1998 Chevrolet Corvette Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Corvette years
- Far more complaints than other years 3rd of 31 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 2 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 399 complaints with NHTSA about the 1998 Chevrolet Corvette. That ranks 3rd out of 31 Corvette model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is steering (215 complaints, 54%), typically at around 46,526 miles. Complaints mention 12 crashes, 1 fire, 5 injuries. There are 2 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 5 defect investigations involving it.
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- 399owner complaints
- 2safety recalls
- 5NHTSA investigations
- 12complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1998 Chevrolet Corvette problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steering problems | 215 | 54% | 46,526 | “steering column” (52%) | $840 |
| Electrical System | 32 | 8% | 56,626 | — | — |
| Seats | 28 | 7% | 33,000 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 22 | 6% | 84,000 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 20 | 5% | 72,000 | — | — |
| Power Train | 18 | 5% | 60,500 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 16 | 4% | 77,500 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 11 | 3% | 50,802 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 11 | 3% | 82,122 | — | — |
| Parking Brake | 9 | 2% | 14,000 | — | — |
| Equipment | 8 | 2% | 31,000 | — | — |
| Visibility | 8 | 2% | 61,000 | — | — |
| Suspension | 7 | 2% | 6,000 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 7 | 2% | 100,500 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 6 | 2% | 40,000 | — | — |
| Wheels | 6 | 2% | 71,295 | — | — |
| Engine | 4 | 1% | 65,861 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 3 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 3 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 3 | 1% | 49,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Other | 3 | 1% | 46,150 | — | — |
| Structure | 3 | 1% | 42,000 | — | — |
| Traction Control System | 3 | 1% | 106,000 | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 2 | 1% | 68,400 | — | — |
| Tires | 2 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control | 1 | 0% | 45,000 | — | — |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 1 | 0% | 49,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Air | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1998 Chevrolet Corvette recalls (2)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Steering:column locking:anti-theft device
Problem: 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. The vehicle is designed so that if the column fails to unlock when the vehicle is started and the customer tries to drive, the fuel supply will be shut off so that the vehicle cannot move when the vehicle cannot be steered. If voltage at the powertrain control module is low or interrupted, however, the fuel shut off may not occur and the vehicle can be accelerated while the steering system is locked. Also when the control system shows that the ecl is unlocked and the vehicle is being driven, the lock pin location can vary. Depending on the location of the lock plate relative to the switch transition point, there could then be contact between the lock plate and pin causing the steering to lock while driving .
Risk: If this occurs, a crash could occur without warning.
Fix: On vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission, the dealer will disable the steering column lock by removing the column lock plate. When the ignition key is removed, the transmission shifter will lock but the steering column will not lock. On vehicles equipped with a manual transmission, the dealer will reprogram the powertrain control module, perform a dimensional check of the column lock and, if necessary, replace the lock plate. The steering column on these vehicles will continue to lock when the key is removed. Owner notification to owners of 1997 vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions began on april 26, 2004. Owners of 1998 through 2004 vehicles (except 1997-1998 manual transmission vehicles) will be notified beginning on august 2, 2004. The remaining owners (1997-1998 manual transmission vehicles) will be notified later in 2004, when parts are available. Owners should contact chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438.
Seat belts:front
Problem: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The lap belt webbing can twist allowing the webbing to become jammed in the retractor.
Risk: When the belt webbing becomes jammed in the retractor, the seat belt may be unusable.
Fix: Dealers will install inserts to the belt web guide of each lap belt retractor.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Steering column lockup (EA02031) — opened Nov 15, 2002, closed Mar 11, 2004, led to recall 04V060000.
- Steering column lockup (PE02054) — opened Jul 1, 2002, closed Nov 15, 2002.
- Front lap belt malfunction (EA00009) — opened Mar 16, 2000, closed Apr 18, 2000, led to recall 00V111000.
- Front lap belt malfunction (PE99076) — opened Dec 10, 1999, closed Mar 16, 2000.
- Steering column lock module (PE99066) — opened Nov 8, 1999, closed Jul 21, 2000.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
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…
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…
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…
I own a 1998 Chevrolet Corvette. The EBCM can have an issue. Complains of traction control, ABS braking and AH active handling. This can cause issues when driving with no ABS active. I have seen numerous complaints about this issue here and on various forums. Unfortunately the part needed to…
The contact owns a 1998 Chevrolet Corvette. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds on slick road surfaces, the contact lost control of the vehicle with the service traction control and check engine warning lights illuminated. The contact had called several dealers in the Miami area…
Other Chevrolet Corvette years
← 1997 Corvette · 1999 Corvette →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 Corvette | 11 | 3 |
| 2024 Corvette | 21 | 2 |
| 2023 Corvette | 26 | 1 |
| 2022 Corvette | 21 | 1 |
| 2021 Corvette | 13 | 2 |
| 2020 Corvette | 34 | 4 |
| 2019 Corvette | 148 | 1 |
| 2018 Corvette | 51 | 1 |
| 2017 Corvette | 256 | 4 |
| 2016 Corvette | 104 | 2 |
| 2015 Corvette | 65 | 5 |
| 2014 Corvette | 63 | 5 |
| 2013 Corvette | 82 | 0 |
| 2012 Corvette | 56 | 1 |
| 2011 Corvette | 85 | 1 |
| 2010 Corvette | 84 | 0 |
| 2009 Corvette | 151 | 0 |
| 2008 Corvette | 541 | 0 |
| 2007 Corvette | 341 | 2 |
| 2006 Corvette | 365 | 5 |
| 2005 Corvette | 532 | 6 |
| 2004 Corvette | 217 | 2 |
| 2003 Corvette | 85 | 1 |
| 2002 Corvette | 157 | 1 |
| 2001 Corvette | 204 | 1 |
| 2000 Corvette | 278 | 2 |
| 1999 Corvette | 308 | 2 |
| 1998 | 399 | 2 |
| 1997 Corvette | 153 | 5 |
| 1996 Corvette | 44 | 0 |
| 1995 Corvette | 32 | 0 |
See all Chevrolet Corvette problems by year, every Chevrolet model, or the Chevrolet VIN decoder.
Similar Chevrolet models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1998 Chevrolet Corvette?
Owners most often report steering, electrical system, seats problems. The top one, steering, accounts for 215 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1998 Chevrolet Corvette?
Yes, 2 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 1998 Chevrolet Corvette a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Corvette model years, the 1998 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.