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1998 Chevrolet CorvetteProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 399 owner complaints about the 1998 Chevrolet Corvette, most often about the steering. It is covered by 2 safety recalls.

20
CarFlaw IndexYear to avoid3.9× the Corvette median · #3 of 40 years by complaints
Safety recalls2Free fix at dealersOwner complaints39916 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage47kSteering, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through August 9, 2024. Updated daily.

Complaints by system

Where the 1998 Chevrolet Corvette has problems

399 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Steering2154
Electrical system321
Seats280
Seat belts220
Engine and engine cooling200
Power train180
Service brakes, hydraulic161
Service brakes111
Fuel system, gasoline110
18 other systems748

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

2 recalls

1998 Chevrolet Corvette recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Chevrolet.

Mileage at failure

When do steering problems start?

47kmiles, median

Based on the odometer reading in 88 steering complaints. 93% were reported before 100,000 miles.

Only 38% of complaints for this model year include a mileage.

median0k50k100k150k200k+
10under 30k miles82under 100k miles6100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs

What owners say repairs cost

Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.

Steering

14 owners mentioned a cost

$500median

Middle half: $318 – $638

If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.

Best & worst years

1998 vs. every other Corvette year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Corvette median. How we score

'68'69'74'75'76'77'78'79'80'81'84'85'86'87'88'89'90'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
5 investigations

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 1998 Chevrolet Corvette, and the recalls they led to.

  1. FRONT LAP BELT MALFUNCTIONEA00009 · closed Apr 18, 2000
    Led to recall 00V-111
  2. STEERING COLUMN LOCKUPEA02031 · closed Mar 11, 2004
    Led to recall 04V-060
  3. STEERING COLUMN LOCKUPPE02054 · closed Nov 15, 2002
    No recall
  4. STEERING COLUMN LOCK MODULEPE99066 · closed Jul 21, 2000
    No recall
  5. FRONT LAP BELT MALFUNCTIONPE99076 · closed Mar 16, 2000
    No recall
In owners' words

What Corvette owners report

Recent steering complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

The contact owns a 1998 Chevrolet Corvette. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the steering column lock failed to unlock, preventing the vehicle from being driven. After turning the key, the vehicle returned to normal functionality, but the failure became a regular occurrence. The…
Complaint 11607560 · Aug 9, 2024
The contact owns a 1998 Chevrolet Corvette. The contact stated that while the vehicle was with a local transmission mechanic for service, the technician was reversing out of the service bay when the Service Column warning light illuminated. No other warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was…
Complaint 11565697 · Jan 16, 2024 · 59,565 miles
The contact owns a 1998 Chevrolet Corvette. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, the steering column remained in the locked position and the steering wheel could not be turned in either direction. The contact stated that occasionally the message "Remove Key - Wait 10 Seconds" was…
Complaint 11519241 · Apr 27, 2023 · 78,000 miles

Own a 1998 Corvette?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.