Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (buckles, retractors, anchors and pretensioners).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1998 Chevrolet Corvette owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Tl contact owns a 1998 Chevrolet Corvette. She stated that the vehicle was purchased used in 2005 and the passenger side front seat belt does not retract. The contact referenced recall 00V111000, seat belts:front. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the dealer advised her that they had no records of this recall. The manufacturer also advised her of the same and did not have any records indicating if the recall repair was performed. The approximate failure mileage was 84,000 and the current mileage was 97,000.
Tl contact owns a 1998 Chevrolet Corvette. While driving approximately 5 MPH, the engine shut off. The service column lock warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. In addition, there was a malfunction with the passenger and driver's side seat belts. The vehicle has not been taken to an authorized dealer. The contact was displeased to know that his VIN was excluded from the recall that lists this same failure. The recall number was unknown. The failure and current mileages were 120,000.
On occassion the driver's seat belt has stuck in a locked position such that you cannot pull it out and secure it. Also, the passenger side has tangled and not retracted properly. I had received a recall notice number 00034. I turned this card into joe macpherson Chevrolet and after several weeks and calling back I was told the part was in and to bring my car in so the repair could be made. I did. That was in January. For a while it worked fine but lately the driver's seat belt appears to lock and I cannot secure it and have had to drive without a seat belt. Sometimes it works fine and sometimes it simply won't release. Today I took my car in and told them about it, that it was still locking and not working properly. The advisor, david brunn (7173) told me if I wanted to pay for a new seat belt they would fix it. …
Both driver and passenger seat belt webbings often fold over while retracting. Once the folded webbing is pulled into retractor the retractor jams. Further use of seatbelt is impossible. This is dangerous and illegal. The entire molding must be disassembled each time to get the belt to release and be usable again. This requires tools and .5 hours of time. This has happened to me no less than 20 times in a 2 month period. When picking my daughter up from school the retractor often jams forcing her to not wear a safety belt. Dealer has been no help. GM has been no help. I have a $38000 car that is both dangerous and illegal to drive. Someone please help, this is a very common occurence on all 1997 and up corvettes and GM knows about it. NHTSA database lists campaign id number 00V111000 for this exact problem but GM just blows me off and tells me there is no fix and no recall.
The passenger side seat belt jammed for at least the fifth time after the dealer installed the clip required by the recall. An accident occurred a few minutes after the last jam. My passenger was very lucky not to have been injured with more than a bruise on her leg and a bump on her head. When shifting from first gear into second at about 35 MPH (engine speed at about 3300 RPM), the rear end came around to the left causing the car to do a 180. The traction control system never intervened as it has done many times in much less severe situations. The car then went sideways across traffic into a curb and then over the curb into a fence on the edge of an overpass. A police officer was a few cars behind me and saw the entire incident. In his police report he estimated my speed at 35 MPH.
The seatbelts get easily twisted and fail to retract, rendering them usless. Dealer is aware of many customer complatins but stated that GM doesn't have a fix. This is very dangerous to be traveling when you get out of the vehicle and then can't wear the seatbelt for the rest of the trip, until you go to the dealer to get them to fix it. They wont replace the part since they don't have fix for it. Know many 1998-1999 Corvette owners that have complained about the same problem. Something needs to be done to force GM to fix this design problem.
The seat belts twist and jam in the belt guides. I have been able to unjam them every time with some fiddling. However it is time consuming and sometimes it happens with the belt on and this makes it very difficult to drive with the belt locked in one position. The steering column lock failed to disengage and the steering wheel won't turn. I am in a Corvette club and this is a common problem with 1997, 1998, and early 1999's. Ref. In ea02-031
Seat belt webbing on passenger's side will not retract into hoiusing unless consumer will do it manually. Then, will work at a time. But, there is a warning label on webbing that won't allow belt to retract. Dealer told consumer to remove label because consumer was owner of vehicle, and dealer was not allowed to do so.
Service manual Chevrolet Corvette, authentic tech. Services information, volume 1 of volume 3, part gmp/98-y-1, pages 3, 7-8 and 9-3 through 9-19. Dealer replaced part of restraint system. When according to repair manual, entire restraint. Manufcturer has been notified.
Both retractors are broken due to lab belt webbing twisted and jammed. Dealer admitted recall 00-v-111-000, and installed inserts to the belt web guide of each lap belt retractor, but did not replace the retractors.
Related recalls
Seat belts › Front
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The lap belt webbing can twist allowing the webbing to become jammed in the retractor.
Remedy: Dealers will install inserts to the belt web guide of each lap belt retractor.
NHTSA investigations
Front lap belt malfunction
There is no summary currently available
Front lap belt malfunction
Odi opened this ea00-009 on March 16, 2000, to continue analyses begun under preliminary evaluation pe99-076.the alleged defect: lap belt webbing in both seating positions tends to fold over while entering the retractor opening.these folds frequently impede proper webbing retraction.if the retractor has been inadvertently toggled into automatic lock retractor (alr) mode by being extended to its full length, it May…
Seat Belt complaints in other Corvette years
Frequently asked questions
How common are seat belt problems on the 1998 Chevrolet Corvette?
NHTSA has 22 complaints about the seat belts of the 1998 Chevrolet Corvette, 6% of the model year's 399 complaints. The component named most often is front › retractor (8 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1998 Chevrolet Corvette seat belt problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 00V-111 (front, Apr 17, 2000). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 1998 Chevrolet Corvette seat belt problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 84,000 miles, and 33% before 25,000 miles.
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.