The 1990 Chevrolet Corvette has 4 safety recalls and 34 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is air bags (18 complaints).
Recalls4safety recalls
Complaints34filed by owners
Crashes · fires2 · 0reported in complaints
Injuries · deaths2 · 0reported in complaints
Safety recalls
Equipment
NHTSA recall 07E088000 · Oct 24, 2007 · 121,680 vehicles
Problem: CERTAIN HONEYWELL FRAM RACING BRAND HP4 AND HP8 OIL FILTERS THAT WERE MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 25, 2006, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 14, 2007, AND SOLD FOR USE AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR VEHICLES LIST ABOVE. THE AFFECTED FILTERS ARE MARKED WITH A DATE CODE A61451 THROUGH A72571 SEQUENTIALLY. THE DATE CODE AND PART NUMBER APPEAR ON THE FILTER HOUSING. FRAM RACING HP4 AND HP8 OIL FILTERS NOT BEARING A DATE CODE IN THIS RANGE ARE NOT AFFECTED BY THIS RECALL. THE GASKET OF THE OIL FILTER BECOMES MORE PLIABLE UNDER HIGH TEMPERATURES AND PRESSURES.
Risk: THIS CONDITION MAY CAUSE INADEQUATE SEALING AND LOSS OF ENGINE OIL, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE.
Fix: HONEYWELL WILL REPLACE THE AFFECTED OIL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN DURING NOVEMBER 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-890-2075.
Fuel system, gasoline
NHTSA recall 06E043000 · May 19, 2006 · 88,303 vehicles
Problem: CERTAIN REPLACEMENT FUEL FILTERS, FRAM BRAND NAME P/N G3727, WITH DATE CODES X52911 THROUGH X60801 SEQUENTIALLY OR X600141 AND A MEXICO COUNTRY OR ORIGIN MARKING ON THE FUEL FILTER HOUSING MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 18, 2005, THROUGH MARCH 21, 2006, SOLD FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE AND ON CERTAIN SCHOOL BUSES. (TO SEE THE SCHOOL BUS ENGINE SIZES, CLICK ON "DOCUMENT SEARCH" AND THEN "BUS APPLICATIONS"). THE CONNECTOR ON THE FUEL FILTER WAS NOT MANUFACTURED TO HONEYWELL'S SPECIFICATION. AS A RESULT, THE O-RING MAY NOT SEAT CORRECTLY ON THE FUEL LINE.
Risk: THIS CONDITION MAY CAUSE AN INADEQUATE SEAL AT THE CONNECTION, POTENTIALLY LEADING TO A FUEL LEAK. IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FIRE COULD OCCUR.
Fix: HONEYWELL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FUEL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 18, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-890-2075 (OPTION 1).
Seat belts › Front › Anchorage
NHTSA recall 91V143000 · Sep 4, 1991 · 231,833 vehicles · opened after NHTSA action (ODI)
Problem: UNDER CERTAIN VEHICLE OPERATIONS AND OCCUPANT USAGE CONDITIONS, THE SAFETY BELTS CAN LOCKUP OR JAM IN THE SAFETY BELT RETRACTOR.
Risk: IF LOCKUP OCCURS, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PULL BELT OUT OFTHE RETRACTOR. THE OCCUPANT OF A SEAT WITH AN UNUSABLE SAFETY BELT ISSUBJECT TO INCREASED RISK OF INJURY OR DEATH IN THE EVENT OF A SUDDEN STOP ORACCIDENT.
Fix: REPLACE THE SAFETY BELTS IF THE LOCKUP OCCURS.
Fuel system, gasoline › Delivery › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
NHTSA recall 90V008000 · Jan 22, 1990 · 213 vehicles
Problem: FUEL FEED AND RETURN LINE CONNECTORS HAVE INCORRECT LINE END FLARE CONFIGURATIONS.
Risk: LINE ENDS COULD CRACK CAUSING A FUEL LEAK THAT COULD RESULT IN AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE.
Fix: INSTALL NEW FUEL LINES WITH CORRECT END FLARE CONFIGURATION.
Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.
Fuel economy
Corvette
18mpg combined
City / highway
15 / 23 mpg
Fuel
Premium Gasoline
5.7 L · 8 cyl · Manual 6-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $4,550/year to fuel
Corvette
17mpg combined
City / highway
15 / 23 mpg
Fuel
Premium Gasoline
5.7 L · 8 cyl · Manual 6-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $4,850/year to fuel
Corvette
17mpg combined
City / highway
15 / 22 mpg
Fuel
Premium Gasoline
5.7 L · 8 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $4,850/year to fuel
EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.
What owners report
Problem area
Complaints
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Typical mileage*
Air bags Frontal; Side/window
18
1
0
1
—
Seat belts Front › Anchorage
8
0
0
0
59,998 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip; Foundation components
2
0
0
0
—
Fuel system, gasoline Carburetor system; Fuel injection system
2
0
0
0
—
Suspension Front; Rear
2
1
0
0
—
Vehicle speed control
2
1
0
1
—
Visibility Windshield wiper/washer
2
0
0
0
—
Electrical system Wiring › Front underhood
2
0
0
0
—
Power train Automatic transmission › Cooling unit and lines
1
0
0
0
—
Unknown or other
1
0
0
0
—
Seats Front assembly › Recliner
1
0
0
0
—
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
Mar 15, 2023Seat 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.
Dec 16, 2016 · 56,000 milesSeat 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.
Oct 6, 2016 · 50,000 milesSeat belts I HAVE CALLED SEVERAL DIFFERENT DEALERS AND THEY SAY THEY CANNOT GET THE PARTS NEEDED TO REPLACE MY SEAT BELTS.
Sep 7, 2012 · 100,000 milesAir 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.
Jun 7, 2015 · 23,767 miles · 1 injuryAir 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.
Aug 7, 2014Seat 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
Apr 16, 2014 · 88,000 milesSeat 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
Jan 1, 1990Visibility WINDSHIELD DELAMINATION. *TR
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.
NHTSA defect investigations
DP96006 · opened May 14, 1996 · closed Oct 18, 1996BRAKE PULL THE PETITIONS STATED THAT:WE REPRESENT THE OWNER OF A 1990 CHEVROLET CORVETTE WHICH, WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, SUDDENTLY, VIOLENTLY, AND UNEXPECTEDLY PULLS TO THE LEFT.THIS IS A INTERMITTENT DEFECT WHICH DOES NOT OCCUR WITH AN REGULARITY.
DP92011 · opened May 22, 1992 · closed Oct 29, 1992AIRBAG FAILED TO DEPLOY AIRBAG FAILED TO DEPLOY
PE90040 · opened Feb 6, 1990 · closed Jun 11, 1990PARKING BRAKE FAILURE There is no summary currently available
PE90038 · opened Feb 2, 1990 · closed May 7, 1990UNDER DASH FIRE There is no summary currently available
PE90032 · opened Jan 12, 1990 · closed Mar 22, 1990 · led to recall 90V032000TIE ROD SOCKET FAILURE There is no summary currently available