2004 Chevrolet Corvette: problems, recalls and reliability
4 recalls and 217 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is fuel system, gasoline (44% of complaints); the 2003 model year looks more trouble-free.
Data updated weekly · latest recall May 2009
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 217 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“- Fuel tank leaks - gasoline puddles under car, heavy fumes - Fire / explosion hazard - Confirmed by local mechanic as existing problem in that year - Inspected and confirmed by selling dealer - trying to repair - No auto warning, smell of fumes and gas on garage floor day after delivery of car”Owner report · Fuel/Propulsion System · Apr 2024
“Purchased the vehicle in 2015. That same purchased date I filled the vehicle with fuel. The following day my garage was totally covered with gas fumes. No tech could find the problem. On Feb 22 2023 while filling up, gas was pouring out the bottom left side . This is very dangerous. Come to find out that many others have had the same problem. There is a manufacturer defect of the gas tank housing tube . I cannot drive the vehicle because it's to dangerous and to costly to repair.”Owner report · Fuel/Propulsion System · Feb 2023
“Drivers side fuel tank/system leak Leaking fuel in this area can/will result in a catastrophic fire which could lead to injury or death The problem just occurred but is a common problem for this generation Z06 Corvette The odd thing is no warning light, check engine light or messages displayed, just the smell of fuel and 18 inch puddle on the floor beneath the drivers side fuel tank. The fuel level according to the gauge is 1/2 tank.”Owner report · Fuel/Propulsion System · Aug 2022
Show 7 more owner reports
“The contact's friend owns a 2004 Chevrolet Corvette. The contact stated that while his friend was starting the vehicle, the steering wheel seized. The dealer was made aware of the failure but informed the contact that they were unable to assist due to the age of the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 04V060000 (Steering) however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000.”Owner report · Steering · Jul 2022
“A month after I purchased the car with approximately 40k miles, I took the car in for an oil change at the dealership and was told there was a major leak in the left fuel tank and at the crossover tube. This leaking fuel is leaking onto the exhaust. It would cost at least $4,000 to repair. I can not afford this. It is too dangerous to drive. I have no other car. Supposedly, my vin number is 200 numbers away from being included in the recall for the same issue and that you have 43 pages of complaints about. Did I mention that the crossover tube is a backordered part because so many are needed because when you pull the current one out, it breaks and a new one is needed?”Owner report · Fuel/Propulsion System · May 2022
“While traveling down the freeway at around 80 mph on a straight flat surface, the corvette sharply veered to the side as I heard a loud screech from one of the brakes it lasted for about a second. The turn was so abrupt I thought I was going to roll but after fishtailing was able to get things going straight. Immediately a service active handling system message popped up. Happened about a week later going about 60 mph not quite as abrupt. This condition could have lead to a fatality.”Owner report · Steering · Mar 2021
“Gasoline leak from a crossover pipe connection connecting the two gas tanks. Drippig raw fwel onto a hot exhaust system and transmission. Commom problem on tnis year and model. Repair was covered for first 10 years and 100,000 miles by manufacturer. Still and issue with cars not repaired.”Owner report · Fuel/Propulsion System · Nov 2020
“The contact owns a 2004 chevrolet corvette. The contact stated while driving 35 mph, the contact smelled an abnormal fuel odor coming from the engine compartment. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the fuel tank crossover pipe needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The contact related the issue to an unknown manufacturer's recall. The manufacturer was informed of the failure but offered no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 36,000.”Owner report · Fuel System, Gasoline · Jul 2020
“Tl* the contact owns a 2004 chevrolet corvette. While driving, the service column lock indicator illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to casey chevrolet (11700 jefferson ave, newport news, va 23606, (757) 320-1476), but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 68,000.”Owner report · Electrical System · Nov 2019
