Ignition Switch Problems of Chevrolet Corvette

While driving the Corvette, the engine shut down with no notice. The dash indicated the vehicle had entered accessory mode. Power steering, power brakes and engine power were completely gone. Within a few seconds, the dic went from 'accessory mode' to 'shift into park'. In order to do so, I had to coast to a safe place. Once I got to a spot where I could move off the road, I shifted to park and restarted the car. It then drove on as usual, but there was no check engine light or other indicator. This happened only once this day, however occurred three additional times within 10 miles on the 23rd of July. I contacted a gm service technician who works at a Chevrolet dealership and he checked for any service bulletins or recalls. There were none for the Corvette. I searched the internet, and Corvette forum (I am a 10 year forum member). I found numerous instances of the ignition switch in 2005-2007 Corvettes failing in this manner. I located an ignition switch and replaced it. This fixed the problem in 15 minutes and for less than $50 at dealer retail. I know from other nhstc recalls on vehicles that ignition switch failures are considered a critical and dangerous failure. The failures in the Corvettes should be included in these recalls. If such a failure occurred during crossing traffic or while driving in close proximity interstate traffic, the results could easily be (and may already have been) deadly. Please consider initiating a recall, or including the affected years of Corvette in an existing recall. My car is now fixed due to my ability to search forums and other web based information, however most Corvette owners are not as involved or as web savvy and could be involved in a long drawn out problem/diagnosis process which would put their lives at risk. Thank you.

See all problems of the 2007 Chevrolet Corvette 🔎.

2003 Chevrolet Corvette. Consumer writes in regards to defective ignition switch. The consumer stated a year ago, while driving, the engine suddenly stopped running. Following the demise of the engine, the vehicle entered into a reduced power mode. He was able to re-start the vehicle, and slowly drove to a local dealership. The dealer determined the root cause as a faulty ignition switch.

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Vehicle will not shift from park to drive. Vehicle shift lever will not allow movement from park. Vehicle is unable to move. Repeating the following procedure, repeatedly, will eventually allow shift lever to move from the park position to drive: exit / re-enter vehicle, wait 10 seconds, place foot on brake pedal, press ignition switch, move shift lever, repeatedly until shift lever moves or place vehicle in "accessory" mode and attempt to move shift lever. All steps may be need repeated attempts. No force, beyond typical use or pressure to move shift lever, is applied. Problem is present in any type of weather, time of day. Surface is flat and level. Vehicle not parked on incline surface. Vehicle is not abused, raced, or driven in high-performance manner. Vehicle is not driven on a daily basis.

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2000 Chevrolet Corvette. Consumer writes in regards to vehicle ignition problems. The consumer stated after the vehicle was purchased new in 2000, he had numerous problems with the ignition switch, on a random basis, but were not constant. On occasion, it would not start when the key was turned, and he would have to keep trying, until it did start. Sometimes it would shut off on its own. The vehicle was taken to 3 different dealers, who said the could not help him unless the vehicle exhibited the problem, while in the shop. It wasn't until 3 years ago, when the ignition switch, became a regular problem, with starting and stopping and causing the steering wheel to lock up. There were times, when the engine would not shut off, after the key was removed. He disconnected the battery, hoping that resolve it, but it did not. There were times when the vehicle would shut off, while driving.

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The contact owns a 2001 Chevrolet Corvette. The contact stated while driving 45 mph up a hill, the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact stated that he had to shake the key in order for the vehicle to start. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection and they stated the ignition switch needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 45,000. The VIN was unavailable.

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The contact owns a 2001 Chevrolet Corvette. The contact stated that while reversing at low speeds moving, the steering wheel seized and the engine stalled causing the contact to crash into a trailer. The front passenger suffered injuries to the right arm. The driver's seat moved out of position and caused the contact to hit the steering wheel. The vehicle was towed to a specialized mechanic, who performed a diagnostic and located the failure at the ignition switch. Additionally, the driver's seat rail mounting was fractured to due to defective metal. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 70,000.

