Steering, wheel and electrical issues among the top complaints received by the NHTSA from vehicle owners
The 2019 Chevy Corvette was set to take the world by storm with its incredible power and sleek styling. Even the automaker claims that this model provides a “dopamine boost with every press of the throttle,” but many owners are having a different reaction. From the defective wheels to the steering concerns and electrical problems, this car is an overpriced lemon.
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Sporty wheels are one of the things that set the Corvette apart from other vehicles, but these sleek components seem to have several defects.
One NHTSA complaint states, “The contact owns a 2019 Chevrolet Corvette. On several occasions, the contact became aware of hairline cracks to the rear rims due to low tire pressure. The vehicle was taken to [dealer] to be inspected; however, the dealer was unable to remove the tire from the rim due to its size. The contact was advised to have the vehicle taken to a tire service location that has the proper tools. The wheel was repaired, but the failure recurred once the contact arrived home. The manufacturer was contacted and notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 15,000.”
If anyone needed more proof that Chevy doesn’t know how to build a car, it would only take looking at one of the recalls. NHTSA Campaign Number 18V360000 states that hard braking and acceleration could cause the air bags to become disabled. The trouble is found in the sensing diagnostic module (SDM), which enters a fault state and prevents the deployment of the air bags. Now, if only Chevrolet could get Corvette owners to refrain from accelerating fast in their shiny sports car, everyone would be protected.
| Complaint Category | Number of Complaints |
|---|---|
| Wheels | |
| Wheels:rim | |
| Power Train | |
| Steering | |
| Electrical System | |
| Exterior Lighting | |
| Fuel/propulsion System | |
| Seat Belts | |
| Service Brakes | |
| Structure:body |
There is also trouble with the steering system on the Corvette. Considering this car is expected to travel at high speeds, steering is essential to keeping the vehicle under control.
Yet, here is another NHTSA complaint. “Loss of power steering assist at 198 213, 268, 305 and 314 miles. Vehicle was purchased new on June 29, 2019 and now has 322 miles on it. Incidents occurred while backing out of a driveway, changing lanes on the highway at 50 mph, on a highway curve at 55 mph, on a residential street at 25 mph, and coming to a stop in a turn lane. Dealer I went to after the second occurrence reset the code (CO47A) and sent me on my way. Power steering assist would return after turning the car off and restarting it.”
Once the failure began, this owner couldn’t get more than 55 miles without losing power steering. Yet, the automaker’s communications don’t have much to say about the problem. In fact, there’s only one note related to the steering. Service Bulletin #16NA109 tells technicians how to remove the excessive grease or sealant on the steering gears to prevent problems. It would appear that the company has bigger things to worry about; such as whether or not owners will be able to steer this sports car. Considering that power steering has been in the Corvette since 1963, it would seem unusual that this system wasn’t perfected quite yet.
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The cost of a Corvette is much higher than other sports cars such as the Camaro. That’s because it is supposed to have more power and additional features, but there seems to be trouble on this front as well.
Just look at this Cars.com review. “I bought the Corvette Grand Sport because it was a great financial deal. I like the looks, styling and performance but it has been at the dealer for 3 weeks straight. The dealer and GM haven’t been forthcoming with what is actually wrong. The engine stopped running and half of the electrical system when out on the 3rd day of driving the car. Obviously there’s a major problem with the car but the dealer is making it worse by not working on it and not informing me what’s going on.”
Aside from these complaints, there’s also an interesting note in Chevy’s communications. Service Bulletin #N192210920 states that some of the engine control modules might not have been installed in the bracket properly. If this bracket becomes loose, it could cause a rattle to occur. Dealers are instructed to strap down the ECM to the bracket to secure it. Why didn’t they just use duct tape?
Think you have a lemon? Sit back and let the experts work out your lemon case at no cost to you. The law makes Chevrolet pay legal fees. You may be able to get your lemon out of your life. Every year, auto manufacturers buy back, replace or pay cash settlements to thousands of ‘lemon’ owners like you.
Brian Jones spent more than 30 years working as an ASE Certified Master Tech and Parts Specialist at multiple dealerships. Brian has become an authority in the industry, traveling across the country to consult for car dealerships and contributing his expertise as a writer for several major automotive publications. In his spare time, Brian enjoys working on pickup trucks, muscle cars, Jeeps and anything related to motorsports.
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