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2004 Chevrolet CorvetteProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 217 owner complaints about the 2004 Chevrolet Corvette, most often about the fuel system, gasoline. It is covered by 2 safety recalls.

2004 Chevrolet Corvette
32
CarFlaw IndexUse caution2.1× the Corvette median · #9 of 40 years by complaints
Safety recalls2Free fix at dealersOwner complaints2177 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage33kFuel system, gasoline, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through August 1, 2024. Updated daily. Photo: MercurySable99, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Complaints by system

Where the 2004 Chevrolet Corvette has problems

217 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
Fuel system, gasoline950
Fuel/propulsion system520
Steering363
Electrical system110
Electronic stability control (ESC)80
Service brakes70
Traction control system50
Air bags43
Vehicle speed control40
16 other systems282

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

2 recalls

2004 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.

–no report yet

Steering: linkages

Recall 04V-273 · Jun 9, 2004 · 41,928 vehicles

Risk. IF THE CONTROL ARM SEPARATES FROM THE KNUCKLE, THE AFFECTED CORNER OF THE VEHICLE WILL DROP AND THE CONTROL ARM WOULD BE FORCED DOWNWARD, CONTACTING THE WHEEL.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

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 fuel system, gasoline problems start?

33kmiles, median

Based on the odometer reading in 86 fuel system, gasoline complaints. 91% were reported before 100,000 miles.

median0k50k100k150k200k+
41under 30k miles78under 100k miles8100k 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.

Fuel system, gasoline

14 owners mentioned a cost

$2,042median

Middle half: $1,959 – $2,475

Fuel/propulsion system

8 owners mentioned a cost

$3,236median

Middle half: $2,525 – $3,757

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

2004 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
NHTSA crash tests

2004 Chevrolet Corvette safety ratings

2004 Chevrolet Corvette 2-DR. in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.

  • Stability control: Standard
  • Forward collision warning: No
  • Lane departure warning: No
2 investigations

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 2004 Chevrolet Corvette, and the recalls they led to.

  1. STEERING COLUMN LOCKUPEA02031 · closed Mar 11, 2004
    Led to recall 04V-060
  2. Fuel Tank LeakPE10015 · closed Sep 10, 2010
    No recall
In owners' words

What Corvette owners report

Recent fuel system, gasoline complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

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…
Complaint 11536947 · Aug 7, 2023 · 44,000 miles
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…
Complaint 11480624 · Aug 22, 2022 · 41,000 miles
THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CONTACT SMELLED AN ABNORMAL FUEL ODOR COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE LOCAL DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE…
Complaint 11417590 · May 18, 2021 · 36,000 miles

Own a 2004 Corvette?

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