“Tl* the contact owns a 2004 chevrolet corvette. While the vehicle was parked outside the garage and the ignition was started, the clutch was released and the vehicle seized. Also, the steering column lock warning message illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA campaign number: 04v060000 (steering). The vehicle was not able to be driven. The contact called maguire chevrolet cadillac of ithaca (located at 35 cinema dr, ithaca, ny 14850, (607) 272-9292) and notified them of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer and manufacturer were not notified. The failure mileage was 6,890. *tr”Owner report · Steering · Oct 2019
When filing, owners marked a crash in 4 of these complaints and injuries in 2 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 4 campaigns
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 CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
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.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES INVOLVED IN THIS CAMPAIGN, THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL STUD NUT/WASHER ASSEMBLIES WITH WASHERS WERE MADE OF THE WRONG MATERIAL. THE WASHERS MAY FRACTURE AND BECOME LOOSE OR FALL AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE, REDUCING CLAMP LOAD. SEPARATION OF THE CONTROL ARM BALL STUD AND STEERING KNUCKLE, DUE TO DISENGAGEMENT OF THE TAPERED ATTACHMENT AND RETAINING NUT, IS POSSIBLE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BALL STUD JOINTS AND MEASURE THE TORQUE OF THE NUT FOR ALL FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS IN ALL MODELS AFFECTED AS WELL AS THE REAR LOWER CONTROL ARMS ON THE XLR AND CORVETTE. IF THE TORQUE IS NOT AT SPECIFICATION, THE DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE BALL STUD, THE KNUCKLE, AND THE NUT. IF THE TORQUE IS AT SPECIFICATION, THE DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE NUT/WASHER ASSEMBLY ONLY. THE RECALL WILL BEGIN ON AUGUST 25, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339 OR CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438.
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 VEHICLE IS STARTED, THE ECL UNLOCKS THE STEERING SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE IS DESIGNED SO THAT IF THE COLUMN FAILS TO UNLOCK WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STARTED AND THE CUSTOMER TRIES TO DRIVE, THE FUEL SUPPLY WILL BE SHUT OFF SO THAT THE VEHICLE CANNOT MOVE WHEN THE VEHICLE CANNOT BE STEERED. IF VOLTAGE AT THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE IS LOW OR INTERRUPTED, HOWEVER, THE FUEL SHUT OFF MAY NOT OCCUR AND THE VEHICLE CAN BE ACCELERATED WHILE THE STEERING SYSTEM IS LOCKED. ALSO WHEN THE CONTROL SYSTEM SHOWS THAT THE ECL IS UNLOCKED AND THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN, THE LOCK PIN LOCATION CAN VARY. DEPENDING ON THE LOCATION OF THE LOCK PLATE RELATIVE TO THE SWITCH TRANSITION POINT, THERE COULD THEN BE CONTACT BETWEEN THE LOCK PLATE AND PIN CAUSING THE STEERING TO LOCK WHILE DRIVING .
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 WILL LOCK BUT THE STEERING COLUMN WILL NOT LOCK. ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A MANUAL TRANSMISSION, THE DEALER WILL REPROGRAM THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE, PERFORM A DIMENSIONAL CHECK OF THE COLUMN LOCK AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE LOCK PLATE. THE STEERING COLUMN ON THESE VEHICLES WILL CONTINUE TO LOCK WHEN THE KEY IS REMOVED. OWNER NOTIFICATION TO OWNERS OF 1997 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS BEGAN ON APRIL 26, 2004. OWNERS OF 1998 THROUGH 2004 VEHICLES (EXCEPT 1997-1998 MANUAL TRANSMISSION VEHICLES) WILL BE NOTIFIED BEGINNING ON AUGUST 2, 2004. THE REMAINING OWNERS (1997-1998 MANUAL TRANSMISSION VEHICLES) WILL BE NOTIFIED LATER IN 2004, WHEN PARTS ARE AVAILABLE. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438.
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 CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
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.
How other years compare
Check your exact Corvette by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 2004 Chevrolet Corvette reliable?
NHTSA has 217 owner complaints and 4 recall campaigns on record for the 2004 Chevrolet Corvette. The most complained-about area is fuel system, gasoline (44% of complaints).
At what mileage do 2004 Chevrolet Corvette problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 34,000 miles or less.
Does the 2004 Chevrolet Corvette have open recalls?
4 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning exterior lighting:headlights. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.