CHEVROLET CORVETTE · model year

1990 CHEVROLET CORVETTE

41 NHTSA complaints, 3 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1990CHEVROLETCORVETTE carries 41 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 3 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1990 CORVETTE is air bags with 13 filings, followed by seat belts (6) and air bags:frontal (4). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 57 investigation files overlapping the 1990 CORVETTE, and 2 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

41
Complaints
3
Crashes
0
Fires
2
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

41 filings

Crashes Reported

3 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
AIR BAGS13
SEAT BELTS6
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL4
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE2
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS1
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:CARBURETOR SYSTEM1
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES1
SUSPENSION:FRONT1
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM1
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD1
UNKNOWN OR OTHER1
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW1

Recent Complaints

20230320SEAT BELTS

The Seatbelt Retractors failed per both of the safety belt recalls. The belts no longer function and GM refuses to provide a remedy to clear the safety recall.

20190320SEAT BELTS

GM ORDERED THE INCORRECT SEAT BELTS WHICH WOULD SATISFY THE RECALL. THEY'VE IGNORED MY PHONE CALLS AND EMAILS. ACCORDING TO MY FINDINGS GM MUST EITHER SATISFY THE RECALL OR PROVIDE ME WITH A SUITABLE VEHICLE WHICH IS SAFE TO DRIVE.

Mileage: 56,000

20161006SEAT BELTS

I HAVE CALLED SEVERAL DIFFERENT DEALERS AND THEY SAY THEY CANNOT GET THE PARTS NEEDED TO REPLACE MY SEAT BELTS.

Mileage: 50,000

20160909AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1990 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE AIR BAG AND SEAT BELT WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

Mileage: 100,000

20160909SEAT BELTS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1990 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE AIR BAG AND SEAT BELT WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

Mileage: 100,000

20150607AIR BAGS

MY WIFE AND I WERE DRIVING DOWN 1-20 AT 70 MPH WHEN THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON KNOWN TO US. I WAS DRIVING AND WAS ABLE TO KEEP THE CAR UNDER CONTROL AND GET IT STOPPED. THE AIRBAG INJURED MY LEFT ARM AND MY CHEST. IT FILLED THE INTERIOR WITH SMOKE, WHICH AFFECTED OUR BREATHING (MY WIFE HAS ASTHMA) AND VISION.

Mileage: 23,767

20140807SEAT BELTS

I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE LISTED ABOVE IN DEC. 2012. I RECENTLY TOOK IT TO A CHEVROLET DEALER FOR SERVICE WHO AT THAT TIME RAN IT THROUGH THEIR DATABASE TO SEE IF THERE WERE ANY OUTSTANDING RECALLS. IN 1990 A RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT NOT WORKING AS EXPECTED. WHEN THEY CHECKED WITH THE MANUFACTURER THEY WERE INFORMED THAT THE REPLACEMENT PART WAS NO LONGER IN PRODUCTION SO THEREFORE COULD NOT BE REPLACED. MY QUESTION IS SHOULD THE MANUFACTURER STILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR FIXING THE DEFECTIVE PART OR HAS THE RECALL EXPIRED ON THIS ISSUE? THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME CONCERNING THIS MATTER. *TR

20140524SEAT BELTS

WHEN ATTEMPTING TO SEAT BELT MY SELF INTO MY CORVETTE THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT UPPER HARNESS WOULD NOT RELEASE AND ATTACH TO THE BOTTOM OF THE BELT CLASP. *TR

Mileage: 88,000

20100924VISIBILITY

WINDSHIELD DELAMINATION. *TR

20070404SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE

PROBLEM: I HAVE A 1990 CHEVY CORVETTE AND THE SAFETY BELT ON THE DRIVES SIDE OF CAR HAS "LOCKUP OR JAMMED" IN THE SAFETY BELT RETRACTOR. CONSEQUENCE SUMMARY: IF LOCKUP OCCURS, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PULL BELT OUT OF THE RETRACTOR. THE OCCUPANT OF A SEAT WITH AN UNUSABLE SAFETY BELT IS SUBJECT TO INCREASED RISK OF INJURY OR DEATH IN THE EVENT OF A SUDDEN STOP OR ACCIDENT. CORRECTIVE SUMMARY: REPLACE THE SAFETY BELTS IF THE LOCKUP OCCURS. CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 91V143000 DATE: 1991-SEP-04 COMPONENT: SEAT BELTS: FRONT: ANCHORAGE CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 91V143000 DATE: 1991-SEP-04 COMPONENT: SEAT BELTS: FRONT: ANCHORAGE. I WHEN TO CHEVORLET IN WILKES BARRE, PA AND THEY TOLD ME MY CAR WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL AND WOULD NOT FIX THE DEFECTIVE SAFETY BELT RETRACTOR FREE OF CHARGE. I UNDERSTAND, (CORRECT ME IF I AM WRONG) THAN THE MANUFACTURER MUST REPLACE IT FREE OF CHARGE AS IT IS A DEFECTIVE SAFETY DEVICE ON THE VEHICLE. I FIND IT ODD THAT THERE WAS A RECALL OF THI

