Total Complaints
63 filings
CHEVROLET CORVETTE · model year
63 NHTSA complaints, 3 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1996CHEVROLETCORVETTE carries 63 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 3 crashes, 4 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 1996 CORVETTE is tires with 7 filings, followed by unknown or other (5) and structure:body:roof and pillars (3). 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 1996 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.
Total Complaints
63 filings
Crashes Reported
3 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| TIRES | 7 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 5 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS | 3 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY | 3 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 3 |
| STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM | 3 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE | 2 |
| INTERIOR LIGHTING | 2 |
| SEATS | 2 |
| STEERING | 2 |
| EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC. | 2 |
| POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION | 2 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 2 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT | 1 |
| LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:LOCK | 1 |
APPEARS THE ASR UNIT HARD SHORTED SENDING ELECTRICITY THROUGH ALL 3 THROTTLE CABLES AND SEBSEQUENTLY MELTING THEM. THANKFULLY THE VEHICLE DIDN'T START ON FIRE. THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED ON THE FIRST DRIVE OF THE DAY AFTER ABOUT 7 MINUTES OF LOW SPEED (CITY) OPERATION SINCE ENGINE START.
APPEARS THE ASR UNIT HARD SHORTED SENDING ELECTRICITY THROUGH ALL 3 THROTTLE CABLES AND SEBSEQUENTLY MELTING THEM. THANKFULLY THE VEHICLE DIDN'T START ON FIRE. THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED ON THE FIRST DRIVE OF THE DAY AFTER ABOUT 7 MINUTES OF LOW SPEED (CITY) OPERATION SINCE ENGINE START.
TRIED TO START VEHICLE, BUT 'SECURITY' LIGHT CAME ON & ENGINE WOULD NOT TURN OVER. RESEARCHED ISSUE ONLINE & FOUND THAT THIS IS DUE TO A KNOWN IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER PROBLEM. THE WIRES LEADING TO THE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER BREAK, AND WILL NOT ALLOW THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM TO PROPERLY READ THE SECURITY CODE FROM THE KEY. *TR
Mileage: 133,725
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD WHISTLING NOISE. SUDDENLY, THE REMOVABLE ROOF PANEL SEPARATED FROM THE MOUNTING FRAME OF THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACRYLIC REMOVABLE ROOF PANEL, WHICH WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR IDENTICAL FAILURES ON FOUR SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE MALFUNCTIONS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,500 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 72,500.
Mileage: 71,500
THE ACRYLIC TOP ON MY 1996 CORVETTE WAS REPLACED WITH A NEW ACRYLIC TOP FROM CHEVROLET. THE ACRYLIC PORTION OF THE TOP HAS SEPARATED FROM THE ALUMINUM MOUNTING FRAME. I HAVE PRESENTED GONE THROUGH 4 CONSECUTIVE TOPS. EVERY TOP SUPPLIED TO ME HAS DONE THE SAME THING. I CAN NO LONGER DRIVE MY VEHICLE DUE TO THIS FACT. IF I CONTINUE TO DRIVE MY VEHICLE, THERE IS A HIGH PROBABILITY THAT MY ROOF IS GOING TO COME OFF OF THE VEHICLE AND POSSIBLY CAUSE A ACCIDENT ON INJURE SOMEONE. *TR
THE ACRYLIC TOP ON MY 1996 CORVETTE WAS REPLACED WITH A NEW ACRYLIC TOP FROM CHEVROLET. THE ACRYLIC PORTION OF THE TOP HAS SEPARATED FROM THE ALUMINUM MOUNTING FRAME. I HAVE PRESENTED GONE THROUGH 4 CONSECUTIVE TOPS. EVERY TOP SUPPLIED TO ME HAS DONE THE SAME THING. I CAN NO LONGER DRIVE MY VEHICLE DUE TO THIS FACT. IF I CONTINUE TO DRIVE MY VEHICLE, THERE IS A HIGH PROBABILITY THAT MY ROOF IS GOING TO COME OFF OF THE VEHICLE AND POSSIBLY CAUSE A ACCIDENT ON INJURE SOMEONE. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. THE CONTACT HEARD A VERY LOUD EXPLOSION AND HER HOME BEGAN TO SHAKE. SHE FOUND THE VEHICLE PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE FIRE SPREAD RAPIDLY AS THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED PRIOR TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT'S ARRIVAL. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE REGULATOR EXPLODED DUE TO PRESSURE BUILD-UP. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 100,000. UPDATED 03/17/09. *LJ THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. UPDATED 03/18/09. *JB
