Steering Anti-theft Device problems of the 1999 Chevrolet Corvette - part 2

Steering column is locked up after having the recall performed.

The steering column has locked on three separate occasions and I have had to have the car towed all three times. I was told by the first two dealerships that it had been repaired and I was not charged for the work. This time, however, I have been charged $297. 41 and do not know whether it has been fixed this time either. I resent having to pay for towing and repairs so many times and would like a resolution to the problem and a refund of my money.

Consumer states while driving steering column locked up. Dealer notified.

I have a 1999 Corvette w/targa top. Bought from a dealership 6mos ago and this evening while trying to back out at a restraunt the steering column locked up. Called roadside assistance followed all instructions including unhooking the battery to no avail. Steering still didnt budge.

Steering column lock up. On 7/17/03 I went to start my 1999 Corvette and the steering column would not unlock, after several attempts it unlock. This is a very serious safety concern because if it doesn't unlock fully it may engage while the car is moving. Chevy knows this is a problem ,they replaced it once all ready, if it was a safety concern then it should be a safety concern now by looking at the NHTSA web site you have gotten a lot of complaints about this ,it's not an ashtray or the radio this is a major control part of the vehicle gm should be accountable for this before someone gets injured or killed.

Steering column locking up requiring that the car be towed into the dealership to be fixed. This is a know issue and has happened twice in the past three years.

1999 Chevrolet Corvette, steering column lock motor replaced on recall in 2002, lock motor failed in 2003 rendering column permanently locked. Vehicle towed and repaired at owner's expense. Concern is that design defect exists and that failure on the road will result in accident/injury.

When turning right steering column suddenly locked up and consumer lost control.

1999 Chevrolet Corvette coupe steering column lock problems: twice in two years the first time it happened, I followed all proceedures shared by fellow Corvette owners and the manual, I had to repeat this procedure several times before it would unlock. I then took the car into the dealer, they replaced the steering column lock system but told me that there was no offical recall on this. One year later, same thing happened again, I tried and tried to get the steering column to unlock. It would not, called the dealership, they wanted the car to be towed in. They told me that since they had already replaced the system, they would not replace it again. (by the way the car was still under gm extended warranty. ) I did not have the car towed right away, but later that day I tried all of the same procedures again, without success. I went onto the internet to a Corvette website/discussion board and researched if others had the same problem and answers/ideas tried. Locating several postings suggesting to pull a specific fuse, wait 1 minute, then re-installed the fuse. By disconnecting this fuse, the computer brain would reset itself concerning this task and the pin should unlock when the ignition key was re-inserted. I tried this, several times, over and over without success. Finally out of frustration I resorted to "shake the steering wheel hard back and forth"until the pin would release. After a minute of shaking. . . The pin did let loose and the steering column unlocked. The next day I took the car into the dealer and insisted that they replace the steering column lock system again, even though they told me a day earlier that they wouldn't do that, they did change it when I confronted them. It does not appear to me that gm has not addresssed this problem or acknowledge it as being a problem. Well I am here to say that it is, this is why I am filing this compaint. Ref. In ea02-031.

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 median that the car steering was locked.

The steering column on my 1999 Chevrolet Corvette locked after starting it and the car was in drive. Ref. In ea02-031.

On 7-3-02 and 6-27-03 my Corvette steering locked up. Towed to dealer and fixed. Dealer could not gaurantee it would stay fixed. Now, after repairs or service the dealer will not test drive my Corvette on the roaid only around dealer lot. I risk my life every time I drive the vette. Waiting for steering to lock up. I know other Corvette owners who have had same problem. I understand that NHTSA has received thousands of complaints regarding the steering wheel locking up. I understand this has something to do with the anti-theft system. Gm is aware of this problem and re-designed the anti-theft system in the 2002 or 2003 models. Please advise on steps to take with gm to clear this matter up.

Purchased used 1999 Chevrolet Corvette coupe (c5) in February 2002 from dealer. In April of 2002, I got in the car, started it and proceeded to drive off. Noticed that the steering wheel was locked up and I couldn't steer the vehicle. Had to have the vehicle towed to a dealer where upon they had to remove the steering lock to allow the car to be steerable. They fixed the problem but after reading an article in the February 2003 issue of Corvette fever, I thought it best to let NHTSA know of this particular incident. I was not hurt or injured and am filing this only for the purpose to make you aware of it and maybe to help someone else who owns one of these vehicle to become aware of this problem ref. In ea02-031.