Mileage: 59,998

20070404SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER

PROBLEM: I HAVE A 1990 CHEVY CORVETTE AND THE SAFETY BELT ON THE DRIVES SIDE OF CAR HAS "LOCKUP OR JAMMED" IN THE SAFETY BELT RETRACTOR. CONSEQUENCE SUMMARY: IF LOCKUP OCCURS, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PULL BELT OUT OF THE RETRACTOR. THE OCCUPANT OF A SEAT WITH AN UNUSABLE SAFETY BELT IS SUBJECT TO INCREASED RISK OF INJURY OR DEATH IN THE EVENT OF A SUDDEN STOP OR ACCIDENT. CORRECTIVE SUMMARY: REPLACE THE SAFETY BELTS IF THE LOCKUP OCCURS. CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 91V143000 DATE: 1991-SEP-04 COMPONENT: SEAT BELTS: FRONT: ANCHORAGE CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 91V143000 DATE: 1991-SEP-04 COMPONENT: SEAT BELTS: FRONT: ANCHORAGE. I WHEN TO CHEVORLET IN WILKES BARRE, PA AND THEY TOLD ME MY CAR WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL AND WOULD NOT FIX THE DEFECTIVE SAFETY BELT RETRACTOR FREE OF CHARGE. I UNDERSTAND, (CORRECT ME IF I AM WRONG) THAN THE MANUFACTURER MUST REPLACE IT FREE OF CHARGE AS IT IS A DEFECTIVE SAFETY DEVICE ON THE VEHICLE. I FIND IT ODD THAT THERE WAS A RECALL OF THI

Mileage: 59,998

20030305ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THE DIAGNOSTIC ENERGY RESERVE MODULE MALFUNCTIONED. CONSUMER REQUESTED ASSISTANCE IN REIMBURSEMENT. *TT *JB *TS

20020514AIR BAGS

CONSUMER COMMENTS THAT SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASE OF VEHICLE, THE DIAGNOSTIC ENERGY RESERVE MODULE (DERM) MALFUNCTIONED, WHICH IS PART OF THE AIR BAG RESTRAINT SYSTEM, CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO BE REIMBURSED FOR HIS OUT OF POCKET EXPENSES. *JG

20020426AIR BAGS

CONSUMER COMMENTS THAT SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASE OF VEHICLE, THE DIAGNOSTIC ENERGY RESERVE MODULE (DERM) MALFUNCTIONED, WHICH IS PART OF THE AIR BAG RESTRAINT SYSTEM, CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO BE REIMBURSED FOR HIS OUT OF POCKET EXPENSES. *JG

20011106AIR BAGS

CANNOT GET A REPLACEMENT PART FROM GMC . THEREFORE I AM FORCED TO DRIVE WITHOUT THE BENEFIT OF MY AIR BAG.*AK

20010914CrashSUSPENSION:REAR

WITH ORIGINAL TYPE GOODYEAR TIRES, THE CAR SEEMS TO GO INTO AN OVERSTEER CONDITION WHEN FOOT TAKEN OFF OF ACCELERATOR AND STEERING TURNED SLIGHTLY. CAR SPINS OUT. FIRST TIME ACCIDENTAL. I CAN BE ON A FREEWAY GOING STRAIGHT, TURN THE STEERING SLIGHTLY TO THE RIGHT, THEN TO THE LEFT A LITTLE AND LET UP ON THE GAS AND THE CAR GOES INTO A SPIN DOWN THE FREEWAY. A FELLOW I WORKED WITH IN CALIFORNIA SAYS THIS IS NORMAL, NOT FOR THE YEAR, BUT FOR ALL CORVETTES OF THIS BODY STYLE. HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES. CONTACTED CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP, THEY SAID THERE IS NOT A PROBLEM WITH THE CAR.*AK

20010625AIR BAGS

COMPUTER THAT CONTROLS THE AIR BAG RESTRAIN SYSTEM HAS MALFUNCTION. A LIGHT HAS COME ON THE DASH. I CAN'T SEEM TO GET A REPLACEMENT PART. I HAVE CONTACT GM . APPEARS GM. DOES NOT HAVE A VENDOR TO SUPPLY THE PART. GM CUSTOMER SERVICE 800-222-1020 EXT 57379 SERVICE NUMBER C04306084. MY CONCERN IS THE AIR BAG ACCORDING TO GM COULD DEPLOY AT ANY TIME. HOW MANY ADDITONAL CARS THAT GM MAKES HAS THE SAME COMPUTER MODULE THAT TODAY IS NOT AVAILABLE. I CAN'T SEEM TO GET THEM CONCERN.THEIR COMMENT TO ME IS IT WILL ONLY INFLATE FOR 20 SECONDS. 20 SECONDS IS A LONG TIME DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN.*AK

20001213AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW

I'VE READ THAT THERE IS A GROUNDING ISSUE IN THE AIR BAG WITH THIS TYPE/YEAR VEHICLE CAUSING WARNING LIGHT TO COME ON AND POSSIBLE SHUT DOWN OR THE SYSTEM. IS THIS A KNOWN SAFETY ISSUE? *AK

20001004AIR BAGS

DURING THE LIFETIME OF THE VEHICLE I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE AIRBAG SENSORS AT LEAST 5 TIMES. OTHERS HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS SAME PROBLEM YET GM DOES NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THE DEFECT.*AK

20000822UNKNOWN OR OTHER

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

Compare 1990CHEVROLETCORVETTE to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 2 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1990 CHEVROLET CORVETTE have?
The 1990 CHEVROLET CORVETTE has 41 NHTSA complaints, 3 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1990 CHEVROLET CORVETTE?
The most-complained component for the 1990 CHEVROLET CORVETTE is AIR BAGS with 13 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SEAT BELTS and AIR BAGS:FRONTAL.
Is the 1990 CHEVROLET CORVETTE safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.