high stresses placed on the driver's side connector during vehicle use.gm also identified the scope of the subject vehicles involved to be those produced from approximately october 22, 2003 through march 19, 2004.gm does not believe the cracks represent an unreasonable risk to motor vehicle safety based on factors that include; low
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 2004 Chevrolet Corvette
- What are the most common problems with the 2004 Chevrolet Corvette?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: fuel system (148 complaints, typically around 34,000 miles); steering (36 complaints, typically around 33,000 miles); electrical (11 complaints, typically around 30,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2004 Chevrolet Corvette have?
- 2 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from June 9, 2004 (steering). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2004 a bad year for the Chevrolet Corvette?
- It is 7th of 26 Corvette model years by number of complaints, with 217 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.