I was driving on a highway at 65mph in a bumpy construction zone. All of a sudden, without warning, the engine completely shut down. I was able to steer the car off to the shoulder of the road. After letting the car sit for a minute, I was able to restart the car and immediately drove it back home on a surface street and took it to the dealer the next day. The dealer put it on the scope and could find no problems with the car. The only thing I could think of was that I had a medallion on the key ring and the service manager advised me to only keep the ignition key on the ring because the swaying of the key chain may have affected the ignition switch and turned off the engine. Based on the recent info on keys swaying and cutting off the ignition to the car, I was wondering if it affected the Corvette models also. I only keep the ignition key on the key ring and haven't had a problem since that time.

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Does someone have to die? our brand new 2008 base model Corvette has lost power in the middle of the road, 5 times driving to our home. The 4th time my husband was almost rear ended by a truck! first time we had the car a week. 2nd time the dealer said it was the gas. We use chevron texaco. 4th time the liaison from chevy said that oil was getting into our gas from a bad ignition switch. Doesn't make since. 5th time was same day as 4th time. It drops from 45 to 10 and goes all the way down to 1st gear. The rpm goes up and down. It back fires! we have been taking it to the local chevy dealer in kingman az. The 4th time it happened my husband pulled over but didn't turn off the car, and waited for someone from the dealership to drive up and get in the car for a drive. It was idling up and down for about 15 min then idled fine. After hooking up a computer scanner to the car they started up the hill. They drove 2 miles 45 miles per hour, then it just dropped to 5 miles per hour surging back and forth. Making this the 5th time! foot was steady on the throttle. Husband was told to hold it to the floor, and then it back fired real loud and stopped completely in the middle of the road! turned off key opened and closed door to reset computer. Check engine light was on now. Drove down to dealer. It's been there 9 days so far this time. 7/23/08 the liaison from chevy called and said that our car does not meet the criteria for a buy back! we are fearful of being rear ended at a high speed! we've had to cancel trips we had planned to take in the car. We still don't have our car fixed, as they don't know what is wrong. No Corvette tech has been on site to check out our car. Only buy phone! each time they have sent the car home stating that the problem was fixed, to go ahead and drive it. Someone is going to get killed if this car isn't fixed, as there is no warning that the car is going to jerk to a stop in the middle of the road!.

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2001 Chevrolet Corvette convertible, parked at golf course, started car to leave and realized the steering wheel was locked. The dash display read "service steering column. " the car sat at the golf course a couple days while I checked with mechanics, friends, internet and NHTSA (my son works for you). I discovered this is a frequent problem with Corvettes from 1997 and up (c5 body style). I tried all the "tricks" I was told by several people including shaking the steering wheel hard left to right with the key out of the ignition and in the ignition, plus using the key instead of the remote control to unlock the door. Nothing worked. I had it towed to a Chevrolet dealer. They had it several days and commented they could not unlock it with their special tool. They fixed it in the end by installing gm part number 26050960 which is the steering wheel lock assembly/theft deterrent actuator. The repair bill of $392 ($171 for the part) stated the steering wheel lock had an open circuit causing it not to release. They jump started vehicle & verified concern, removed and replaced the steering lock assembly/theft deterrent actuator. This car has 45000 miles on it, is a manual transmission.

Steering wheel locks up on 1998 Corvette. VIN no # is 1g1yy22gow5114022. This obviously a major safety issue and is documented on the Corvette forum. Com website. Car recognizes the problem and sends message saying to turn off,remove key,wait 10 sec. S and restart.

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The steering wheel column locked up intermittently. The dealer replaced the ignition switch. The consumer felt that this problem was due to a design flaw and the manufacturer should issue a recall and or fix, free of charge. Scc.

Key in ignition switch will not turn ,and steering wheel would not unlock. Dealer and manufacturer have been notified. Feel free to provide any further information. Ref. In ea02-031.

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Remove key wait 10 sec; service column lock displayed on dic. Unable to move car. Happened 3 times in 2 days. Dealer can't fix. Told me that this cannot happen in motion and released car back to me. Car being towed back today for same problem.

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I inserted the key and the dis stated "remove key wait 10 seconds". After waiting 10 seconds I inserted the key again and the dis stated "service column lock". I had the vehicle towed to the dealership.

When turning key to start steering wheel will lock. Consumer feels this is not safe because in an emergency situation won't be able get car started. Consumer has to have vehicle towed to dealer every time this occurs. This vehicle was excluded from manufacturer's recall due to VIN although it has same exact problem. Please provide any further information. Ref. In ea02-031.

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. Manufacturer has been notified. Ref. In ea02-031.