2001 Chevrolet Corvette Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Corvette years
- Far more complaints than other years 10th of 31 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 1 recall: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 204 complaints with NHTSA about the 2001 Chevrolet Corvette. That ranks 10th out of 31 Corvette model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is steering (88 complaints, 43%), typically at around 37,400 miles. Complaints mention 6 crashes, 3 fires, 3 injuries. There is 1 safety recall covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 2 defect investigations involving it.
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- 204owner complaints
- 1safety recalls
- 2NHTSA investigations
- 6complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2001 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 | 88 | 43% | 37,400 | “steering column” (51%) | — |
| Electrical System | 25 | 12% | 52,000 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 25 | 12% | 17,750 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 19 | 9% | 47,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 16 | 8% | 39,250 | — | — |
| Wheels | 16 | 8% | 49,977 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 11 | 5% | 59,000 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 9 | 4% | 47,300 | — | — |
| Structure | 7 | 3% | 34,500 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 6 | 3% | 52,000 | — | — |
| Suspension | 6 | 3% | 9,400 | — | — |
| Power Train | 5 | 2% | 12,865 | — | — |
| Seats | 4 | 2% | 58,000 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 4 | 2% | 59,500 | — | — |
| Visibility | 4 | 2% | 17,084 | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 3 | 1% | 37,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 3 | 1% | 102,000 | — | — |
| Tires | 3 | 1% | 16,643 | — | — |
| Engine | 2 | 1% | 123,500 | — | — |
| Equipment | 2 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Fuel System, Other | 2 | 1% | 5,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Electric | 2 | 1% | 41,000 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control | 1 | 0% | 58,000 | — | — |
| Interior Lighting | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Air | 1 | 0% | 30,000 | — | — |
| Traction Control System | 1 | 0% | 37,000 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 1 | 0% | 30,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2001 Chevrolet Corvette recalls (1)
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.
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.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
My Corvette was inspected as part of the initial steering lock recall and I was told it was okay, no action was needed. Subsequently, my steering column lock has frozen and the vehicle cannot be moved under its own power. Does the original recall still apply? From what I have seen on the Corvette…
My steering column lock has failed on my C5 Corvette. I understand that there was a previous recall for this, but I have been the owner of this car since 2001 and was never notified by mail of the recall by GM. When I contact GM, they indicate that the recall is expired and there is nothing that…
Chevy / GM recalled over 100,000 Corvettes built between 1997 and 2004 for a steering column lock issue, that renders the car un drivable. The fuel supply cuts off at 2 miles per hour. Many of the dealers did a faulty job fixing the problem, causing it to recur. My 2001 Corvette (with less than…
We purchased the car on 12/17/21. I went to Costco on 12/18/21 to get gas. I had a preset amount of $50 to put into the car. When I got to $50 I shut the pump off myself, the tank was not full enough for it to shut off automatically. As I look down on the ground I saw a fluid running out from…
Have 2001 manual 6 speed corvette. Column locks up. Have no way to start car or steer. Worried car will lock up steering column while driving. Gm says there's no recall on this. Seems to be a problem on c5 Corvettes.
Other Chevrolet Corvette years
← 2000 Corvette · 2002 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 | 204 | 1 |
| 2000 Corvette | 278 | 2 |
| 1999 Corvette | 308 | 2 |
| 1998 Corvette | 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 2001 Chevrolet Corvette?
Owners most often report steering, electrical system, engine and engine cooling problems. The top one, steering, accounts for 88 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2001 Chevrolet Corvette?
Yes, 1 safety recall. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2001 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 2001 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.