The steering column locking assembly locked. . . While in motion (reverse). . . Causing the car to cut off and the steering wheel to lock in place. . . Only a quick reaction prevented me from hitting another car that was traveling behind me as I was pulling out onto a highway, down a hill. You have investigated this Corvette problem and conlcuded that this issue does not happen while in motion. It happened to me while the car was under power. This must be investigated more fully. I have a witness to this event. Ref. In ea02-031.

Steering column lock anti-theft device locks even when proper key is inserted in ignition. Appears aggravated by high cabin temperature when car is parked in sunlight. Steering wheel actually locked when car was put into drive. Had to shut down engine and remove key. Warning message of "service column lock" identified. Dealer, as yet, can identify no specific fix or reason for failure and is basically guessing that electrical grounding may be lose. Car no longer starts when error message is displayed. Ref. In ea02-031.

Parked car nose in with wheel turned all the way to the right. When I got back in to the car the steering column lock engaged. It would not disengage, and the warning message service steering column appeared. Ref. In ea02-031.

Steering column lock failed for the second time in the locked position, rendering the car inoperable and leaving me stranded. Ref. In ea02-031.

I unlocked the car with the key fob, entered the car, shut the door, and then inserted the key. I turned the key to the on position, but did not start it. This vehicle is equipped with a memory package which adjusts your seat, telescoping steering column, side mirrors, and a/c so I allowed everything to adjust to my settings. I then noticed that the dic had the message "pull key and wait 10 seconds. . . ". I pulled the key and waited for about 30 seconds to a minute and then reinserted the key and started the car. The dic then displayed "service column lock". I tried to move the steering wheel to turn the wheels and it was locked. Ref. In ea02-031.

Steering wheel lock engaged and could not be DE-activated with key. Ref. In ea02-031.

Column lock failed to actuate, resulted in car shutting down. Cannot move car without car shutting down.

Column lock assembly fails, preventing vehicle from being driven.

From reading this site the steering column lock issue with the c5 Corvette is a very common one (mine is no different) but I did not have any real problems until the recall was completed last year. Since then the vehicle has been back to the dealership 5 times. The history also shows an additional 4 problems prior to purchasing this vehicle (18,000 miles) and it was in fact a manufacturers buy back because of this reason. The dealership has been working with Chevrolet in trying to correct the problem without success and I have been told the car has been fixed this time (after more than 2 weeks at the dealership) but I have severe doubts this is the case. The idea of being stranded in southeast houston at night is a very frighten thought.

Vehicle will not operate when steering column lock fails. If locking mechanism which is controlled by a computer were to actuate during driving, serious injury or death could result ref. In ea02-031.

The dealer in a town of 30,000 has fixed 5 with the same problem so far this year, some were moving when the steering lock up occurred. The complaint dept. In this web site is full of 1999 owners with the same problem. The dealers are replacing the column lock with one just like the one that locked up. I see a real problem with it locling up at 70 mph in rush hour traffic on the interstate. Ref. In ea02-031.

Column lock failed in locked position, rendering car undriveable for a period of two hours, at which time the problem corrected itself. This problem is seemingly random, and without warning. I am hesitant to take the car on long trips, in fear that the column will lock and leave me stranded. Can this happen while the car is moving???.

Champion Chevrolet in austin, TX and les stanford Chevrolet in detroit, mi both said they repair this issue all the time. My concern is what if it had broken in the locked position while I was driving? I think gm needs to do a recall and replace the steering column lock actuator with a more robust unit.

1999 Chevrolet Corvette electric column system would not unlock. This happened after repairs were made due to recall. When the consumer had the vehicle towed the mechanic, he was informed the part was never replaced. The consumer had the invoice stating the recall was performed, but the repair shop stated they had no record of the recall being performed.

Steering column continuously locked up at anytime while driving without warning. Consumer indicated that there was a recall for this issue on earlier model year, could not locate it in artemis.

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. This resulted in driver losing control and crashing onto sidewalk.