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 2003 Chevrolet Corvette owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2003 Chevrolet Corvette. The contact stated that while reversing from the driveway, the vehicle lost motive power. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 04V060000 (Steering). The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who replaced the relay and wiring harness kit. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 5,111.
Gm refuse to repurchase below is a overview. they are refusing engineering assitance to the dealership to fix the problem. Next week the car will be there a month again. This is the 7th time on this repair which was a recall by your org. The last repair last 153 days. This problem make the car unsafe to drive the dealer also agrees it is unsafe to drive. My car is back at the dealership for the same recall situation. The corvette has been rendered undrivable due to the number of recall repairs that have failed. They are again waiting for a GM engineer. A new case has been opened at the CEO's office. It was submitted last year for repurchase they not to. The dealership says they should I agree. Gm decline yesterday to repurchase the car. The dealer ship feels it is unsafe to drive Saul Saldano who run the repair shop at Mission Bay chevy. Owned by his family Saldana auto group. …
Vehicle was part of mandatory recall for problems with steering column lock. The same identified and inherent problem happened so that the steering column lock is engaged and will not disengage. GM was contacted and refuses support and stated that I would have to take care of the problem and I would have to pay for the cost of the repair. Chevrolet created the problem, is well aware of the inherent problem and yet Chevrolet and it's local dealer will profit from the forcing the customer to pay and for customers safety. The steering column can lock up while the vehicle is moving which puts the operator and others including vehicles, pedestrians and structures in harms way.
Tl* 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 manufacturer was contacted. The failure and the current mileage was 35,000. The consumer stated while driving, the steering completely shut down. Since he had no steering, so he applied the brakes, and soon after, the vehicle went from 25 MPH to 60 MPH. He hit a curb and the vehicle went airborne. The vehicle spun around and landed on the opposite side of the ditch. Three tire were blown out, the frame was bent and the air bags never deployed. The consumer stated he never received a recall regarding a problem with the steering. …
I was driving north on interstate 95 in miami, florida, I changed lanes and could no longer control steering, car seem to go the way it wanted to. It steered to left to the right back to the left across 3 lanes of traffic and I ended up going southbound in the northbound lanes. With the help of god I was able to put the car in park, start it up again, back up, turn it around and head the right way, which was northbound, considering the traffic on I-95 I should have been hit by numerous cars during that time, but with god's help it didn't happen. I noticed on dashboard that it stated to service active handling. I decided to do some research and there have been numerous complaints related to this same incident and some recalls also. My life could have taken during this incident. …
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 gives error message and then just stops, informed dealer and they stated just to double click unlock b/c is just a security issue. Car was sold with broken rack and pinion. Dealer stated that is why you bought a 18K car and not a 60K car, you get it as is. They are using a bbb award and on website they are rated and f. Had one of their application processors check the car and stated everything was fine, he does not have certified mechanic license and was told that on 12/28/2011. More issues...
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 in 2006 via a letter. The car only had a little over 5K miles on it at the time and now has only 43K on the odometer. Per my phone call with them today they feel they are no longer responsible. The first time this happened I had backed into the road and the car died leaving me in dire jeapordy. Can anything be done to make them honor this defect in this very expensive automobile? Note....this has been happening since the summer of 2018 intermittently.
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. This ebcm is not available through any web site or dealer and is back ordered. The problem with this failure is that if you step too firmly on the gas peddle, the car will go out of control possibly causing an accident. Again without the ebcm, the traction control and anti-lock brake system are disabled. This is a very grave hazard should an owner not be aware of what happens if the ebcm module fails. A recall should be issued immediately.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 Chevrolet Corvette. While driving 20 MPH, the steering ceased to operate without warning. Prior to the failure, the vehicle was included in and repaired per NHTSA campaign number: 04V060000 (steering) by an unknown dealer. After the recent failure, the vehicle was towed to five star Chevrolet Buick GMC (495 watson blvd, warner robins, ga 31093, [phone]) where the contact was informed that the vehicle was no longer under recall. The dealer informed her that she would be financially responsible for all repairs regarding the failure. The manufacturer was notified and did not assist. The vehicle remained at the dealer and had not been repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 115,000.
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 highway. The police were called and a report was available. The driver and passenger sustained no injuries. The vehicle was then towed to a independent mechanic and they were advised that a GM investigator would come and inspect the vehicle. They are waiting the outcome, but it was deemed destroyed. The failure mileage was approximately 35,000. Updated06/07/11 updated 08/17/11
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
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 2003 Chevrolet Corvette?
NHTSA has 32 complaints about the steering of the 2003 Chevrolet Corvette, 38% of the model year's 85 complaints. The component named most often is column locking › anti-theft device (7 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2003 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 2003 Chevrolet Corvette steering problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 35,000 miles, and 32% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 6 crashes, 0 fires and 0 injuries 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.