1999 Chevrolet Corvette

■ Significantly worse — known issue year
1999 Chevrolet Corvette
BUILT 2026-08-02

This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.

This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.

How is this computed?

COMPLAINTS PER YEAR

Complaints per year, Chevrolet Corvette Bar chart of distinct NHTSA complaints filed per model year, 1999 highlighted. 1980: 3 complaints 1980 1981: 6 complaints 1982: 0 complaints 1984: 14 complaints 1985: 16 complaints 1986: 15 complaints 1987: 21 complaints 1987 1988: 16 complaints 1989: 15 complaints 1990: 34 complaints 1991: 24 complaints 1992: 7 complaints 1993: 22 complaints 1993 1994: 29 complaints 1995: 32 complaints 1996: 44 complaints 1997: 153 complaints 1998: 399 complaints 1999: 308 complaints 1999 2000: 277 complaints 2001: 203 complaints 2002: 157 complaints 2003: 84 complaints 2004: 217 complaints 2005: 531 complaints 2005 2006: 365 complaints 2007: 340 complaints 2008: 539 complaints 2009: 151 complaints 2010: 84 complaints 2011: 84 complaints 2011 2012: 56 complaints 2013: 82 complaints 2014: 61 complaints 2015: 64 complaints 2016: 103 complaints 2017: 255 complaints 2017 2018: 51 complaints 2019: 147 complaints 2020: 33 complaints 2021: 11 complaints 2022: 20 complaints 2023: 22 complaints 2023 2024: 20 complaints 2025: 10 complaints 2025
1999: 308 complaints
View as data table
YearComplaints
19803
19816
19820
198414
198516
198615
198721
198816
198915
199034
199124
19927
199322
199429
199532
199644
1997153
1998399
1999308
2000277
2001203
2002157
200384
2004217
2005531
2006365
2007340
2008539
2009151
201084
201184
201256
201382
201461
201564
2016103
2017255
201851
2019147
202033
202111
202220
202322
202420
202510

KNOWN PROBLEM AREAS

STEERING 23%

23% of complaints: steering — 72 distinct reports on file.

CRASH INJURY
Show complaint excerpts

THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN LOCKED UP, CAUSING A COLLISION WHICH RESULTED IN INJURY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED SEVERALTIMES FOR STEERING LOCKING UP PRIOR TO THE COLLISION. ALSO, DEALER HAS REPLACED THE IGNITION AND THE STEERING LOCK ACTUATOR.

NHTSA ODI report, 19991206

STEERING 21%

21% of complaints: steering — 66 distinct reports on file.

CRASH FIRE INJURY DEATH
Show complaint excerpts

WHILE REVERSING STEERING COLUMN LOCK DEVICE FAILED, CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL TO LOCK UP. DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE FAILED PART, BUT THE PROBLEM REOCCURRED WHILE TURNING AT 10 MPH.

NHTSA ODI report, 20030820

MY SON WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND HE CROSSED THE MEDIAN AND WAS HIT BY ANOTHER CAR AND WAS KILLED, HIS PASSENGER WAS INJURED CRITICALLY AND REMEMBERS THAT AN INSTANT BEFORE THE CRASH AND THE CROSSING OF THE...

NHTSA ODI report, 20030624

STEERING 17%

17% of complaints: steering — 53 distinct reports on file.

CRASH INJURY
Show complaint excerpts

The contact owns a 1999 Chevrolet Corvette. The contact stated that the vehicle was repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 04V060000 (Steering) in 2019.

NHTSA ODI report, 20240227

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. WHILE DRIVING 1 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SERVICE COLUMN LOCK INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE "PULL KEY TEN SECONDS" MESSAGE DISPLAYED.

NHTSA ODI report, 20180125

STEERING WHEEL POSITION SENSOR IS BAD. WHEN THE DRIVER INFORMATION CENTER INITIALLY DISPLAYS THE WARNING, "SERVICE ACTIVE HANDLING" & "SERVICE CAR SOON", THE CAR IMMEDIATELY ENGAGES THE FRONT LEFT BRAKE AS THE COMPUTER BELIEVES THE CAR IS SLIDING.

NHTSA ODI report, 20120815

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 5%

5% of complaints: electrical system — 16 distinct reports on file.

CRASH
Show complaint excerpts

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. WHILE DRIVING 1 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SERVICE COLUMN LOCK INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE "PULL KEY TEN SECONDS" MESSAGE DISPLAYED.

NHTSA ODI report, 20180125

STEERING 3%

3% of complaints: steering — 10 distinct reports on file.

CRASH INJURY

SAFETY TIMELINE

1999 — complaint volume: 308
I 19991108 — PE (closed 20000721)

STEERING COLUMN LOCK MODULE

I 19991210 — PE (closed 20000316)

FRONT LAP BELT MALFUNCTION

I 20000316 — EA (closed 20000418)

FRONT LAP BELT MALFUNCTION

R 20001113 — seat belts

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE LAP BELT WEBBING CAN TWIST ALLOWING THE WEBBING TO BECOME JAMMED IN THE RETRACTOR.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL INSERTS TO THE BELT WEB GUIDE OF EACH LAP BELT RETRACTOR.

Campaign 00V111000 — check if this car was fixed

I 20020701 — PE (closed 20021115)

STEERING COLUMN LOCKUP

I 20021115 — EA (closed 20040311)

STEERING COLUMN LOCKUP

R 20040426 — steering

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 VEH

Remedy: 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 WIL

Campaign 04V060000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20090511 — exterior lighting

SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONF

Remedy: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.

Campaign 09E012000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20090728 — exterior lighting

DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONF

Remedy: DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.

Campaign 09E025000 — check if this car was fixed

BUY-SMART CHECKLIST

1999 Chevrolet Corvette — pre-purchase inspection

  • Test/inspect for steering issues (72 reports on file for this year).
  • Test/inspect for steering issues (66 reports on file for this year).
  • Test/inspect for steering issues (53 reports on file for this year).
  • Verify recall 00V111000 (seat belts) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 04V060000 (steering) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 09E012000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 09E025000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.

OTHER YEARS OF THIS MODEL

BEST YEARS

▲ 1995 ▲ 2020 ▲ 1990

WORST YEARS

■ 2008 ■ 2005 ■ 1998

See all years ranked →

FAQ

Is the 1999 Chevrolet Corvette reliable?

Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 1999 Chevrolet Corvette is rated "significantly worse".

What are the most common problems with the 1999 Chevrolet Corvette?

The most-reported component is steering: steering wheel/handle bar, accounting for 23% of complaints on file.

How many recalls does the 1999 Chevrolet Corvette have?

4 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-07-11 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.