Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (fuel pump, injectors, fuel tank, hybrid and EV propulsion).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2001 Chevrolet Corvette owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Chevy / GM recalled over 100,000 Corvettes built between 1997 and 2004 for a steering column lock issue, that renders the car un drivable. The fuel supply cuts off at 2 miles per hour. Many of the dealers did a faulty job fixing the problem, causing it to recur. My 2001 Corvette (with less than 17,000 miles) repeatedly experiences this problem. GM says they will not warrant this known defective design, due to the recall expiring. According to an internet search on "Corvette Steering Column Lock", there no telling how many unhappy Corvette owners this has created. Need your help getting this $50,000 car back on the road.
We purchased the car on 12/17/21. I went to Costco on 12/18/21 to get gas. I had a preset amount of $50 to put into the car. When I got to $50 I shut the pump off myself, the tank was not full enough for it to shut off automatically. As I look down on the ground I saw a fluid running out from underneath the car and rolling along the ground. I touched it with my finger and discovered it was gasoline. I put the nozzle back into the holder and I checked underneath the car and saw it was dripping from the drivers side in the area just behind the drivers door. I pulled the car over to the side to inspect it further. By now the gas had stopped dripping. Since the exhaust pipe is right next to the fuel tank I was afraid of a fire or explosion. Had some fuel vapors but they dissipated shortly after. My gas gauge was registering full at this time. …
When you fill up the fuel tanks you get a very strong smell of gas in the car as well as in the garage. General motors knows about this complaint and will help their customers. In fact there is a class action lawsuit against GM for year Corvette 2004. It will cost about $ 2,000.00 to $ 2,500.00 to make the repairs. A lot of times the right tank is cracked or the crossover tube is cracked . I have called GM and asked for help and they will not accept this as a warranty issue. There are many complaints about this issue . By the way all the GM dealers are aware of the issue. Can you help me out ? You smell the fuel when the car is stopped.
Upon filling my fuel tank full of gasoline, I parked the car in my garage and noticed a very predominate fuel vapro smell that seems to be coming from the drivers side. There never has been any evidence of fuel leakage or pooling on the florr below the car. When I inadvertently fill the fuel tank full, I have to take a drive and put about 30miles on the car then the fuel vapor odor problem is solved from reading the internet blogs, it would appear that I am not alone in the symptoms for my car
I have a 2001 Corvette. Since I've owned it, several problems have occurred. The first being the drivers door lock. The car dealer replaced the module twice and then it switch itself. Then the electronic system defaulted where I couldn't start the car (twice). Had to have it towed back to the dealership. Then driving one day the fuel gauge went from showing half a tank all the way to zero. All the fuel warning lights came on. Took it into service and they reprogrammed the computer. The very next day I started the car and the steering wheel lock engaged after the car first started, (I haven't had it in gear yet). This problem concerned me and I stated that to the service manager who immediately stated it couldn't happen if I was driving the car. (really?) they repaired that. Then the gas gauge did it again. Took it in again and they replaced several items in the fuel system. …
The vehicle is a 2001 Chevrolet Corvette. Upon driving the steering column locked preventing the car from being controlled at speed. After researching the issue and investigating the matter with Chevrolet customer service I found that this steering lock antitheft device was found to be dangerous as I described. The NHTSA forced GM to recall vehicles, mine in 2003, recall number 4006. Subsequently GM concluded that this recall was not effective and issued two more recalls however customers were never notified by mail. Recall number 4006c issued in feb 08 2006 supersedes all previous recalls instructing dealers and service technicians to remove the locking mechanism. However GM fails to take responsibility to assure that this latter recall is provided to my vehicle. After numerous calls to customer service [phone] they will not authorize repair of my vehicle. …
I have owned this 2001 Corvette since it was new it has less than 7000 miles on it.on Friday May 8th 2020 I had to have it towed to the dealer century Chevrolet in broomfield colorado.the service column lock is on at the dash and I cannot turn the steering wheel and if you try to drive it the vehicle will stall.I had recall 04006 performed on the car on 10/25/2004 with 1912 miles on it and this was a reprogramming of the PCM.I have since learned there has been 2-3 updates for this condition and there is a recall 04006c and special policy #05081 for a new wiring harness to be installed to correct this condition.I was never contacted by GM about this and feel I should not have to pay for a defect they know about! …
On three separate occasions I have had the fuel gauge read from over a halve of a tank to immediately reading nothing. When I took it to the dealer, the service department stated to me "well it's not a perfect science you know" and proceeded to do nothing to investigate it or repair it. I have also been having problems with the lights in the instrument panel. The MPH light is blinking on and off and just the other day the light info bar went completely off and I couldn't read my computer info. I have addressed several times with the dealer about the severe front end vibration when the vehicle reaches speeds of 70mph, but the dealer won't look into it because they say they can;t drive it that fast. What! If the law allows me to go that fast, why can't they? The drives seat belt constantly locks on me not allowing me to look out my side or rear window. …
We purchased a 2001 c5 and on a 2 hour trip the fuel gauge dropped to zero, the check gauges light came on and then the low fuel' warning came on. This happened to the vehicle several times. I have reached out to several other Corvette owners because our local GM dealer cannot identify the problem. The problem is the right and left sending units are faulty in the fuel system. Both need to be replaced to correct the problem and you cannot under any circumstances run anything but chevron supreme in the tank or it will blow out the fuel sending unit again. This item is over $1000 to fix and no GM recall in sight. The problem becomes when the car quits in the middle of the road and someone rear ends you and totals your c5 because of GM's error!
In 2005 my steering column locked. The car was towed to Chevrolet dealership in alexandria va. They unlocked the steering column but did not replace the necessary parts. Now the computer reads that the steering column is going to lock and the fuel pump shuts off. When the car was inspected by wynngardner Chevrolet they informed me then warranty had been satisfied. If the defected parts were replaced they would not have to replace then said parts were replaced initially. The vehicle has been inspected and said parts are not there. The dealership used the VIN number in 2005, now when the VIN number is used, it shows that the recall was satisfied. This is not the case.
Fuel System complaints in other Corvette years
Frequently asked questions
How common are fuel system problems on the 2001 Chevrolet Corvette?
NHTSA has 32 complaints about the fuel & propulsion system of the 2001 Chevrolet Corvette, 16% of the model year's 205 complaints. The component named most often is delivery (2 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2001 Chevrolet Corvette fuel system problems?
No. NHTSA lists no fuel & propulsion system recall for the 2001 Chevrolet Corvette, though it has 1 recall for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2001 Chevrolet Corvette fuel system problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 48,000 miles, and 23% 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.