Exterior Lighting:headlights
NHTSA campaign 09E025000 · 2009 · reported 05/11/2009
DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
1998 Chevrolet Corvette Problems & Recalls
Built from official NHTSA complaint and recall data · data through 07/14/2026
High complaint levelIts most-reported problem — Steering:column Locking:anti-theft Device — runs 8.6× the fleet median for that category across the 1656 model-years tracked on this site.
399Complaints
4Recalls
12Crashes
1Fires
5Injured
0Deaths
Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint & recall data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
Is this problem acknowledged?
The most-reported problem — Steering:column Locking:anti-theft Device (20.6% of complaints) — is covered by 1 NHTSA recall campaign.
Steering:column Locking:anti-theft Device complaints here are 8.6× the median for that category across the 1656 model-years tracked on this site.
4 of the 6 most-reported categories on this page are backed by a recall or open investigation; the other 2 rest on owner reports alone.
| Complaint category | Reports | Official status | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steering:column Locking:anti-theft Device | 82 · 20.6% | Recalled | Recall 04V060000 |
| Steering: Steering Wheel/handle Bar | 80 · 20.1% | Recalled | Recall 04V060000 |
| Steering | 37 · 9.3% | Recalled | Recall 04V060000 |
| Seats | 23 · 5.8% | No official action | — |
| Steering:column | 15 · 3.8% | Recalled | Recall 04V060000 |
| Electrical System | 13 · 3.3% | No official action | — |
Recalled = an NHTSA safety recall covers this category, so a free repair exists. Under investigation = NHTSA has an open probe but no recall yet. Investigation closed = NHTSA examined it and closed the probe — this is not a defect finding; where a closed probe led to a recall we name the campaign. Not available = recall or investigation data could not be confirmed for this vehicle — it is not a “no”. Categories are matched by NHTSA's top-level component. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Complaints by component
Percentages are the share of the 399 complaints citing each component; one complaint can cite several components. “Unspecified / other” is NHTSA’s own catch-all category — we show it rather than hide it.
Recalls — 4 campaigns
Exterior Lighting
NHTSA campaign 09E012000 · 2009 · reported 04/07/2009
DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Seat Belts:front
NHTSA campaign 00V111000 · 2000 · reported 04/17/2000
WHEN THE BELT WEBBING BECOMES JAMMED IN THE RETRACTOR, THE SEAT BELT MAY BE UNUSABLE. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Steering:column Locking:anti-theft Device
NHTSA campaign 04V060000 · 2004 · reported 02/09/2004
IF THIS OCCURS, A CRASH COULD OCCUR WITHOUT WARNING. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Park it Park outside Specimen badges — shown on a recall card only when NHTSA sets the flag. None of the campaigns above carries either flag. Always check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What owners report
“ON AT LEAST 3 OCCASIONS THE STEERING WHEEL ON MY 1998 CORVETTE WOULD NOT UNLOCK AFTER THE CAR WAS CRANKED. AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS OF REMOVING…”NHTSA complaint 749921 — filed 08/06/2001 · STEERING:COLUMN LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT DEVICE
“ON AT LEAST 3 OCCASIONS THE STEERING WHEEL ON MY 1998 CORVETTE WOULD NOT UNLOCK AFTER THE CAR WAS CRANKED. AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS OF REMOVING…”NHTSA complaint 749921 — filed 08/06/2001 · STEERING:COLUMN LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT DEVICE
“WHEN FIRST STARTING VEHICLE STEERING WOULD NOT UNLOCK. CONSUMER UNABLE TO DRIVE VEHICLE TO DEALER, WILL HAVE TO BE TOWED. THIS IS THE 3 TIME…”NHTSA complaint 892872 — filed 07/16/2001 · STEERING:COLUMN LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT DEVICE
Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.
Complaint trend by year filed
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1998 Chevrolet Corvette?
Steering:column locking:anti-theft device issues are the most-reported category, cited in 82 of 399 NHTSA complaints (20.6%), followed by steering: steering wheel/handle bar (80), steering (37), seats (23). Complaints are unverified owner reports.
How many complaints does the 1998 Chevrolet Corvette have?
399 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Of those, 12 involved a crash, 1 involved a fire, and 5 reported injuries. No deaths were reported.
Does the 1998 Chevrolet Corvette have any recalls?
Yes — 4 NHTSA safety recall campaigns, including campaign 09E025000. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Has NHTSA acted on the 1998 Chevrolet Corvette's reported problems?
4 of the 6 most-reported complaint categories on this page are backed by an NHTSA safety recall or open investigation; the rest are unverified owner reports. A recall means a free repair is available at authorized dealers.
Is a complaint proof of a defect?
No. Complaints are reports submitted by consumers to NHTSA. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints, and a complaint is not proof that a defect exists.
About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/14/2026.
