Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (power steering, steering column, rack and pinion).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1997 Chevrolet Corvette owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Service bulletin 05081 just performed on my Corvette to fix a steering column lock problem. After work performed I get a message to remove key and wait 10 sec. Tgm completed a service bulletin on my car that leaves me with a car that stalls immediately after starting. In the many years I owned the car I had only gotten the message once, which related to the steering column lock. Now since the service bulletin was done to fix the problem I get the message every other time I start the car. I feel as though the car is unsafe to drive I have already had one occasion where I did not see the info message. I proceeded to pull out of a parking space only to have the car stall and almost get hit by a truck. Fortunately the truck was able to stop before a collision occurred. …
I own a 1997 Corvette with a manual transmission that has had two instances of the electronic clolumn lock system failing. The first failure occurred in June of 2000 and GM replaced the module at no charge. The second failure occurred in August of 2003. I understand that GM has done a recall on 1997 Corvette's for this problem (recall campaign #04V060). I wrote a letter to GM requesting information and reinbursement for my costs due to the failure of the ECM in August of 2003, but was told by the GM customer service center that my particular vehicle was not affected by the recall. I don't underdstand how there can be a recall for 1997 Corvette's that excludes a vehicle car that has had two instances of the recalled part failing. The car only had 32,000 miles on it, the second time the part failed. …
My 1997 c-5 Corvette has a problem with the steering wheel locking up. The first time it happen when my wife had it at work, when she went to leave she started out but could not steer. The dashboard reader display said "column failure". When checking the owners manual we found "column failure" and it said to have vehicle towed to repair shop for service. The vehicle was repaired at my expense because general motors would not admit to a problem. There is an active recall for 1998-2002 c-5 corvettes for steering column lockup, but they said that mine was caused by a different part and they would not honor the recall. On Tuesday 10 June the steering column locked up again this time while my wife was driving. She had just pulled into traffic and heard a click at which time the steering locked up. Fortunately she was able to stop without incident. …
Last summer,while backing out of a parking spot, my column lock failed to release and nearly caused a collision w/2 other cars. I called the local chev. Dealer and they informed me that my Corvette didn't fall within certain VIN numbers for that recall for that very same problem and that it shouldn't have that problem. Well, it does have this potentially dangerous problem, but GM wont fix their faulty design/parts and want to charge me $500 minimum to fix! So I had the car towed home, ate the $100 flat bed tow bill, and called other GM dealers-all deny the problem on my particular car. Can anybody help me? If I were backing onto a busy road, it could have been disastrous. My car is a 1997 c5 Corvette VIN# [redacted] w/approx only 30,000 miles. Thanks,[redacted]
The engine light and the service traction light had come on while traveling. The repair work was made on the pulley, and the balancer. The top pulley looked as if someone began to work on it but didn't finish because the bolts were loose. The consumer had taken the vehicle to another shop and was told that there was a program error. The primary belt/tensioner belt had come off-the tensioner belt was replaced. The steering column locked up, the power steering belt was taken off. The low traction light had come on intermittently while accelerating and making turns. The keyless entry remotes were inoperative and were reprogrammed. The vehicle made a loud popping noise. Refer to odi#10002502 scc ref. In ea02-031
Tl contact owns a 1997 Chevrolet Corvette. The vehicle was repaired according to NHTSA campaign id number 04V060000 (steering:column locking:anti-theft device); however, the contact is now experiencing the same failure stated in the recall. When the contact attempted to back out of his driveway, the vehicle completely shut off. Also, a warning messaged appeared on the instrument panel, stating that the steering wheel was locked. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the contact was informed that the steering box motor needed to be replaced. The same failure has been repaired five times prior to the most recent incident. The current and failure mileages were 105,000.
GM states that the recall on my 1997 Corvette has previously been resolved, when I prior had no acknowledgment of the recall. After persistently giving them the recall number they finally admitted to the recall applying to my vehicle, but stated that the recall had been performed to specifications, when in fact all they did was reset the computer for a temporary fix. They said that the recall was closed and all cost incurred would be my out of pocket expense. I really feel that a recall for this severe of an occurrence should stay open until the problem is completely remedied. This is a very dangerous faulty part that the government should require an open recall on.
Dt*: the contact stated the steering wheel locked with the key in the ignition. A NHTSA recall, # 04V060000 was performed on the vehicle concerning, the steering however, the recall did not remedy the problem. The dealership would not offer a second repair without charge under the recall. The mechanic determined a new column lock plate was needed. Updated 5/10/2006 - the steering wheel lock failed to unlock the steering column when the vehicle was started. The only remedy was to replaced the steering column lock assembly. The manufacturer is aware of the problem but refuses to correct the problem. The manufacturer provided a relay that did not work.
Tl contact owns a 1997 Chevrolet Corvette. The contact stated that the vehicle steering lock box was not operating properly and the vehicle stalled. The contact mentioned that the control steering lock warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer previously for repairs under recall NHTSA campaign id number: 04V060000 (steering:column locking:anti-theft device). The failure recurred. The dealer was contacted who explained that the manufacturer was only required to pay for recall repairs once. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 40,000 and the current mileage was 268,000.
While driving to work on a 55 MPH road consumer got onto another road going about 35 MPH. Turned right into work parking lot and steering wheel locked up. After trying unsuccessfully to straighten out the wheels he applied pressure to the brakes and stopped the vehicle. Disc displayed a message. Did not hit anything, because nothing was in vehicle's path. Shut off and restarted vehicle to try to get wheels to unlock. Also tried to turn wheel back and forth, but it would not move. Towed vehicle to dealer. Dealer said he fixed the problem. Consumer sold vehicle so he did not know if problem has recurred.
Related recalls
Steering › Column locking › Anti-theft device
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.
Remedy: On vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission, the dealer will disable the steering column lock by removing the column lock plate.
NHTSA investigations
Steering column lockup
See resume in repository.
Steering column lockup
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…
Steering complaints in other Corvette years
Frequently asked questions
How common are steering problems on the 1997 Chevrolet Corvette?
NHTSA has 95 complaints about the steering of the 1997 Chevrolet Corvette, 62% of the model year's 153 complaints. The component named most often is steering wheel/handle bar (48 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1997 Chevrolet Corvette steering problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 04V-060 (anti-theft device, Feb 9, 2004). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 1997 Chevrolet Corvette steering problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 41,000 miles, and 11% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 0 fires and 1 injury to steering problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.