Most common 2004 Chevrolet Corvette problems
Share of the 217 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Chevrolet Corvette complaints by model year
Best Corvette years: 2021, 2012, 2011. Years to avoid: 2017, 2019, 1998, 2005, 2008. Compare all years →
2004 Chevrolet Corvette recalls (2)
Steering › Linkages
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.
Remedy: 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.
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 defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 2 possible defects involving the 2004 Chevrolet Corvette:
Fuel Tank Leak
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…
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…
What 2004 Chevrolet Corvette owners say
Fuel & propulsion system all 148 →
The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Corvette. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH, the odor of gasoline was detected by the contact and his wife. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the odor of gasoline was strongest in the cabin after refueling the vehicle to a full tank. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that a cross fill tube needed to be installed. The vehicle had been repaired. The contact stated that the gasoline odor was again detected while driving at various speeds. The contact researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Action Number: PE10015 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 44,000.
The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Corvette. The contact stated while driving at slow speeds and approaching a stop, an abnormal odor of fuel was detected. The contact noticed there was fuel leaking in the garage. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where it was diagnosed that the fuel tank and crossover tube cross connector needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but no additional assistance was provided. The contact stated the failure was related to NHTSA Action Number: PE10015 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The approximate failure mileage was 41,000. The contact stated that the vehicle was repaired and is seeking reimbursement from the manufacturer for the cost.
Steering all 36 →
The contact's friend owns a 2004 Chevrolet Corvette. The contact stated that while his friend was starting the vehicle, the steering wheel seized. The dealer was made aware of the failure but informed the contact that they were unable to assist due to the age of the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 04V060000 (Steering) however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000.
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, 20,861 vehicles were covered by the above service bulletin, but as mine was assembled after VIN #45120862 until assembly began for the 2005 model year (c-6 generation), my VIN number was not included on page 2 of the bulletin. Prior to the steering column on my car locking on 6/28/2016 I had not been made aware that this perilous condition existed. GM has indicated that it will not provide any funds to offset the cost of repairing this fault because it was not included on any service bulletin. …
Electrical system
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. The contact called an independent mechanic and was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified about the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 30,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Corvette. While the vehicle was parked outside the garage and the ignition was started, the clutch was released and the vehicle seized. Also, the steering column lock warning message illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA campaign number: 04V060000 (steering). The vehicle was not able to be driven. The contact called maguire Chevrolet Cadillac of ithaca (located at 35 cinema dr, ithaca, ny 14850, [phone]) and notified them of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer and manufacturer were not notified. The failure mileage was 6,890.
2004 Chevrolet Corvette engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5.7L 8-cyl | 6-speed manual | RWD | 17 / 26 / 20 |
| 5.7L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 16 / 23 / 19 |
EPA ratings. Class: Sports car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2004 Chevrolet Corvette a good car?
Based on 217 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2004 Corvette rates average: 1.3× as many complaints as a typical year of the Corvette at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2004 Chevrolet Corvette?
The fuel & propulsion system — 148 complaints, 68% of all complaints for this model year, most often about storage › tank assembly. Next are the steering (36) and electrical system (11).
How many recalls does the 2004 Chevrolet Corvette have?
There are 2 recalls for the 2004 Chevrolet Corvette, the most recent from June 9, 2004 (linkages). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Chevrolet Corvette?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2021, 2012 and 2011. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2017, 2019, 1998, 2005 and 2008. See the full Chevrolet Corvette years comparison.
At what mileage do 2004 Chevrolet Corvette problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 33,000 miles; 69% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 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.