Mileage: 100,000
SNAP IN VALVE STEM HTTP://BLOGS.CONSUMERREPORTS.ORG/SAFETY/2008/06/TIRE-VALVE-STEM.HTML. *TR
UPON NORMAL AUTO START SEQUENCE, STARTER WOULD NOT DISENGAGE. REMOVED KEY FROM VEHICLE CYLINDER LOCK AND STARTER CONTINUED TO CRANK ENGINE. STARTER MOTOR BEGAN TO SMOKE AND CAUGHT FIRE BEFORE BATTERY COULD BE DISCONNECTED TO REMOVE POWER FROM VEHICLE. BURNED UP STARTER MOTOR AND O2 WIRING HARNESS AROUND LOCATION OF STARTER MOTOR. SAME FAILURE OCCURRED IN 1999. *TR
Mileage: 160,000
PASSIVE KEYLESS ENTRY LIGHT CAME ON AND THEN WHILE VEHICLE WAS MOVING HATCH RELEASED. ALTMOST LOSING CONTROL OF VEHICLE. *JB
Mileage: 90,000
WHILE OPERATING VEHICLE AT 10 MPH BRAKE PEDAL FELL TO FLOOR AFTER CONSUMER TOOK FOOT OFF BRAKE. HE WAS ABLE TO STOP VEHICLE WITHOUT AN INCIDENT. DEALERSHIP EXAMINED VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THAT BRAKE LINES HAD CORRODED, ALLOWING FAILURE OF BRAKE SYSTEM. *AK *JB
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON / DISTRIBUTOR FAILED WHILE DRIVING, ENGINE STALLED, LOST POWER STEERING. ENGINE REFIRED. ON WAY TO DEALER ENGINE STALLED IN TRAFFIC.*AK
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON / DISTRIBUTOR FAILED WHILE DRIVING, ENGINE STALLED, LOST POWER STEERING. ENGINE REFIRED. ON WAY TO DEALER ENGINE STALLED IN TRAFFIC.*AK
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON / DISTRIBUTOR FAILED WHILE DRIVING, ENGINE STALLED, LOST POWER STEERING. ENGINE REFIRED. ON WAY TO DEALER ENGINE STALLED IN TRAFFIC.*AK
VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN GARAGE DUE TO ELECTRICAL FAULT IN FACTORY WIRING. FIRE ORIGINATED ON DRIVER'S SIDE OF ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *AK
THE TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR (THE LEFT FRONT SENSOR, ALSO KNOWN AS GREEN #44 OR PART NUMBER 1016 1856) IS NOT AVAILABLE NEW OR USED ANYWHERE IN THE COUNTRY. REFERRING TO PAGE 6-47 OF THE MANUAL, THE FOLLOWING WARNING APPEARS: WHEN THE LOW/FLAT TIRE WARNING LIGHT IS ON YOUR VEHICLE'S HANDLING CAPABILITIES WILL BE REDUCED DURING SEVERE MANEUVERS. IF YOU DRIVE TOO FAST, YOU COULD LOSE CONTROL OF YOUR VEHICLE. YOU OR OTHERS COULD BE INJURED. DON'T DRIVE OVER 55 MPH (90 KM/H) WHEN THE LOW/FLAT TIRE WARNING LIGHT IS ON. DRIVE CAUTIOUSLY AND CHECK YOUR TIRE PRESSURE AS SOON AS YOU CAN." NOW, NOTING THE RECENT HEADLINES ABOUT FIRESTONE TIRE FAILURES AND THE RESULTING TRAGIC CONSEQUENCES, IT WOULD SEEM HIGHLY APPROPRIATE FOR CHEVROLET TO IMMEDIATELY ADDRESS THE FACT THAT THIS PART IS DISCONTINUED AND NO LONGER AVAILABLE. BASICALLY, ALL WE (MY WIFE JOY RENDE, WHO ACTUALLY OWNS THE CAR, AND I) ARE LOOKING FOR IS FOR CHEVY TO START MANURAFTURING THE PART AGAIN.*AK
STEERING GOES OUT INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER REPLACED POWER STEERING RACK AND PUMP, PROBLEM STILL THERE. *AK
CAR WAS VEERING OUT OF CONTROL-AT 45MPH, IN A ONE LANE WORK ZONE. TIRE RIPPED RIGHT DOWN THE MIDDLE-NEARLY SPLIITING IN HALF. YOU COULD SEE RIGHT TROUGH TO THE BRAKES. INSIDE OF TIRE UNRAVELLED-RUBBER HANGING. *AK (DOT NUMBER: M6Y2 6BDR TIRESIZE: P25545ZR17)
LEFT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT ,BELT TREADPACKAGE SEPERATED TOTALLY,LEAVING BEAD/SIDEWALL ONLY ON RIM( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P28540ZR17 )
HAD TO FORCE TRANSMISSION TO SHIFT INTO GEAR, TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. *AK
Loss of motive power due to engine failure
Loss of Motive Power due to the Battery Energy Control Module
Electric Vehicle Battery Fires
Outboard Front Seat Belt Anchor Cable Failure
Fuel Line Leak
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.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.