1998 Chevrolet Corvette Steering Problems
Owners have filed 215 complaints with NHTSA about steering problems on the 1998 Chevrolet Corvette, 54% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 46,526 miles. The words owners use most often: “steering column” (52% of reports).
- 215steering complaints
- 46,526median miles at failure
- 4mention a crash
- 1mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- $840typical repair cost reported by owners
- 7%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Steering column: mentioned in 112 of 215 complaints (52%)
- EA02 cjs: mentioned in 81 of 215 complaints (38%)
- Wheel locked: mentioned in 41 of 215 complaints (19%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical steering repair on the 1998 Chevrolet Corvette at $840, and half of them between $590 and $1,150.
Based on 13 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2002–2014), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do steering problems happen?
Based on 88 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 215 complaints, 4 mention a crash, 1 an injury.
Chevrolet Corvette steering complaints by model year
| Model year | Steering complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 Corvette | 3 | 2% | 1,000 |
| 2018 Corvette | 1 | 2% | 8,686 |
| 2017 Corvette | 18 | 7% | 8,000 |
| 2016 Corvette | 5 | 5% | 900 |
| 2014 Corvette | 6 | 10% | 328 |
| 2013 Corvette | 3 | 4% | 1,095 |
| 2012 Corvette | 2 | 4% | 60,000 |
| 2011 Corvette | 2 | 2% | 13,350 |
| 2010 Corvette | 1 | 1% | 6,000 |
| 2009 Corvette | 5 | 3% | 30,000 |
| 2008 Corvette | 12 | 2% | 27,500 |
| 2007 Corvette | 22 | 6% | 38,125 |
| 2006 Corvette | 44 | 12% | 33,321 |
| 2005 Corvette | 76 | 14% | 46,000 |
| 2004 Corvette | 36 | 17% | 33,200 |
| 2003 Corvette | 32 | 38% | 35,000 |
| 2002 Corvette | 59 | 38% | 31,820 |
| 2001 Corvette | 88 | 43% | 37,400 |
| 2000 Corvette | 169 | 61% | 36,600 |
| 1999 Corvette | 194 | 63% | 42,610 |
| 1998 Corvette | 215 | 54% | 46,526 |
| 1997 Corvette | 95 | 62% | 40,500 |
| 1996 Corvette | 6 | 14% | — |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
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.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are 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…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 1998 Chevrolet Corvettes have steering problems?
No. NHTSA has 215 owner complaints about steering for the 1998 Chevrolet Corvette (54% of the 399 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 1998 Chevrolet Corvette steering?
Yes: 1 safety recall list steering. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do steering problems start?
The median reported mileage is 46,526 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
How much does it cost to fix steering problems on the 1998 Chevrolet Corvette?
Owners report a typical cost of $840 (half paid between $590 and $1,150), from 13 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about steering problems on the 1998 Chevrolet Corvette?
The most frequent phrase is “steering column”, in 112 of 215 complaints, followed by “ea02 cjs” (81).
See all 1998 Chevrolet Corvette problems or steering problems across all Corvette years.