Problems with 1999 Chevrolet Corvette STEERING

This is my second failure in 2 weeks. i am angered that mine and original pe99066 where closed. this will become a fatality issue soon. *ak

Consumer was backing out of driveway, wheels turned slightly, and steering column locked. this caused vehicle to back at an angle. consumer narrowly avoided running over a small child that was walking across driveway. dealer was replacing column lock mechanism at this time. *ak *slc ref. in ea02-031 *cjs

Consumer was backing out from garage and went to turn vehicle to right, and steering wheel column locked up. vehicle had to be towed to dealership.*ak ref. in ea02-031 *cjs

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.*ak ref. in ea02-031 *cjs

As you know, c5 corvettes have a problem with the column lock. *ak

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 *cjs

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.*ak ref. in ea02-031 *cjs

While pulling out of driveway at 5 mph steering locked up. *ak consumer states steering wheel security lock engaged, dealer stated was a security system problem they have had previous occurances of same problem. *slc moved vehicle about 20 feet before noticed the steering was locked. cat ref. in ea02-031 *cjs

Steering column locks up after vehicle is started. dic says service steering column. after vehicle runs for a while steering column will unlock itself. took vehicle to 2 dealership service departments for repair. the first one (david stanley chevrolet) stated low voltage & secured the negative battery cable. two days later the same problem occurred. i took my vehicle to hudiburg chevrolet service department this time. after i left they stated that the column locked up on their service drive. they replaced the column lock actuator. i picked up my vehicle on 5/17/01, so far problem has not occurred again. today is 05/20/01.*ak ref. in ea02-031 *cjs

When consumer went to start vehicle computer started to wait ten seconds. then when putting vehicle inside after ten seconds, computer indicated that steering column was locked. vehicle had to be towed flat bed. this happened twice. *ak ref. in ea02-031 *cjs

While starting vehicle steering column engine check light illuminated shortly after steering column locked up and would not unlock, cause unknown. *ak ref. in ea02-031 *cjs

Dic message said "service column lock" never locked up on me but had to replace an actuator. why isn't this a recall?*ak

Upon starting car steering wheel locked and "service column lock" message displayed. *ak ref. in ea02-031 *cjs

While traveling and without any indication steering wheel column locked up . *ak ref. in ea02-031 *cjs

This is the third time that this problem has occurred with my corvette. no afety defect listed. *ak

As i was leaving a parking lot, the steering column locked up with no warning. if i had been on the freeway when this happened i think this could have been fatal. *ak ref. in ea02-031 *cjs

Steering locking up, is a real scary problem that appears to be wide spread. i am grateful that it only was a quick lock up. the traffic on the interstate was pretty congested and could have resulted in many injuries. *ak ref. in ea02-031 *cjs

On attempting to drive car the vehicle started but the steering wheel did not unlock leaving me stranded. ref. in ea02-031 *cjs

On hot days, would start car, and vehicle's steering column would not unlock. tried to move vehicle and engine would stall. failure to unlock occurred approx. 5 times. consumer purchased an aftermarket bypass kit and has had no column lock problems since. (telephone follow up by odi 07/30/03) ref. in ea02-031 *cjs

Was driving vehicle when steering wheel suddenly locked up. had no prior warning. problem was intermittent. contacted the manufacturer & informed consumert to take to dealership. vehicle towed to dealer & placed on diagnostic machine. no codes would appear due to being erased. problem not related to speed. its an automatic transmission & been to the dealer several times for steering wheel lock up. *ak ref. in ea02-031 *cjs

Upon starting vehicle steering wheel locked up and would not move. vehicle was towed to the dealership where a motor in the steering column was replaced. dealership was not certain if replacing motor was a permanent solution. manufacturer was aware of this problem. *ak ref. in ea02-031 *cjs

While driving steering wheel completely locked up. motor that controls the steering column locked/had to be replaced. dealer has been contacted.*ak

Vehicle was involved in a collision, insuranace investigator believed cause was due to loss of control because of steering column failure/ or electrical failure. dealer/manufacturer were not notified at this time. please feel free to provide any further details. *ak

Steering column lock failures are epidemic, can happen while car is moving. ref. in ea02-031 *cjs

The steering wheel lock control module failed, causing the steering wheel to remain locked and the car to stall when shifted into gear. this caused my wife and i to be stranded in a remote area while out-of-state.

Steering wheel locked while car was running (not moving). *ak ref. in ea02-031 *cjs

I got in the car and when i turned the key it said "remove key, wait ten seconds". i did this and when i put the key back in and started it up the next message said "steering column lock". the steering column is now locked and when i start the car it will not release. through other people on corvette web pages i have found that this is a common problem with c5 corvettes. it's a weekend and i can't use the car because the wheel is locked. not exactly why i bought the car!!*ak ref. in ea02-031 *cjs

Vehicle experiencing problem with steering column locking up. 1st incident repairs caused engine to stall. currently, problem reoccurred intermittently. dealer contacted for appointment. *ak pcm failed. *yh ref. in ea02-031 *cjs

Steering column lock failed for the second time in the locked position, rendering the car inoperable and leaving me stranded. *ak ref. in ea02-031 *cjs

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.*ak ref. in ea02-031 *cjs

No summary listed for above vehicle. *ak

Steering wheel lock engaged and could not be de-activated with key. *ak ref. in ea02-031 *cjs

While on vacation, out-of-state, i started the engine of my car. when i shifted the transmission into gear, the car stalled. the steering wheel would not unlock or turn. the car had to be towed to a dealer for repair, which took three days. my wife and i were stranded and the end of our vacation ruined. dt ref. in ea02-031 *cjs

The problem is also known as "column lock." gm acknowledges this defect (i received an email from them today), but refuses to issue a recall and replace the faulty part with one that does not have a manufacturing defect. *ak

Steering column locked without warning. this situation has occured four times. dealer is contacted with steering locking system and computer system replaced or updated. recently, i have received reports that this situation had occured while car is moving. i'm concerned that the next malfunction could result in injury. ref. in ea02-031 *cjs

Steering column lock engages, and does not release. *ak ref. in ea02-031 *cjs

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

Steering column lock would not disengage. required tow & dealer service. *ak ref. in ea02-031 *cjs

No summary listed for abov evehicle. *ak

Column lock assembly fails, preventing vehicle from being driven. *ak

Steering wheel locked up while vehicle was moving in reverse at approximately 5 mph. this is a well documented problem that has plagued the c5 corvette for years. there have been reports of the steering locking up while the vehicle is proceeding at speed down the highway. i am deeply concerned that this problem could result in serious injury or death to me and possibly others. please act responsibly and force the recall of this vehicle before somone is killed. *ak ref. in ea02-031 *cjs

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. *jb

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 *cjs

Steering column locked at 10 mph then stalled when clutch released. *ak ref. in ea02-031 *cjs

Steering wheel locks up after key has been turned. ongoing problem for me - dealership says "nothing is wrong." however, i have discovered through my own investigations that many others with 1997 - 2000 corvettes are experiencing the same frustration. luckily the car was in the driveway every time this happened so at least i was not stranded. gm needs to address this problem immediately!*ak ref. in ea02-031 *cjs

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. *ak ref. in ea02-031 *cjs

No summary listed for above vehicle. *ak

Pe99-066, when backing out of a parking space steering wheel locked up, causing loss of control. consumer contacted dealer. dealer knew of the problem, and stated that they have replaced several lock pins. *ak ref. in ea02-031 *cjs

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???

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